Opera Company of Philadelphia Presents the East Coast Premiere of CYRANO 11-28-2007 CYRANO CENTRAL! PHOTO GALLERY: Click here to get a special glimpse into the Making of Cyrano! LISTEN! Sample the music from this newly-created opera! VIEW! See a clip from the World Premiere in October 2007! ENTER YOUR LOVE LETTER: Learn about the "Ultimate Love Letters Contest" CYRANO EVENTS: Movie screenings, sword fights and more - see the schedule! "…it is splendid -- the transfiguration of a bittersweet love story through music that soars with unabashed romanticism -- ardent, touching and gorgeous." – Detroit News In February 2008, the Opera Company presents an exciting East Coast Premiere when the curtain goes up on Cyrano, a newly created opera based on the classic tale from literature. With lush, melodic music by composer David DiChiera, the Detroit Free Press applauded the piece, saying that "DiChiera is as generous with melody as a philanthropist is with money….carved from simple tonal harmonies, he has an ear for ear-catching turns and dramatic leaps of 7ths and 9ths that reach for the stars." With a libretto by famed stage director Bernard Uzan and immense, sweeping orchestration, Cyrano promises to leave audiences breathless with romance just in time for Valentine’s Day. The story of a swashbuckling Frenchman with a larger-than-life personality—and a larger-than-life nose—Cyrano is equally as adept with both his sword and his pen. When he writes love letters to the beautiful Roxane for his friend Christian, he makes himself a heartbroken accomplice to their love in a tale that The Detroit News calls "as heartbreaking as it is sublime." To bring this 17th-century French drama to life, veteran designer John Pascoe, whose celebrated design credits include the Metropolitan Opera, Royal Opera Covent Garden, Washington National Opera and Lyric Opera of Chicago, has been commissioned to produce the ideal, sweeping setting for the Opera Company of Philadelphia and its partner companies Michigan Opera Theatre and Florida Grand Opera. The scenery, built at the world-renowned Ravenswood Studios in Chicago, and more than 150 hand-sewn costumes featuring a rich tapestry of fabrics, were regarded as "a visual feast" by The Detroit Free Press. This multi-million dollar production features charismatic Romanian baritone Marian Pop in the title role, winning him audience and critical acclaim. At the World Premiere, The Detroit Free Press raved that "Pop made a striking impression …[bringing] a supple range of color and a full-throated intensity balanced by sweetness that never felt forced…He captured Cyrano’s duality – cocky and courageous on the one hand, tormented and insecure on the other." Two Philadelphia-trained voices complete this tragic love triangle—Academy of Vocal Arts tenor Stephen Costello as Christian, and AVA soprano Evelyn Pollock as the stunning Roxane. Don't miss this East Coast Premiere performance which dials up the romance just in time for Valentine’s Day! Tickets on sale December 3rd! Click here to get a special glimpse into the Making of Cyrano!
CYRANO CENTRAL!
PHOTO GALLERY: Click here to get a special glimpse into the Making of Cyrano!
LISTEN! Sample the music from this newly-created opera!
VIEW! See a clip from the World Premiere in October 2007!
ENTER YOUR LOVE LETTER: Learn about the "Ultimate Love Letters Contest"
CYRANO EVENTS: Movie screenings, sword fights and more - see the schedule!
"…it is splendid -- the transfiguration of a bittersweet love story through music that soars with unabashed romanticism -- ardent, touching and gorgeous." – Detroit News
In February 2008, the Opera Company presents an exciting East Coast Premiere when the curtain goes up on Cyrano, a newly created opera based on the classic tale from literature. With lush, melodic music by composer David DiChiera, the Detroit Free Press applauded the piece, saying that "DiChiera is as generous with melody as a philanthropist is with money….carved from simple tonal harmonies, he has an ear for ear-catching turns and dramatic leaps of 7ths and 9ths that reach for the stars." With a libretto by famed stage director Bernard Uzan and immense, sweeping orchestration, Cyrano promises to leave audiences breathless with romance just in time for Valentine’s Day. The story of a swashbuckling Frenchman with a larger-than-life personality—and a larger-than-life nose—Cyrano is equally as adept with both his sword and his pen. When he writes love letters to the beautiful Roxane for his friend Christian, he makes himself a heartbroken accomplice to their love in a tale that The Detroit News calls "as heartbreaking as it is sublime."
To bring this 17th-century French drama to life, veteran designer John Pascoe, whose celebrated design credits include the Metropolitan Opera, Royal Opera Covent Garden, Washington National Opera and Lyric Opera of Chicago, has been commissioned to produce the ideal, sweeping setting for the Opera Company of Philadelphia and its partner companies Michigan Opera Theatre and Florida Grand Opera. The scenery, built at the world-renowned Ravenswood Studios in Chicago, and more than 150 hand-sewn costumes featuring a rich tapestry of fabrics, were regarded as "a visual feast" by The Detroit Free Press.
This multi-million dollar production features charismatic Romanian baritone Marian Pop in the title role, winning him audience and critical acclaim. At the World Premiere, The Detroit Free Press raved that "Pop made a striking impression …[bringing] a supple range of color and a full-throated intensity balanced by sweetness that never felt forced…He captured Cyrano’s duality – cocky and courageous on the one hand, tormented and insecure on the other." Two Philadelphia-trained voices complete this tragic love triangle—Academy of Vocal Arts tenor Stephen Costello as Christian, and AVA soprano Evelyn Pollock as the stunning Roxane.
Don't miss this East Coast Premiere performance which dials up the romance just in time for Valentine’s Day! Tickets on sale December 3rd!
Click here to get a special glimpse into the Making of Cyrano!
