Long Beach Opera presents a new production of Purcell’s “King Arthur” — a collaboration with Chicano provocateurs Culture Clash and LA’s premiere Baroque orchestra Musica Angelica — for only three performances at Long Beach’s Beverly O’Neill Theatre. Performances are Sunday, Jan.12, Saturday, Jan.18, and Sunday, Jan.19.
In this world premiere of LBO’s re-imagination of the work, with adaptation and direction by Andreas Mitisek in collaboration with Culture Clash, King Arthur returns as a superhero who fights a mysterious, strange and unnatural force that is attacking Earth and threatening life as we know it. Will he be able to save humanity? How will he stand up against a race of alien shape shifters who desire to conquer the galaxy?
King Arthur’s experience as a knight — with the aid of Purcell’s most adventurous music — comes in handy as he rescues his beloved princess.
Purcell based his “King Arthur” on the battles between King Arthur’s Britons and the Saxons, rather than the legends of Camelot — although Merlin does make an appearance. It is a Restoration spectacular, including such otherworldly characters as Cupid and Venus plus references to the Germanic gods of the Saxons, Woden, Thor and Freya.
World premiere of Long Beach Opera Re-imagination of
“King Arthur”
Music by Henry Purcell
Direction by Andreas Mitisek
Music Director Ilia Korol
Adaptation by Andreas Mitisek and Culture Clash
Musica Angelica, orchestra
CAST:
Cedric Berry, bass-baritone
Jamie Chamberlin, soprano
Marc Molomat, tenor
Darryl Taylor, countertenor
PERFORMANCES:
Sunday, Jan. 12, at 2:30 p.m.
Saturday, Jan. 18 at 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, Jan. 19 at 2:30 p.m.
VENUE: Beverly O’Neill Theater, 300 E. Ocean Blvd., Long Beach 90802
RUN TIME: Approx. 90 minutes without intermission / Sung in English
PRE-OPERA TALK: One hour before each performance
TICKETS: Tickets range from $49 to $150 and can be purchased either by calling the LBO Box Office at 562.470.SING (7464) or by going online to https://www.LongBeachOpera.org/Tickets/
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: https://www.LongBeachOpera.org/the-Season/king-arthur