LA CENERENTOLA, THE LONG WALK and More Set for Opera Saratoga's 2015 Summer Festival Season

Opera Saratoga kicks off its 2015 Summer Festival season, which will run from today, July 2 - July 26, 2015 at multiple venues throughout Saratoga Springs, New York.

The 2014/2015 season is the first programmatic year under the artistic and general direction of Lawrence Edelson and marks an expansion for the company in several ways: the first World Premiere presented by the company in nearly 30 years, three operas instead of two, and a longer festival season including performances at multiple venues in the region.

"I am honored to have the opportunity to lead Opera Saratoga into its next chapter, and thrilled that my first season will provide opportunities for audiences to see three operas that show the breadth and depth of what is happening in opera today, with some of the foremost artists of our generation," said Lawrence Edelson. "The season includes three operas that couldn't be more different. La Cenerentola (Cinderella) is a bubbling comedy by Rossini that features virtuoso singing to impress the most passionate opera lovers, and is also an ideal introduction to opera for family audiences. Our presentation of Dido and Aeneas will be our first site-specific production, presented in partnership with the National Museum of Dance. Operas that prominently feature dance will be a part of our programming every season moving forward, and this particular production not only builds upon the region's connection to dance, but also takes advantage of the stunning natural beauty of Spa State Park, where we are located. The world-premiere of The Long Walk marks a reaffirmed commitment to the inclusion of contemporary American opera as a regular part of our programming. The Company has produced 33 works by American composers in its history, 5 of which have been world premieres, but The Long Walk, by two of the most exciting writers in American opera today - composer Jeremy Howard Beck, and librettist Stephanie Fleischmann - will actually be the first world-premiere for the company in 27 years!

This year, we are initiating new partnerships with a wide variety of cultural organizations throughout the region, enabling us to offer exciting new performance programs that compliment the season's operas, which provide even more ways for audiences to connect with the company and our wonderful artists. By expanding the festival, and moving it into July, we are providing more opportunities not only for local audiences to enjoy our programs, but opportunities for audiences from around the country to enjoy the cultural riches that Saratoga Springs has to offer. With a train station in the heart of the city, and Albany airport less than 30 minutes away, we look forward to welcoming opera lovers from around the country to enjoy not only Opera Saratoga, but all of the restaurants, shops, cultural attractions, historic sites, and natural beauty that Saratoga Springs has to offer."

In tandem with the expansion of the season, the Young Artist Program - the second oldest program of its kind in the country - is being expanded to provide greater professional development opportunities for emerging professionals. The program will consist of three tiers for singers, as well as opportunities for pianists, conductors and directors, under the direction of Laurie Rogers. Opera Saratoga has selected 28 gifted artists from over 1,000 applicants from across the country, who will be in residence in Saratoga Springs this summer. A complete list of Young Artists may be found at www.operasaratoga.org/2015-young-artists.

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OPERA SARATOGA'S 2015 SUMMER FESTIVAL PROGRAMMING

LA CENERENTOLA (Cinderella)

Music by Gioachino Rossini, Libretto by Jacopo Ferretti, Based on the Fairy Tale by Charles Perrault

Directed by Lawrence Edelson, Conducted by Gary Thor Wedow

Featuring Sandra Piques Eddy, Andrew Owens, John Brancy, David Kravitz, and Ryan Kuster

Performances: Thursday, July 2, 2015 at 7:30pm; Saturday, July 11, Tuesday, July 14, and Saturday, July 18, 2015 at 2pm; Sunday, July 26, 2015 at 7:30pm

Opera Saratoga opens the 2015 Summer Season with Rossini's beloved version of Cinderella. Based on Perrault's timeless fairytale, La Cenerentola features plenty of magical enchantment; the ridiculous, over-the-top situations and toe-tapping melodies that you expect from the master of comic Italian opera; and heartfelt emotion to bring together this story of forgiveness and true love. The ultimate rags to riches tale; it's a Cinderella story...but not quite as you may know it! Opera Saratoga is proud to present the company debuts of five extraordinary singers in La Cenerentola: Metropolitan Opera mezzo-soprano Sandra Piques Eddy sings the virtuoso title role along side tenor Andrew Owens as Prince Ramiro, baritone John Brancy as his valet Dandini, David Kravitz as her wicked step-father Don Magnifico, and Ryan Kuster as the mysterious philosopher Alidoro. Gary Thor Wedow also makes his company debut conducting this new production by Artistic and General Director Lawrence Edelson.

DIDO AND AENEAS

Music by Henry Purcell, Libretto by Nahum Tate

Directed and Choreographed by Karole Armitage, Conducted by Nicole Paiement

Featuring Jennifer Johnson Cano and ArmitageGone! Dance Company

Presented in Partnership with the National Museum of Dance

All tickets include admission to the wonderful exhibits at The National Museum of Dance, beginning at 7pm. Seating is general admission, with seating beginning at 7:45pm for the performance beginning at 8:15pm.

Performances: Monday, July 6, 2015; Sunday, July 12, 2015; Sunday, July 19, 2015; Tuesday, July 21, 2015

Opera Saratoga is thrilled to present the first Baroque opera in the company's history in a truly unique production under the stars! One of the earliest English operas, Dido and Aeneas is one of Purcell's foremost theatrical works. This heartbreaking opera recounts the love of Dido, Queen of Carthage, for the Trojan hero, Aeneas, and her despair when he abandons her. The combination of exquisite vocal music and extensive use of dance has inspired many interpretations of the great score. Opera Saratoga has invited world-renown choreographer and director Karole Armitage to create a very special site-specific production for Saratoga Springs that embraces the natural beauty and history of The National Museum of Dance located in Spa State Park. The production will feature Metropolitan Opera mezzo-soprano in her company debut Jennifer Johnson Cano as Dido, along with the exquisite dancers of the ArmitageGone! Dance Company in what is sure to be one of the most talked about productions of the summer for dance and music lovers alike.

WORLD PREMIERE

THE LONG WALK

Composed by Jeremy Howard Beck, Libretto by Stephanie Fleischmann

Based on The Long Walk, A Story of War and the Life that Follows, by Brian Castner

Directed by David Schweizer, Conducted by Steven Osgood

Featuring Daniel Belcher, Heather Johnson, Caroline Worra, David Blalock, Javier Abreu, Justin Hopkins, and Donita Volkwijn

Commissioned by American Lyric Theater

Performances: Friday, July 10, 2015 at 7:30pm; Monday, July 13 and Friday, July 17, 2015 at 2pm; and Saturday, July 25, 2015 at 7:30pm

The Long Walk is based on Brian Castner's critically acclaimed book of the same name. The opera is a deeply personal exploration of a soldier's return from Iraq where he served as an officer in an Explosive Ordnance Disposal unit and his battle with what he calls "the Crazy" as he tries to reintegrate into his family life upon returning from the war. Opera Saratoga is honored to present the world premiere of The Long Walk in partnership with American Lyric Theater. Internationally renowned theater and opera director David Schweizer makes his Opera Saratoga debut, with celebrated American conductor Steven Osgood on the podium. Grammy Award winning baritone Daniel Belcher returns to Opera Saratoga to create the role of Brian, alongside mezzo-soprano Heather Johnson, who makes her company debut as his wife Jessie. The cast also includes the company debuts of sopranos Caroline Worra and Donita Volkwijn, tenors David Blalock and Javier Abreu, and bass baritone Justin Hopkins.

In addition to the three operas being presented, an extensive series of concerts and community events will take place throughout the month of June and July.

These include:

Season Preview Concert

Wednesday, June 17 at 1:30PM, Free

The Sembrich Museum in Bolton Landing

This concert will feature arias and scenes from the three operas in Opera Saratoga's 2015 Summer Season, performed by members of the company's Young Artist Program.

Stars of Tomorrow!

Saturday, June 6 at 8 PM, Free

Dee Sarno Theater, Saratoga Arts Center

320 Broadway, Saratoga Springs

Opera Saratoga's Young Artist Program is the second oldest mentorship program for emerging professional singers in the country, also providing opportunities for gifted young conductors, pianists and directors. This season, we received over 1,000 applications for 24 spaces - making the selection process more competitive than getting into Harvard! The singers that we have selected represent some of the most gifted young artists in the country. Join us for this very special program where you will have a chance to get to know the incredible young artists who will be a part of our community this summer. We promise, one day you'll be able to say, "I heard them before they were stars!"

A Master Class with Joan Dornemann

Sunday, June 14 at 2 PM, $20 in advance ($15 for subscribers) or $25 at the door.

Helen Filene Ladd Concert Hall

Arthur Zankel Music Center, Skidmore College

815 North Broadway, Saratoga Springs

Joan Dornemann, Metropolitan Opera Assistant Conductor, is one of the most highly respected opera coaches in the world today. She has worked with such singers as Luciano Pavarotti, Plácido Domingo, José Carreras, Sherrill Milnes, Kiri Te Kanawa, Montserrat Caballe, Deborah Voigt, Renée Fleming, and Leo Nucci. She has been associated with the Gran Liceo in Barcelona, the Spoleto Festival, New York City Opera, Opera National de Paris and the Kirov Opera. She received an Emmy Award for her contribution to the highly acclaimed first Live From the Met telecast of La Bohème and is the founder of the International Vocal Arts Institute. Joan will lead a special master class on the art of singing Rossini, featuring members of Opera Saratoga's Young Artist Program. This is a very special opportunity to see one of the world's leading authorities on bel canto mentor our emerging professional artists, leading up to the season opening of La Cenerentola.

Mr. Tambourine Man at Caffè Lena with soprano Caroline Worra

Friday June 19 and Saturday 20 at 8PM, $20 in advance ($15 for subscribers) or $25 at the door.

Caffè Lena

47 Phila Street, Saratoga Springs

Opera Saratoga makes a special appearance at the historic Caffè Lena to celebrate the poetry and lyrics of Bob Dylan in a concert featuring soprano Caroline Worra. Caroline has been hailed by Opera News as "one of the finest singing actresses around," and has sung over 75 different operatic roles including more than 20 World, American, and Regional Premieres. At the center of this special concert is the Saratoga premiere of John Corigliano's Mr. Tambourine Man, a beautiful, haunting and powerful setting of some of Dylan's most famous song lyrics by the Academy Award winning composer of The Red Violin.

If it aint Baroque...

Sunday, June 21 at 2 PM, Free

Mr. and Mrs. Ronald A. Riggi Theater

The National Museum of Dance

99 South Broadway, Saratoga Springs

In honor of Opera Saratoga's first production of a Baroque opera, members of the Young Artist Program will perform a program of arias and ensembles from a wide variety of Baroque operas, including works by Handel, Vivaldi, Scarlatti, Lully Rameau, and Purcell, including a special preview from our production of Dido and Aeneas.

Songs of Longing and Desire with mezzo soprano Jennifer Johnson Cano

Friday, June 26 at 8 PM, $20 in advance ($15 for subscribers) or $25 at the door

Picotte Recital Hall at the Massry Center for the Arts, Albany

Jennifer Johnson Cano is one of the country's most exciting young mezzo sopranos. The New York Times extolled that "emotion suffused every moment of her eloquent, impassioned New York debut recital." Opera Saratoga is delighted to not only present Jennifer's role debut as Dido this season, but to also offer our audiences the opportunity to hear her in recital with Christopher Cano, who is not only her husband, but an extraordinary pianist with whom Jennifer collaborates often. Jennifer and Christopher have put together a special selection of songs of longing and desire, including works by Brahms, Dove, Barber, Tchaikovsky and Rachmaninoff.

Of Arms and the Man I Sing

Sunday, July 12 at 2PM, Free

The New York State Military Museum and Veterans Research Center

61 Lake Avenue, Saratoga Springs

Opera Saratoga's world premiere production of The Long Walk builds upon a rich and important history of operas that explore the dynamics of war, and the emotional journeys our soldiers take in their efforts to protect our freedom. Join us for a special concert featuring members of the company's Young Artist Program, featuring excerpts from operas from Monteverdi's Il ritorno di Ulysses in Patria, to the 2012 Pulitzer Prize award winning American masterpiece Silent Night by Kevin Puts and Mark Campbell.

A World War I Tribute with baritone John Brancy

Thursday, July 16 at 8 PM, $20 in advance ($15 for subscribers) or $25 at the door

The New York State Military Museum and Veterans Research Center

61 Lake Avenue, Saratoga Springs

Baritone John Brancy is a fast-rising star making his debut with Opera Saratoga this summer. This season, John is also making important recital debuts at The Kennedy Center and Carnegie Hall, so we couldn't resist the opportunity to present him in recital and share a very special program with our community. John has put together a journey into the music of WWI - revealing the thoughts, emotions and psyche of the great composers during that tremulous time. The program will include a performance of George Butterworth's (who died in combat during the Battle of the Somme in 1916) famously beautiful settings of poetry from A.E. Housman's A Shropshire Lad, as well as songs by Gerald Finzi, Claude Debussy, Carl Orff, and Charles Ives.

2016 Season Preview

Thursday, July 23 at 2 PM, Free

Spa Little Theater

Are you curious what the Summer of 2016 will bring to Opera Saratoga? Join us for a season preview, featuring music from all three operas to be presented in 2016, sung by members of the Young Artist Program.

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Subscriptions are currently on sale, providing a savings of up to 15% off single ticket prices, including special visitor subscription packages for out of town guests. Single tickets are also now on sale. Ticket information is available at www.operasaratoga.org.

Special packages are available for out-of-town visitors that will provide an opportunity to see multiple operas over a few days while enjoying the many other things that the city has to offer, including the summer residency of New York City Ballet at Saratoga Performing Arts Center (SPAC), and the opening of the Track Season, which coincides with the final weekend of the festival.

Opera Saratoga, formerly known as Lake George Opera, began with a production of Die Fledermaus at the Diamond Point Theatre on July 5, 1962, playing to an audience of 230. The Company now calls Saratoga Springs home and performs for more than 25,000 people annually. To date, the Company has performed ninety different fully-staged works by fifty-two different composers, including thirty-three works by American composers and five world-premiere productions. Throughout its history, the Company's continued success has been shaped by visionary leaders, talented artists, and critically acclaimed productions. For more information, visit www.operasaratoga.org.

Lawrence Edelson (Artistic and General Director, Saratoga Opera) is highly respected not only as a critically acclaimed stage director, but also as a visionary company leader who has created programs in the areas of artist mentorship and new works development that have served as models of innovation for opera companies around the country. In January 2014, Lawrence was appointed Artistic and General Director of Opera Saratoga, effective July 1, 2014. Lawrence is responsible for the oversight of both the artistic and administrative management of Opera Saratoga's programs. As a stage director, Lawrence's critically acclaimed productions include Philip Glass' Hydrogen Jukebox (Fort Worth Opera), the American Premiere of Telemann's Orpheus (Wolf Trap Opera), the World Premiere of Jeff Myers' Buried Alive (Fargo Moorhead Opera), the New York premiere of Fauré's Pénélope (Manhattan School of Music), La Traviata (Minnesota Opera), Carmen (Toledo Opera), Il Barbiere di Siviglia (Hawaii Opera Theater), H.M.S. Pinafore (Opera Saratoga), Ariadne auf Naxos, Little Women, Eugene Onegin, Werther, and A Midsummer Night's Dream (IVAI Tel Aviv) and the world premiere of The ToyMaker Off-Broadway. Lawrence is perhaps best known in the opera field as the founder of American Lyric Theater (ALT), where he continues to serve as Producing Artistic Director concurrent with his role at Opera Saratoga. He has been responsible for assembling ALT's Board of Directors, its world-renowned artistic staff, and implementing strategic operating and fundraising plans to ensure the long-term viability of the organization. As Producing Artistic Director, he coordinates the diverse artistic programs of ALT, including The Composer Librettist Development Program, commissioning of new works, co-production relationships, and recordings. A tireless advocate for emerging artists and the diversification of audiences for opera, Edelson also serves on the Strategy Committee for OPERA America, and continues to forge collaborations with opera companies across the country.