Opera San Jose to Present Previn's A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE

Faithfully following Tennessee Williams' Pulitzer Prize-winning play, André Previn's opera tells the story of Blanche DuBois, a fading though still attractive Southern belle whose poise is a persona she presents to shield others, but most of all herself, from her delusions of grandeur. Moving into her sister's cramped apartment, and creating all the wrong kinds of sparks with her crude and cruel brother-in-law, the dark truths about Blanche's past begin to emerge, and her world comes apart at the seams in a downward spiral.

A Streetcar Named Desire will be sung in English with English supertitles. Six performances are scheduled from April 16th through May 1st at the California Theatre, 345 South First Street in downtown San José. Tickets are on sale at the Opera San José Box Office, online at operasj.org and by phone at (408) 437-4450. Performances are supported, in part, by a grant from the San José Office of Cultural Affairs.

Ming Luke returns to conduct A Streetcar Named Desire. Last season, Mr. Luke served as conductor for the company premiere of The Italian Girl in Algiers, and shared conducting duties in Opera San José's recent productions of Falstaff,

La voix humaine, Pagliacci, The Barber of Seville, and Eugene Onegin. Brad Dalton also returns to direct A Streetcar Named Desire after having directed the season opener, Tosca. Mr. Dalton has directed some of Opera San José's most

critically acclaimed opera's including Rigoletto, The Magic Flute, Madama Butterfly, Il trovatore, Idomeneo, Faust, and the 2010 West Coast premiere of David Carlson's Anna Karenina. Mr. Dalton also serves as set designer for A

Streetcar Named Desire.

Soprano Ariana Strahl makes her company debut, appearing as Blanche in A Streetcar Named Desire. Ms. Strahl has been seen onstage in Berlin as Micaela in the Komische Oper's Revival of Sebastian Baumgarten's Carmen. Other recent roles performed include the First Lady (The Magic Flute), La Ciesca (Gianni Schicchi), Peep-Bo (The Mikado), Suor Genovieffa (Suor Angelica), Monica (The Medium), Mrs. McLean (Susannah), and the title role in Handel's Semele.

Resident baritone Matthew Hanscom will sing the role of Stanley Kowalski. Mr. Hanscom has appeared in every production this season, most recently as Escamillo in Carmen as well as Count Almaviva in The Marriage of Figaro and Scarpia in Tosca. Resident tenor Kirk Dougherty sings the role of Harold Mitchell. Mr. Dougherty most recently appeared as Don José in Carmen and performed the role of Cavaradossi in Tosca earlier this season.

Soprano Stacey Tappan makes her Opera San José debut in A Streetcar Named Desire, appearing as Stella Kowalski following her debut as Stella for the Los Angeles Opera. Other engagements for Ms. Tappan include The Gospel of Mary Magdalene with San Francisco Opera, Clorinda (La Cenerentola) with Los Angeles Opera, and the title role in Lucia di Lammermoor with Arizona Opera. Mezzo-soprano Cabiria Jacobsen makes her company debut as Eunice. Recent engagements for Ms. Jacobsen include Cousin Hebe (HMS Pinafore) with The Lamplighters, The Fox (The Little Prince) with Opera Fayetteville, and Cherubino (The Marriage of Figaro) with Salt Marsh Opera.

Resident bass Silas Elash will perform the role of the Doctor (a speaking role). Mr. Elash most recently performed the role of Dr. Bartolo in The Marriage of Figaro and appeared in last season as Sparafucile and Monterone (Rigoletto), Haly (The Italian Girl in Algiers), the Cabman (Where Angels Fear to Tread), and Sarastro (The Magic Flute). Tenor Michael Boley will appear as Steve Hubbel in A Streetcar Named Desire. Mr. Boley most recently performed the role of Le Remendado in Carmen and sang the role of Spoletta in Tosca last September.

Opera San José's production of A Streetcar Named Desire includes scenic designs by Brad Dalton, costume design by Johann Stegmeir, lighting design by David Lee Cuthbert, and wig and makeup designs by Vicky Martinez.

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