Michael Hersch is a very distinct musical voice.  His subject matter tends to be disturbing and his musical style is abrasive.  One of his most recent works is the one act opera Poppaea which is based on the life of historical Poppaea after the point at which the Monteverdi opera leaves off.  Strictly, it’s not set in Nero’s Rome but rather in a time and place inspired by it.  The very effective libretto by Stephanie Fleischmann includes a distinctly non-classical take on space and time.  It’s an exploration of overweaning ambition and where it leads which is about as relevant to today’s world as any theme could be.

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