Madison Opera Announces 2017-18 Season

Madison Opera has announced the company's 2017/18 season, which feature a classic opera and two Madison Opera premieres. The season opens in November with Bizet's Carmen, followed by Mozart's The Abduction from the Seraglio in February, and Catán's Florencia en el Amazonas in April. The season concludes with the 17th annual Opera in the Park in July.

"I am delighted with this new season," says Kathryn Smith, Madison Opera's General Director. "Carmen was the piece that made me fall in love with opera in high school, so I always look forward to sharing it with our audience. The Abduction from the Seraglio has some of Mozart's most virtuoso vocal writing, with an innate charm and comedy that is perfect for winter. Florencia en el Amazonas is quite simply ravishing, both in its music and its story. The season truly has something for everyone in it."

The company's 57th season begins in November with Georges Bizet's Carmen in Overture Hall. One of the most popular operas in the world, Carmen was a flop when it premiered in Paris in 1875, but within a few years was widely-acclaimed. The story of a Spanish gypsy determined to live a life on her own terms, Bizet's masterpiece blends passion, seduction, jealousy, dance, and even a little law-breaking, all set to one of the most famous scores ever composed.

Aleks Romano makes her Madison Opera debut in the title role; Cecilia Violetta López makes her debut as Micaëla. Sean Panikkar (Opera in the Park 2014) returns to Madison Opera as Don José, the soldier who falls in love with Carmen; Corey Crider (Sweeney Todd) returns as Escamillo, the toreador. E. Loren Meeker directs this traditional staging in her Madison Opera debut, with John DeMain conducting.

February brings the Madison Opera premiere of Mozart's The Abduction from the Seraglio, the composer's first major operatic success. Set in the Ottoman Empire in the 17th century, the opera starts with a Spanish nobleman arriving at a pasha's palace to rescues his fiancée, who was captured during a shipwreck. Together, they find that different cultures need not always clash, and romantic longings come in many forms. Comedy blends with the underpinnings of the Enlightenment in a masterpiece that is the perfect blend of humor and humanity.

Mozart's brilliant score calls for virtuoso singing in every role. Caitlin Lynch (Don Giovanni) returns to sing Konstanze; the soprano has sung major Mozart roles at the Metropolitan Opera and English National Opera this season. Also returning are Matt Boehler (Fidelio, Don Giovanni) as Osmin and Eric Neuville (Little Women) as Pedrillo. Making their debuts are Ashly Neumann as Blonde and David Walton as Belmonte. Alison Moritz makes her Madison Opera directorial debut; John DeMain conducts.

Daniel Catán's Florencia en el Amazonas concludes the mainstage season. Inspired by the writings of Gabriel García Márquez, Catán's gorgeously lyrical opera was the first Spanish-language opera to premiere in the U.S. and has been performed worldwide since its 1996 premiere. Set in the early 20th century, the story tells of Florencia Grimaldi, a famous opera singer, as she embarks anonymously on a voyage down the Amazon River, hoping to be reunited with her lover she left behind. On the boat with her are a young journalist; a couple feeling the strain of their long marriage; the boat's captain; the captain's nephew, who falls in love with the journalist; and a man who is a rather mystical presence.

Returning to Madison Opera in the title role is Elizabeth Caballero (Don Giovanni, La Traviata), who was acclaimed for this role at New York City Opera. Nmon Ford (Tosca) returns as the mysterious Riolobo; Rachel Sterrenberg (Charlie Parker's Yardbird) sings Rosalba, the journalist; Adriana Zabala (The Tales of Hoffmann) sings Paula; Mackenzie Whitney (La Bohème) sings Arcadio, the captain's nephew; and Levi Hernandez (The Magic Flute in 2006) sings Alvaro. Ashraf Sewailam makes his Madison Opera debut as the Capitán. Kristine McIntyre (The Tales of Hoffmann, Dead Man Walking) returns to direct this unique-to-Madison production, which features members of Kanopy Dance and choreography by Lisa Thurrell. John DeMain conducts.

Subscriptions for the 2017/18 season will be available in late April at madisonopera.org and by phone at (608) 238-8085. Subscribers save up to 15% off single ticket prices while enjoying this captivating season!

Please contact Marketing Manager Steffanie Berg at berg@madisonopera.org or (608) 238-8085 for press images or for more information.

2017/18 PRODUCTION DETAILS

Carmen
Music by Georges Bizet; Libretto by Henri Meilhac and Ludovic Halévy, based on a novella of the same title by Prosper Mérimée
Sung in French with projected English translations

Friday, November 3, 2017 | 8pm
Sunday, November 5, 2017 | 2:30pm
Overture Hall

Carmen Aleks Romano*

Don José Sean Panikkar

Micaëla Cecilia Violetta López*

Escamillo Corey Crider

Zuniga Thomas Forde

Conductor John DeMain

Stage Director E. Loren Meeker*

The Abduction from the Seraglio
Music by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart; Libretto by Christoph Friedrich Bretzner and Gottlieb Stephanie
Sung in German with English dialogue and projected English translations

Madison Opera Premiere
Friday, February 9, 2018 | 8pm
Sunday, February 11, 2018 | 2:30pm
Capitol Theater at Overture Center for the Arts

Konstanze Caitlin Lynch

Blonde Ashly Neumann*

Belmonte David Walton*

Pedrillo Eric Neuville

Osmin Matt Boehler

Conductor John DeMain

Stage Director Alison Moritz*

Florencia en el Amazonas

Music by Daniel Catán; Libretto by Marcela Fuentes-Berain, inspired by the writings of Gabriel García Márquez
Sung in Spanish with projected English translations

Madison Opera Premiere
Friday, April 27, 2018 | 8pm
Sunday, April 29, 2018 | 2:30pm
Overture Hall

Florencia Grimaldi Elizabeth Caballero

Rosalba Rachel Sterrenberg

Paula Adriana Zabala

Riolobo Nmon Ford

Arcadio Mackenzie Whitney

Alvaro Levi Hernandez

Captain Ashraf Sewailam*

Conductor John DeMain

Stage Director Kristine McIntyre

With members of Kanopy Dance

*Madison Opera debut

Please note: All casts subject to change.

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Madison Opera is a non-profit professional opera company based in Madison, Wisconsin. Founded in 1961, the company grew from a local workshop presenting community singers in English-language productions to a nationally-recognized organization producing diverse repertoire and presenting leading American opera singers alongside emerging talent. A resident organization of the Overture Center for the Arts, Madison Opera presents three productions annually in addition to the free summer concert Opera in the Park and a host of educational programming.