Florida Grand Opera Continues Season With 'The Tales Of Hoffmann'

The season continues this January with Jacques Offenbach's The Tales of Hoffmann (Les Contes d'Hoffmann) last seen at Florida Grand Opera in 1999.

Offenbach's reputation was firmly established by his hugely successful comic operas, but with The Tales of Hoffmann, the composer of the famous "Can-Can" from Orpheus in the Underworld was determined to achieve recognition as a composer of serious opera as well. Based on several short stories by the writer E.T.A. Hoffmann, The Tales of Hoffmann would soon become a favorite vehicle for many of the world's leading opera singers who relished the opportunity to exploit its limitless dramatic opportunities. Canadian tenor David Pomeroy, who made his 2009 Metropolitan Opera debut in the title role of its new production of The Tales of Hoffmann, will make his FGO debut in the same role.

(Elizabeth Futral Is Pictured)

One of opera's great challenges is for a single soprano to undertake the roles of all four of Hoffmann's loves in The Tales of Hoffmann. For Florida Grand Opera's production, the remarkable American soprano Elizabeth Futral returns to perform all of them for the first time in her career. Her previous FGO appearances as Gounod's Juliette, Donizetti's Lucia, and Strauss' Zerbinetta in Ariadne auf Naxos are some well-remembered highlights of past seasons. She appeared at Lyric Opera of Chicago this season in Lehar's The Merry Widow. Bass-baritone Bradley Garvin will make his FGO debut as the four villains, and Katherine Rohrer will make her FGO debut as Hoffmann's companion Nicklausse. Cuban-born conductor Lucy Arner will also make her Florida Grand Opera debut. The director and designer team of Renaud Doucet and André Barbe will remount their sumptuous production, which has been highly acclaimed in Denver, Saint Louis, and Boston.

The Denver Post wrote that it ". . . captures [the opera's] oddly alluring fusion of fantasy and reality."

Mozart's Don Giovanni will open on April 16. Considered by many to be the most perfect opera ever written, Don Giovanni continues to thrill audiences today as it did at its premiere in 1787. This second collaboration of Mozart and librettist Lorenzo Da Ponte followed their success with The Marriage of Figaro a year earlier. Mozart used the story of the world's most infamous lover, Don Juan, to create one of opera's unforgettably vivid characters and one of the world's favorite operas.
Baritone David Pittsinger, previously seen here in a remarkable portrayal of Count Rodolfo in FGO's 2007 La sonnambula and as Scarpia in the company's 2008 Tosca, will return to sing the title role in Mozart's Don Giovanni. He has performed Don Giovanni for the Opera Company of Philadelphia, New York City Opera, and Opera Colorado, and appears regularly at the Metropolitan Opera and leading companies around the world. Bass Tom Corbeil, a former member of FGO's Young Artist Studio and San Francisco Opera's Merola Program, returns in the role of the Don's servant Leporello following his portrayal of Don Basilio in this season's The Barber of Seville. Tenor Andrew Bidlack, a former member of FGO's Young Artist Studio who sang Count Almaviva in FGO's February 24 and 27, 2010 performances of The Barber of Seville, returns as Don Ottavio.

American soprano Jacquelyn Wagner will make her FGO debut as Donna Anna, along with soprano Georgia Jarman as Donna Elvira, a role she sang earlier in the season with Dallas Opera. Ms. Wagner is a recipient of a Fulbright Study Grant and has been appearing with numerous opera companies in Europe; she has appeared with numerous American orchestras, but this production will mark her official American operatic debut. Ms. Jarman has been frequently seen at New York City Opera and leading companies in the United States, Europe, and South America. Metropolitan Opera bass Morris Robinson, last seen as Ramfis in FGO's 2006 production of Aida, returns as the Commendatore. Andrew Bisantz, Florida Grand Opera's Resident Conductor, will lead these performances of Don Giovanni following his highly acclaimed conducting of the 2009-10 season- opening double bill of Pagliacci and Suor Angelica. Don Giovanni will be directed by John Pascoe, who originally designed and directed the production for Washington National Opera.

The season will conclude with David DiChiera's Cyrano, which premiered in 2007 in Detroit at Michigan Opera Theatre. Bernard Uzan, who created the French libretto, will also direct the production. Cyrano is based on Edmond Rostand's beloved play, Cyrano de Bergerac, and DiChiera's romantic, melodic score perfectly enhances this tragic story of star-crossed would-be lovers. Opera Canada reviewed it as "...visually grand, dramatically absorbing and musically captivating." FGO General Director Robert M. Heuer stated, "As we are co-producers of Cyrano, it was a thrill to see the standing ovation it received in Detroit at its premiere, and I'm very excited about presenting this new opera to South Florida audiences. I am sure it will be received here with equal enthusiasm."

Leah Partridge, one of South Florida's favorite sopranos, will return to FGO as Roxane, a role specifically written for her. Romanian baritone Marian Pop, seen as Dandini in last season's La Cenerentola, will perform the title role. French tenor Sébastien Guèze, whose international career was launched by his taking second prize in Placido Domingo's 2006 Operalia competition, makes his FGO debut as Christian. American conductor Mark Flint, who orchestrated Cyrano and conducted the world premiere at Michigan Opera Theatre, will lead the Florida Grand Opera performances.

Subscriptions for Florida Grand Opera's 2010-2011 season are available at 1-800-741-1010 or safely online at www.fgo.org. Subscribers save up to 50% off single ticket pricing. Subscribers who are also donors receive priority seating.

The Tales of Hoffmann (Les Contes d'Hoffmann) by Jacques Offenbach
Sung in French with English and Spanish projected translations
MIAMI ? Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts of Miami-Dade County
Sanford and Dolores Ziff Ballet Opera House
January 22, 2011, at 7 p.m. - Opening Night
January 25, 28, February 2, 5, 2011, at 8:00 p.m.
January 30, 2011, matinee at 2 p.m.
FORT LAUDERDALE ? Broward Center for the Performing Arts
Au-Rene Theater
February 10 and 12, 2011, at 8 p.m.
Hoffmann ............................................................................................................ David Pomeroy
*
Olympia, Antonia, Giulietta & Stella................................................................... Elizabeth Futral
Coppélius, Dapertutto, Dr. Miracle & Lindorf ...................................................... Bradley Garvin
*
Nicklausse, Muse .............................................................................................. Katherine Rohrer
*
Offenbach, Cochenille, Frantz, Pitichinaccio .................................................. Matthew DiBattista
*
Luther, Crespel ...................................................................................................... Philip Skinner
*
Andrès, Spalanzani .................................................................................................. Neal Ferreira
*
Antonia's Mother .......................................................................................... Courtney McKeown
♦*
Nathanaël .............................................................................................................. Daniel Shirley
♦
Hermann ........................................................................................................ Jonathan G. Michie
♦
Conductor .................................................................................................................. Lucy Arner
*
Director ............................................................................................................... Renaud Doucet
Set Designer ............................................................................................................ André Barbe
Costume Designer.................................................................................................... André Barbe
Lighting Designer ..................................................................................................... Guy Simard
* = FGO debut ♦ = Current Young Artist
The sets and costumes for The Tales of Hoffmann are a co-production of Opera Colorado,
Opera Theatre of Saint Louis, and Boston Lyric Opera.
The Tales of Hoffmann is made possible by a gift from Stephen A. Keller and Lesleen Bolt in loving memory of Stephen.
Continued on following page . . .
5
Don Giovanni by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Sung in Italian with English and Spanish projected translations
MIAMI ? Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts of Miami-Dade County
Sanford and Dolores Ziff Ballet Opera House
April 16, 2011, at 7 p.m. - Opening Night
April 22, 27, 30, May 3, 1011, at 8:00 p.m.
May 8, 2011, matinee at 2 p.m.
FORT LAUDERDALE ? Broward Center for the Performing Arts
Au-Rene Theater
May 12 and 14, 2011, at 8 p.m.
Don Giovanni ..................................................................................................... David Pittsinger
Leporello ................................................................................................................. Tom Corbeil
?
Donna Anna .................................................................................................... Jacquelyn Wagner
*
Donna Elvira... ................................................................................................... Georgia Jarman
*
Don Ottavio ........................................................................................................Andrew Bidlack
?
Commendatore................................................................................................... Morris Robinson
Masetto .......................................................................................................... Jonathan G. Michie
♦
Conductor ........................................................................................................... Andrew Bisantz
Director .................................................................................................................... John Pascoe
*
Set & Costume Designer ........................................................................................... John Pascoe
*
Lighting Designer ................................................................................. Donald Edmund Thomas
Production ........................................................................................ Washington National Opera
* = FGO debut ? = Former Young Artist ♦ = Current Young Artist
Don Giovanni is made possible by a gift from Randy Gage.
Continued on following page . . .
6
Cyrano by David DiChiera, Libretto by Bernard Uzan
Sung in French with English and Spanish projected translations
MIAMI ? Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts of Miami-Dade County
Sanford and Dolores Ziff Ballet Opera House
April 23, 2011, at 7 p.m. - Opening Night
April 26, 29, May 4, 7, 2011, at 8:00 p.m.
May 1, 2011, matinee at 2 p.m.
FORT LAUDERDALE ? Broward Center for the Performing Arts
Au-Rene Theater
Cyrano will not be performed in Fort Lauderdale. Broward subscribers have the option to purchase a package that includes tickets for Cyrano in Miami.
Cyrano ....................................................................................................................... Marian Pop
Roxane ................................................................................................................. Leah Partridge
?
Christian .............................................................................................................Sébastien Guèze
*
De Guiche.................................................................................................................. Peter Volpe
*
Le Bret ................................................................................................ Aaron St. Clair Nicholson
Le Duegne .................................................................................................... Courtney McKeown
♦
Lignière .......................................................................................................... Valerian Ruminski
Ragueneau .............................................................................................................James Barbato
♦
Capucin, Marquis de Cuigy .................................................................................... Daniel Shirley
♦
Marquis de Brisaille ............................................................................................ Graham Fandrei
Conductor... ............................................................................................................... Mark Flint
*
Director .................................................................................................................. Bernard Uzan
Set & Costume Designer ........................................................................................... John Pascoe
Lighting Designer ..................................................................................Donald Edmund Thomas
* = FGO debut ? = Former Young Artist ♦ = Current Young Artist
Cyrano is a co-production of Michigan Opera Theatre, Opera Company of Philadelphia, and Florida Grand Opera
Cyrano is made possible by a gift from the estate of Muriel Rosen.

Florida Grand Opera was formed in June 1994 by the merger of Greater Miami Opera, founded in 1941, and The Opera Guild Inc., of Fort Lauderdale, founded in 1945. Celebrating its 70th season of continuous performances during the 2010-2011 season, Florida Grand Opera stands as one of the oldest performing arts organizations in Florida. In addition to producing standard repertoire, Florida Grand Opera also presents lesser known operas, as well as commissions and produces new operas. Annually, performances are attended by nearly 100,000 people, and education and outreach programs serve over 50,000 students. FGO offers several highly successful outreach and educational programs, including its internationally-recognized Young Artist Studio. Founded in 1984, the program attracts young singers who train and enhance their professional skills during a 35-week Miami residency.

Florida Grand Opera, recognized for funding by the State of Florida, Department of State, Division of Cultural Affairs, the Florida Arts Council, and the National Endowment for the Arts. Funding is also provided, in part, by the Broward County Board of County Commissioners as recommended by the Broward Cultural Council and the Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau, the Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs, Cultural Affairs Council, the Mayor and the Miami-Dade County Board of County Commissioners and the Miami-Dade County Tourist Development Council. Program support is provided by the City of Miami Beach, Cultural Affairs Program, Cultural Arts Council. Florida Grand Opera is a Resident Company of the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts of Miami-Dade County and a member company of OPERA America.
American Airlines is the Official Airline, Intercontinental Miami is the Official Hotel and Steinway & Sons is the Official Piano of Florida Grand Opera.

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