Odyssey Opera to Present Rare, Oscar Wilde-Inspired Gilbert & Sullivan Work

Described as "one of the East Coast's most exciting and best opera companies (The Arts Fuse)," Odyssey Opera completes its Wilde Opera Nights series, a season-long exploration of operatic works inspired by the writings and world of Oscar Wilde.

For two nights, Odyssey Opera presents a fully-staged performance of Arthur Sullivan and W.S. Gilbert's early hit, Patience; or, Bunthorne's Bride (1881). Inspired by the aesthetes of Victorian England of the late 1800s, this two-act comic opera delves into the world that Wilde skewered with his pen.

Directed by Frank Kelley, with conductor Gil Rose and full orchestra and chorus, Patience welcomes back several Odyssey Opera alumni to the stage including Aaron Engrebreth (baritone) as Reginald Bunthorne and Sara Heaton (soprano) as Patience.

Odyssey Opera's season offerings have presented works that showcase Oscar Wilde's dramatic stories and biting humor. Patience; or, Bunthorne's Bride marks the final of four performances in the series: The Picture of DorIan Gray by Lowell Lieberman (November 18, 2016), The Importance of Being Earnest by Mario Castelnuevo-Tedesco (March 17-18, 2017), and The Dwarf (Der Zwerg) by Alexander von Zemlinsky (April 14, 2017).

"Patience is as clever and apt today as ever!" exclaimed Gil Rose, Artistic and General Director of Odyssey Opera. "We are thrilled to welcome back this wonderful classic to Boston with a talented cast and all the panache that only Gilbert & Sullivan can provide. It is a hilarious musical satire on fame, fandom, art, and pretension, essentially the 19th Century variety. If you are yearning for a good old-fashioned musical show this summer, this is the one to see!"

Patience, the sixth operatic collaboration of 14 between Gilbert and Sullivan, holds a special place in the G. & S. repertory. In its time, it was one of the famous duo's most popular operettas; its brilliant satire of the 1870's Aesthetic Movement made it a big hit running to almost 600 straight performances on the West End. Known for making fun of society in ways that still feel current and poignant, Gilbert & Sullivan's usual wit and wordplay are as sharp as ever in this rollicking satire. Set in the "aesthetic craze" of the 1870's and '80s, Patience pits the straight-laced Victorian elite against the passions and indulgences of the movement. In this comédie célèbre, fads, vanity, hypocrisy, and pretentiousness are satirized with the duo's famed panache. A fun fact about the show is that it was the first theatrical production in the world to be lit entirely by electric light.

Odyssey Opera welcomes back several alumni including Aaron Engebreth (baritone), Sara Heaton (soprano), Janna Baty (mezzo-soprano), James Maddalena (baritone), and Steven Goldstein (tenor). Playing in the title roles are Aaron Engebreth as Reginald Bunthorne and Sara Heaton as Patience who both received critical acclaim for their Odyssey Opera debuts in 2014. Engebreth was hailed for having a "superb voice and absolutely committed character (The Boston Globe)," in Dominick Argento's A Water Bird Talk. For Heaton's performance in Mozart's Lucio Silla, critics claimed her "jewel-like soprano captured all of Celia's sensual, mercurial charm and substance (Bach Track)."

Regarded as one of history's greatest playwrights and authors, Oscar Wilde (1854-1900) is best known for his novel The Picture of DorIan Gray and play The Importance of Being Earnest. His rich understanding of the human condition continues to inspire millions around the world. He was one of Ireland's most beloved writers but his personal life was at odds with societal norms of the day and the scandals that followed eclipsed the appreciation of his genius during his lifetime. Wilde's career peaked during the prosperous Victorian Era of the late 19th Century, at a time when his homosexuality was a criminal offense. Subsequent decades have proven Wilde to be one of the great writers of the English language. Opera composers have often been inspired by his world and writings.

Founded in 2013 by artistic director/conductor Gil Rose, Odyssey Opera presents adventurous and eclectic works that affirm opera as a powerful expression of the human experience. Its world-class artists perform the operatic repertoire from its historic beginnings through lesser-known masterpieces to contemporary new works and commissions in varied formats and venues. Odyssey Opera sets standards of high musical and theatrical excellence and innovative programming to advance the operatic genre beyond the familiar and into undiscovered territory. Odyssey Opera takes its audience on a journey to places they've never been before.

IF YOU GO:

Gilbert & Sullivan: Patience; or, Bunthorne's Bride
Reginald Bunthorne: Aaron Engebreth (baritone)
Patience: Sara Heaton (soprano)
Archibald Grosvenor: Paul Max Tipton (baritone)*
Lady Jane: Janna Baty (mezzo-soprano)
Colonel Calverley: James Maddalena (baritone)
Lieut. The Duke of Dunstable: Steven Goldstein (tenor)
Lady Angela: Jaime Korkos (soprano)*
Lady Ella: Sara Womble (soprano)*
Lady Saphir: Heather Gallagher (mezzo-soprano)*
Conductor: Gil Rose
Stage Director: Frank Kelley
*Odyssey Opera debut

When: Friday-Saturday, June 2-3, 2017, at 7:30 p.m.

Where: Boston University Theatre, 264 Huntington Ave, Boston, MA
T: Green to Symphony, Orange to Mass Ave

Tickets: $25 and Up. To purchase, visit odysseyopera.org or call 617.826.1626.

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