Nashville Opera Presents Phillip Glass's THE FALL OF THE HOUSE OF USHER 11/13-15

Nashville Opera will present the Tennessee premiere of renowned American composer Phillip Glass's The Fall of the House of Usher. Based on the short story by Edgar Allen Poe, Nashville Opera's production will feature a unique melding of contemporary opera and striking visual effects. The Fall of the House of Usher is directed by Nashville Opera's artistic director, John Hoomes, and features the Nashville Opera Orchestra under the direction of Maestro William Boggs. Performance will be at the Tennessee Performing Arts Center's James K. Polk Theater located at 505 Deaderick Street on Friday, November 13 at 8 PM; Saturday, November 14 at 8 PM; and Sunday, November 15 at 2 PM. Tickets range in price from $17 to $80 and are available from Nashville Opera at (615) 832-5242, online at www.nashvilleopera.org, or through the Tennessee Performing Arts Center Box Office at (615) 782-4040. A limited number of pay-what-you-can seats can be purchased at the Noah Liff Opera Center at 3622 Redmon Street in Sylvan Heights during normal business hours.

"The Fall of the House of Usher, an operatic thriller by Philip Glass based on the Edgar Allen Poe short story, is a prime example of ‘Classical Opera' meets ‘The Twilight Zone,'" says John Hoomes, artistic director of Nashville Opera. "The exciting drama of the story is given first class treatment when told through the intense and evocative musical soundscape of Philip Glass."

The cast of Nashville Opera's The Fall of the House of Usher includes tenor Vale Rideout in the role of Roderick Usher. Mr. Rideout appeared in the world premiere of Elmer Gantry which was produced by Nashville Opera in 2007. His most recent engagements include: Alfredo in La Traviata, Pacific Opera Victoria; Edgardo in Lucia di Lammermoor, Central City Opera; Faust in Faust, Opera Tampa; Gernando in L'Isola Disabitata, Gotham Chamber Opera; Nadir in Les Pêcheurs de Perles, Opera Columbus.

Soprano Jennifer Zetlan will make her Nashville Opera debut in the haunting role of Madeline Usher. Ms. Zetlan has appeared as Tytania in A Midsummer Night's Dream, Princeton Music Festival; Nannetta in Falstaff, Juilliard Opera Center; French Actress in War and Peace, Metropolitan Opera; Gretel in Hansel and Gretel, Aspen Music Festival; Emily Webb in Our Town (NY premiere), Juilliard Opera Center.

Baritone Lee Gregory returns to Nashville Opera in the role of William. Mr. Gregory portrayed Mercutio in the company's production of Romeo and Juliet in 2007. Recent engagements include the role of Silvio in Pagliacci, Opera Omaha; Wilhelm in The Ghosts of Versailles, Opera Theatre of St. Louis; Leporello in Don Giovanni, Eugene Opera; Maximilian in Candide, Toledo Opera; Schaunard in La bohème, Opera Pacific

About Nashville Opera
Nashville Opera, Tennessee's largest professional opera company, is dedicated to creating legendary productions and programs. Among the most successful regional companies in the United States of America, Nashville Opera has a presented three different world premiere operas since its inception in 1981. Main stage performances are presented at the Tennessee Performing Arts Center, and play to over 17,000 people annually. Nashville Opera's extensive education and outreach touring program reaches an additional 25,000 students in 18 counties throughout Middle Tennessee.