Press Releases OPERA SEASON TAKES OFF WITH A THRILLING NEW PRODUCTION OF VERDI'S RIGOLETTO 09-18-2007 For Immediate Release:September 18, 2007 Contact: Tracy C. Galligher215-893-3600, ext. 204galligher@operaphila.org Opera Season Takes Off with a Thrilling New Production of RigolettoFeaturing the Philadelphia debuts of Alan Opie, Chen Reiss and Matthew Polenzani Philadelphia, PA: A major new production of Verdi’s tragic masterpiece Rigoletto opens the Opera Company of Philadelphia’s 2007-2008 Season with performances on October 5, 7m, 10, 12, 14m and 17, 2007 at the Academy of Music. When Rigoletto, the hunchbacked court jester, sees his beloved daughter Gilda become prey for the lecherous Duke, a murderous plot unfolds that can only lead to a dramatic and heartbreaking climax. From its striking overture and rousing choral music, to arias like the breathtaking “Caro nome” and “La donna è mobile” which have become the very hallmark of Italian opera, Rigoletto is a favorite for the opera buff and the novice alike. Three exciting Philadelphia debuts ring in the new season. Renowned English baritone Alan Opie, a seasoned Verdi voice who has sung leading roles with Royal Opera Covent Garden, Paris National Opera and the Metropolitan Opera, makes his Opera Company debut in the title role. The role of his daughter is sung by Israeli-born soprano Chen Reiss, whom Opera News calls “… a stunning Gilda.” Ms. Reiss has sung on stages from New York’s Carnegie Hall to Milan’s La Scala, and makes her Philadelphia debut this fall. Completing the star trio is tenor Matthew Polenzani, who recently sang Romeo in Romeo and Juliet at Lyric Opera of Chicago, as well as back-to-back Metropolitan Opera performances as Tamino in the family production of The Magic Flute and David in the March 2007 performances of Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg. Polenzani makes his first Philadelphia appearance as the Duke, which is also a role debut for him. Mezzo-soprano Kirstin Chávez (The Marriage of Figaro, ’06) returns to sing the role of Maddalena, with bass Julian Rodescu (I Puritani, ’95) as Sparafucile and bass Kirk Eichelberger in his Company debut as Monterone. A host of alumni artists and students from the Curtis Institute of Music appear in supporting roles: Dimitrie Lazich is Marullo; Allison Sanders is Giovanna; Dominic Armstrong as Borsa; DeAndre Simmons as Ceprano and Amanda Majeski as Countess Ceprano. Director Robert B. Driver (La bohème, Falstaff) conceives this grand, new production, which is designed by Paul Shortt, whose previous OCP productions include La traviata, Falstaff and The Italian Girl in Algiers. The production is a new take on 16th-Century Mantua, aiming to use massive, multiple levels to convey the opulence and lavish excess of the aristocracy in stark contrast with the desperation of Rigoletto and the impoverished class. Maestro Corrado Rovaris, fresh from his performances at the Santa Fe Opera during the summer, conducts this production, which has been built at the Opera Company Production Center in the Tacony section of Philadelphia, and features lighting designed by Drew Billiau with costumes by Richard St. Clair. The Opera Company of Philadelphia dedicates this production to the memory of Luciano Pavarotti, with deepest gratitude for all he shared with the Philadelphia community, and for his immeasurable contributions to the world of opera. RIGOLETTO by Giuseppe VerdiA NEW PRODUCTIONOctober 5, 7m, 10, 12, 14m & 17, 2007Sung in Italian with English translations Rigoletto Alan Opie* Gilda Chen Reiss* Duke of Mantua Matthew Polenzani* Sparafucile Julian RodescuMaddalena Kirstin Chávez Monterone Kirk Eichelberger* Marullo Dimitrie Lazich Borsa Dominic Armstrong* Ceprano DeAndre SimmonsGiovanna Allison Sanders Countess Ceprano Amanda Majeski*A page Patricia Vigil*An usher Frank Mitchell Conductor Corrado RovarisDirector Robert B. DriverSet Design Paul ShorttLighting Design Drew BilliauCostume Design Richard St. ClairChoreographer Seth HoffChorus Master Elizabeth BradenWigs & Make-up Tom Watson Also featuring The Give & Take Jugglers ADDITIONAL OPERA COMPANY INFORMATION: The Opera Company of Philadelphia presents an Opening Night Gala surrounding the October 5th, 2007 Season Opening performance of Rigoletto. 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; Fridays at 8:00pm; Sunday matinees are at 2:30pm. To subscribe to all four operas, call Opera Company Subscriber Services at 215-732-8400 or visit www.operaphila.org. Group tickets may be purchased at a discount at the same number. Available remaining single tickets are priced from $7 - $205 and are on sale with Ticket Philadelphia at 215-893-1018. The Opera Company of Philadelphia 2007-2008 Season also features Humperdinck’s Hansel and Gretel (November 2007); Cyrano by David DiChiera in its East Coast Premiere (February 2008); Bellini’s Norma (April 2008); and Kimmel Center Presents’ Curtis Opera Theatre’s Ainadamar by Osvaldo Golijov at the Kimmel Center’s Perelman Theater (March 2008). For more information, visit www.operaphila.org. ADVANTA is proud to be the Season Sponsor of the Opera Company of Philadelphia. Montgomery, McCracken, Walker and Rhoads, LLP is the Fall 2007 Presenting Sponsor. US Airways is the official airline of the Opera Company. Park Hyatt Philadelphia at the Bellevue is the official hotel of the Opera Company. YAMAHA is the official piano of the Opera Company. Burdumy Motors Incorporated is the official automotive dealership of the Opera Company. Hansel and Gretel is made possible, in part, by a generous grant from The Jacob Burns Foundation. Additional funding for Cyrano is provided by the Greater Philadelphia Tourism Marketing Corporation. 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. 2007-2008 Individual Performance Sponsors: Advanta, PNC Bank, Wyeth, Wachovia Wealth Management, KPMG, the Pennsylvania Trust Company, Sunoco, Inc. -##-
Press Releases
For Immediate Release:September 18, 2007
Contact: Tracy C. Galligher215-893-3600, ext. 204galligher@operaphila.org
Opera Season Takes Off with a Thrilling New Production of RigolettoFeaturing the Philadelphia debuts of Alan Opie, Chen Reiss and Matthew Polenzani
Philadelphia, PA: A major new production of Verdi’s tragic masterpiece Rigoletto opens the Opera Company of Philadelphia’s 2007-2008 Season with performances on October 5, 7m, 10, 12, 14m and 17, 2007 at the Academy of Music. When Rigoletto, the hunchbacked court jester, sees his beloved daughter Gilda become prey for the lecherous Duke, a murderous plot unfolds that can only lead to a dramatic and heartbreaking climax. From its striking overture and rousing choral music, to arias like the breathtaking “Caro nome” and “La donna è mobile” which have become the very hallmark of Italian opera, Rigoletto is a favorite for the opera buff and the novice alike. Three exciting Philadelphia debuts ring in the new season. Renowned English baritone Alan Opie, a seasoned Verdi voice who has sung leading roles with Royal Opera Covent Garden, Paris National Opera and the Metropolitan Opera, makes his Opera Company debut in the title role.
The role of his daughter is sung by Israeli-born soprano Chen Reiss, whom Opera News calls “… a stunning Gilda.” Ms. Reiss has sung on stages from New York’s Carnegie Hall to Milan’s La Scala, and makes her Philadelphia debut this fall.
Completing the star trio is tenor Matthew Polenzani, who recently sang Romeo in Romeo and Juliet at Lyric Opera of Chicago, as well as back-to-back Metropolitan Opera performances as Tamino in the family production of The Magic Flute and David in the March 2007 performances of Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg. Polenzani makes his first Philadelphia appearance as the Duke, which is also a role debut for him.
Mezzo-soprano Kirstin Chávez (The Marriage of Figaro, ’06) returns to sing the role of Maddalena, with bass Julian Rodescu (I Puritani, ’95) as Sparafucile and bass Kirk Eichelberger in his Company debut as Monterone. A host of alumni artists and students from the Curtis Institute of Music appear in supporting roles: Dimitrie Lazich is Marullo; Allison Sanders is Giovanna; Dominic Armstrong as Borsa; DeAndre Simmons as Ceprano and Amanda Majeski as Countess Ceprano.
Director Robert B. Driver (La bohème, Falstaff) conceives this grand, new production, which is designed by Paul Shortt, whose previous OCP productions include La traviata, Falstaff and The Italian Girl in Algiers. The production is a new take on 16th-Century Mantua, aiming to use massive, multiple levels to convey the opulence and lavish excess of the aristocracy in stark contrast with the desperation of Rigoletto and the impoverished class. Maestro Corrado Rovaris, fresh from his performances at the Santa Fe Opera during the summer, conducts this production, which has been built at the Opera Company Production Center in the Tacony section of Philadelphia, and features lighting designed by Drew Billiau with costumes by Richard St. Clair.
The Opera Company of Philadelphia dedicates this production to the memory of Luciano Pavarotti, with deepest gratitude for all he shared with the Philadelphia community, and for his immeasurable contributions to the world of opera.
RIGOLETTO by Giuseppe VerdiA NEW PRODUCTIONOctober 5, 7m, 10, 12, 14m & 17, 2007Sung in Italian with English translations
Rigoletto Alan Opie* Gilda Chen Reiss* Duke of Mantua Matthew Polenzani* Sparafucile Julian RodescuMaddalena Kirstin Chávez Monterone Kirk Eichelberger* Marullo Dimitrie Lazich Borsa Dominic Armstrong* Ceprano DeAndre SimmonsGiovanna Allison Sanders Countess Ceprano Amanda Majeski*A page Patricia Vigil*An usher Frank Mitchell
Conductor Corrado RovarisDirector Robert B. DriverSet Design Paul ShorttLighting Design Drew BilliauCostume Design Richard St. ClairChoreographer Seth HoffChorus Master Elizabeth BradenWigs & Make-up Tom Watson
Also featuring The Give & Take Jugglers
ADDITIONAL OPERA COMPANY INFORMATION:
The Opera Company of Philadelphia presents an Opening Night Gala surrounding the October 5th, 2007 Season Opening performance of Rigoletto. 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; Fridays at 8:00pm; Sunday matinees are at 2:30pm.
To subscribe to all four operas, call Opera Company Subscriber Services at 215-732-8400 or visit www.operaphila.org. Group tickets may be purchased at a discount at the same number. Available remaining single tickets are priced from $7 - $205 and are on sale with Ticket Philadelphia at 215-893-1018.
The Opera Company of Philadelphia 2007-2008 Season also features Humperdinck’s Hansel and Gretel (November 2007); Cyrano by David DiChiera in its East Coast Premiere (February 2008); Bellini’s Norma (April 2008); and Kimmel Center Presents’ Curtis Opera Theatre’s Ainadamar by Osvaldo Golijov at the Kimmel Center’s Perelman Theater (March 2008). For more information, visit www.operaphila.org.
ADVANTA is proud to be the Season Sponsor of the Opera Company of Philadelphia.
Montgomery, McCracken, Walker and Rhoads, LLP is the Fall 2007 Presenting Sponsor.
US Airways is the official airline of the Opera Company. Park Hyatt Philadelphia at the Bellevue is the official hotel of the Opera Company. YAMAHA is the official piano of the Opera Company. Burdumy Motors Incorporated is the official automotive dealership of the Opera Company. Hansel and Gretel is made possible, in part, by a generous grant from The Jacob Burns Foundation. Additional funding for Cyrano is provided by the Greater Philadelphia Tourism Marketing Corporation. 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. 2007-2008 Individual Performance Sponsors: Advanta, PNC Bank, Wyeth, Wachovia Wealth Management, KPMG, the Pennsylvania Trust Company, Sunoco, Inc.
-##-
