Little Delving
Beyond Here There Be Dragons
Grendel The Opera
Apr 14, 2006 10:18 AM Filed in:
Things Medieval
My
good friends all know that one of my favorite authors is
John Gardner.
His two collections of short stories The King's Indian and
The Art of Living are
books that I go back to again and again and again, and his little
known collections of fractured fairy tales (Gudgekin The Thistle Girl,
Dragon, Dragon,
and The King Of The Hummingbirds)
are both charming and somewhat disturbing! But of course he is best
known for Grendel, a
retelling of the Old English epic Beowulf from the perspective of
the monster destined to be killed. I'm also a medievalist at heart
and a former singer and theater veteran. So when I ran across this
posting I had a moment of heightened cosmic awareness, rarely have
so many of my divergent interests converged in one event.
I think this would be really
interesting to see on stage!
ELLIOT GOLDENTHAL'S FIRST OPERA, GRENDEL, DIRECTED BY JULIE TAYMOR
PREMIERES MAY 27, 2006 AT LOS ANGELES OPERA
NEW YORK PREMIERE JULY 11 AT LINCOLN CENTER FESTIVAL
Grendel is based on the novel by John Gardner and the epic poem, Beowulf. Bass Eric Owens sings the title role; mezzo-soprano Denyce Graves is The Dragon.
Los Angeles Opera and Lincoln Center Festival have co-commissioned Grendel, the first opera by composer Elliot Goldenthal. Grendel will be directed by Julie Taymor, who is also co-librettist with J. D. McClatchy. The world premiere will take place in Los Angeles on May 27, 2006 in the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion. In New York, Grendel premieres at the New York State Theater, July 11, the opening night of the Lincoln Center Festival.
Grendel is a darkly comic retelling of the Beowulf epic from the monster's point of view. Estranged from nature and outcast from the world of men, Grendel is a passionate thinker trapped in the body of a beast. A killer who can't control his own instincts, the great monster struggles to transcend his condition in a quest for meaning and purpose.
Based on the 1971 novel by John Gardner and the Anglo-Saxon legends of Beowulf, Grendel features a score by Academy Award winner
Elliot
Goldenthal, whose richly layered work unleashes moments of often
unnerving emotional power. The brilliant Emmy and Tony winning
director Julie Taymor, co-author of the libretto with J. D.
McClatchy, will create an astonishing visual world utilizing
singers, dancers, film, puppetry and masks.
Bass Eric Owens stars in the fascinating title role, with mezzo-soprano Denyce Graves as the cynical Dragon whose wisdom reveals Grendel's inevitable role as the Eternal Enemy. Soprano Laura Claycomb is the Queen whose beauty washes away the hostilities of sworn
foes.
Tenor Jay Hunter Morris is the brave warrior who fails in his quest
to slay the beast. Tenor Richard Croft debuts as the Blind Harpist,
a poet whose songs inspire Grendel's adversaries with visions of a
glorious future and sly revisions of the bloody past. Acclaimed
dancer Desmond Richardson, former principal dancer with Alvin Ailey
American Dance Theater and American Ballet Theater, performs the
role of Beowulf.
****
Los Angeles Opera World premiere: May 27, 2006 at 7:30 PM
Performances: June 1 at 7:30 PM, 3 at 2 PM, 8 at 7:30 PM, 11 at 2 PM, 14 and 17 at
7:30 PM
Lincoln Center Festival 2006 New York premiere: July 11, 2006 at 7:30 PM
Performances: July 13, 15, 16 at 7:30 PM New York State Theater
Tickets: $40, $60, $80, $100, $130, $175, $200
Performed in English and Old English with English supertitles.
LINCOLN CENTER FESTIVAL 2006 TICKETS
Tickets for Festival 2006 go on sale Monday, May 1 for multiple-event buyers via CenterCharge, 212-721-6500, online at www.lincolncenter.org and by mail to the Avery Fisher Hall Box Office, 10 Lincoln Center Plaza, NYC, 10023. Single tickets go on sale Wednesday, June 14 at the Avery Fisher Hall Box Office, 65th Street and Broadway, as well as at all of the above outlets.
For more information visit www.lincolncenter.org and register for "My Lincoln Center" to receive a Festival brochure, updates, and special offers. You may also call Lincoln Center Customer Service at 212-875-5456.
Contact: Gary Murphy (213) 972-7554
gmurphy@laopera.com
Eileen McMahon (212) 875-5391
emcmahon@lincolncenter.org
I think this would be really
interesting to see on stage!ELLIOT GOLDENTHAL'S FIRST OPERA, GRENDEL, DIRECTED BY JULIE TAYMOR
PREMIERES MAY 27, 2006 AT LOS ANGELES OPERA
NEW YORK PREMIERE JULY 11 AT LINCOLN CENTER FESTIVAL
Grendel is based on the novel by John Gardner and the epic poem, Beowulf. Bass Eric Owens sings the title role; mezzo-soprano Denyce Graves is The Dragon.
Los Angeles Opera and Lincoln Center Festival have co-commissioned Grendel, the first opera by composer Elliot Goldenthal. Grendel will be directed by Julie Taymor, who is also co-librettist with J. D. McClatchy. The world premiere will take place in Los Angeles on May 27, 2006 in the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion. In New York, Grendel premieres at the New York State Theater, July 11, the opening night of the Lincoln Center Festival.
Grendel is a darkly comic retelling of the Beowulf epic from the monster's point of view. Estranged from nature and outcast from the world of men, Grendel is a passionate thinker trapped in the body of a beast. A killer who can't control his own instincts, the great monster struggles to transcend his condition in a quest for meaning and purpose.
Based on the 1971 novel by John Gardner and the Anglo-Saxon legends of Beowulf, Grendel features a score by Academy Award winner
Bass Eric Owens stars in the fascinating title role, with mezzo-soprano Denyce Graves as the cynical Dragon whose wisdom reveals Grendel's inevitable role as the Eternal Enemy. Soprano Laura Claycomb is the Queen whose beauty washes away the hostilities of sworn
****
Los Angeles Opera World premiere: May 27, 2006 at 7:30 PM
Performances: June 1 at 7:30 PM, 3 at 2 PM, 8 at 7:30 PM, 11 at 2 PM, 14 and 17 at
7:30 PM
Lincoln Center Festival 2006 New York premiere: July 11, 2006 at 7:30 PM
Performances: July 13, 15, 16 at 7:30 PM New York State Theater
Tickets: $40, $60, $80, $100, $130, $175, $200
Performed in English and Old English with English supertitles.
LINCOLN CENTER FESTIVAL 2006 TICKETS
Tickets for Festival 2006 go on sale Monday, May 1 for multiple-event buyers via CenterCharge, 212-721-6500, online at www.lincolncenter.org and by mail to the Avery Fisher Hall Box Office, 10 Lincoln Center Plaza, NYC, 10023. Single tickets go on sale Wednesday, June 14 at the Avery Fisher Hall Box Office, 65th Street and Broadway, as well as at all of the above outlets.
For more information visit www.lincolncenter.org and register for "My Lincoln Center" to receive a Festival brochure, updates, and special offers. You may also call Lincoln Center Customer Service at 212-875-5456.
Contact: Gary Murphy (213) 972-7554
gmurphy@laopera.com
Eileen McMahon (212) 875-5391
emcmahon@lincolncenter.org