Boston Opera Company Journeys Across "Curlew River"
Popular Benjamin Britten work returns to Boston stage after 35 year
absence

Boston, MA-Intermezzo: The New England Chamber Opera Series concludes its landmark fourth year with its grandest opera yet, a fully staged production of Benjamin Britten's challenging opus, Curlew River. Arguably among his most famous works, Curlew River is one of three Britten operas based on religious parables, and written in the form of a Japanese Noh play, a stylized format in which all the characters are performed by male singers.

The opera takes place Friday, November 17, 2006, at 8p.m., and Sunday, November 19, 2006, at 4p.m., at the Jesuit Urban Center, 775 Harrison Ave, Boston, MA. Tickets cost $25 for adults; $20 for seniors; and $15 for students.

The opera tells the story of The Madwoman and The Traveler, who both seek passage across Curlew River from The Ferryman. During the voyage, The Madwoman reveals her quest; to discover the fate of her lost son. The Ferryman then recounts a year-ago meeting with an evil master and a kidnapped boy who died at water's edge. As the voyagers come to the realization that they are speang of the same boy, the child's spirit appears, assuring them of his final peace.

"This is a challenging chamber piece due to the difficult music signals between the cast and the musicians," says John Whittlesey, founder and artistic director of Intermezzo. Along with the main cast, the production features a 7-piece orchestra performing without the benefit of a conductor. The cast for Curlew River features two veteran Britten performers. Baritone Sumner Thompson portrays The Ferryman, a role he performed to critical acclaim in Scotland and Japan, while Boston opera veteran Paul Guttry sings The Abbott. Guttry has performed several Britten works, including the title role in Noye's Fludde, another of Britten's religious parable operas. Intermezzo veteran Jason McStoots performs The Madwoman, while Intermezzo founder John Whittlesey rounds out the cast as The Traveller.

Musical direction will be by James Busby, stage direction by Andrew Ryker, and set design by William Fregosi.

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Intermezzo: The New England Chamber Opera Series is a chamber opera company based in Boston , MA . Founded in 2003, Intermezzo was born out of a vision to produce contemporary chamber operas and bring new and exciting works to the musical life of New England . All works are performed in English.