Faust et Hélène and L’heure espagnole

Presented at
Irondale Center

85 S Oxford St, Brooklyn, NY 11217

New Camerata Opera will present a double bill of French one-act operas, conducted by Music Director Kamal Khan. For the first time ever, New Camerata Opera brings its unique blend of fun and immersiveness to Fort Greene, Brooklyn. Stage Director John de los Santos conjures a gorgeous world where clockwork photography by NYC-based artist Atom Moore creates a striking backdrop to this timeless story.

Faust et Hélène

Boulanger was a contemporary of Ravel’s and his influences can be heard in this piece that won her the Prix de Rome composition prize at the age of 19. With just three voices, this opera offers a generous glimpse into the genius of Boulanger’s compositional skill and deserves to be featured more frequently in the operatic canon. Taken from Goethe’s retelling of the story of Faust, Boulanger’s opera focuses on the moment when Faust is persuaded by Méphistophélès to sign over his soul to eternal damnation in return for being shown one moment of true happiness. The theme of time connects the two operas and provides a framework for Moore’s unique displays.

L’heure espagnole

First performed in Paris in 1911, L’heure espagnole is set in a clock shop in central Spain. It follows the fortunes of Torquemada, the hardworking clockmaker, as his young wife Concepción negotiates her way through her collection of ridiculous lovers. Ravel’s music is bursting with hummable melodies, lively habanera dances and other Spanish folk song elements that will defy audience’s preconceived notions of opera.

*contains adult content/partial nudity

ESTIMATED RUN TIME
1 HR 30 MINS

COVID policy


CAST (Faust et Hélène)

Helene: Tesia Kwarteng (9/16, 9/24), Eva Parr (9/17, 9/23)
Faust: Victor Khodadad (9/16, 9/24), Chris Carr (9/17, 9/23)
Méphistophélès: Kyle Oliver (9/16, 9/24), Markel Reed (9/17, 9/23)

CAST (L’heure espagnole)

Torquemada: Gabriel Hernandez
Concepción: Tesia Kwarteng (9/16, 9/24), Eva Parr (9/17, 9/23)
Gonzalve: Victor Khodadad (9/16, 9/24), Chris Carr (9/17, 9/23)
Ramiro: Kyle Oliver (9/16, 9/24), Markel Reed (9/17, 9/23)
Don Iñigo Gomez: Andy Dwan



Orchestra

Violin I – Julia Birnbaum, Chloe Kim
Violin II –
Shawn Barnett, Glenna Cureton
Viola – Luke Quintanilla
Cello – Katie Chambers
Bass – John-Paul Norpoth
Flute/Piccolo – Jessica Schmitz
Oboe/English Horn – Slava Znatchenii
Clarinet/Bass Clarinet – David Valbuena
French Horn – Meredith Moore
Trumpet – Malcolm Shier
Harp – Kate Sloat
Accordion – Melissa Elledge
Piano/Celeste – Peiwen Chen
Percussion – Stella Perlic, Tamika Gorski

CREATIVE TEAM

Composer – Lili Boulanger (Faust et Hélène) & Maurice Ravel (L’heure espagnole)
Director –
John de los Santos
Music Director – Kamal Khan
Projections and Stage Designer – Atom Moore
Costume Designer – Ashley Soliman
Lighting Designer Joshua Rose
Stage Manager Geoffrey Kinsey
Assistant Stage Manager
Dayvis Ferreras
Set Construction
Richard Evans
Rehearsal Pianist Peiwen Chen
Intimacy Direction Katherine M. Carter

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