AUSTIN OPERA CELEBRATES 30TH SEASON WITH PREMIERES AND MASTERPIECES
Company Announces a 2016-17 Season with Enthralling Performances for Everyone
AUSTIN – January 25, 2016 – Austin Opera will celebrate 30 years of bringing thrilling operatic experiences to the Austin community with a dynamic and thoughtfully curated 2016-17 Season. Opening the season is the regional premiere of Kevin Puts and Mark Campbell’s The Manchurian Candidate on September 17, 2016 at the Long Center. The season continues with Wagner’s powerful romantic opera, The Flying Dutchman; followed by Donizetti’s comic masterpiece, The Daughter of the Regiment. The season closes with one of the most beloved operas of all time, Puccini’s heartbreakingly beautiful Madame Butterfly. The 2016-17 Season will run through May 7, 2017.
“We are incredibly honored by the support of the Austin community over the past 30 years. To show our gratitude, we have created a season for the enjoyment of every music lover—from the cherished works of Donizetti, Puccini, and Wagner; to the latest opera from the Pulitzer Prize-winner Kevin Puts,” said Austin Opera Artistic Director and Principal Conductor, Richard Buckley. “No matter what you love about opera, you’ll find it on the Long Center stage during Austin Opera’s 30th Anniversary Season.”
The Manchurian Candidate: Politics, Intrigue and Conspiracy
On September 17, 2016, less than two months before the U.S. presidential elections, Austin Opera will open its season with the regional premiere of The Manchurian Candidate in a special one-night-only performance, with the Austin Opera Orchestra on the Long Center stage. Created by Pulitzer Prize-winning composer Kevin Puts and librettist Mark Campbell, The Manchurian Candidate is a suspense-filled political conspiracy about an American POW, Sergeant Raymond Shaw, who is the unknowing accomplice of a secret plot to overthrow the US government through its presidential elections. The Manchurian Candidate made its world premiere just this past March at the Minnesota Opera. The opera’s semi-staged direction by Alison Moritz and projection design by Greg Emetaz will create a compelling and imaginative dramatization of the paranoiac tale. Grammy Award-winning baritone David Adam Moore will play Sergeant Raymond Shaw. He will be joined by soprano Brenda Harris as Eleanor Iselin, bass-baritone Daniel Sumegi as Senator Johnny Iselin, and tenor John Lindsey as Captain Ben Marco. The opera will be sung in English with English captions projected above the stage.
The Flying Dutchman: Redemption through Love
Richard Wagner’s powerful romantic opera, The Flying Dutchman, tells the supernatural tale of a captain cursed to navigate a ghost ship for all of eternity, a punishment for invoking Satan during a treacherous ocean voyage. The Dutchman, played by baritone Wayne Tigges, is doomed to sail the seas forever, unless he can find the true love whose power can release him from the curse. Director Eric Einhorn returns to Austin to direct a powerhouse cast in a story of imagination, filled with grand orchestral writing and soaring vocalism. The opera will also feature soprano Melody Moore as Senta, tenor Clay Hilley as Erik, and bass Peter Volpe as Daland. The Flying Dutchman returns to Austin Opera’s stage for the first time in 10 years with performances on November 12, 17 and 20, 2016.
The Daughter of the Regiment: High Comedy, Romance and Vocal Fireworks
Considered one of Gaetano Donizetti’s greatest works, The Daughter of the Regiment tells the story of two young lovers who overcome youthful vows, societal expectations and schemes to spend their lives together. Hilarious antics, innocent romance and vibrant music create an intoxicating love story. Rachele Gilmore, famous for her spectacular coloratura high notes, performs as Marie; American tenor René Barbera as Tonio; Italian native Stefano De Peppo as Sergeant Sulpice; and mezzo-soprano Cindy Sadler as the Marquise of Birkenfeld. Donizetti’s music will be sung in French, mixed with a sparkling new English dialogue by Rod Caspers and Chan Chandler. The Daughter of the Regiment will be performed on January 28, and February 2 and 5, 2017.
Madame Butterfly: The Most Beloved Opera of All Time
Giacamo Puccini’s breathtaking and emotional score, coupled with the magnificent libretto of Luigi Illica and Giuseppe Giacosa, make this tragic love story one of the best known and best loved operas of all time. The cast stars soprano Yunah Lee as Cio-Cio San, the Japanese heroine in love with the callous American Lieutenant Pinkerton, portrayed by breakout tenor Dominick Chenes. The cast also stars baritone Michael Chioldi as Sharpless and mezzo-soprano Mika Shigematsu as Suzuki. Madame Butterfly takes the stage for three performances only, on April 29 and May 4 and 7, 2017. Prominent American opera director Garnett Bruce leads his 10th production of Madame Butterfly, a hallmark opera of his robust directorial career.
“Austin Opera’s 2016-17 Season is special not only because it is our 30th Anniversary, but because it highlights all the great elements that, when combined, make this incredible art form possible. From great singers and great stage directors, to beautiful sets, to our amazing Austin Opera Orchestra and Chorus—we’re bringing world-class talent to Austin in a showcase befitting this special anniversary season,” said General Director, Joseph Specter. “In addition to the premieres and masterpieces on our main stage, the season also offers a range of musical and social opportunities off the stage to bring a complete Austin Opera experience to the entire community.”
Additional Austin Opera Experiences
Music lovers can enjoy the complete Austin Opera experience through a range of group experiences:
- Austin Opera Guild: The Austin Opera Guild provides cultural enrichment to its members, as well as financial support to Austin Opera. Guild members enjoy season-long educational and social events, in addition to volunteer opportunities throughout the opera season.
- La Noche de Opera: Before each production, members of La Noche de Opera gather in private homes, art galleries or restaurants to share a glass of wine, savor sumptuous hors d’oeuvres, and listen to special guests and artists as they give insights into the upcoming production.
- UrbanNites at the Opera: Thursday performance ticket packages include an opera ticket and an exclusive backstage happy hour reception in the Green Room, where guests can mingle, sip, and nosh.
- Matinee Music Camps: These Music Camps are offered for children ages 4-10 at each Sunday matinee performance at the Long Center, while parents attend the opera performance in the theater.
Austin Opera’s 30th Anniversary Season takes place at the Long Center, of which Austin Opera is a Founding Resident Company. Season tickets for renewing subscribers are on sale beginning January 25, and may be purchased in the Long Center lobby during performances of this season’s Of Mice and Men and The Barber of Seville or by calling Austin Opera Patron Services at 512-610-7684. Ticket renewal forms will be sent to current subscribers before the end of this month and online sales to renewing subscribers will go on sale on February 1 at austinopera.org/renew. Season tickets go on sale to the general public on April 1, 2016.
About Austin Opera
Founded in May 1986 as Austin’s first professional opera company, Austin Opera has become a cultural touchstone for the fine arts community in the Central Texas region and has gained national acclaim as a producer of great opera. Austin Opera is committed to producing and promoting outstanding opera that will entertain, enrich and educate the central Texas community. Austin Opera is a cultural destination for the community that delivers an extraordinary experience; is a creative environment that challenges the misconceptions of the art form; enables lifelong learning; and celebrates the diversity that makes Austin unique. Austin Opera productions consistently garner national and international praise for production value, vocal artistry, and repertoire selection, under the leadership of General Director Joseph Specter and Artistic Director and Principal Conductor Richard Buckley. For more information about Austin Opera, please visit austinopera.org.