Central City Opera to Present TOSCA, Today

Denver, Colo. (July 1, 2016)-On July 16, 1932, Central City Opera Summer Festival, as it is known today, was launched with a performance of Alexandre Dumas' Camille, starring Lillian Gish. The weeklong run completely sold out. On July 16, 2016, 84 years later, Central City Opera continues its 2016 summer festival with the opening of a new production of Tosca, Puccini's powerful thriller of passion, seduction, and deceit, running in repertory in the Central City Opera House through August 7.

"Similar to The Ballad Baby Doe, our new production of Tosca provides an opportunity for Central City Opera to use scene projections to create a sense of time and place," said Pelham (Pat) Pearce, general and artistic director of Central City Opera. "We are excited to add this new approach to our technical and artistic 'toolbox.'"

Set in 1800 Rome against the backdrop of the Napoleonic Wars, Tosca centers on the jealous and conflicted diva, Floria Tosca, who struggles to free her lover Mario Cavaradossi, a painter, from the clutches of the cruel and wicked police chief Baron Scarpia. Tosca, last produced by Central City Opera in 1998, is sung in Italian with English supertitles.

"I'm excited about working with two of our former young artists-Alexandra Loutsion and Michael Mayes-both of whom are creating their roles, Tosca and Scarpia, respectively, for the first time," said John Baril, music director for Central City Opera and conductor for Tosca. "It's a testament to the continued success of the Bonfils-Stanton young artist program that it allows us to invite back former apprentices in leading roles. Having worked with them musically, I can say with confidence that they are ready for these roles and both will sound gorgeous in our jewel box theater."

The principal cast for Tosca includes Alexandra Loutsion (soprano), making both her Central City Opera debut and role debut as Tosca, and Jonathan Burton (tenor) as Mario Cavaradossi, who sang the role of Don Jose in Central City Opera's 2011 production of Carmen. Michael Mayes (baritone), known for his performance of Joseph DeRocher in Central City Opera's Dead Man Walking (2014), takes on his first Scarpia, and Donald Hartmann (bass-baritone), new to the Central City Opera stage and also singing the role of William Jennings Bryan in this summer's The Ballad of Baby Doe, sings the role of the Sacristan.

Tosca is directed by Joachim Schamberger, new to Central City Opera this summer, who is also the set and projection designer. David Martin Jacques is the lighting designer. John Baril, music director for Central City Opera and celebrating his 25th season with the company, conducts.

"Puccini's works are the culmination of Italian opera," said Baril. "Tosca was premiered between La bohème and Madama Butterfly and remains an audience favorite due to its plentiful tunes and three-dimensional characters. It's also perhaps the most difficult of the Puccini canon to conduct. Every moment counts for something; there's not a wasted note in the piece. It's extremely condensed drama, almost TV-like in its intensity."

The Central City Opera 2016 Summer Festival continues with two one-act operas: Mozart's The Impresario performed in Central City on July 27 and August 3 at noon, at the Williams Stables Theater, and in Boulder on July 28, at The Nomad Playhouse, at 6 p.m. and 8 p.m.; and Musto'sLater the Same Evening, performed in Colorado Springs on July 28, at the Pikes Peak Arts Center, Studio Bee, at 7 p.m., the Denver Art Museum on July 30, at 8 p.m., and in Central City on August 5, at the Gilman Studio in the Lanny and Sharon Martin Foundry Rehearsal Center, at 7 p.m. For tickets and information on all of the festival offerings, visit www.centralcityopera.org or call the box office at 303-292-6700, between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday.

Tosca
Composer: Giacomo Puccini
Librettists: Giuseppe Giacosa and Luigi Illica

Based on Victorien Sardou's 1887 French-language dramatic play La Tosca
Premiered in 1900 at the (1900-01-14)Teatro Costanzi, Rome
Sung in Italian with English supertitles
Estimated running time of 3 hours, including two 15-minute intermissions

Principal Cast
(in order of vocal appearance)
Sacristan: Donald Hartmann*
Mario Cavaradossi: Jonathan Burton
Floria Tosca: Alexandra Loutsion*
Baron Scarpia: Michael Mayes
*=Central City Opera Debut

Production Credits
Conductor: John Baril
Director: Joachim Schamberger
Assistant Director: Alison Moritz
Set and Projections Designer: Joachim Schamberger
Original Costume Designer: Susan Memmott Allred
Costume Coordinator: Dana Tzvetkov
Lighting Designer: David Martin Jacques
Wig/Makeup Designer: Liz Printz
Chorus Master: Aaron Breid
Musical Preparation: Michael Baitzer, Eric McEnaney
Stage Manager: Rachel Ginzberg
Assistant Stage Manager: Bryce Bullock

Performances
8 p.m.: July 16 and July 22
2:30 p.m.: July 20, 24, 26, and 30; August 3, 5, and 7

Learn more about Tosca and its historical setting
2016 Opera Insider, pages 19 through 34:
https://centralcityopera.org/events/2016-summer-festival/opera-insider, or
https://centralcityopera.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/OperaInsider2016ForWeb.pdf

Boomer Bus-Transportation, Lunch, and Exclusive Opera Information
(July 19 and July 23, The Ballad of Baby Doe; July 26, Tosca)
This special-event package includes a glass of champagne, exclusive insider experiences, a boxed lunch in the gardens, and a Short Works performance. Patrons board the bus in Denver at 10:00 a.m. at Sports Authority in Glendale and 10:30 a.m. at Simms Steakhouse off of 6th Ave.

The return bus ride to Denver includes a question-answer session with a member of CCO's Education and Community Engagement team. Tickets are $35. Visit www.centralcityopera.org/visit/opera-bus for additional information.

Opera Bus-Transportation from Denver (July 13, 17, 20, and 24)
Roundtrip bus rides to Central City to attend operas, activities, and other events are $20 and leave Denver at 10:00 a.m. from Sports Authority in Glendale and 10:30 a.m. from Simms Steakhouse off of 6th Ave. Visit www.centralcityopera.org/visit/opera-bus for additional information.

Afternoon at the Opera-Lunch and a Closer Look at The Ballad of Baby Doe, (July 19, 11:15 a.m.)
Presented by the Central City Opera Guild, this unique experience includes a special lunch with an in-depth presentation about the opera, its historical setting, and furnishings once owned by Baby Doe and Horace Tabor. Catered lunch begins at 11:45 a.m. in the Teller House. Tickets for this afternoon event are $30. For all details, visit www.centralcityopera.org/event/afternoon-at-the-opera.

Nina Odescalchi Kelly Family Matinee, The Ballad of Baby Doe (August 2 at 2:30 p.m.)
This special family matinee performance of The Ballad of Baby Doe at the Central City Opera House provides a great introduction for kids, families, and adults looking for an educational approach to the opera experience. The matinee performance includes a narrator's preview and an autograph session with the singers following the performance. Tickets are $20. Prices are subject to change, based on availability.

Tickets and Information

Festival show tickets range from $31 to $108, based on availability. Subscribers who purchase both Central City Opera House shows can save up to 25%, along with additional and more exclusive opportunities. One-act opera tickets start at $34 ($31 for subscribers), and group discounts are available for ten or more people. All prices are subject to change, based on availability. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit www.centralcityopera.org or call the box office, 303-292-6700, between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday.

About Central City Opera
Celebrating its 84th year, Central City Opera is the second oldest professional opera festival in the country, located just 35 miles west of Denver in one of Colorado's official National Landmark Historic Districts. The company continues to present artistically excellent professional opera in its annual summer festival; to offer career-entry training to young singers; to produce education and community engagement programs and to preserve and maintain the Central City Opera House, and 30 other Victorian-era properties.

Summer Festival Sponsors
Central City Opera expresses its sincere gratitude to 2016 Festival sponsors: Citizens of the Scientific & Cultural Facilities District, Avenir Foundation, Inc., Central City Opera House Association Endowment Fund and Lanny and Sharon Martin. Central City Opera also thanks 2016 Festival media sponsors: The Denver Post Community, 5280 Magazine, and 9NEWS.

"Similar to The Ballad Baby Doe, our new production of Tosca provides an opportunity for Central City Opera to use scene projections to create a sense of time and place," said Pelham (Pat) Pearce, general and artistic director of Central City Opera. "We are excited to add this new approach to our technical and artistic 'toolbox.'"

Set in 1800 Rome against the backdrop of the Napoleonic Wars, Tosca centers on the jealous and conflicted diva, Floria Tosca, who struggles to free her lover Mario Cavaradossi, a painter, from the clutches of the cruel and wicked police chief Baron Scarpia. Tosca, last produced by Central City Opera in 1998, is sung in Italian with English supertitles.

"I'm excited about working with two of our former young artists-Alexandra Loutsion and Michael Mayes-both of whom are creating their roles, Tosca and Scarpia, respectively, for the first time," said John Baril, music director for Central City Opera and conductor for Tosca. "It's a testament to the continued success of the Bonfils-Stanton young artist program that it allows us to invite back former apprentices in leading roles. Having worked with them musically, I can say with confidence that they are ready for these roles and both will sound gorgeous in our jewel box theater."

The principal cast for Tosca includes Alexandra Loutsion (soprano), making both her Central City Opera debut and role debut as Tosca, and Jonathan Burton (tenor) as Mario Cavaradossi, who sang the role of Don Jose in Central City Opera's 2011 production of Carmen. Michael Mayes (baritone), known for his performance of Joseph DeRocher in Central City Opera's Dead Man Walking (2014), takes on his first Scarpia, and Donald Hartmann (bass-baritone), new to the Central City Opera stage and also singing the role of William Jennings Bryan in this summer's The Ballad of Baby Doe, sings the role of the Sacristan.

Tosca is directed by Joachim Schamberger, new to Central City Opera this summer, who is also the set and projection designer. David Martin Jacques is the lighting designer. John Baril, music director for Central City Opera and celebrating his 25th season with the company, conducts.

"Puccini's works are the culmination of Italian opera," said Baril. "Tosca was premiered between La bohème and Madama Butterfly and remains an audience favorite due to its plentiful tunes and three-dimensional characters. It's also perhaps the most difficult of the Puccini canon to conduct. Every moment counts for something; there's not a wasted note in the piece. It's extremely condensed drama, almost TV-like in its intensity."

The Central City Opera 2016 Summer Festival continues with two one-act operas: Mozart's The Impresario performed in Central City on July 27 and August 3 at noon, at the Williams Stables Theater, and in Boulder on July 28, at The Nomad Playhouse, at 6 p.m. and 8 p.m.; and Musto'sLater the Same Evening, performed in Colorado Springs on July 28, at the Pikes Peak Arts Center, Studio Bee, at 7 p.m., the Denver Art Museum on July 30, at 8 p.m., and in Central City on August 5, at the Gilman Studio in the Lanny and Sharon Martin Foundry Rehearsal Center, at 7 p.m. For tickets and information on all of the festival offerings, visit www.centralcityopera.org or call the box office at 303-292-6700, between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday.

Tosca
Composer: Giacomo Puccini
Librettists: Giuseppe Giacosa and Luigi Illica

Based on Victorien Sardou's 1887 French-language dramatic play La Tosca
Premiered in 1900 at the (1900-01-14)Teatro Costanzi, Rome
Sung in Italian with English supertitles
Estimated running time of 3 hours, including two 15-minute intermissions

Principal Cast
(in order of vocal appearance)
Sacristan: Donald Hartmann*
Mario Cavaradossi: Jonathan Burton
Floria Tosca: Alexandra Loutsion*
Baron Scarpia: Michael Mayes
*=Central City Opera Debut

Production Credits
Conductor: John Baril
Director: Joachim Schamberger
Assistant Director: Alison Moritz
Set and Projections Designer: Joachim Schamberger
Original Costume Designer: Susan Memmott Allred
Costume Coordinator: Dana Tzvetkov
Lighting Designer: David Martin Jacques
Wig/Makeup Designer: Liz Printz
Chorus Master: Aaron Breid
Musical Preparation: Michael Baitzer, Eric McEnaney
Stage Manager: Rachel Ginzberg
Assistant Stage Manager: Bryce Bullock

Performances
8 p.m.: July 16 and July 22
2:30 p.m.: July 20, 24, 26, and 30; August 3, 5, and 7

Learn more about Tosca and its historical setting
2016 Opera Insider, pages 19 through 34:
https://centralcityopera.org/events/2016-summer-festival/opera-insider, or
https://centralcityopera.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/OperaInsider2016ForWeb.pdf

Boomer Bus-Transportation, Lunch, and Exclusive Opera Information
(July 19 and July 23, The Ballad of Baby Doe; July 26, Tosca)
This special-event package includes a glass of champagne, exclusive insider experiences, a boxed lunch in the gardens, and a Short Works performance. Patrons board the bus in Denver at 10:00 a.m. at Sports Authority in Glendale and 10:30 a.m. at Simms Steakhouse off of 6th Ave.

The return bus ride to Denver includes a question-answer session with a member of CCO's Education and Community Engagement team. Tickets are $35. Visit www.centralcityopera.org/visit/opera-bus for additional information.

Opera Bus-Transportation from Denver (July 13, 17, 20, and 24)
Roundtrip bus rides to Central City to attend operas, activities, and other events are $20 and leave Denver at 10:00 a.m. from Sports Authority in Glendale and 10:30 a.m. from Simms Steakhouse off of 6th Ave. Visit www.centralcityopera.org/visit/opera-bus for additional information.

Afternoon at the Opera-Lunch and a Closer Look at The Ballad of Baby Doe, (July 19, 11:15 a.m.)
Presented by the Central City Opera Guild, this unique experience includes a special lunch with an in-depth presentation about the opera, its historical setting, and furnishings once owned by Baby Doe and Horace Tabor. Catered lunch begins at 11:45 a.m. in the Teller House. Tickets for this afternoon event are $30. For all details, visit www.centralcityopera.org/event/afternoon-at-the-opera.

Nina Odescalchi Kelly Family Matinee, The Ballad of Baby Doe (August 2 at 2:30 p.m.)
This special family matinee performance of The Ballad of Baby Doe at the Central City Opera House provides a great introduction for kids, families, and adults looking for an educational approach to the opera experience. The matinee performance includes a narrator's preview and an autograph session with the singers following the performance. Tickets are $20. Prices are subject to change, based on availability.

Tickets and Information

Festival show tickets range from $31 to $108, based on availability. Subscribers who purchase both Central City Opera House shows can save up to 25%, along with additional and more exclusive opportunities. One-act opera tickets start at $34 ($31 for subscribers), and group discounts are available for ten or more people. All prices are subject to change, based on availability. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit www.centralcityopera.org or call the box office, 303-292-6700, between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday.

About Central City Opera
Celebrating its 84th year, Central City Opera is the second oldest professional opera festival in the country, located just 35 miles west of Denver in one of Colorado's official National Landmark Historic Districts. The company continues to present artistically excellent professional opera in its annual summer festival; to offer career-entry training to young singers; to produce education and community engagement programs and to preserve and maintain the Central City Opera House, and 30 other Victorian-era properties.

Summer Festival Sponsors
Central City Opera expresses its sincere gratitude to 2016 Festival sponsors: Citizens of the Scientific & Cultural Facilities District, Avenir Foundation, Inc., Central City Opera House Association Endowment Fund and Lanny and Sharon Martin. Central City Opera also thanks 2016 Festival media sponsors: The Denver Post Community, 5280 Magazine, and 9NEWS.

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