Philadelphia, PA: General and Artistic Director Robert B. Driver
is pleased to announce the 2006-2007 Opera Company of
Philadelphia Season, a line-up of timeless masterworks by famed
composers at their very best, starring new and returning stars of the
operatic scene.

The season features four opera productions, each given in six
performances at the Academy of Music. Opening the season is the
Opera Company’s original production of the beloved La bohème, with
an exciting new production of Rossini’s comedic favorite Cinderella
following in November. The first opera of 2007 is the Opera Company
of Philadelphia’s celebrated co-production of the American classic
Porgy and Bess, and Verdi’s comic masterpiece Falstaff closes the
season.

“The Opera Company is excited to be presenting this season of
timeless repertoire, featuring both fresh faces and important artistic
debuts,” said General and Artistic Director Robert B. Driver. “The
06-07 Season is an extension of the Opera Company of
Philadelphia’s commitment to providing career-forging opportunities
for emerging artists, and to bringing extraordinary returning artists
who are hailed at the world’s top companies right here to
Philadelphia. This engaging season is the perfect way to celebrate
the 150th Anniversary of America’s opera house, the Academy of
Music.”

LA BOHÈME
by Giacomo Puccini
Performed in Italian with English surtitles
October 27, 29m, November 1, 3, 5m & 11, 2006

The 150th Season of the Academy opens on October 27th with
Puccini's beloved La bohème, the dramatic tale of youthful hope,
love, and loss set in Paris against the backdrop of the vivid bohemian
culture. La bohème tells of the love affair between a penniless writer
and an ailing seamstress, and includes some of the most renowned
and breathtaking arias ever written. It is an opera that has seeped
into every corner of pop culture, from the Broadway hit Rent to Baz
Luhrmann's acclaimed Broadway run of Bohème itself.

Making his role debut as the writer Rodolfo is Canadian tenor Roger
Honeywell, who made his OCP debut in the East Coast Premiere of
Margaret Garner. Honeywell recently sang Eisenstein in Die
Fledermaus with Seattle Opera, Alfredo in La traviata with Opera
Ontario, and starred as Laca in Jenůfa with Glimmerglass Opera
during summer 2006.

His ill-fated lover Mimì is sung by Albanian soprano Ermonela Jaho
in her Opera Company debut. She made her American debut in the
same role with Michigan Opera Theatre in November of 2005 and
spent the summer of 2006 in Europe, where she sang Servilia in La
clemenza di Tito with Switzerland’s Grand Théâtre de Genève and
Théâtre de Caen in France.

Soprano Sari Gruber (Don Pasquale, '04) returns to Philadelphia to
sing the role of the flirtatious Musetta and baritone Troy Cook makes
his Company debut as the painter Marcello. Gruber and Cook last
appeared together in Berkshire Opera’s 2005 production of The Elixir
of Love as Adina and Belcore. Bass-baritone Richard Bernstein
(Marriage of Figaro, ’06) is Colline, with bass Kevin Glavin (Marriage
of Figaro, ’06) in the dual roles of Benoit/Alcindoro. Curtis graduate
baritone Alex Tall (The Barber of Seville, ’05) returns as Schaunard.

La bohéme is directed by General and Artistic Director Robert B.
Driver, who joins forces with Music Director Corrado Rovaris
presiding over the Opera Company Orchestra. The production is
presented in its original 1998 Opera Company design, conceived by
Boyd Ostroff and featuring a new lighting design by Ruth Hutson.
Company Designer Richard St. Clair creates the costumes.

CINDERELLA
by Gioacchino Rossini
Sung in Italian with English surtitles
November 8, 10, 12m, 15, 17 & 19m, 2006

Turning from heartbreak to fairytales, the season continues with
Rossini's sparkling comic opera, Cinderella. Audiences delight as
Cinderella triumphs over her greedy stepfather and his daughters to
be whisked away by Prince Ramiro and his helpful steward Dandini.
Rossini's bubbling melodies – which danced off the stage in The
Barber of Seville - are plentiful, and spectacular ensembles ensure
this opera ends happily ever after.

Internationally acclaimed mezzo-soprano Ruxandra Donose (Così
fan tutte, '03) stars as the rags-to-riches Cinderella, a role that
recently won her rave reviews at the Glyndebourne Festival and for
the DVD release of that performance. Before returning to
Philadelphia, she appeared as Nicklausse in The Tales of Hoffmann
with Cincinnati Opera and as Ramiro in Salzburg Festival Opera’s La
finta giardiniera.

Making his Opera Company debut is La Scala favorite, tenor
Lawrence Brownlee as the prince, Don Ramiro. Brownlee, the
winner of the 2006 Richard Tucker and Marian Anderson Awards,
comes to Philadelphia after performing Lindoro in The Italian Girl in
Algiers with Seattle Opera and Tonio in Hamburg Staatsoper’s The
Daughter of the Regiment.

Buffo-bass extraordinaire Kevin Glavin is Cinderella's wicked
stepfather Don Magnifico. After delighting Philadelphia audiences as
Dr. Bartolo 2005’s The Barber of Seville, Glavin reprised the role with
Florida Grand Opera and also sang Scirocco in Cincinnati Opera’s
L'étoile.

The prince's quick-witted servant Dandini is baritone Daniel Belcher
(The Grand Duchess of Gerolstein, '04), a frequent performer at
Houston Grand Opera who created the role of Prior Walter in the
recent Paris World Premiere opera Angels in America; and bass-
baritone Richard Bernstein stars as the tutor Alidoro. Bernstein, a
Metropolitan Opera favorite, appeared in the title role of OCP’s The
Marriage of Figaro in May. The evil step-sisters are soprano Kiera
Duffy as Clorinda and mezzo-soprano Leslie Mutchler as Tisbe,
both in their Company debuts.

Maestro Corrado Rovaris is at the podium to lead this Italian
treasure, which gets a whimsical new production set in the 1950s by
the team of Italian Director Davide Livermore and Set and Costume
Designer Santi Centineo, both in their Company debuts. Lighting is
by Drew Billiau, with video design by Marco Fantozzi.

PORGY & BESS
by George and Ira Gershwin
Performed in English
February 9, 11m, 14, 16, 18m & 24, 2007

In February 2007 the Opera Company presents a jewel of American
opera repertoire. Gershwin broke new ground in 1935 when he wrote
Porgy and Bess and the piece continues to hold a place as one of
the finest operas of the last century. It is the touching tale of the
triumphs and struggles of the residents of Catfish Row, each rich with
depth and personality. With unforgettable, show-stopping hits like
"Summertime," "A Woman is a Sometimes Thing," "It Ain't
Necessarily So," and "Bess, You Is My Woman Now," jazz and
blues come together in this, the embodiment of American musical
tradition.

OCP reunites the talented Gregg Baker and Angela Brown
(Margaret Garner, ‘06) to make their much-anticipated title role
debuts. Brown – whose Opera Company of Philadelphia debut was in
Porgy and Bess in 2001 – spent much of this year singing a role that
Philadelphia audiences recognize: she performed the title role in Aida
with Opera Pacific and Florentine Opera. Brown and Baker then
paired up in a recital at the University of California, Northridge, and
this fall they sing a concert performance of Aida with Opera Pacific
before performing those signature roles in the work with Florida Grand
Opera.

Joining these familiar favorites are two baritones in their Opera
Company debuts: Lester Lynch as the menacing Crown and Eric
Greene as Jake. Both men recently performed these roles with
Washington National Opera to much acclaim and reprise them after
Philadelphia in performances with Los Angeles Opera.

Serena is sung by soprano Lisa Daltirus, whom audiences will
remember for her acclaimed, last-minute debut in the title role of Aida
in 2005. Since that unscheduled OCP appearance, Daltirus has
made company debuts with Palm Beach Opera and Minnesota
Opera in the title role of Tosca and a role debut as Leonora in Il
trovatore with Connecticut Opera.

Tenor Steven Cole (Boris Godunov, ’87) makes his long-awaited
return as the drug-peddling Sportin' Life, with Curtis graduate and
Philadelphia native Karen Slack (Ariadne auf Naxos, ’03) sings the
role of Clara. Mezzo-soprano Linda Thompson-Williams reprising
the role of Maria, which she performed in OCP’s last production of
the work, and AVA-trained mezzo-soprano Tracie Luck is Annie.

Maestro Stefan Lano, who made his Company debut with last
season’s Margaret Garner, leads the orchestra with Walter Dallas,
Artistic Director of Philadelphia's Freedom Theatre, directing this
celebrated Opera Company of Philadelphia co-production with sets
and costumes by Felix Cochren, and lighting by Drew Billiau.

FALSTAFF
by Giuseppe Verdi
Sung in Italian with English surtitles
May 2, 4, 6m, 9, 11 & 13m, 2007

The 2006-2007 Season concludes in the spring with Verdi's comic
masterpiece, Falstaff. After a career made of operatic tragedies,
Verdi ended his career with this divine comedy, drawing on
Shakespeare’s Merry Wives of Windsor as his inspiration. When the
title character sets his sights on two married ladies, the women plot
to get even. Quarrels are forgiven, lessons are learned, and young
love blooms in this irresistible opera. Verdi's masterful ensembles are
so full of charm and wit that audiences will be thirsty for more.

Starring as Sir John Falstaff is baritone Roberto de Candia, who
had Philadelphia audiences laughing in the title role of last season’s
The Barber of Seville. After leaving Philadelphia, de Candia sang
Ragueneau in the Metropolitan Opera’s Cyrano de Bergerac, and
portrayed Verdi’s laughable knight at Théâtre Royal de la Monnaie in
Brussels and then Lescaut in Manon Lescaut with Teatro Lirico di
Cagliari.

Another genius of comic timing, soprano Christine Goerke (Die
Fledermaus, '05) returns to the Academy of Music as Alice Ford, one
of Falstaff's love interests. Goerke spent time in Paris this year,
where she sang the role of Gutrune in Götterdämmerung at the
Théâtre du Chatelet, and reprises Rosalinde in Fledermaus at San
Francisco Opera in Fall 2006.

Baritone Mark Stone makes his Company debut as Ford following
his performance in Royal Opera Covent Garden’s Cyrano de Bergerac
as Valvert, and his English National Opera roles as the Count in The
Marriage of Figaro and Marcello in La bohème.

Falstaff is rife with locally-trained artists enjoying international
careers. Curtis Institute graduate contralto and regular Lyric Opera of
Chicago artist Meredith Arwady is Dame Quickly in her first OCP
appearance since Faust in 2004. Academy of Vocal Arts graduate
tenor Jesús Garcia (Don Pasquale, '04) sings the role of Fenton,
with AVA resident artist soprano Evelyn Pollock in her Company
debut as Nannetta. Curtis graduate soprano Elizabeth de Shong
makes her Company debut as Meg Page, with Curtis-trained bass
Matthew Rose (Ariadne, ’03), who successfully completed the Royal
Opera Vilar Young Artist Program and has performed major roles with
Glyndebourne Festival and Welsh National Opera in the last season,
as Pistola.

Tenor Steven Cole returns for his second role of the season as
Bardolfo, with tenor Mark T. Panuccio making his Company debut
as Dr. Caius.

Opera Company Music Director Corrado Rovaris takes to the
podium once more to conduct this fast-moving, glorious production,
with Robert Driver directing. The original Opera Company production
is designed by Paul Shortt (The Grand Duchess, ’04), and features
lighting by Drew Billiau and Richard St. Clair’s costumes.

CASTING

LA BOHÈME
by Giacomo Puccini
Performed in Italian with English surtitles
October 27, 29m, November 1, 3, 5m & 11, 2006

RODOLFO Roger Honeywell
MIMÌ Ermonela Jaho*
MUSETTA Sari Gruber
MARCELLO Troy Cook*
SCHAUNARD Alexander Tall
COLLINE Richard Bernstein
BENOIT/ALCINDORO Kevin Glavin
PARPIGNOL Angel Oramas

CONDUCTOR Corrado Rovaris
DIRECTOR Robert B. Driver
SCENIC DESIGN Boyd Ostroff
COSTUME DESIGN Richard St. Clair
LIGHTING DESIGN Ruth Hutson
WIG & MAKE-UP DESIGN Tom Watson

CINDERELLA
by Gioacchino Rossini
Sung in Italian with English surtitles
November 8, 10, 12m, 15, 17 & 19m, 2006

CINDERELLA Ruxandra Donose
DON RAMIRO Lawrence Brownlee*
DANDINI Daniel Belcher
DON MAGNIFICO Kevin Glavin
ALIDORO Richard Bernstein
CLORINDA Kiera Duffy*
TISBE Leslie Mutchler*

CONDUCTOR Corrado Rovaris
DIRECTOR Davide Livermore*
SCENIC/COSTUME DESIGN Santi Centineo*
LIGHTING DESIGN Drew Billiau
VIDEO DESIGN Marco Fantozzi*
WIG & MAKE-UP DESIGN Tom Watson

PORGY & BESS
by George and Ira Gershwin
Performed in English
February 9, 11m, 14, 16, 18m & 24, 2007

PORGY Gregg Baker
BESS Angela Brown
CROWN Lester Lynch*
SERENA Lisa Daltirus*
CLARA Karen Slack
SPORTIN' LIFE Steven Cole*
MARIA Linda Thompson Williams
JAKE Eric Greene*
ROBBINS Taiwan Norris*
FRAZIER Frank Mitchell
ANNIE Alison Sanders*
LILY Tracie Luck
STRAWBERRY WOMAN Julie-Ann Whitely

CONDUCTOR Stefan Lano
DIRECTOR Walter Dallas*
SET & COSTUME DESIGN Felix Cochren
LIGHTING DESIGN Drew Billiau
CHOREOGRAPHER Patricia Scott Hobbs
WIG & MAKE-UP DESIGN Tom Watson

A co-production with Indianapolis Opera

FALSTAFF
by Giuseppe Verdi
Sung in Italian with English surtitles
May 2, 4, 6m, 9, 11 & 13m, 2007

FALSTAFF Roberto de Candia
ALICE FORD Christine Goerke
MISTRESS QUICKLY Meredith Arwady
FORD Mark Stone*
FENTON Jesús Garcia
NANNETTA Evelyn Pollock*
MEG PAGE Elizabeth de Shong*
PISTOLA Matthew Rose
BARDOLFO Steven Cole
DR. CAIUS Mark T. Panuccio*

CONDUCTOR Corrado Rovaris
DIRECTOR Robert B. Driver
SET DESIGN Paul Shortt
COSTUME DESIGN Richard St. Clair
LIGHTING DESIGN Drew Billiau
WIG & MAKE-UP DESIGN Tom Watson


ADDITIONAL OPERA COMPANY INFORMATION:

The Opera Company of Philadelphia presents an Opening Night Gala
surrounding the October 27, 2006 Season Opening performance of La
bohème. For information about this special evening, call the Opera
Company’s development office at 215-893-3600, ext. 213.

All performances take place at The Academy of Music, Broad and
Locust Streets.

Performance times: Wednesday at 7:30pm; Friday and Saturday at
8:00pm; Sunday matinees are at 2:30pm.

For ticket information, call Opera Company Subscriber
Services at (215) 732-8400 or visit www.operaphilly.com.

Single tickets for LA BOHÈME and CINDERELLA go on sale on
September 18, 2006. Single tickets to PORGY AND BESS and
FALSTAFF go on sale on December 5, 2006.

ADVANTA is proud to be the Season Sponsor of the Opera
Company of Philadelphia since 1993. YAMAHA is the official
piano of the Opera Company of Philadelphia. Burdumy Volvo is the
official automotive dealership of the Opera Company. The Opera
Company of Philadelphia is supported by major grants from The
William Penn Foundation, The Pew Charitable Trusts, The
Lenfest Foundation, and the Annenberg Foundation. Additional
support is provided by the Independence Foundation and the
Horace W. Goldsmith Foundation. The Opera Company of
Philadelphia receives state arts funding support through a grant from
the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts, a state agency funded by
the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the National Endowment
for the Arts, a federal agency.