Appomattox, commissioned by San Francisco Opera in honor of Philip Glass's 70th birthday this year, examines the lead-up to the end of the U.S. Civil War, the South's surrender to the North at Appomattox Court House in Virginia, and the characters of Generals Robert E. Lee and Ulysses S. Grant. The libretto is by Academy and Tony Award-winning playwright Christopher Hampton; contemporary music champion Dennis Russell Davies will conduct; baritones Dwayne Croft and Andrew Shore will take the roles of Lee and Grant. The work opens on October 5, 2007 at the War Memorial Opera House, with five further performances through October 20. More information is available at www.sfopera.com.