Opera by Thomas Adès directed by Jay Scheib Produced by New York CIty Opera, February 15, 2013 - February 23, 2013 at the Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM) Howard Gilman Opera House
Conducted by Jonathan Stockhammer, Associate Director Laine Rettmer, Stage Design by Marsha Ginsberg, Costumes by Alba Clemente, Lighting by Thomas Dunn, Projections by Josh Higgason; playing the Duchess Allison Cook, Maid Nili Riemer, Electrician William Ferguson, Hotel Manager Matt Boehler, Waiter Jon Morris, Nurse Kaneza Schaal
Inspired by a sex scandal that rocked Britain in the early 60s, Powder Her Face (1995) is a chamber opera composed by England’s Thomas Adès to a libretto by Philip Hensher. The new NYC Opera production marks the work’s return to BAM 15 years after its New York premiere at the venue, when it was presented at the BAM Majestic (now Harvey) Theater during the 1998 Next Wave Festival. Through the prism of Campbell’s life story, Powder Her Face explores the intersection of gender, politics, and power. Scheib brings his genre-defying vision, deep integration of new technologies, and daring physicality to this modern opera.