Bernstein opera double-bill at The Royal Opera in London
The Royal Opera presents a new production of Leonard Bernstein’s Trouble in Tahiti and A Quiet Place in London between 10 and 24 October. The nine performances in the Linbury Theatre are staged by Oliver Mears and conducted by Nicholas Chalmers.
The Royal Opera stages Leonard Bernstein’s Trouble in Tahiti and A Quiet Place in a new production by Oliver Mears. Rarely performed together, it is the first time the Company has staged the composer’s operas. The production includes a new small chamber ensemble arrangement of the music by Garth Edwin Sunderland. Originally conceived as two separate operas intended to be performed together, Bernstein revised Trouble in Tahiti after its premiere, incorporating it into A Quiet Place. The Bernstein Estate has recently authorized this version which returns to the composer’s initial vision.
Director Oliver Mears said: ‘We are thrilled to be presenting both of Leonard Bernstein’s operas at Covent Garden for the very first time. With these very contrasting works, Bernstein sought to create his own brand of emotionally direct, truly ‘American’ opera. Both Trouble in Tahiti and A Quiet Place are deeply personal to him, at times almost autobiographical - but also represent a savage satire of American post-war society, its conventions and expectations. With richly drawn characters, dazzling music and a theme that lots of people can relate to – the history of a family and its dysfunction – Bernstein wrote two brilliant twentieth century operas that really do speak to everyone.’
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Oliver Mears leads a discussion of the composer’s life, work and legacy in Insights: Bernstein – The Real Maestro on Thursday 17 October in the Linbury Theatre. It will also be filmed and streamed live on the Royal Ballet & Opera’s YouTube channel.
Trouble in Tahiti and A Quiet Place are set 30 years apart and follow the lives of Sam and Dinah, a married couple at odds with one other and the picturesque suburban life they crave. Bernstein’s musical theatre credentials are evident in Trouble in Tahiti whilst A Quiet Place heralds a dramatic departure from this with its introspective instrumental sections and conflict-driven ensembles.
Music from both operas features in the 2023 biopic Maestro: Bradley Cooper as Bernstein plays a piano transcription of the Postlude from A Quiet Place at the start of the film and Trouble in Tahiti accompanies a later scene when Bernstein and Montealegre are dancing together towards the bus having just met at a party.
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Photo © Alfred Eisenstaedt
