Taymor & Goldenthal's Opera Grendel Has LA Premiere, 5/27

Grendel--a new opera directed and co-written by by Tony Award-winner Julie Taymor based on the fantastical epic poem Beowulf--will have its L.A. Opera premiere at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion on May 27th, according to Variety.

After seven performances in L.A., the opera--which will feature an array of imaginative puppets--will then run for four performances (July 11th through 13th and July 15th) as part of the Lincoln Center Festival.

Grendel will feature a libretto by Taymor (The Lion King) and poet J.D. McClatchy (using both English and Old English), as well as music by Elliot Goldenthal--an Oscar-winner for Frida and Taymor's husband. Based on John Gardner's epoymous novel--itself inspired by Beowulf--the show takes the point of view of the monstrous Grendel.

According to Goldenthal, the piece will be musically eclectic and feature electric guitars as well as clarinets and hand drums, among other instruments:  "Some of it goes back to Monteverdi, some feels contemporary." An orchestra of 74 will back a cast of 80.

Angelin Preljocaj will choreograph Grendel, which will be conducted by Seiji Ozawa. Opera star Denyce Graves will sing the role of The Dragon, while Desmond Richardson (Fosse, Movin' Out) will dance as Beowulf. Opera singer Eric Owen will be featured in the title role of Grendel. George Tsypin (sets), Constance Hoffman (costumes), Donald Holder (lighting), and Michael Curry (puppet design) will comprise the design team.

"He lives like an outsider. Ideas like heroism, religion, love, philosophy -- each time he finds them, underneath there's disillusionment. Considering this disillusionment regarding government and religion -- throwing bombs on other countries in the name of Allah or Jesus -- Grendel starts to make sense," stated Rosenthal, who previously collaborated on the film Frida and on the 1996 puppet-laden stage show Juan Darien. "Myth is the proper forum to explore charlatanism."

In addition to her Tony Award-winning work for The Lion King and her direction of Frida, Taymor has directed The Green Bird on Broadway, as well as the film Titus. Goldenthal has scored films such as Interview with the Vampire, Titus, Sphere, Michael Collins and Batman & Robin.

Visit www.losangelesopera.org for more information.