Igor Stravinsky's
Oedipus Rex is available to stream now thru July 18th. Stravinsky based his opera
Oedipus Rex on the ancient Greek tragedy of the same name by Sophocles. Tour members watch it while enjoying an assortment of flaky Greek pastries, Ouzo, and retsina wine.
The 1927 opera,
Oedipus Rex, is a highly stylized, ritualistic work. In fact, the composer specifically requested that it be staged with minimal movement, which works well with COVID restrictions. Throughout the course of the opera, a narrator describes the action in English. Stravinsky set his work in Latin but specified that the narration is to be spoken in the language of the audience. The performance will feature incredibly imaginative projected animations created by Manual Cinema, an Emmy Award-winning performance collective, design studio and film/video production company. Music Director James Conlon conducts a stellar cast led by tenor Russell Thomas, LA Opera's Artist in Residence, as Oedipus, the doomed king. Mezzo-soprano J'Nai Bridges returns as Jocasta, his queen (and mother). Morris Robinson sings the role of Tiresias and Robert Stahley sings the role of the Shepherd. Legendary actor Stephen Fry makes his LA Opera debut as the Narrator in this legendary tale.