Clemency - James MacMillan

James MacMillan

Rehearsals are well underway for "Clemency", a new commission by James Macmillan to be performed in the Linbury Studio Theatre, Covent Garden, directed by Katie Mitchell. This new opera is based on a story of Sarah and Abraham from Genesis, featuring Janis Kelly and Grant Doyle in the lead roles.

The world premiere in the Linbury Studio Theatre of James MacMillan’s new opera Clemency is a major event. Commissioned by ROH2, it comes after the success of MacMillan’s opera Parthenogenesis in 2009 and has been written in collaboration with the same librettist, Michael Symmons Roberts, and continues some of its themes. The opera draws on the biblical tale of Sarah and Abraham, who in old age are told that they are to have a new child. This compact interpretation of a familiar story introduces a contemporary twist to create the spiritual intensity and reflection for which MacMillan’s work is so well known. As with Parthenogenesis, the director is Katie Mitchell, renowned for the psychological acuity and innovative theatricality of her stagings. The Britten Sinfonia will again be the orchestra for MacMillan’s intense music in this new chamber opera of biblical and dramatic power.

Credits

Composer
James MacMillan

Director
Katie Mitchell

Libretto
Michael Symmons Roberts

Designer
Alex Eales

Costume Designer
John Bright

Lighting Designer
Jon Clark

Movement Director
Joseph Alford

Performers

Conductor
Clark Rundell

Sarah
Janis Kelly

Abraham
Grant Doyle

Triplets
Andrew Tortise
Eamonn Mulhall
Adam Green

For more information and tickets, please visit http://images.roh.org.uk/whatson/production.aspx?pid=15858

An ROH2 co-production with
Scottish Opera, Co-Commissioned by Scottish Opera, Britten Sinfonia and Boston Lyric Opera