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Houston Grand Opera 2009:The World Premiere of André Previn's Brief Encounter and the return of Verdi's Rigoletto (BK)

Model for  the Brief Encounter Set - Design by Bunny Christie

Houston Grand Opera closes the 2008–09 season with its 39th premiere, André Previn’s Brief Encounter, at the Wortham Theater Center’s Brown Theater, May 1 – May 8, 2009.

Brief Encounter is German-born American pianist, conductor and composer André Previn’s second opera. His first opera, A Streetcar Named Desire, which won the Grand Prix du Disques recording award, had its premiere in San Francisco in 1998 to much acclaim and continues to be performed internationally. The winner of four Academy Awards (Best original musical score: Gigi,  Porgy and Bess, Irma la douce and My Fair Lady) and ten Grammy Awards, Mr. Previn has also received Lifetime Achievement Awards from Gramophone Magazine, the London Symphony Orchestra and the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. “André Previn is one of the great iconic musical figures of our time” says HGO General Director and CEO Anthony Freud. “He has transcended any genre of music that he has chosen to compose in; thus the opportunity to commission an opera from him is irresistibly exciting.”

Brief Encounter is an opera in two acts, based on the play Still Life and the screen play to the 1945 David Lean film Brief Encounter, both by Noël Coward. “It’s the film itself—a tale of doomed love—which I thought was so perfect and so beautifully written, directed and acted that it had to be an opera,” states Previn. John Caird, who holds two Tony Awards for his direction of Les Miserables and The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby, is both the librettist and director for Brief Encounter. “Noël Coward, as a writer, had a deeply empathetic understanding of relationships,” explains Caird. “In Brief Encounter, he has written a story of what it is like to fall in love in a completely unexpected way, out of the blue, not expecting it to happen and that makes the source very suitable for operatic adaptation.”

An honest and compassionate look at emotional infidelity, Brief Encounter stars soprano Elizabeth Futral and baritone Nathan Gunn as Laura and Alec, the couple torn between love and loyalty. Veteran baritone Kim Josephson sings the role of Laura’s bewildered husband. HGO Music Director Patrick Summers conducts. Bunny Christie is the set and costume designer and Paul Pyant is the lighting designer. Brief Encounter will be performed in English with English supertitles.

Cast  and Production Details:

Laura Jesson ...Elizabeth Futral, soprano
Alec Harvey ...Nathan Gunn, baritone
Fred Jesson...Kim Josephson, bass baritone
Dolly Messiter ...Rebekah Camm, soprano
Myrtle Bagot ....Meredith Arwady, contralto*
Albert Godby...Robert Orth, baritone
Dr. Graves ... James J. Kee, baritone
Mary Norton...Jamie Barton, mezzo
Beryl ...Alicia Gianni, soprano
Mrs. Rolandson ...Faith Sherman, mezzo
Stanley ...Adam Cioffari, bass

Conductor...Patrick Summers
Director ...John Caird*
Set and Costume Designer ...Bunny Christie*
Lighting Designer ...Paul Pyant
Houston Grand Opera Orchestra  * Houston Grand Opera debut

Related Events:

The Films of André Previn

March 29, 2009 The Fortune Cookie - The first pairing of Jack Lemmon and Walter Matthau occurs in this Billy Wilder comedy about a man who convinces his brother-in-law to fake an injury in order to win a lawsuit. André Previn composed the score to the Oscar-winning film (Matthau for Best Supporting Actor), and, like director Wilder, escaped persecution from Germany with his family as a young boy. Please call 713-639-7300 for more information.

Sunday Jazz Series at Discovery Green

March 29, 2009 Discovery Green Park at 3:00 p.m. HGO Studio Artists sing music of André Previn at the Sunday Jazz Series at Discovery Green 713-228-6737 for more information

Rigoletto

Brief Encounter will be preceded by the return of Verdi’s haunting  and tragic tale Rigoletto, last performed at HGO in 2001. This is a powerful new staging of Michael Yeargan’s classic production that was inspired by Italian painter Giorgio di Chirico. HGO Studio alumnus Scott Hendricks — the Texas-native sang the role of Silvio in HGO’s Pagliacci last year—will make his role debut as the tormented jester Rigoletto. Russian soprano and HGO Studio alumna Albina Shagimuratova (Queen of the Night in HGO’s The Magic Flute, 2008)—fresh from her highly acclaimed performances of the Queen of the Night at the Salzburg Festival, Deutsche Oper Berlin and Los Angeles Opera—will sing the role of Rigoletto’s overly protected daughter Gilda. Tenor Eric Cutler (Tamino in HGO’s The Magic Flute, 2008), returns to HGO in his role debut as the lecherous Duke of Mantua and bass Andrea Silvestrelli (Osmin in HGO’s Abduction from the Seraglio, 2008) will perform his much acclaimed Sparafucile, the assassin. HGO Studio artist Maria Markina (Lola in HGO’s Cavalleria Rusticana, 2008) sings the role of the assassin’s daughter Maddalena and bass-baritone Bradley Garvin sings Count Monterone, whose curse sets the whole opera in motion. HGO Music Director Patrick Summers conducts all performances with feature the HGO Orchestra and Chorus (Richard Bado, HGO Chorus Master). Australian Lindy Hume directs. Sets were created by internationally acclaimed designer Michael Yeargan. Costumes were designed by Peter J. Hall and lighting is by British designer Paul Pyant. Rigoletto will be sung in Italian with English supertitles.

Seen and Heard will review both of these productions. Further details about Houston Grand Opera and its programme can be found at http://www.houstongrandopera.org/.

Bill Kenny


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