Fort Worth Opera Announces the Release of GLORY DENIED on Albany Records

Fort Worth Opera (FWOpera) General Director Darren K. Woods proudly announced today the August 1, 2013 release of the company's live recording of American composer Tom Cipullo's acclaimed, emotionally-charged opera,Glory Denied, based on the bestselling book by journalist Tom Philpott. The album will also be available for digital download at www.albanyrecords.com, Amazon.com, Archivmusik.com, and iTunes by mid-September. Recorded in May during the 2013 Fort Worth Opera Festival, the CD (TROY 1433) marks FWOpera's third collaboration with Albany records, and joins a roster of critically-praised recordings of American works presented by the opera company, including Frau Margot and Before Night Falls.An opera in two tableaux, Glory Denied received its regional premiere as part of FWOpera's newly named Opera Unboundalternative venue series, and tells the grippingly tragic, true story of Colonel Jim Thompson, the longest-held prisoner-of-war in United States history. A modern-day warrior, Thompson's sacrifices for his country during and after the Vietnam War result in the loss of all that is important to him.

Mr. Woods, in making the announcement said, "It is a privilege for Fort Worth Opera to bring this amazing work to the world. Glory Denied was a story that resonated deeply with the many people who experienced the work first-hand during the Fort Worth Opera Festival, and the entire Fort Worth Opera family believes it to be one of the most important projects we have ever undertaken. We were honored to bring it to our community this past spring and are now equally honored that everyone will be able to hear Tom Cipullo's astounding opera."

After nine years in captivity in Vietnam, Col. Jim Thompson returns home to America in 1973 and struggles to adjust to life in a world he no longer recognizes; his beloved country is much-changed, his wife has remarried and she and his four children have moved on without him, and his sacrifices and suffering for his country go without public acknowledged. The expressive score resonates with flashbacks via letters to Jim's happier life before the war and during his imprisonment.

Tyson Deaton, a longtime FWOpera pianist and in-demand collaborative recitalist, makes his company conducting debut and leads a chamber ensemble and distinguished cast featuring Texas baritone Michael Mayes in his role debut as Older Thompson, and the company debuts of Caroline Worra, reprising the role of Older Alyce; tenor David Blalock as the Young Thompson, and soprano Sydney Mancasola as Young Alyce. John Ostendorf is the Recording Producer, and Kurt Howard, Producing Director. This live recording was made with the cooperation of the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra.

ABOUT FORT WORTH OPERA: Founded in 1946, Fort Worth Opera is the oldest continually performing opera company in Texas, and one of the 14 oldest opera companies in the United States. Under the leadership of General Director Darren K. Woods since 2001, the organization has gained national attention from critics and audiences alike for its artistic quality and willingness to take risks. Known throughout the operatic world as a champion of new and rarely-performed works, the company has taken a leadership role in producing contemporary operas. In 2007, when the company changed its fall/winter schedule to a condensed one-month long Festival in the spring, FWOpera staged its first world premiere, Frau Margot; and followed up the next season with Angels in America (which resulted in More Life: the Art and Science of AIDS, a community-wide collaboration amongst organizations in the performing and visual arts, children's education, medicine, and social services), Dead Man Walking in 2009, the world premiere of Before Night Falls in 2010, and Hydrogen Jukebox in 2011. The 2012 Festival staged the regional premieres of Mark Adamo's Lysistrata and Jake Heggie's Three Decembers, the first time the two composers' works have been co-programmed, and the 2013 season featured the regional premiere of Tom Cipullo's Glory Denied, as well as the inaugural season of its new works showcase, Frontiers, featuring works by eight composers from the Americas. Fort Worth Opera's CD recordings of Frau Margot, Before Night Fall, and Glory Denied are available on the Albany label.

The company's upcoming 2014 season, part of Phase One of its recently announced ten-year artistic vision Opera of the Americas includes two premieres - the professional world premiere of Daniel Crozier and Peter Krask's With Blood, With Ink; and the regional premiere and national co-production of Kevin Puts andMark Campbell's Pulitzer Prize award-winning Silent Night. Reinforcing its leadership role in contemporary opera, the 2014 Festival includes the second season of its annual new works program, Frontiers, showcasing new works by composers from the Americas. The company will also feature fresh productions of two popular works: the company's second staging of Bizet's The Pearl Fishers, last performed in 1983; and Mozart's Così fan tutte, last staged in 1995.

Established in 2002, the Fort Worth Opera Studio is a year-round training program for emerging young artists who are cast from annual national auditions. In addition to receiving professional training while in Fort Worth, the singers also perform in the Children's Opera Theatre, the company's educational program that tours fully costumed, portable operas to elementary schools. COT performances span the whole state of Texas and reach as many as 50,000 children a year, many of whom have no other access to arts education. Since 2007, attendance of Festival performances by out-of-town audiences has grown almost 5%. The local economy has also benefitted, with over 1,900 hotel rooms booked for the 2012 Festival alone. The company has balanced its budget for the eighth consecutive year.

ALSO FROM FORT WORTH OPERA ON ALBANY RECORDS: The 2007 critically-acclaimed live recording of Thomas Pasatieri's Frau Margot (TROY 1201-02) is the first in Fort Worth Opera's CD series of operatic premieres by American composers. A contemporary opera about the death of a fictional composer and his incomplete opera, his mysterious widow and her encounter with a musician who wants to finish it. Is murder involved? And it's suggested by a real life encounter between Leonard Bernstein and Alban Berg's widow! Starring soprano Lauren Flanigan, Patricia Risley, Morgan Smith, Allan Glassman, Daniel Okulitch. Fort Worth Opera music director Joseph Illick conducts the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra. Produced for Albany by John Ostendorf.

Jorge Martín's Before Night Falls (TROY 1226-27) is the second recording in Fort Worth Opera's CD series on Albany Records. Premiered to critical acclaim in Fort Worth in June 2010, the two-act opera is based on the turbulent life of poet/dissident Reinaldo Arenas (1943-1990), and set in his beloved Cuba and New York City. Fort Worth Opera's Music Director Joseph Illick conducts the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra and a distinguished cast featuring Wes Mason, Seth Mease Carico, Jesus Garcia, Janice Hall, Courtney Ross, Jonathan Blalock, Javier Abreu. Produced by John Ostendorf.

ABOUT FORT WORTH: Fort Worth boasts a unique mix of western culture, urban sophistication, and fine art. The city is home to world-renowned arts organizations such as the Kimbell Art Museum, the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth, the Amon Carter Museum, and the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition. On the other end of the spectrum, the city sponsors daily cattle drives through its Stockyards district, hosts equestrian and livestock events throughout the year, and is home to the Cowgirl Hall of Fame. Downtown Fort Worth is a lively spot for residents and tourists; attractions include fine dining, shopping, night life, and the opera house, the acclaimed Bass Performance Hall.

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