World Exclusive Behind the Scenes Look at Contemporary Opera
Date: Thursday, September 10, 2015
Time: 5:30 Doors Open, 6:00 Program
Location:Fourth Presbyterian Church, 126 E Chestnut, Chicago
Behind the Scenes: A Look at Opera Production Today
The Harvard Club of Chicago is pleased to offer its members a world exclusive to enjoy a short performance, and to learn about contemporary opera production from a recent Harvard College graduate in the midst of creating a brand new work set to premiere next year in Munich. Opportunities like this do not come along often so we hope you can join us Thursday, September 10, in Room 5G at Fourth Presbyterian Church, 126 E Chestnut. Doors open at 5:30 pm. The Program will begin at 6 pm. Tickets are limited so we encourage you to purchase them now.
Below read more about the presentation, the authors, and performers for this special one-time only event.
Behind the Scenes: A Look at Opera Production Today
What does it take to write an opera in 2015? Today, many of the largest American opera houses stage only historical works, forgetting that all operas were once contemporary, written for specific audiences in specific contexts. What is the state of opera production today? How are new technologies and staging practices changing this centuries-old art form? And how can contemporary opera maintain its artistic integrity in a world increasingly defined by "markets" as opposed to "audiences?"
Come get a behind-the-scenes look at the collaboration of composer Hauke Berheide and stage director/librettist Amy Stebbins (College '07) as they prepare a world premiere for the Bavarian State Opera. The hour-long presentation will also include a short performance!
 |
Hauke Berheide (composer) is the 2012 winner of the Rome Prize. His works have been performed by several orchestras including the Hamburg Philharmonic, Ensemble Modern, Young Euro Classic in Berlin, the Schoenberg-Haus in Vienna, and at the Semper Opera Dresden. He has been awarded prizes by several composition competitions and is an Alumnus of the Deutsche Bank Foundation's Akademie Musiktheater Heute.
 |
Amy Stebbins (stage director/librettist) graduated from Harvard University in 2007 with a B.A. in History and Literature. She subsequently moved to Berlin as a Fulbright Scholar, during which time she worked predominately at the Volksbühne. In the last years, she has collaborated on music-theater projects with pop artists, including Incubus lead guitarist Mike Einziger. Amy was a fellow at the Deutsche Bank Foundation's Akademie Musiktheater Heute. Her libretto for the one-act opera Musical Land premiered at the Deutsche Oper Tischlerei in June 2014.
 |
Benjamin Bloomfield, baritone, grew up outside of Concord, New Hampshire. Highlights of his 2014-15 season include the title role of Rigoletto with Hubbard Hall Opera Theater, Ramiro in L’heure Espagnole and Capulet in Roméo et Julliette with the Castleton Festival, Nolan Gasser’s Secret Garden, and Robert Schumann in Clara by Victoria Bond.
 |
Daniela Candillari has enjoyed international success as a conductor, collaborative pianist, and composer, most recent projects including Tosca with Bryn Terfel and the recording of Così fan tutte (both with Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra), and Kander & Ebb’s The Act at 54 Below.
EVENT DETAILS:
DATE: Thursday, September 10, 2015
TIME: 5:30 pm Doors Open / 6:00 pm Program
LOCATION: Fourth Presbyterian Church
126 E Chestnut, Room 5G, Chicago 60611
ADVANCE REGISTRATION REQUIRED, NO WALK-INS.
Reservations will be held at the door.
COST:
$25 for members and guests, $15 for Decade Group, $40 for non-members
Click here to buy tickets!!!
Please note that unless you are a non-alumnus/a, or just arrived in the Chicago area you are in our database. Therefore you MUST LOG-IN, at present using your "post.harvard" username and password (not necessarily your post.harvard email address), before completing your ticket purchase, otherwise you will create a redundant record and will have to enter all your contact information again.
CANCELLATION POLICY: All cancellations must be received during normal business hours, 2 business days prior to the event or the attendee who made the reservation will be charged due to costs associated with the reservation and/or the event itself, regardless of actual participation.
Harvard Club office:
Tel: 1-847-256-1211
Email: office@harvardclubchicago.org