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On Thursday, January 25th, Long Beach Opera (LBO) will present "Don't Box Me In: An Evening with Rockstar Stewart Copeland." Copeland was the drummer and co-founder of the legendary rock group The Police and has since had a productive career as a composer. Later this spring, LBO will present the West Coast Premiere of his latest opera The Invention of Morel, a time-bending sci-fi story that redefines the limits of human connection and the power of love. It was hailed as "a brilliant piece of musical surrealism" by The Chicago Tribune.
Capitalizing on the vibe and energy of punk music, Copeland's "distinctive drum sound and uniqueness of style has made him one of the most popular drummers to ever get behind a drumset." He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of The Police in 2003, the Modern Drummer Hall of Fame in 2005, and the Classic Drummer Hall of Fame in 2013. In 2016, Copeland was ranked 10th on Rolling Stone's 100 Greatest Drummers of All Time.
"Don't Box Me In" is held in the Long Beach Convention Center Terrace Theatre lobby. It features a conversation with Copeland and LBO Artistic and General Director Andreas Mitisek, about his journey from founding The Police to reinventing himself as an in-demand composer for both film and opera. Copeland said, "In opera, the composer is God. And I like playing God."
Mitisek said, "This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to meet and engage with one of the most iconic stars in rock music - who is now an important creative force in opera of our time."
The talk is preceded by a screening of Copeland's documentary Everyone Stares: The Police Inside Out. A VIP reception begins at 6:00pm. Tickets can be purchased either by calling the LBO Box Office at 562.470.SING (7464) or by going online to www.longbeachopera.org.
Copeland's opera The Tell-Tale Heart, commissioned by the Royal Opera House in London, was given its US Premiere by Long Beach Opera in May 2013. The Invention of Morel will receive its West Coast premiere on March 17, 24, and 25, 2018.
After The Police stopped touring in 1984, Copeland began his move beyond the rock arena. He created the memorable score to Francis Ford Coppola's Rumblefish, a strikingly original mixture of traditional percussion, electronically sampled car horns and ticking clocks that would earn him a 1984 Golden Globe nomination.
Copeland then went on to release a solo album, The Rhythmatist, featuring drums, percussion, other musical instruments, and occasional lead vocals added by Copeland. The album was the official soundtrack to the movie of the same name, which was co-written by Copeland. He also starred in the film, which is "A musical odyssey through the heart of Africa in search of the roots of rock & roll." (Copeland is seen playing the drums in a cage with lions surrounding him.) Soon afterward, Oliver Stone called on him to write the scores for Wall Street and Talk Radio.
The decade following the 80s was the most prolific period in Stewart Copeland's career. With scores and soundtracks as his main occupation, the famous drummer now became better known as a famous composer. Stewart had already been a productive songwriter before The Police had emerged, having released a few singles in 1978 and a follow-up album in 1980 under the pseudonym of Klark Kent.
But while The Police needed that particular touch brought to its music by Sting, Stewart's varied musical culture and knowledge allowed him to work on a variety of projects, from classical to jazz. All of these different influences surfaced in his many releases during the 1990s. But Stewart's compositions were not limited to film scores alone: in addition to composing a number of ballets, Stewart was commissioned by the Cleveland Opera to compose an opera, which he called Holy Blood And Crescent Moon. As a result of his unique sound, ear, and experience, Stewart's name soon became recognized as one of the most important composers in Hollywood.
Copeland said, "For a composer, opera is the ultimate. Writing pop songs is fun. You can stretch them into a concept album, but you're still basically limited to guitar, bass, and drums. I've done a lot of film music, which lets you play with the orchestra, but finally the director is in the driving seat. In opera, the composer is God. And I like playing God. What's difficult is coming up with something that will transcend the expectations set up by the idea of a rock musician writing an opera."
Copeland is a recipient of the Hollywood Film Festival's first Outstanding Music in Film Visionary Award, and a 2003 inductee into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. His career includes the sale of more than 60 million records worldwide, and has won him five Grammy Awards.
Date: Thursday, January 25th at 6:00pm
6:00pm -- Everyone Stares: The Police Inside Out
6:00pm - VIP Reception with Stewart Copeland
7:00pm - Talk with Stewart Copeland and Long Beach Opera
Artistic and General Director Andreas Mitisek
Where: Long Beach Convention Center, Terrace Theater Lobby
300 E Ocean Blvd, Long Beach, CA 90802
Pre-Event: Food trucks available prior to event
A bar available for drinks
Tickets: Prices -- $100 general admission (includes screening and talk
with two drink vouchers for beer or wine.)
$200 VIP reception with Stewart Copeland.
Tickets can be purchased by calling 562.470.SING
Or online to www.longbeachopera.org
