Pittsburgh Opera Staging ‘Ashes & Snow’; Kevin Howard Plays Backstage Bar (Tues., 2/20/18)

1) For the second time in the still-young year of 2018, Pittsburgh Opera presents a new modern opera. January’s The Long Walk is now followed by the world premiere of an eclectically edgy work: Ashes & Snow, by American composer Douglas J. Cuomo. Ashes & Snow has classical roots. It is adapted from a series of eerie, mournful poems by the German writer Wilhelm Müller, who lived hard and died young, and whose same poems were set to music by Franz Schubert in his 1825 song cycle Winterreise. But Ashes & Snow is quite another thing. It’s a one-person chamber opera, with tenor Eric Ferring playing the lone character for the premiere. The opera is set in a shabby motel in the American Southwest. And, to quote from words the composer posted on his website, Ashes & Snow is “‘Breaking Bad’ meets Samuel Beckett … 21st-century art song, acid jazz, punk energy … a journey to a Dante-esque underworld. And possibly back, to redemption.” Sung in English in the performance space at Pittsburgh Opera headquarters. 8:30 p.m. Performances through February 25. 2425 Liberty Ave., Strip District. (MV)

2) Tuesday night jazz continues tonight at Theater Square’s Backstage Bar with Kevin Howard. Howard—a contemporary jazz keyboardist and Pittsburgh native—has been recognized by several local media outlets as one of the region’s top jazz performers. He has toured with the legendary Ronnie Laws and played with Najee and another Pittsburgh native—George Benson. Ease into your Tuesday evening with some cool jazz from a top artist. 5 p.m. No cover. 655 Penn Ave., Strip District.

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Rick Handler

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