Institute For Advanced Study To Host American Opera Projects Presentation Of Heart Of Darkness By Tarik O'regan And Tom Phillips

Heart of Darkness, Tarik O'Regan's opera-in-progress, will receive a concert workshop performance, plus a libretto reading and discussion on November 4 at 8:00 p.m. in Wolfensohn Hall at the Institute for Advanced Study. Presented by the American Opera Projects (AOP) and based on the novella by Joseph Conrad, the opera's libretto is by British artist Tom Phillips.

Phillips, currently in residence at the Institute for Advanced Study as a Director's Visitor, is known not only for his paintings, which can be seen in the collections of most major museums, but also for his own musical compositions, theater and experimental television work.

O' Regan, whose CD Voices was released to much acclaim in Europe and North America, has been singled out by The Observer (London) as "one of the most original and eloquent of young composers- tonal but cutting-edge" and by The Times (London), which noted, "O'Regan's gift for lyric flight seems boundless. You might have to reach back to Vaughan Williams's Serenade to Music, or even Tallis, to find another British vocal work so exultant."

Scenes from Heart of Darkness, an opera in one act for 8 singers and 13 instruments, will be performed with singers and piano accompaniment, led by AOP Artistic Director Steven Osgood. Singers scheduled to perform include Robert Hoyt (Orlando Opera, Toledo Opera) and Michael Zegarski (New York City Opera, Opera Theater of St. Louis).

The performance is open to the public and tickets are free, but they should be reserved in advance. To request tickets or for further information about this event, please call (609) 734-8175.