| The Royal Opera House today announces full casting details for Last Days – the highly anticipated new three-act opera based on Gus Van Sant’s 2005 film of the same name. A riff on the film’s fictionalised account of the last days of a musician, loosely based on Kurt Cobain – this haunting world premiere brings a modern tale of self-destruction to the opera stage. Opening in the Linbury Theatre on Friday 7 October, Last Days is composed by ROH/Guildhall School Composer-in-Residence Oliver Leith, with libretto by Matt Copson, and is directed by Anna Morrissey and Matt Copson. The 12 Ensemble with guest artists George Barton and Siwan Rhys will join conductor Jack Sheen in the pit. Grace Smart is set designer and Prema Mehta is the lighting designer. Star of the Palme d’Or winning film, Titane (2021), French actor Agathe Rousselle will play the non-singing role of Blake, making her West End debut. Agathe will be joined by sopranos Patricia Auchterlonie and Mimi Doulton, mezzo soprano Kate Howden, tenor Seumas Begg, bass Sion Goronwy, baritone Edmund Danon and actor Henry Jenkinson. Composer Oliver Leith said: ‘Everything in the world of Last Days is musical – from cereal bowls to bin bags – except for Blake, our lead, who simply mumbles. The music mumbles and murmurs too in a bittersweet haze. The pit score is written for my long-time collaborators, 12 Ensemble (strings), George Barton (percussion) and Siwan Rhys (piano/synthesiser), together creating a very particular quality – trying to make the opera sound like it might look’. Librettist Matt Copson adds: ‘I wrote Last Days as an existential farce. A tragedy infused with both the absurdities and banality of death and life. A battleground of the contradictions which form the world around us playing out in the maze of an opera. I hope it’s a total assault on the senses.’ Last Days will also feature a record played on set composed by Oliver Leith, sung by American songwriter, producer and singer Caroline Polachek. Accompanied by the 12 Ensemble, recorded by Dave Rowell, produced by Danny L Harle, and mastered by Heba Kadry – the limited-edition LP will be available to purchase. Last Days opens in the Linbury Theatre, from Friday 7-11 October Last Days Insight – Wednesday 27 September, The Clore Studio, ROH Visit the website to book today. |
