North Carolina Opera Announces 2019-20 Season

North Carolina Opera has announced the company's 2019-20 season, which includes fully-staged productions of Mozart's The Magic Flute (Apr. 3 & 5, 2020) and Leoncavallo's Pagliacci (Jan. 24 & 26, 2020), a concert performance of Act III from Wagner's Siegfried (Nov. 10, 2019), and a vocal recital by superstar tenor Lawrence Brownlee (Feb. 18, 2020). The announcement was made by the company's General Director Eric Mitchko at the 2019-20 Season Reveal, which was held on Tuesday, March 26 at CAM Raleigh and graciously sponsored by the Meredith College Department of Music, CITRIX, Mitchell's, Queen of Wines, Savills, Glenwood Agency Real Estate, and Hibernian Pub.

"We are thrilled to present a fully-staged new production of Mozart'sThe Magic Flute directed by David Paul, who is presently directing the company's production of Tosca, and are most grateful to our production sponsor C. Thomas Kunz," said NCO General Director Eric Mitchko. "The Magic Flute has not been professionally staged in the Triangle in over two decades; a new production is a great way to welcome Mozart's fantastical, adventure tale back to the area," he concluded.

The Magic Flute features a strong ensemble cast, including NCO debuting artists tenor Eric Ferring as Tamino, soprano Madison Leonard as Pamina, and soprano Rainelle Krause as the Queen of the Night. Joseph Mechavichmakes his NCO debut conducting the NCO Orchestra and Chorus. Sets are by Caite Kemp Hevner, who also designed the sets for NCO's 2017 production of Mozart's The Marriage of Figaro. Lighting design is by Ross Kolman (NCO's The Marriage of Figaro, Aida, and Rusalka) with costumes designed by Stephanie Cluggish, who is making her NCO debut with this production.

Performances of Mozart's The Magic Flute are April 3 (7:30 p.m.) and 5 (2:00 p.m.), 2020 in Memorial Auditorium at the Duke Energy Center for the Performing Arts in Raleigh.

Leoncavallo's Pagliacci makes a return to the Triangle for the first time in over a decade. This fully-staged production is conducted by Keitaro Harada (Carmen 2019) and features many returning artists: tenor Carl Tanner as Canio (Samson and Delilah), Melinda Whittington(Cold Mountain) as Nedda, Takakoi Onishi (Carmen 2019). NCO veteran performer Jason Karnmakes his company mainstage debut as Beppe. Baritone Kidon Choimakes his NCO debut as Tonio. Pagliacci is generously sponsored by Ross Lampe, Jr. Performances of Leoncavallo's Pagliacci are January 24 (7:30 p.m.) and 26 (2:00 p.m.), 2020 at Memorial Auditorium at the Duke Energy Center for the Performing Arts in Raleigh.

North Carolina Opera continues its presentation of the operas of Richard Wagner in concert with the company premiere of Act III from the composer's Siegfried. NCO has previously presented three Wagner programs: a semi-staged, complete performance of Das Rheingold; a concert of the Act I prelude and complete Act II from Tristan und Isolde, and; a concert of Act I from Die Walküre. "Our Wagner opera concerts have been especially popular with our audience; we are thrilled to continue our exploration of the composer's Ring Cycle," said NCO General Director Eric Mitchko. Siegfried: Act III in Concert features returning NCO artists Richard Cox (Das Rheingold), Alexandra LoBiancco (Tosca 2019) as Brünnhilde.Timothy Myers returns to conduct the NCO Orchestra. Wagner's Siegfried: Act III in Concert is generously sponsored by Rosemarie Sweeney and is presented in concert on November 10, 2019 at 2:00 p.m. in Meymandi Concert Hall at the Duke Energy Center for the Performing Arts in Raleigh.

During the 2019-20 season, North Carolina Opera continues its presentation of classical song recitals. Superstar tenor Lawrence Brownlee appears with the company in recital on February 18, 2020 at 7:30 p.m. in the A.J. Fletcher Opera Theater at the Duke Energy Center for the Performing Arts in Raleigh. "Mr. Brownlee is one of the leading Bel Canto tenors of our time and is also a terrific song recitalist," said NCO General Director Eric Mitchko. Mr. Brownlee's program features Schumann's complete song cycle Dichterliebe(A Poet's Love)along with other songs and opera arias. Previous NCO recitals have featured tenor Michael Fabiano and soprano Leah Crocetto.

Subscription tickets to North Carolina Opera's 2019-20 season are on sale now and range from $108 to $321 and include Siegfried: Act III in Concert, Pagliacci and The Magic Flute. Tickets to Lawrence Brownlee in recital are $55. Tickets may be ordered online at www.ncopera.org or by calling (919) 792-3853. Non-subscription tickets to individual performances will go on sale in the summer.

North Carolina Opera was formed in 2010 from the merger of the Opera Company of North Carolina and Capital Opera Raleigh. It is dedicated to presenting operatic performances at the highest level throughout the Triangle. We also have a robust education program that brings opera to schools across Wake County and surrounding counties. North Carolina Opera brings international level artists to Raleigh, Durham and Chapel Hill, and also engages the best in local Triangle talent. Information about North Carolina Opera's programs and events is available on our website www.ncopera.org or by phone at (919) 792-3850.

North Carolina Opera is funded in part by the City of Raleigh based on recommendations of the Raleigh Arts Commission. North Carolina Opera also receives support from Duke Energy, PNC, Sitelink, Elliott Davis, GlaxoSmithKline, CEI, the John William Pope Foundation, CITRIX, the North Carolina Arts Council, BlueCross BlueShield of North Carolina, and Art Works, a program of the National Endowment for the Arts.

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