Pegasus Opera Company this month presents the UK premiere of a double bill of two new one-act operas showcasing women in lead roles. Ruth and The Dark Lady of the Sonnets – both composed and conducted by American artist Philip Hagemann – will run for four performances only from 28 February to 4 March 2018 at the Actors Church (St Paul’s) in Covent Garden. Learn more – and then get booking!
The first opera, Ruth, is based on the biblical story, one of only two books in the Bible named after a woman. This adaptation is a tale of acceptance, sacrifice and loyalty with Ruth, a Moabite marrying the Israeli, Boaz. Ruth will be performed by soprano Alison Buchanan, Boaz will be performed by Byron Jackson (Porgy and Bess – English Touring Opera, Idomeneo – Birmingham Opera Company and Anna Nicole – Royal Opera House) and Naomi by Kamilla Dunstan.
The second opera, The Dark Lady of the Sonnets, is based on the 1910 short comedy by George Bernard Shaw which reimagines the first meeting between William Shakespeare and Queen Elizabeth. While Shakespeare is in a secret relationship with a lady of the royal court, he is enamoured with the Queen. As Shakespeare juggles both women’s tempers and desires, he finds himself inspired to write new material.
For The Dark Lady of the Sonnets, Sarah Champion plays Queen Elizabeth, Annabelle Williams (I Am – Royal Albert Hall, Mahagonny – English National Opera and Caroline or Change – National Theatre) plays The Dark Lady and Oliver Brignal (The Fantastic Mr Fox – Opera Holland Park) is William Shakespeare.
Philip Hagemann is only the second composer to transform a Shaw play into an opera. Both operas are directed by Eduardo Barreto, marking his operatic debut.
How many previous Pegasus productions have you seen?
About Pegasus Opera
Founded in 1992 by Lloyd Newton, Pegasus Opera is the UK’s leading multi-racial touring opera company. Following Newton’s death in January 2017, Alison Buchanan fulfilled Lloyd’s dying wish and has taken on the role of Artistic Director. The company creates opportunities for professional singers from diverse backgrounds to develop and perform in high-quality and innovative opera productions and arts education work.
Pegasus aims to model ‘Harmony in Diversity’ by empowering those who are continually marginalised and on the periphery of the opera world. Past productions include Carmen, Magic Flute, I Pagliacci on National Tours, Porgy and Bess at the Barbican Concert Hall, Delius’ Koanga at London’s Sadler’s Wells and Treemonisha at Queen Elizabeth Hall, Southbank Centre and UK tour.
The company’s Patrons are Dame Kiri Te Kanawa, Baroness Doreen Lawrence, Kristin Lewis and Chuka Umunna MP.
Bios
Alison Buchanan
Celebrated soprano Alison Buchanan is the winner of many prestigious awards including the Kathleen Ferrier (Decca Prize), the Luciano Pavarotti, the Washington International and the Maggie Teyte competitions. Alison has performed with New York City Opera in Porgy & Bess and Don Giovanni. She has performed in venues throughout the world including Carnegie Hall, The Sydney Opera House, The Royal Opera House, Sadler’s Wells for Pegasus Opera and for the London Symphony Orchestra. In addition, she has performed with The Baltimore and Boston Symphonies as well as the Philadelphia Orchestra. Alison has also performed in Brazil with the São Paulo Symphony Orchestra and has given concerts in St Louis, Washington DC, Gibraltar, Zimbabwe and Kazan to name but a few. She has worked with conductors such as David Robertson, Sir Colin Davis, Sir Simon Rattle, Jane Glover and Marin Alsop
Philip Hagemann
American composer and conductor Philip Hagemann has published 75 choral compositions including a delightful Christmas novelty, Fruitcake, written with Penny Leka Knapp, which has sold over 200,000 copies and was featured in the US television series Nip/Tuck. Hagemann has composed ten one-act and two full-length operas, two of which have won competitions from the National Opera Association in the US.
Director Eduardo Barreto is the founder of Requiem Productions. His directing work includes The Human Voice and The Sound of Silence (Trafalgar Studios), Dangerous Liaisons (Teatro da Trindade, Lisbon), Suddenly Last Summer (Teatro Maria Matos, Lisbon), All For Nothing (Menier Chocolate Factory), Rope (Riverside Studios), The Crime of Father Amaro and Peep Show (Greenwich Theatre). Eduardo will be making his debut as an opera director
