Odyssey Opera Presents the Boston Premiere of LE CID in One-­Night Concert, 9/18

Odyssey Opera, a Boston-­??based opera company dedicated to exploring the full spectrum of adventurous repertoire, presents the Boston premiere of one of France's great operas, Le Cid (1885), composed by Jules Massenet (1842-­??1912). A rarity that has been sadly absent from opera houses worldwide in the 20th and 21st centuries, Le Cid is rarely produced in the United States. With its grand themes of honor, love, bravery, and sacrifice, Le Cid encompasses the sweep of historical epic and the depths of the heart. Conducted by Gil Rose, this one-­??night-­??only performance breathes new dramatic life into the legendary medieval Spanish warrior Rodrigue, known as "Le Cid" ("The Lord") (played by American tenor Paul Groves.)

"Le Cid is an underappreciated masterpiece, bringing immense dramatic intensity to the operatic stage," says Gil Rose, Artistic and General Director of Odyssey Opera. "This opera is one of Massenet's greatest achievements."

Massenet completed Le Cid in 1885, between Manon and Werther, both of which have had long and fruitful lives. Le Cid was first staged to great acclaim at Paris's Opera Garnier in 1885. It was popular for a while in the United States, first heard in New Orleans in 1890, then at the Met in 1897. The work was performed some 150 times up until 1919, when it fell out of the repertory.

Le Cid is Massenet's passionate depiction of the play by Pierre Corneille, written in 1637, that defined French classical tragedy. The hero of the opera is Rodrigue, a young knight faced with a choice between destroying the happiness of the woman he loves and sacrificing his family honor. In Massenet'?s telling-the libretto is by Adolphe d'?Ennery, Louis Gallet and E?douard Blau-Rodrigue is knighted by the king of Spain and is about to marry Chime?ne, when his father (Don Die?gue) and Chime?ne'?s father (Le Comte de Gormas) embark on an unforgivable conflict. Rodrigue is forced to kill Chime?ne's father in a duel in order to defend his own father's honor, alienating his lover and exiling himself to the front lines of the war against the Moors. Le Cid revolves around confrontation scenes, at the Spanish court and on the battlefield-every one delivered with immense force, and framed by lushly orchestrated dances and abundant choral music.

About Odyssey Opera

Founded in 2013 by Artistic Director/Conductor Gil Rose, Odyssey Opera presents adventurous and eclectic works that affirm opera as a powerful expression of the human experience. Its world-­??class artists perform the operatic repertoire from its historic beginnings throughlesser-­??known masterpieces to contemporary new works and commissions in a variety of formats and venues. Odyssey Opera sets standards of high musical and theatrical excellence and innovative programming to advance the operatic genre beyond the familiar and into undiscovered territory. Odyssey Opera takes its audience on a journey to places they've never been before. www.odysseyopera.org

Massenet: Le Cid

Conductor: Gil Rose

Rodrigue (Le Cid): Paul Groves

Chime?ne: Tamara Mancini (Boston debut)

Don Die?gue: Oren Gradus

Le Roi: Michael Chioldi

L'Infante: Eleni Calenos

Le Comte de Gormas: Kristopher Irmiter

Saint Jacques: Robert Honeysucker

Don Alonzo/L'Envoye?: David Salsbery

Fry Don Arias: Ethan Bremner