Apr and May 2011.
Devoted to stimulating its South Florida audience with a diverse repertoire, Florida Grand Opera continues its current season with Don Giovanni, one of the world’s most beloved operas, and the newly-commissioned Cyrano. The two productions will be performed throughout April and May, beginning with Don Giovanni on April 16, 2011.
Considered by many to be the most perfect opera ever written, Mozart’s Don Giovanni continues to thrill audiences today as it did at its premiere in 1787. This second collaboration of Mozart and librettist Lorenzo Da Ponte followed their success with The Marriage of Figaro a year earlier. Mozart used the story of the world’s most infamous lover, Don Juan, to create one of opera’s unforgettably vivid characters and one of the world’s favorite operas.
Baritone David Pittsinger, previously seen here in a remarkable portrayal of Count Rodolfo in FGO’s 2007 La sonnambula and as Scarpia in the company’s 2008 Tosca, will return to sing the title role in Mozart’s Don Giovanni. He has performed Don Giovanni for the Opera Company of Philadelphia, New York City Opera, and Opera Colorado, and appears regularly at the Metropolitan Opera and leading companies around the world. Mr. Pittsinger also received much acclaim on Broadway for his role as Emilie in South Pacific this past winter. Bass-baritone Tom Corbeil, a former member of FGO’s Young Artist Studio and San Francisco Opera’s Merola Program, returns in the role of the Don’s servant Leporello following his portrayal of Don Basilio in last season’s The Barber of Seville. Tenor Andrew Bidlack, a former member of FGO’s Young Artist Studio who sang Count Almaviva in FGO’s February 24 and 27, 2010 performances of The Barber of Seville, returns as Don Ottavio.
Called “a luminous, appealing, and agile voice” by the New York Times, Donna Elvira will be sung by soprano Georgia Jarman. Ms. Jarman is frequently seen at New York City Opera and leading companies in the United States, Europe, and South America. American soprano Jacquelyn Wagner will make her FGO debut as Donna Anna. Ms. Wagner is a recipient of a Fulbright Study Grant and has been appearing with numerous opera companies in Europe; she has appeared frequently with American orchestras, but this production will mark her official American operatic debut.
Former all-American football player and Metropolitan Opera bass Morris Robinson, noted by the Washington Post to be a “booming but well-articulated bass,” returns to FGO as the Commendatore. He last appeared at FGO as Ramfis in the 2006 production of Aida. Andrew Bisantz, Florida Grand Opera’s Resident Conductor, will lead these performances of Don Giovanni following his highly acclaimed conducting of the 2009-10 season-opening double bill of Pagliacci and Suor Angelica. Don Giovanni will be directed by John Pascoe, who originally designed and directed the production for Washington National Opera.
Leah Partridge, one of South Florida’s favorite sopranos, and Romanian baritone Marian Pop fill the lead roles, which DiChiera specifically wrote for their voices. Ms. Partridge returns to FGO as Roxane and Mr. Pop, seen as Dandini in FGO’s 2009 La Cenerentola, will perform the title role. French tenor Sébastien Guèze, whose international career was launched by his taking second prize in Placido Domingo’s 2006 Operalia competition, makes his FGO debut as Christian, also introducing a new aria for the role to be performed for the first time ever in Miami. American conductor Mark Flint, who orchestrated Cyrano and conducted the world premiere at Michigan Opera Theatre, will lead the FGO performances and Mr. Uzan, Cyrano’s librettist, directs the production.
Performance Schedule
Don Giovanni by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Sung in Italian with English and Spanish projected translations
MIAMI: Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts of Miami-Dade County Sanford and Dolores Ziff Ballet Opera House
April 16, 2011, at 7 p.m. Opening Night April 22, 27, 30, May 3, 1011, at 8:00 p.m. May 8, 2011, matinee at 2 p.m.
FORT LAUDERDALE: Broward Center for the Performing Arts Au-Rene Theater
May 12 and 14, 2011, at 8 p.m.
Cyrano by David DiChiera, Libretto by Bernard Uzan
Sung in French with English and Spanish projected translations
MIAMI: Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts of Miami-Dade County Sanford and Dolores Ziff Ballet Opera House
April 23, 2011, at 7 p.m. Opening Night April 26, 29, May 4, 7, 2011, at 8:00 p.m. May 1, 2011, matinee at 2 p.m.
FORT LAUDERDALE: Broward Center for the Performing Arts Au-Rene Theater
Florida Grand Opera
1.800.741.1010
www.fgo.org
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