Last time: Sun
5:00pm
November 22, 2009
THE FALL OF THE HOUSE OF USHER
Philip Glass

The Fall of the House of Usher

 

Chamber opera in two acts with a prologue
Libretto by Arthur Yorkins, Philip Glass after a story by Edgar Allan Poe 
World premiere: American Repertory Theater,  Cambridge, USA, 18 May 1988
Premiere of this production: 7 November 2009
Original language version with Polish surtitles 

 

Running time: 1 hr. 30 min.

 

Conductor: Wojciech Michniewski
Direction: Barbara Wysocka
Set Design and Costumes : Magdalena Musiał
Movement: Tomasz Wygoda
Lighting Design : Justyna Łagowska
Projections: Lea Mattausch

 

Soloists and Orchestra of the Polish National Opera

 

"The Fall of the House of Usher" on You Tube

 

Media patrons:

 

   

For the first time a work of Philip Glass, an American composer, has appeared in the Polish National Opera in Warsaw. Set somewhere between the reality and hallucinations, with many things remaining unsaid, The Fall of the House of Usher is a story of passion evocatively building a feeling of dread. The action takes place in the title house, which according to Lovecraft, shares with its inhabitants the same soul. The opera is based on a famous story by Edgar Alan Poe, a dark stories’ master, and stays a masterpiece of gothic horror continuously fascinating and inspiring artist. In a repetitive style, typical of him, Philip Grass reveals the secrets of the unusual house and its residents inevitably heading for death. Glass is a total artiste creating not only operas (Einstein on the Beach), but also film music (The Hours by Stephen Daldry). Regardless of changing fashions, he remains a role model for successive generations of composers and listeners. The Polish premiere of the opera by Philip Glass, prepared for the 200th anniversary of Edgar Allan Poe’s birth is directed by Barbara Wysocka, one of the most interesting Polish young directors (The Curse by Wyspiański and The Drunkards by Bohomolec in the Teatr Stary in Cracow and Kaspar after Handke in the Teatr Współczesny in Wroclaw). 

 

 

TERYTORIA (TERRITORIES). A series for the Chamber Hall. Presentation of 20th ans 21st century works of opera and ballet which are almost absent from Polish theatres. Modern, sophisticated, contemporary, exploring extreme, sometimes ultimate emotional states, they are usually inspired by great works of literature, while their music does not let one easily forget itself.

TERYTORIA (TERRITORIES) is an attempt to seek new aesthetic qualities and forms of expression, to delineate innovatory veins, to release unknown visions and associations. To collaborate on the pieces, Polish National Opera invites the most interesting contemporary musical, theatrical and visual artists.


Photo: Krzysztof Bieliński
Poster for the production, designed by Adam Żebrowski