Jay Schwartz’ chamber opera Narcissus & Echo receives its Austrian première this Saturday at the Salzburg Biennale.

The work is scored for counter-tenor, viola, percussion and organ. The composer is leading this performance from the organ, joined by Charles Maxwell (counter-tenor), Werner Dickel (viola), Sebastian Hausl and Adrian Schmid (percussion). Stage direction is by Tilman Hecker.

More information on the work, including an audio excerpt, is here.

The next performance of Narcissus & Echo is the Spanish première on 23 March at the Teatros del Canal, as part of Operadhoy.

Update 14.03.2011

German reviews from the Salzburg production:

Magie von Klang und Raum (Das Werk „gelingt durch ungewöhnliche Besetzung und Raumklangwirkungen von magischer Eindringlichkeit.“ Karl Harb, Salzburger Nachrichten)
Narcissus & Echo (Tiroler Tageszeitung)
Wandertag für einen Countertenor (Reinhard Kriechbaum, DrehPunktKultur)