A Literal Space Opera: An Interview with the Composer of Red Giant

Red Giant is a science-fiction operetta about three people in a spaceship fleeing a planet in orbit around a dying star that’s about to go supernova. The story and music are by composer Adam Matlock, who asked me to write the libretto (we just happen to be in a band together). The operetta was commissioned by Rhymes with Opera, a Baltimore-based company; RWO will be staging and performing Red Giant in Baltimore on January 11 and 12 and the New York City area on January 18 and 19. On the eve of its tour, I got to chat with Adam about our collaboration, and what can happen when you put science fiction and opera together.