Virginia Opera Announces the 2012-2013 Season
The Pearl Fishers * Die Fledermaus * A Streetcar Named Desire * The Marriage of Figaro
Next season opens with a splash! From George Bizet the composer of Carmen, George Bizet, comes his stirring grand opera, The Pearl Fishers. Bizet’s classically melodic score launches our “First of Firsts” series: season-opening new productions of operas that have never before been produced by Virginia Opera! This exotic tale of secret passions betrayed will be brought to life by the debuting team of conductor Anne Manson and director Tazewell Thompson. Sought-after soprano Georgia Jarman also makes her debut as the mysterious veiled priestess, Leila. Returning tenor Chad Johnson and fast-rising baritone David Pershall portray the two friends from childhood who now vie for her love.
We have also made room for a bit of fun in the coming season. Johann Strauss II’s Die Fledermaus — Viennese operetta par excellence — returns to the repertoire just in time for the holidays. Gary Thor Wedow, an insightful conductor known for his irresistible musical zest, makes his company debut. Director and choreographer Dorothy Danner returns for her wonderfully bubbly production. Infused with laughter and world famous melodies, Die Fledermaus is pure and disarmingly sophisticated entertainment.
André Previn’s A Streetcar Named Desire continues the season with in a bold new production that launches our “Made in America” series; a multi-season exploration of American works that reflect our country’s unique take on the art of opera. Previn’s score brings musical depth and canny insight into the seminal characters created by Tennessee Williams. Kelly Cae Hogan, who wowed Virginia Opera audiences as Brünnhilde in Wagner’s Die Walküre, makes her triumphant return as Blanche DuBois. The virile American baritone, David Adam Moore makes his company debut as the sexually menacing Stanley Kowalski. Sam Helfrich returns to direct this second new production of the season. This quintessentially American opera holds a particular appeal for theatregoers who know the Pulitzer Prize winning lay but have yet to experience the added dimension that Previn’s music brings to William’s legendary words.
We return to Virginia, in a manner of speaking, by presenting Richmond native Matthew Burns in the title role of Mozart’s The Marriage of Figaro – arguably opera’s most beloved comedy. Matthew gives us his take on Figaro, opposite Metropolitan Opera soprano Anne-Carolyn Bird as Susanna. Cherubino, the precocious boy who complicates the chicanery of the imperious Count Almaviva, will be sung by the rich-voiced mezzo soprano Karin Mushegain. Earlier this season, Karin drew high praise for her inspired performances of another of opera’s gender bending “pants roles”, Hansel in Hansel and Gretel. This extraordinary event marks the Virginia Opera conducting debut of Steven Smith, Music Director of the Richmond Symphony. Company favorite Lillian Groag will lend her deeply insightful exploration of character and wildly funny stage action to this “Mozartean” classic.
Our 2012–13 Season is a musical journey across the world of opera for you, our audience—the most important part of the Virginia Opera. As a company we are genuinely elated to be able to bring these performances to the Commonwealth and can’t wait for you to join us!
Robin Thompson
Artistic Advisor
Virginia Opera 2012-2013 Season Press Release
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