Out & About

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The New York Sun

For a certain set in New York, the first opening nights of the fall season are a beloved “back-to-school”-like ritual. Most of the time they are comfortingly predictable; but when they take the unexpected turn, it is a thrill to be remembered.

Such was the case Tuesday night at New York City Opera for the opening of “Margaret Garner,” which was composed by Richard Danielpour to a libretto by Nobel Literature Laureate Toni Morrison. The opera tells the true story of an escaped slave, Margaret Garner, who, when faced with recapture, decided to kill her children in order to prevent their enslavement. The story had been the inspiration for Ms. Morrison’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel “Beloved,” and the opera she and Mr. Danielpour derived from it premiered two years ago at the Michigan Opera Theatre in Detroit.

This American story, with its underlying questions about freedom and courage, resonated in a special way with the audience on Tuesday, the sixth anniversary of the attacks of September 11, 2001. But it was not just the content, but those assembled, that made this a memorable night.

“Theaudiencewasthrilling. Itwas extremelydiverseandyoujustdon’t get that much around Lincoln Center, and that makes a huge difference,” the executive director of City Opera, Jane Gullong, said.

City Opera’s Opera-For-All Festival, offering operas at $25 a ticket, also pulled in new audiences. And the trend is likely to continue under the direction of the new general manager and artistic director, Gerard Mortier, who will arrive from Paris in 2009.

“Gerard has made very clear he plans to reach out into the city. One of the places he wants to perform is the Apollo,” Ms. Gullong said, referring to the famous theater on 125th Street where performers ranging from Ella Fitzgerald and Billie Holiday to Stevie Wonder and Lauryn Hill have all made their names.

Until then, the opera company is focused on managing the transition period between the departure of the previous general manager and artistic director, Paul Kellogg, and Mr. Mortier’s arrival.

“The staff and the board are more deeply engaged than usual, to help usthroughaperiodwithoutavisible artistic leader,” Ms. Gullong said.

The chairwoman of City Opera, Susan Baker, is contributing more, as are various committees of the board. Board member Pamela Thomas-Graham, the group president of Liz Claiborne, served as the chairwoman of opening night, which included a dinner prior to the performance and an after-performance champagne toast. Among the guests was artist Kara Walker, whose work is on display at the New York State Theater.

Those who missed the event can seek solace October 2, when City Opera holds a “Fall Fête” with a French wine theme. The fund-raising event will honor the proprietor of Château Pichon-Lalande, May-Eliane de Lencquesaing, and feature a concert of French arias and ensembles.

This will be an event to allow patrons to literally drink in the season, with wine connoisseurs Michael Lynch and Donald Zilkha making the selections for the evening.

agordon@nysun.com


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