James Barbour, Mary Testa & More to Star in ANNA NICOLE at New York City Opera; Opens 9/17

New York City Opera opens its 2013-14 season with the U.S. premiere of Anna Nicole (2010), a colossal co-production with the Brooklyn Academy Of Music (BAM) that launches the 2013 Next Wave Festival. Running for seven performances (September 17-28) in BAM's 2,100-seat Howard Gilman Opera House, where New York City Opera has presented two critically acclaimed chamber operas this spring, Anna Nicole will provide a sensational beginning to the Company's 2013-14 season.

Composed by Mark-Anthony Turnage with a libretto by Richard Thomas, the opera is based on the flamboyant life and tragic death of Anna Nicole Smith. Reviewing the world premiere at Covent Garden, The New York Times called Anna Nicole a "musically rich, audacious and inexplicably poignant work." Building upon New York City Opera's history of integrating opera and popular music,Richard Jones will direct a large cast featuring veterans of Broadway as well as highly accomplished opera singers, including Sarah Joy Miller as Anna Nicole, along with Susan Bickley, Robert Brubaker, Rod Gilfry, John Easterlin, Joshua Jeremiah, Mary Testa, Stephen Wallem, Christina Sajous, James Barbour and Ben Davis. Steven Sloane will conduct 66 members of the New York City Opera Orchestra.

Anna Nicole tells the story of Anna Nicole Smith, a small-town Texas waitress (and, later, exotic dancer) in pursuit of the American Dream. Smith weds an octogenarian billionaire and becomes a Playboy model and tabloid celebrity, living a life of excess and substance abuse under the constant glare of the media until her death at the age of 39. The opera mixes comedy and tragedy and boldly confronts issues of modern celebrity, greed and exploitation.

Subscriptions to the 2013-14 season, which include a 20% discount, are currently on sale. The on sale date for individual tickets, which are priced $25-$235, will be announced at a later date. To purchase tickets, visit nycopera.com or call 212.870.5600 (Mon-Fri, 10am-6pm). Tickets to Bluebeard's Castle are also available to St. Ann's Warehouse members at stannswarehouse.org and 718.254.8779(Tue-Sat, 1-7pm). Tickets to Anna Nicole are available to BAM Season Ticket buyers on June 17 (June 10 for Friends of BAM) at BAM.org and 718.636.4100.