ART JOURNEY: Spring-Summer 2016 Season Opera in Pittsburgh and Philadelphia

ART JOURNEY: Spring 2016 Season Opera in Pittsburgh and Philadelphia

By Jorge Jefferds March 28, 2016

April is the right time to consider buying tickets for the opera in two of the most important theaters in Pennsylvania. The Pittsburgh Opera (located at 2425 Liberty Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15222) presents three outstanding performances you can’t miss this year: 

The Barber of Seville by Gioachino Rossini will take place soon, on the following dates: April 2, 5, 8, and 10, 2016. Rossini’s madcap comedy is guaranteed to send you out laughing and humming a tune. Count Almaviva is in love with the beautiful Rosina. Rosina is essentially being held captive by the slimy Bartolo, who wants to marry her himself. With the help of the barber Figaro, Almaviva and Rosina attempt to outwit Bartolo and live happily ever after. The Barber of Seville is the perfect introductory opera. It features recognizable music, comedic staging, fun costumes and a happy ending. You will love the amazing ensemble cast – which includes two former Resident Artists with tremendous personalities, Kevin Glavin and Jonathan Beyer – and the Pittsburgh debut of Michele Angelini, who has received superlative reviews around the world in his role. Antony Walker conducts. This performance is sung in the original Italian language with projected English titles, and presented at the Benedum Center.

The Rake's Progress by Igor Stravinsky (April 30; May 3, 6, and 8, 2016) is about Tom Rakewell's journey from fortunate heir, to gambler, to inmate at Bedlam. This is a Pittsburgh premiere and a cautionary tale you'll remember with amazement. It seems to be a simple fable, but the combination of Stravinsky's electrifying score, Chester Kallman and W.H. Auden's libretto, David Hockney's sets and costumes, and a superlative cast promise a larger than life’s experience for you in this production of The Rake’s Progress. Sung in the original English with projected English titles, this production is presented at the Benedum Center.

The Rake's Progress

Salome is a composition and libretto by Richard Strauss (November 5, 8, 11, and 13, 2016). Originally censored in Vienna, banned in London, and even protested in New York, Salome is now considered a classic. Salome helped reinforce Strauss’s reputation as “the greatest genius of the age”. Based on the play by the one-and-only Oscar Wilde, Salome recreates the biblical story of King Herod, his daughter Salome and John the Baptist - Jochanaan. The title role of Salome will be sung by Patricia Racette, who sang the role to critical acclaim last year, including the famous, seductive “Dance of the Seven Veils”. Robert Brubaker plays King Herod, and Michaele Martens is Herodias. Music Director Antony Walker conducts.

Salomé

Philadelphia proudly presents its own lyrical performances at the Opera Philadelphia House (located at 1420 Locust Street, Philadelphia, PA 19102).

The Elixir of Love (L’elisir d’amore), will take place on the following dates: April 29; May 1, 4, 6, and 8, 2016). Set in the 1940s Italian countryside in this charming production from The Santa Fe Opera, it is a delight for all lovers of 19th-century Italian bel canto. Poor, oil-soaked auto-mechanic Nemorino is in love with the wealthy Adina, but she only has eyes for the striking Sergeant Belcore. Enter pinstriped Dr. Dulcamara, a quack who woos Nemorino with a promise: drink the elixir and Adina will fall in love with Nemorino within a day. But, does this strange tincture really work?

The Elixir of Love

Macbeth (September 24, and 25, 2016, at the Prince Theater) is a production co-presented with FringeArts as part of the Curated 2016 Fringe Festival. This radical take on Verdi’s Macbeth is set in the eastern provinces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, amongst war and ruthless exploitation. With his ambitious wife, General Macbeth—a Congolese warlord—murders the king and unleashes brutal atrocities on the crumbling province. Seen through South African theater maker Brett Bailey’s signature post-colonial lens, a milieu of multinational corporations and corrupt regional governments fuel the ongoing conflict with their insatiable greed for the natural resources that swell their pockets.

Turandot (September 23, 25, 28, and 30, 2016; October 2). In ancient China, the beautiful Princess Turandot reigns with an iron fist and an ice-cold heart. To her wooers, she has issued a decree: he who can answer her riddles will win her hand—all others will face beheading. When a mysterious man passes her test, will she finally open her heart to love? Puccini’s final work is one of his grandest, featuring forbidden romance and gorgeous melodies, including the rousing anthem “Nessun Dorma.” This kaleidoscopic co-production, called “miraculous” by Opera News, features stunning sets, costumes, and choreography.

Turandot

There will be an opening night Gala for this opera. You will be able to celebrate the start of Opera Philadelphia's 42nd Season with a spectacular black-tie Opening Night Gala. Discover more and add this special event to your Turandot experience!