For Immediate Release
November 9, 2021
CLARK ART INSTITUTE AIRS THE MET: LIVE IN HD PRODUCTION OF EURYDICE on December 4 AND HOSTS december 15 CONVERSATION WITH COMPOSER MATTHEW AUCOIN
Soprano Liv Redpath joins Aucoin to perform selections from the opera on December 15
Williamstown, Massachusetts—The Metropolitan Opera’s production of Eurydice airs at the Clark Art Institute on Saturday, December 4 at 12:55 pm in the latest presentation of The Met: Live in HD. The award-winning series of live high-definition cinema simulcasts features the full performance along with backstage interviews and commentary.
On Wednesday, December 15, following the airing of The Met: Live in HD program, Eurydice composer Matthew Aucoin visits the Clark to discuss his process in updating the ancient Greek myth for his new opera. The program, Updating Eurydice: An Adventure in Opera will be held in the Clark’s auditorium at 7 pm. Soprano Liv Redpath joins Aucoin to perform selections from the opera, and Williams College music professor W. Anthony Sheppard leads the pair in a discussion of the work. Aucoin will also discuss his new book, The Impossible Art: Adventures in Opera.
The ancient Greek myth of Orpheus, who attempts to harness the power of music to rescue his beloved Eurydice from the underworld, has inspired composers since opera’s earliest days. Aucoin now carries that tradition into the 21st century with a captivating new take on the story. With a libretto by MacArthur “Genius Grant” recipient Sarah Ruhl, adapted from her acclaimed 2003 play, the opera reimagines the familiar tale from Eurydice’s point of view. Met Music Director Yannick Nézet-Séguin takes the podium, leading Aucoin’s evocative music and an immersive new staging by Mary Zimmerman. Soprano Erin Morley sings the title role, opposite baritone Joshua Hopkins as Orpheus and countertenor Jakub Józef Orliński as his otherworldly alter ego.
Tickets for Eurydice on December 4 are $25 ($22 for Clark members, $18 for students with valid ID, and $7 for children 10 and under). Tickets are limited to 100 guests and are selling quickly. To purchase tickets, visit clarkart.edu or call the box office at 413 458 0524. All sales are final.
Advance registration for Updating Eurydice: An Adventure in Opera on December 15 is required at clarkart.edu/events. This event is free.
Seating capacity in the Clark’s auditorium has been reduced for this season to accommodate greater social distancing. Proof of COVID vaccination for all visitors age twelve and older is required. All guests age five and older are required to wear facemasks at all times while inside the Clark’s facilities.
The next Met: Live in HD performance is The Magic Flute, airing Sunday, December 26 at 12:55pm.
ABOUT THE CLARK
The Clark Art Institute, located in the Berkshires of western Massachusetts, is one of a small number of institutions globally that is both an art museum and a center for research, critical discussion, and higher education in the visual arts. Opened in 1955, the Clark houses exceptional European and American paintings and sculpture, extensive collections of master prints and drawings, English silver, and early photography. Acting as convener through its Research and Academic Program, the Clark gathers an international community of scholars to participate in a lively program of conferences, colloquia, and workshops on topics of vital importance to the visual arts. The Clark library, consisting of more than 275,000 volumes, is one of the nation’s premier art history libraries. The Clark also houses and co-sponsors the Williams College Graduate Program in the History of Art.
The Clark, which has a three-star rating in the Michelin Green Guide, is located at 225 South Street in Williamstown, Massachusetts. Its 140-acre campus includes miles of hiking and walking trails through woodlands and meadows, providing an exceptional experience of art in nature. Galleries are open 10 am to 5 pm Tuesday through Sunday and daily in July and August. Advance timed tickets are required. Admission is $20; free year-round for Clark members, all visitors age 21 and under, and students with a valid student ID. Free admission is available through several programs, including First Sundays Free; a local library pass program; and EBT Card to Culture. For more information on these programs and more, visit clarkart.edu or call 413 458 2303. As of November 1, visitors age twelve and older will be required to show proof of vaccination prior to entering the Clark’s facilities. Visitors age five and older are required to wear face masks at all times while indoors, and outdoors when social distancing is not possible. For details on health and safety protocols, visit clarkart.edu/health.
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