Gotham Chamber Opera’s final production of the 2014-15 season will be The Tempest Songbook.
The Tempest Songbook is comprised of incidental music for The Tempest composed in 1695 and attributed to Henry Purcell and Kaija Saariaho's 2004 Tempest Songbook for soprano, baritone and period instrument ensemble. This is the show's U.S. and world-stage premiere.
The performance will be a co-production with the Martha Graham Dance Co. The Martha Graham Dance Co. has received international acclaim from audiences in more than 50 countries throughout North and South America, Europe, Africa, Asia and the Middle East. The Gotham Chamber Opera has also received many accolades and has been recognized as a pioneer in creating opera productions in alternative venues.
The Tempest Songbook will explore the themes of William Shakespeare’s The Tempest using dance, movement and song. The singers and dancers will express the words and actions of various characters, which will result in a lyrical vision of Shakespeare's iconic play.
"I am thrilled to be invited to share my vision for The Tempest Songbook with Gotham Chamber Opera," said director and choreographer Luca Veggetti. "Through my association with Kaija Saariaho, I became acquainted with her Tempest Songbook and her suggested pairings with Purcell, which serves as the starting point for the production."
The Tempest Songbook will be conducted by Neal Goren and directed and choreographed by Luca Veggetti, with scenic design by Clifton Taylor and Veggetti, costume design by Peter Speliopoulos, lighting design by Clifton Taylor and video creation by Jean-Baptiste Barrière. It will feature Jennifer Zetlan, soprano; Thomas Richards, bass-baritone; and dancers from the Graham Co.
The Tempest Songbook will be performed in The Grace Rainey Rogers Auditorium at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, with three performances from March 27 to 29. Tickets for the performance are available here.
