Boston Lyric Opera to Perform Philip Glass's IN THE PENAL COLONY, 11/11

Boston, MA - October 15, 2015 - Boston Lyric Opera (BLO) premieres its Opera Annex production of Philip Glass's dark, thought-provoking In the Penal Colony at the Cyclorama at Boston Center for the Arts, directed by BLO Emerging Artist alumnus R. B. Schlather and running November 11-15, 2015. The one-act, three-character chamber opera (which Glass dubbed a "pocket opera" for its small cast and musical ensemble, and its 90-minute running time), is based on the 1914 Franz Kafka short story: a pitch-black fable about crime and a very unusual punishment.

Performed in English, with Glass's signature driving music composed for string quintet, In the Penal Colony tells the story of The Officer and The Visitor -- and an ominous machine designed to punish prisoners for their crimes. The opera debuted in 2000 at ACT Theater in San Francisco (a co-production with Chicago's Court Theater, which also produced it that year), with direction by JoAnne Akalaitis and set design by John Conklin, who is now BLO's Artistic Advisor. In the Penal Colony premiered in New York City the following year, has had several productions in Europe and Australia, but hasn't been seen in the U.S. for 14 years.

BLO Opera Annex productions have been successful and popular additions to the company's programming for the past five seasons, reflecting a mission to build awareness of and support for opera through compelling, fully-staged chamber productions with wide audience appeal in accessible settings. Previous Opera Annex programs have included 2014's well-received production of Benjamin Britten's The Turn of the Screw (2010), Viktor Ullman's The Emperor of Atlantis (2011), Peter Maxwell Davies' The Lighthouse (2012), Jack Beeson's Lizzie Bordenand James MacMillan's Clemency, which yielded a popular cast recording (2013 - a year that saw the Annex schedule move from spring to fall), and Frank Martin's The Love Potion (2014).

"Placing Philip Glass's driving, dark and timeless opera in the center of the Cyclorama's historic 19th Century industrial space is an exciting and daunting task," says Esther Nelson, BLO's Stanford Calderwood General & Artistic Director. "But if anyone can do it, R. B. can. I am thrilled that three of our Emerging Artist alumni return to mount this production, and I can't wait to bring Philip's work back to BLO. The company performed his stunning Akhnaten in 1999, which became one of our most successful productions." [NOTE: BLO announced on October 2 that its Emerging Artist initiative has been renamed the Jane & Steven Akin Emerging Artist initiative in honor of BLO's long-serving former board chair and his wife.

Nelson says BLO's production location at the Cyclorama at Boston Center for the Arts is notable in Boston opera history, marking the first time that a professional opera has been staged there since Sarah Caldwell's 1970 production of Gustave Charpentier's Louise.

ARTISTIC and CREATIVE TEAM

In the Penal Colony plays out in 16 scenes and features a libretto by Rudy Wurlitzer. Director R. B. Schlather was a BLO Emerging Artist in the 2014/15 season and has become an international rising star, with a specialty in staging alterative operas in unique spaces. His recent genre-bending experimental works at New York City's Whitebox Art Center, staging opera performances and rehearsals as art exhibitions have drawn positive attention from both visual art and music critics, who've called his staging of Handel's Orlando "fascinating...a species of performance" and his production of Handel's Alcina "affecting...[with] a gift for drawing out vivid performances." Two BLO Emerging Artist alumni star in the production: tenor Neal Ferreira plays The Visitor and baritone David McFerrin plays The Officer. Yury Yanowskyappears as The Soldier. The quintet will be conducted by Emmanuel Music Artistic Director Ryan Turner. Set design is by Julia Noulin-Mérat, with costumes by Terese Wadden and lighting by JAX Messenger.

Philip Glass is one of the world's most prominent composers associated with musical minimalism. His style is easily recognizable for its use of repetition and its reliance on traditional diatonic harmonies.

CAST

Praised for a "rich, powerful voice" and "bravura-filled stage presence," Neal Ferreira is a nationally sought-after performer of opera and oratorio. The tenor recently received an Artist of the Year award from Syracuse Opera. He has appeared with Florida Grand Opera, The Glimmerglass Festival, Virginia Opera, Opera Colorado, Opera Boston, Boston Midsummer Opera and more.
Baritone David McFerrin has achieved critical acclaim in a wide variety of repertoire. He has sung with Santa Fe Opera, Seattle Opera, Florida Grand Opera, Opera Boston, Sarasota Opera, Boston Midsummer Opera, and at the Rossini Festival in Wildbad, Germany.

Yury Yanowsky retired last spring after 22 years as soloist, principal and principal guest artist at Boston Ballet. Since then he has concentrated on a full-time choreography career. Throughout his career Yanowsky danced many of the most iconic leading male roles in the canon. He has been a guest artist at companies around the globe and worked with the world's top choreographers.

PERFORMANCE AND TICKET INFORMATION

Boston Lyric Opera's In the Penal Colony runs November 11-15, 2015 at the Cyclorama at Boston Center for the Arts, 265 Tremont Street in Boston, with evening performances Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday matinee at 3:00 p.m.

General Admission tickets are $50, available online at blo.org, through BLO Audience Services at 617.542.6772 or by email at boxoffice@blo.org. Season subscriptions are available throughblo.org/subscribe, or by contacting BLO Audience Services at 617.542.6772 orboxoffice@blo.org.