Madison Opera Celebrates 50th Anniversary During 2010-11 Season

Madison Opera is excited to announce its 50th anniversary season, featuring Mozart's The Marriage of Figaro, the company premiere of Kurt Weill's The Threepenny Opera, and Verdi's La Traviata. In July 2011, Madison Opera also celebrates the 10th anniversary of Opera in the Park, a Madison Summer Tradition.

"Our programming for the 50th anniversary season reflects both Madison Opera's history and future," says General Director Allan Naplan. He continued, "From audience favorites to a company premiere, between opera and musical theater, plus some very exciting casting, it is a season of celebration that should have wide appeal in our community and beyond."

For the fourth consecutive season, Madison Opera presents three full productions, with an increase in total performances from eight (2009-10) to ten (2010-11). The Opera will also be performing in The Playhouse for the second season, following the recent artistic and box-office success of The Turn of the Screw, the company's first endeavor in the venue. Naplan adds, "We've enjoyed producing our mid-season repertoire in the Overture Center's smaller venues over the past three years. These productions allow us to explore more adventurous and ambitious repertoire, while providing our audience a unique and intimate experience."

Casting highlights for the 2010-11 Season include bass Jason Hardy as Figaro and soprano Anya Matanovic as Susanna in The Marriage of Figaro; the Madison Opera debuts of American Players Theatre favorites James DeVita and Tracy Michelle Arnold in The Threepenny Opera; and the American debut of Italian tenor Giuseppe Varano as Alfredo in La Traviata. Maestro John DeMain conducts all three productions, with leading opera directors A. Scott Parry, Dorothy Danner, and Garnett Bruce providing stage direction.

Subscriptions for the 2010-11 Season are now available online and by phone, starting at $32 for the Overture Hall Series. New subscribers receive an additional 15% off. Call (608) 238-8085 or visit www.madisonopera.org for more information.

SEASON DETAILS

The Marriage of Figaro by W.A. Mozart | Nov. 5 & 7, 2010 | Overture Hall

Figaro and Susanna are set to be married, but Count Almaviva has plans of his own. At the end of the day, who will cut the cake? Mozart's The Marriage of Figaro turns one day of madness into comic gold, all set to the composer's brilliant, shimmering score. Madison Opera assembles an unbeatable cast for the opening of its 50th Anniversary Season, with Jason Hardy starring as Figaro, fresh off of rave reviews for his performance in New York City Opera's Don Giovanni. The radiant Anya Matanovic sings Susanna and Melody Moore (Opera in the Park, 2008) returns as the Countess. Metropolitan Opera baritone Jeff Mattsey sings the Count. Maestro John DeMain conducts, with stage direction by A. Scott Parry in a production from Glimmerglass Opera.

Sung in Italian with projectEd English translations

Figaro: Jason Hardy
Susanna: Anya Matanovic
Count Almaviva: Jeff Mattsey
Countess Almaviva: Melody Moore

Conductor: John DeMain
Director: A. Scott Parry

Featuring the Madison Symphony Orchestra and Madison Opera Chorus

The Threepenny Opera by Kurt Weill | Feb. 4 - 13, 2011 | The Playhouse

Kurt Weill's The Threepenny Opera follows the travails of the notorious criminal Macheath as he navigates a world of beggars, thieves, and prostitutes in Victorian London. With music deeply rooted in jazz and Viennese operetta, Weill's provocative setting of Bertolt Brecht's gritty drama has enchanted audiences for the last century. American Players Theatre favorites James DeVita and Tracy Michelle Arnold make their Madison Opera debuts as Macheath and Jenny Diver in this company premiere. With such memorable numbers as "The Ballad of Mack the Knife" and "Pirate Jenny," this new production, led by conductor John DeMain and acclaimed stage director Dorothy Danner, is sure to leave its mark.

Sung in English

Macheath: James DeVita
Jenny Diver: Tracy Michelle Arnold

Conductor: John DeMain
Director: Dorothy Danner

La Traviata by Giuseppe Verdi | Apr. 29 & May 1, 2011 | Overture Hall

A free-spirited courtesan is tamed by true love, but for how long? The tragic tale of Violetta Valery and Alfredo Germont has mesmerized opera audiences for decades with some of Verdi's most recognizable music and transfixing characters. La Traviata brings the 2010-11 mainstage season to a close in a lavish production with sets from the Lyric Opera of Chicago. Elizabeth Caballero (Carmen, 2009) returns to Madison as Violetta after recent performances in the role had Opera News calling her "an excellent heroine...commanding and vulnerable by turns." The young Italian tenor Giuseppe Varano makes his US debut as Alfredo, with Donnie Ray Albert (Opera in the Park, 2005) as Giorgio Germont. Maestro John DeMain conducts, with stage direction by Garnett Bruce. Raise a toast as we celebrate 50 years of opera in Madison..."Libiamo, libiamo!"

Sung in Italian with projectEd English translations

Violetta Valery: Elizabeth Caballero
Alfredo Germont: Giuseppe Varano
Giorgio Germont: Donnie Ray Albert

Conductor: John DeMain
Director: Garnett Bruce

Featuring the Madison Symphony Orchestra and Madison Opera Chorus

Opera in the Park 2011: 10th Anniversary | July 16, 2011 | Garner Park

A Madison summer tradition, this free outdoor concert features leading opera singers alongside the talents of the Madison Symphony Orchestra and Madison Opera Chorus in a program of selections from opera and Broadway.

ABOUT MADISON OPERA

Madison Opera is a non-profit, professional opera Company Based in Madison, Wisconsin. Founded in 1961, the company grew from a local workshop presenting community singers in English language productions to a nationally recognized organization producing diverse repertoire and presenting leading American opera singers alongside emerging talent. Recent production milestones include the world premiere of Daron Hagen's Shining Brow in 1993, the David Hockney designed Turandot to open Overture Hall in 2004, and the company's Wagner debut with The Flying Dutchman in 2010. A resident organization of the Overture Center for the Arts, Madison Opera presents three productions annually in addition to the free summer concert Opera in the Park and a host of educational programming.

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