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."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. ABOUT Stewart Copeland 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.Videos