THE ITALIAN GIRL IN ALGIERS & LA TRAVIATA Among Opera Company of Middlebury's 2014 Season

It has been called a major force in the New England opera world. After ten years of sold-out successes, The Opera Company of Middlebury returns with its 11th season of "grand opera in an intimate setting."

The season opens with a riotous comedy by Gioachino Rossini, The Italian Girl in Algiers (L'Italiana in Algeri), which plays from May 30 to June 7 at Middlebury's Town Hall Theater. The second production will be Giuseppe Verdi's classic La Traviata, in a staged concert performance on October 3 and 5.

The Italian Girl in Algiers is widely considered to be a comic masterpiece. An opera critic once wrote that if the Three Stooges had written an opera libretto, it would look something like The Italian Girl in Algiers. The ruler of Algiers is bored with his wife and all of his mistresses and is fixated on the idea of getting an Italian girl. One shipwrecks on his shore, and he thinks he has it made. But the Italian girl is much too sharp for him, and soon she has him wrapped around her little finger.

OCM's professional singers are cast from a lengthy audition process in New York and Vermont.

Mezzo Cherry Duke will play the role of the fiery Isabella. "This is bel canto opera," explains artistic director Douglas Anderson, "which requires enormous flexibility and technical ability in the voice. And the role demands an exquisite sensuous and captivating presence. I told everyone we were looking for a Carmen who could sing bel canto, and we found her in Cherry Duke." Ms. Duke has sung with the New York City Opera, at Bard SummerScape, and at Carnegie Hall.

Playing the role of the smitten (and none too bright) ruler is baritone Daniel Klein, an OCM veteran who first starred in Middlebury as Marcello in La Bohème.

Tenor Thomas Glenn plays the young lover Lindoro, a demanding vocal role with a number of high C's. Burlington's Sarah Cullins, soprano, plays the ruler's long-suffering wife.

In October 2014, soprano Rochelle Bard takes on the demanding role of Violetta in La Traviata. "We were so lucky to engage Rochelle for this production," says Anderson. "She's sung everywhere, including Lincoln Center and Carnegie Hall, and she's played Violetta a number of times. She's simply terrific." Playing opposite her is tenor Jamie Flora as Alfredo. Mr. Flora is also an OCM alum ("Singers love to come back here," says Anderson), starring two years ago as the deliciously seedy Nicias in OCM's Thaïs.

On Sunday, May 18, the community will have a chance to meet the remarkable Rossini cast at the annual "Meet the Singers" reception and recital at 5 p.m. at the Champlain Valley Unitarian Universalist Society. Each of the cast members of The Italian Girl in Algiers will sing a favorite song or aria. The CVUU Society is located at 2 Duane Court just off Water Street, south of Cross Street. Tickets are $25.

A free reception will follow the opening night performance on May 30. Complimentary champagne will be served and the audience will have an opportunity to meet the cast. The Italian Girl in Algiers will continue in performance Sunday, June 1, with a 2 p.m. matinee, and June 5 and 7 at 8 p.m. in the Town Hall Theater in Middlebury. Tickets are $50-$65.

A special June 6 performance will feature the talented young singers covering the major roles. Tickets for this piano-only performance will be $25.

An informative talk on the opera will be presented an hour before each performance at Memorial Baptist Church, across from Town Hall Theater on South Pleasant Street.

Tickets for "Meet the Singers" and The Italian Girl in Algiers go on sale to the general public on Saturday, March 1. OCM members may reserve their seats beginning February 24. Tickets may be purchased at www.townhalltheater.org, over the phone at 802-382-9222 or in person at the Town Hall Theater Box Office (daily except Sunday, noon - 5 pm). OCM performances routinely sell out, so advance tickets are recommended.

For more information about the 2014 season, visit www.ocmvermont.org. For information about becoming an OCM member, see OCM's website or email membership chair Joann Langrock at jopelangrock@gmail.com.

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