Full Cast Announced for Des Moines Metro Opera's 42nd Festival Season, Featuring LA TRAVIATA and More

General and Artistic Director Michael Egel and the Board of Directors have announced casting for the operas of the 42nd Summer Festival Season. The three, full-scale grand operas will be presented in 15 performances between June 27 and July 20, 2014 at the Blank Performing Arts Center in Indianola Iowa. A fourth production will run for 3 performances on July 10 and 19 at the newly renovated Des Moines Social Club in Des Moines as part of the company's newly-minted 2nd Stages Series. The Summer Festival Season repertory includes the return of a timeless operatic classic paired with two operas which will be company premieres - the first is a modern masterpiece and the second is a sparkling farce by opera's greatest comedic composer, Rossini. It's truly a season for everyone from first-time opera-goers to lifelong devotees highlighted by Des Moines Metro Opera's exceptional attention to details, including casting some of the most remarkable vocal talent in America today.

The operas of the Festival Season and 2nd Stages Series are:

Giuseppe Verdi's La Traviata

Jake Heggie's Dead Man Walking

Gioachino Rossini's Le Comte Ory

Georges Bizet and Peter Brook's The Tragedy of Carmen - 2nd Stages Series

Each opera of the festival will be performed in the original language of composition with English supertitles projected above the stage and Des Moines Metro Opera will continue to provide free opera previews prior to each performance. The Tragedy of Carmen will be sung in English with no supertitles.

"The season we have in store is one literally unlike any other. Not only because we are producing two operas that have never been seen on our stage or in the state, Rossini's sparkling Le Comte Ory and Heggie's Dead Man Walking, but, also, with Dead Man Walking, we have the opportunity to bring a 21st Century opera to our audience for the first time," General and Artistic Director Michael Egel says. "And to include with those premiers a new production of Verdi's immortal La Traviata, one of the pillars of popular and critical entertainment, amounts to a season great with balance and variety."

With La Traviata, Giuseppe Verdi gave the world the original pretty woman with the story of Violetta Valéry, a character as enduring as any in Western culture. "Some operas sweep through vast swaths of history; some turn on mistaken identity, political intrigue, magic, envy, or greed. But La Traviata breaks the mold. Verdi and his librettist, Francesco Maria Piave, spin a tale of social expectation and conflict - a story about a courtesan who falls in love and ultimately sacrifices everything for her love," says Egel. "Verdi makes us care so deeply about his heroine that her heart and happiness carry the tale. For more than a century and a half, audiences have adored this heroine and the score Verdi considered his most meaningful." In the title role is soprano Caitlin Lynch (The Metropolitan Opera, Opera Company of Philadelphia). As her lover Alfredo will be tenor Diego Silva (Santa Fe Opera, Chautauqua Opera). As Germont, Alfredo's stern but practical father will be Des Moines Metro Opera favorite Todd Thomas (Lyric Opera of Chicago, Florida Grand Opera). Maestro David Neely, Des Moines Metro Opera's Musical Director and Principal Conductor will conduct the Des Moines Metro Opera Festival Orchestra in rendering one of Verdi's most personal and sumptuous scores. Lillian Groag (New York City Opera, Boston Lyric Opera) will direct La Traviata. The piece was last performed at Des Moines Metro Opera thirteen seasons ago (2001) and scenery for this production is jointly created, produced and owned by Des Moines Metro Opera and Virginia Opera, representing the company's first ever collaborative production with another opera company.

The 42nd Summer Festival continues with Jake Heggie's Dead Man Walking a powerful story of forgiveness on death-row based. The opera is based on the prize-winning book by Sister Helen Prejean which was subsequently turned into an Oscar-winning movie starring Sean Penn and Susan Surandon. Dead Man Walking premiered in 2000 at the San Francisco Opera, and has since been performed numerous times across the United States and throughout Europe. From its shocking beginning to its emotionally searing final scene, this opera changes everyone who encounters it," says Egel. "It is a piece of great importance, a testament of the power of music and art to challenge, to expand, and reveal our humanity. I'm proud to bring this magnificent piece of musical theater to Des Moines and to receive the support of its creators is a wonderful thing." (Sister Helen Prejean will give a lecture on May 6 at 7:00pm at Drake's Sheslow Auditorium and author Jake Heggie will be in attendance at the opening night performance of Dead Man Walking on June 28.) Singing the role of Sister Helen is the talented mezzo-soprano Elise Quagliata (Pensacola Opera, Union Avenue Opera). For the challenging role of the death-row inmate Jake De Rocher, baritone David Allen Moore (Lyric Opera of Chicago, New Israeli Opera) will bring the right mixture of intensity and humanity. Singing the role of De Rocher's mother is mezzo-soprano Margaret Lattimore (The Metropolitan Opera, Czech Philharmonic Orchestra). David Neely will conduct the orchestra and Kristine McIntyre (Pittsburgh Opera, Arizona Opera) returns to the company to direct her fourth production, bringing the same eye for detail and extraordinary staging that helped make her Eugene Onegin and Peter Grimes at Des Moines Metro Opera such successes. This is a Des Moines Metro Opera debut and, like the movie on which it is based, is rated-R. It contains brief nudity, graphic violence and explicit language and is not recommended for anyone under the age of 18.

Le Comte Ory, is a French farce of the highest order and a comic tale of disguise, seduction and the victory of virtue. With music written by Gioachino Rossini, audience members will enjoy the comedic antics and vocal displays that are reminiscent of his other ever popular opera, The Barber of Seville. The story is of the young nobleman, Count Ory, who will do just about anything to conquer the chaste Countess Adèle-but his page, Isolier, will do even more to win her love. "Rossini wrote vocally dazzling music for singers and we've assembled a cast of young, rapidly-rising American-trained singers who can bring the appropriate comedic skills as well as handle the vocal fireworks," Egel says. "This romp is such an underperformed treat that to bring it to our audience is a real delight." Des Moines Metro Opera will bring tenor Taylor Stayton (The Metropolitan Opera, Deutsche Opera Berlin) back to its stage as the titular Count Ory and has surrounded him with sparkling voices to bring this operatic gem to life including soprano Sydney Mancasola (Grand Finalist at the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions in 2013, Santa Fe Opera) as Adèle and mezzo-soprano Stephanie Lauricella (Glimmerglass Festival, Grand Théâtre de Genève) as Isolier. Rounding out the cast is baritone Steven LaBrie (The Dallas Opera, Seattle Opera) as Raimbaud, Ory's scheming friend. The orchestra for Le Comte Ory will be under the baton of Dean Williamson (Opera Colorado, Seattle Opera). This new production will be directed by David Gately (Fort Worth Opera, Florida Grand Opera). Le Comte Ory is a Des Moines Metro Opera debut.

Peter Brook's 90-minute adaptation of Georges Bizet's masterpiece, The Tragedy of Carmen, is a "greatest hits" version of one of opera's greatest classics. The piece has all of the favorite moments from Bizet's Carmen, including the famous Habanera and Toreador song. It distills the drama of opera's favorite bad girl into an approachable piece for four singers and a smaller orchestra. As such, it is a perfect vehicle for Des Moines Metro Opera's 2nd Stages Series, a new initiative to expand the company's very successful Summer Festival Season. Building on their ongoing commitment to serve as a true community partner to expose audiences to this remarkable art form, the Des Moines Metro Opera will perform The Tragedy of Carmen at The Des Moines Social Club, providing a unique opportunity to experience operatic presentations in an unorthodox space. To sing the role of the world's most famous gypsy is mezzo-soprano Peabody Southwell (Los Angeles Opera, Opera Omaha), tenor Patrick O'Halloran (Washington Opera, Glimmerglass Opera) will sing her doomed lover Don José and baritone Luis Orozco (Opera Santa Barbara, Syracuse Opera) will be the swaggering toreador Escamillo. The conductor for the production will be Michael Spassov (Teatro alla Scala, Edmonton Opera) and directed by longtime Des Moines Metro Opera collaborator Dugg McDonough (Louisiana State University School of Music, New York City Opera). The Tragedy of Carmen will be performed at 7:00pm and 9:00pm on July 10, 2014 and 1:00pm on July 19, 2014 at the Des Moines Social Club.

Subscriptions are on sale now to the general public. Single tickets will be made available to patrons of the Wine & Food Showcase on February 21, 2013 and will be available to the general public on March 1, 2014. All tickets will be available by visiting www.desmoinesmetroopera.org or calling Des Moines Metro Opera's box office at (515) 961-6221. Season subscriptions range in price from $110 to $245. Discounted tickets are available for groups of 10 or more adults and for students in kindergarten through college for mid-week performances. For more information call (515) 961-6221 or visit www.desmoinesmetroopera.org.

Des Moines Metro Opera, founded in 1973, is an independent, non-profit, professional opera company dedicated to bringing world-class opera productions and vital performing arts education to central Iowa. In addition to providing main stage productions, Des Moines Metro Opera is responsible for OPERA Iowa Educational Touring Troupe, which brings opera to classrooms across Iowa and to nearly 24,000 students, OPERAtion Opera Community Outreach Program, which works with more than 30 human service agencies to provide opera to underserved and at-risk audiences, the Apprentice Artist Program, one of the largest singer-training programs in the country, and two new programs: The Design and Production Internship Program, a training program for students within the theater arts who wish to expand experience and gain the skills necessary for a successful professional career; and Raising Voices - Rising Stars program which gives high school musicians the opportunity to explore career opportunities from the rare vantage point within a professional opera company.

2014 Season Casting:
*Des Moines Metro Opera Debut
#Former Des Moines Metro Opera Apprentice Artist
+2014 Des Moines Metro Opera Apprentice Artist

La Traviata (The Fallen Woman)

by Giuseppe Verdi

An opera in four acts
Libretto by Francesco Maria Piave after Alexandre Dumas fils' play La dame aux camellias

First performance: Venice; Teatro La Fenice, March 6, 1853

Performed in Italian with English supertitles above the stage

EVENING SHOWS June 27*| July 4 | July 12 | July 17 (June 27 performance at 8pm, all others at 7:30pm

SUNDAY MATINEES June 29 | July 20 (2:00pm)

Cast:

Violetta Valéry, a courtesan Caitlin Lynch*

Flora Bervoix, her friend Ashley Dixon+

Annina, Violetta's maid Rebecca Krynski+

Alfredo Germont Diego Silva*

Giorgio Germont, his father Todd Thomas

Gastone, Vicomte de Letorières Brenton Ryan+

Baron Duphol, Violetta's protector Luis Orozco#

Marchese D'Obigny, friend of Flora Nickoli Strommer+

Doctor Grenvil Tony Dillon

Flora's Servant Brad Baron+

Giuseppe Joshua Wheeker+

Production:

Conductor: David Neely

Stage Director: Lillian Groag*

Scenic Designer: Robert Little
Lighting Designer: Barry Steele

Dead Man Walking

by Jake Heggie

An opera in two acts
Libretto by Terrence McNally after the book by Sister Helen Prejean
First performance: San Francisco; San Francisco Opera, October 7, 2000
Performed in English with supertitles above the stage

EVENING SHOWS June 28 | July 8 | July 11 | July 19 (All evening performances 7:30pm)
SUNDAY MATINEES July 6 (2:00pm)

Cast:

Sister Helen Prejean, a young nun from Louisiana Elise Quagliata#

Joseph De Rocher, a death row inmate at Angola State Penitentiary David Adam Moore*

Mrs. Patrick De Rocher, Joseph's mother Margaret Lattimore*

Sister Rose, co-worker and close friend to Sister Helen Karen Slack*

George Benton, prison warden Kyle Abertson

Father Grenville, prison chaplain Steven Sanders#

Owen Hart, father of the murdered girl Wayne Tigges

Kitty Hart, mother of the murdered girl Kimberly Roberts#

Jade Boucher, mother of the murdered boy Mary Creswell

Howard Boucher, father of the murdered boy Edwin Griffith

Motorcycle Cop, baritone Kenneth Stavert+

Production:

Conductor: David Neely

Stage Director: Kristine McIntyre

Scenic Designer: R. Keith Brumley

Lighting Designer: Barry Steele

Le Comte Ory

by Giachino Rossini

Opera in two act
Libretto by Eugène Scribe and Charles-Gaspard Delstre-Poirson after their own play
First performance: Paris; Paris Opéra, August 20, 1828
Performed in French with English supertitles above the stage

EVENING SHOWS July 5 | July 15 | July 18 (All evening performances 7:30pm)
SUNDAY MATINEES July 13 (2:00pm)

Cast:

Le Comte Ory Taylor Stayton

Comtesse Adèle Sydney Mancasola*

Raimbaud Steven LaBrie*

Ragonde, the Countess' stewardess Margaret Lattimore*

The Tutor Wayne Tigges*

Isolier, page to Ory Stephanie Lauricella*

Alice, a peasant girl Abigail Paschke+

Production:

Conductor: David Neely

Stage Director: David Gately*

Set Designer: R. Keith Brumley

Costume Designer: Howard Kaplan*

Lighting Designer: Barry Steele

The Tragedy of Carmen

by Georges Bizet and Peter Brook

Opera in One Act
Libretto after Prosper Mérimée, Henri Meilhac and Ludovic Halévy

First performance: Viviane Beaumont Theater, Lincoln Center, New York, 1981

July 10, 2014: 7:00pm & 9:00pm
July 19, 2014 1:00pm

The Des Moines Social Club

900 Mulberry Street

Des Moines, Iowa 50309

Cast:

Carmen Peabody Southwell*

Don José Patrick O'Halloran#

Escamillo Luis Orozco#

Micaëla Rebecca Krynski+

Production:

Conductor: Michael Spassov

Stage Director: Dugg McDonough

Set Designer: Adam Crinson*

Costume Designer: Jonathan Knipscher*

Lighting Designer: Nate Wheatley*

Casts, productions and operas are subject to change without notice.

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