AENEAS IN THE UNDERWORLD
Saturday, March 30, 2019 — 8:00pm
Art Share L.A.
801 E 4th Pl, Los Angeles, CA 90013

Microfest presents Aeneas in the Underworld, a chamber oratorio by San Diego composer Christopher Adler

Begun as a collaboration between former San Diego New Music Executive Director Colin McAllister and composer Christopher Adler in 2006, Aeneas in the Underworld is an ambitious and unique project combining oratory and music for a solo performer who recites the sixth book of Virgil’s epic story, Aeneid, in the original Latin, while playing a guitar (which is subject to drastic retuning, preparations and playing implements). The soloist, embodying the extraordinary mastery of Aeneas, the hero, is accompanied by a second guitarist, string quartet and electronics. The story recounts the hero’s descent into the underworld and fateful meeting with the shade of his father, which reveals to the hero the future glories of Rome. Projected subtitles will feature a brand new English translation by classicist Khang Le, commissioned specifically for this production.

Act I of the oratorio was performed at the soundON Festival of Modern Music in 2011, and Act II was performed with San Diego New Music in 2015. Now, we are pleased to present the complete oratorio as part of the premiere tour along with performances at the Through a Glass Darkly: UCCS Symposium on Apocalyptic in Colorado Springs, and at San Diego New Music. These performances are sponsored in part by a grant from the University of San Diego

featuring Colin McAllister, guitar and Latin orator
Pablo Gómez Cano, guitar
and Quartet Nouveau:
Batya MacAdam-Somer and Missy Lukin, violins
Annabelle Terbetski, viola
Elizabeth Brown, cello
Christopher Adler, Aeneas in the Underworld (2010-18)

Act I: The Caves of Cumae
Scene 1: The Caves of Cumae
Scene 2: Aeneas’ Prayer
Scene 3: The Prophecy
Scene 4: The Golden Bough

Act II: The Underworld
Scene 1: Acheron
Scene 2: Rhadamantus et Tisiphone
Scene 3: Infelix Dido

Act III: Elysium
Scene 1: Songs Worthy of Phoebus
Scene 2: Anchises and the Parade of Heroes

Tickets available at: https://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/4094339