Pittsburgh Opera to Present Ricky Ian Gordon's 27, 2/20

Pittsburgh Opera continues its 77th season with the Pittsburgh premiere of Ricky Ian Gordon's 27.

Spotlighting larger-than-life novelist, poet, playwright, and Pittsburgh native Gertrude Stein and her partner Alice B. Toklas, 27 will delight you with Ricky Ian Gordon's "tuneful score" and Royce Vavrek's "quick-witted libretto."

27 is a humorous and touching snapshot of the women's shared lives at 27 Rue de Fleurus in Paris in the early 1900s, featuring their famous salon and its visitors, including Picasso, Matisse, Hemingway, F. Scott Fitzgerald, and others.

On stage February 20, 23, 26 & 28 at Pittsburgh Opera Headquarters, most tickets for 27 are $40.

Three facts about 27

1. While the opera premiered on June 14, 2014, at Opera Theatre of St. Louis, Pittsburgh Opera will be performing a new production of 27. This will be the first time 27 has been performed since its premiere.

2. Gertrude Stein was born in Allegheny, Pennsylvania (now part of Pittsburgh), in 1874. She moved to Paris with her brother Leo in 1903, where she began collecting art, writing, and hosting Saturday evening salons frequented by famous painters, writers, and other notables of the day.

3. Stein met her life partner Alice Toklas on Toklas's first day in Paris. The Autobiography of Alice B. Toklas was actually written by Stein in Toklas's voice, and became Stein's first best-seller.

The story, in brief

27 takes place in Gertrude Stein and Alice Toklas' apartment at 27 Rue de Fleurus in Paris, spanning pre-World War I to post-World War II.

Alice B. Toklas sits in her living room at 27 Rue de Fleurus in Paris, and conjures the world she shared with Gertrude Stein by knitting the memories of their past back to life.

Gertrude enters the salon and invites her guests to peruse her collection, praising the genius of the artists, as Alice attends to everyone. Pablo Picasso reveals his own portrait of Gertrude in a ceremony that is met with disdain by Leo Stein and a bit of jealousy by Henri Matisse. Leo announces he is moving to Italy, and storms out. Gertrude and Alice toast his departure and sing of the ringing bells of genius that celebrate their love.

Gertrude and Alice weather the First World War in Paris. Gertrude continues to write as the cold sets in and food becomes scarce. An American doughboy stationed in Paris becomes

a friend, and provides them with coal and cigarettes, but fails to return with sought-after eggs. Another boy is added to the tally of the lost generation.

After the war, Gertrude's attention shifts from painters to writers, now welcoming the likes of Ernest Hemingway and F. Scott Fitzgerald, and the photographer Man Ray. Ernest and "Scotty" are desperate for Gertrude's endorsement, so she encourages them to wrestle for her attention - she will announce the winner a genius. As the next war approaches, the writers are expelled from the salon.

Gertrude and Alice survive the Second World War by sacrificing paintings. Picasso's portrait of Gertrude preys on her conscience, asking her to explain how a Jewish-American authoress survived Nazi-occupied France. The guilt eats away at her, and she dies in Alice's arms.

Alice, now alone, is surprised by the return of Picasso. Together they say goodbye to the portrait of Gertrude as it is being shipped to the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. Picasso sketches an image of Gertrude for Alice as the bells of genius and love chime once more.

Pittsburgh Opera celebrates its 77th season in 2015-16. Established by five intrepid women in 1939, Pittsburgh Opera is viewed as one of the most vibrant opera organizations in the U.S., with a rich artistic tradition, outstanding educational programs, an acclaimed artist training program, and a progressive outlook toward the future. Its green initiative culminated in LEED® Silver certification for its Strip District headquarters, and its capacity as a true community partner has increased significantly under General Director Christopher Hahn's leadership.

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