Madison Opera’s 2011-2012 Season to Feature Three Company Premieres

Madison Opera announced plans today for the company's 51st season, which will feature three company premieres and the annual summer concert, Opera in the Park. Highlights include the company's first Tchaikovsky opera, Eugene Onegin, and a new production of Philip Glass' Galileo Galileo to mark the iconic American composer's 75th birthday. A production of Rossini's Cinderella (La Cenerentola) updated to 1930s Hollywood will close the mainstage season.

"This is an exciting and important season for Madison Opera, one that builds on our tradition of expanding the operatic repertoire while engaging subscribers and new audiences alike," said Madison Opera Artistic Director John DeMain.

Tchaikovsky's Eugene Onegin will open the new season in Overture Hall on Nov. 4 and 6, 2011. The opera tells of the country girl Tatiana and her youthful love for the mysterious and worldly Eugene Onegin. While she dreams of passion, her love instead brings rejection and triggers the undoing of her family in this epic drama based on the novel by Alexander Pushkin. Baritone Hyung Yun and soprano Maria Kanyova return to Madison Opera in the roles of Eugene Onegin and Tatiana, with Wisconsin-native and acclaimed tenor Scott Ramsay making his Madison Opera debut as Vladimir Lenski. Candace Evans returns to direct the production, with John DeMain conducting.

Galileo Galilei, an opera by Philip Glass, will be produced in The Playhouse at Overture from Jan. 26 to 29, 2012, just days before the composer's 75th birthday. Featuring Glass' trademark minimalist style, the opera traces the life of the famed astronomer Galileo Galilei, beginning with his final days-blind and defeated by the Inquisition-and ending in his youth, as an audience member witnessing an opera by his father. Renowned tenor William Joyner stars in the title role, with soprano Jamie-Rose Guarrine returning to Madison Opera as Marie Celeste. Baritone John Arnold debuts as the Young Galileo. A. Scott Parry returns to direct this new production, and Kelly Kuo conducts. Galileo Galilei premiered at the Goodman Theatre in Chicago in 2002.

Rossini's Italian take on the classic fairy tale Cinderella will be presented in Overture Hall on Apr. 27 and 29, 2012. In Madison Opera's production by director Garnett Bruce, the action is updated to the swinging Palace Pictures studio of 1930's Hollywood, where the put-upon maid Angelina soon finds herself the star of her very own rags to riches tale. Rising star mezzo-soprano Daniela Mack makes her Madison Opera debut in the title role. Tenor Gregory Schmidt returns as her Prince Charming, Don Ramiro, and Grammy Award-winning baritone Daniel Belcher makes his Madison Opera debut as Dandini. John DeMain conducts.

Subscriptions for the 2011-2012 Season are now available online at www.madisonopera.org and by phone at (608) 238-8085. New subscribers save 15%.

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