As part of Seattle Opera’s Open House this Saturday, September 23rd, Lowbrow Opera Collective, will revive their short original opera Achilles & Patroclus, first performed as part of the More Than Friends show, which was conceived by Erika Meyer and James T. Washburn during Seattle Opera’s 2021 Creation Lab. Through flashes of intimate moments and memories, Achilles remembers his life with the love he lost in this achingly beautiful story. Revere Taylor and Jae Bernardo will reprise their roles as Achilles and Patroclus with Steven Luksan at the keyboard.
Join Lowbrow next Saturday at 1:15 pm at Seattle Opera’s open house to celebrate this unabashedly queer chamber opera. It’s free, but be peachy and RSVP using the link below.
Read more to see the original Drama in the Hood review
Achilles and Patroclus
As we all know Achilles was the great warrior for the Greeks in the war with Troy, lesser known is his great friend and perhaps lover, Patroclus. Although scholars for many years have debated whether they were just close combat comrades, it is significant that in Classical Greek, there are not words delineating Heterosexual and Homosexual.
Throughout the one-act, the two go through various stages in their relationship, in a sort of tango of togetherness and repulsion. One very interesting conflict is whether Achilles is willing to engage in battle for Agamemnon and Menaleus. The ponderous music, composed by Erika Meyer, suited the subject matter of this great event-the siege of Troy. Eric Angus Jeffords, a Heldentenor if ever there was one, as Patroclus, really fit the bill.
Achilles and Patroclus, Lowbrow Opera Collective. Seattle Opera’s Open House. Tagney Jones Hall, 363 Mercer St. Seattle, 98109. Sat. Sept. 23, 1:15 pm. One performance only. Free but RSVP is appreciated.