Roderick Usher
2015-16 Season
The Fall of the House of Usher
Overview
Dates
December 8, 10, 11, 13
Language
Usher House sung in English with English supertitles
Language
La Chute de la Maison Usher sung in French with English supertitles
Usher House Music and Libretto
Gordon Getty
La Chute de la Maison Usher Music & Libretto
Claude Debussy
Edgar Allan Poe's Gothic tale about a decaying castle inhabited by a tormented man and his sickly sister comes to life—twice!
Usher House Music and Libretto by Gordon Getty
By arrangement with Rork Music, publisher and copyright owner
La Chute de la Maison Usher Music and Libretto by Claude Debussy
Reconstruction and Orchestration by Robert Orledge
Usher House sung in English with English supertitles
La Chute de la Maison Usher sung in French with English supertitles
The Buzz
"Director David Pountney gave the piece a certain dark splendor, and the small cast, sensitively led by conductor Lawrence Foster, lent the score musical vigor."
—San Francisco Chronicle
"Director David Pountney neatly stitches together the two distinct takes on the macabre tale, employing Niki Turner’s effective stage production and designer David Haneke’s captivating video projections."
—San Francisco Examiner
"Baritone Brian Mulligan, who did double duty as Roderick Usher in both halves of the evening, gave a fluid, nuanced performance."
—San Francisco Chronicle
Synopsis
A decaying castle inhabited by a tormented man and his sickly twin sister comes to haunting life.
Cast
Edgar Allan Poe
Jason Bridges
Madeline Usher / Lady Madeline
Jacqueline Piccolino
Le Médecin
Joel Sorensen
Crew
Composer/Librettist ("Usher House")
Gordon Getty
Completion of "La Chute de la Maison Usher"
Robert Orledge
Conductor
Lawrence Foster
Director
David Pountney
Associate Director
Polly Graham *
Production Designer
Niki Turner*
Video Production Designer
David Haneke*
Lighting Designer
Tim Mitchell*
Lighting Supervisor
Benjamin Naylor*
Choreographer ("Usher House")
Jo Jeffries*
*San Francisco Opera debut
2015 Performances
December 8, 10, 11, 13
Co-production with Welsh National Opera
U.S. Premiere of Double Bill
Watch
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The Fall of the House of Usher Highlights
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The Fall of the House of Usher Trailer
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The Fall of the House of Usher Moving Moment
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The Fall of the House of Usher - Behind the Scenes
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Interview with Gordon Getty on Usher House
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The Fall of the House of Usher - Animated Teaser
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The Fall of the House of Usher - Characters to Know
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From the desk of David Gockley - The Fall of the House of Usher
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The Fall of the House of Usher Puppeteasers
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Brian Mulligan in Nixon in China
Look
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Welsh National Opera production. Photo by Stephen Cummiskey.
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Welsh National Opera production. Photo by Stephen Cummiskey.
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Jamielyn Duggan (Madeline), Usher House. Photo by Cory Weaver.
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Anthony Reed (Doctor Primus), Usher House. Photo by Cory Weaver.
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Brian Mulligan (Roderick Usher), Usher House. Photo by Cory Weaver.
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Jacqueline Piccolino (Madeline Usher/Lady Madeline). La Chute de la Maison Usher. Photo by Cory Weaver.
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Brian Mulligan (Roderick Usher), La Chute de la Maison Usher. Photo by Cory Weaver.
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Edward Nelson (L'Ami), La Chute de la Maison Usher. Photo by Cory Weaver.
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Joel Sorensen (Le Médecin), La Chute de la Maison Usher. Photo by Cory Weaver.
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Brian Mulligan (Roderick Usher) and Edward Nelson (L'Ami), La Chute de la Maison Usher. Photo by Cory Weaver.
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Jason Bridges (Edgar Allan Poe), Usher House. Photo by Cory Weaver.
Listen
Listen to the music from the Opera
Related Articles
Dive deeper by exploring articles before or after the opera!
Made Possible By
This production is made possible by Jan Shrem and Maria Manetti Shrem.