2010/11 SEASON: CASTING AND CALENDAR

IL POSTINO (THE POSTMAN) World Premiere
Music and libretto: Daniel Catán
Based on the 1994 film Il Postino directed by Michael Radford and the 1985 novel Ardiente Paciencia by Antonio Skármeta
Conductor: Grant Gershon
Director: Ron Daniels*
Scenery and Costume Designer: Riccardo Hernandez
Lighting Designer: Jennifer Tipton*
Projection Designer: Philip Bussman*
Chorus Master: Grant Gershon Mario Ruoppolo: Charles Castronovo
Pablo Neruda: Plácido Domingo
Beatrice Russo: Amanda Squitieri
Matilde Neruda: Cristina Gallardo-Domâs
Giorgio: Vladimir Chernov
Donna Rosa: Nancy Fabiola-Herrera•
Di Cosimo / Antonios Voice: José Adán Pérez+
Thug: Daniel Montenegro
Thug: Gregorio González
Thug: Daniel Armstrong+

Opening performance: Thursday, September 23, 2010 at 6:00pm
Evening performances: September 29, October 5, 16 at 7:30pm
Matinee performances: October 2, 9 at 2:00pm

The season opens with the world premiere of Daniel Catáns Il Postino, based on the Italian film that became a surprise hit with audiences around the world. In a tiny Italian fishing village, an unassuming young postman finds the inspiration to live out his dreams during his daily deliveries to his only customer, a famous poet. Overflowing with exquisite music and heartfelt emotion, Il Postino is an eagerly awaited addition to the contemporary operatic repertoire.

Commissioned by LA Opera
Co-production with Theater an der Wien (Vienna), Théâtre du Châtelet (Paris) and Cincinnati Opera
Sung in Spanish with English Supertitles

LE NOZZE DI FIGARO (THE MARRIAGE OF FIGARO)

Revival
Music: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Libretto: Lorenzo Da Ponte
World premiere: May 1, 1786; Vienna, Austria (Burg Theater)
Previous LA Opera performances: 1990, 1994, 1997, 2001, 2004, 2006
Conductor: Plácido Domingo
Conductor: Israel Gursky (Oct. 14, 17)
Director: Ian Judge
Scenery Designer: Tim Goodchild
Costume Designer: Deirdre Clancy
Lighting Designer: Mark Doubleday
Original Choreographer: Sergio Trujillo
Choreographer: Chad Everett Allen*
Associate Conductor / Chorus Master: Grant Gershon Figaro: Daniel Okulitch
Susanna: Marlis Petersen* (Sept. 26, 30; Oct. 3)
Susanna: Rebekah Camm (Oct. 6, 10, 14, 17)
Count Almaviva: Bo Skovhus*
Countess Almaviva: Martina Serafin*
Cherubino: Renata Pokupi•*
Doctor Bartolo: Alessandro Guerzoni*
Antonio: Philip Cokorinos

Opening performance: Sunday, September 26, 2010 at 2:00pm
Evening performances: September 30, October 6, 14 at 7:30pm
Matinee performances: October 3, 10, 17 at 2:00pm

LA Opera revives its enchanting production of one of operas greatest comic masterpieces. From the opening notes of the overture to the final curtain, Le Nozze di Figaro turns convention upside down when the wily Figaro outwits his master Count Almaviva, whose wandering eye has landed on Figaros bride-to-be, Susanna. Plots are hatched, secrets are revealed, and virtue wins out in the end. Le Nozze di Figaro delights with its lovable characters, deeply felt emotions and the powerfully moving eloquence of its glorious music.

Sung in Italian with English Supertitles

LOHENGRIN Revival

Music and libretto: Richard Wagner
World premiere: August 28, 1850; Weimar, Germany (Court Opera)
Previous LA Opera performances: 2001
Conductor: James Conlon
Production: Maximilian Schell
Director: Lydia Steier*
Scenery and Costume Designer: Dirk Hofacker
Associate Conductor / Chorus Master: Grant Gershon Lohengrin: Ben Heppner*
Elsa: Soile Isokoski*
King Heinrich I of Saxony: Kristinn Sigmundsson
Friedrich von Telramund: James Johnson
Ortrud: Dolora Zajick
Herald: Eike Wilm Schulte

Opening performance: Saturday, November 20, 2010 at 6:30pm
Evening performances: December 1, 4, 9 at 6:30pm
Matinee performances: November 28, December 12 at 2:00pm

An extraordinary cast brings this tale of royalty, honor, innocence and treachery to life. The most lyrical of all Wagnerian operas, Lohengrin sweeps the audience into a valorous age of knights in shining armor, wrongly accused maidens, the impossible quest for ideal love and the power of the Holy Grail.
Sung in German with English Supertitles

RIGOLETTO

Production New to Los Angeles
Music: Giuseppe Verdi
Libretto: Francesco Maria Piave
World premiere: March 11, 1851; Venice, Italy (Teatro La Fenice)
Previous LA Opera performances: 1993, 2000
Conductor: James Conlon
Director: Mark Lamos*
Scenery Designer: Michael Yeargan
Costume Designer: Constance Hoffman
Associate Conductor / Chorus Master: Grant Gershon Rigoletto: George Gagnidze*
Duke of Mantua: Gianluca Terranova*
Gilda: Sarah Coburn
Count Monterone: Daniel Sumegi
Sparafucile: Andrea Silvestrelli
Maddalena: Kendall Gladen

Opening performance: Saturday, November 27, 2010 at 7:30pm
Evening performances: December 2, 8, 11, 15 at 7:30pm
Matinee performance: December 5, 18 at 2:00pm

One of the worlds most popular operas, Rigoletto is the unforgettable tale of a fathers rage and a daughters shame. Several of operas best known arias, including Rigolettos passionate denouncement “Cortigiani, vil razza dannata,” Gildas dreamy “Caro nome” and the Dukes instantly recognizable “La donna è mobile,” illuminate this timeless tragedy of sacrifice, betrayal and revenge.
Production from San Francisco Opera
Sung in Italian with English Supertitles

RENÉ PAPE IN RECITAL

Saturday, January 15, 2011, at 7:30pm

Hailed by Opera News as “the worlds most charismatic bass,” René Pape returns to LA Opera for his first appearance since his 2007 Company debut in the Verdi Requiem. The Dresden-born artist has been the object of countless critical raves and constant audience enthusiasm in every major opera house in the world.

DMITRI HVOR

Thursday, February 10, 2011, at 7:30pm

One of the most celebrated artists of his generation, Russian baritone Dmitri Hvorostovsky won the prestigious Cardiff Singer of the World Competition in 1989. Audiences have been bowled over by his cultivated voice, innate sense of musical line and natural legato in his appearances in the worlds major opera houses and concert halls, and as a recitalist in demand in every corner of the globe.

IL TURCO IN ITALIA (THE TURK IN ITALY)

Company Premiere
Music: Gioacchino Rossini
Libretto: Felice Romani
World premiere: August 14, 1814; Milan, Italy (Teatro alla Scala)
Conductor: James Conlon
Director: Christof Loy*
Scenery and Costume Designer: Herbert Murauer*
Lighting Designer: Rheinhard Traub*
Associate Conductor / Chorus Master: Grant Gershon Fiorilla: Nino Machaidze
Don Geronio: Paolo Gavanelli*
Narciso: Maxim Mironov*
Selim: Simone Alberghini•
Prosdocimo, the Poet: Sir Thomas Allen
Zaida: Kate Lindsey*

Opening performance: Saturday, February 19, 2011 at 7:30 PM
Evening performances: March 2, 5, 10 at 7:30pm
Matinee performances: February 27, March 13 at 2:00pm

LA Opera presents the Company premiere of Rossinis zaniest comedy, which has been described as The Barber of Seville meets Così fan tutte. The sensational Nino Machaidze returns as Fiorilla, a woman who determines to rid herself of the two men in her life-an exasperated husband and a tedious admirer-in favor of a more exotic suitor.
Production from Hamburg Opera
Sung in Italian with English Supertitles

THE TURN OF THE SCREW

Production New to Los Angeles
Music: Benjamin Britten
Libretto: Myfanwy Piper
World premiere: September 14, 1954; Venice, Italy (Teatro La Fenice)
Previous LA Opera performances: 1991
Conductor: James Conlon
Director: Jonathan Kent*
Scenery and Costume Designer: Paul Brown
Associate Conductor: Grant Gershon Governess: Patricia Racette
Prologue/Peter Quint: William Burden*
Mrs. Grose: Ann Murray*
Miss Jessel: Tamara Wilson

Opening performance: Saturday, March 12, 2011 at 7:30 PM
Evening performances: March 17, 25, 30 at 7:30pm
Matinee performances: March 20, 27 at 2:00pm

Brittens mesmerizing score brings an unforgettable Henry James classic to the opera stage in a dramatically compelling production that captures the supernatural atmosphere of the work. The riveting Patricia Racette, one of the most celebrated sopranos of our time, makes her role debut as the Governess, determined to protect two children from the menacing spirits who hope to lure their innocent souls into darkness.
Production from Glyndebourne Festival Opera
Sung in English with English Supertitles

JONAS KAUFMANN IN RECITAL

Friday, March 11, 2011 at 7:30pm

Born in Munich, tenor Jonas Kaufmann has emerged as one of todays most important artists. His 2009 debut as Lohengrin at the Bavarian State Opera was hailed as revelatory by the international musical press. His engagements for the 2009/10 season include leading roles at Covent Garden, the Metropolitan Opera and La Scala, and in the summer of 2010, he will make his highly anticipated debut at the Bayreuth Festival.

25TH ANNIVERSARY GALA

Saturday, April 2, 2011

LA Opera has achieved an extraordinary level of international acclaim since its inaugural production of Otello in 1986. The Company will celebrate its 25th anniversary with a one-night-only gala, featuring Plácido Domingo, James Conlon and special guest artists, saluting the astonishing accomplishments of the nations youngest major opera company. VN