Oscar-winning composer Elliot Goldenthal\'s critically acclaimed 3-act ballet Othello, choreographed by Lar Lubovitch, will be performed by the American Ballet Theatre within the next 5 months at two of the country\'s most renowned concert venues: New York\'s Metropolitan Opera House (May 22-24) and Los Angeles\'s Dorothy Chandler Pavilion (July 13-15). It was also recently performed in Washington, D.C. at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts from January 11-14. Goldenthal\'s Othello, a co-commission of the ABT and the San Francisco Ballet, received its world premiere at New York\'s Metropolitan Opera House in 1997, and went on to be performed at the San Francisco Opera and The Kennedy Center prior to being taped for PBS\'s Great Performances: Dance in America series in 2003 (receiving an Emmy nomination for Mr. Goldenthal for Outstanding Music Composition for a Miniseries, Movie or a Special [Dramatic Underscore]).
In a separate but related event, Mr. Goldenthal was recently named one of the 2 finalists for the Pulitzer Prize in Music for 2007 for his first opera, Grendel, a retelling of the epic tale of Beowulf from the point of view of the monster. Grendel, directed by Tony-winning director Julie Taymor, was co-commissioned by The Los Angeles Opera and the Lincoln Center Festival and premiered June 8th, 2006 at the Los Angeles Opera and subsequently at the Lincoln Center Festival.
For the upcoming performances of Othello, the composer\'s music will be interpreted by: many acclaimed dancers, including Alessandra Ferri, debuting in the role of Desdemona, and guest artist Desmond Richardson, who originated the title role to rave reviews; with scenery by George Tsypin, costumes by Ann Hould-Ward, lighting by Pat Collins, projections by Wendall K. Harrington, and choreography by Lubovitch.
Goldenthal\'s next project is the film Across the Universe, an original musical film that samples the music of the Beatles to tell a gripping tale of young love set against the backdrop of the turbulent anti-war movement of the 1960s. For the film, he has composed the original score and co-produced all of the songs featured on the film\'s soundtrack with Grammy winner T-Bone Burnet and Teese Gohl. Across the Universe, director by Julie Taymor, will be released by Sony Pictures in fall 2007.
Prior to Othello, Goldenthal\'s other classical work included the large scale symphonic piece, Fire Water Paper, commissioned by the Pacific Symphony Orchestra as a commemorative tribute on the 20th anniversary of the Vietnam War (released on Sony Classical Records featuring soloist Yo-Yo Ma). Also, Goldenthal\'s Obie-winning theatrical-oratorio Juan Darién, A Carnival Mass, received five Tony nominations and four Drama Desk nominations for its Lincoln Center production at the Vivian Beaumont Theatre (1996). His symphonic works also include: Shadow Play Scherzo, commissioned to honor Leonard Bernstein\'s 70th birthday, and Pastime Variations for chamber orchestra. His incidental music for dozens of Shakespearean and classical productions include the highly acclaimed Titus Andronicus (1994) directed by Julie Taymor as well as music for Carlo Gozzi\'s three miracle plays, The King Stag, The Serpent Woman, and The Green Bird (directed by Julie Taymor on Broadway\'s Cort Theater, 2000).
Goldenthal, renowned for his work in film, orchestra, theatre, and ballet, won the Oscar in 2003 for his Latin-themed score for the film Frida starring Salma Hayek, directed by Julie Taymor.