Utopia Opera 2017 Review – Hydrogen Jukebox: An Illuminating Experience From Two of the Greatest Artists of the 21st Century

First premiering in 1988, “Hydrogen Jukebox” is an unorthodox take on opera that attempts to convey the overwhelming feelings held by American citizens from the 1950s to the 1980s. In tackling this deliberately dense work, Utopia Opera opted for a number of creative choices that made the performance as relatable as it was satisfying. Diverse Characters The characters of “Hydrogen {…}

Q & A: Utopia Opera on ‘Hydrogen Jukebox’

On September 22, 2017, Utopia Opera will premiere its production of “Hydrogen Jukebox,” a modern chamber opera born from the collaboration of poet Alan Ginsberg and composer Philip Glass. During the 1988 presidential election debates between George H.W. Bush and Michael Dukakis, Glass and Ginsberg felt they weren’t addressing the real concerns of the American people and this became the {…}