Opera Philadelphia will continue its “Digital Festival O” series with a free stream of its Shoko Kambara-designed, Pedro Almodóvar-style production of Rossini’s “The Barber of Seville.” I reserve judgment, but the production does look divertingly wacky, with an Elvis-impersonating Don Basilio and abundant chicken imagery(!). The opera will drop tonight at 8 p.m. EDT, and will be available on-demand through June 29. A “Show Before the Show” segment will stream at 7:00.
Here’s the trailer from 2014: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wowTcPBp-ZQ
If you’re in the mood for something a little closer to home, and certainly more serious, Daniel Bernard Roumain’s “We Shall Not Be Moved” is available for streaming through August 31. On the run after a series of tragic events, five North Philadelphia teens seek refuge in a condemned West Philly house that once served as headquarters for the black liberation group MOVE. 35 years-ago this week, a standoff with Philadelphia police ended with a neighborhood in flames and 11 people dead. The Opera Philadelphia premiere combines spoken word, contemporary movement, video projection, and a surprisingly versatile score.
Here’s a clip from “We Shall Not Be Moved”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5IRHA6cxsD4
You’ll find more information on Opera Philadelphia’s “Digital Festival O,” including a complete line-up, at the organization’s website, operaphila.org.