Long Beach Opera to Present Peter Lieberson's KING GESAR, Begin. 9/7

Long Beach Opera (LBO) takes opera onto the shores of Long Beach for Peter Lieberson's King Gesar. One of the greatest adventure stories ever told plays out atop galloping flourishes, prayerful melodies and percussive battle cries in this1991 chamber work recounting the desert trials, grand horse race and fierce battles of the legendary Tibetan warrior King Gesar's journey toward enlightenment. Douglas Penick's libretto is drawn from the 12th century epic poem of the same name. The setting sun and crisp sea air of Harry Bridges Memorial Park augments LBO Artistic and General Director Andreas Mitisek's marriage of the oral rituals of the past with LBO's look at opera of the future. King Gesar arrives in Long Beach September 7, 13, 14 at 8:00PM.

King Gesar was conceived as a kind of campfire opera. I visualized a situation akin to Tibetan "performances": the campfire in a pitch black night under the dome of an immense starry sky...familiar situations in which people eat, drink, and tell stories. In these kinds of settings the many exploits of the great warrior Gesar are told... (Peter Lieberson)

Mitisek takes Lieberson's sentiments to heart in his new conception of the work, creating a campfire atmosphere in which families and opera goers alike will gather at sunset to hear and experience the legend of Gesar unfold.

Kristof Van Grysperre will conduct the performances, which will feature Danielle Marcelle Bond (mezzo-soprano), Roberto Perlas Gomez (baritone) and dancers from the Nannette Brodie Dance Theatre.

King Gesar is the second of LBO's Outer Limits Series, showcasing outlier chamber works in unexpected settings. LBO opened the series in 2012 with Gavin Bryars' The Paper Nautilus, an oceanic piece staged amidst the azure glow of the Aquarium of the Pacific's great hall. The series is supported by a three-year, $300,000 grant from The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. Mitisek's aim with Outer Limits is to traverse territories beyond The Edge of opera saying, "At LBO, we love exploring works that defy classification and are thrilled that The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation has given us this opportunity to expand the boundaries of the unexpected."

To post a comment, you must register and login.