Caramoor Presents U.S. Premiere of Idle's Not the Messiah

The United States Premiere of Not the Messiah (He's a Very Naughty Boy), a comic oratorio by Spamalot co-creators Eric Idle and John Du Prez, will be presented as part of the 2007 Caramoor International Music Festival program. 

Not the Messiah (He's a Very Naughty Boy), a comic oratorio inspired by Monty Python's Life of Brian, will have two performances in Caramoor's Venetian Theater on Sunday, July 1, at 3:30 and 7:30 pm, featuring Eric Idle as both soloist and narrator. Peter Oundjian, Caramoor's Artistic Advisor and Principal Conductor, will lead the Orchestra of St. Luke's with The Collegiate Chorale and featured soloists. 

"We are delighted to present this major U.S. premiere at Caramoor," said Michael Barrett, Caramoor's Executive Director.  "Our audiences are in for a real treat with this hilarious oratorio written by and starring an internationally-renowned comic genius." 

"As the Messiah was to the Bible, so Not the Messiah is to Life of Brian," said Eric Idle, who is also conductor Peter Oundjian's first cousin.  "It is shorter than Handel, funnier than Handel, but obviously not as good theologically." 

Not the Messiah was commissioned by Luminato: Toronto Festival of Arts & Creativity, and the Toronto Symphony Orchestra.  It played its World Premiere performance in Roy Thomson Hall, Toronto, Canada on June 1, 2007, conducted by Toronto Symphony Orchestra Music Director Peter Oundjian.

The 2007 Caramoor International Music Festival opens on June 23 and continues for seven weeks through August 5 with performances of classical, jazz, opera, Latin-American music and bluegrass, in the Venetian Theater, Spanish Courtyard, and the Music Room of the House Museum as well as other locations on the magnificent Caramoor estate. 

Tickets are now on sale for all performances online at www.caramoor.org or by calling 914-232-1252.  Caramoor Center for Music and the Arts is located at 149 Girdle Ridge Road, Katonah, New York.

Photo - Eric Idle