El Relicario de los Animales

Long Beach Opera presents El Relicario de los Animales, the second performance of the 2024-25 season focusing on the revolutionary works of Pauline Oliveros.

Showtimes:

• February 15, 7:30PM
• February 16, 2:30PM

Experience one of Oliveros’ most emotional scores, exploring the interconnectedness of humans and animals through improvisational sound. Renowned mezzo-soprano Jamie Barton takes on the dual role of singer and leader, challenging operatic tradition while delving into themes of human instinct and the evocative power of the voice. Featuring staged sequences, a grand orchestral ensemble, and brilliant soprano Brenda Rae as both singer and percussionist. Set in a historic indoor-outdoor venue, rich with the legacy of Los Angeles County, this event reveals the evocative depth of Oliveros' most inventive sonic landscapes.

Award-winning composer, artist and humanitarian Pauline Oliveros (1932–2016) expanded the concept of sound with her potent, genre-defying approach to music and art. As the visionary behind the philosophy of "Deep Listening," her works and practice explored new rituals of performance and ensemble dynamics, while profoundly challenging and redefining the traditional processes of creating "new music" for an entire generation. Oliveros composed many pieces she labeled as “operas” throughout her career–one that "spanned fifty years of making music."(The Pauline Oliveros Trust).

A queer-identifying, Mexican-American artist from Houston, Texas, Oliveros was known for her work across multiple disciplines and styles. She maintained strong connections to California, where she co-founded the San Francisco Tape Music Center and taught at Mills College and the University of California, San Diego. LBO is honored to collaborate with her partner and artistic collaborator, multidisciplinary artist IONE, as well as the Pauline Oliveros Trust and estate, to celebrate and continue her legacy with a year-long exploration of her operatic work.