Jason C. Tramm to Conduct Manhattan Vocal Productions' 'Les Contes d'Hoffmann' This Week

Guest Conductor Jason C. Tramm leads Jacques Offenbach's mercurial opéra fantastique "Les Contes d' Hoffmann" with libretto by Jules Barbier, this Thursday, Friday and Saturday evening in Manhattan Vocal Production's fully staged presentation of the French masterwork. In this unique production, now in its second and final week of performance, the opera will feature the rarely heard violin aria in the Antonia Act.

"Les Contes d'Hoffmann" is based on three short stories by German author E.T. A Hoffmann about the protagonist poet Hoffmann and his haunting and inspirational love affairs. The production is directed by Kevin Courtemanche, who in collaboration with Tramm and Vocal Company producers, is responsible for adding the rarely heard music. As Offenbach died months before the opera's successful premiere at Paris's Opéra-Comique in 1881, questions about the composer's final intentions for the music have remained unanswered riddles. Decisions regarding which music to include or to leave out, the use of spoken dialogue or sung recitative, even the order of scenes have long challenged producers.

Under Tramm's baton "Les Contes d' Hoffmann" - generally acknowledged as a musical tour de force combining dramatic intensity and French lyricism - comes to life, showcasing an international cast of emerging artists brought together by company founder, former Metropolitan Opera principal artist Valentin Peytchinov.

The production features the talented double cast as:

THE POET HOFFMANN - Tenors Lindell Carter, Byron Singleton; NICKLAUSSE - Sopranos Francesca Erni, Emma Lavandier; LINDORF/COPPELIUS/MIRACLE/DAPPERTUTTO - Baritones Jeremy Griffin, Claudio Mascharenas; OLYMPIA - Sopranos Aline Mayne, Monica Pasquini; ANTONIA - Sopranos Sonya Argirova, Ania Farsej; GIULIETTA- Sopranos Anna Viemeister, Su -Ling Huang; COCHENILLE/PITTICHINACCIO/FRANTZ/ANDRES - Samuel Varhan

SPALANZANI/NATHANAEL - Tenors Michael Celentano Jared Goldstein Herman/Schlemil- Bass(s) Yun- Kwan Yiu, Victor Chapman; LUTHER - Bass Gene Howard; THE VOICE OF ANTONIA'S MOTHER- Heather Foutz, Zhanka Melnechuk, CRESPEL - Bass Bill Atkinson; STELLA - Soprano Allegra Durante, Mairi Mason

Jason C. Tramm, who currently serves as Artistic Director and principal conductor for MidAtlantic Opera Company, and Director of Music, in Residence, of New Jersey's historic Great Auditorium in Ocean Grove has received critical acclaim for his work in the symphonic, operatic and choral repertoire both nationally and internationally. Tramm's concert performance of Léon Boëllmann's Fantasie-Dialogue for Organ and Orchestra, Op. 35 was featured on National Public Radio and his HDTV broadcast of Verdi's Requiem (2009) was nominated for a regional Emmy Award. Tramm serves on the faculty at Seton Hall University as Director of Choral Activities, and is committed to the development of young singers and new audience for the operatic art form.

Tickets and Performance Information

General Admission $30 online; $35 at the door

www.vocalproductionsnyc.org/

Performances begin at 7PM May 28, 29 and 30

Washington Irving Auditorium

40 Irving Place NY, 10003