Atlanta Opera to Bring 'Discoveries' Series to Downtown Atlanta

The Atlanta Opera, in partnership with the Rialto Center for the Arts, brings Soldier Songs, a contemporary opera by American composer David T. Little, to Atlanta. The evening of theater will be a highly charged experience with arresting projections, eye-catching visuals and a thunderous score. Not for the faint of heart, Soldier Songs follows the true journey of an army soldier - beyond what we might see on TV or at the movies.

Soldier Songs will be presented on November 11, 12, 14 and 15th at Georgia State University's Rialto Center for the Arts. Single tickets will be available in August. Atlanta Opera subscribers will be able to purchase tickets to the Discoveries series online at atlantaopera.org or by calling 404-881-8885. Rialto Series subscribers can purchase tickets online at rialto.gsu.edu or by calling 404-413-9849. On sale dates will be announced soon. The opera will be performed in English.

"We are very excited to bring the Opera to the Rialto and to downtown Atlanta for the first time. Opera, and music overall, is critical to the growth of any city, but especially to one as diverse as Atlanta," said Tomer Zvulun, General and Artistic Director of The Atlanta Opera. "Soldier Songs is an opera about veterans and we will open on Veteran's Day as a dedication to them. This piece is about permission. It's drawn from the experiences of soldiers, and it is intended to empower them to share and talk about those experiences. That's something society does not always allow them to do, and less often they allow themselves. With the Rialto, we've found a meaningful Atlanta venue and important partner with whom we can weave ourselves into the cultural fabric of the city."

Soldier Songs is based on composer Little's interviews with soldiers from five wars. The opera follows a single soldier over 60 years from Youth (war games) to Warrior (active service) to Elder (wise and reflective). Soldier Songs compels the audience to interpret the real repercussions of war through a poignant libretto, driving and devastating music, and impactful visuals.

Soldier Songs will open on Veteran's Day, Wednesday, November 11th, in recognition to all service members who have served or are currently serving.

The Atlanta Opera's production of Soldier Songs marks two firsts: The first time this opera has been performed in the Southeast, and the first time the Atlanta Opera has ever performed in downtown Atlanta proper.

David T. Little is an American composer at the forefront of what Zvulun calls the 'Renaissance of American Opera'. His opera Dog Days has been performed by the LA Opera and the Fort Worth Opera.

Baritone Matthew Worth will play the lead role. Worth has performed in acclaimed venues such as Carnegie Hall and at the Castleton Festival. He will sing the title role in Little's latest opera, JFK, which debuts at the Fort Worth Opera in 2016.

Dr. Stuart W. Gerber, Georgia State University's associate professor of percussion, joins this production as the percussionist. Gerber has performed extensively throughout the US, Europe, Australia, and Mexico as a soloist and chamber musician.

The show will be designed by GLMMR, the production team of Vita Tzykun and David Adam Moore. GLMMR will also design Winter Journey (Winterreise) which will open the Atlanta Opera's 2015-16 season.

The new Atlanta Opera Discoveries series was made possible by a generous grant from Rosemary and John Brown. It is dedicated to audience members who are seeking new works, new ideas and fresh perspectives. As a part of the Atlanta Opera's efforts to bring operas to new audiences all over the Atlanta Metro area, those productions will be performed in exciting alternative venues such as the Rialto Center, the Alliance Theatre, the Conant Theatre at Oglethorpe, and Kennesaw State University.

The 2015-16 season opens with a theatrical version of Schubert's famed song cycle Winter Journey (Winterreise), featuring baritone David Adam Moore. Sung in German, with English subtitles, Winterreise opens at the Conant Performing Arts Center at Ogelthorpe University on September 16, 17, 19 and 20th. A special preview performance will be held at the Bailey Performance Center at Kennesaw State University on September 12th.

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