On Friday, February 3, Houston Grand Opera opens its new production of Benjamin Britten's searing, intimate operatic exploration of human cruelty and hubris, The Rape of Lucretia.
The final installment in HGO's multi-year exploration of Britten's operas, the subject of The Rape of Lucretia is based on Livy's tale of Rome in the 6th century, in which the virtuous wife of a Roman general is raped as a "test" of her loyalty and fidelity. She commits suicide.
Britten treats this story as an allegrory of Britain during and after the second world war; it has deep resonance for the contemporary world as well, especially in the wake of decades-long conflicts in south and central America, Africa, the Balkans and the middle east.
Our new production is directed by Arin Arbus, noted for her work with Broadway's Theatre for a New Audience, and conducted by Rory Macdonald. It stars Michelle DeYoung, Jacques Imbrailo, Leah Crocetto, Judith Forst, Ryan McKinny, Joshua Hopkins, Anthny Dean Griffey and Lauren Snouffer.
CONTEXT
Visit the Britten-Pears Foundation page on Britten's operas
Listen to
HGO Dramaturg Mena Mark Hanna's podcast about Lucretia.
Read Opera CUES interview with Arin Arbus.
Read Opera News article about the opera and Arin Arbus's approach to the new production.
Connect to Classical Archives to learn more about Britten's The Rape of Lucretia; various recordings available for purchase and download.
The final installment in HGO's multi-year exploration of Britten's operas, the subject of The Rape of Lucretia is based on Livy's tale of Rome in the 6th century, in which the virtuous wife of a Roman general is raped as a "test" of her loyalty and fidelity. She commits suicide.
Britten treats this story as an allegrory of Britain during and after the second world war; it has deep resonance for the contemporary world as well, especially in the wake of decades-long conflicts in south and central America, Africa, the Balkans and the middle east.
Our new production is directed by Arin Arbus, noted for her work with Broadway's Theatre for a New Audience, and conducted by Rory Macdonald. It stars Michelle DeYoung, Jacques Imbrailo, Leah Crocetto, Judith Forst, Ryan McKinny, Joshua Hopkins, Anthny Dean Griffey and Lauren Snouffer.
CONTEXT
Visit the Britten-Pears Foundation page on Britten's operas
Listen to
HGO Dramaturg Mena Mark Hanna's podcast about Lucretia.
Read Opera CUES interview with Arin Arbus.
Read Opera News article about the opera and Arin Arbus's approach to the new production.
Connect to Classical Archives to learn more about Britten's The Rape of Lucretia; various recordings available for purchase and download.
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