Gotham Chamber Opera to Close 2014-15 Season with THE TEMPEST SONGBOOK in March

Gotham Chamber Opera announces the final production of the 2014/2015 season, The Tempest Songbook, comprised of incidental music for The Tempest composed in 1695 and attributed to Henry Purcell, and Kaija Saariaho's 2004 Tempest Songbook for soprano, baritone and period instrument ensemble, in its U.S. and World Stage Premieres.A co-production with The Martha Graham Dance Company, The Tempest Songbook will be performed in the Grace Rainey Rogers Auditorium at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, with three performances from March 26 - 28, 2015 at 7pm. Tickets range from $30 to $175 and will be available at metmuseum.org/tickets.

The Tempest Songbook will explore the themes of William Shakespeare's The Tempest through dance, movement and song. The singers and dancers will express the words and actions of various characters, resulting in a lyrical vision of Shakespeare's play. The production is also notable for the video creation of celebrated multimedia artist Jean-Baptiste Barrière.

"I am thrilled to be invited to share my vision for The Tempest Songbook with Gotham Chamber Opera," said director and choreographer Luca Veggetti. "Through my association with Kaija Saariaho, I became acquainted with her Tempest Songbook and her suggested pairings with Purcell, which serves as the starting point for the production."

"Last season's production of The Raven, conceived by Luca Veggetti, was a tremendous success," said Neal Goren, artistic director of Gotham Chamber Opera. "We are eager to embark on another journey led by Luca as we explore his conception of The Tempest Songbook with these fabulous singers and dancers."

The Tempest Songbook will be conducted by Neal Goren and directed and choreographed by Luca Veggetti, with scenic design by Luca Veggetti and Clifton Taylor, lighting design by Clifton Taylor (who created last season's production of Hosokawa's The Raven), and video creation by Jean-Baptiste Barrière; and will feature Jennifer Zetlan, soprano, Thomas Richards, bass-baritone, and dancers from the Graham Company.

The company's 2014/2015 season begins with Alexandre bis & Comedy on the Bridge, both by Bohuslav Martinu, from October 14 - 18, 2014, followed by the revival of Gotham's 2010 production El gato con botas (Puss in Boots) in December at El Museo del Barrio.

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