2018-2019 Season: Opera at the Academy

OPERA AT THE AC ADEMY

“One of the most creative and ambitious companies in this country.”

T H E N E W YO R K T I M E S

“Opera Philadelphia has established itself as a model for innovation in the classical-music industry.”

OPERA NEWS

“The current spirit of Opera Philadelphia is not to follow taste but to lead it.”

THE PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER

“Opera’s road to the future just might start in Philadelphia.”

THE DENVER POST

Photograph by Ali Doucette

2018–2019 SEASON Opera at the Academy

LUCIA DI LAMMERMOOR Part of Festival O18 September 21–30, 2018

A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM February 8–17, 2019

LA BOHÈME

April 26–May 5, 2019

This season we present three operas that you very likely know and love. (We certainly do.) But along with this invitation to enjoy the finest the canon has to offer comes a promise to stage each in a way that will make you fall in love anew. We hope you will join us.

For personalized assistance curating your Opera Philadelphia experience, contact Guest Services at 215.732.8400 or visit operaphila.org/order.

La bohème

“ V I S U A L LY I N V E N T I V E AND COLORFUL.” OPERA NEWS

SEA

A S U P E R L AT I V E

Three beloved classics offer a fresh lens on today's world

Photographs by Kelly & Massa and Patrick Berger

Lucia di Lammermoor

“ BR E NDA R A E I S A HIGH OC TA NE LU C I A . ” B R O A D WAY W O R L D

SON “A S H O W T H A T ’ S S O M U C H F U N . ” T H E G UA R D I A N

A Midsummer Night's Dream

LUCIA DI LAMMERMOOR A seductively beautiful, deeply disturbing tale of love unhinged. Often considered the Scottish take on Romeo & Juliet, Lucia di Lammermoor explores the depths of passion and despair that overtake its heroine, who is used as a political pawn by her family. When forced to marry a man she does not love—rather than her beloved Edgardo, the mortal enemy of her brother—Lucia is driven to derangement, escalating to one of the most haunting mad scenes in all of opera.

A WOMAN TORN BETWEEN TWO WORLDS Returning to the Opera Philadelphia stage for the first time in more than two decades, this operatic classic takes a dreamlike, ethereal turn courtesy of “A-plus director” (The Philadelphia Inquirer) Laurent Pelly, who was named Best Director at the 2016 International Opera Awards. Coloratura soprano Brenda Rae showcases her “consummate musicality and killer technique” (Financial Times) in the title role. Baritone Troy Cook brings his “dynamic elegance” (Opera News) to the role of her brother, Enrico, alongside tenor Michael Spyres, known for his “limitless grace and vocal purity” (The Guardian), in his company debut as Edgardo. Maestro Corrado Rovaris, familiar with the Donizetti tradition having likewise hailed from Bergamo, Italy, leads the Opera Philadelphia Orchestra and Chorus.

NEW PRODUCTION

LUCIA DI LAMMERMOOR

CAST & CREATIVE CONDUCTOR Corrado Rovaris

SEPTEMBER 21, 23, 26, 28, 30

Music Co-produced by Opera Philadelphia and Wiener Staatsoper

LUCIA

Brenda Rae

DIRECTOR

Laurent Pelly*

GAETANO DONIZETTI Libretto

SALVADORE CAMMARANO

EDGARDO

Michael Spyres*

ENRICO Troy Cook

SET DESIGN

Chantal Thomas*

The Academy of Music is part of the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts.

RAIMONDO

Christian Van Horn*

COSTUME DESIGN Laurent Pelly*

PERFORMED IN ITALIAN WITH ENGLISH SUPERTITLES

LIGHTING DESIGN Duane Schuler

*Opera Philadelphia debut

#PHLUCIA

A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM Having toured the world for over a quarter century, Robert Carsen’s celebrated staging of A Midsummer Night’s Dream finally makes its way stateside. This jovial adaptation of Shakespeare’s popular comedy follows a throng of characters as they get tangled in complicated love triangles, mistaken identities, and alarming transformations.

THE BUCOLIC BEDLAM OF FAIRYLAND Hailed as “a show that’s so much fun” (The Guardian), this much-traveled production features “beguiling orchestration and melodic invention that will enchant and entice” (English National Opera). Leading the cast as Oberon and Tytania are Tim Mead—praised for his “seductive and commanding” interpretation (The Guardian)—and the “sexy and flirty” (The Wall Street Journal) soprano Anna Christy. “Suave and refined” (Opera News) Brenton Ryan, “show-stealing coloratura” (The New York Times) Georgia Jarman, and Curtis Institute of Music graduate Matthew Rose—coined the “top of the Bottoms” by The Times (London) for his “funny and touchingly endearing” performance (The Guardian)— round out the colorful operatic cast, complemented by the “richest of speaking voices and fearless tumbling skills” (Bachtrack.com) of Miltos Yerolemou as Puck.

U.S. PRODUCTION PREMIERE

A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM

CAST & CREATIVE LYSANDER Brenton Ryan

CONDUCTOR Corrado Rovaris

Music

Based on the play by William Shakespeare

BENJAMIN BRITTEN

FEBRUARY 8, 10, 15, 17

Production of the Festival d’Aix-enProvence & Opera National de Lyon

Libretto

PERFORMED IN ENGLISH WITH ENGLISH SUPERTITLES

OBERON

Tim Mead*

TYTANIA

Anna Christy*

DEMETRIUS

Johnathan McCullough

DIRECTOR

Emmanuelle Bastet*

BENJAMIN BRITTEN & PETER PEARS

PUCK

Miltos Yerolemou*

THESEUS

Evan Hughes*

HIPPOLYTA

The Academy of Music is part of the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts.

Georgia Jarman*

Allyson McHardy*

ORIGINAL DIRECTION Robert Carsen*

HELENA

BOTTOM

Matthew Rose

SET & COSTUME DESIGN Michael Levine

FLUTE

Miles Mykkanen*

LIGHTING DESIGN Robert Carsen* and Peter Van Praet*

*Opera Philadelphia debut

#BRITTEN ONBROAD

LA BOHÈME A chance encounter on a winter night changes everything for Mimì and Rodolfo, sending them into a deep, passionate whirlwind romance in the heart of Paris, living among other young bohemians who are making art and falling in love.

This popular revival of Puccini’s romantic blockbuster features sets inspired and enlivened by masterpieces from the Barnes Foundation and the Philadelphia Museum of Art. OPERA’S GREATEST LOVE STORY When first staged by Opera Philadelphia in 2012, this “visually inventive and colorful” (Opera News) production was deemed “an absolute success, full of fine singing and acting, and eye-filling stage direction” (The Philadelphia Inquirer). In this much-anticipated revival, soprano Vanessa Vasquez—known for “melting all hearts” (Chicago Tribune)— makes her Opera Philadelphia debut as the shy seamstress Mimì alongside Evan LeRoy Johnson’s Rodolfo. Baritone Troy Cook returns to the role he had in 2012, during which he offered “a strong, well-rounded portrayal of Marcello” (Opera News).

B E LOV E D R E V I VA L

Music

LA BOHÈME

CAST & CREATIVE SCHAUNARD Will Liverman

CONDUCTOR Corrado Rovaris

Production of the Palau de les Arts “Reina Sofía” in Valencia, Spain, in 2012

RODOLFO

Evan LeRoy Johnson

COLLINE

Peixin Chen

MIMÌ

Vanessa Vasquez*

APRIL 26, 28, MAY 1, 3, 5

Libretto

PERFORMED IN ITALIAN WITH ENGLISH SUPERTITLES

LUIGI ILLICA AND GIUSEPPE GIACOSA MARCELLO Troy Cook

BENOIT & ALCINDORO Kevin Burdette

DIRECTION & SET DESIGN Davide Livermore

GIACOMO PUCCINI

COSTUME DESIGN

Davide Livermore and Palau de Les Arts

The Academy of Music is part of the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts.

AUDIOVISUAL D-Wok

*Opera Philadelphia debut

#PHILABOHEME

F E S T I VA L O 18 T H I S C I V I C E X P E R I M E N T , C O M P R I S E D O F E L E V E N DAY S O F O P E R A A N D C I T Y W I D E EVENTS, TRANSFORMS PHIL ADELPHIA I N T O A N U R B A N S TAG E W H E R E D I V E R S E AU D I E N C E S GAT H E R TO S H A R E A N EXPERIENCE AND A M P L I F Y H U M A N C O N N E C T E D N E S S .

SKY ON SWINGS

September 20–29 World Premiere starring Frederica von Stade and Marietta Simpson

NE QUITTEZ PAS

September 22–30 A reimagined La voix humaine starring Patricia Racette

GLASS HANDEL

September 22–30 An immersive, multimedia experience starring Anthony Roth Costanzo (World Premiere)

QUEENS OF THE NIGHT

September 24–28 Cabaret nights featuring Stephanie Blythe and Martha Graham Cracker

F R I D AYS AT F I E L D

September 21 & 28 A recital series featuring Opera Philadelphia Emerging Artists

“ O N E O F T H E M O S T E N J OYA B L E A D D I T I O N S TO THE FALL C ALENDAR IN YEARS. ” T H E WA S H I N G T O N P O S T

To add Festival performances to your Academy of Music subscription, call 215.732.8400 or visit operaphila.org/order.

CURTIS OPERA THEATRE AT THE PERELMAN Curtis Opera Theatre at the Perelman unites the exceptional young singers at the Curtis Institute of Music with an opera company committed to nurturing young talent and an ideal venue for opera—the Kimmel Center’s Perelman Theater. This series reunites the three organizations, which previously teamed up for nine seasons of annual co-presentations, hailed as “must-see events for serious operagoers” by Opera News. See today’s most promising young voices resonate in opera on the edge, with imaginative productions, bold concepts, and absorbing theatre.

D O N G I OVA N N I

New Production

MUSIC Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart LIBRETTO Lorenzo Da Ponte MARCH 7–10, 2019 PERFORMED IN ITALIAN WITH ENGLISH SUPERTITLES

CONDUCTOR Karina Canellakis DIRECTOR R. B. Schlather R. B. Schlather, the “edgy and imaginative young director” (The New Yorker) behind O17’s The Wake World and the Curtis Opera Theatre’s Doctor Atomic, brings his distinctive vision to Mozart’s classic opera, led by Karina Canellakis, part of an exciting new generation of female conductors.

EMPTY THE HOUSE

New Production

MUSIC Rene Orth LIBRETTO Mark Campbell MAY 2–5, 2019 PERFORMED IN ENGLISH WITH ENGLISH SUPERTITLES

A composer who "breaks new ground" (Opera News), Rene Orth is a recent graduate of the Curtis Institute of Music and an Opera Philadelphia Composer in Residence. Her 2016 opera Empty the House is a poignant exploration of the complex nature of forgiveness with a libretto

by Mark Campbell (Elizabeth Cree, Silent Night).

The Perelman Theater is part of the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts.

2 018 – 2 019 S U B S C R I P T I O N S All prices reflect a 20% subscriber savings per ticket.

OPERA AT THE AC ADEMY A C A D E M Y O F M U S I C | Includes three productions

FRIDAY 1 8:00 PM

SUNDAY 1 2:30 PM

WEDNESDAY/ FRIDAY 8:00 PM

FRIDAY 2 8:00 PM

SUNDAY 2 2:30 PM

9/21/18

9/23/18

9/26/18

9/28/18

9/30/18

A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM

2/8/19

2/10/19

2/8/19^

2/15/19

2/17/19

L A BO H È M E

4/26/19

4/28/19

5/1/19

5/3/19

5/5/19

PACKAGE

LU C I A D I L AMMERMOOR

^ As there is no Wednesday performance of A Midsummer Night’s Dream, subscribers to the Wednesday/Friday series will see the production on Friday, 2/8/19.

PACKAGE PRICE

À LA CARTE

ZONE

SUNDAY

WEEKDAY

SUNDAY

WEEKDAY

1

$723

$663

$241

$221

2

$555

$495

$185

$165

3

$387

$327

$129

$109

4

$243

$207

$81

$69

5

$147

$135

$49

$45

CURTIS OPERA THEATRE AT THE PERELMAN P E R E L M A N T H E AT E R | Includes two productions

D O N G I OVA N N I

MARCH 2019

EMPT Y THE HOUSE

M AY 2 0 1 9

ZONE

PACKAGE PRICE

À LA CARTE

1

$160

$80

2

$120

$60

3

$80

$40

S E A S O N PA S S NEW

OPERA À LA CARTE

The ultimate package with eight offerings

Mix and match any two or more

across the 2018–2019 Season.

operas for total flexibility.

$1,400 Includes Opera at the Academy, Festival O18, and Curtis Opera Theatre at the Perelman.*

$40–$241 PER TICKET

S AV E 2 0 %

S AV E U P T O 2 5 %

B U Y A S E A S O N PA S S A N D G E T T H E B E S T B E N E F I T S Be at the front of the line for the best seats in the house Your choice of performances and dates* First access to Glass Handel* Access to VIP Services concierge hotline

Complimentary exchanges No handling fees 5-month payment plan** Invitations to Private Sales

O R D E R BY M AY 31 , 2 018 T O L O C K I N YO U R P R I C E !

A F T E R T H AT D AT E , P R I C E S W I L L I N C R E A S E B A S E D O N D E M A N D .

Tickets for single events will go on sale August 1, 2018.

M A K E YO U R R E S E R VA T I O N T O D AY For personalized assistance curating your Opera Philadelphia experience, contact Guest Services.

ONLINE

OPERAPHILA.ORG/ORDER

PHONE

215.732.8400

IN PERSON

GUEST SERVICES 1 4 2 0 L O C U S T S T R E E T, S U I T E 2 1 0 P H I L A D E L P H I A , PA 1 9 1 0 2 M O N D AY – F R I D AY, 9 : 0 0 A . M . – 5 : 0 0 P. M .

Explore detailed seating charts at operaphila.org/seating.

Seating priority is based on current donor level, number of years as a donor, number of years as a subscriber, package type, and date order is received.

Casting, program, schedule, and pricing subject to change without notice. Deposited checks or charges do not guarantee seating availability. *Subject to availability **5-month payment plan available through May 18, 2018

With YOU the show WILL go on.

What can you give today that will make all the difference tomorrow?

PICTUREOPERA.ORG

SUPPORT from members of

OPERA PHILADELPHIA allows us to bring great opera to the beautiful

ACADEMY OF MUSIC and venues across

PHILADELPHIA, and to provide community programming that furthers arts education.

Membership benefits begin with a gift of $100 and include special invitations, ticketing privileges, and more opportunities for you to enjoy an enhanced connection to the art you love.

PIC TU RE O P E RA .O RG 2 1 5 .7 3 2 .8 4 0 0

1420 LOCUST STREET SUITE 210 PHILADELPHIA, PA 19102

SUBSCRIBE NOW FOR THE BEST SEATS AND BENEFITS operaphila.org/order 215.732.8400