OperaLancaster Welcomes Return of MET Opera Veteran Robert Brubaker in HANSEL AND GRETEL, 3/6

In the early 1970s he lit up the Lancaster stage. These days, much acclaimed tenor Robert Brubaker spends his time singing at the Metropolitan Opera in New York, La Scala in Milan, and in the great opera houses around the world.

OperaLancaster is thrilled to announce that he has accepted our invitation to return to Lancaster and lead our cast in three performances of Humperdinck's Hansel and Gretel.

Mr. Brubaker will play the Witch, a role that he has masterfully embodied at the Met in recent seasons. This superlative tenor makes a specialty of taking on challenging dramatic leads and character roles. In Hansel and Gretel, based on the Brothers Grimm's folk tale, he has astounded audiences with his energetic and unique portrayal of the wicked witch of the woods.

As a high school student, Robert Brubaker portrayed Silvio in Lancaster Opera Company's 1970 production of Pagliacci and remains the youngest featured vocalist in the company's history. That same year he was also the winner of the Dorothy Darr Robinson Youth Contest. He went on to study at the Hartt School of Music and began work at the Met as a chorister, soon taking on more and more demanding roles, such as Mime in Wagner's Ring Cycle and the title role in Britten's Peter Grimes.

Most recently he took a star turn at New York City's City Opera, creating the role of J. Howard Marshall II, Anna Nicole Smith's second husband, in the world premiere performances of Anna Nicole by Mark-Anthony Turnage. Critics wrote "dynamic tenor" Robert Brubaker gave a "spry performance."

Performances of Hansel and Gretel are scheduled at the Winter Center of Millersville campus on the evenings of March 6 and 7, 2014, at 7:30 pm, and on Saturday, March 8 at 2:00 pm. The production will be fully staged with orchestra, leads, and a children's chorus. One child (14 and under) ticket is free with each paying adult. Visitwww.operalancaster.com or call the box office at MU at 717-872-3811.

An announcement on a master class featuring Mr. Brubaker for local college students and open to the public will be announced in the near future.

About OperaLancaster
Founded in 1952 as Lancaster Opera Workshop, OperaLancaster has produced over 100 opera productions in the Lancaster community. It is one of the only companies in the Commonwealth - outside of Philadelphia - to present fully staged productions of operas and musical dramas.

The organization is made up of a professional staff, volunteers and performers who come from the local educational, business, and arts communities. Anyone who is interested in opera and in supporting the company is welcome to participate.

OperaLancaster provides development and career advancement opportunities for singers and musicians coming out of local schools and colleges, and local music professionals who want to maintain and hone their artistic skills. Two singers, John Darrenkamp and Robert Brubaker, performed with OperaLancaster and went on to have international singing careers with the Metropolitan Opera and other companies.