LA TRAVIATA opens Nashville Opera's 2011-12 season in October

John Hoomes, Nashville Opera's artistic director, will helm the 2011-12 season opening production of Verdi's La Traviata, featuring the Nashville Symphony Orchestra under the baton of conductor Christopher Larkin. Sung in Italian, the production will feature projectEd English translations.

"La Traviata is one of a handful of operas in the repertoire which can truly be called 'iconic,'" says Hoomes. "Giuseppe Verdi's genius is evident in the lush melodies and the subtle nuances of the drama. First-time opera patrons will be captivated by the beauty of the score and emotion of the story, while this acclaimed cast will offer those familiar with the opera new insights and an exciting evening of sheer beauty."

Hoomes has assembled an internationally-renowned cast of principal opera singers including soprano Jennifer Black as Violetta Valery, tenor Joshua Kohl as Alfredo Germont, and baritone Grant Youngblood as Giorgio Germont.

Soprano Jennifer Black returns to Nashville Opera in the role of Violetta Valery after her critically-acclaimed portrayal of Micaëla in the 2011 production of Bizet's Carmen. Ms. Black has appeared with opera companies world-wide, including the Metropolitan Opera, Los Angeles Opera, Santa Fe Opera, Opera Colorado, and Arizona Opera. Black completed the Metropolitan Opera's Lindemann Young Artist Program in 2008, and was formerly a member of the San Francisco Opera's Merola Program, where she performed Nella in Gianni Schicchi, Suor Genovieffa in Suor Angelica and Musetta in La bohème. A graduate of the Yale School of Music, she performed the title roles of Kat'a Kabanova and Suor Angelica, as well as Helena in A Midsummer Night's Dream and Pamina in Die Zauberflöte.

Tenor Joshua Kohl makes his Nashville Opera debut in the role of Alfredo Germont. Kohl's performances include Al Joad in the world premiere of Ricky Ian Gordon's The Grapes of Wrath, Serano in La Donna del Lago, and Nathaniël/Spalanzani in Les Contes d'Hoffmann - all at the Minnesota Opera while he was a resident artist. In addition, he has performed in principal and comprimario roles with Boston Lyric Opera, Minnesota Opera, Utah Opera, Virginia Opera, San Francisco's Merola Opera Program, Atlanta Lyric Theatre, The Ohio Light Opera, Yale Opera, Boston University's Opera Institute, and at the University of Cincinnati's College-Conservatory of Music. Kohl earned a Bachelor of Music degree from the University of Cincinnati, and a Master of Music degree from Boston University.

Baritone Grant Youngblood makes his Nashville Opera debut in the role of Giorgio Germont. Youngblood has received critical acclaim for his portrayal of Sharpless in Madama Butterfly with San Francisco Opera, Central City Opera and Madison Opera; the title role in Don Giovanni, Scarpia in Tosca, Germont in La Traviata, Marcello in La bohème, and Escamillo in Carmen with New York City Opera.

Chorusmaster/accompanist Amy Tate Williams leads the Nashville Opera Ensemble, and the production also features lighting by noted Broadway designer Joe Saint.

Performances of La Traviata will by Thursday, October 13 at 7 p.m. and Saturday, October 15 at 8 p.m. in the Tennessee Performing Arts Center's Andrew Jackson Hall.

Tickets range in price from $26 to $102.50, and are available by calling Nashville Opera at (615) 832-5242, the Tennessee Performing Arts Center Box Office at (615) 782-4040, and online at www.nashvilleopera.org.

Patrons are invited to attend the free Opera Insights preview led by John Hoomes one hour prior to curtain in the theater. Story outlines, behind-the-scenes videos, and a detailed study guide are available at www.nashvilleopera.org. Nashville Opera continues to offer its unique "pay-what-you-can" option through the company's offices in the Noah Liff Opera Center in Sylvan Heights.

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