LA Opera: 'Oedipus Rex'
Free (Ticket price TBA)
Russell Thomas, tenor (Oedipus)
J'Nai Bridges, mezzo-soprano (Jocasta)
John Relyea, bass (Creon / Messenger)
Morris Robinson, bass (Tiresias)
Robert Stahley, tenor (Shepherd)
Igor Stravinsky – Oedipus Rex
Stravinsky based Oedipus Rex on the ancient Greek tragedy of the same name by Sophocles – yes, the one where Oedipus unknowingly kills his own father and marries his mother. The 1927 opera is a highly stylized, ritualistic work; in fact, the composer specifically requested that it be staged with minimal movement (which works well with COVID restrictions). A narrator describes the action throughout the course of the opera. Stravinsky set his work in Latin but specified that the narration is to be spoken in the language of the audience. The performance will feature incredibly imaginative projected animations created by Manual Cinema, an Emmy Award-winning performance collective, design studio and film/video production company.
Music Director James Conlon conducts a stellar cast led by tenor Russell Thomas, LA Opera's Artist in Residence, as Oedipus, the doomed king. Mezzo-soprano J'Nai Bridges returns as Jocasta, his queen (and mother). Just announced: Legendary actor Stephen Fry will make his LA Opera debut (via audio recording) as the Narrator in this equally-legendary tale.
This special online version of LA Opera's June 6 live performance will be made available for home viewing on June 17. Details forthcoming; check here for updates: https://www.laopera.org/performances/2122-season-page/oedipus-rex/
Link to donate: https://www.laopera.org/support-us/