The Opera Company of Philadelphia Launches Opera at the Perelman With Company Premiere of Britten's The Rape of Lucretia The 2008-2009 Season has been a thrilling success filled with heart-stopping moments and stirring melodies. The Philadelphia Inquirer hailed October's Fidelio as "…a triumph. Critics don't usually cheer. But I did." City Paper exclaimed that November's Italian Girl in Algiers was "a delightful way to spend the evening." In February Edge Philadelphia applauded "...an epic Turandot with dark and over the top glory." And most recently, The Philadelphia Inquirer had rave reviews for the double bill of L'enfant et les sortilèges and Gianni Schicchi, saying that the L'enfant cast "... unfolded like a cabaret show of star turns...." Tenor William Burden and baritone Nathan Gunn pictured in their last OCP appearance in The Pearl Fishers, also starred together in OCP's Cosi fan tutte in 2003. Now, the Opera Company is ready to close the season on a spectacular high note. With its first production in a contemporary new home, the Opera Company presents the Company Premiere of Benjamin Britten's The Rape of Lucretia in the Perelman Theater June 5th through the 14th. Twentieth Century composer Benjamin Britten's hauntingly beautiful music is married with an ancient Roman tale in which 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 last year to great acclaim with the Châteauville Foundation in Virginia, the young artist development program of Maestro Lorin Maazel, and most recently appeared with the Metropolitan Opera as Maddalena in Rigoletto. Soprano Tamara Mumford, pictured here as Lucretia in the premiere of this production, makes her Opera Company debut as the tragic title character.Baritone Nathan Gunn (read more) and tenor William Burden, a popular pairing seen in previous OCP productions of The Pearl Fishers and Così fan tutte, return to the Opera Company of Philadelphia. Gunn, whose most recent credits include two World Premieres - Alec Harvey in A Brief Encounter with Houston Grand Opera and Father Delaura in Love and Other Demons at the Glyndebourne Opera Festival - returns as Tarquinius. (Read more about Nathan Gunn here.) Burden, whose recent roles include Lindoro in The Italian Girl in Algiers with Pittsburgh Opera and Alwa in Lulu with Lyric Opera of Chicago, sings the role of the Male Chorus. Soprano Karen Jesse, who impressed audiences with her star turn as Marie in Curtis Opera Theatre's Wozzeck in March, makes her Opera Company debut as the Female Chorus. Director William Kerley and designer Nicholas Vaughan mount this production, created for The Châteauville Foundation. Don't miss Britten's epic The Rape of Lucretia - click here for more information. Listen Buy Tickets Click here to read more background information on the opera.
The 2008-2009 Season has been a thrilling success filled with heart-stopping moments and stirring melodies. The Philadelphia Inquirer hailed October's Fidelio as "…a triumph. Critics don't usually cheer. But I did." City Paper exclaimed that November's Italian Girl in Algiers was "a delightful way to spend the evening." In February Edge Philadelphia applauded "...an epic Turandot with dark and over the top glory." And most recently, The Philadelphia Inquirer had rave reviews for the double bill of L'enfant et les sortilèges and Gianni Schicchi, saying that the L'enfant cast "... unfolded like a cabaret show of star turns...."
Tenor William Burden and baritone Nathan Gunn pictured in their last OCP appearance in The Pearl Fishers, also starred together in OCP's Cosi fan tutte in 2003.
Now, the Opera Company is ready to close the season on a spectacular high note. With its first production in a contemporary new home, the Opera Company presents the Company Premiere of Benjamin Britten's The Rape of Lucretia in the Perelman Theater June 5th through the 14th.
Twentieth Century composer Benjamin Britten's hauntingly beautiful music is married with an ancient Roman tale in which 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 last year to great acclaim with the Châteauville Foundation in Virginia, the young artist development program of Maestro Lorin Maazel, and most recently appeared with the Metropolitan Opera as Maddalena in Rigoletto.
Soprano Tamara Mumford, pictured here as Lucretia in the premiere of this production, makes her Opera Company debut as the tragic title character.
Don't miss Britten's epic The Rape of Lucretia - click here for more information.
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Click here to read more background information on the opera.
