Press Releases Opera Company Launches Inaugural Production in the Perelman Theater with Company Premiere of Britten’s The Rape of Lucretia Starring Tamara Mumford, Nathan Gunn, William Burden & Karen Jesse 05-11-2009 For Immediate Release: May 11, 2009 Contact: Tracy C. Galligher 215-893-3600, ext. 204 galligher@operaphila.org Opera Company Launches Inaugural Production in the Perelman Theater with Company Premiere of Britten's The Rape of Lucretia Starring Tamara Mumford, Nathan Gunn, William Burden & Karen Jesse Philadelphia, PA: The Opera Company of Philadelphia closes the 2008-2009 Season with its first production at the Kimmel Center's intimate Perelman Theater. This contemporary theater provides an ideal home for unique and exciting performances of operatic literature on a new scale for both opera buff and opera novice alike. For the inaugural production, OCP produces the Company Premiere of Benjamin Britten's dramatic classic The Rape of Lucretia, with performances June 5, 7m, 10, 12 & 14m, 2010. Twentieth Century composer Benjamin Britten's hauntingly beautiful music is married with an ancient Roman tale. The men of the Roman army have discovered that during their absence, their wives have faithlessly betrayed them - all but one, that is. Lucretia has remained faithful to her husband, Collatinus, but when the young prince Tarquinius plots to test her fidelity, he takes not only her chastity, but he brings about her complete ruin. Starring in the title role and her Company debut is mezzo-soprano Tamara Mumford, who performed the role to great acclaim with the Châteauville Foundation in Virginia, the young artist development program of Maestro Lorin Maazel. Other recent appearances include Maddalena in Rigoletto and Flosshilde in Das Rheingold and Götterdämmerung at the Metropolitan Opera, and Ottavia in L'incoronazione di Poppea at the Glyndebourne Opera Festival. Baritone Nathan Gunn (The Pearl Fishers, '04) returns following recent engagements as Alec Harvey in the World Premiere of A Brief Encounter at Houston Grand Opera, Papageno in Los Angeles Opera's The Magic Flute, and Father DeLaura in the World Premiere of Love and Other Demons at the Glyndebourne Festival. Gunn recently released a song CD entitled "Just Before Sunrise" which has drawn critical acclaim, and has been featured over the last year on Good Morning America, The Colbert Show and in Vanity Fair. As the Male Chorus, tenor William Burden returns. The combination of Burden and Gunn has been a popular pairing in previous OCP productions of The Pearl Fishers and Così fan tutte. Burden, whose recent roles include the title role in Candide at La Scala, Nadir in Seattle Opera's The Pearl Fishers and Alwa in Lyric Opera of Chicago's Lulu, is featured alongside soprano Karen Jesse as the Female Chorus in her OCP debut. Though this production marks her official OCP debut, audiences will recognize this Curtis-trained soprano from her riveting performance as Marie in the Curtis Opera Theatre production of Wozzeck earlier this season. As Lucretia's husband, Collatinus, Academy of Vocal Arts bass-baritone Ben Wager makes his Opera Company debut. Recent roles include Masetto in Don Giovanni with Chicago Opera Theatre and multiple roles in The Adventures of Pinocchio with Minnesota Opera, as well as Enrico in AVA's Anna Bolena. Mezzo-soprano Allison Sanders, last seen as Clotilde in OCP's Norma in 2008, appears as Bianca following a recent performance of the title role in Carmen with the Chautauqua Institution. Baritone Eric Dubin (Cyrano '08) is Junius, on the heels of singing Dandini in Cinderella with New Jersey Opera, and soprano Rinnat Moriah, a Curtis Institute graduate, is Lucia in her Opera Company debut following her performance as Hero in Beatrice and Benedict with Chicago Opera Theatre. English director William Kerley, who led the opera at the Châteauville Foundation in Virginia and who recently staged Eugene Onegin for Scottish Opera, makes his Opera Company debut with this piece. Designer Nicholas Vaughan, who designed the sets and costumes, also makes his Company debut, working with OCP Lighting Designer Drew Billiau, who designs the lighting scheme. Maestro David Hayes, known for his work with the Philadelphia Singers, the Philadelphia Orchestra and the Mannes Orchestra, presides over the Opera Company Orchestra for the first time. The Company Premiere of The Rape of Lucretia Benjamin Britten At the Perelman Theater, Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts June 5, 7m, 10, 12 & 14m, 2009 Sung in English Cast Lucretia Tamara Mumford* Tarquinius Nathan Gunn Male Chorus William Burden Female Chorus Karen Jesse* Collatinus Ben Wager* Junius Eric Dubin Bianca Allison Sanders Lucia Rinnat Moriah* Creative Team Conductor David Hayes* Director William Kerley* Set and Costume Design Nicholas Vaughan* Lighting Design Drew Billiau Wig & Make-up Design Tom Watson *Opera Company of Philadelphia debut Production by William Kerley. Scenery and Costumes designd by Nicholas Vaughan and produced by Châteauville Foundation, Lorin Maazel, Artistic Director. ADDITIONAL OPERA COMPANY INFORMATION: The Rape of Lucretia takes place at the Perelman Theater at the Kimmel Center, Broad and Spruce Streets. Performance times: June 5 at 8pm; June 7 at 2:30pm; June 10 at 7:30pm; June 12 at 8pm; June 14 at 2:30pm. Ticket prices range from $30 - 135 and may be purchased by calling Ticket Philadelphia at 215-893-1018 or visiting www.operaphila.org. Opera at the Perelman is underwritten by the Otto Haas Charitable Trust #2. 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: May 11, 2009
Contact: Tracy C. Galligher 215-893-3600, ext. 204 galligher@operaphila.org
Opera Company Launches Inaugural Production in the Perelman Theater with Company Premiere of Britten's The Rape of Lucretia Starring Tamara Mumford, Nathan Gunn, William Burden & Karen Jesse
Philadelphia, PA: The Opera Company of Philadelphia closes the 2008-2009 Season with its first production at the Kimmel Center's intimate Perelman Theater. This contemporary theater provides an ideal home for unique and exciting performances of operatic literature on a new scale for both opera buff and opera novice alike. For the inaugural production, OCP produces the Company Premiere of Benjamin Britten's dramatic classic The Rape of Lucretia, with performances June 5, 7m, 10, 12 & 14m, 2010.
Twentieth Century composer Benjamin Britten's hauntingly beautiful music is married with an ancient Roman tale. The men of the Roman army have discovered that during their absence, their wives have faithlessly betrayed them - all but one, that is. Lucretia has remained faithful to her husband, Collatinus, but when the young prince Tarquinius plots to test her fidelity, he takes not only her chastity, but he brings about her complete ruin.
Starring in the title role and her Company debut is mezzo-soprano Tamara Mumford, who performed the role to great acclaim with the Châteauville Foundation in Virginia, the young artist development program of Maestro Lorin Maazel. Other recent appearances include Maddalena in Rigoletto and Flosshilde in Das Rheingold and Götterdämmerung at the Metropolitan Opera, and Ottavia in L'incoronazione di Poppea at the Glyndebourne Opera Festival.
Baritone Nathan Gunn (The Pearl Fishers, '04) returns following recent engagements as Alec Harvey in the World Premiere of A Brief Encounter at Houston Grand Opera, Papageno in Los Angeles Opera's The Magic Flute, and Father DeLaura in the World Premiere of Love and Other Demons at the Glyndebourne Festival. Gunn recently released a song CD entitled "Just Before Sunrise" which has drawn critical acclaim, and has been featured over the last year on Good Morning America, The Colbert Show and in Vanity Fair.
As the Male Chorus, tenor William Burden returns. The combination of Burden and Gunn has been a popular pairing in previous OCP productions of The Pearl Fishers and Così fan tutte. Burden, whose recent roles include the title role in Candide at La Scala, Nadir in Seattle Opera's The Pearl Fishers and Alwa in Lyric Opera of Chicago's Lulu, is featured alongside soprano Karen Jesse as the Female Chorus in her OCP debut. Though this production marks her official OCP debut, audiences will recognize this Curtis-trained soprano from her riveting performance as Marie in the Curtis Opera Theatre production of Wozzeck earlier this season.
As Lucretia's husband, Collatinus, Academy of Vocal Arts bass-baritone Ben Wager makes his Opera Company debut. Recent roles include Masetto in Don Giovanni with Chicago Opera Theatre and multiple roles in The Adventures of Pinocchio with Minnesota Opera, as well as Enrico in AVA's Anna Bolena. Mezzo-soprano Allison Sanders, last seen as Clotilde in OCP's Norma in 2008, appears as Bianca following a recent performance of the title role in Carmen with the Chautauqua Institution. Baritone Eric Dubin (Cyrano '08) is Junius, on the heels of singing Dandini in Cinderella with New Jersey Opera, and soprano Rinnat Moriah, a Curtis Institute graduate, is Lucia in her Opera Company debut following her performance as Hero in Beatrice and Benedict with Chicago Opera Theatre.
English director William Kerley, who led the opera at the Châteauville Foundation in Virginia and who recently staged Eugene Onegin for Scottish Opera, makes his Opera Company debut with this piece. Designer Nicholas Vaughan, who designed the sets and costumes, also makes his Company debut, working with OCP Lighting Designer Drew Billiau, who designs the lighting scheme. Maestro David Hayes, known for his work with the Philadelphia Singers, the Philadelphia Orchestra and the Mannes Orchestra, presides over the Opera Company Orchestra for the first time.
The Company Premiere of The Rape of Lucretia Benjamin Britten At the Perelman Theater, Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts June 5, 7m, 10, 12 & 14m, 2009 Sung in English
Cast
Creative Team
*Opera Company of Philadelphia debut
Production by William Kerley. Scenery and Costumes designd by Nicholas Vaughan and produced by Châteauville Foundation, Lorin Maazel, Artistic Director.
ADDITIONAL OPERA COMPANY INFORMATION: The Rape of Lucretia takes place at the Perelman Theater at the Kimmel Center, Broad and Spruce Streets. Performance times: June 5 at 8pm; June 7 at 2:30pm; June 10 at 7:30pm; June 12 at 8pm; June 14 at 2:30pm. Ticket prices range from $30 - 135 and may be purchased by calling Ticket Philadelphia at 215-893-1018 or visiting www.operaphila.org.
Opera at the Perelman is underwritten by the Otto Haas Charitable Trust #2.
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.
