MOT Announces 10-11 Opera Season

MICHIGAN OPERA THEATRE ANNOUNCES
2010-11 OPERA SEASON:
BOLD VISION. SOARING VOICES.
CELEBRATING
MICHIGAN OPERA THEATRE'S
40TH ANNIVERSARY
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10-11 Season Opens with Revival of The Mikado
Perennial Favorites La Boheme, The Magic Flute, Rigoletto
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DETROIT, Michigan, February 26, 2010...Michigan Opera Theatre announced today the details of its 40th anniversary season, including a revival of Gilbert and Sullivan's The Mikado, which opens the season. Other works to be performed include perennial favorites La Boheme, The Magic Flute, and Rigoletto. During the 2010-11 season, Michigan Opera Theatre commemorates its 40th anniversary with a season of audience favorites. Over its 40 year history, MOT has become known for presenting opera standards while integrating groundbreaking new works, fulfilling its mission through four decades of operatic excellence and community involvement. The company's bold vision, cast by founder and general director Dr. David DiChiera, led to the opening of the Detroit Opera House, three world premieres including the landmark opera Margaret Garner, Andrea Bocelli's operatic debut in Werther, and the beginnings of many young opera star careers, including Gregg Baker, Marcello Giordani, Leona Mitchell, Maria Ewing, Kathleen Battle, and Leah Partridge. "I'm immensely proud of what we, as a company and a community, have been able to accomplish in our 40 year history, but there is so much work left for us to do." says Michigan Opera Theatre General Director Dr. David DiChiera. "Main stage works that entertain, inspire, and move us are at the core of what we do as a company. We are excited to present a season of opera favorites, especially Gilbert and Sullivan's The Mikado, one of our most requested works, which has not been performed by the company since 1991." Gilbert and Sullivan's The Mikado October 16-24, 2010 Performed in English One of MOT's most requested productions and Gilbert and Sullivan's most popular works, The Mikado returns to the Michigan Opera Theatre stage October 16-24, 2010 for five performances. The October 2010 performances will commemorate the 125th anniversary of The Mikado. At its premiere in London in 1885 at the Savoy Theatre, it had one of the longest runs of any theater work. Michigan Opera Theatre last performed The Mikado in 1991, making the fall 2010 performances the first time in nearly 20 years that it will appear on the MOT stage. Set in the fictitious town of Titipu, Japan, The Mikado is a satire of a bureaucratic society gone haywire. The musical score contains some of the best-loved songs of all time, including "Three Little Maids," "The Flowers that Bloom in the Spring" and "I've Got a Little List." The production will be under the baton of Mark D. Flint, a veteran of numerous MOT productions and a favorite of MOT audiences for orchestrating and conducting the world premiere of David DiChiera's Cyrano in 2007. Puccini's La Boheme November 13-21, 2010 Performed in Italian with English supertitles Puccini's enduring opera La Boheme returns to the Detroit Opera House stage November 13-21, 2010. A bittersweet tragedy of young love, the opera centers around six penniless bohemian friends in snowy Paris surviving on very limited means. Full of idealism, beauty and unbridled love, they soon encounter the harsh realities of life. Imitations of Puccini's masterpiece are all around us, most notably the Broadway blockbuster musical Rent-but the gorgeous original is incomparable and never fails to pull at your heart strings. Michigan Opera Theatre last produced La Boheme in 2005. Alternating in the lead role of Rodolfo is Sardinian (Italian) tenor Francesco Demuro, who will make his MOT debut. Demuro, a highly sought-after young artist, has performed in the most prestigious international houses, including La Scala in Milan, Teatro Regio in Parma, and Covent Garden in England. He is quickly garnering attention throughout the world as a major tenor to watch. He will alternate in the role with American tenor Noah Stewart, who made his MOT debut in the fall 2009 production of Nabucco, and is increasingly developing into one of opera's most sought-after young leading tenors. Performing the role of Mimi is American soprano Kelly Kaduce, who since her MOT debut as Caroline Gaines in the world premiere of Margaret Garner in 2005 has become a major soprano star. Kaduce will open the Santa Fe Opera summer 2010 season performing the title role in Madame Butterfly. She will alternate with Italian soprano Grazia Doronzio, who will make her MOT debut following her performances as Liu in Turandot at the Met. Detroit's favorite Romanian baritone Marian Pop, best known for creating the role of Cyrano for the world premiere of David DiChiera's opera in 2007, returns to MOT as Marcello. He will alternate in the role with young up-and-coming Italian baritone Giovanni Guagliardo, who is making his MOT debut. Performing the role of Schaunard is baritone Lee Gregory, making his MOT debut. Returning to perform the role of Benoit and Alcindoro is bass-baritone Jason Budd, who last performed with MOT during the world premiere of Cyrano in 2007. Conducting the Puccini classic will be Italian maestro Giuliano Carella, who will also be on the podium for the company's upcoming production of Tosca in the spring 2010 season. La Boheme will be staged by Italian director Mario Corradi, marking his twentieth production with the company. Sets and costumes were originally created for Montreal Opera with sets designed by Claude Girard and costumes designed by Claude Girard and Andre Prévost. Mozart's The Magic Flute April 9-17, 2011 Performed in English with English supertitles Mozart's beloved final opera, The Magic Flute, has captivated audiences since its premiere in 1791. In the opera, Prince Tamino and bird-catcher Papageno go on a humorous musical journey, armed with a set of silver bells and a golden flute, as they travel through Egypt on a quest for the beautiful Pamina. Brilliant music and a fantastical setting make The Magic Flute a treasured fairytale opera for all ages. The opera includes one of the most recognizable and demanding arias in all of opera, "The vengeance of Hell boils in my heart," sung by the Queen of the Night. Michigan Opera Theatre last performed the opera in 2004. Alternating in the lead role of Tamino is Texas-native Chad Shelton, who will make his MOT debut in the role. He has garnered acclaim on national and international stages for his characterizations of leading roles, including Tamino. Shelton will alternate with American tenor Norman Shankle, who will also be making his MOT debut. Shankle is known for his portrayals of Mozart roles. Canadian soprano Katherine Whyte makes her MOT debut as Pamina, following her recent debuts with English National Opera, Atlanta Opera, and l'Opéra National de Bordeaux. Performing the role of the Queen of the Night is Canadian coloratura soprano Aline Kutan, returning to MOT following her performances in the 2002 production of Lakmé where she stunned audiences by performing all five performances with spectacular ease and technical agility. Maestro Stephen Lord returns to MOT to lead the production, after his most recent Michigan Opera Theatre appearance conducting The Elixir of Love during the spring 2009 season. Verdi's Rigoletto May 14-22, 2011 Performed in Italian with English supertitles Verdi's dramatic tragedy Rigoletto closes the 2010-2011 season, May 14-22, 2011, telling the woeful tale of Rigoletto, the razor-tongued court jester. A paternal curse renders him powerless against his enemies. Fooled into assisting in the abduction of his own daughter, Rigoletto's heart is pushed to the limit as he is forced to watch her suffer at the hands of his licentious master, the Duke of Mantua. Enraged, he plans the perfect revenge - death for the Duke and retribution for his daughter. As the plot twists, the power of the curse is realized and Rigoletto is left holding the shards of his broken life. Widely regarded as one of Verdi's most glorious and moving scores, Rigoletto, along with Il Trovatore and La Traviata, firmly cemented Verdi's position as the preeminent Italian composer of his day. Verdi's composition explores the vast range of human emotion, providing a unique depth to the characters. From the beloved "La donna e mobile," one of opera's most famous arias, to the exquisite "Caro nome," the immortal melodies of Verdi's first great masterpiece continue to move audiences worldwide. Internationally renowned maestro Steven Mercurio, a Detroit favorite, will return to lead the Michigan Opera Theatre Orchestra alongside French stage director Bernard Uzan, who last directed the world premiere production of Cyrano at MOT in 2007. The role of the Duke of Mantua will be performed by James Valenti, who recently made his MOT debut in the fall 2008 season as Pinkerton in Madame Butterfly. He has since performed all over the world, including debuts at the Met and Covent Garden. Further casting will be announced at a later date. Subscriptions: Subscription prices range from $58-$484. Like last year, Michigan Opera Theatre is offering a payment plan for subscriptions. If a patron subscribes by March 30, 2010, the subscription cost will be split into four equal payments due at the end of each month with the final payment due on June 30, 2010. As always, subscriptions are offered first to renewing subscribers. Renewal packets will be mailed February 2010. Subscribers may renew subscriptions online at www.MichiganOpera.org. Subscribers enjoy the benefits of priority seating, limited free ticket exchanges and advanced purchase opportunities for some non-subscription events. New 2010-11 subscriptions will be available through Michigan Opera Theatre online at www.MichiganOpera.org, as well as through the ticket office. Michigan Opera Theatre will again offer special package discounts for "first-timers," as well a distance discount for new subscribers traveling more than 80 miles to attend performances. The popular "family series" discount will also continue through the 2010-11 season. All subscription information may be obtained by calling the Michigan Opera Theatre ticket office at (313) 237-SING (7464). Single Tickets: Single ticket prices will remain unchanged from last season, ranging from $25 - $117 for all opera productions. Single tickets for Michigan Opera Theatre's 2010-11 opera season will become available in August 2010. Single tickets will be available in person at the Detroit Opera House ticket office (1526 Broadway, Detroit, MI 48226), by phone at (313) 237-SING (7464) and through Michigan Opera Theatre's online ticketing at www.MichiganOpera.org. Single tickets will also be available through all Ticketmaster outlets, by phone at 1-800-745-3000 or online at www.Ticketmaster.com. For group sales rates, please contact the Michigan Opera Theatre box office. # # # 2010-11 Michigan Opera Theatre Productions Gilbert & Sullivan's The Mikado October 16-24, 2010 Saturday, October 16, 2010 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, October 20, 2010 7:30 p.m. Friday, October 22, 2010 7:30 p.m. Saturday, October 23, 2010 7:30 p.m. Sunday, October 24, 2010 3:00 p.m. Puccini's La Bohème November 13-21, 2010 Saturday, November 13, 2010 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, November 17, 2010 7:30 p.m. Friday, November 19, 2010 7:30 p.m. Saturday, November 20, 2010 7:30 p.m. Sunday, November 21, 2010 3:00 p.m. Mozart's The Magic Flute April 9-17, 2011 Saturday, April 9, 2011 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 13, 2011 7:30 p.m. Friday, April 15, 2011 7:30 p.m. Saturday, April, 16, 2011 7:30 p.m. Sunday, April 17, 2011 3:00 p.m. Verdi's Rigoletto May 14-22, 2011 Saturday, May 14, 2011 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 18, 2011 7:30 p.m. Friday, May 20, 2011 7:30 p.m. Saturday, May 21, 2011 7:30 p.m. Sunday, May 22, 2011 3:00 p.m.