Today : world première of 'The Fix' by Joel Puckett in St. Paul (MN)

Today, the Minnesota Opera presents the world première of The Fix, an opera in two acts composed by Joel Puckett, with a libretto by Eric Simonson.

It is the composer's first opera.

One of the most notorious scandals in American history comes to life in this new, major league opera. The 1919 Chicago White Sox were arguably the best team in the game, but they were also the most poorly paid, always at odds with their penny-pinching owner. Resentment, revenge, and ambition gone awry motivate the eight players to conspire with gamblers and fix the World Series. (reproduced from the Minnesota Opera website where a detailed synopsis is available)

The cast includes tenor Joshua Dennis ('Shoeless' Joe Jackson), bass-baritone Kelly Markgraf (Ring Lardner), bass Wei Wu (Arnold 'Chick' Gandil), baritone Andrew Wilkowske (Bill 'Sleepy' Burns), soprano Jasmine Habersham (Katie Jackson), bass Benjamin Sieverding (Alfred Austrian, Esq.) and tenor David Walton (Oscar 'Happy' Felsch). Timothy Myers conducts the Orchestra and Chorus of the Minnesota Opera. Librettist Eric Simonson directs.

The venus is the Ordway Center for the Performing Arts, St. Paul (MN).

The performance should last 2 hours and 15 minutes, with one intermission.

Today : world première of William Bolcom's 'Dinner at Eight' in St. Paul (MN)

Today, the Minnesota Opera presents the world première of William Bolcom's opera in 2 acts Dinner at Eight, with a libretto by Mark Campbell after George S. Kaufman and Edna Ferber's play.

William Bolcom's previous operas include McTeague (Chicago, 1992), A View from the Bridge (Chicago, 1999) and A Wedding (Chicago, 2004).

New York City, early 1930s. Manhattan socialite Millicent Jordan plans the perfect dinner party, but as her guests arrive, business intrigues and romantic entanglements are brought to light. (reproduced from the Minnesota Opera website)

The cast includes soprano Mary Dunleavy (Millicent Jordan), baritone Stephen Powell (Oliver Jordan), soprano Brenda Harris (Carlotta Vance), baritone Craig Irvin (Dan Packard), soprano Susannah Biller (Kitty Packard) and tenor Richard Troxell (Larry Renault). David Agler conducts the orchestra and chorus of the Minnesota Opera. Tomer Zvulun directs.

The performance should last about 2 hours, including one intermission.

New program books received recently from Montréal, St. Paul and Denver

I have recently received three program books published by North American opera theatres for new contemporary operas :

- Lori Laitman : The Scarlet Letter, Denver, May 7, 2016 ;
- Kevin March : Les Feluettes, Montréal, May 21, 2016 ;
- Paul Moravec : The Shining, St. Paul, May 7, 2016.

The covers of all program books I for contemporary I have can be seen in this flickr folder.

Today : world première of Paul Moravec's 'The Shining', in St. Paul

Today, the Minnesota Opera presents the world première performance of Paul Moravec's new opera, The Shining, with a libretto by Mark Campbell after Stephen King's novel.

It is the composer's second opera after The Letter (Santa Fe, 2009) based on the Somerset Maugham play.

As the Torrance family settles in at the infamous Overlook Hotel, Jack comes face to face with his own demons – real and imagined. Will he be able to protect his wife and son from the evil forces within the hotel ? (reproduced from the Minnesota Opera website)

The cast includes soprano Kelly Kaduce (Wendy Torrance), baritone Brian Mulligan (Jack Torrance), tenor Robb Asklof (Stuart Ullman, the hotel manager), Alejandro Vega (Danny Torrance), bass Arthur Woodley (Dick Hallorann, a cook) and tenor John Robert Lindsey (Lloyd, a bartender). Michael Chrisite conducts the Chorus and Orchestra of the Minnesota Opera. Eric Simonson directs.

The venue is the Ordway Center for the Performing Arts in St Paul, MN. The performance should last about 2 hours and 10 minutes, including a 20-minute intermission.

Today : World première of 'The Manchurian Candidate' by Kevin Puts in St. Paul (MN)

Today, the Minnesota Opera presents the world première performance of The Manchurian Candidate by Kevin Puts, with a libretto by Mark Campbell after Richard Condon's novel. Performances will take place at the Ordway Theater.

 

It is Puts' second opera after Silent Night, first performed by Minnesota Opera on November 12, 2011.

An American soldier, decorated during the Korean War, is brainwashed into becoming an unwitting assassin in a conspiracy to overthrow the U.S. government. Can a fellow POW crack the code in time to stop him ? (reproduced from the opera website)

The cast includes Matthew Worth (Sergeant Raymond Shaw), Brenda Harris (Eleanor Iselin), Daniel Sumegi (Senator Johnny Iselin), Leonardo Capalbo (Captain Ben Marco), Adriana Zabala (Rosie Chayney), among others. Michael Christie conducts and Kevin Newbury directs.

The opera should last about 2 hours and 10 minutes, including one 20-minute intermission.