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Joby Talbot's Everest

BBC Symphony Orchestra

,Barbican Hall
Photo of Everest shrouded in cloud

The UK premiere of Joby Talbot’s new opera Everest: a spectacular drama of life, death and the human spirit on the roof of the world.

May 1996, and as their plans disintegrate and a blizzard closes in, four climbers confront the summit of Mount Everest – and a life-or-death choice. Based on a true story, Talbot’s opera has a contemporary setting, but an eternal theme: the limits of human courage, and the unbreakable power of nature.

Talbot’s Everest Prelude sets the scene, combining tense, evocative music and poignant footage of George Mallory and Andrew Irvine's ill-fated attempt to conquer the icy peak in 1924. Atmospheric visual projections then throw you into the 1990s and the freezing heart of a raging storm. ‘Gripping, edge of your seat story-telling’ wrote one US critic after its premiere in 2015. ‘If you want to see where opera is headed in the 21st-century, don't miss this production.’

Tagged with: Classical music Barbican Presents BBC Symphony Orchestra More...

End-time to be announced nearer the event.

Produced by the Barbican and BBC SO

Programme

Joby Talbot Everest Prelude (UK premiere)
Everest (UK premiere)

Performers

Gene Scheer libretto
Leonard Foglia director
Elaine McCarthy projection designer
BBC Symphony Orchestra
Nicole Paiement conductor
Michael Mayes Beck
Veronika Haller Jan
Andrew Bidlack Ron
Craig Verm Doug
Avary Nielsen Meg
BBC Singers

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