Matthew Worth, Daniela Mack & More to Lead FWOpera & ALT's JFK World Premiere in 2016

Fort Worth Opera (FWOpera) in collaboration with American Lyric Theater (ALT) announced today the star-studded cast of the highly anticipated 2016 world premiere opera JFK. Based on the final twelve hours of the 35th president's life and time spent in Fort Worth, Texas, JFK is the next major statement from the celebrated creative team of composer David T. Little and librettist Royce Vavrek, who made waves with their critically acclaimed debut opera Dog Days (2012).

Under the baton of noted American contemporary conductor Steven Osgood, (The Metropolitan Opera, Prototype Festival, San Francisco Opera) the cast will star baritone Matthew Worth in the title role of John F. Kennedy. With a voice described as "fully powered and persuasively expressive" (New York Times), Worth has solidified his reputation in the cannon of contemporary opera, starring in world premiere roles including Father Flynn in Doubt and Sergeant Raymond Shaw in The Manchurian Candidate at Minnesota Opera. Making her Fort Worth Opera debut in the role of the iconic Jacqueline (Jackie) Kennedy is mezzo-soprano Daniela Mack. Portraying the larger-than-life Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson is bass-baritone Daniel Okulitch, and rounding out the leading roles are soprano Talise Trevigne as Clara Harris, the hotel's maid, and tenor Sean Panikkar as JFK's secret service agent and confidant, Henry Rathbone, who quickly reveal themselves to be more than they appear.

"The casting for any opera is one of the most important decisions I have to make, but the pressure to assemble the ideal roster for JFK was intensified by of the nation's preconceived ideas of these American icons," stated FWOpera General Director Darren K. Woods. "People around the world are familiar with President John F. Kennedy and Jackie Kennedy, and everybody will come into the theater with their own idea of how the characters should look, act, and sound based on their personal connection with the president's place in history. It is a unique challenge."

Woods continued, "We spent a great deal of time searching for singers with the perfect voices who could also physically represent the real people they are portraying. When Matthew Worth auditioned for David, Royce, and me, we immediately felt his elegance and strong presidential presence. We knew the role of Jackie would require a singer who could convey strength and vulnerability in equal measure. We found that command in Daniela Mack - a warm mezzo-soprano with a little steel in the sound who carries herself with such beauty and grace that it was easy to see her as the first lady."

When asked to comment on the creative process and casting of JFK Little and Vavrek stated, "We are thrilled by the challenge of this project and the opportunity to write our first grand opera. Opera is the ultimate collaborative art form, and as we're writing, we've been in close contact with our cast and creative team. Knowing who we are writing for, and gauging their special skills, their likes and dislikes, etc., is vital in creating a work that will jump off the stage; ensuring that the characters not only do justice to the lives on which they are based, but also that our cast can bring their best to these demanding roles."

JFK is being developed in partnership with American Lyric Theater (ALT) in New York City. ALT will be producing a workshop of the opera-in-progress this November, which will bring together the world-premiere cast together for the first time - along with members of The Collegiate Chorale, who will serve as the ensemble during this pivotal stage in the opera's development.

At the conclusion of this upcoming workshop, on Tuesday, November 25 at 7:00 PM, American Lyric Theater will present InsightALT: JFK at Merkin Concert Hall in New York City. The InsightALT series provides the public with the opportunity to look inside the process of creating new operas at all stages of their development through a combination of performance and discussion with the creative artists behind these new works. InsightALT: JFK will feature excerpts from the opera sung by the world-premiere cast and members of the Collegiate Chorale, interwoven with a discussion between composer David T. Little, librettist Royce Vavrek, FWOpera's General Director Darren K. Woods, and cast members Matthew Worth, Daniela Mack, Daniel Okulitch, Talise Trevigne, and Sean Panikkar. The discussion, moderated by ALT's Producing Artistic Director Lawrence Edelson, will explore the genesis of the opera, the challenges of dramatizing history and re-imagining iconic figures for the opera stage, the collaborative relationship between Little and Vavrek, and the unique way that the creative team is approaching this exhilarating new American opera.