Capitol City Chalks Up Succssful 'Secret Agent' World Premiere
“Outstanding. Exceptional. Enjoyable. A wonderful evening. Marvelous.” These are just some of the comments overheard from audience members immediately after seeing the Capitol City Opera Company’s world premiere performance of The Secret Agent on March 15-17 at the Conant Performing Arts Center on the campus of Atlanta’s Oglethorpe University.
A tale of intrigue, anarchy, espionage, betrayal, murder and suicide, The Secret Agent is a newly completed opera based on the 1907 novel of the same name by Joseph Conrad. It explores the impact of these dark and unnerving themes on human relationships. More than 100 years later the story is still fresh and resonant.
Directed by Michael Nutter, the artistic director for the company, with music direction by Catherine Giel, the opera's music was composed by Atlantan Curtis Bryant. Libretto was by New York forensic psychiatrist Allen Reichman.
The production featured baritone Wade Thomas as the spy, Adolf Verloc; soprano Elizabeth Claxton as Winnie Verloc; baritone Ivan Segovia as Karl Yundt, the man who always carries a bomb; counter-tenor Chase Davidson as Stevie, the tragic hero; and tenor Timothy Miller as Ossipan.
See the entire opera on YouTube by clicking here.
Working on a world premiere brought new challenges for the opera company founded by Donna Angel, now artistic director emeritus, that The Atlanta Journal-Constitution recently dubbed as “Atlanta’s irrepressible and irreplaceable small opera company.”
"When staging a work that is already known, both the cast and the audience have set levels of expectations about what they will experience," Nutter said. "But a new work presents unknown factors."
According to Nutter, The Secret Agent’s biggest technical staging challenge occurs during the final moments of the opera when Winnie jumps off her train and into the front of an oncoming train on the next track.
“But it all came together. The orchestration sounded like a train in the theater, and the lights blinded the audience, forcing them to experience Winnie’s jump,” Nutter added.
Testifying to the impact of the final scene, one attendee said, “I was just a member of the audience watching the action on stage until Winnie jumped. Then suddenly I felt like I was with her. The light, the sound, then nothing but the blackness of death. It was powerful conclusion."
Visit http://www.ccityopera.org/performances/the-secret-agent/secretagentstory to learn more about The Secret Agent story. Visit the company's Facebook page at www.facebook.com/CapitolCityOpera for more information about Capitol City Opera.
Highlights from 'The Magic Flute' Set for May 21 Dinner and a Diva
Members of the company's Dinner & a Diva
ensemble will serve up highlights from Mozart's opera The Magic Flute on
Tuesday, May 21, at Petite Auberge in Toco Hills. Appetizers/Tapas and cash bar begins at 6:30 p.m. The program and dinner begins in the dining
area at 7 p.m. $55 per person includes a three-course dinner with wine. Tax and
tip are included in the price. It should prove to be a wonderful evening of
outstanding music highlighted by a great meal! Call 404.634.6268 to make your reservations. The Magic Flute is a continuing Dinner & a Diva favorite that should sell out quickly. Looking further into the future for Dinner & a
Diva programs, Viva la France is scheduled for Tuesday, June 18;
and selections from Porgy and Bess are on the Tuesday,
July 23 "music menu."
Support Capitol City Opera
Planning your 2012 giving? Please consider Capitol City Opera! As a 501(c)3 organization, your donation is fully tax deductible and can support our ongoing efforts to bring opera programs to enthusiasts, potential artists and patrons of all ages! Your donation will be acknowledged with a receipt letter for tax purposes. You can donate online via our Pay Pal account, by telephone or by sending us a check at the address below. We appreciate your support! Mailing Address:
Capitol City Opera Company, Inc. 1266 West Paces Ferry Road NW #451 Atlanta, GA 30327-2306 678.301.8013 Bringing Opera to Audiences of All Ages Whether it's through our monthly Dinner and a Diva series, our educational programs, or one of our stage productions, we make opera accessible to all sorts of audiences. Join us for an event soon. You'll be glad you did! Capitol City Opera thanks its public and corporate supporters.
Special thanks to our partner Oglethorpe University.
Please also visit our Season Sponsors page to see a list of generous individuals and families that support Capitol City Opera. | Learn more about
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