Barihunk Ken Mattice in German premiere of Everest

Ken Mattice

Barihunk Ken Mattice, who appears in our calendar and photo book this year, will star in the German premiere of Joby Talbot's Everest at Theater Hagen. The piece was commissioned by the Dallas Opera, where it debuted in 2015 starring barihunk Craig Verm, who is an actual climber. The opera at Theater Hagen runs through July 1st and tickets and cast information is available online.

The opera confronts the tragic events surrounding an ill-fated Everest expedition. Librettist Gene Scheer was fascinated by the infamous 1996 expeditions of the mountain. He wrote the libretto for Everest after traveling around the world to interview survivors of that doomed climb. Talbot told NPR that he was especially eager to create a sound world around the peak.

Everest was British composer Joby Talbot's first opera, after a career that has has included writing for film, television and ballet. The opera is also slated to receive it's Canadian premiere in February 2019. 

This summer, Mattice will be singing Fred Graham and Petrucchio in Cole Porter's Kiss Me, Kate at Theater Hagen.