An opera double bill! The UCLA Department of Theater and The UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music present the world premiere of Quake by Kay Rhie and Amanda Hollander and Les mamelles de Tirésias by Francis Poulenc.
Kay Rhie's Quake adapts one of Greek mythology's most treasured stories. Penelope and Odysseus are destined to be together, but they live in a fractured world that constantly pulls them apart. Set in modern-day Los Angeles, Quake reflects the cycles that trap us, and the seismic events that can finally lead to change. Full of allusions to both classical mythology and new media, Quake imagines the consequences of a world where humans make the stars, and even the previously powerful Gods would rather be celebrities. Libretto by Amanda Hollander. Conducted by Rakefet Hat. Conceived by Mary Birnbaum. Stage Direction by Alison Moritz and Staci Mize.
Poulenc's comic opera adapts the surrealist play of Guillaume Apollinaire. Originally written and performed in the years following World War II, Les mamelles de Tirésias treats gender as farce in the aftermath of the great dislocations brought on by war. Based on the play by Apollinaire. Arranged by Benjamin Britten and Viola Tunnard, performing edition by Emily Hindrichs. Conducted by Jakub Rompczyk. Conceived by Mary Birnbaum. Stage direction by Alison Moritz and Staci Mize.
Performances
Friday, June 2, 8:00 p.m.
Saturday, June 3, 2:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m.
Sunday, June 4, 2:00 p.m.
all performances are at the Freud Playhouse
Marketing Graphics by Yua Watanabe
This event is made possible by the David and Irmgard Dobrow Fund. Classical music was a passion of the Dobrows, who established a generous endowment at The UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music to make programs like this possible. We are proud to celebrate this program as part of the 2022 - 23 Dobrow Series.
This event is made possible thanks to generous support from Philip Hess in memory of Margaret Hess.
This event is made possible thanks to donors to the Peter Kazaras Opera Production Fund, recently established with a generous lead gift by founding dean Judith L. Smith. The Peter Kazaras Opera Production Fund will support productions by Opera UCLA in perpetuity, positively impacting generations of students at The UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music.