Daniela Mack, Alek Shrader & Leah Crocetto Headline Opera Philadelphia’s 2019-20 Season
By Francisco SalazarOpera Philadelphia has announced its 2019-20 season which will feature its annual festival, two world premieres, two company premieres and a number of concert performances. Here is a look.
O19 Festival
O19 launches its third annual festival with the world premiere production of “Denis & Katya,” a new chamber opera commissioned and produced by Opera Philadelphia in collaboration with Music Theatre Wales and Opéra Orchestre National Montpellier. Composed by Philip Venables to a libretto by celebrated director Ted Huffman, the new opera is based on the November 2016 story of 15-year-old runaways Denis Muravyov and Katya Vlasova. The production is set to star Theo Hoffman and Siena Licht Miller.
Performance Dates: Sept. 18, 19, 21, 22, 23, 25, 26, 28 & 29, 2019 (Suzanne Roberts Theatre)
Handel’s “Semele” makes its Opera Philadelphia premiere in a new production. James Darrah directs the new production which is co-produced with Opera Omaha. The opera stars soprano Amanda Forsythe in her company debut as Semele, mezzo Daniela Mack in the dual roles of Juno and Ino and tenor Alek Shrader in the roles of Jupiter and Apollo. The cast is rounded out by countertenor Tim Mead as Athamus, bass Alex Rosen as Cadmus and Somnus, and soprano Sarah Shafer as Iris. Gary Thor Wedow conducts.
Performance Dates: Sept. 19, 21, 24, 26 & 28, 2019 (Perelman Theater)
Prokofiev’s “The Love for Three Oranges” makes its company premiere in a production by South African director Alessandro Talevi that originally premiered at the Maggio Musicale. Bass-baritone Zachary Altman stars alongside soprano Wendy Bryn Harmer, tenor Barry Banks, soprano Tiffany Townsend and mezzos Katherine Pracht and Kendra Broom. Corrado Rovaris conducts
Performance Dates: Sept. 20, 22, 27 & 29, 2019 (Academy of Music)
O19 presents the world premiere of Joseph Keckler’s performance piece “Let Me Die,” in which, to piano accompaniment, he interweaves death scenes from dozens of canonic operas with video and his own signature storytelling.
Performance Dates: Sept. 21, 22, 25, 26, 27 & 28, 2019 (FringeArts)
Opera Philadelphia will also honor Jack Mulroney Music Director Corrado Rovaris on his 20th anniversary with the company at the Academy of Music. The event will feature a recital by an artist to be announced at a later date, and a seated dinner on the Academy of Music stage, where patrons will be surrounded by the set of The Love for Three Oranges.
Performance Dates: Sept. 21, 2019 (Academy of Music)
Building on the success of Festival O18’s “Fridays at Field” recital series, Opera Philadelphia will showcase emerging singers from Philadelphia’s prestigious Curtis Institute of Music in recital.
Performance Dates: Sep 21, 22, 28 & 29, 2019 (Field Concert Hall)
Spring 2020 productions
Music Director Corrado Rovaris leads the Opera Philadelphia Orchestra and Chorus in Verdi’s Requiem with soprano Leah Crocetto, mezzo-soprano Daniela Mack, tenor Evan LeRoy Johnson, and bass In-Sung Sim.
Performance Dates: Jan 31 & Feb 2, 2020 (Academy of Music)
Japanese soprano Eri Nakamura takes on the title role Puccini’s “Madama Butterfly” in Ted Huffman’s production originally from the Zurich Opera House. Bryn Hymel sings the role of Pinkerton with baritone Anthony Clark Evans as Sharpless. Mezzo-soprano Kristen Choi sings.
Performance Dates: April 24, 26 & 29, May 1 & 3, 2020 (Academy of Music)
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