Opera and classic American drama are about to collide in the most thrilling way in Boston. Boston Lyric Opera continues its 50th anniversary season with A Streetcar Named Desire, André Previn’s luminous opera adaptation of Tennessee Williams’ Pulitzer Prize-winning play, coming to the Emerson Cutler Majestic Theatre on November 5, 6, and 8.
If anyone wondered whether Williams’ sizzling story was operatic enough, Previn and librettist Philip Littell answered with a resounding yes. The sweltering heat of a New Orleans summer sets the tone for the simmering tensions between the unforgettable Blanche DuBois, her sister Stella, and the domineering Stanley Kowalski, in a work that demands honesty and vulnerability from everyone on stage.
This new co-production with Opera Theatre of Saint Louis pairs world-class talents: conductor Daniela Candillari joins forces with internationally renowned singer, stage director, and arts leader Patricia Racette. The cast features Brittany Renee as Blanche, Angela Yam as Stella, Thomas Glass as Stanley, and Brenton Ryan as Harold Mitchell, performing with the BLO Orchestra.
Sung in English with English supertitles, the show makes a perfect night out at one of the city’s most beautiful historic theaters. And on October 28, BLO invites opera lovers to a special “Deconstructing Opera” evening at its Opera + Community Studios for a behind-the-scenes look at the production, with a complimentary reception included. Welcome to the opera, Boston!
Photo: Opera Theatre of Saint Louis
