1. British post-punk icon Elvis Costello & the Brodsky Quartet
Our upcoming production of The Juliet Letters features music and lyrics by one of the most acclaimed singer-songwriters Elvis Costello. Elvis helped define the new wave genre in the late 70's and early 80's and is best known for his songs “Alison,” “Watching the Detectives,” “Pump It Up” and “Veronica.” In 1993 he teamed up with the Brodsky Quartet to create a genre-bending album that features stories of love and loss.
Elysa Gardener of Rolling Stone wrote of the recorded album release in 1993:
"Of course, one of the strengths of Costello at his best has been knowing how much is too much and how much is just enough. While a project as ambitious as The Juliet Letters might have wound up mired in sentimentality and pretension, the singer and his collaborators have created something that is as accomplished as it is moving."
2. Mainstage debuts of our Resident Artists
This production features mainstage debuts for our talented 24/25 Resident Artists: soprano Ginaia Black, mezzo-soprano Erin Roth Thomas, tenor Nathaniel Catasca, baritone Matthew Maisano, as well as collaborative pianist Claire Forstman. We can't wait to see them shine in this immersive production at Artists Repertory Theatre.
3. Hannah Penn singing Shakespeare Songs
Beloved guest soloist, pre-show lecturer, and music scholar mezzo-soprano Hannah Penn returns to Portland Opera with a special performance at The Juliet Letters. Hannah will set the tone for the evening by performing a selection of pieces from Howard Blake's Shakespeare Songs. We last saw Hannah take the stage as a guest soloist in Puccini: In Concert in last season's finale in May. A staff favorite was seeing Hannah perform the role of Hannah After from our production of Laura Kaminsky's As One in 2019.
3. Collaboration with Papermoon
This production is a collaboration with Papermoon Opera Productions who designed a production of The Juliet Letters for Lyric Opera of Kansas City in 2017. This collaboration includes Papermoon co-creators Fenlon Lamb who will be Stage Directing the production (she made her Portland Opera debut last season with Mozart's The Marriage of Figaro), and scenic designer Jefferson Ridenour.
See this stunning scenic design made entirely from paper at our performances in November. Who said that opera couldn't be eco-friendly?
5. Inspired by a cultural phenomenon
The music in this unique production was inspired by a professor in Verona, Italy who took it upon himself to answer letters sent to Shakespeare's fictional character Juliet Capulet. To this day, thousands of tourists from all over the world visit a crumbling balcony in Verona to sharing their most intimate thoughts with Juliet. A team of dedicated volunteers of "The Juliet Club" have been replying to letters sent from all over the world since 1972.