2024 FESTIVAL SEASON JUNE 28 - JULY 21
THE BARBER OF SEVILLE SALOME PELLÉAS & MÉLISANDE AMERICAN APOLLO
Join us for the 2024 Festival Season In the final review of our 2023 festival, Opera Today concluded, “...Another shining example of the care, thought, talent, and creative thinking that informs each of the beautifully considered productions at Des Moines Metro Opera. Next season features Salome, The Barber of Seville, Pelléas & Mélisande, and the world premiere of American Apollo. I can promise, it will be opera at its best.” Experience opera at its best in the heart of Iowa this summer. Four world-class productions will be brought to life by extraordinary artists in a theatre that brings you within arm’s reach of the action on the stage—sit any closer and you’ll need a costume! Every seat in our intimate 467-seat arena-style theatre is closer to the center of the stage than the first row at the Metropolitan Opera giving you a truly immersive and unique theatrical experience. Enhance that experience with an al fresco dinner out on the plaza surrounded by the natural beauty of the theatre’s dramatic hillside meadows (pictured), or reserve a table at the elegant indoor lobby restaurant. Warm up for every opera with a free pre-performance prelude talk and then visit our Boutique to browse a unique collection of DMMO and opera-related mementos. After the performance, stick around to mix and mingle with artists in the Outdoor Patron Lounge. Festival 2024 promises to be opera at its best. Find out for yourself what audiences from around the nation are talking about!
“Such high production values and careful casting make Des Moines Metro Opera a find.” THE WALL STREET JOURNAL
The Lauridsen Family Foundation is the Presenting Sponsor of the 2024 season
6/28
7:30p
6/30
2:00p
7/5
7/14
7:30p
2:00p
7/ 16
7:30p
7/20
7:30p
THE BARBER OF SEVILLE by GIOACHINO ROSSINI
Get ready for a rollicking fiesta of sunny Seville madness as Rossini’s celebrated, razor-sharp comedy returns to our stage in riotous technicolor. Featuring some of opera’s most familiar and show-stopping tunes, The Barber of Seville is a treat for the eyes and ears! Baritone Alexander Birch Elliott (pictured left) returns to DMMO as the wily Figaro, rising tenor Duke Kim returns to make his mainstage debut as Count Almaviva and mezzo-soprano Sun-Ly Pierce returns in a role debut as Rosina. Maestro Gary Thor Wedow conducts Lindy Hume’s vibrant production that has left audiences rolling in the aisles on two continents.
The opera is chock-full of catchy tunes that are all incredibly familiar, including the jaunty overture (featured prominently in The Rabbit of Seville) and Figaro’s famous ‘Largo al factotum’ which has made its way into commercials, blockbuster films and cartoons alike. It’s the perfect opera for the first-timer!
FIGARO
COUNT ALMAVIVA
Alexander Birch Elliott
Duke Kim
BARTOLO Ashraf Sewailam BASILIO Vartan Gabrielian BERTA Abigail Rethwisch AMBROGIO Marc Kenison
ROSINA
Sun-Ly Pierce
CONDUCTOR
DIRECTOR
Gary Thor Wedow
Lindy Hume
ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR & CHOREOGRAPHER Daniel Pelzig PRODUCTION DESIGNER Tracy Grant Lord LIGHTING DESIGNER Matthew Marshall WIG AND MAKEUP DESIGNER Brittany V.A. Rappise
6/29
7:30p
7/7
2:00p
7/13
1:00p
7/19
8:00p
SALOME by RICHARD STRAUSS
Based on Oscar Wilde’s sensational play, Richard Strauss’s Salome took the world by storm at its 1905 premiere with princess Salome at its center, whose growing obsession with the imprisoned prophet Jochanaan (John the Baptist) propels the story to its dramatic conclusion. Featuring music that is both colossal and dazzling, this new production will leave you on the edge of your seat. The production features soprano Sara Gartland (pictured left) in an anticipated role debut as Salome, with DMMO Music Director and Principal Conductor David Neely leading the DMMO Festival Orchestra. Nathan Troup makes his mainstage debut as director.
Richard Strauss is no stranger to the Des Moines Metro Opera audience. His Ariadne auf Naxos was produced in 1980 and again in 2004, Der Rosenkavalier in 1992, Salome in 2002 and Elektra in 2013. Salome may well be Strauss’s most original contribution to the art form and remains, nearly 120 years after its premiere, one of the most astonishing and musically shocking works ever written.
SALOME
JOCHANAAN
HERODIAS
CONDUCTOR
Sara Gartland
Norman Garrett
Gwendolyn Jones
David Neely
HEROD ANTIPAS Chad Shelton NARRABOTH Alex McKissick
DIRECTOR
Nathan Troup
SCENIC DESIGNER Steven C. Kemp COSTUME DESIGNER Jacob A. Climer LIGHTING DESIGNER Connie Yun
7/6
7:30p
7/12
7:30p
7/17
7:30p
7/21
2:00p
PELLÉAS & MÉLISANDE by CLAUDE DEBUSSY
Claude Debussy’s only complete opera shimmers with Impressionist color like a Monet painting, and its mesmerizing score dazzles. This exquisitely nuanced and rarely performed work casts a hypnotic spell, capturing a world of dreams where forbidden love blossoms, leading to tragic consquences. This new production of Debussy’s symbolist masterpiece features the return of Iowa baritone John Moore in a role debut as Pelléas, soprano Sydney Mancasola as Mélisande (both pictured left), Brandon Cedel in a company debut as Golaud, with Derrick Inouye leading the DMMO Festival Orchestra in his company debut and Chas Rader-Shieber returning to direct his seventh DMMO production.
Debussy’s groundbreaking musical language in Pelléas & Mélisande marked a radical departure from the operatic conventions of his time, influencing later composers and contributing to the development of 20thcentury music. Much like the composer’s “Clair de lune” and “Prelude to the Afternoon of a Faun,” the delicate textures and soundscapes are as innovative and distinct today as they were at the opera’s premiere in 1902.
PELLÉAS
MÉLISANDE
John Moore
Sydney Mancasola
GOLAUD
Brandon Cedel
ARKEL Matt Boehler SCENIC DESIGNER Andrew Boyce COSTUME DESIGNER Jacob A. Climer
CONDUCTOR
DIRECTOR
Derrick Inouye
Chas Rader-Shieber
LIGHTING DESIGNER Connie Yun WIG AND MAKEUP DESIGNER Brittany V.A. Rappise
7/13 8:00p
7/18 7:30p
World Premiere made possible in part by leadership support from the Pamela Bass-Bookey and Harry Bookey Charitable Foundation
7/19 1:00p ADDED DATE
AMERICAN APOLLO by DAMIEN GETER / LILA PALMER
Damien Geter and Lila Palmer’s American Apollo gives voice to a pivotal figure in American art: Thomas Eugene McKeller, a Black hotel worker who served as a model and muse for famous portraitist John Singer Sargent. Themes of erasure, the white gaze and the dynamic, deeply personal relationship between the two men are explored in this powerful new work. This world premiere opera features baritone Justin Austin as Thomas Eugene McKeller, tenor William Burden making a company debut as John Singer Sargent, soprano Mary Dunleavy as Isabella Stewart Gardner, and conductor David Neely leading the production alongside stage director Shaun Patrick Tubbs, who makes his company debut.
As a work of historical fiction, American Apollo imagines the story behind Sargent’s sensual sketches and nude portrait of McKeller. Recent scholarship, correspondence, and firsthand accounts by relatives and friends suggest a deeply personal and intimate relationship between the two men. The opera also draws from Paul Fisher’s The Grand Affair and Nathaniel Silver’s exhibition catalog Boston’s Apollo.
THOMAS EUGENE MCKELLER
JOHN SINGER SARGENT
ISABELLA STEWART GARDNER
Justin Austin
William Burden
Mary Dunleavy
CONDUCTOR David Neely DRAMATURG Kate Pitt IDA MAE MCDONALD Tesia Kwarteng NICOLA D’INVERNO Alex McKissick
COMPOSER
LIBRETTIST
Damien Geter
Lila Palmer
DIRECTOR Shaun Patrick Tubbs SCENIC DESIGNER Steven C. Kemp COSTUME DESIGNER Danielle Preston LIGHTING DESIGNER Bridget S. Williams
APPRENTICE ARTIST CONCERTS Celebrating its 50th anniversary during the 2024 season, Des Moines Metro Opera’s Frank R. Brownell III Apprentice Artist Program is a comprehensive career training program for some of the best and brightest rising vocal talents in America. In honor of the program’s 50th anniversary, all five special apprentice artist concerts presented during the 2024 Festival will be free and open to the public.
APPRENTICE SPOTLIGHT CONCERT Saturday, June 1 | 6:30PM Meet the members of the Apprentice Artist Program as they sing their signature arias. Kick off the summer with one of the most popular events of the season in the Blank Performing Arts Center lobby.
APPRENTICE SCENE PROGRAMS Saturday, June 29 | 2PM Friday, July 5 | 2PM Tuesday, July 16 | 2PM The Apprentice Artists are in the spotlight in three scene programs of fully staged excerpts from across the operatic spectrum! All scene programs are free and open to the public and held in Lekberg Hall in the Amy Robertson Music Building on the campus of Simpson College.
STARS OF TOMORROW CONCERT Saturday, July 20 | 2PM The Apprentice Artists take the stage for one night only to perform opera’s greatest duets, trios and ensembles (pictured left). In honor of the 50th anniversary, this year’s Stars of Tomorrow concert will be free and open to the public! To secure your tickets, call the DMMO Box Office at (515) 209-3257 or dmmo.org/AAPevents.
OPERA DINING CAFÉ LOBBY DINING by the Des Moines Embassy Club Enhance your Des Moines Metro Opera experience by enjoying our own gourmet restaurant conveniently located in the secluded air-conditioned comfort of the lobby of the Blank Performing Arts Center. Club Chef Matt Uitermarkt and the Embassy Club team bring their special magic to the menus themed for evening performances of each opera. Please note: Café Lobby Dining will not be available for the matinee performances on June 30, July 7, 13, 14, 19 or 21.
À LA CARTE DINING Create your own delicious meal from an assortment of sandwiches, salads, and other goodies from local vendors including Nourished, Savor the Rise, Thistle’s Summit, Purveyor, and Ginkgo Goods, and enjoy at any of our outdoor dining areas under the shade sails in the theatre plaza. We have curated a wide variety of options that include vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free items. À La Carte Dining items will be available at the outdoor concessions beginning two hours before every performance. No pre-order or reservation is required.
BEFORE AND AFTER THE SHOW SHUTTLE SERVICE Book a round-trip shuttle from Des Moines or Ames directly to the performance site. Round-trip tickets are $15. Opera tickets sold separately. Visit dmmo.org/shuttle or call the Box Office at (515) 209-3257 to secure your seat. OPERA PRELUDE TALK Explore the fascinating story behind each opera production presented by DMMO's Lecturer-in-Residence Joshua Borths. The complimentary opera prelude talks begin 45 minutes before the show in room 202 at the Blank Performing Arts Center. MEET THE ARTISTS Continue the celebration immediately following each performance with singers, audience members and production personnel for the Afterglow in the Outdoor Plaza.
SPECIAL EVENTS APRIL 13 ARTIST RECITAL: JUSTIN AUSTIN, BARITONE 4:00PM | Plymouth Church, Des Moines Fresh off recitals at Carnegie Hall and the Kennedy Center as the 2023 Marian Anderson Vocal Award winner, baritone Justin Austin comes to Des Moines for a recital with pianist Allen Perriello before returning in July to portray Thomas Eugene McKeller in DMMO’s world premiere of American Apollo. $30/person JUNE 1, JUNE 15 OPERA PREVIEWS 2:00PM | Franklin Ave Library, Des Moines June 1: The Barber of Seville and Salome | June 15: Pelléas & Mélisande and American Apollo Enjoy a sneak peek and preview of this summer’s operas from DMMO Lecturer-in-Residence Joshua Borths, presented at and in partnership with Franklin Avenue Library. FREE JUNE 1 APPRENTICE SPOTLIGHT CONCERT 6:30PM | Blank Performing Arts Center, Indianola DMMO’s acclaimed Apprentice Artists, selected from a national audition process, open the season in the Blank Performing Arts Center lobby singing their signature arias. FREE JUNE 7 & 8 PICNIC & PUCCINI FAMILY ADVENTURE 10:00AM | Blank Performing Arts Center, Indianola Join us for this family opera adventure that includes a tour of the theatre, a special performance of Sid the Serpent Who Wanted to Sing and lunch. $12 (cash/check) or $15 (online), dmmo.org/picnic JUNE 8 OPERA GALA 5:30PM | Ruan Center, Des Moines Celebrate the kickoff of the festival season at the 2024 Opera Gala! Enjoy an elegant evening at the Ruan Center in downtown Des Moines, complete with a gourmet plated dinner and a stunning musical program featuring performances by mainstage artists. dmmo.org/gala JUNE 15 THREADS AND TRILLS 11:30AM | Embassy Club West, West Des Moines Enjoy a delicious lunch and captivating arias from mainstage artists as special guests model some of DMMO’s most extravagant costumes. $55/person, dmmo.org/guild JUNE 29, JULY 5, JULY 16 APPRENTICE SCENE PROGRAMS 2:00PM | Lekberg Recital Hall, Amy Robertson Music Building, Indianola The 2024 Apprentice Artists take the spotlight in fully staged excerpts from across the operatic spectrum. All scene programs will be held in Lekberg Recital Hall in the Amy Robertson Music Building on the campus of Simpson College. FREE JULY 20 STARS OF TOMORROW 2:00PM | Sheslow Auditorium, Drake University, Des Moines The rising stars of the Apprentice Artist Program perform duets, trios and ensembles at this special concert in Des Moines. FREE. Visit dmmo.org/events for a full calendar | Dates and times subject to change, times are CT
FESTIVAL CALENDAR MON
TUE
WED
THU
JULY
JUNE
SUN
30
1
2
3
4
BARBER M
7
8
9
10
11
SALOME M
FRI
SAT
28
29
BARBER
SALOME
5
6
BARBER
P&M
12
13
SALOME M
P&M
APOLLO^
14 BARBER M
15
16
17
BARBER
P&M
18
19
APOLLO APOLLO
M
20
STARS M
SALOME^ BARBER
21
P&M M
The Barber of Seville Pelléas & Mélisande American Apollo Salome M Matinee (2pm on Sundays and 7/20, 1pm on 7/13 & 7/19) ^ 8pm performance (7/13 & 7/19)
Stars of Tomorrow Shuttle
BLANK PERFORMING ARTS CENTER 513 N. D ST., INDIANOLA, IA
TICKETS SUBSCRIPTION PACKAGES Select a 3- or 4-opera subscription to secure the best seats at the best price. Plus, earn benefits like free date exchanges, monthly payments plans and more. The 3-opera package includes The Barber of Seville, Salome and Pelléas & Mélisande. Included in the 4-opera package is the world premiere of American Apollo, The Barber of Seville, Salome and Pelléas & Mélisande. Subscriber tickets will be mailed/ emailed in early May. A1
A
B
C
D
3-OPERA PACKAGE
$402
$312
$243
$162
$66
4-OPERA PACKAGE
$562
$442
$351
$244
$116
INDIVIDUAL TICKETS for The Barber of Seville, Salome and Pelléas & Mélisande
STARTING AT
A1
A
B
C
D
$139
$109
$86
$58
$25
INDIVIDUAL TICKETS for the world premiere of American Apollo STARTING AT
A1
A
B
C
D
$160
$130
$108
$82
$50
ADD-ON TICKETS SHUTTLE SERVICE from Ames & Des Moines
$15/person
June 28, 29, 30 July 6, 7, 18, 21
STARS OF TOMORROW
FREE
July 20 at 2pm
GROUP TICKETS Groups of 10 or more are eligible for discounted individual tickets, ranging from 15–25% off per performance. To purchase group tickets, call the Box Office at (515) 209-3257 or email boxoffice@dmmo.org.
TICKETING INFORMATION EXCHANGES Exchanges must occur at least 24 hours in advance of the affected performance. Seating is subject to availability. Subscribers may exchange tickets at no additional cost. Single ticket buyers incur a $10 exchange fee. A price increase may be incurred based upon performance date (no refunds for lower priced dates). SUBSCRIBER DISCOUNT & PAYMENT PLANS Subscribers may opt-in to a monthly payment plan for their season tickets. To set yours up, call the Box Office at (515) 209-3257. SPECIAL PRICING Students, educators and military personnel can receive a special ticket discount by calling the Box Office at (515) 209-3257. ACCESSIBILITY The Blank Performing Arts Center is ADA accessible. Please let the Box Office know of any needs in advance. Call the Box Office at (515) 209-3257 for more information. INSTANT TRANSLATIONS Every mainstage performance (including operas sung in English) features English translations projected above the stage in two locations, enabling our audience to follow along in real time. FEES & REFUNDS No refunds or cancellations. Casts, repertory and ticket prices are subject to change. The credit card processing fee is $5 per order for single tickets and $10 per order for subscriptions. Full ticketing and box office information can be found at dmmo.org/boxoffice.
TO ORDER BY PHONE: (515) 209-3257 (MON - FRI, 9:00AM-4:00PM CT) ONLINE: DMMO.ORG/TICKETS OR SCAN THE QR CODE
HOTEL PARTNERS
HOTEL POMMIER 1215 N Jefferson Way, Indianola | 515-961-0551 | hotelpommier.com You deserve local hospitality. At Hotel Pommier our guests enjoy friendly service, generous amenities and a break from cookie cutter hotel chains. We are local ambassadors who go the extra mile to ensure our guests enjoy everything Indianola has to offer. Get 10% off your booking by using the code DMMO24 when ordering online or over the phone.
COUNTRY INN & SUITES 501 E Trail Ridge Ave, Indianola | 515-808-4054 Enjoy a relaxing stay at our hotel in Indianola, Iowa. Located off Highway 65 just 30 minutes south of Iowa’s capital, the Country Inn & Suites by Radisson, Indianola, IA, provides a comfortable getaway in the Greater Des Moines region. To see the full listing of hotel recommendations, visit dmmo.org/hotel.
WINE FOOD BEER
SHOWCASE PRESENTED BY TRUBANK
Friday, March 8 | 6-9PM Des Moines Marriott Downtown 700 Grand Avenue Started in 1985, the Wine, Food & Beer Showcase is Iowa’s premier food and beverage tasting event and has become a yearly favorite for foodies, wine lovers and beer enthusiasts alike! Featuring over 30 of the finest restaurants, caterers, wineries, breweries and distilleries in the area, the Wine, Food & Beer Showcase is Des Moines Metro Opera’s signature fundraiser. At the event, patrons may also partake in a silent auction and raffle filled with packages that can only be found at Wine, Food & Beer Showcase. All proceeds raised throughout the evening support Des Moines Metro Opera’s award-winning education and community engagement programs, which annually reach over 25,000 students.
All-inclusive tickets: $50 – $150 To order tickets: dmmo.org/WFBS or (515) 209-3257
OpEra Gala PRESENTED BY BANKERS TRUST
Saturday, June 8 | 5:30PM Bankers Trust South Lobby Ruan Center, corner of 7th and Locust Street Join Des Moines Metro Opera as we celebrate the 2024 Season! The Opera Gala promises to be an elegant evening featuring a cocktail hour followed by a plated meal highlighted by performances from mainstage artists. The celebration continues with dancing following the program. This year’s Opera Gala takes place in one of downtown Des Moines’ most iconic buildings—the Ruan Center. The 1975 building stands 140 meters and was the tallest building in Iowa until the completion of 801 Grand in 1991. The Ruan Center was named one of the 50 Most Significant Iowa Buildings of the 20th Century by the Iowa chapter of the American Institute of Architects. Be prepared to immerse yourself in the elegance and beauty of this exclusive and uniquely transformed venue provided by Bankers Trust.
Gala Table Sponsor Package (table of 10): $5,000 Gala Sponsor Package (two tickets): $1,500 Gala Table of 10: $3,000 Individual Gala Ticket: $300 To order tickets: dmmo.org/gala or (515) 209-3257
“The sold-out house roared and clapped their approval, making the proceedings not so much a performance as an ‘event.’” OPERA TODAY
2024 FESTIVAL SEASON JUNE 28 - JULY 21 THE BARBER OF SEVILLE | SALOME | PELLÉAS & MÉLISANDE | AMERICAN APOLLO
106 West Boston Avenue Indianola, IA 50125-1836
Return Service Requested
VISIT US AT DESMOINESMETROOPERA.ORG