Portland, March 26th. The Portland Opera is earning high marks for its production of composer Philip Glass’ Galileo Galilei. (Photo Credit, ©Portland Opera/Cory Weaver.) The Newmark Theatre production features up-and-coming voices and is sung in English. 

Here’s the story: Can you imagine? What it must have felt like? To believe-to know!-that it was the earth that revolved around the sun and not the other way around! To stand against the prevailing thought of the entire world! All the way back to his childhood as he enjoys an opera written by hisfather about-of all things-the magical story of planetary figures. 

Richard Troxell as Older Galileo

Richard Troxell as Older Galileo

We meet the famous astronomer on his deathbed, blind from looking sunward so often, and are guided backwards through his life. Back as the Church strips him of his freedom, back as he kneels to recant his work, back as he is declared a heretic.

Richard Troxell as Older Galileo

Richard Troxell as Older Galileo

Performances continue on:

 Apr 5, 2012
Thursday 7:30 pm

Apr 7, 2012
Saturday 7:30 pm
 
Featuring the Portland Opera Studio Artists
 
Maria Celeste / Duchess Christina Lindsay Ohse
Old Galileo Richard Troxell
Younger Galileo / Salviati André Chiang
Maria Maddalena / A Scribe Caitlin Mathes
Cardinal #1 / Oracle #1 John Holiday
Pope Urban VIII / Cardinal Barberini / Simplicio Nicholas Nelson
Sagredo / Marie de’Medicis / Eos Anne McKee Reed
Cardinal #2 / Servant / Oracle #2 Matthew Hayward
Cardinal #3 / Priest José Rubio
   
Conductor Anne Manson
Stage Director Kevin Newbury
Costume Designer Sue Bonde
Scenic Designer Curt Enderle
Lighting Designer Don Crossley

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