BEL CANTO To Premiere Nationally On GREAT PERFORMANCES PBS, Today

Lyric's world premiere production of the opera Bel Canto - recorded in Chicago last January - will air nationally on Great Performances Friday, January 13 at 9pm CST on PBS (Check local listings). Based on Ann Patchett's bestselling 2001 novel (which was inspired by the 1996-97 Peruvian hostage crisis), the new opera was composed by Jimmy López with a libretto by Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Nilo Cruz. Legendary soprano Renée Fleming, Lyric's creative consultant, curated the project from its inception and hosts the broadcast.

Lyric will host a free screening of the broadcast in the Ardis Krainik Theatre of the Civic Opera House starting at 7:30pm on Friday, January 13. Seating will be reserved and reservations are required at lyricopera.org/belcanto.

"One of the greatest joys of my role as creative consultant at Lyric has been to develop this new work for the operatic stage," says Fleming. "When the novel Bel Canto came out, it was a runaway bestseller, and friends from everywhere called me and asked, 'Is this based on you?' A novel with a soprano at the center, singing my repertoire? Naturally, I had to read it. I immediately realized that Ann Patchett had created a classic portrait of an American singer, and told a story of power and relevance - perfect for opera. So I proposed it as a source when we began the creation of a new work at Lyric. I presented Sir Andrew Davis and Anthony Freud with a huge list of composers. But I had been thinking, what if we ultimately focus on South America for a musical language that would geographically correspond to the piece? When we awarded the commission to the brilliant Jimmy López, I had no idea that he actually had lived through the crisis as a teenager in Lima. The piece also benefits immeasurably from the intensely musical language Pulitzer Prize-winner Nilo Cruz used in his libretto."

Internationally acclaimed soprano Danielle De Niese stars as the American opera diva Roxane Coss, who is making a special appearance at a multinational diplomatic gathering in Lima when terrorists storm the mansion. The hostage situation becomes a siege as government forces surround the compound. During the months-long crisis, lines blur and unexpected alliances form between captors and captives, with Roxane's singing BECOMING a powerful, humanizing force. Among the HOSTAGES are a Japanese industrialist, Katsumi Hosokawa (who is obsessed with the opera singer and who is the reason she was invited to perform), and his translator Gen Watanabe, portrayed by Jeongcheol Cha and Andrew Stenson respectively. J'nai Bridges sings the role of guerilla Carmen, with Rafael Davila as General Alfredo, William Burden as Rubén Iglesias, the vice president; Anthony Roth Costanzo as César, and Jacques Imbrailo as Joachim Messner, the Red Cross intermediary for the hostages, captors, and government officials.

The Chicago Tribune observed that "audience members everywhere surely will take comfort in the opera's message of the transcendence of love and beauty in a world increasingly wracked with danger and fear."

"All of us at Lyric are delighted to share the excitement of the world premiere of Bel Cantowith the Great Performances audience," says Anthony Freud, Lyric's general director, president and CEO. "It is an extraordinary piece - powerful and moving - and I am thrilled that it will be seen and heard by many more people than could attend the live performances here at Lyric."

Fleming adds, "It is simply stunning to see my good friend Ann Patchett's novel come to life onstage as an opera written by Jimmy López and Nilo Cruz. We all feel very close to this piece, and are honored that Lyric Opera's world premiere production will be aired across the country on Great Performances."

"I am so proud to present our Lyric Opera Orchestra and Chorus in this exceptional premiere," says Sir Andrew Davis, Lyric's music director, who conducted the world-premiere performances.

"With a history of Lyric Opera of Chicago coproductions dating back to 1980, we are delighted to once again partner with Lyric to bring innovative contemporary opera to a national audience through Great Performances," says David Horn, executive producer, Great Performances. "Furthermore, given our long association with Renée Fleming, we are especially pleased to present a project curated under Renée's auspices at Lyric."

Bel Canto is sung in Spanish, English, Japanese, Russian, German, French, Latin, and Quechua, with projectEd English translations. Sir Andrew Davis conducts the Lyric production directed by Kevin Newbury. The production is designed by David Korins (sets), Constance Hoffman (costumes), Duane Schuler (lighting), and Greg Emetaz (projections). Michael Black is chorus master and Nick Sandys is fight director.

Matthew Diamond, who last year directed NBC's televised live production of The Wiz, directs the television presentation of Bel Canto.

A production of Lyric Opera of Chicago and Great Performances, Bel Canto the Opera from Lyric Opera of Chicago is produced by John Walker. For Great Performances, Bill O'Donnell is series producer; David Horn is executive producer.

Visit Great Performances Online at www.pbs.org/gperf for additional information about this and other programs.

Great Performances is produced by THIRTEEN PRODUCTIONS LLC for WNET, one of America's most prolific and respected public media providers. Throughout its more than 40-year history on public television, Great Performances has provided viewers across the country with an unparalleled showcase of the best in all genres of the performing arts, serving as America's most prestigious and enduring broadcaster of cultural programming.

(Photo Credit: Todd Rosenberg)

To post a comment, you must register and login.