We had the distinct pleasure of attending two recent opera premieres, the World Premiere of Heresy in Dublin by Roger Doyle and the Met’s premiere of L’Amour de Loin by acclaimed composer Kaija Saariaho. Both operas explore universal themes in strikingly different ways, from Doyle’s setting of the infamous heresy trial of Giordano Bruno, to Saariaho’s mythic setting of idealized love. We’ll hear from Eric Fraad, the director of Heresy on what it’s like to adapt to experimental music and storytelling. We’ll also talk with both composers and feature music from the operas.
Love and Heresy
Playlist
At the Court of Elizabeth I Pt. 2, by Roger Doyle
Daire Halpin, soprano; Robert Crowe, male soprano
The Divine Sophia, by Roger Doyle
Daire Halpin, soprano; Catriona O’Leary, mezzo soprano
L’Amour de Loin Overture, by Kaija Saariaho
Metropolitan Opera Orchestra; Susanna Mälkki, conductor; Eric Owens, bass-baritone
The Cell – Hallucination, by Roger Doyle
Iestyn Morris, counter tenor; Ahmad Alkaran, guest tenor; Caitriona O’Leary, mezzo soprano; Alex Smith, boy soprano
L’amour de Loin, Act II, by Kaija Saariaho
Metropolitan Opera Orchestra; Susanna Mälkki, conductor; Susanna Phillips, soprano; Tamara Mumford, mezzo soprano
Death by Fire, by Roger Doyle
Morgan Crowley, tenor
L’Amour de Loin, Act IV, by Kaija Saariaho
Metropolitan Opera Orchestra; Susanna Mälkki, conductor; Susanna Phillips, soprano; Eric Owens, bass-baritone
L’Amour de Loin, Act V, by Kaija Saariaho
Metropolitan Opera Orchestra; Susanna Mälkki, conductor; Susanna Phillips, soprano
