Hear ye, hear ye

[pallas_athena]

The Emperor of Atlantis is a witty, mordant satire of the Third Reich, an audacious gesture of resistance from the Theresienstadt concentration camp where the composer and librettist were imprisoned. The music is surprisingly, hauntingly beautiful, but the inhabitants of Theresienstadt never got to hear it. When a couple of SS officers came to the dress rehearsal, they didn't like what they saw. The performances were banned, and the composer, librettist, orchestra and their families were sent to their deaths in Auschwitz. The score only survives because Ullmann entrusted it to a friend who happened to live.

It's also the first production by the new opera company I've founded, Dioneo. We'll be staging it at the Cello Factory near Waterloo, London, on April 5, 6, 8 and 9 (but not 7.) We have a cast of wonderful singers and a 14-piece band, ably headed by director Max Hoehn and conductor John Murton. I hope you'll come and see it.

The venue is intimate and only seats 60, so advance booking is recommended (details here). Part of Dioneo's mission is to make opera available to everyone, so we've priced tickets at only £12. Come one, come all!

EDIT: For a sample of the music, here's the finale [YouTube; 2:25; not by us]. As you can hear, it's sort-of-kind-of based on the Bach chorale Ein feste Burg, known to most English speakers as A Mighty Fortress Is Our God. Enjoy.

Comments

[captrenault.livejournal.com]

Sounds great. Wish I could.

[laughingmagpie.livejournal.com]

This is inspiring, sad and wonderful all at once. I wish I could come see it too.

And wow! Congratulations on founding an opera company!

[bakeneko.livejournal.com]

It sounds absolutely amazing!

[fracture242.livejournal.com]

Saturday would be the best for us love, though I'm worried because you've sent a special Facebook invite out for the 5th - do you have a preference for it? It's unfortunately the one date that we definitely can't do.

[speedlime.livejournal.com]

This is SO GODDAMN AWESOME. I wish I could come! I'm immensely proud of you and sending lots of love and good vibes.

[mirrorshard.livejournal.com]

That sounds utterly wonderful. I may well attempt to come.

[artnouveauho.livejournal.com]

It would be superb to see you both on the Saturday! As you know, Facebook invites are crap when it comes to events that happen over several days.

Shall we make a lunch date soon? Or a fabric-shopping date? What's your life like these days?

[artnouveauho.livejournal.com]

Let me know what date you'd like, and I'll sort you out tickets.

[artnouveauho.livejournal.com]

I wish so too... but I'm excited for our date with David Tennant in June!

[breltard95.livejournal.com]

That is some gorgeous stuff, there. I hope you'll be able to record at least a clip from your production so we can get a taste of it back here in Yankeeland!

[fracture242.livejournal.com]

I am away this weekend love, but have some time free on Monday, Tuesday & Wednesday. Can you spare a few hours for shopping and a catch0up, or do you want to wait until after your production finishes?

[mirrorshard.livejournal.com]

The 9th is my birthday, and I'd been pondering doing something nice for it, so this will be perfect! I would like two disabled-concession tickets (for me and mirabehn) for the 9th, and may be able to persuade some other people to join us too.

[artnouveauho.livejournal.com]

You and she are comp'd in-- tickets booked in my name; let me know where I ought to email the reference number. I'm honoured that you'd choose to spend your birthday with us!

[artnouveauho.livejournal.com]

I'll do my damndest!

[mirrorshard.livejournal.com]

That is utterly lovely of you, thank you!

To sam@eithin.co.uk, please.

[mirabehn.livejournal.com]

Oh, you are utterly wonderful! Thank you. :-)

Sam's poll revealed at least two others who'd like tickets, both full price. Sam's out today and given that the 9th is selling out, I thought I'd better mention! So, could we have two full price tickets as well as the comps, and if you need the money today I can send it to you and they can pay me back.