NYC Opera Announces Fall 2011/12 Casting Details

Today, New York City Opera announced additional casting, creative team, and production details for the company's 2011/12 season. New York City Opera's new season will create a living presence in neighborhoods across New York with an imaginative and accessible season of classics, undiscovered and new works that explore a repertory ranging nearly 300 years from the Baroque
to Classical to Romantic and Contemporary. City Opera is also opening up sale for single tickets to all City Opera subscribers and members today, Monday, September 26, 2011. Tickets for the general public will go on sale Tuesday, October 11, 2011.

Continuing New York City Opera's tradition of nurturing young singers, the 2011/12 season will feature more than 20 debut artists, including tenor David Pomeroy as Alfredo in La traviata, tenor Taylor Stayton as André le Tourneur in Prima Donna, soprano Amanda Majeski as Fiordiligi in Così fan tutte, tenor Allan Clayton as Ferrando in Così fan tutte, mezzo-soprano Jennifer Holloway as Dorabella in Così fan tutte, and baritone Daniel Teadt singing the title role in Orpheus. Making her City Opera directorial debut with Telemann's Orpheus is theater director Rebecca Taichman.

Among artists returning to the New York City Opera stage will be Brooklyn native soprano Laquita Mitchell as Violetta in Verdi's La traviata, soprano Melody Moore as Régine Saint Laurent in Rufus Wainwright's Prima Donna, baritone Philip Cutlip as Guglielmo and Marie Lenormand as Despina in Mozart's Così fan Tutte, and soprano Joelle Harvey as Eurydice in Orpheus. Also returning to City Opera this season are conductors Steven White for La traviata and Jayce Ogren for Prima Donna.

Fall Concert
For the second year, New York City Opera will continue its concert
series by presenting Who Are You New York?: The Songs of Rufus
Wainwright on Thursday, November 17 at 8:00pm at the Rose Theater in
Frederick P. Rose Hall, home of Jazz at Lincoln Center. To celebrate the
U.S. premiere of his first opera Prima Donna, this dynamic artist will
offer a unique glimpse into his eclectic songbook for one incredible
night only. A talented line-up of opera singers will interpret his song
cycle All Days Are Nights: Songs for Lulu, followed by an intimate
performance by the songwriter himself of compositions from his catalogue
as well as other songs he has performed throughout his illustrious
career.

Spring Season
The 2011/12 spring season will open on Sunday, February 12 at 1:30pm at
the Brooklyn Academy Of Music's Howard Gilman Opera House with
Verdi's masterpiece La traviata in a new production by acclaimed
director Jonathan Miller. This co-production between Glimmerglass
Festival and Vancouver Opera will star Brooklyn native soprano Laquita
Mitchell who returns to City Opera as Violetta. Also returning to City
Opera is tenor Jeffrey Halili as Gaston de Letorieres and baritone
Kenneth Overton as Doctor Grenvil. Tenor David Pomeroy who will make his
company debut as Alfredo, along with a company debut by mezzo-soprano
Karin Mushegain as Flora Bervoix. Conductor Steven White returns to City
Opera, while Elena Araoz will make her company debut as Stage
Director/Choreographer. Set and Costume Designs are by Isabella Bywater,
with lighting by Robert Wierzel.

Sunday, February 19 at 1:30pm opens Rufus Wainwright's first foray
into opera, Prima Donna,
at the Brooklyn Academy Of Music's Howard Gilman Opera House. Rising
star Melody Moore will return to City Opera to sing the title role of
Régine Saint Laurent. She will be joined by City Opera debut artists
soprano Rebecca Bottone as Marie, baritone Randal Turner as Philippe and
tenor Taylor Stayton as André le Tourneur. Returning to direct the
production is acclaimed director Tim Albery. Set and costumes for the
production are designed by debut artist Antony McDonald, with lighting
designed by Thomas C. Hase, also making his company debut. Returning to
City Opera to conduct Prima Donna is Jayce Ogren. Prima Donna was
commissioned by the Manchester International Festival, Sadler's Wells,
and Luminato: Toronto Festival of Arts and Creativity. This meditation
on the fine line between fame and failure features a French libretto
co-written by Rufus Wainwright and Bernadette Colomine.

On Sunday, March 18 at 1:30pm at the Gerald W. Lynch Theater at John
Jay College, City Opera presents the eagerly-anticipated new production,
and second of director Christopher Alden's ongoing Mozart/Da Ponte
cycle, Così fan tutte. The cast for the production will once again
feature some of today's most promising young talents, led by the sure
hand of Alden. Featured performers include debut artists soprano Amanda
Majeski as Fiordiligi, mezzo-soprano Jennifer Holloway as Dorabella,
tenor Allan Clayton as Ferrando, and baritone Rod Gilfry as Don Alfonso.
Baritone Philip Cutlip returns to City Opera as Guglielmo and mezzo
soprano Marie Lenormand sings Despina. The production will be conducted
by returning artist Christian Curnyn. The production will feature sets
by Andrew Lieberman, costumes by Terese Wadden, and lighting by Aaron
Black.

On Saturday, May 12 at 7:30pm at El Teatro del Museo del Barrio, City
Opera, widely renowned for fueling the resurrection of Handel's
operas, will continue its leadership role by expanding its exploration
of the Baroque with a new production of Georg Philipp Telemann's 1726
opera Orpheus, to be directed by City Opera debut artist Rebecca
Taichman. The title role will be sung by City Opera debut artist
baritone Daniel Teadt, along with fellow returning artists soprano
Joélle Harvey as Eurydice, and Kelly Markgraf as Pluto. The cast also
features debut artists soprano Michelle Areyzaga as Ismene, tenor Victor
Ryan Robertson as Eurimedes, mezzo-soprano Daryl Freedman as Ascalax.
Gary Thor Wedow will return to City Opera to conduct, with set and
costume designs by David Zinn.

The full announcement of the new initiative between New York City Opera
and The Public Theater to present operas based on Shakespeare plays at
the Delacorte Theater in Central Park in the fall of 2012 will be made
later in the year.

SUBSCRIPTIONS AND TICKETS

Single tickets are on sale now to current subscribers and members, and go on sale to the general public on October 11. Single tickets can be purchased by calling 212.870.5600 or online at www.nycOpera.com.

Subscriptions for New York City Opera's 2011-2012 season are still available and can be purchased online at www.nycOpera.com or by phone at 212.870.5600.

Fall Concert
Who Are You New York?: The Songs of Rufus Wainwright
Rose Theater
Frederick P. Rose Hall
Home of Jazz at Lincoln Center
Broadway at 60th Street, New York, NY
8:00pm

New York City Opera stage productions begin at 7:30pm for evening
performances and 1:30pm for matinees in the following venues:

La traviata
Prima Donna
Howard Gilman Opera House at Brooklyn Academy Of Music
30 Lafayette Avenue, Brooklyn, NY

Così fan tutte
Gerald W. Lynch Theater at John Jay College
899 Tenth Avenue between 58th and 59th Streets, New York, NY

Orpheus
El Teatro at El Museo del Barrio
1230 Fifth Avenue between 104th and 105th Streets, New York, NY

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