Composer Ricky Ian Gordon premieres 2 operas in 5-day span

Ricky Ian Gordon had two operas premiere in a five-night span

Ricky Ian Gordon headed downtown where his “The Garden of the Finzi-Continis” was being premiered by the New York City Opera on Jan. 27. When not absorbed with that, he walked from his Upper West Side home to Lincoln Center, where previews were being staged of his “Intimate Apparel” ahead of opening night a few days later.

In a likely unprecedented confluence, the 65-year-old composer had two operas launch in a five-night span.

“It’s not that it’s easy, but it seems to be the way my life goes these days,” he said, sitting in the living room of his apartment. “When pieces are very different, it feels like separate compartments in your brain.”

Disparate styles, too, “Intimate,” scored for two pianos, has been staged breezily on a turntable, while “Finzi” was played by a 15-piece orchestra with a more tempered pace.