Berkshire Opera Festival Announces Tenth Anniversary Season

BERKSHIRE OPERA FESTIVAL has announced its tenth anniversary season in Great Barrington, MA, with presentations in spring and summer 2025. The only company of its kind in the Berkshire region, BOF produces opera at the highest level under the vision of esteemed co-founders Brian Garman (William E. Briggs Artistic Director) and Jonathon Loy (Director of Production).  

The 2025 mainstage attraction is a new production of one of the most popular operas of all time: Giuseppe Verdi's masterpiece La Traviata. BOF will bring it to the Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center on August 23, 26, and 29. The Mahaiwe and BOF formalized a multi-year partnership last year, committing to bring world-class performing arts to the Berkshires. 

Brian Garman says: "For the centerpiece of our celebratory 10th Anniversary Season, I'm thrilled to present Verdi's masterpiece of love and sacrifice, La Traviata. I know our audiences will be delighted by the beautiful and passionate singing of our internationally-renowned cast. And the celebration starts even earlier in August with a gala concert to mark our 10th Anniversary. It features many operatic favorites from Handel, Mozart, Puccini, and everything in between. This is a season not to be missed!" 

BOF is also excited to produce a special 10th Anniversary Concert at the Mahaiwe on August 14, featuring music from beloved operas and performances by top talent from previous and upcoming seasons along with members of the cast of La Traviata. On April 27, the recital Young Verdi in Love will showcase some of the brilliant young singers that BOF is known for tapping.

The 2025 Season

LA TRAVIATA

berkshireoperafestival.org/traviata

Music by Giuseppe Verdi Libretto by Francesco Maria Piave
Saturday, August 23, 1pm
(Free pre-performance talk with dramaturg Cori Ellison at 12pm)
Tuesday, August 26, 7:30pm
Friday, August 29, 7:30pm
Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center, 14 Castle Street, Great Barrington, MA
Approximate running time: 2 hours, 30 minutes including one intermission
Sung in Italian with projected English translations Tickets start at $20

CAST

Soprano VANESSA BECERRA - Violetta Valéry
Tenor JOSHUA BLUE - Alfredo Germont
Baritone DARREN DRONE - Giorgio Germont
Mezzo-soprano JOANNE EVANS - Flora Bervoix
Tenor MAXIMILLIAN JANSEN - Gastone
Bass-baritone JOHN CHEEK - Doctor Grenvil
Baritone YAZID GRAY - Baron Douphol
Baritone ADAM PARTRIDGE - The Marquis of Obigny
and featuring the
BERKSHIRE OPERA FESTIVAL ORCHESTRA AND CHORUS

CREATIVE TEAM

Conductor BRIAN GARMAN
Stage Director JONATHON LOY
Scenic Designer HANNAH POSTLETHWAITE
Costume Designer BROOKE STANTON
Lighting Designer ALEX JAINCHILL
Hair and Make-up Designer BECKIE KRAVETZ
Choreographer SARA ERDE
Assistant Conductor and Chorus Master LUCA ANTONUCCI
Principal Coach and Rehearsal Pianist TRAVIS BLOOM
Musical Preparation DAKOTA PEREZ
Supertitles Author CORI ELLISON
Production Stage Manager CINDY KNIGHT

On the BOF mainstage this anniversary year is a new production of Giuseppe Verdi's LA TRAVIATA, the timeless tale of love and sacrifice that has become one of the most beloved operas of all time. Violetta lives a life of decadence and grandeur until she finds true love for the first time with Alfredo. They leave high society for a life in the countryside together, but when fate intervenes, Violetta must make an agonizing choice. Verdi's exquisite melodies and rousing choruses are a perfect accompaniment for this doomed romance.

Stage Director and BOF Co-Founder Jonathon Loy says: “This season will be filled with heightened emotions, not only because we are tackling one of the most popular and tragic operas in the repertoire, La Traviata, but that it coincides with BOF's 10th anniversary. This is a milestone that calls for celebration, and celebrate we will.” 

Three performances take place at the Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center in Great Barrington. Playing Violetta Valéry is soprano Vanessa Becerra, making her BOF debut. Becerra has been praised for her “bold and bright” singing (Opera News), “full, beautifully focused” instrument (Wall Street Journal), and “charismatic and eloquent” presence (San Francisco Chronicle), and she sings with the Chicago Lyric Opera and Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center as well as BOF this season. Opposite Becerra is tenor Joshua Blue as Alfredo Germont. Blue returns to BOF after a thrilling performance in the company's 2022 production of Don Giovanni. In addition to BOF, Blue has performed with the English National Opera, Metropolitan Opera, and Opera Philadelphia. In the role of Giorgio Germont is Darren Drone, who has been described as having “a gorgeously warm tone and deep resonance” (Opera News). Drone has sung with the Metropolitan Opera, Cincinnati Opera, and Lyric Opera of Chicago.

10th ANNIVERSARY CONCERT

Celebrating BOF's Past, Present, and Future

berkshireoperafestival.org/10ac

Thursday, August 14, 7:30PM
Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center, 14 Castle Street, Great Barrington, MA

1 hour, 30 minutes (no intermission)
Tickets start at $20

Berkshire Opera Festival invites all to come celebrate its 10th anniversary with a festive concert on the stage of the Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center. This exciting evening will showcase a wide variety of music from beloved operas alongside other selections that are sure to become new favorites. Joined by esteemed artists from previous and upcoming seasons, the internationally renowned cast of La Traviata will thrill with their voices and passion. These artists will be joined as always by the talented musicians of the Berkshire Opera Festival Orchestra and Chorus, all under the musical direction of Artistic Director and Co-Founder Brian Garman.

YOUNG VERDI IN LOVE

A recital featuring up-and-coming opera stars

berkshireoperafestival.org/yvil

Sunday, April 27, 2:00 PM
Saint James Place, 352 Main Street, Great Barrington, MA 

2 hours (including one intermission)
Tickets start at $20

Giuseppe Verdi, the composer of La Traviata, was a man of incredible passion and creativity who transformed the world of Italian opera. And he did it while writing some of the world's most captivating and beautiful music. The recital Young Verdi in Love will showcase some of opera's up-and-coming stars, along with BOF's Artistic Director and Co-Founder Brian Garman, as they take listeners on a tour of the many facets of love through Verdi's music. 

The performers include soprano Kathleen O'Mara, tenor Lawrence Barasa. bass-baritone Alan Williams, and pianist Francesco Barfoed.

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