Ethel Smyth’s The Wreckers is based in historical fact: in small, desperately poor villages on Britain’s Cornish coast, bands of villagers formed secret cadres that at critical moments would extinguish the beacons established on the coast to guide ships, thus forcing them onto the rocks and then plundering the cargo and murdering the crews.
The story Smyth chose to set presents a tale that should be of intense interest to contemporary audiences. It concerns an isolated community in Cornwall that possesses a religiously based, fanatical self-regard that leads it to justify theft and murder as God-given rights and virtues. Led by the community’s own pastor who invokes Christianity, violence becomes the instrument of realizing God’s will. The opera depicts the consequences of mass hysteria and populist justice, framed by a powerful display of orchestral writing, memorable motivic recurrence, and a brilliant use of chorus.
American Symphony Orchestra
Conducted by Leon Botstein, music director
Directed by Thaddeus Strassberger
PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE:
Friday July 24 @ 7:30pm.
Sunday July 26 @ 2pm.
Wednesday July 29 @ 2pm.
Friday July 31 @ 7:30pm.
Sunday August 2 @ 2pm.
Show Finder
The Wreckers
First Preview: Jul 1, 2015
Opening Date: Jul 24, 2015
Closing Date: Aug 2, 2015
Running Time: 02:45
Playing @
Richard B. Fisher PAC
Bard College, Annandale-on-Hudson, NY 12504-5000
Show Notes: 1 Intermission
Age Guidance: 16
Audience Advisory: Out-of-Town packages are available for select performances during SummerScape. Packages include round-trip transportation from New York City to Bard in our SummerScape Coach, three-course lunch/dinner at the Spiegeltent, and your ticket to the performance (with no ticketing fee).
TDF Tickets Offers:
TDF Member tickets:
Not currently available for this show
Listed at 
Never
Full-price tickets:
$25.00 - $125.00
Accessibility
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Assisted Listening System
Sennheiser infrared assistive listening devices are available in the Sosnoff Theater and LUMA Theater. -
Elevator/Escalator
There is an elevator to all levels of the Sosnoff Theater and a wheelchair lift used to access front-row wheelchair seating. -
Parking
Reserved parking is available for drivers with disabilities. Please call 845-758-7928 in advance to let us know that you will require a spot. -
Passenger Loading Zone
Drivers of cars carrying disabled patrons are asked to drop their passengers off at the drop-off point in front of the Fisher Center. Please arrive at least one half hour prior to the performance time to ensure plenty of time to make your way into the venue -
Restroom
Restrooms in all locations are wheelchair accessible. For the additional convenience of Sosnoff Theater patrons, there is a restroom on the lower lobby for use by patrons in wheelchairs. -
Telephone
None on premises -
Wheelchair Info
Sosnoff Theater—Locations are available in all seating areas for patrons in wheelchairs and their companions. There is an elevator to all levels of the Sosnoff Theater and a wheelchair lift used to access front-row wheelchair seating. Olin Hall—Wheelchair seating is available in row P of this intimate concert hall.Spiegeltent—Locations are available in the inner ring.
