NYC Opera Presents 'King Arthur,' 'Tosca' & 'Madama Butterfly'
By: BWW News Desk Jan. 30, 2008
Henry Purcell's King Arthur, with libretto by John Dryden, premieres on Wednesday, March 5 at 7PM, opening the company's spring season with a gala to follow. King Arthur will be performed with the Mark Morris Dance Group, and conducted by Jane Glover, who last appeared at City Opera in 2002 leading Agrippina. The production is directed and choreographed by Mark Morris, and features debuting soprano Mhairi Lawson along with Sarah Jane McMahon, and Heidi Stober; countertenor Iestyn Davies and tenor Steven Sanders, both in their debuts and baritones Daniel Mobbs and Alexander Tall. Sets are by Adrianne Lobel, costumes by Isaac Mizrahi and lighting by James F. Ingalls. Mark Morris and his production team previously collaborated with City Opera on Rameau's Platée in 2004. King Arthur is a City Opera/English National Opera/Mark Morris Dance Group production, in association with Cal Performances, Berkeley. The opera will be sung in English with supertitles.
Shu-Ying Li and James Valenti, who were paired in City Opera's La bohème in 2006, return as lovers in Puccini's Madama Butterfly on Thursday, March 6. Jennifer Tiller sings Suzuki; Jeffrey Picón is Goro, and Michael Chioldi sings Sharpless . City Opera Music Director George Manahan and Steven Mosteller conduct the Mark Lamos production with sets by Michael Yeargan, costumes by Constance Hoffman and lighting by Robert Wierzel. Jan Opalach sings the title role in Verdi's Falstaff for the first time in New York when the Leon Major production returns on Wednesday, March 19. Pamela Armstrong, sings Alice Ford, Anna Skibinsky is Nannetta, Heather Johnson sings Meg Page and Ursula Ferri sings Mistress Quickly; John Tessier sings the role of Fenton, Joel Sorenson is Dr. Caius, Stephen Powell is Ford, Jeffrey Haili debuts as Bardolfo and Eric Jordan sings Pistola. George Manahan conducts the production with sets and costumes by John Conklin and lighting by Pat Collins. Falstaff was last presented by the company in 1999.TWELFTH WEEK CASTING:
FOURTEENTH WEEK CASTING:Wednesday, March 19, 7:30 pm - 10:15 pm. First performance of Verdi's Falstaff. Pamela Armstrong (Alice Ford), Anna Skibinsky (Nannetta), Heather Johnson (Meg Page), Ursula Ferri (Mistress Quickly), John Tessier (Fenton), Joel Sorenson (Dr. Caius), Jeffrey Halili (Bardolfo), Jan Opalach (Sir John Falstaff), Stephen Powell (Ford), Eric Jordan (Pistola), George Manahan (Conductor), Leon Major (Production), Albert Sherman (Stage Director), John Conklin (Set & Costume Designer), Pat Collins (Lighting Designer). Sung in Italian with English supertitles. Thursday, March 20, 8:00 pm - 10:50 pm. Fifth performance of Puccini's Madama Butterfly with same cast as Sunday, March 16. Sung in Italian with English supertitles.Friday, March 21, 8:00 pm - 10:45 pm. Second performance of Verdi's Falstaff with same cast as Wednesday, March 19. Sung in Italian with English supertitles.Saturday, March 22, 1:30 pm - 4:20 pm. Sixth performance of Puccini's Madama Butterfly with same cast as Thursday, March 6 except Christopher Jackson (Pinkerton). Sung in Italian with English supertitlesSaturday, March 22, 8:00 pm - 10:50 pm. First performance of Puccini's Tosca. Anna Shafajinskaia (Tosca), Raúl Melo (Cavaradossi), Todd Thomas (Scarpia), Peter Strummer (Sacristan), Branch Fields (Angelotti), Jeffrey Behrens (Spoletta), Ross Benoliel (Sciarrone), Don Yule (Jailer), Steuart Bedford (Conductor), Mark Lamos (Production), Beth Greenberg (Stage Director), Michael Yeargan (Set Designer), Constance Hoffman (Costume Designer), Robert Wierzel (Lighting Designer). Sung in Italian with English supertitles. Sunday, March 23, 1:30 pm - 4:15 pm. Third performance of Verdi's Falstaff with same cast as Wednesday, March 19. Sung in Italian with English supertitles.
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