MARIA DE BUENOS AIRES and More Slated for Opera Grand Rapids' 2016-17 Season

Opera Grand Rapids 2016-2017 season features an eclectic mix of two fully-staged operas, a Vocal Arts Series of intimate operatic concerts, and diverse programming aimed to entice a variety of audiences.

The season begins October 14 and 15 with the unconventional tango opera, "María de Buenos Aires," followed by the company's second series of three vocal arts performances. Nearing out the end of the season, Opera Grand Rapids will present a classically-staged presentation of "The Barber of Seville," at DeVos Performance Hall, May 12 and 13.

María de Buenos Aires

Opera Grand Rapids opens its season with the tango opera, "María de Buenos Aires," considered to be a hybrid of opera, tango and surrealism. Seductive, haunting and intoxicating, the 80-minute opera is a surreal spiritual journey set to the beat of Argentine tango where pulse and poetry play an equal role.

As the most performed Spanish language opera in the world, the opera is regarded by many as an unconventional masterpiece that has acquired cult-like status. With poetry by Horacio Ferrer and music from composer and pioneer of nuevo tango, Ástor Piazzolla, audiences watch the heroine embody tango and the city itself in dream-like fashion.

The story centers around María who is rumored to be born in the slums of Buenos Aires on a day when God was drunk. As a young woman, she is seduced by tango and a city moving to the pulse of an intoxicating rhythm. She comes to embody the sensual dance at the loss of her mortality and is condemned to haunt the streets of Buenos Aires forever.

Opera Grand Rapids' production features Colombian-born Catalina Cuervo, known as "the fiery soprano," in the star role. Holding the distinction of having performed the most productions of the opera, Cuervo has performed the role for numerous prestigious companies including Florida Grand Opera, Cincinnati Opera, and Syracuse Opera, to name a few.

In an interview with the Alaska Dispatch News, Cuervo elaborated on her tenure in the role of María.

"This was my first role as a professional opera singer and in the whole world I'm probably the singer with the most productions of this role under my belt," Cuervo said.

Argentinian born conductor Jorge Parodi and Mexican born director Octavio Cardenas will lead a group of tango dancers and the small ensemble, including famous "master of the bandoneon" Daniel Binelli, one of only a handful of bandoneon players in the world.

Opera Grand Rapids' production will be presented in a newly renovated Betty Van Andel Opera Center, located on East Fulton Street, set to resemble a milonga, or a place where tango is danced. Valet parking will be available to patrons for the performances.

Tickets to "María de Buenos Aires" are on sale now. Advance tickets are available for $40 or $45 on the day of the performance. Student tickets are available for $5 on the day of the performance only.

The Barber of Seville

Opera Grand Rapids is delighted to welcome back two audience favorites for its spring production of "The Barber of Seville." Returning to the Opera Grand Rapids stage for the second time is mezzo-soprano Ginger Costa-Jackson in the lead role of Rosina. Previously, Costa-Jackson starred in Opera Grand Rapids' four-star 2014 production of "Carmen." Costa-Jackson performed the role at the Metropolitan Opera in December of last year.

Distinguished Director Bernard Uzan will also return to present a traditional setting of Rossini's comic masterpiece in a collaborative production with Opera Carolina and Toledo Opera.

Uzan, who has been involved with over 400 productions throughout this extensive career, directed Opera Grand Rapids' collaborative production of "Romeo and Juliet" this past spring. The Washington Post praised his work as "such a fine production" with "beautifully conceived sets and imaginative stage business." Opera Grand Rapids General Director Anne Berquist says that audiences can expect the same quality for its production of "The Barber of Seville."

"We want audiences to enjoy a grandiose and traditional setting of the opera," Berquist said. "Bringing back director Bernard Uzan in a collaborative production allows us to achieve that level of quality."

The first part in the legendary "Figaro" trilogy, "The Barber of Seville" centers around a nobleman's quirky attempts to woo the beautiful young Rosina away from the clutches of her overprotective guardian.

Count Almaviva sings to Rosina, kept under lock and key by her guardian, Doctor Bartolo, who intends to marry her. Local madcap barber, Figaro, devises a peculiar plan to help Almaviva win Rosina by disguising the Count as a drunken solider under orders to be quartered at Bartolo's home. The wits of the lowly barber are pitted against those of the aged doctor when Bartolo grows suspicious of their antics. Figaro and Almaviva must go to greater lengths to get closer to Rosina and prevent her marriage to Bartolo.

Between 1808 and 1829, Rossini composed no fewer than 40 operas. Often considered as the quintessential comic opera, "The Barber of Seville" is one of his greatest successes. With the exception of the now famous overture, Rossini composed "The Barber of Seville" in just three weeks.

Opera Grand Rapids' production will be presented at DeVos Performance Hall in May. Tickets to "The Barber of Seville" start at $25, with student tickets available for $5.

Vocal Arts Series

Returning for a second season are Vocal Arts Series performances at the Betty Van Andel Opera Center. Opera Grand Rapids Vocal Arts Series presents a diverse repertoire of art songs, arias and vocal arts selections in an intimate concert setting.

The 2017 series features three captivating performances of vocal and piano quartet, famous arias from the piano and cello, and song selections by Opera Grand Rapids Emerging Artists.

The series begins in January with New York's Polydora Ensemble, presenting Romantic-era opera, choral and symphonic repertoire for vocal and piano quartet. Two returning members, tenor Nils Neubert and pianist Yuri Kim, performed at the company's concert of Franz Schubert's "Winterreise" last January.

On March 19, local tenured musicians Nancy Steltmann and Robert Byrens of Il Duo Lirico perform beloved arias from the cello and piano in their debut album release concert. The unique performance-quite likely the first of its kind-is a stunning combination of orchestra reductions on the piano and cello compositions in their original operatic keys and range. Often considered as the closest sounding instrument to the human voice, the cello mimics famous operatic vocals to create a unique style. The concert will feature a performance of the release in its entirety along with first access to the album available for purchase.

The last performance in the series features Opera Grand Rapids Emerging Artists in an opera fusion performance. Opera Grand Rapids Emerging Artists include young artists making prestigious debuts across the country, returning performers, and previous Opera Grand Rapids Collegiate Vocal Competition winners. Opera Fusion will feature Opera Grand Rapids' young artists juxtaposing traditional arias with different musical genres. In addition to performances of audience-favorite arias, Opera Grand Rapids Emerging Artists will utilize instruments such as the electric guitar, piano and ukulele to create fresh operatic sounds.

Individual tickets for Opera Grand Rapids Vocal Arts Series are $30 or $35 on the day of each performance. Student tickets are available for $5 on the day of the performances only.

Tickets for Opera Grand Rapids' 2016-17 season are available through the Opera Grand Rapids Box Office, (616) 451-2741 or 1320 East Fulton Street. For additional details, including cast lists and production synopses, visit operagr.org.

Opera Grand Rapids 2016-2017 Performance Schedule:

October 14 & 15 "María de Buenos Aires" by Ástor Piazzolla

7:30-9:00 p.m. Betty Van Andel Opera Center

Tickets $40 in advance, $45 day of show

Student tickets $5 day of show only

November 20 Collegiate Vocal Competition Concert

7:00 p.m. Betty Van Andel Opera Center

January 19 "Through the Romantic Lieder" by Polydora Ensemble

7:30-9:00 p.m. Betty Van Andel Opera Center

Tickets $30 in advance, $35 day of show

Student tickets $5 day of show only

March 19 "Debut Album Release" by Il Duo Lirico

7:30-9:00 p.m. Betty Van Andel Opera Center

Tickets $30 in advance, $35 day of show

Student tickets $5 day of show only

May 12 & 13 "The Barber of Seville" by Gioachino Rossini

7:30-10:00 p.m. DeVos Performance Hall

Tickets from $25

Student tickets $5 (available in advance)

June 8 "Opera Fusion" by Opera Grand Rapids Emerging Artists

7:30-9:00 p.m. Betty Van Andel Opera Center

Tickets $30 in advance, $35 day of show

Student tickets $5 day of show only

A listing of educational and special events throughout Opera Grand Rapids' season, can be found at the Opera Grand Rapids Events Calendar, www.operagr.org/event-calendar.

Located in the heart of West Michigan, Opera Grand Rapids is the state's longest-running professional opera production company. Through the creativity and excellence of this timeless art form, Opera Grand Rapids enriches the West Michigan community and provides unique and powerful experiences that move people of all ages and backgrounds. Opera Grand Rapids' productions are produced and presented locally in West Michigan. For the productions, Opera Grand Rapids engages a cast of internationally acclaimed artists, stage directors, conductors, choreographers, set designers, costume designers, and others, in addition to the regional Grand Rapids Symphony, and Opera Grand Rapids Chorus and Children's Chorus.

Photo courtesy Syracuse Opera.

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