Showing posts with label PittsburghOpera. Show all posts
Showing posts with label PittsburghOpera. Show all posts

Wednesday, January 15, 2014

Dark Sisters

For Immediate Release: January 7, 2014

Contact: Debra L. Bell, Director of Marketing and Communications
Office: (412) 281-0912 ext 214 or dbell@pittsburghopera.org


Pittsburgh Opera presents Nico Muhly’s DARK SISTERS
Thirty-something composer; new production

What:              Nico Muhly’s opera DARK SISTERS

Where:           CAPA Theater
                        9th Street at Ft. Duquesne Blvd., Downtown Pittsburgh

When:             Saturday, January 25, 8:00 PM             Tuesday, January 28, 7:00 PM
                        Friday, January 31, 8:00 PM                 Sunday, February 2, 2:00 PM

Run Time:      1 hour and 45 minutes, including 1 intermission

Language:     Sung in English with English texts projected above the stage

Tickets:          $50 for all performances. Subscriber and group discounts available.
                  Call 412-456-6666 for more information or visit pittsburghopera.org

Of special      The Saturday, January 25 performance of DARK SISTERS
Note:              is sold out. Tickets are still available for other performances.

Related           FREE Brown Bag concert; WQED Preview; Meet the
Events:           Artists; Audio Description for those with visual impairments.
See page 5 of this release.


Pittsburgh, PA… Pittsburgh Opera continues its 75th anniversary season with Nico Muhly’s DARK SISTERS, a new production of a very new opera exploring issues ripped from the headlines and created by a thirty-something composer. The first work in Pittsburgh Opera’s American Opera Series,* DARK SISTERS stars the Resident Artists and is on stage at CAPA Theater January 25 – February 2.

Exploring issues of suppressed individuality and subservient women’s roles, the opera uses episodes from the media – most recently the 2004 raid on FLDS leader Warren Jeffs’s compound in West Texas – to tell the story of the women’s suffering, and how one woman tries to escape. Premiered in 2012, DARK SISTERS revolves around sister-wife Eliza, who has a profound self-discovery after the world comes to the gates of her family’s complex, run by The Prophet. During an appearance on national television to defend her way of life, Eliza makes a dramatic confession, and her world falls into chaos. Resolving to make her own way in the world, she faces the consequences of leaving everything she has ever known.

Pittsburgh Opera’s DARK SISTERS features Resident Artists in the roles of the sister-wives: Jasmine Muhammad is the rebellious Eliza; Meredith Lustig is the lovesick Zina; Nicole Rodin is the troubled Ruth; Samantha Korbey is Presendia; and former Resident Artist Alexandra Loutsion (Rinaldo, 2011) is Almera. Resident Artist Joseph Barron takes the dual role of The Prophet and the newscaster King. Rebecca Belczyk (The Magic Flute, 2013) portrays Eliza’s daughter Lucinda. Resident Artist George Cederquist is the stage director for DARK SISTERS. Head of Music Glenn Lewis conducts the Pittsburgh Opera Orchestra. Composer Nico Muhly is expected to attend the opening night performance.

* Pittsburgh Opera’s American Opera Series is supported by a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts, and includes DARK SISTERS, PAUL’S CASE (Feb. 22 – Mar. 2) and ORPHÉE (Apr. 26 – May 4).

Facts about the opera and the composer
   DARK SISTERS premiered in 2012 at Gotham Chamber Opera in New York City, and was co-produced and co-commissioned by Opera Philadelphia.

   Nico Muhly, a 32 year-old “wunderkind” (Huffington Post) who defies convention and definitions, has worked with Philip Glass, Björk, Benjamin Millepied, and Grizzly Bear. He was recently featured on the cover of Opera News, in advance of the premiere of his Two Boys at The Met. Mr. Muhly composes film scores (The Reader, Joshua, Choking Man), liturgical music (an Our Father, a Nunc Dimittis, a setting of Psalm 139), and scored the ballet From Here on Out with Millepied for American Ballet Theater. Most recently, he appeared at New York City’s Le Poisson Rouge with violinist Pekka Kuuisto; the featured piece was a Bach Partita with other pieces interspersed between the original piece’s movements.

   In October 2013, Mr. Muhly’s opera Two Boys premiered at The Metropolitan Opera, with former Pittsburgh Opera Resident Artist Juan José de León in the cast. The opera revolves around a detective investigating a murder of a teenager that leads her to a trail of clues on the Internet.

   Nico Muhly has been researching the history of the Church of Latter Day Saints for many years. “I read the diaries of some of the wives of Brigham Young; you think you could be reading something from the Old Testament or from today. Similarly, once you get in the world of what constitutes marriage, it was always political, and about property, land. Marriage for love was a Victorian construct.”

   Nico Muhly has been quoted as saying that “I can’t think of one opera that isn’t political in some way. When you look at Rameau, Handel, Mozart, they were all looking at the world around them socially and politically. [Mozart’s] Cosi fan tutte is an incredibly political opera. Right now there is a flare-up of interest about Mormonism, but the politics and discussions around it aren’t new.”

The story, in brief
At a polygamist compound in the American Southwest, five mothers cry out in despair. State officials have just raided their homes and removed their children, under the suspicion that minors are being abused and forced to marry. The husband of the five women, a professed Prophet, discloses that he has received a revelation. He must journey into the desert, where he will receive guidance that will ensure the return of their children. The Prophet instructs his wives to “keep sweet” while he is away, explaining that total obedience is necessary to ensure their salvation and the safe return of their children.

Eliza, the fourth wife, has visions of her only child, Lucinda. She remembers her wedding: she was 16, afraid, an unwilling bride. Eliza does not want her daughter to suffer the same fate, but cannot imagine how they could ever leave this life. As night slowly turns to day, Eliza passes the time with her sister-wives. Almera is haunted by dreams of her mother and grandmother, while Presendia and Zina work diligently to pass the time, longing for their husband’s return. Ruth is tormented by mental illness and the memory of her two sons, both of whom died tragically.

Ruth discovers a letter in the Prophet's study and gives it to Eliza: the letter voices Lucinda’s concerns about being promised to a much older man. Eliza is shocked to learn that her daughter would be promised so soon, and resolves to leave the compound. The Prophet returns, and Eliza convinces him to spend the night with her. She needs his full trust so that she can travel with him the next day and enact a plan to share her own message with the world. Alone in their bedrooms, the other women seethe with jealousy, sadness and longing.

The next day, television personality King interviews the women via satellite. The women are careful to stay on message. Afraid and distraught, Ruth suffers a breakdown during the interview. Although paralyzed with fear, the women continue with the show.

Eliza, afraid that she may not have the courage to speak out, suddenly explodes with the announcement that she was indeed married underage. She also seizes the opportunity to speak to her daughter – she looks into the camera and begs Lucinda to have faith, and to relays her own divine message: “Don’t be afraid of what lies beyond the sharp cliffs, the red earth – blaze a trail beyond the canyons! This is my hope for you, Sisters of Zion! I promise you, kind hearts beat for all of us in the outside world!”

Chaos erupts. Eliza’s sister-wives cannot believe she would betray them. Later that night, Ruth sits atop the mesa near the compound, under a starlit sky. Praying for relief from her pain, and longing to be with her two children in heaven, she jumps to her death.

Back at the compound, a few days later, Ruth is buried. The children have been returned to the ranch. Eliza comes to the gate of the compound and is shunned by the other women. Lucinda approaches her mother, furious – she is sickened that Eliza lost her faith and will not gain eternal salvation. Lucinda refuses to leave with her mother. Eliza pledges that she will always be waiting for Lucinda, and will always love her. Heartbroken, she walks away from the compound and into the unknown.

Tickets to DARK SISTERS are $50, with all performances at CAPA Theater, 9th Street and Ft. Duquesne Blvd., Downtown Pittsburgh. For additional information, videos, photos, musical samples, cast biographies, and the full story of DARK SISTERS, visit www.pittsburghopera.org. To purchase tickets, call 412-456-6666 or visit www.pittsburghopera.org.

The 2013-14 Pittsburgh Opera season is generously supported by PNC.
American Eagle Outfitters is the Friday Night Sponsor.
Dark Sisters is generously sponsored by Mr. and Mrs. Alvin Filstrup.
The National Endowment for the Arts provides project support for Pittsburgh Opera’s 2014 American Opera Series.
Giant Eagle Foundation is the Resident Artist Program Sponsor.
WQED is a media sponsor for the 2013-14 Pittsburgh Opera season.
WYEP and WESA are media sponsors for Dark Sisters.

Cast and Artistic Team (cast is listed in order of vocal appearance)

Zina                                                           Meredith Lustig *
Presendia                                                 Samantha Korbey *
Almera                                                      Alexandra Loutsion **
Ruth                                                          Nicole Rodin *
Eliza                                                          Jasmine Muhammad *
Prophet/King                                             Joseph Barron *
Lucinda                                                     Rebecca Belczyk
             
Conductor                                                 Glenn Lewis
Director                                                     George Cederquist *
Set Designer                                             Dan Daly
Costume Designer                                   Antonia West
Lighting Designer                                      Robert Figueira

Director of Musical Studies                      Mark Trawka
Associate Coach/Pianist                          James Lesniak
Hair & Makeup Designer                          James Geier

DARK SISTERS is a new production by Pittsburgh Opera.

+    Pittsburgh Opera debut
*     Pittsburgh Opera Resident Artist
**   Pittsburgh Opera Resident Artist alumni

Photo above  by Kelly & Massa for Opera Philadelphia.

Tickets and Group Discounts
Tickets for all performances of DARK SISTERS are $50. Group and subscriber discounts are available. For tickets, call (412) 456-6666 or visit www.pittsburghopera.org. For discounted group tickets (6 or more), contact Randy Adams at 412-281-0912, x 213.

Related Events

Brown Bag Concert
Saturday, January 11 – 12:00 p.m.
George R. White Opera Studio, Pittsburgh Opera Headquarters (2425 Liberty Avenue)
These casual, one-hour concerts feature our Resident Artists in the George R. White Opera Studio at Pittsburgh Opera Headquarters. January’s Brown Bag concert features an All-American program. Guests can meet the performers after the concert. Free and open to the public; no RSVP required. Doors open at 11:30 a.m. For more information, call (412) 281-0912 or visit www.pittsburghopera.org

Opera Up Close: DARK SISTERS
Sunday, January 12 – 2:00 p.m.
An in-depth look at the music and story of Nico Muhly's DARK SISTERS with singers and directors from the production, in the George R. White Opera Studio at Pittsburgh Opera Headquarters. Panelists include Resident Artist Jasmine Muhammad; stage director, Resident Artist George Cederquist; conductor Glenn Lewis; and Director of Artistic Operations Bill Powers. Admission is $5; the event is free to members of FRIENDS of Pittsburgh Opera and donors at $50 and above. For more information, visit www.pittsburghopera.org.

DARK SISTERS Previews on WQED-FM 89.3 and WQED.ORG
Saturday, January 18 – 1:00 p.m.; Friday, January 24 – 7:00 p.m.
Hosted by WQED’s Stephen Baum, and broadcast over the airwaves as well as the WQED website, the DARK SISTERS preview gives listeners an engaging introduction to the singers, music and story of the opera. For more information, visit www.pittsburghopera.org.

Pre-Opera Talks
CAPA Theater Black Box
Ticketholders are invited to attend a Pre-Opera Talk on DARK SISTERS one hour before each performance’s curtain in the Black Box at CAPA Theater. Learn about the composer and the story of the opera. Free to all ticketholders.

Audio Description: DARK SISTERS
Tuesday, January 28
Ticketholders with visual impairments are invited to use Pittsburgh Opera’s Audio Description service at our Tuesday performances. Trained volunteers describe the scenery, costumes, and stage action via headphones. Those wishing to use Audio Description should reserve seats to the Tuesday, January 28 performance: call Randy Adams at 412-281-0912, ext. 213 or groups@pittsburghopera.org. Braille and large-print opera programs are also available in the lobby.

Meet the Artists of DARK SISTERS
Tuesday, January 28
Immediately following the opera, in the CAPA Theater Black Box
Ticketholders for the Tuesday, January 28 performance of DARK SISTERS are invited to gather in the Black Box immediately following the performance for interviews with General Director Christopher Hahn and the stars of the opera. This event is free to all Tuesday performance ticketholders.

 Pittsburgh Opera celebrates its 75th anniversary in 2013-14 with OPERA FOR A NEW AGE, a mix of long-beloved operas and new favorites. Established by five intrepid women in 1939, Pittsburgh Opera is viewed as one of the most vibrant opera organizations in the U.S., with a rich artistic tradition, outstanding educational programs, an acclaimed artist training program, and a progressive outlook toward the future. Its green initiative culminated in LEED® Silver certification for its Strip District headquarters, and its capacity as a true community partner has increased significantly under General Director Christopher Hahn’s leadership. Tickets for the 2013-2014 season start at just $12.
 
2013-14 Season
AIDA •• October 12 – 20, 2013
DARK SISTERS •• November 9 – 17, 2013
DARK SISTERS •• January 25 – February 2, 2014
SECOND STAGE PROJECT: PAUL’S CASE •• February 22 – March 2, 2014
LA BOHÈME •• March 26 – April 6, 2014
ORPHÉE •• April 26 – May 4, 2014
For ticket information visit our website www.pittsburghopera.org or call (412) 281-0912
Find us on Facebook and Twitter

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Debra L. Bell
Director of Marketing and Communications
PITTSBURGHOPERA
2425 Liberty Avenue
Pittsburgh PA 15222
412.281.0912 x 214
412.281.4324 fax
www.pittsburghopera.org  
         
Posted on behalf of Dreamweaver Marketing Associates.  Joyce Kane is the owner of Cybertary Pittsburgh, a Virtual Administrative support company, providing virtual office support, personal and executive assistance, creative design services and light bookkeeping.  Cybertary works with businesses and busy individuals to help them work 'on' their business rather than 'in' their business.  www.Cybertary.com/Pittsburgh

Friday, November 15, 2013

The Magic Flute at The Benedum

For Immediate Release                                                                     October 31, 2013

Contact:
Debra L. Bell, Director of Marketing and Communications
Office: (412) 281-0912 ext 214 or dbell@pittsburghopera.org


Pittsburgh Opera presents a Mozart favorite, THE MAGIC FLUTE, sung in English
Current and former Resident Artists star in most roles

What:              Wolfgang Mozart’s opera THE MAGIC FLUTE

Where:           Benedum Center for the Performing Arts
                        7th Street and Penn Avenue, Downtown Pittsburgh

When:             Saturday, November 9, 8:00 PM            Tuesday, November 12, 7:00 PM
                        Friday, November 15, 8:00 PM               Sunday, November 17, 2:00 PM

Run Time:      2 hours, 50 minutes, including 1 intermission

Language:     Sung in English with English texts projected above the stage

Tickets:          Start at $12 for all performances.
                  Call 412-456-6666 for more information or visit pittsburghopera.org

Of Special      $5 kids’ ticket offer for the Tuesday, November 12 performance
Note:              of THE MAGIC FLUTE.
Related Events: FREE Brown Bag concert; WQED Preview; Meet the Artists; Audio Description for those with visual impairments.


Pittsburgh, PA… Pittsburgh Opera continues its 75th anniversary season with a popular favorite, Mozart’s final opera: THE MAGIC FLUTE. On stage at the Benedum Center November 9 - 17, this charming, fantastical, and “gorgeously whimsical” production (The Globe and Mail) by Diane Paulus (The Donkey Show, Hair) is appealing for all ages. Featuring large animal puppets (operated by supernumeraries) and spectacular costumes, the opera showcases a cast comprised of outstanding former Resident Artists, current Resident Artists, and a debut by a star on the rise.

Pittsburgh Opera’s THE MAGIC FLUTE brings the debut of red-hot Canadian soprano Layla Claire as Pamina; she and former Resident Artist Sean Panikkar (The Pearl Fishers, 2011; ‘America’s Got Talent’ finalist with tenor trio “Forte”) star as the lovers Pamina and Tamino. The company also welcomes back former Resident Artists Craig Verm (The Pearl Fishers, 2011) as Papageno; Audrey E. Luna (The Magic Flute, 2006) as Queen of the Night, and Oren Gradus (Aida, 2013) as Sarastro.


In what may be a first in recent Pittsburgh Opera history, the former Resident Artists are joined by all of the current Resident Artists in one production, including the Resident Artist stage director! Jasmine Muhammad, Samantha Korbey and Nicole Rodin are the Three Ladies; Joseph Barron is the Speaker; Daniel Curran is Monostatos; Meredith Lustig is Papagena; Alex DeSocio is the First Priest, and Phillip Gay is the Second Armored Man. George Cederquist is Assistant Director for THE MAGIC FLUTE.

Music Director Antony Walker returns to conduct the Pittsburgh Opera Orchestra and Chorus. Jen Nicoll (The Elixir of Love, 2007) returns as stage director.


Tickets to THE MAGIC FLUTE start at $12, with all performances at the Benedum Center for the Performing Arts, 7th Street and Penn Avenue, Downtown Pittsburgh. For additional information, videos, photos, musical samples, cast biographies, and the full story of AIDA, visit www.pittsburghopera.org. To purchase tickets, call 412-456-6666 or visitwww.pittsburghopera.org.

Facts about the opera
           The Magic Flute is noted for its prominent Masonic elements; Mozart and his librettist Schikaneder were lodge brothers. The story itself portrays the education of mankind, progressing from chaos to enlightenment, by means of trial and error, ultimately to make "the Earth a heavenly kingdom, and mortals like the gods". Why did Mozart weight a comedy with this heavy baggage? In both the Old World and the New, the giants of the Enlightenment –Voltaire, Goethe, Washington and Jefferson–were Freemasons. In Mozart’s time, the idea of inalienable human rights was new. But it was the essence of Freemasonry, and Mozart meant to convey it.
           Characterized as a “singspiel”, The Magic Flute includes spoken dialogue throughout. It was not composed in Italian for a metropolitan audience, but in German, for the local audience, at Theater auf der Wieden, a rickety old theater in a Viennese suburb.
           At the premiere of The Magic Flute, Mozart conducted the orchestra, while librettist Schikaneder played Papageno. Mozart’s sister-in-law Josepha Hofer sang the role of the Queen of the Night.

The story, in brief
A monster chases Prince Tamino, and when he falls unconscious, three ladies in the service of the Queen of the Night kill the beast. They leave to tell the Queen, and Tamino awakens, assuming he was saved by Papageno, a bird-catcher who has just arrived. When Papageno takes the credit, the ladies reappear and padlock his lips to punish him for lying. They show Tamino a picture of Pamina, the Queen’s beautiful daughter, and he immediately falls in love with her. When they tell him that Pamina has been kidnapped by Sarastro, a magician, the Queen appears and asks Tamino to rescue her. He agrees, and the ladies free Papageno, giving him a set of magic bells and Tamino a magic flute.

Papageno is confronted at Sarastro’s palace by Monostatos, who attempts to seduce Pamina, but is scared off by Papageno. The bird-catcher tells Pamina that Tamino will rescue her. Pamina rejoices that she now has somebody to love, and the lonely Papageno dreams of a wife.

Three Spirits lead Tamino to a temple in Sarastro’s palace. A priest informs him that the Queen is really the evil one, and that Sarastro was trying to free Pamina from her mother’s influence. Tamino leaves to find Pamina, who has escaped from the palace with Papageno. Monostatos soon finds them, but Papageno plays his magic bells, paralyzing the villains. Monostatos drags in Tamino and demands a reward, but is instead punished for his evil deeds. Sarastro orders Tamino and Pamina to be taken to the temple for purification.
Sarastro orders that Tamino and Papageno must undergo initiation rites to determine their worthiness to enter the Temple of Light. The Queen visits Pamina, commanding her to murder Sarastro with a dagger. Pamina refuses and begs Sarastro to forgive her mother. He agrees, declaring that only love will lead to peace and happiness.

As part of their initiation, Tamino and Papageno are sworn to silence. An old woman appears briefly to Papageno, declaring that she is really 18 years old and in love with him. Pamina arrives in the temple, but misunderstands Tamino’s silence, thinking he does not love her. The old woman returns to the lovesick Papageno, and is transformed into Papagena, but is quickly ordered away. Meanwhile, Pamina, about to kill herself with the dagger her mother gave her, is prevented by the Three Spirits, who take her to Tamino. Pamina joins him in the final trial, and the pair emerges unscathed, thanks to the magic of Tamino’s flute.

The Three Spirits encounter Papageno attempting to kill himself, and suggest that instead he play his magic bells. When he does, Papagena appears and the two declare their love and their intent to start a large family. Monostatos joins forces with the Queen of the Night to kill Sarastro, but their plan is foiled when their powers are destroyed and they are cast into eternal night. Sarastro, joined by Tamino and Pamina, celebrates the victory of light over darkness.
Tickets to THE MAGIC FLUTE start at $12, with all performances at the Benedum Center for the Performing Arts, 7th Street and Penn Avenue, Downtown Pittsburgh. For additional information, videos, photos, musical samples, cast biographies, and the full story of THE MAGIC FLUTE, visit www.pittsburghopera.org. To purchase tickets, call 412-456-6666 or visit www.pittsburghopera.org.

The 2013-14 Pittsburgh Opera season is generously supported by PNC.
American Eagle Outfitters is the Friday Night Sponsor.
The Jack Buncher Foundation generously sponsors the $5 Kids Ticket Offer for THE MAGIC FLUTE.
Cast and Artistic Team (abbreviated list; cast is listed in order of vocal appearance)

Tamino                                                     Sean Panikkar **
First Lady                                                  Jasmine Muhammad *
Second Lady                                            Samantha Korbey *
Third Lady                                                 Nicole Rodin *
Papageno                                                 Craig Verm **
Queen of the Night                                   Audrey E. Luna **
Monostatos                                               Daniel Curran *
Pamina                                                     Layla Claire +
Speaker                                                    Joseph Barron *
Sarastro                                                    Oren Gradus **
             
Conductor                                                 Antony Walker
Director                                                     Jen Nicoll
Set & Costume Designer                         Myung-Hee Cho
Lighting Designer                                     Drew Billiau

Asst. Conductor                                       Glenn Lewis
Chorus Master                                          Mark Trawka
Associate Coach/Pianist                          James Lesniak
Hair & Makeup Designer                          James Geier

THE MAGIC FLUTE is a Diane Paulus production for Canadian Opera Company.

+    Pittsburgh Opera debut
*     Pittsburgh Opera Resident Artist
**   Pittsburgh Opera Resident Artist alumni


Special $5 Kids Ticket Offer
This “gorgeously whimsical” (The Globe and Mail) production of THE MAGIC FLUTE is great for all ages. Thanks to the Jack Buncher Foundation, Pittsburgh Opera offers a $5 kids ticket offer: bring the kids and grandkids (ages 6-12) to the Tuesday, November 12 performance of THE MAGIC FLUTE at 7:00 PM for just $5 per child’s ticket. Kids must be accompanied by an adult; other restrictions apply. Details are at the Pittsburgh Opera website.

Tickets and Group Discounts
Tickets for all performances of THE MAGIC FLUTE start at $12. Group discounts are available. For tickets, call (412) 456-6666 or visit www.pittsburghopera.org. For discounted group tickets (6 or more), contact Randy Adams at 412-281-0912, x 213.

Related Events

THE MAGIC FLUTE Previews on WQED-FM 89.3 and WQED.ORG
Saturday, November 2 – 1:00 p.m.; Friday, November 8 – 7:00 p.m.
Hosted by WQED’s Stephen Baum, and broadcast over the airwaves as well as the WQED website, the MAGIC FLUTE preview gives listeners an engaging introduction to the singers, music and story of the opera. For more information, visit www.pittsburghopera.org.

Brown Bag Concert
Saturday, November 16 – 12:00 p.m.
George R. White Opera Studio, Pittsburgh Opera Headquarters (2425 Liberty Avenue)
These casual, one-hour concerts feature our Resident Artists in the George R. White Opera Studio at Pittsburgh Opera Headquarters. Attendees are encouraged to bring a friend and
bring a lunch. Guests can meet the performers after the concert. Free and open to the public; no RSVP required. Doors open at 11:30 a.m. For more information, call (412) 281-0912 or visit www.pittsburghopera.org

Pre-Opera Talks
Benedum Center Main Floor
Ticketholders are invited to attend a Pre-Opera Talk on THE MAGIC FLUTE one hour before each performance’s curtain in the Orchestra Section (Main Floor) of the Benedum Center. Learn about the composer and the story of the opera. Free to all ticketholders.

Audio Description: THE MAGIC FLUTE
Tuesday, November 12
Benedum Center Main Floor
Ticketholders with visual impairments are invited to use Pittsburgh Opera’s Audio Commentary service at our Tuesday performances. Trained volunteers describe the scenery, costumes, and stage action via headphones. Those wishing to use Audio Description should reserve seats to the Tuesday, November 12 performance: call Randy Adams at 412-281-0912, ext. 213 or groups@pittsburghopera.org. Braille and large-print opera programs are also available in the Benedum Grand Lobby.

Meet the Artists of THE MAGIC FLUTE
Tuesday, November 12
Immediately following the opera, in the Benedum Lower Lobby
Ticketholders for the Tuesday, November 12 performance of THE MAGIC FLUTE are invited to gather in the Benedum Lower Lobby immediately following the performance for interviews with General Director Christopher Hahn and the stars of the opera. This event is free to all Tuesday performance ticketholders.


Pittsburgh Opera celebrates its 75th anniversary in 2013-14 with OPERA FOR A NEW AGE, a mix of long-beloved operas and new favorites. Established by five intrepid women in 1939, Pittsburgh Opera is viewed as one of the most vibrant opera organizations in the U.S., with a rich artistic tradition, outstanding educational programs, an acclaimed artist training program, and a progressive outlook toward the future. Its green initiative culminated in LEED® Silver certification for its Strip District headquarters, and its capacity as a true community partner has increased significantly under General Director Christopher Hahn’s leadership. Tickets for the 2013-2014 season start at just $12.



2013-14 Season
AIDA •• October 12 – 20, 2013
THE MAGIC FLUTE •• November 9 – 17, 2013
DARK SISTERS •• January 25 – February 2, 2014
SECOND STAGE PROJECT: PAUL’S CASE •• February 22 – March 2, 2014
LA BOHÈME •• March 26 – April 6, 2014
ORPHÉE •• April 26 – May 4, 2014
For ticket information visit our website www.pittsburghopera.org or call (412) 281-0912
Find us on Facebook and Twitter

Photo Credit:  David Bachman
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Posted on behalf of Dreamweaver Marketing Associates.  Joyce Kane is the owner of Cybertary Pittsburgh, a Virtual Administrative support company, providing virtual office support, personal and executive assistance, creative design services and light bookkeeping.  Cybertary works with businesses and busy individuals to help them work 'on' their business rather than 'in' their business.  www.Cybertary.com/Pittsburgh

Monday, October 28, 2013

Renee Fleming in Recital

Contact:
Debra Bell, Director of Marketing and Communications
Office: (412) 281-0912 ext 214 or dbell@pittsburghopera.org

Pittsburgh Opera presents Renée Fleming in recital


Pittsburgh, PA…As part of its 75th anniversary celebration, Pittsburgh Opera will present a recital by one of the most beloved and celebrated musical ambassadors of our time. A Western Pennsylvania native, soprano Renée Fleming will give a recital on February 18, 2014, 8:00 p.m., at Carnegie Music Hall in Oakland. Tickets are available exclusively to Pittsburgh Opera season ticket holders until November 15, 2013.

Ms. Fleming captivates audiences with her sumptuous voice, consummate artistry, and compelling stage presence. At a White House ceremony in July 2013, President Obama awarded Ms. Fleming the National Medal of Arts, America's highest honor for an individual artist. Known as “the people’s diva” and winner of the 2013 GRAMMY® Award for Best Classical Vocal Solo, she continues to grace the world’s greatest opera stages and concert halls, now extending her reach to include other musical forms and media. Over the past few seasons, Ms. Fleming has hosted a wide variety of television and radio broadcasts, including The Metropolitan Opera’s Live in HD series for movie theaters and television, and Live from Lincoln Center on PBS.

Ms. Fleming’s recital program will be announced at a later date. Tickets to the recital are $40 - $150. Ticket sales open to the public November 18 at www.pittsburghopera.org. For additional information, call 412-281-0912.


PHOTO: Renée Fleming, credit Decca/Andrew Eccles.

Pittsburgh Opera celebrates its 75th anniversary in 2013-14 with OPERA FOR A NEW AGE, a mix of long-beloved operas and new favorites. Established by five intrepid women in 1939, Pittsburgh Opera is viewed as one of the most vibrant opera organizations in the U.S., with a rich artistic tradition, outstanding educational programs, an acclaimed artist training program, and a progressive outlook toward the future. Its green initiative culminated in LEED® Silver certification for its Strip District headquarters, and its capacity as a true community partner has increased significantly under General Director Christopher Hahn’s leadership. Tickets for the 2013-2014 season start at just $12.

2013-14 Season
AIDA •• October 12 – 20, 2013
THE MAGIC FLUTE •• November 9 – 17, 2013
DARK SISTERS •• January 25 – February 2, 2014
SECOND STAGE PROJECT: PAUL’S CASE •• February 22 – March 2, 2014
LA BOHÈME •• March 26 – April 6, 2014
ORPHÉE •• April 26 – May 4, 2014

For ticket information, visit our website www.pittsburghopera.org or call (412) 281-0912. Find us on Facebook and Twitter.

###
Posted on behalf of Dreamweaver Marketing Associates.  Joyce Kane is the owner of Cybertary Pittsburgh, a Virtual Administrative support company, providing virtual office support, personal and executive assistance, creative design services and light bookkeeping.  Cybertary works with businesses and busy individuals to help them work 'on' their business rather than 'in' their business.  www.Cybertary.com/Pittsburgh

Thursday, September 26, 2013

Past Pgh Opera Directors Celebrate 75th Anniversary Season


For Immediate Release  
September 19, 2013

Contact:
Melissa Franko, PR Associate
Office: (412) 281-0912 ext 217 or melissafranko@live.com

Past Pittsburgh Opera directors to help celebrate 75th anniversary season

Pittsburgh, PA… Pittsburgh Opera General Director Christopher Hahn has invited both living past company directors to join him in celebrating the company’s 75th anniversary season. Both Tito Capobianco (director 1983 – 2000) and Mark Weinstein (director 1999 – 2008) will be honored guests on opening weekend of AIDA, October 11-12. “I am thrilled that my two predecessors are able to help us celebrate the extraordinary achievement of 75 years of performances by Pittsburgh Opera. Each contributed enormously by building the strong foundation upon which we now stand. We can never find enough ways to thank them for their work, and look forward to welcoming them both.” Mr. Hahn said.

Mr. Capobianco and Mr. and Mrs. Weinstein will attend the Diamond Horseshoe Ball on Friday, October 11, greeting patrons with whom they formed friendships while in Pittsburgh, and enjoying the dinner, dancing, and entertainment for which the gala is known. On Saturday, October 12, they will again greet friends old and new in the lobby of the Benedum Center, and be honored on stage before the first notes of Verdi’s AIDA begin. No doubt they will also be among those applauding when Christopher Hahn makes a special 75th-anniversary event announcement from the Benedum stage.

Tickets to AIDA start at $12, with all performances at the Benedum Center for the Performing Arts, 7th Street and Penn Avenue, Pittsburgh. For additional information, videos, photos, musical samples, and cast biographies, visit www.pittsburghopera.org.

To purchase tickets, call 412-456-6666 or visit www.pittsburghopera.org.

Pittsburgh Opera celebrates its 75th anniversary in 2013-14 with OPERA FOR A NEW AGE, a mix of long-beloved operas and new favorites. Established by five intrepid women in 1939, Pittsburgh Opera is viewed as one of the most vibrant opera organizations in the U.S., with a rich artistic tradition, outstanding educational programs, an acclaimed artist training program, and a progressive outlook toward the future. Its green initiative culminated in LEED® Silver certification for its Strip District headquarters, and its capacity as a true community partner has increased significantly under General Director Christopher Hahn’s leadership. Tickets for the 2013-2014 season start at just $12.

2013-14 Season
AIDA •• October 12 – 20, 2013
THE MAGIC FLUTE •• November 9 – 17, 2013
DARK SISTERS •• January 25 – February 2, 2014
SECOND STAGE PROJECT: PAUL’S CASE •• February 22 – March 2, 2014
LA BOHÈME •• March 26 – April 6, 2014
ORPHÉE •• April 26 – May 4, 2014
For ticket information, visit our website www.pittsburghopera.org or call (412) 281-0912
Find us on Facebook and Twitter
###


Debra L. Bell
Director of Marketing and Communications
PITTSBURGHOPERA
2425 Liberty Avenue
Pittsburgh PA 15222
412.281.0912 x 214
412.281.4324 fax
www.pittsburghopera.org          

Coming up:
75th anniversary season 2013-14: Opera for a new age
Support Pittsburgh Opera’s future. Make a secure online donation today.

Posted on behalf of Dreamweaver Marketing Associates.  Joyce Kane is the owner of Cybertary Pittsburgh, a Virtual Administrative support company, providing virtual office support, personal and executive assistance, creative design services and light bookkeeping.  Cybertary works with businesses and busy individuals to help them work 'on' their business rather than 'in' their business.  www.Cybertary.com/Pittsburgh

Tuesday, August 27, 2013

Pittsburgh Opera Announces 75th Anniversary Season

For Immediate Release August 20, 2013
Contact: Debra L. Bell, Director of Marketing and Communications
Office: (412) 281-0912 ext 214 or dbell@pittsburghopera.org


Pittsburgh Opera puts single tickets on sale August 26
For a limited time: special $5 Kids’ Tickets for Nov. 12 performance of The Magic Flute

Pittsburgh, PA…On Monday, August 26, Pittsburgh Opera offers single tickets to the public for its 75th anniversary season. Opening October 12 with the grandest of all grand operas, Verdi’s Aida, the Pittsburgh Opera season includes three beloved works and three bold new operas, with three of this season’s offerings sung in English. Following Aida in the season are Mozart’s The Magic Flute, Nico Muhly’s Dark Sisters, Gregory Spears’s Paul’s Case, Puccini’s La bohème, and Philip Glass’s Orphée. Single tickets start at $12 and are available at www.pittsburghopera.org, 412-456-6666, or at Theater Square Box Office, 665 Penn Avenue, in the Cultural District.

Pittsburgh Opera thanks the Jack Buncher Foundation for a special offer that also opens August 26: $5 kids’ tickets to the Tuesday, November 12 performance of The Magic Flute at the Benedum Center. Those who wish to bring kids or grandkids (ages 6-12) to the Tuesday 7:00 p.m. performance of Mozart’s The Magic Flute may purchase up to four kids’ tickets at $5 each with the purchase of a full-price adult ticket. The Buncher Foundation sponsors the offer, which is available in all Benedum seating areas except Price Zone A. Available by web, phone, or in person, the offer is good until October 31, 2013 or while supplies last. More information, photos of this “gorgeously whimsical” (The Globe and Mail) production, related events, and FAQs about bringing kids to the opera are available at http://www.pittsburghopera.org/pages/Magic_Flute_Kids.

Pittsburgh Opera celebrates its 75th anniversary in 2013-14 with OPERA FOR A NEW AGE, a season of three beloved favorites and three bold new operas. Established by five intrepid women in 1939, Pittsburgh Opera is viewed as one of the most vibrant opera organizations in the U.S., with a rich artistic tradition, outstanding educational programs, an acclaimed artist training program, and a progressive outlook toward the future. Its green initiative culminated in LEED® Silver certification for its Strip District headquarters, and its capacity as a true community partner has increased significantly under General Director Christopher Hahn’s leadership. Tickets for the 2013-2014 season start at just $12.

2013-14 Season
AIDA •• October 12 – 20, 2013
THE MAGIC FLUTE •• November 9 – 17, 2013
DARK SISTERS •• January 25 – February 2, 2014
SECOND STAGE PROJECT: PAUL’S CASE •• February 22 – March 2, 2014
LA BOHÈME •• March 26 – April 6, 2014
ORPHÉE •• April 26 – May 4, 2014

For ticket information visit our website www.pittsburghopera.org or call (412) 281-0912
Find us on Facebook and Twitter

###

Debra L. Bell
Director of Marketing and Communications
PITTSBURGHOPERA
2425 Liberty Avenue
Pittsburgh PA 15222
412.281.0912 x 214
412.281.4324 fax
www.pittsburghopera.org

Posted on behalf of Dreamweaver Marketing Associates.  Joyce Kane is the owner of Cybertary Pittsburgh, a Virtual Administrative support company, providing virtual office support, personal and executive assistance, creative design services and light bookkeeping.  Cybertary works with businesses and busy individuals to help them work 'on' their business rather than 'in' their business.  www.Cybertary.com/Pittsburgh

Friday, June 28, 2013

Pgh Opera Announces Paul's Case as Second Stage Project




PITTSBURGHOPERA
For Immediate Release June 18, 2013

Contact:
Debra L. Bell, Director of Marketing and Communications
Office: (412) 281-0912 ext 214 or dbell@pittsburghopera.org

Pittsburgh Opera announces Paul’s Case as Second Stage Project
Idealistic Pittsburgh boy escapes his oppressive world...for a New York minute

Pittsburgh, PA…Pittsburgh Opera General Director Christopher Hahn has announced that Gregory Spears’s opera Paul’s Case is the Second Stage Project for 2014. The Second Stage Project is an additional showcase for the company’s Resident Artists, some of whom have gone on to sing on the world’s most famous stages. The opera runs February 22 – March 2, 2014 in the George R. White Studio at Pittsburgh Opera Headquarters.

Paul’s Case, by 36-year-old Gregory Spears, with a libretto by Mr. Spears and Kathryn Walat, is based on Willa Cather’s 1905 short story. Paul is a high school “dandy” whose artistic and social aspirations drive him to escape from sooty turn-of-the-century Pittsburgh. He defies his headmaster and his father, steals money, and goes to New York City to live the high life at the Waldorf Astoria. After a drunken night with a Yale student, reality comes crashing down, and Paul’s longings are crushed in a wrenching finale.

Scored for a nine-piece orchestra and seven singers,  Paul’s Case premiered in April 2013 at Arlington, Virginia-based Urban Arias, earning rave reviews from The Washington Post and The Wall Street Journal.  Gregory Spears’s compositional style blends romanticism, minimalism, and early music; his work has been called “astonishingly beautiful” (New York Times), and “some of the most beautifully unsettling music to appear in recent memory” (Boston Globe). His current projects include a new completion of Mozart’s Requiem, commissioned by Seraphic Fire and Firebird Chamber Orchestra, to premiere in Fall 2013.

Pittsburgh Opera Resident Artist Stage Director George Cederquist directs Paul’s Case. Specific casting and other details will be announced in August 2013. All tickets are $40 in advance, available exclusively to Pittsburgh Opera season ticket buyers until August 26.

Pittsburgh Opera’s celebrates its 75th anniversary in 2013-14 with OPERA FOR A NEW AGE, a mix of long-beloved operas and new favorites. Established by five intrepid women in 1939, Pittsburgh Opera is viewed as one of the most vibrant opera organizations in the U.S., with a rich artistic tradition, outstanding educational programs, an acclaimed artist training program, and a progressive outlook toward the future. Its green initiative culminated in LEED® Silver certification for its Strip District headquarters, and its capacity as a true community partner has increased significantly under General Director Christopher Hahn’s leadership. Tickets for the 2013-2014 season start at just $12.

2013-14 Season
AIDA •• October 12 – 20, 2013
THE MAGIC FLUTE •• November 9 – 17, 2013
DARK SISTERS •• January 25 – February 2, 2014
SECOND STAGE PROJECT: PAUL’S CASE •• February 22 – March 2, 2014
LA BOHÈME •• March 26 – April 6, 2014
ORPHÉE •• April 26 – May 4, 2014

For ticket information visit our website www.pittsburghopera.org or call (412) 281-0912
Find us on  Facebook and Twitter
###

2425 Liberty Avenue Pittsburgh, PA 15222 www.pittsburghopera.org

Posted on behalf of Dreamweaver Marketing Associates.  Joyce Kane is the owner of Cybertary Pittsburgh, a Virtual Administrative support company, providing virtual office support, personal and executive assistance, creative design services and light bookkeeping.  Cybertary works with businesses and busy individuals to help them work 'on' their business rather than 'in' their business.  www.Cybertary.com/Pittsburgh

Sunday, February 3, 2013

Pgh Opera and Attack Theatre Brown Bag Concert


PITTSBURGHOPERA

For Immediate Release
January  29,  2013

Contact:
Debra L. Bell, Director of Marketing and  Communications
Office: (412) 281-0912 ext 214 or  dbell@pittsburghopera.org

Pittsburgh Opera  and Attack  Theatre  collaborate in February 9 Brown Bag concert

What: Family-Friendly  Brown Bag concert

Who: Pittsburgh Opera’s Resident Artists  – and  dancers from Attack  Theatre

Where: Pittsburgh Opera Headquarters, 2425 Liberty Avenue

When: Saturday, February 9, 12 p.m.  – 1 pm. Doors  open at 11:30 a.m.

Tickets: Free  and  open to the  public.  No RSVP required.

Parking: Ample parking available on Penn  Avenue or in surface lots in the  Strip


Pittsburgh, PA…Pittsburgh Opera’s  Resident Artists  are joined  by dancers from  Attack Theatre in a collaborative Brown Bag concert on Saturday, February 9. The informal  concert will feature music from The Barber of Seville,  Dido and Aeneas, The Marriage  of Figaro, and others, as well as a sneak peek at Attack  Theatre’s new production,  Soap  Opera. Brown Bag concert attendees are invited  to bring  a friend  and  bring  a lunch. Doors  open at 11:30. No reservations are required except handicapped parking requests. For more information, call 412-281-0912, x 0 (zero) or visit  www.pittsburghopera.org.

Pittsburgh Opera’s  2012-2013 season continues a 74-year  tradition of excellence  in opera. As part of the  Company’s continued efforts to make opera accessible to all members of the  community, single  tickets for the  2012-2013 season again start at $10.

2012-2013 Season

Rigoletto October 6, 9, 12, 14, 2012
Don Giovanni  November 3, 6, 9, 11, 2012
Il matrimonio segreto (The Secret Marriage) January 26, 29; February  1, 3, 2013
Cabaret 2013 February  22, 23, 24, 26, 2013
Madama Butterfly  March 16, 19; 22, 24, 2013
La cenerentola April 27, 30; May 3, 5, 2013

Single  tickets for as little as $10; season subscriptions for as little as $22.
For ticket information visit our website www.pittsburghopera.org or call (412) 281-0912
Find us on  Facebook and  Twitter
###


2425 Liberty Avenue Pittsburgh, PA 15222 www.pittsburghopera.org


Posted on behalf of Dreamweaver Marketing Associates.  Joyce Kane is the owner of Cybertary Pittsburgh, a Virtual Administrative support company, providing virtual office support, personal and executive assistance, creative design services and light bookkeeping.  Cybertary works with businesses and busy individuals to help them work 'on' their business rather than 'in' their business.  www.Cybertary.com/Pittsburgh

Wednesday, November 21, 2012

Pgh Opera's Auld Lang Syne Gala and Concert


For Immediate Release      November 15, 2012

Contact: Debra L. Bell, Director of Marketing and Communications
Office: (412) 281-0912 ext 214 or dbell@pittsburghopera.org


Pittsburgh Opera rings in 2013 with Auld Lang Syne IV
What:       Pittsburgh Opera’s Auld Lang Syne IV, a New Year’s Eve Gala and Concert

When:       Monday, December 31:
                   6:30 PM VIP cocktail reception with Maestro Walker
                   7:30 PM dinner in the Grand Foyer
                   9:30 PM concert in the Music Hall; New Year’s celebration following          

Where:     Carnegie Music Hall, Oakland: 4400 Forbes Avenue, 15213

Tickets:      $75 (concert only) - $500 (VIP Package). Call Samuel Badger
                 at 412-281-0912, x 225, or visit www.pittsburghopera.org
         
Pittsburgh, PA… A concert of Viennese bonbons with Music Director Antony Walker and the Pittsburgh Opera Orchestra anchors this new favorite year-end event in the Pittsburgh social scene. Featuring numbers such as Strauss’s “On the Beautiful Blue Danube” and “Thunder and Lightning Polka” as well as selections from Lehar’sThe Merry Widow and Tchaikovsky’s The Nutcracker, the concert also showcases the Pittsburgh Opera Resident Artists. The evening begins with a VIP cocktail reception, continues with dinner, and concludes with a New Year’s party after the concert, with dancing to the music of Finesse, all in Carnegie Music Hall, Oakland. Pittsburgh Opera Board members Rose M. Kutsenkow and Roseanne Wholey serve as chairs of this year’s event.

Tickets start at $75 for the concert only. The $500 VIP Package includes cocktails, dinner, concert, party, and valet parking. Tables of eight are available for $3500. For information or tickets, call Samuel Badger: 412-281-0912, x 225 or visit www.pittsburghopera.org.
Auld Lang Syne IV: New Year’s Eve Gala is generously supported by Kathy White and other Opera benefactors.

Photo: scenes from Auld Lang Syne III at Carnegie Music Hall on December 31, 2011. Shown are Music Director Antony Walker (background, with orchestra);   front left to right, Resident Artists Stephanie Lauricella, Adam Fry, Alexandra Loutsion, and Suzanne Vinnik. Photo by David Bachman.

Pittsburgh Opera’s 2012-2013 season continues a 74-year tradition of excellence in opera. As part of the Company’s continued efforts to make opera accessible to all members of the community, single tickets for the 2012-2013 season again start at $10.

2012-2013 Season
Rigoletto October 6, 9, 12, 14, 2012
Don Giovanni November 3, 6, 9, 11, 2012
Il matrimonio segreto January 26, 29; February 1, 3, 2013
Cabaret 2013 February 22, 23, 24, 26, 2013
Madama Butterfly March 16, 19; 22, 24, 2013
La cenerentola April 27, 30; May 3, 5, 2013

Single tickets for as little as $10
Subscriptions for as little as $22
For ticket information visit our website www.pittsburghopera.org or call (412) 281-0912
Find us on Facebook and Twitter

###
Posted on behalf of Dreamweaver Marketing Associates.  Joyce Kane is the owner of Cybertary Pittsburgh, a Virtual Administrative support company, providing virtual office support, personal and executive assistance, creative design services and light bookkeeping.  Cybertary works with businesses and busy individuals to help them work 'on' their business rather than 'in' their business.  www.Cybertary.com/Pittsburgh

Holiday Brown Bag Concert


For Immediate Release        November 19, 2012

Contact:
Debra L. Bell, Director of Marketing and Communications
Office: (412) 281-0912 ext 214 or dbell@pittsburghopera.org


Pittsburgh Opera spreads holiday joy in annual family-friendly Brown Bag concert December 8

What:           Family-Friendly Holiday Brown Bag concert

Who:            Pittsburgh Opera’s Resident Artists

Where:         Pittsburgh Opera Headquarters, 2425 Liberty Avenue

When:          Saturday, December 8, 12 pm – 1 pm. Doors open at 11:30 am.

Tickets:         Free and open to the public. No RSVP required.

Parking:        Ample parking available on Penn Avenue or in surface lots in the Strip

Pittsburgh, PA… For the past four holiday seasons, Pittsburgh Opera’s Resident Artists have surprised and delighted audiences at the December Brown Bag concert with breathtaking renditions of holiday classics like “O Holy Night” as well as unexpected charmers such as “It must have been the mistletoe” and “Snow” from the film White Christmas. The concert is free and open to the public, and guests are encouraged to bring a friend and a lunch; there will be goodie bags and activities for the kids. Doors open at 11:30. No reservations are required except handicapped parking requests. For more information, call 412-281-0912, x 0 (zero) or visit www.pittsburghopera.org.

Pittsburgh Opera’s 2012-2013 season continues a 74-year tradition of excellence in opera. As part of the Company’s continued efforts to make opera accessible to all members of the community, single tickets for the 2012-2013 season again start at $10.

2012-2013 Season
Rigoletto October 6, 9, 12, 14, 2012
Don Giovanni November 3, 6, 9, 11, 2012
Il matrimonio segreto January 26, 29; February 1, 3, 2013
Cabaret 2013 February 22, 23, 24, 26, 2013
Madama Butterfly March 16, 19; 22, 24, 2013
La cenerentola April 27, 30; May 3, 5, 2013

Single tickets for as little as $10; season subscriptions for as little as $22.
For ticket information visit our website www.pittsburghopera.org or call (412) 281-0912
Find us on Facebook and Twitter

Posted on behalf of Dreamweaver Marketing Associates.  Joyce Kane is the owner of Cybertary Pittsburgh, a Virtual Administrative support company, providing virtual office support, personal and executive assistance, creative design services and light bookkeeping.  Cybertary works with businesses and busy individuals to help them work 'on' their business rather than 'in' their business.  www.Cybertary.com/Pittsburgh

Tuesday, October 30, 2012

Mozart's Don Giovanni Opens on the 3rd



Pittsburgh Opera presents a Mozart favorite in a new production: Don Giovanni opens November 3

What:               Wolfgang Mozart’s opera Don Giovanni

Where:            Benedum Center for the Performing Arts
                        7th Street and Penn Avenue, Downtown Pittsburgh

When:              Saturday, November 3, 8:00 PM                 Tuesday, November 6, 7:00 PM
                        Friday, November 9, 8:00 PM                     Sunday, November 11, 2:00 PM

Run Time:        3 hours, 10 minutes, including 1 intermission

Language:       Sung in Italian with English titles projected above the stage

Tickets:           Start at $10 for all performances.
                       Call 412-456-6666 for more information or visit pittsburghopera.org



               
Pittsburgh, PA…Pittsburgh Opera presents the Mozart favorite Don Giovanni, November 3 – 11 at the Benedum Center. Based on the Don Juan legend and starring Michael Todd Simpson as Don Giovanni, the opera showcases a sterling ensemble cast and a new production built in Pittsburgh.

Pittsburgh Opera presents at least one new production every season, but it is unusual that the company presents three new productions in a single season. Its Don Giovanni is the first built-in-Pittsburgh production for the 2012-13 season. At press time, the distinctive “bullring” set is near completion in Ambridge, PA, and costumes and wigs are being fitted at the company’s Strip District headquarters.

Don Giovanni is the story of a dissolute nobleman who chafes against the repressive culture of his native Seville, and pays the ultimate price for his philandering and lack of remorse. Featuring the popular duet “La ci darem la mano” and the humorous “Catalog” aria, the opera blends humor, drama, and the supernatural. Mozart and librettist Lorenzo da Ponte drew from an earlier Don Juan opera as well as Moliere’s play and other works to craft the opera. Mozart presumably worked on the overture right up to the night before the opera’s first performance. While it was obviously completed under some stress, the opera made a lasting impression on the likes of E.T. A. Hoffmann, Kirkegaard, Tchaikovsky, and Chopin, all of whom created homages to the opera: a popular classic.

The ensemble cast features debuts by Wayne Tigges as Leporello and Caitlin Lynch as Donna Anna, and returns for former Resident Artists Sean Panikkar (The Pearl Fishers, 2011) and Jennifer Holloway (Romeo & Juliet, 2006). Also returning are Michael Todd Simpson (The Marriage of Figaro, 2010; La bohème, 2009), Sari Gruber (The Marriage of Figaro, 2010; Cosi fan tutte, 2006) and Hao Jiang Tian (Turandot, 2011); Resident Artist Joseph Barron appears as Masetto. Music Director Antony Walker returns to conduct; Justin Way debuts as stage director. Mr. Way gives an overview of his vision for the opera in a video found at www.pittsburghopera.org.

Tickets to Don Giovanni start at $10, with all performances at the Benedum Center for the Performing Arts, 7th Street and Penn Avenue, Downtown Pittsburgh. For additional information or to purchase tickets call 412-456-6666 or visitwww.pittsburghopera.org.

Facts about the opera

      The Don Giovanni libretto was written by Lorenzo da Ponte, who shared some characteristics with the title character: he was friends with Casanova, and trained for the priesthood before falling out with the establishment for his libertine leanings. He had affairs with married women, and declared bankruptcy. However, his legacy of 28 librettos and his passion for teaching came with him to the U.S. when he became the first professor of Italian Literature at Columbia College (now Columbia University).
      In rehearsals for the premiere, Mozart was dissatisfied with the scream given by his Zerlina when the Don makes advances to her. Mozart sneaked up behind her and gave her a hard pinch at the right moment. Zerlina gave a very realistic shriek, and Mozart said he was finally satisfied.

The story, in brief
Don Giovanni, a dissolute nobleman of Seville, kills the Commendatore in a duel after he tries to seduce the Commendatore’s daughter, Donna Anna. Giovanni escapes, and Anna makes her fiancé, Don Ottavio, swear vengeance on the killer. Outside a tavern, Giovanni flirts with Donna Elvira, whom he once seduced and who has been looking for him ever since. Giovanni’s servant Leporello distracts Elvira by reciting his master's long catalog of conquests. Peasants arrive, celebrating the wedding of Zerlina and Masetto; Giovanni joins in and applies his charm to the bride, but Elvira whisks the girl away. When Elvira returns to denounce Giovanni as a seducer, he is caught between her and Anna, now in mourning. Anna recognizes him as her attacker.

Preparing for the wedding feast he has planned for the peasants, Giovanni exuberantly downs champagne. Outside the palace, Zerlina begs Masetto to forgive her apparent infidelity. Giovanni manages to corner Zerlina again, and when the girl cries for help, Giovanni blames Leporello. No one is convinced, and Elvira, Anna and Ottavio confront the Don, who barely escapes Ottavio's challenge.

Later, at Elvira’s inn, Leporello exchanges clothes with Giovanni to woo the lady in his master's stead. Leporello leads Elvira off, leaving Giovanni free to serenade Elvira's maid. When Masetto comes by with a band of peasants bent on punishing the Don, the disguised rake gives them false directions and beats up Masetto. In a courtyard, Elvira and Leporello are surprised by Anna, Ottavio, Zerlina and Masetto, who, mistaking servant for master, threaten Leporello. Frightened, he unmasks and escapes.

Leporello catches up with his master in a cemetery, where a voice from the Commendatore’s statue warns Giovanni of his doom. The Don proposes that Leporello invite the statue to dinner. When the servant stammers an invitation, the statue accepts. Leporello is serving Giovanni's dinner when Elvira rushes in, begging the Don, whom she still loves, to reform. But he waves her out, and her screams announce the arrival of the statue. Giovanni boldly refuses warnings to repent, Hell opens before him, and he is drawn in. Arriving too late, the others plan their future and recite the moral: such is the fate of a wrongdoer.
Don Giovanni opens Saturday, November 3 and continues November 6, 9, and 11, 2012. Tickets start at $10.  Call 412-456-6666 or visit www.pittsburghopera.org .

The Pittsburgh Opera 2012-2013 season is generously sponsored by PNC Foundation.
 
Tickets and Group Discounts
Tickets for all performances of Don Giovanni start at $10. Group discounts are available. For tickets, call (412) 456-6666 or visit www.pittsburghopera.org. For discounted group tickets (6 or more), contact Randy Adams at 412-281-0912, x 213.

Posted on behalf of Dreamweaver Marketing Associates.  Joyce Kane is the owner of Cybertary Pittsburgh, a Virtual Administrative support company, providing virtual office support, personal and executive assistance, creative design services and light bookkeeping.  Cybertary works with businesses and busy individuals to help them work 'on' their business rather than 'in' their business.  www.Cybertary.com/Pittsburgh

Saturday, October 13, 2012

Don Giovanni Cemetery Walk


For Immediate Release  October 11, 2012

Contact:
Debra L. Bell, Director of Marketing and Communications
Office: (412) 281-0912 ext 214 or dbell@pittsburghopera.org


Pittsburgh Opera and Venture Outdoors collaborate
in Don Giovanni Cemetery Walk, October 21

What:            Pittsburgh Opera/Venture Outdoors Don Giovanni Cemetery Walk

Where:        Allegheny Cemetery entrance, 4734 Butler Street, Lawrenceville
                     
When:         Sunday, October 21, 10:30 a.m., rain or shine

Tickets:         $8 for Venture Outdoors members; $12 non-members; $6 children.
                   Register at the Venture Outdoors website or call 412-255-0564


Pittsburgh, PA…Pittsburgh Opera’s upcoming production of Mozart’s Don Giovanni inspired a winning partnership between the opera company and Venture Outdoors. Don Giovanni, the unrepentant rogue of the Don Juan legend, has an important scene in a cemetery and is visited by a graveyard statue in the dramatic finale. What better occasion to collaborate on a tour of Allegheny Cemetery, visiting the graves and hearing stories of some notorious Pittsburgh philanderers buried there? The walking tour will be led by a Pittsburgh Opera guest leader, and is set for Sunday, October 21, beginning at 10:30 a.m. The tour is rated “easy” by Venture Outdoors and registration is now open at the Venture Outdoors website. The Cemetery Walk partnership is made possible by a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts.

Pittsburgh Opera’s 2012-2013 season continues a 74-year tradition of excellence in opera. As part of the Company’s continued efforts to make opera accessible to all members of the community, single tickets for the 2012-2013 season again start at just $10, withsubscriptions starting at just $43 for four operas.

2012-2013 Season
Rigoletto October 6, 9, 12, 14, 2012
Don Giovanni November 3, 6, 9, 11, 2012
Il matrimonio segreto January 26, 29; February 1, 3, 2013
Cabaret 2013 February 22, 23, 24, 26, 2013
Madama Butterfly March 16, 19; 22, 24, 2013
La cenerentola April 27, 30; May 3, 5, 2013

For ticket information visit our website www.pittsburghopera.org or call (412) 281-0912
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Posted on behalf of Dreamweaver Marketing Associates.  Joyce Kane is the owner of Cybertary Pittsburgh, a Virtual Administrative support company, providing virtual office support, personal and executive assistance, creative design services and light bookkeeping.  Cybertary works with businesses and busy individuals to help them work 'on' their business rather than 'in' their business.  www.Cybertary.com/Pittsburgh