A WATER BIRD TALK and MISS HAVISHAM’S WEDDING NIGHT

Two operas by Dominick Argento, with music and stage direction by Gil Rose; presented by Odyssey Opera.

A Water Bird Talk features baritone Aaron Engebreth. At a provincial club on the East Coast of the United States in the late 19th century, the Lecturer begins his talk about water birds. At the beginning of the lecture his wife prompts him with coughing and throat-clearing. When she leaves in the disgust the Lecturer digresses describing his unhinged home life, his “dominating, ill-tempered wife,” and regret about unfulfilled promises of his youth. Even his daughters make fun of him! At last, his wife returns and his projector explodes. He leaves the stage.

Miss Havisham’s Wedding Night, based on Charles Dickens’ novel Great Expectations, features soprano Heather Buck. Miss Havisham, deserted by her lover on their nuptial day fifty years ago, still wears her wedding attire. As she has done countless times, she describes that catastrophic turning point from so many years ago and imagines what her life could have been.

Additional performances listed on website.