An Night of Opera in the Green-Wood Cemetery
A cemetery at night may seem like an odd venue for an evening of opera and classical music, but a new series at the Green-Wood Cemetery in Brooklyn is offering just that.
On June 6, 2018, the opera, “The Rose Elf” by David Hertzberg will premiere in the cemetery’s catacombs which are usually closed to the general public. It’s the first performance in the classical music series also debuting called “The Angel’s Share,” curated by Andrew Ousley.
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But the evening is about more than just the hour-long chamber opera based on a Hans Christian Andersen tale (spoiler alert — it doesn’t end well). Guests are invited into the park after hours to have a drink and watch the sun set over the New York City skyline. Then, after a short 15 to 20 minute walk, the audience enters the catacombs around 9 p.m.
Green-Wood's Catacombs are located behind a vaulted entrance. It’s a long tunnel with 30 vaults off both sides where people are interred. For the performance, a nine-piece orchestra sits at the other end while guests sit on chairs along the walls of the tunnel. The performers use the length of the catacombs during the performance.
The production is very physical, visceral and, at times, a bit eerie, with low lighting and music pinging off the walls. But the story and this particular production both connect with the unique venue. It's a unique experience that ends with long walk in the dark to the entrance of the cemetery, guided only by an occasional tiki torch to lead the way. Unfortunately, the three shows for this opera are sold out, but there are other music performances coming up later this summer and fall. Ousley said more dates for those shows will be added soon.
"The Rose Elf" premieres in the Catacombs at Green-Wood Cemetery, Wednesday, June 6, 2018. It’s part of The Angel’s Share, one of two classical music series from the "Death of Classical."
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