A Night At The Rock Opera
Two Shows Only!
Friday June 13th - Saturday June 14th
'A NIGHT AT THE ROCK OPERA' THE ULTRASONIC ROCK ORCHESTRA
21 incredible musicians and singers present an evening of songs from the most decadent and glitter-crazed era of rock 'n' roll.
The ULTRASONIC ROCK ORCHESTRA brings the often heard but rarely performed crown jewels of classic rock to vivid life: QUEEN'S 'Bohemian Rhapsody' & 'Somebody To Love,' THE WHO'S 'Won't Get Fooled Again,' DAVID BOWIE's 'Ziggy Stardust,' THE BEATLE'S 'Abbey Road' - and many more.
The Boston Globe says: 'The spectacle is more party than an opera - one big party courtesy of an insanely versatile band. The URO brings off even the most intricate of rock pieces with effortless ease, lighthearted humor and an audacious display of vocal prowess.'
The Boston Herald says: ''A Night At The Rock Opera' is looking like a local institution in the making... a grandiose, fist-in-the-air salute to all things rock.'
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Will We Rock You: The long, strange, journey of the URO.
In 1999, Sal Clemente and Alan Ware came up with the idea of recording a new, contemporary version of Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice's Jesus Christ Superstar, based not on the Broadway show or the film or the dozens of subsequent versions, but on the original 1969 double LP nick-named the 'Brown Album.'
'Had we known we were in for years of struggle, we might never have attempted it,' said Alan, drummer and co-producer of the recording. Sal adds, 'Thirty singers and umpteen musicians, 23 tracks. It was fairly intimidating. We had to build our own recording studio to pull it off.' They also had to develop new arrangements for the classic songs and search for unique singers for the many roles, which sometimes led to long delays in the recording process. 'It took us six years to finally find a 'Jesus' who we felt lived up to Ian Gillan's (Singer in Deep Purple and the original Jesus) legacy.'
In 2001, Sal and Alan began experimenting with filmmaking. Their short films gained the duo national exposure and having found success with combining their music production skills with filmmaking, they decided to film the creation of their new Superstar recording. They approached Andrew Lloyd Webber's company early in the filmmaking process only to be shuttled between music rights organizations. Undaunted, and perhaps naively, the pair soldiered on with their unique plan.
In March 2004, a feature article in The Boston Globe announced the filming of a one-off concert performance of the URO's Superstar. The very next morning Sal received a phone call insisting that Andrew Lloyd Webber must approve any such performance. 'We had tried repeatedly to clear the rights hurdles involved, but I guess no one takes you seriously until you're on the front page of a major paper.' said Ware. 'With basically a month until the scheduled performance, we really had to scramble to save the concert.' Clemente adds, 'We discovered that we could perform only a few Superstar songs. So, we ended up adding other great songs that should have been in rock operas.' They also wrote and filmed a song specifically for Andrew Lloyd Webber. 'We basically got on our knees and begged to use our versions of Superstar songs in the film.'
The song 'Will We Rock You?' a tongue-in-cheek, self-deprecating mini-opera, included the sold-out audience members shouting their own request for Webber's co-operation. Ware adds, 'We sent off the video, the finished recording of Jesus Christ Superstar, and an impassioned written plea. We really let them know just how much we care about this (Superstar) music.'
At the same time, the duo approached this new waiting period knowing that they'd be filming a very different movie if they received a negative response. Ware notes, 'A good Brit knows, there must always be a back-up plan.'
The package passed up the food chain at The Really Useful Group, finally getting into Tim Rice and Sir Webber's hands. Says Alan, 'We thought we might get the runaround, but pretty quickly we got word that Tim Rice approved.' 'We were thrilled,' says Sal. They then anxiously waited for the final 'yeah or nay' from Andrew Lloyd Webber.
And waited, and waited.
Eight agonizing months from the date they sent their package, Lord Webber's reply finally arrived. 'It was pretty much a one paragraph letter, typed up by an underling, quoting Sir Webber's terse, one-word answer 'No,'' says Sal.
'We had faced quite a lot of adversity through this process,' pronounced Ware, 'and we were more determined than ever to finish the film, no matter what.' Forced to rethink the key musical element to their documentary, Sal and Alan decided to write their own rock opera to replace Webber's music in the film. Alan says, 'The plot of our rock opera echoes the true story behind the film.' Adds Sal, 'Having been denied the chance for his version of Superstar to be heard, our hero determines to write the most amazing rock opera ever heard. His band mates think he's crazy, so he goes to London to rock Andrew Lloyd Webber into submission!'
Says Alan, 'Who, of course, couldn't be bothered!' Clemente adds, 'This sends our hero into a dark depression.' 'But when he returns from London,' says Alan, 'he discovers his rock opera is being performed by his band - and it's a triumph! Amazingly, Andrew Lloyd Webber has made himself the villain of our rock opera and our film.'
Sal and Alan's new semi-true rock opera already mirrors reality. The Ultrasonic Rock Orchestra with their concert performance 'A Night At The Rock Opera,' has been packing venues ever since.
'We never could have predicted where we've been taken by circumstances.' says Sal, 'The old cliche' is true: Never give up because you never know where the pursuit of your passions will take you.'
The URO performs four songs from their all-new, all original rock opera, aptly titled 'Will We Rock You?' in their concerts, along with the often heard but rarely performed crown jewels of classic rock: QUEEN's 'Bohemian Rhapsody' and 'Somebody To Love,' THE WHO's 'Won't Get Fooled Again,' DAVID BOWIE's 'Ziggy Stardust,' THE BEATLES' 'Abbey Road' - and many more.
