Below are four opera/musical theater works in new productions that I am scheduled to review in Chicago, Houston and Santa Fe.
Faust (Gounod), Lyric Opera of Chicago, March 3, 9, 12, 15, 18(m) and 21, 2018.
The Lyric Opera of Chicago unveils its new Kevin Newbury production of Gounod’s “Faust”. This will be the American debut of French tenor Benjamin Bernheim.
[Below: Faust (Benjamin Bernheim, right) joins Marguerite (Ailyn Pérez, left) in her bed; edited image, based on a Cory Weaver photograph, courtesy of the Lyric Opera of Chicago.]
Ailyn Pérez will be Marguerite for all performances except for March 21 when Ana María Martínez assumes the role. Christian Van Horn is Méphistophélès and Edward Parks (who created the role of Steve Jobs in Mason Bates’ “The (R)evolution of Steve Jobs” at Santa Fe Opera) will be Valentin.
Maestro Emmanuel Villaume, music director of The Dallas Opera, conducts.
[For my performance review, see: Review: Benjamin Bernheim Leads Superb “Faust” Cast – Lyric Opera of Chicago, March 12, 2018.]
West Side Story (Bernstein), Houston Grand Opera, April 20, 22(m), 28, May 1, 3, 4 and 6, 2018.
As one of her contributions to the Leonard Bernstein Centennial Year, Francesca Zambello creates a new production of Bernstein’s “West Side Story” with Andrea Carroll as Maria, Norman Reinhardt as Tony, Gabrielle McClintock as Anita and Brian Vu as Riff.
[Below: Maria (Andrea Carroll, left) meets Tony (Norman Reinhardt, right) at the high school dance; edited image, based on a Lynn Lane photograph, courtesy of the Houston Grand Opera.]
Maestro Timothy Myers conducts. The set designs are by Zambello’s frequent collaborator, Peter Davison, the costumes are by Jessica Jahn.
[For my performance review, see: Review: Francesca Zambello’s Spirited Mounting of Bernstein’s “West Side Story” – Houston Grand Opera, April 28, 2018.]
Candide (Bernstein), Santa Fe Opera, June 29, July 4, 7, 13, 31, August 6, 11, 14, 21 and 25, 2018.
Laurent Pelly creates a new production Bernstein’s “Candide” with Alek Shrader as Candide; Brenda Rae as Cunegonde; Kevin Burdette as Voltaire, Pangloss, Martin and Cocambo; Helene Schneiderman as the Old Lady; Jarett Ott as Maximilian and the Captain; and Richard Troxell as the Governor, Vanderdendur and Ragotski.
[Below: Cunegonde (Brenda Rae, right) wants to cultivate a romantic relationship with Candide (Alek Shrader, left); edited image, based on a Ken Howard photograph, courtesy of the Santa Fe Opera.]
Maestro Harry Bicket conducts. Chantal Thomas creates the costumes.
[For my performance review, see: Review: Bernstein’s “Candide” Opens 2018 Santa Fe Opera Season – June 29, 2018.]
Doctor Atomic (Adams), Santa Fe Opera, July 14, 18, 27, August 2, 7 and 16, 2018
In Santa Fe Opera’s first production of a John Adams opera, Ryan McKinny stars as “Doctor Atomic’s” Robert Oppenheimer, Julia Bullock as Kitty, Ben Bliss as Robert Wilson, Meredith Arwady as Pasqualita, Andrew Harris as Edward Teller, Daniel Okulitch as General Groves and Tim Mix as Jack Hubbard.
[Below: Ryan McKinny will star as Robert Oppenheimer (Doctor Atomic); edited image for a publicity photograph, courtesy of the Santa Fe Opera.]
Maestro Matthew Aucoin conducts. Peter Sellars, the opera’s librettist, directs. The new production’s set designs are by David Gropman.
[For my performance review, see: Review: Ryan McKinny Excels as “Doctor Atomic’s” Oppenheimer – Santa Fe Opera, July 27, 2018.]
This list is supplementary to previous lists in this “Quests and Anticipations” series of selected operas being performed through January 2019:
Massenet’s “Thaïs” at the Minnesota Opera [See In Quest of Operatic “Exoticism” – July 2017-May 2018.]
d’Albert’s “Tiefland” at the Sarasota Opera and Richard Strauss’ “Ariadne auf Naxos” at the Santa Fe Opera [See In Quest of German Operatic Repertory – September 2017-August 2018.]
Bizet’s “Carmen” at the Sarasota Opera [See In Quest of Operas by Berlioz, Bizet and Massenet – November 2017 – March 2018.]
Bellini’s “Norma” at the Sarasota Opera, Mozart’s “Don Giovanni” at The Dallas Opera and Bellini’s “Norma” at the Houston Grand Opera [See In Quest of Mozart and Bellini Operatic Masterpieces – January-April 2018.]
Verdi’s “Don Carlo” at the Washington National Opera, Verdi’s “Rigoletto” and “Don Carlo” at the Los Angeles Opera and Verdi’s “Il Trovatore” at the Seattle Opera [See In Quest of Verdi Operas, March 2018-January 2019.]
Puccini’s “Manon Lescaut” at the Sarasota Opera, Puccini’s “Madama Butterfly” at the Santa Fe Opera, Mascagni’s “Cavalleria Rusticana” at the San Francisco Opera and Leoncavallo’s “I Pagliacci” at the San Francisco Opera [See In Quest of “Core” Verismo Operas, February-September, 2018.]