Talise Trevigne, Zachary James, Gregory Kunde & Jennifer Johnson Cano Lead Cincinnati Opera’s 2022 Season

By Francisco Salazar

The Cincinnati Opera has announced the 2022 Summer Festival which will include two world premieres and new-to-Cincinnati productions.

The season will open with Puccini’s “La Bohème” starring Talise Trevigne, Ji-Min Park, Raven McMillon, Rodion Pogossov, André Courville, and Ethan Vincent. Mark Gibson, director of orchestral studies at the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, will conduct.

Performance Dates: June 18-25, 2022.

William Menefield and Sheila Williams’s “Fierce” will make its world premiere. The work will be directed by D. Lynn Meyers with production design by Samantha Reno, lighting design by Thomas C. Hase, and wig and makeup design by James Geier.

Performance Dates: July 6-8, 2022.

Gilbert and Sullivan’s “The Pirates of Penzance” will be conducted by David Agler and directed by Seán Curran. The production will star Zachary James, Matthew White, and Lauren Snouffer.

Performance Dates: July 7-10, 2022

Verdi’s “Aida” will get a new production by Crystal Manich with Christopher Allen conducting. Mary Elizabeth Williams stars in the title role with Gregory Kunde as Radamès, Tichina Vaughn as Amneris, Gordon Hawkins as Amonasro, Morris Robinson as Ramfis, Peixin Chen as the King of Egypt, and soprano Jennifer Cherest as the High Priestess.

Performance Dates: July 21-31, 2022

Gregory Spears and Tracy K. Smith’s “Castor and Patience” will make its world premiere with Kazem Abdullah conducting and Kevin Newbury directing. The new production will be created by Vita Tzykun (scenic design), Jessica Jahn (costume design), Rachel Eliza Griffiths (image design), S. Katy Tucker (projection design), Thomas C. Hase (lighting design), and James Geier (wig and makeup design). The opera will star soprano Talise Trevigne as Patience, and Reginald Smith Jr. as Castor alongside mezzo-soprano Jennifer Johnson Cano (Celeste), soprano Victoria Okafor (Willie), baritone Benjamin Taylor (West), tenor Frederick Ballentine (Judah), and soprano Raven McMillon (Ruthie). Mezzo-soprano Zoie Reams, tenor Victor Ryan Robertson, and baritone Phillip Bullock make up the opera’s ensemble.

Performance Dates: July 22-28, 2022

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