James MacMillan’s Clemency—a Boston Lyric Opera (BLO)
co-commission with the Royal Opera House, Covent
Garden; Scottish Opera; and Britten Sinfonia—has been nominated for
a Laurence Olivier Award in the category of Best New Opera Production. BLO
presents the American premiere of Clemency
as part of its recently announced
upcoming 2012/2013 Season. The Olivier Awards will be presented during a
ceremony at the Royal Opera House on April 15,
2012.
Clemency is BLO’s 2013 Opera Annex production and will be
performed at the Artists for Humanity EpiCenter February 6–10, 2013. The
libretto, by poet Michael Symmons Roberts, is drawn from the book of Genesis–Abraham and Sarah are childless and nearing the end of their lives. They are
approached by three travelers who share the unexpected and miraculous news that
Sarah will have a child in old age. The mood darkens as it becomes clear that
the travelers are on a mission of vengeance upon the neighboring towns, and
Abraham pleads clemency for their inhabitants.
Widely considered British theatre’s
most sought-after awards, the Olivier Awards were inaugurated in 1976 and are
presented by the Society of West End Theatre.
BLO’s Opera Annex offers audiences an
opportunity to experience opera in an alternative space outside the traditional
theater environment. Clemency is
BLO’s fourth Opera Annex production.
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| Hear composer James MacMillan speak about the opera. |
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