Nov 07, 2000
Tickets Now on Sale For DePaul Opera Theatre's Premiere Of “The Marriages Between Zones Three, Four and Five” by Philip Glass
Tickets are now available for The DePaul Opera Theatre’s (DOT) American premiere of composer Philip Glass’ science fiction opera “The Marriages Between Zones Three, Four and Five,” with libretto by British novelist Doris Lessing, at DePaul University’s Merle Reskin Theater, 60 E. Balbo Drive, in Chicago. The dates for the opera performances are 7:30 p.m. on June 7, 7:30 p.m. on June 9 and 2 p.m. on June 10, 2001. Glass plans to attend opening night June 7. Lessing also has been invited and may attend the first performance.
Tickets, which are $20 to $25 for main floor and $10 for the balcony, can be obtained through the Merle Reskin Theatre box office by calling (312) 922-1999.
Presented for the first time in its original English-language version, with new music written for the premiere, the production will star eight highly talented voice students from DePaul’s well-regarded School of Music opera program. Glass attended auditions for the opera at the school on Oct. 26 and chose the cast with DOT director Harry Silverstein. The composer plans to return to DePaul in the spring for rehearsals of the opera.
The opera will feature a professional orchestra, conducted by Robert Kaminskas, and a chorus of 70 directed by DePaul Choral Program Director Clayton Parr. The production’s sets will be created by Lyric Opera of Chicago artist Scott Marr, with lights by Joseph Jefferson award-winning designer Chris Solger-Binder and costumes designed by Jefferson certificate winner Jennifer Keller.
The plot of the opera focuses on a planet where peace-loving queen Al Ith of harmonious Zone Three has been ordered by godlike figures called the Providers to marry the warrior king Ben Ata of hostile Zone Four. The mismatched pair find love but must face separation caused by the dictates of the Providers, who later require Ben Ata to marry Vashti, the queen of savage Zone Five.“This opera uses a powerful and riveting love story to explain how a race of people, from another world, have lost their way,” said Silverstein. “The life of this planet has come to disorder as each zone separates itself from the others, isolating the people from important parts of their own personalities. The vision and love of the Providers intervenes to bring the disparate aspects of this race back together. Through the lives of a few people who are profoundly changed, the planet finds hope.”
Silverstein has been looking for the opportunity to produce the opera ever since he directed the 1988 European premiere of “The Making of the Representative for the Planet Eight,” the first opera collaboration between Lessing and Glass. “The Marriages Between Zones Three, Four and Five” and “The Representative” are based on novels that are part of Lessing’s science fiction series, “Canopus in Argos: Archives.” A German translation of the “The Marriages Between Zones Three, Four and Five” opera was first performed in Heidelberg, Germany, in 1997.
Best known for his work directing contemporary operas, Silverstein has worked with Glass on productions of “Satyagraha,” “Akhnaten,” and “The Fall of the House of Usher.” For 12 years Silverstein has led DOT, a highly successful training organization for talented DePaul music students who seek careers on the stages of the world’s opera houses and theaters.
Internationally renowned soprano Catherine Malfitano and mezzo-soprano Suzanne Mentzer are among the distinguished faculty who teach in DePaul’s voice program. Among the program’s alumni is Lori Ann Fuller, a 1999 DePaul graduate who has been cast as Rose Maurrant in Kurt Weill’s “Street Scene,” scheduled for the 2001 season at the Lyric Opera. DOT graduates also will perform this year at the New York Metropolitan Opera, Zurich Opera, Berlin State Opera and other American and international venues.