Opera Parallèle's bold new production, "Everest: Opera in the Planetarium" brings audiences on a daring and immersive journey through one of the most harrowing stories of modern mountaineering. Set within the Morrison Planetarium at the California Academy of Sciences, this innovative opera adaptation recreates the tragic events of a 1996 expedition to summit Mount Everest, immersing audiences in the perilous world of high-altitude climbing like never before.

From Stage to Sky: Transforming the Opera

"Everest," composed by Joby Talbot with a libretto by Gene Scheer, has captivated opera lovers with its intense score and dramatic narrative since its premiere in 2015. It tells the story of climbers caught in an unexpected storm while attempting to summit Mount Everest, exploring themes of human ambition, nature’s power, and the fine line between life and death. During COVID, the creative team at Opera Parallèle turned the limitations of social distancing into a creative opportunity. By rendering the actions of the independently recorded opera singers of the planned Everest production, they set out to transform the live opera into a graphic novel film and a pristine recording of the magnificent score. And it worked.

Now in 2024, the production has been re-rendered for the stunningly immersive environment of the Morrison Planetarium where the vastness and majesty of the mountain are brought to life. Instead of a traditional stage, audiences are surrounded by the towering peaks, roaring winds, and unforgiving ice fields of Everest through cutting-edge digital projections that transform the planetarium’s dome into the stormy heights of the mountain. Director and conductor Nicole Paiement describes the planetarium as "a perfect canvas" for the immersive experience that heightens the opera’s emotional impact, enveloping audiences in sound and imagery that echo the mountain's danger.

Opera Parallèle’s "Everest: Opera in the Planetarium" features a recorded performance from a stellar cast, including Sasha Cooke, Nathan Granner, Kevin Burdette, and Hadleigh Adams, whose voices anchor the emotional weight of the story. The score, supported by graphic novel-inspired visuals, brings the climbers’ journey to life, guiding audiences through moments of hope, despair, and human resilience. The story's tension is heightened as viewers are transported into the climbers’ environment, surrounded by swirling snow and storm clouds.

With a rich recording of a renowned opera cast and orchestra led by Paiement, the animations come to life through facial tracking technology which transform the impassioned singer's facial movements (during the time of recording) to animated graphics which follow the singer's voices.

This is more than a production; it’s an experience. By combining the visceral power of opera with immersive technology, Opera Parallèle offers audiences an innovative way to engage with this tragic and heroic story, reminding us of the human spirit’s enduring quest for greatness, even in the face of nature’s overwhelming power.

"Everest: Opera in the Planetarium" at the Morrison Planetarium, California Academy of Sciences, runs from November 8-17. Season launch party and premiere is on November 8, Art + Tech Night is November 9, and Student Night (half-off tickets) is November 10.

TICKETS

*"Everest: Opera in the Planetarium" is an immersive film experience; cast and conductor are not appearing live.