PAGLIACCI, THE MARRIAGE OF FIGARO & More Set for Austin Lyric Opera's 26th Season

Austin Lyric Opera (ALO) has announced the lineup of its 26th season (2012-2013). The season kicks off in November 2012 with Leoncavallo's Pagliacci, followed by Mozart's The Marriage of Figaro in January and February 2013. The season concludes with a new production of Gounod's Faust in April 2013. Current subscribers can renew their season tickets starting Monday, January 16.

Artistic Director and Principal Conductor Richard Buckley will lead all three productions. "We are tremendously proud and excited to announce the 26th season," says Richard Buckley. "We selected three productions that allow us to explore repertoire and really showcase many world class artists on the stage."

"There is a powerful sense of energy and optimism at ALO that is being felt throughout the community," says Kevin Smith, interim general director. "Audiences have responded with enthusiasm to our current anniversary season-subscriptions and contributions are up substantially-and they will undoubtedly enjoy the 26th season with three recognizable and inspiring operas."

Leoncavallo's Pagliacci November 10, 15 and 18, 2012

The 26th season opens in November with Leoncavallo's Pagliacci. This famously tragic opera tells the heartbreaking story of betrayal and jealousy in an Italian comedic theater troupe. When the wife of the lead performer has eyes for another actor, theater and reality collide in a dramatic climax of operatic proportions. The opera premiered in 1892 in Milan led by famed conductor Arturo Toscanini.

Renowned tenor Carl Tanner (Tosca, 1999) returns to Austin as Canio, a role he has performed to great acclaim at New York City Opera, Real Teatro di San Carlo in Naples, Italy and the Mariinsky Theater in St. Petersburg, Russia; soprano Danielle Pastin appears in a role debut as Nedda; and baritone Daniel Sutin as Tonio and baritone Corey McKern as Silvio make their ALO debuts.

This production of Pagliacci was design by the Italian Roberto Lagana?. Stage direction is by Garnett Bruce, who has staged numerous productions with Austin Lyric Opera including La Traviata (2002, 2010), La Cenerentola (2008), La bohe?me (2009), and the upcoming Turandot (2012).

Mozart's The Marriage of Figaro January 31, February 2 and 3, 2013

The season continues in January and February with Mozart's The Marriage of Figaro. In this "single day of madness," Figaro, the infamous barber of Seville, takes the audience on a laugh-out-loud ride filled with schemes, masquerades and mistaken identities.
Premiered in 1786, the opera was the first of three collaborations between Mozart and Da Ponte. It is a continuation of the plot of Beaumarchais' play The Barber of Seville several years later.

Soprano Jamie-Rose Guarrine (The Magic Flute, 2011) returns to Austin as Susanna; bass Paolo Pecchioli (Italian Girl in Algiers, 2011) is Figaro; bass Jonathan Beyer (La bohe?me, 2009; Flight, 2011) is Count Almaviva; soprano Eleni Calenos makes her ALO debut as Countess Rosina Almaviva; and mezzo-soprano Karin Mushegain (Flight, 2011) is Cherubino.
This production, originally owned by the Opera Company of Philadelphia, is now in the hands of Austin Lyric Opera. Stage direction is by Kristine McIntyre, who previously directed Flight (2010) at ALO.

Gounod's Faust April 25, 27 and 28, 2013

The final production of the 26th season is Gounod's Faust. This classic tale of a man's deal with the devil in order to give himself another chance at youth and love is abounded with Gounod's unforgettable melodies.

Tenor Jonathan Boyd makes his ALO debut in the title role Faust; bass-baritone Jamie Offenbach debuts for ALO as Mephistopheles; and Korean baritone Hyung Yun makes his ALO debut as Valentine.

The new production by stage director Bernard Uzan is a coproduction of Arizona Opera, Lyric Opera Baltimore and Opera Lyra Ottawa that premiered in Arizona in November 2011. The Arizona Republic callEd Bernard Uzan's conception and direction a "triumph."

"My purpose is not to shock people," says Uzan. "Here I simply want to show that the quest for Faust doesn't belong to a specific time; Me?phistophe?le?s belongs to no time. The story belongs to humanity. And the way we're going to do it is to speak more to the preoccupations of today."

Starting in season 26, Austin Lyric Opera performances are scheduled on Thursday night (7:30 p.m.), Saturday night (7:30 p.m.); and Sunday matinee (3 p.m.). All performances take place at The Long Center for the Performing Arts.

Patrons can subscribe to a Thursday, Saturday or Sunday series that includes all three productions of the season. Subscriptions start at $50. As always, subscribers may make exchanges for a different performance day up to 48 hours prior to curtain.

Leoncavallo's Pagliacci Saturday, November 10, 2012 – 7:30 p.m. Thursday, November 15, 2012 – 7:30 p.m. Sunday, November 18, 2012 – 3 p.m.

Mozart's The Marriage of Figaro Thursday, January 31, 2013 – 7:30 p.m. Saturday, February 2, 2013 – 7:30 p.m. Sunday, February 3, 2013 – 3 p.m.

Gounod's Faust Thursday, April 25, 2013 – 7:30 p.m. Saturday, April 27, 2013 – 7:30 p.m. Sunday, April 28, 2013 – 3 p.m.

Subscribers will receive a renewal form in the mail starting Monday, January 16:

1. In the theater: subscribers can bring the renewal form to the upcoming Lucia di Lammermoor performances (a renewal table is located in Orchestra Level)
2. Online: visit www.AustinLyricOpera.org
3. By mail: mail the renewal form to Austin Lyric Opera
P.O. box 984, Austin, TX 78767
4. By Fax: fax the renewal form to (512) 477-5415
5. By phone: call Dianne Van Hulle, Patron Services Manager,
at (512) 472-5927