New Wave Opera Blog

IT'S ALIVE!!

9/25/2024

Event graphic that reads: New Wave Opera presents Night of the Living Opera! Opera is coming for you!! October 21 & 23, 5pm to midnight. Raven's Manor bar. New Wave Opera dot org. The graphic itself shows several hands reaching out of the ground of a graveyard, sending bats flying into a purple sky with a giant white moon.

SEPTEMBER 25, 2024 - Portland, Oregon - New Wave Opera is proud to present the third program of their inaugural season: NIGHT OF THE LIVING OPERA. In partnership with the iconic Raven’s Manor Haunted Bar New Wave Opera (NWO) presents the regional premieres of four contemporary operas, featuring the work of six living composers and librettists, as well as settings of short stories by Edgar Allan Poe.

The two Poe productions are THUMP, a setting of “The Tell-Tale Heart” by Portland-based composer and NWO composer-in-residence Kimberly R. Osberg, and The Oval Portrait, a setting of several Poe writings by composer Felix Jarrar. Composer Osberg will not only be attending the performances, but will also serve as director for two shows.

Four people strike a pose in front of a large painting of a raven. The four people are imitating either scary creatures or acting scared themselves.

New Wave Opera at Raven's Manor for "Music in the Manor"

“Raven’s Manor is deeply dedicated to immersive storytelling, and the Poe connections speak for themselves the moment you walk in,” says Osberg, also NWO’s resident composer. “We couldn’t have imagined a better partner to present these productions.”

"The Poe connections" abound as New Wave Opera also hosts an exclusive preview of Renegade Opera’s upcoming world premiere of THE RAVEN, a new chamber opera by composer Jesse Preis during the Wednesday evening performance.

“Both of our organizations are deeply passionate about showcasing work by living artists and providing a space for new work to develop and shine,” says Renegade Opera Executive Director Madeline Ross. “We are thrilled to unveil some of this incredible production coming to life in November!”

The other two productions are Lisa Neher and Bea Goodwin’s she conjures (a feminist tale of revenge and redemption featuring Scottish influences) and the west coast premiere of Del’Shawn Taylor and Joanie Brittingham’s hilarious Serial Killers and the City (a killer parody on the beloved TV classic, Sex and the City). Neher, who also appeared in the world premiere of Serial Killers and the City in New York City this past summer, will not only reprise her role in the production but also direct.

Two women sit at a round table, wearing bright costumes with veils that cover their faces. The veils have sewn-on lips and eyes to imitate faces.

Lisa Neher (L) in Serial Killers and the City premiere | photo by Hunter Canning, courtesy of Experiments in Opera

“It is a dream come true to present such an exciting program,” says Neher. “These shows are so different from one another, and really highlight the range of what opera can be and who it can be for. It’s the perfect way for those new to opera to give it a chance, and for long-time opera fans to discover something truly new."

A compilation of eight headshots, featuring various performers.

Featured performers include sopranos Lindsey Rae Johnson and Carolyn Quick, mezzos Lisa Neher and Allison Kim-Yok Knotts, tenor Brandon Michael, bass Deac Guidi, and pianist Sequoia. New Wave Opera artists will be repeating their performances throughout the evening from 5 until midnight - so stop by for a delicious dinner or grab some late drinks with friends!

Summaries for each show can be found on the event page.

In addition to the show itself, New Wave Opera is hosting an online silent auction - featuring items from local arts organizations and businesses like Raven's Manor, Portland Opera, Chamber Music Northwest, and more.

"There is a real collaborative spirit among people in Portland that we really cherish," says New Wave Opera soprano and board treasurer, Lindsey Rae Johnson. "We are so overwhelmed by the positive response to our inaugural season, and that so many of the arts organizations and businesses we admire were so gracious in providing such generous and unique items for the auction in support of our future programming!"

The auction will open in mid-October, and run until 11:59pm PT on Friday, October 25th. Sign up for the New Wave Opera newsletter to be first in-the-know when the bidding goes live!

RESERVATIONS FOR THIS EVENT ARE STRONGLY RECOMMENDED AND SPACE IS LIMITED. Reservations are available though the Raven’s Manor website (be sure you have the correct number of people in your party selected to view available seating options!). A $10 cover charge applies when you reserve online (non-refundable), or $15 at the door. Reservations will only be held for a maximum of 10 minutes from your arrival time. If you need to cancel your reservation, please do so through your reservation confirmation email. While walk-ins are welcome, wait times are expected to vary widely throughout the night. 21+ only. For full reservation information, visit the event page (bottom of page).

NIGHT OF THE LIVING OPERA

WHEN: Monday, October 21st & Wednesday, October 23rd | 5pm - midnight
WHERE: Raven's Manor Haunted Bar | 235 SW 1st Ave | Portland, OR | 97204
COST: $10 cover charge online, $15 at the door
ADDITIONAL DETAILS: Ages 21+ only. No RSVP required, but reservations available via Raven's Manor. We will perform off & on throughout the evening, so come anytime! Food & Drink available for purchase from the bar. Contact Raven's Manor for full menu & accommodation information.

BE THE FIRST IN THE KNOW - sign up for our mailing list today to get the latest updates on our events, recordings, and more

0 Comments

IT'S ALIVE!!

​NIGHT OF THE LIVING OPERA