GEORGE FRIDERIC HANDEL -
AGRIPPINA 2000
ADVANCE TICKETS
July 24-26 2009, the Oakland Opera will present a postmodern view of Handel’s ancient political farce, AGRIPPINA. Vincenzo Grimani’s original libretto, which tells the story of Agrippina, the mother of Nero, and her plot to install her son as emperor of Rome, is reset in a fusion of multiple time periods. AGRIPPINA 2000 is an absurdist opera that creates a world so full of conflicting anachronisms that it becomes a unique stylistic environment. It’s a Pythonesque opera-comique that simultaneously parodies multiple historical locations, including Venice in the 18th century where it was premiered, Nero’s Roman Empire and Washington DC during the 2000 presidential elections. This freeform chronological juxtaposition is not confined to the text, but pervades the updated orchestration which marries Handel’s baroque da capo arias to the thick, massive sounds of amplified classical instruments such as distortion drenched electric cello and violin. The score, reset for four musicians, will engender a sound that’s half string quartet, half power trio. Agrippina 2000 is being created in collaboration with renowned filmmaker Ethan Hoerneman, whose unique chaotic style of projected imagery evokes the absurdist animation of Terry Gilliam.
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MARY WATKINS -
DARK RIVER
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