Opera Ithaca announced today its 2019–20 season, including three operas and the return of The Edward M. Murray International Competition of Voice.

The season opens with Puccini’s “La Bohème,” under the baton of Cayuga Chamber Orchestra Music Director Cornelia Laemmli Orth. The opera will feature the return of soprano Megan Nielson as Mimì, baritone SeungHyeon Baek as Marcello, and bass Marc Webster as Colline. It will also feature the debuts of Joshua Collier as Rodolfo and Nayoung Ban
as Musetta. Metropolitan Opera soprano Emily Pulley makes her Opera Ithaca debut as stage director.

Performance Dates: Sept. 28 & 29, 2019

The second opera of the season will be Pauline Viardot’s “Cendrillon” continuing the groundbreaking tradition of presenting an opera by a female composer every season. The work will be in time for New Year’s Eve and will be directed by Norm Johnson.

Performance Date: Dec. 31, 2019

The final opera will be Mozart’s “Le Nozze di Figaro.” Soprano Donata Cucinotta makes her Opera Ithaca role debut as Countess Almaviva, alongside soprano Stacy Geyer as Susanna. Scott Purcell rounds out the cast in the title role. Artistic Director Ben Robinson makes his Opera Ithaca debut as stage director alongside conductor Andy Anderson.

Performance Dates: April 23 & 26, 2020

The Edward M. Murray International Competition of Voice will be held at the Community School of Music and Arts. Past finalists have gone on to international careers and continue to be featured performers throughout Opera Ithaca’s seasons. The final round of the competition is open to the public.

Performance Date: March 1, 2020