American Opera Projects Presents 'Henry's Wife' and 'Eichmann in Jerusalem,' 3/13, 3/20

American Opera Projects (AOP) will present concert performances of scenes from two operas-in-development - 'Henry's Wife,' by composer Randall Eng and librettist Alexis Bernier, and 'Eichmann in Jerusalem,' by composer Mohammed Fairouz and librettist David Shapiro. 'Henry's Wife' will be presented at Manhattan School of Music's Greenfield Hall (120 Claremont Ave. @122nd St.) on Sunday, March 13 at 2:30pm, continuing a five-year relationship between AOP and Manhattan School of Music. 'Henry's Wife' and scenes from 'Eichmann in Jerusalem' will be presented on Sunday, March 20 at 7:00pm at South Oxford Space: 138 South Oxford Street in Fort Greene, Brooklyn. Each semi-staged performance will feature a panel discussion and Q&A with the creators. Tickets are $20; $15 advance; $10 students & seniors, at www.operaprojects.org.

Tenor Thomas Wazelle (New York Symphony Society, Israeli Opera, Tulsa Opera) and a cast of young singers from the Manhattan School of Music (MSM) perform Act II of the haunting love story 'Henry's Wife' about a man who feels compelled to follow the orders of his deceased first wife-- who speaks to him in his dreams-- and risk losing his current family. The March 13 presentation at MSM will be part of the school's annual New American Opera Previews: From Page to Stage series hosted by WQXR's Midge Woolsey. Scott Dunn (Glimmerglass Opera, Pittsburgh Opera, Hollywood Bowl Orchestra) music directs with stage direction by David Herskovits (Artistic Director, Target Margin Theatre). Scenes from Encompass New Opera Theatre's 'Angel of the Amazon' will also be performed.

On March 20, at South Oxford Space, 'Henry's Wife' will be performed in a pairing with 'Eichmann in Jerusalem,' a new opera that details the trial and demise of Nazi officer Adolf Eichmann, the infamous "architect of the Holocaust." Eichmann, the fifth installment in an operatic monodrama series: new works developed and/or commissioned and presented by AOP, will feature baritone Kyle Pfortmiller (De Nederlandse Opera, New York City Opera, Michigan Opera Theatre), with Jody Schum music directing and string quartet accompaniment.

Photo by Susan Wilson