Minneapolis, MN-Minnesota Opera is pleased to remount its popular 1996 production of Puccini's La bohème. Considered the world's favorite opera, this heartwarming love story inspired Rent and is the quintessential portrait of romance, high-spirited friendship and the idealistic pursuit of love and art.
"There is no mystery why La bohème returns to opera stages around the world," said Artistic Director Dale Johnson. "Puccini captures the love and ardor of youth and reminds us all of the first time we fell in love. This is a perfect opera - there is not a wasted note in the rich, impassioned score."
James Valenti* and Ellie Dehn*, who lit up the stage in the 2008 Romeo and Juliet, reunite in one cast, while Adam Diegel+ and Jennifer Black+ make their company debuts leading the other in this twin-cast spectacular. Hyung Yun* and Peter Barrett+ share the role of Marcello, and Karin Wolverton* (Rusalka) and Naomi Isabel Ruiz+ alternate as Musetta. The beloved Minnesota Opera production is lovingly reimagined by director Justin Way. Emmanuel Joel-Hornak conducts the Minnesota Opera Orchestra in his company debut.
The Minnesota Opera announces its 2010-2011 season
World Premiere of The Garden of the Finzi-Continis
Second installment of the Bel Canto-period Tudor trilogy: Mary Stuart
Highlights include the Minnesota debut of internationally renowned countertenor David Daniels in Orpheus and Eurydice and the long-awaited return of Elizabeth Futral in La traviata
Minneapolis, MN—Minnesota Opera announced its 2010-2011 season, featuring the first commission of the Minnesota Opera New Works Initiative - the world premiere of The Garden of the Finzi-Continis, based on the novel by Giorgio Bassani, by the creative team of The Grapes of Wrath (2007): Ricky Ian Gordon (composer), Michael Korie (librettist) and Eric Simonson (director). The season also boasts the Minnesota debut of an operatic superstar, countertenor David Daniels, who headlines Gluck's Orpheus and Eurydice. This wide-ranging season spans the early Classical period to the 21st century and includes the vocal pyrotechnics of Rossini's fairy tale opera (Cinderella), a Bel Canto masterpiece (Mary Stuart, second in Donizetti's Tudor trilogy) and Verdi's most famous love story (La traviata).
Minneapolis, MN—Minnesota Opera is proud to announce the first installment in Gaetano Donizetti’s trilogy of operas based on the Tudor queens, Roberto Devereux, which will be followed next season by Mary Stuart and in 2011–2012 with Anne Boleyn. Roberto Devereux centers on the tragic May-December love story between Queen Elizabeth I of England and Robert Devereux, the Earl of Essex. Jealous of Devereux’s love for another woman – Sara, Duchess of Nottingham – Elizabeth is nonetheless prepared to forgive Devereux his infidelities to queen and country if only he would pledge himself to her. Devereux resists, and in her rage Elizabeth imprisons him in the Tower of London, setting in motion a series of events that lead to Devereux’s death.
“We are very pleased to launch our three-year cycle of
Donizetti’s Tudor trilogy with this extraordinary musical drama,” said
Artistic Director Dale Johnson. “This production exemplifies Minnesota
Opera’s continued commitment to repertoire from the Bel Canto period
and the artists that specialize in this exquisite operatic style.”
Kevin Newbury, who thrilled audiences with his brilliant The Barber of Seville (2009), returns to direct a fresh, new period-inspired production by set designer Neil Patel with costumes by Jessica Jahn. Bel Canto master soprano and Minnesota Opera favorite Brenda Harris (Orazi e Curiazi) stars as Queen Elizabeth I opposite Portuguese tenor Bruno Ribeiro, who makes his debut as her treacherous lover, Roberto Devereux. Baritone Lester Lynch (recently seen in the 2008 production of Il trovatore) returns as the Duke of Nottingham alongside Russian mezzo-soprano Tamara Klivadenko who makes her Minnesota Opera debut as Sara. Bel Canto specialist Francesco Maria Colombo (Maria Padilla, Orazi e Curiazi) conducts the Minnesota Opera Orchestra.
SAINT PAUL, MINN. – December 21, 2009 – On January 1, 1985 the city of Saint Paul, Minn. joyously celebrated the grand opening of its newest treasure, the originally named Ordway Music Theatre. In celebration of 25 years of performances, Ordway Center for the Performing Arts, along with its resident arts partners, The Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra, The Schubert Club and Minnesota Opera, will host a free open house on January 17, 2010 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. to thank the community for its continued support.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
8 DECEMBER 2009
CONTACT: Daniel Zillmann,
612.342.1612 or dzillmann@mnopera.org
Project Opera to perform Winter Concert
The Minnesota Opera’s youth choirs
present a concert of winter favorites on January 17
What: Project Opera Winter Concert
Where: Hoversten Chapel, Augsburg College, 2211 Riverside Ave S, Minneapolis,
MN 55454
When: Sunday, January 17, 2010 at 4:00 p.m.
Tickets: No tickets
required; free and open to the public. Free-will donations will be accepted.
Minneapolis, MN—Project Opera, The Minnesota Opera’s co-ed youth opera training program, will be performing a winter concert on January 17, 2010, in Augsburg College’s Hoversten Chapel. Both the Ragazzi (grades 4-7) and Giovani (grades 8-12) ensembles will join forces for this exciting seasonal presentation, which will feature selections from Handel’s Messiah, “Evening Prayer Duet” from Hansel and Gretel, Climb to the Top of the Highest Mountain by Carolyn Jennings, Night of Silence by Daniel Kantor, operatic choral excerpts from Nabucco, Dido and Aeneas and Don Pasquale, as well as many other pieces. The concert is free and open to the public, and free-will donations will be accepted.
About Project Opera
Project Opera is Minnesota Opera’s training
program for students in grades four through twelve. Led by Music Director Dale
Kruse, participants come from around the metro area. Project Opera encourages
young people in the discovery of their individual voices in a healthy and
supportive environment through high quality choral programs and stage
experiences and with access to America’s most exciting opera company. Over the
course of the year, students in Ragazzi (grades 4–7) and Giovani (grades 8–12)
learn healthy vocal technique and fundamentals
of acting and perform
repertoire in the major operatic languages. For more information contact
Education Director Jamie Andrews at 612.342.9573 or visit the Education page at
mnopera.org/learn.
Minnesota Opera’s education programs are supported through generous
contributions from the following sponsors: 3M Foundation, Fred C. and Katherine
B. Andersen Foundation, Allianz Life Insurance of North America, Best Buy
Children’s Foundation, Carolyn Foundation, Cleveland Foundation, Comcast,
Education Minnesota Foundation, Enterprise Rent-a-Car Foundation, Harlan Boss
Foundation for the Arts, Anna M. Heilmaier Charitable Foundation, The Medtronic
Foundation, Pentair Foundation, RBC Foundation - USA, Target, Twin Cities Opera
Guild, UnitedHealth Group, Xcel Energy Foundation.
The Minnesota Opera’s mission is to produce opera and opera education
programs at the highest
artistic level that inspire and entertain our
audiences and enrich the cultural life of our community.