Urban Arias presents a new production of the Hagen-Muldoon opera Shining Brow at the Paul Sprenger Theatre of the Atlas Performing Arts Center in Washington, D.C. This new production has been dubbed the Usonian Version. It reinstates choruses and other material previously excised by the composer for the "Fallingwater Version" staged (by director Jonathan Eaton and conductor Robert Frankenberry) and toured last season by Pittsburgh Festival Opera. Two other versions of the opera exist: the original opera house version commissioned and premeired by the Madison Opera, and a reduced-orchestration for Chicago Opera Theater sutiable for smaller houses.
Urban Arias describes their new (composer-sanctioned) production as follows: "What justifies narcissism? Genius? If you’re brilliant, should society give your bad behavior a pass? SHINING BROW explores the early career of celebrity architect Frank Lloyd Wright, his adulterous affair with Mamah Cheney, andthe consequences of his enormous self-regard. Of the premiere, The New York Times wrote, “Mr. Hagen has a gift for the Big Tune, and he delivers some beauties in this opera.” Join us for an evening of gorgeous music and a fascinating psychological portrait of one of America’s greatest minds."
Robert Wood, Artistic and Executive Director of Urban Arias, has announced the cast:
- Wright: Sidney Outlaw http://sidneyoutlaw.com/
- Catherine: Rebecca Ringle http://www.rebeccaringle.com/home.html
- Mamah: Miriam Kahlil http://miriamkhalil.com/
- Edwin: Calvin Griffin http://www.calvingriffinbassbaritone.com/
- Sullivan: Robert Baker https://music.columbian.gwu.edu/robert-baker
More information about Shining Brow can be found here.
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Shining Brow's world premiere, reviewed by the New York Times in 1992 (read the review here), established Hagen's career internationally as an opera composer.