L.A. Master Chorale to kick off 2016-17 season with Peter Sellars
Peter Sellars, a director of opera, theatre and film, is renowned worldwide for his innovative treatments of classical material from western and non-western traditions, and for his commitment to exploring the role of the performing arts in contemporary society. Sellars teaches in the UCLA Arts department of World Arts and Cultures/Dance.
When the Los Angeles Master Chorale announces its 2016-17 season on Wednesday, the lineup will be topped with a program of international significance: noted director Peter Sellars' first staged a cappella work, the Renaissance masterpiece "Lagrime di San Pietro" ("Tears of St. Peter") by Orlando di Lasso.
Artistic director Grant Gershon will conduct the show, which was written for seven-part chorus and will feature the poetry of Renaissance poet Luigi Tansillo. The Master Chorale production, which opens the season in October at Walt Disney Concert Hall, will showcase 21 singers.
Sellars, a director known for his contemporary stagings of classical works, has enjoyed a long professional relationship with Gershon as well as with the show's lighting designer, James Ingalls, known for his wide-ranging work on Broadway and beyond.
"Lagrime di San Pietro" was di Lasso's final composition. It was written in 1594 and published posthumously in 1595. At the time of his death, di Lasso was considered one of the three most famous musicians in Europe.
In a news release Sellars described Di Lasso's last opus as "so densely packed with information — from bar to bar — that it makes the collected works of Elliott Carter seem like Gilbert and Sullivan."
"Lagrime di San Pietro" will be performed at 8 p.m. Oct. 29 and 7 p.m. Oct. 30. — Jessica Gelt, Mar. 1
Find the rest of the 2016-17 season at Disney Hallon the Los Angeles Times website.