Utopia Opera Presents Sondheim's PASSION In NYC
By: Julie Musbach Feb. 16, 2018
On March 9 at 8pm, March 10 at 3pm and 8pm, and March 11 at 3pm, Utopia Opera presents PASSION with music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, book by James Lapine, based on the film "Passione d'Amore" by Ettore Scola, in a fully-staged production performed with a 15-piece orchestra at the Ida K. Lang Recital Hall at Hunter College (695 Park Avenue). Benjamin Spierman stage directs and Utopia founder William Remmers conducts.
Winner of the 1994 Tony Awards for Best Musical, Best Book of a Musical, and Best Original Score, PASSION is a stunning and emotionally dynamic tour de force of obsessive love and military madness in 19th-century Italy from the team behind INTO THE WOODS and SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE. Conductor William Remmers says, "With its elusively lush and mostly through-composed score requiring peak vocalism, PASSION would be well within its rights to occupy a firm place as one of the finest chamber operas in recent memory."
About Utopia Opera
Utopia Opera was founded in 2011. Striving to present the most entertaining operatic performances possible (for audiences and performers alike) while also maintaining a high standard of musical integrity, Utopia Opera has established itself as a young and vibrant addition to New York City's vast operatic landscape, and was recently featured on the cover of the August 2016 issue of Opera News.
In addition to providing young singers with performance opportunities, Utopia aims to share opera of all varieties with a general audience and to reveal its modern relevance. A central part of that mission is realized through giving its audience and performers a stake in the direction of the company, allowing the public to vote on their annual repertoire. Their 2016-17 season featured ASSASSINS, THE GRAND DUKE, THE BALLAD OF BABY DOE, and EUGENE ONEGIN. Their current, seventh season opened with Glass & Ginsberg's HYDROGEN JUKEBOX and Flotow's MARTHA and continues with the U.S. premiere (138 years delayed) of Arthur Sullivan's dramatic oratorio, THE MARTYR OF ANTIOCH on May 5th and, as an official part of the composer's 90th birthday celebrations, the NYC premiere of Thea Musgrave's THE STORY OF HARRIET TUBMAN in early Fall. For more information, find Utopia on Facebook at facebook.com/utopiaopera or visit their website: utopiaopera.org
Tickets ($20 for general admission) are available online (with card) and at the door (card/check/cash). Tickets are available online at: utopiapassion.brownpapertickets.com
CAST
(3/9 & 3/10 matinee)
Clara: Paige Cutrona
Giorgio: Jonathan Fox Powers
Fosca: Elizabeth Bouk
(3/10 evening & 3/11)
Clara: Allyson Herman
Giorgio: Conrad Schmechel
Fosca: Legera Danielides
(all dates)
Colonel Ricci: Dennis Wees
Doctor Tambourri: Jack Anderson White
Lieutenant Torasso: Ray Calderon
Sergeant Lombardi: Benjamin Herman
Lieutenant Barri: Platon Vavylis
Major Rizzolli: Nick Miller
Private Augenti: Ross Schwaber
Foscas Mother: Hannah Spierman
Foscas Father: Benjamin Spierman
Ludovic: Jonathan Price
Mistress: Olivia Harding
Attendants: Lauren Maxwell, MaKayla McDonald, Jessica Vadney
Stage Director: Benjamin Spierman
Conductor: William Remmers
Wardrobe: Eric Lamp/Angel Betancourt
PASSION
Music and Lyrics by Stephen Sondheim
Book by James Lapine
Based on the film "Passione d'Amore" by Ettore Scola
PASSION
Is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI).
All authorized performance materials are also supplied by MTI.
www.MTIShows.com
Photo: Utopia Opera's production of Patience (2013) (photo by: Brynne Morrice)
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