Shakespeare’s The Tempest, Thirteen, Noon
By: Ellis Nassour
British composer Thomas Adès conducts the Met premiere of his contemporary English-language opera The Tempest, based on Shakespeare’s final play. The new production by Robert Lepage, acclaimed as "one of the most inspired, audacious , and personal operas in years," airs on Great Performances at the Met Sunday, (March 17) at Noon. Deborah Voigt will host the telecast.
Simon Keenlyside is the exiled magician Prospero, a role he created at the Met’s 2004 premiere and the world premiere at London’s Royal Opera. Isabel Leonard portrays Prospero’s daughter, Miranda; Alek Shrader is shipwrecked Prince, Ferdinand; Alan Oke plays the monstrous Caliban; and coloratura Audrey Luna is the air spirit Ariel. Of course, there’s the great Met orchestra.
Praised as having a " warm and clear baritone with notable musicianship," England’s Keenlyside, a winner of the Richard Tauber Prize, has performed numerous roles in London, Scotland, and Germany.
Adès is considered one of the world’s leading contemporary composers. His work has been seen in opera houses and festivals. He makes his Met debut as Tempest conductor. Lepage’s production is set against the background of Milan’s La Scala (told you it was contemporary!), designed by Jasmine Catudal and used as a box for Prospero’s sorcery. He directed the Met’s 2008 La Damnation de Faust by Berlioz; and more recently a new four-part production of Wagner’s Der Ring des Nibelungen. The Tempest is a co-production with L’Opéra de Quebec and Vienna’s Wiener Staatsoper. Support for the telecast is provided by Toll Brothers and M. Beverly and Robert G. Bartner.
Watch a preview of The Tempest and related videos at www.pbs.org/wnet/gperf/tag/opera/
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