|
General Director Irene Dalis has selected
a stellar repertoire for our 25th Anniversary Season:
Eugene Onegin
September 6 – 21, 2008
Eugene Onegin,
is one of the miracles of opera. Like all of Tchaikovsky's operas, the
libretto doesn't reveal even half of the experience of the live
performance. It seems almost impossible that this domestic tale of a
young, provincial girl's infatuation with a jaded dandy from Moscow
could be so absorbing and ultimately so meaningful. But as conceived by
Alexander Pushkin, one of the great poets of all time, and composed by
Tchaikovsky, one of the great musical geniuses of all time, Eugene
Onegin has earned its place among the most important works of
Russian culture. This beautiful elegant story of youthful passion and
naiveté is particularly fitting for the captivating artists who perform
with Opera San José.
| Performances: |
Sept. 6, 7, 11, 13, 14, 16,
19, 21, 2008. |
| Composer/Librettist: |
Tchaikovsky/Shilovsky |
| Conductor(s): |
Bryan
Nies |
| Stage Director: |
Peter Kozma (company debut) |
| Set Designer: |
Erik Flatmo |
| Costume Coordinator: |
Elizabeth Poindexter |
| Lighting Designer: |
David Lee Cuthbert |
| Wig/makeup designer: |
Sarah Beukers |
The Elixir of Love
November 8 – 23, 2008
The Elixir of
Love is the happiest of operas. Donizetti created a thoroughly
pleasing romantic comedy when he penned this light-hearted opera, which
has also been a terrific star vehicle for tenors such as Caruso and
Pavarotti. Sunny, Italian melodies and plenty of opportunities to
showcase both singing and acting make this one of the most popular
comedies in the repertoire. Its delightfulness springs from the
principal characters, all of whom are lovable, interesting, and
charming. And for this production, they will practice their high jinks
right in our own backyard, for we will set the action in the Valley of
Heart's Delight (Santa Clara Valley) in the very early 20th century.
Così fan
tutte
February 7– 22, 2009
Così fan tutte is a comedy and tragedy all at once.
It is hilarious, zany opera buffa, and at the same time it is a
profound, realistic, and deeply human drama. How much are we willing to
wager on a loved one's fidelity? And what are we willing to learn about
ourselves in the process? Aptly subtitled The School for Lovers,
this masterful opera puts all its principal characters to the test, and
each is found to be human. The world is turned upside down for the young
lovers in this opera, and generations of audiences since 1790 have been
left wondering what happen after the final curtain.
| Performances: |
Feb. 7, 8, 12, 14, 15, 17, 20,
22, 2009. |
| Composer/Librettist: |
Mozart/da Ponte |
| Conductor(s): |
David Rohrbaugh,
Joseph Marcheso |
| Stage Director: |
Brad Dalton |
| Set Coordinator: |
Larry Hancock |
| Costume Coordinator: |
Alyssa Oania |
| Lighting Designer: |
Matthew Antaky |
| Wig/makeup designer: |
Sarah Beukers |
Carmen
April 18 - May 3, 2009
Carmen is by far America's
favorite opera. It overflows with unforgettable melodies, Spanish folk
songs, and sunny orchestrations, yet is also rich enough to offer
insightful portraits of its characters and intense drama. These
French-singing Spaniards are, above all, believable human beings. A
sense of reality and immediacy infuses their situations, through which
we see a soldier fall desperately in love with one of the great sirens
of all time who has no feelings for him. Their responses are human in
the extreme and utterly outside the confines of polite society. It is no
wonder that Carmen herself continues to fascinate us and that Bizet's
music continues to charm and thrill audiences throughout the world.
Click here for dates, seating location and
pricing
|