"Grapes Of Wrath" Opera To Premiere At Carnegie Hall
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An opera based on "The Grapes of Wrath" is coming to Carnegie Hall.
Rehearsals are underway for the operatic version of John Steinbeck's Pulitzer-winning 1939 novel set during the Great Depression
An all-star cast from Broadway and the classical music set will present work originally commissioned and produced by the Minnesota Opera.
The classical drama of grand opera music will be mixed with musical styles of the '20s and '30s, like banjo ballads, jazz choruses and a barbershop quartet.
"Of course, it's based on Steinbeck's great masterpiece, which I had never read until I started prepping this," said actor Victoria Clark. "I grew up in North Texas, which kind of is the center of the Dust Bowl. If you grow up in the Dust Bowl, I guess you don't study it. We studied everything else, but not 'The Grapes of Wrath,' so it was a pleasure to finally read it."
"When I was offered the role, I watched the movie again," said actor Christine Ebersole. "It had been so long since I'd seen it. And it's a great movie, it's just so full of compassion."
The work, which has been called "the great American opera," will be narrated by Jane Fonda. and will premiere on March 22 at Carnegie Hall.