Though 2014 has only just begun, many local arts organizations are looking into the future. Today, the Palm Beach Opera announced its 2015 lineup, which includes a number of events the company has come to be known for, as well as a world premiere, the first in the history of PBO.
In December, the company will once again host an Opera at the Waterfront concert. The inaugural waterfront concert held this past December was a stunning success, and the second will only be bigger and better. This year, opera lovers from across the globe will be able to catch a live stream of the outdoor concert, and attendees can keep up with the action through an updated smartphone app.
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| Daniel Okulitch will star as Herman in the world premiere of Enemies, A Love Story |
Following this free community event, the company will produce three main-stage operas. In addition to Puccini’s La Bohème (January 16-18, 2015) and Donizetti’s The Daughter of the Regiment (March 20-22, 2015), the season will include the world premiere of Enemies, A Love Story. Adapted from a book of the same name by Isaac Bashevis Singer, Enemies features a libretto by Nahma Sandrow and music by Ben Moore. In contrast to some modern, atonal operas, Moore’s composition features strong, hummable melodies with an emphasis on lyricism.
“My interest as a young man has always been the power of a memorable melody,” Moore says. “Melody is something that’s timeless.”
Palm Beach Opera staged an abridged version of Enemies in 2013 as part of its One Opera in One Hour series. For the world premiere, baritone Daniel Okulitch will play the main character Herman Broder, a holocaust survivor who, after moving to New York in 1948, finds himself torn between three loves. Conductor David Stern will lead the musicians, and Allen Moyer will design the set. Some of Moyer’s design work will be on display next week when PBO stages The Barber of Seville.
General Director Daniel Biaggi estimates it will cost the company around $1.2 million to stage the world premiere; this is in contrast to the roughly $700,000 needed to produce an existing title. The company believes this investment will pay off in the national and international opera tourism that will flood the area to see such a premiere.
Enemies, A Love Story will open on February 20, 2015 for a three-day run. For more information on Palm Beach Opera, visit pbopera.org.
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