San Diego Opera’s 48th International Season continues Saturday, March 30, with the West Coast Premiere of Ildebrando Pizzetti’s opera Murder in the Cathedral. Based on the T.S. Eliot play of the same name, this opera follows the final month of Thomas Becket’s life as he defends Canterbury Cathedral from King Henry II.
Returning to sing one of his signature roles is San Diego Opera favorite, the Italian bass Ferruccio Furlanetto as Thomas Becket. American soprano Susan Neves makes her Company debut as the First Chorister. Returning singers in this production are American tenor Allan Glassman as the Herald, American tenor Joel Sorensen as the First Tempter and First Knight, American bass Malcolm MacKenzie as the Second Tempter and Second Knight, Egyptian bass Ashraf Sewailam as the Third Tempter and Third Knight, American bass Kevin Langan as the Fourth Tempter and Fourth Knight, American tenor Greg Fedderly as the First Priest, American baritone Kristopher Irmiter as the Second Priest, American bass Gregory Reinhart as the Third Priest and American mezzo-soprano Helene Schneiderman as the Second Chorister.
Italian conductor Donato Renzetti makes an important Company debut leading the opera from the podium and San Diego Opera’s General and Artistic Director, Ian Campbell, will take to the director’s chair to stage the production.
Performed in Italian with English translations above the stage, these are the first performances of Murder in the Cathedral at San Diego Opera.
The sets and costumes of Murder in the Cathedral were built and owned by San Diego Opera. The sets were designed by Ralph Funicello and the costumes were designed by Denitsa Bliznakova. The Lighting Designer is Alan Burrett.
Murder in the Cathedral was composed by Ildebrando Pizzetti with the libretto based on the Italian translation of T.S. Eliot’s play Murder in the Cathedral. Murder in the Cathedral had its world premiere at Milan’s Teatro all Scala March 1, 1958.
These performances mark the West Coast premiere of this opera.
Murder in the Cathedral will have a live radio broadcast Saturday, March 30, at 7 p.m. on KPBS radio, 89.5 FM (97.7 FM Calexico) and online at kpbs.org
