Watch Edwin Crossley-Mercer in Fauré's Pénélope

Edwin Crossley-Mercer in Pénélope

You can watch barihunk Edwin Crossley-Mercer as Eurymaque in Fauré;s Pénélope from the Opéra national du Rhin until April 21st by clicking HERE. The performance includes honorary barihunk Anna Caterina Antonacci in the title role.
 
The opera was featured along with Berlioz's Benvenuto Cellini and Stravinsky's The Rite of Spring at the opening of the Théâtre des Champs-Elysées in March 1913. The opera is based on Homer's Odyssey and tells the story of Pénélope who has been waiting twenty years for the return of her husband Odysseus, the King of Ithaca. Meanwhile, many suitors emerged who she promised to marry when she has finished weaving a shroud for her father Laertes.

Mark Van Arsdale and Edwin Crossley-Mercer

A silent, but sexy figure in Olivier Py's Pénélope

The role of Pénélope was originally written for the soprano Lucienne Bréval, who triumphed in the roles of Brünnhilde, Kundry and Griselda. Fauré's score is often reminiscent of both Wagner and Debussy and is filled with exotic, poetic motifs of desire.

This production is directed by Olivier Py with sets by Pierre-André Weitz in a realistic yet dreamlike interpretation. 

Edwin Crossley-Mercer in Fauré rarity

Edwin Crossley-Mercer

Edwin Crossley-Mercer returning to the stage after entertaining guests aboard the MS Europa on the Baltic Sea. He'll be performing Eurymaque in Fauré's Pénélope at the Opera National du Rhin in Strasbourg. He'll be joined by the amazing Anna Caterina Antonacci in the title role and hunkentenor Mark Van Arsdale as Léodès. Performances run from October 23 through November 22. 

Pénélope is the story of the return of the disguised Ulysses'to his wife who has faithfully waited twenty years for him. Many suitors unsuccessfully attempted to bend Ulysses' great bow before he proclaims his identity and the couple is reunited.

The opera, which has not set arias and little dramatic action, so it is rarely performed. This is the only scheduled performance of the opera through 2017. There are two glorious recording of the opera featuring Régine Crespin and Jessye Norman in the title role.  

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