Email this Article Printer-friendly RELATED ARTICLES: 18 Jul 2006 -- Back to the Source: Benjamin Bagby Performs the Original Beowulf at Lincoln Center 16 Jul 2006 -- Yes, the Wall Stayed Up, But How Was the Opera? What the East Coast Critics Say About Grendel 09 Jun 2006 -- Photo Journal: A Monster Premiere in Los Angeles 08 Jun 2006 -- Grendel Opens After Delay Forced by Technical Problem 25 May 2006 -- L.A. Opera Postpones Grendel Premiere After Technical Glitch

By Ben Mattison
02 May 2006

Rehearsals for Elliot Goldenthal and Julie Taymor's opera Grendel, based on the novel by John Gardner, began on April 10. The opera premieres at Los Angeles Opera on May 27.

Grendel retells the Beowulf epic from the point of view of the monster. Music is by Goldenthal; the libretto is by Taymor and poet J. D. McClatchy; Taymor is the director. The set designer is George Tsypin. Costumes are by Constance Hoffman; lighting is by Donald Holder.

The cast includes bass Eric Owens as Grendel, mezzo-soprano Denyce Graves as the Dragon, soprano Laura Claycomb as the Queen, tenor Jay Hunter Morris as the warrior Unferth, and tenor Richard Craft as the Blind Harpist. Steven Sloane will conduct.

Pictured above: a prop from Grendel as displayed at a media preview on April 20. Below, from top: Taymor at the first day of rehearsals on April 10; Taymor with Eric Owens; Taymor and general director Plácido Domingo at the media preview; Goldenthal with conductor Steven Sloane.

Photos by Robert Millard.

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