OperaDelaware Announces 2013-2014 Season

A baritone who sang with New York's Metropolitan Opera. An amazing soprano who wowed audiences with The Boston Symphony. A tenor who has been described as a "rising star" whose performances are "laser focused." Add astounding costumes and sets from the renowned Sarasota Opera, and casts that feature great local, regional, national and international talent, and you have a glimpse of OperaDelaware's 2013-2014 season.

The company unveiled a slimmed-down, amped-up new performance schedule today, announcing two Main stage productions at The Grand in October and May. Donizetti's L'elisir d'amore (The Elixir of Love) will open the new season on Oct. 11 at 8 p.m., followed by a matinee on Sunday Oct. 13 at 2 p.m. OperaDelaware then will present Verdi's Il Trovatore, (The Troubadour) on May 2 at 8 p.m. andMay 4 at 2 p.m. Each opera will be preceded by a free lecture one hour before curtain, sponsored in part by The Delaware Humanities Forum.

"We're presenting world-class opera in your own back yard," said Brendan Cooke, OperaDelaware's General Director. "We've designed a program of bright, bold, beautiful classics and an innovative Studio Series that will appeal to anyone who loves great performances. With the triumph of last season's Macbeth, and the promise of our new lineup, we are on our way to becoming a destination city for great opera."

OperaDelaware also announced a new "Inside the Opera Studio" series planned for a refreshed, intimate performance venue at its headquarters on Poplar Street in Wilmington. The series will start on Sept. 6 at 7:30 p.m. (also Sept. 8 at 2 p.m.) with a one-of-a-kind tribute to opera legend Maria Callas, presented by soprano Francesca Mondanaro, and Fabrizio Melano, a world-renowned stage director and close friend of Callas. On Nov. 8 (7:30 p.m.) and 10 (2 p.m.) OperaDelaware will present "Opera Undressed," hosted by Music Director Jeffrey Miller. A great introduction to opera for those who want to become familiar with it in a smaller, more personal setting, this program features "the greatest hits" of opera with English Supertitles, and will be sung by some of the stars featured in the main stage productions. On March 7 at 7:30 p.m. and March 9 at 2 p.m., OperaDelaware will present Bizet's Les pecheurs de perles (The Pearl Fishers). Never before presented by the company, this production will feature Lee Zimmerman, who will create silk-screen painting as part of the performance. As the story unfolds, Zimmerman builds a stunning backdrop before the viewers' eyes.

At the Grand - L'elisir d'amore: Lighthearted fun with a twist

In L'elisir d'amore, the characters Nemorino, a poor peasant, and Belcore, a military officer, vie for the affections of the beautiful landowner Adina. Nemorino, desperate for Adina's hand, seeks the aid of the self-proclaimed Dr. Dulcamara, who "creates" a magic potion, or "elixir" designed to bring Nemorino and Adina together. Even though the potion turns out to be a cheap Bordeaux, a comic plot rich in irony, passion, and unexpected turns develops in which two unlikely heroes prevail. The performances will be sung in Italian, with projected English Supertitles.

Tenor William Davenport, a national semi-finalist in the Metropolitan Opera competition, will star as Nemorino. Davenport has sung at Carnegie Hall in New York and is an Artist in Residence with the Academy of Vocal Arts in Philadelphia. Soprano Sharin Apostolou has been cast as Adina. She has performed with the Boston Symphony Orchestra, the Pittsburgh Symphony, the Portland Opera and more. Metropolitan Opera Baritone Trevor Scheunemann will perform as Belcore, and Stephen Eisenhard, described by critics as strong, versatile, with great comic timing, is cast as Dr. Dulcamara. The production will be directed by Dean Anthony, and Maestro Jerome Shannon will lead the OperaDelaware Orchestra.

At the Grand - Il Trovatore: Love, Obsession, Revenge, Curses - and Verdi's Greatest Hits

Il Trovatore (The Troubadour) is a tragically beautiful story of obsession, revenge, and vanquished love. Count di Luna is a powerful Spanish military commander in love with Leonora, a noblewoman in service of the queen. Leonora loves a mysterious troubadour, Manrico, who, it is later revealed, leads the rebel forces in opposition to di Luna's. Count di Luna will stop at nothing to have Leonora as his own and to crush Manrico, and as his obsession with her increases, secrets emerge that complicate this plot and set the stage for tragic consequences.

Baritone Tim Mix will sing Count di Luna. Mix has sung with the Dallas Opera, the Los Angeles Philharmonic, the Washington National Opera, and is the recipient of several national honors for his stage work. He returns to OperaDelaware after dazzling audiences in the company's Spring 2013 Studio Series. Tenor Kirk Dougherty will play Manrico, whose voice has been described by reviewers as a "limitless iridescent instrument," "exceptionally beautiful," and "laser focused." Mark Astafan returns to OperaDelaware to direct Il Trovatore, having successfully led the productions of Tosca andLa Traviata. Maestro Giovanni Reggioli returns to The Grand after his triumph as conductor for OperaDelaware's Macbeth.

Great Performances, New Pricing

OperaDelaware also announced a new ticket pricing structure that delivers even greater value to season subscribers. For our performances at The Grand, subscriptions will cost $120 ($60 each); $74 ($37 each); $46 ($23 each) plus a one-time service charge of $7 for the entire season. Single ticket prices are $30, $52 and $79 (these prices include a $5 restoration fee to the Grand. The Grand's box office will add a $6 processing fee onto each ticket. For tickets to our presentations at THE GRAND, call 1-800-37-Grand or visit operade.org

Prices for the Studio Series will range from $25-$60. New this year at the studio, patrons will have the opportunity to select their own seat in advance. Package discounts will be offered to patrons who purchase tickets to all three of the studio programs. Studio tickets are not available through The Grand's box office. Tickets can be purchased by visiting www.operade.org or dialing 302-442-7807

"It is an exciting time for OperaDelaware," Cooke said. "By revising our production schedule, we're reinvesting in the quality of product that we bring to Wilmington. We carry on the tradition of bringing

top-flight singers to The Grand, in memorable productions that will be the topic of conversation throughout the region."

All OperaDelaware performances are translated into English via the use of Supertitles.

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