Press Releases Whimsical, Storybook Production of Rossini Comedy THE ITALIAN GIRL IN ALGIERS Lights Up The Stage in November 10-24-2008 For Immediate Release:Wednesday, October 24, 2008 Contact: Tracy C. Galligher215-893-3600, ext. 204 galligher@operaphila.org Whimsical, Storybook Production of Rossini Comedy THE ITALIAN GIRL IN ALGIERS Lights Up The Stage in November Starring Ruxandra Donose, Lawrence Brownlee and Kevin Glavin Philadelphia, PA: Gioachino Rossini proves once more to be the master of comic opera with the Opera Company of Philadelphia’s November production of the enchanting, effervescent The Italian Girl in Algiers. This original Opera Company production, first mounted in 2000, runs November 14, 16m, 19, 21 & 23m at the Academy of Music with an internationally-acclaimed cast. Bored with his harem, in this delightful, farcical romp, ruler Mustafŕ seeks a new challenge in the beautiful, shipwrecked Isabella – who has comically stumbled into his path in search of her missing lover, Lindoro. With the help of a jealous wife, a cast of meddling servants, and Rossini's boundless, escalating, exuberant melodies, audiences will enjoy an evening of musical theatre that will have them laughing from the overture to the happily-ever-after ending. The cast that starred in 2006’s rousingly success Cinderella returns, led by stunning mezzo-soprano Ruxandra Donose as the shipwrecked Isabella. Recent engagements include Elena in La donna del lago and Octavian in Der Rosenkavalier in Berlin, Marguerite in Damnation de Faust in Munich, and Veronica Quaife in the World Premiere of The Fly in Paris. While here in Philadelphia, Ms. Donose also performed Hector Berlioz’s major choral-orchestral work Romeo and Juliet with the Philadelphia Orchestra, and headlined in the Richard Tucker Foundation Gala in New York alongside co-star Lawrence Brownlee, under the baton of Maestro Corrado Rovaris. Star tenor Lawrence Brownlee, returns to the Academy of Music stage to woo Donose once more, this time as Lindoro. The exciting young Rossini tenor began this season performing the role of Count Almaviva in The Barber of Seville in three of Germany’s leading houses: at Dresden’s Sachsische Staatsoper, Deutsche Staatsoper Berlin, and at the Festspiele Baden-Baden. This summer Brownlee sang the role of Narciso in Il turco in Italia with Deutsche Staatsoper Berlin and performed a recital of Rossini songs at the Rossini Opera Festival in Pesaro, Italy. Buffo bass extraordinaire Kevin Glavin makes a triumphant return to Philadelphia as Mustafŕ. Since his last appearance with OCP, Glavin has continued to perform the comic roles that have delighted audiences in Philadelphia and abroad for years, including Dulcamara in The Elixir of Love with Pittsburgh Opera and Dr. Bartolo in The Barber of Seville with Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra and Florentine Opera. Glavin received rave reviews this summer with his portrayal of Brighella in Das Liebesverbot with Glimmerglass Opera. Baritone Daniel Belcher, returns as Taddeo following a season which took him to San Francisco Opera as Papageno in The Magic Flute, Houston Grand Opera for his title role debut in Billy Budd and Utah Opera to reprise the role of Dandini in Cinderella. Soprano Kiera Duffy, who was last seen as the Dew Fairy in last season’s Hansel and Gretel, sings the role of Elvira, Mustafŕ’s jealous wife. Duffy opened the 2008-09 season with her New York Philharmonic debut in Pierre Boulez’s Pli selon pli:Improvisation II sur Mallarmé under the baton of music director Lorin Maazel. Baritone Keith Phares makes his Company debut as Haly, and Curtis Institute of Music mezzo-soprano Tammy Coil makes her Company debut as Zulma. From the vibrant imagination that recently brought Philadelphia audiences Rigoletto and Falstaff, designer Paul Shortt's vivid scenery brings exotic Algiers to life – with dancing elephants in tow! – and Costume Designer Richard St. Clair brings Mediterranean flair to this exotic harem. Philadelphia welcomes the return of director Stefano Vizioli, a frequent director throughout Europe as well as with Lyric Opera of Chicago and Santa Fe Opera who led this production in its critically-acclaimed and televised debut from the Academy of Music in 2000. He teams up once again with Music Director Corrado Rovaris, who leads the Opera Company Orchestra after recent performances of Fidelio and a guest appearance leading New York’s prestigious Richard Tucker Music Foundation Gala. The Italian Girl in AlgiersL'Italiana in AlgeriGioachino RossiniNovember 14, 16m, 19, 21 & 23m, 2008AN ORIGINAL OPERA COMPANY PRODUCTIONLast produced in 2000Sung in Italian with English translations Isabella Ruxandra Donose Lindoro Lawrence BrownleeMustafa Kevin GlavinTaddeo Daniel BelcherElvira Kiera DuffyZulma Tammy Coil*Haly Keith Phares* Conductor Corrado RovarisDirector Stefano VizioliSet Design Paul ShorttCostume Design Richard St. ClairLighting Design Drew BilliauWig & Make-up Design Tom WatsonChorus Master Elizabeth Braden * Opera Company debut ADDITIONAL OPERA COMPANY INFORMATION: The Italian Girl in Algiers (November), Turandot (February/March) and the double-bill of L’enfant et les sortilege and Gianni Schicchi (April/May) take place at The Academy of Music, Broad and Locust Streets. The Kimmel Center Presents production of Curtis Opera Theatre’s Wozzeck, in association with Opera Company of Philadelphia (March) and OCP’s production of The Rape of Lucretia (June) take place at the Perelman Theater at the Kimmel Center. THE ITALIAN GIRL IN ALGIERS: November 14, 16m, 19, 21 & 23m, 2008.Performance times: Wednesday at 7:30pm; Fridays at 8:00pm; Sunday matinees at 2:30pm. Ticket prices range from $7 - $205 and may be purchased by calling Ticket Philadelphia at 215-893-1018 or visiting www.operaphila.org. ADVANTA is proud to be the Season Sponsor of the Opera Company of Philadelphia since 1993. 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. The Opera Company of Philadelphia is supported by major grants from The William Penn Foundation, The Pew Charitable Trusts, The Lenfest Foundation, and the Connelly Foundation. Additional support is provided by the Independence Foundation and the Horace W. Goldsmith Foundation. The Wallace Foundation provides support for the Opera Company’s audience development initiatives. 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 Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development, plus the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency. -##-
Press Releases
For Immediate Release:Wednesday, October 24, 2008
Contact: Tracy C. Galligher215-893-3600, ext. 204 galligher@operaphila.org
Whimsical, Storybook Production of Rossini Comedy THE ITALIAN GIRL IN ALGIERS Lights Up The Stage in November Starring Ruxandra Donose, Lawrence Brownlee and Kevin Glavin
Philadelphia, PA: Gioachino Rossini proves once more to be the master of comic opera with the Opera Company of Philadelphia’s November production of the enchanting, effervescent The Italian Girl in Algiers. This original Opera Company production, first mounted in 2000, runs November 14, 16m, 19, 21 & 23m at the Academy of Music with an internationally-acclaimed cast.
Bored with his harem, in this delightful, farcical romp, ruler Mustafŕ seeks a new challenge in the beautiful, shipwrecked Isabella – who has comically stumbled into his path in search of her missing lover, Lindoro. With the help of a jealous wife, a cast of meddling servants, and Rossini's boundless, escalating, exuberant melodies, audiences will enjoy an evening of musical theatre that will have them laughing from the overture to the happily-ever-after ending.
The cast that starred in 2006’s rousingly success Cinderella returns, led by stunning mezzo-soprano Ruxandra Donose as the shipwrecked Isabella. Recent engagements include Elena in La donna del lago and Octavian in Der Rosenkavalier in Berlin, Marguerite in Damnation de Faust in Munich, and Veronica Quaife in the World Premiere of The Fly in Paris. While here in Philadelphia, Ms. Donose also performed Hector Berlioz’s major choral-orchestral work Romeo and Juliet with the Philadelphia Orchestra, and headlined in the Richard Tucker Foundation Gala in New York alongside co-star Lawrence Brownlee, under the baton of Maestro Corrado Rovaris.
Star tenor Lawrence Brownlee, returns to the Academy of Music stage to woo Donose once more, this time as Lindoro. The exciting young Rossini tenor began this season performing the role of Count Almaviva in The Barber of Seville in three of Germany’s leading houses: at Dresden’s Sachsische Staatsoper, Deutsche Staatsoper Berlin, and at the Festspiele Baden-Baden. This summer Brownlee sang the role of Narciso in Il turco in Italia with Deutsche Staatsoper Berlin and performed a recital of Rossini songs at the Rossini Opera Festival in Pesaro, Italy.
Buffo bass extraordinaire Kevin Glavin makes a triumphant return to Philadelphia as Mustafŕ. Since his last appearance with OCP, Glavin has continued to perform the comic roles that have delighted audiences in Philadelphia and abroad for years, including Dulcamara in The Elixir of Love with Pittsburgh Opera and Dr. Bartolo in The Barber of Seville with Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra and Florentine Opera. Glavin received rave reviews this summer with his portrayal of Brighella in Das Liebesverbot with Glimmerglass Opera.
Baritone Daniel Belcher, returns as Taddeo following a season which took him to San Francisco Opera as Papageno in The Magic Flute, Houston Grand Opera for his title role debut in Billy Budd and Utah Opera to reprise the role of Dandini in Cinderella. Soprano Kiera Duffy, who was last seen as the Dew Fairy in last season’s Hansel and Gretel, sings the role of Elvira, Mustafŕ’s jealous wife. Duffy opened the 2008-09 season with her New York Philharmonic debut in Pierre Boulez’s Pli selon pli:Improvisation II sur Mallarmé under the baton of music director Lorin Maazel. Baritone Keith Phares makes his Company debut as Haly, and Curtis Institute of Music mezzo-soprano Tammy Coil makes her Company debut as Zulma.
From the vibrant imagination that recently brought Philadelphia audiences Rigoletto and Falstaff, designer Paul Shortt's vivid scenery brings exotic Algiers to life – with dancing elephants in tow! – and Costume Designer Richard St. Clair brings Mediterranean flair to this exotic harem. Philadelphia welcomes the return of director Stefano Vizioli, a frequent director throughout Europe as well as with Lyric Opera of Chicago and Santa Fe Opera who led this production in its critically-acclaimed and televised debut from the Academy of Music in 2000. He teams up once again with Music Director Corrado Rovaris, who leads the Opera Company Orchestra after recent performances of Fidelio and a guest appearance leading New York’s prestigious Richard Tucker Music Foundation Gala.
The Italian Girl in AlgiersL'Italiana in AlgeriGioachino RossiniNovember 14, 16m, 19, 21 & 23m, 2008AN ORIGINAL OPERA COMPANY PRODUCTIONLast produced in 2000Sung in Italian with English translations
Isabella Ruxandra Donose Lindoro Lawrence BrownleeMustafa Kevin GlavinTaddeo Daniel BelcherElvira Kiera DuffyZulma Tammy Coil*Haly Keith Phares*
Conductor Corrado RovarisDirector Stefano VizioliSet Design Paul ShorttCostume Design Richard St. ClairLighting Design Drew BilliauWig & Make-up Design Tom WatsonChorus Master Elizabeth Braden
* Opera Company debut
ADDITIONAL OPERA COMPANY INFORMATION:
The Italian Girl in Algiers (November), Turandot (February/March) and the double-bill of L’enfant et les sortilege and Gianni Schicchi (April/May) take place at The Academy of Music, Broad and Locust Streets.
The Kimmel Center Presents production of Curtis Opera Theatre’s Wozzeck, in association with Opera Company of Philadelphia (March) and OCP’s production of The Rape of Lucretia (June) take place at the Perelman Theater at the Kimmel Center.
THE ITALIAN GIRL IN ALGIERS: November 14, 16m, 19, 21 & 23m, 2008.Performance times: Wednesday at 7:30pm; Fridays at 8:00pm; Sunday matinees at 2:30pm.
Ticket prices range from $7 - $205 and may be purchased by calling Ticket Philadelphia at 215-893-1018 or visiting www.operaphila.org.
ADVANTA is proud to be the Season Sponsor of the Opera Company of Philadelphia since 1993.
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. The Opera Company of Philadelphia is supported by major grants from The William Penn Foundation, The Pew Charitable Trusts, The Lenfest Foundation, and the Connelly Foundation. Additional support is provided by the Independence Foundation and the Horace W. Goldsmith Foundation. The Wallace Foundation provides support for the Opera Company’s audience development initiatives. 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 Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development, plus the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency.
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