Today : world première of 'Transito' by Jesus Torres in Madrid

 

Today, the Teatro Real presents the world première of Transito, a chamber opera composed by Jesus Torres, with a libretto by the composer based on Max Aub's play.

 

 It is the composer's first opera.

When there were still many ex-combatants and exiled Republicans who held out hope that the allied forces in the Second World War would put an end to the Franco regime, Max Aub pre-empted the total standstill of time with which history would condemn all of these people in a labyrinth of political and personal divided loyalties, uncertainty and disappointments. (reproduced from the Teatro Real website)

The cast includes soprano Maria Miro (Cruz), mezzo Anna Brull (Transito), baritone Issac Galan (Emilio), baritone Javier Franco (Alfredo) and tenor Pablo Garcia-Lopez (Pedro). Jordi Frances conducts the Orquesta Sinfonica de Madrid. Eduardo Vasco directs.

The performance should last 80 minutes. The venue is Naves Matadero.

Today : world première of 'Last Call to Elpisonia' by Michael Pelzel in Zürich

Today, the Opernhaus Zürich presents the world première of Last Call to Elpisonia, a chamber opera composed by Michael Pelzel, with a libretto by Dominik Riedo.

 (c) Vinzenz Niedermann

It is the composer's first opera.

It is the year 2118: the communication media are out of control. They have gone off on a massive tangent, threatening to become a risk to human survival. The earth is so polluted by communication that a (pathetic caricature) of a world government decides to evacuate the planet. The exodus is destined for the planet of Elpisonia leaving the earth to its own devices until it has regenerated itself. The spaceship takes off. Everyone leaves the earth. One man and one woman are accidentally left behind. They are the last people on earth. Realizing their situation, they react in panic and almost automatically spin into overdrive but then do become closer. A new (old, lost) ability to speak has to be relearnt: non-verbal communication, touching and silence. Conversations. Really getting to know one another. (reproduced from the Ernst von Siemens Music Foundation website)

The cast includes mezzo Christina Daletska (Johnny / Tarantino Muff), bass baritone Ruben Drole (Urguru), mezzo Annette Schönmüller (Sulamit), tenor Thomas Erlank (Harald Gottwitz) and baritone Jungrae Noah Kim (Dr. Karitzoklex). Jonathan Stockhammer conducts the Ensemble Opera Nova (11 instruments). Chris Kondek directs.

The venue is the Studiobühne.

Today : world première of 'Thérèse' by Philipp Maintz in Salzburg

Today, the Easter Festival in Salzburg presents the world première of Thérèse, a chamber opera composed by Philipp Maintz, with a libretto by Otto Katzameier after Emile Zola's novel.

(c) Paavo Blafield

It is the composer's second opera after Maldoror (Munich, International Festival for New Music Theatre, 2010).

Thérèse lives in an arranged marriage with her cousin Camille, suffering unspeakably. She falls in love with Laurent, her husband’s best friend. Now she experiences a passion and happiness she would never have considered possible previously. The absolute wish to live together eclipses all else, and they decide to murder the husband. Now the way seems clear, but this open path is the very thing irreparably damaging their bond. Both are incapable of stopping the logic of their love’s death. Assigning blame only demonstrates their powerlessness in the face of the pointless fatalism of their development. The only communality they are still able to achieve is a suicide pact. (reproduced from the Easter Festival website)

The cast includes bass baritone Otto Katzameier (Laurent), soprano Marisol Montalvo (Thérèse), countertenor Tim Severloh (Camille) and mezzo Renate Behle (Mme Raquin). Nicolas André conducts Members of the Hamburg Philharmonic Orchestra. Georges Delnon directs.

The venue is the Large University Auditorium (Grosse Universitätsaula). Further performances are planned in Hamburg in May, at the Elbphilharmonie (Kleiner Saal) during the International Music Festival.

The score is published by Bärenreiter.

Today : world première of 'The Infinite Energy of Ada Lovelace' by Kamala Sankaram in Ithaca (NY)

Today, the Opera Ithaca presents the world première of The Infinite Energy of Ada Lovelace, an opera composed by Kamala Sankaram, with a libretto by Rob Handel. It is an extended version with orchestra of Enchantress, composed in 2014.

Kamala Sankaram already composed several works for the stage, including Miranda (New York, January 2012) and Thumbprint (New York, January 2014).

Ada Lovelace, the daughter of Lord Byron, must choose between her passionate marriage and the chance to collaborate with the eccentric mathematician Charles Babbage. (reproduced from the New Dramatists website)

The cast includes mezzo Courtney Elvira (Ada Lovelace), tenor Glenn Seven Allen (William King) and baritone Dennis Jesse (Charles Babbage). Mila Henry conducts the chamber ensemble (piano and string quartet). Susannah Berryman and Mary Corsaro direct.

The performance should last about 1 hour. The first part of the evening consists of a performance of Francesca Caccini's La Liberazione di Ruggiero dall'isola d'Alcina.

The venue is The Cherry Artspace in Ithaca (NY).