New York Opera Announces Casting For 2009-10 Season, Begins With ESTHER 11/7

New York City Opera today released full casting details for the 2009-2010 season, its first under the new leadership of General Manager and Artistic Director George Steel. The company will present five operas in 2009-2010, in fall and spring seasons, in the newly renovated David H. Koch Theater (formerly the New York State Theater).

In the 2009-10 season the company continues its tradition of nurturing the careers of promising artists. Over the years, City Opera has helped launch the careers of more than 3,000 singers, including such stars as José Carreras, Phyllis Curtin, David Daniels, Plácido Domingo, Lauren Flanigan, Elizabeth Futral, Jerry Hadley, Catherine Malfitano, Bejun Mehta, Sherrill Milnes, Samuel Ramey, Gianna Rolandi, Beverly Sills, Norman Treigle, Tatiana Troyanos, and Carol Vaness. With more than 20 exciting artists making their City Opera debuts in 2009-2010 the company reaffirms its historic commitment to young talents and American singers.

"Audiences come to New York City Opera wanting to discover something-an astonishing opera they hadn't known about, a surprising approach to a familiar work, and perhaps above all a fresh new voice and vital stage presence," George Steel commented. "With so many artists making their debuts in the 2009-10 season, our company is once more opening a world of new possibilities for American opera."

The 2009-2010 repertory season begins with Esther on Saturday, November 7, 2009, at 8:00 pm. The opera, with music by Hugo Weisgall and libretto by Charles Kondek, had its world premiere at New York City Opera in 1993. Soprano Lauren Flanigan returns to sing the title role, which she originated, in the first revival of the opera since its 1993 premiere. Branch Fields is the Gravedigger, Beth Clayton is Vashti, Roy Cornelius Smith makes his company debut as Haman, Margaret Thompson debuts as Zeresh, Stephen Kechulius is Xerxes, and Gerald Thompson is Hegai. The production is directed by Christopher Mattaliano, with set design by Jerome Sirlin, costumes by Joseph A. Citarella, new lighting by Robert Wierzel and choreography by Jennifer Muller. New York City Opera Music Director George Manahan conducts. Esther will be performed in English, with English supertitles.

City Opera's first new production of Mozart's Don Giovanni, since 2002 directed by Christopher Alden, opens on Sunday, November 8, 2009, at 1:30 pm. Alden leads a creative team including set designer Paul Steinberg, with costume designer Terese Wadden and lighting designer Jane Cox both making their City Opera debuts. Gary Thor Wedow conducts. Bass-baritone Daniel Okulitch makes his company debut as Giovanni, Jason Hardy is Leporello, Stefania Dovhan makes her City Opera debut as Donna Anna, Brian Kontes makes his debut as the Commendatore, Gregory Turay debuts as Don Ottavio, Keri Alkema is Donna Elvira, Joélle Harvey makes her company debut as Zerlina, and Kelly Markgraf makes his City Opera debut as Masetto. Don Giovanni will be performed in Italian, with English supertitles.

Chabrier's L'Étoile opens Thursday, March 18, 2009, at 7:00 pm. This rarely performed work is directed by Mark Lamos, with associate director Alain Gauthier. Sets are by Andrew Lieberman, costumes by Constance Hoffman, lighting by Robert Wierzel, and choreography by Seán Curran. L'Étoile will be conducted by Emmanuel Plasson. Jennifer Zetlan is Laoula, Julie Boulianne makes her City Opera debut as Lazuli, Liza Forrester debuts as Aloès, Jean-Paul Fouchécourt is King Ouf I, Andrew Drost is Tapioca, Dominic Armstrong debuts as Hérisson de Porc-Épic, and François Loup makes his company debut as Siroco. L'Étoile will be sung in French, with English supertitles.

On Saturday April 3 at 1:30pm City Opera will present a special 60-minute abridged version of L'Étoile as a Family Matinee performance, sung in French with English dialogue. A child's ticket is free with the purchase of an adult ticket. Any additional children's tickets are half-priced.

The first cast of Puccini's Madama Butterfly begins performances on Friday, March 19, 2009, at 8:00 pm with soprano Shu-Ying Li returning in the title role. Steven Harrison is B.F. Pinkerton, Nina Yoshida Nelsen makes her City Opera debut as Suzuki, Jeffrey Halili is Goro, Quinn Kelsey debuts as Sharpless, Daesan No is Yamadori, and Eric Jordan is the Bonze.

The second cast of Madama Butterfly begins their run on Saturday, April 10, 2009, at 1:30pm with the return of soprano Yunah Lee in the title role. Konstantin Stepanov debuts as B.F. Pinkerton, Krysty Swann makes her City Opera debuts as Suzuki, Jeffrey Halili is Goro, Nicholas Pallesen make his company debut as Sharpless, Daesan No is Yamadori, and Eric Jordan is the Bonze.

Stage direction for Madama Butterfly is by David Grabarkewitz, lighting is by Robert Wierzel, sets are by Michael Yeargan, costumes are by Constance Hoffman, and George Manahan conducts the Mark Lamos production. The production was last presented by New York City Opera in the 2007-08 season and received an Emmy Award for its Live From Lincoln Center telecast. Madama Butterfly will be sung in Italian with English supertitles.

Handel's Partenope, which received its New York premiere at New York City Opera in 1998, opens on Saturday, April 3, 2009, at 8:00 pm. Soprano Cyndia Sieden sings the title role, Laura Vlasak Nolen is Rosmira, Iestyn Davies is Prince Arsace of Corinth, Anthony Roth Costanzo makes his company debut as Prince Armindo of Rhodes, Nicholas Coppolo debuts as Emilio, and Daniel Mobbs is Ormonte. The Francisco Negrin production is stage directed by Andrew Chown, Set designs are by John Conklin, lighting is by Robert Wierzel, costumes are by Paul Steinberg, and Conductor Christian Curnyn makes his company debut.

L'Étoile, Madama Butterfly, and Partenope are co-productions of the New York City Opera and Glimmerglass Opera.

All of New York City Opera's stage productions will take place at the David H. Koch Theater at Lincoln Center (63rd St. & Columbus Ave). Subscriptions for New York City Opera's 2009-2010 season are on sale now and can be purchased by calling (212) 496-0600 or visiting nycOpera.com/subscribe. Subscribers save up to 20%.

Single tickets, ranging from $12 to $145, go on sale September 8, and can be purchased in person at the box office, online at nycOpera.com, or by calling CenterCharge at 212-721-6500.

All evening performances begin at 8:00pm, except for Tuesday evening performances, which begin at 7:30pm. The performance of L'Étoile on Thursday, March 18 begins at 7:00pm.

Esther

Lauren Flanigan (Esther), Branch Fields (Gravedigger), Beth Clayton (Vashti), Margaret Thompson (Zeresh), Stephen Kechulius (Xerxes), Roy Cornelius Smith (Haman), Gerald Thompson (Hegai). George Manahan (conductor), Christopher Mattaliano (production director), Jerome Sirlin (set designer), Joseph A. Citarella (costume designer), Robert Wierzel (lighting designer), Jennifer Muller (choreographer), Isabel Martin (supertitles). Sung in English with supertitles.

Saturday, November 7, 8:00pm
Friday, November 13, 8:00pm
Sunday, November 15, 1:30pm
Thursday, November 19, 8:00pm

Don Giovanni

Daniel Okulich (Don Giovanni), Jason Hardy (Leporello), Stefania Dovhan (Donna Anna), Brian Kontes (Commendatore), Gregory Turay (Don Ottavio), Keri Alkema (Donna Elvira), Joélle Harvey (Zerlina), Kelly Markgraf (Masetto). Gary Thor Wedow (conductor), Christopher Alden (production director), Paul Steinberg (set designer), Terese Wadden (costume designer), Jane Cox (lighting designer), Cori Ellison (supertitles). Sung in Italian with English supertitles.

Sunday, November 8, 1:30pm
Tuesday, November 10, 7:30pm
Thursday, November 12, 8:00pm
Saturday, November 14, 8:00pm
Friday, November 20, 8:00pm
Sunday, November 22, 1:30pm

L'Étoile

Jennifer Zetlan (Laoula), Julie Boulianne (Lazuli), Liza Forrester (Aloès), Jean-Paul Fouchécourt (King Ouf I), Andrew Drost (Tapioca), Dominic Armstrong (Hérisson de Porc-Épic), François Loup (Siroco). Emmanuel Plasson (conductor), Mark Lamos (production director), Alain Gauthier (associate director), Seán Curran (choreographer), Andrew Lieberman (set designer), Constance Hoffman (costume designer), Robert Wierzel (lighting designer), Cori Ellison (supertitles). Sung in French with spoken French dialogue and English supertitles.

Thursday, March 18, 7:00pm
Saturday, March 20, 8:00pm
Friday, March 26, 8:00pm
Sunday, March 28, 1:30pm
Thursday, April 1, 8:00pm
Saturday, April 3, 1:30pm Family Matinee of L'Étoile (abridged).

Partenope

Cyndia Sieden (Partenope), Laura Vlasak Nolen (Rosmira), Iestyn Davies (Prince Arsace of Corinth), Anthony Roth Costanzo (Prince Armindo of Rhodes), Nicholas Coppolo (Emilio), Daniel Mobbs (Ormonte). Christian Curnyn (conductor), Francisco Negrin (production director), Andrew Chown (stage director), John Conklin (set designer), Paul Steinberg (costume designer), Robert Wierzel (lighting designer), Cori Ellison (supertitles). Sung in Italian with English supertitles.

Saturday, April 3, 8:00pm
Friday, April 9, 8:00pm
Sunday, April 11, 1:30pm
Tuesday, April 13, 7:30pm
Thursday, April 15, 8:00pm
Saturday, April 17, 1:30pm

Madama Butterfly

Cast for performances on March 19, 21, 25, 27 and April 2, 4, 8: Shu-Ying Li (Cio-Cio-San), Steven Harrison (B.F. Pinkerton), Jeffrey Halili (Goro), Nina Yoshida Nelsen (Suzuki), Quinn Kelsey (Sharpless), Eric Jordan (The Bonze). George Manahan (conductor), Mark Lamos (production director), David Grabarkewitz (stage director), Michael Yeargan (set designer), Constance Hoffman (costume designer), Robert Wierzel (lighting designer), Cori Ellison (supertitles). Sung in Italian with English supertitles.

Cast for performances on April 10, 16 & 18: Yunah Lee (Cio-Cio-San), Konstantin Stepanov (B.F. Pinkerton), Krysty Swann (Suzuki), Nicholas Pallesen (Sharpless), Eric Jordan (The Bonze). Steven Mosteller (conductor), Mark Lamos (production director), David Grabarkewitz (stage director), Michael Yeargan (set designer), Constance Hoffman (costume designer), Robert Wierzel (lighting designer), Cori Ellison (supertitles). Sung in Italian with English supertitles.

Friday, March 19, 8:00pm
Sunday, March 21, 1:30pm
Thursday, March 25, 8:00pm
Saturday, March 27, 8:00pm
Friday, April 2, 8:00pm
Sunday, April 4, 1:30pm
Thursday, April 8, 8:00pm
Saturday, April 10, 1:30pm
Friday, April 16, 8:00pm
Sunday, April 18, 1:30pm

CITY OPERA DEBUTS

Saturday, November 7, Esther
Margaret Thompson (Zeresh)
Roy Cornelius Smith (Haman)

Sunday, November 8, Don Giovanni
Stefania Dovhan (Donna Anna)
Joélle Harvey (Zerlina)
Daniel Okulitch (Don Giovanni)
Gregory Turay (Don Ottavio)
Kelly Markgraf (Masetto)
Brian Kontes (Commendatore)
Terese Wadden (costume designer)
Jane Cox (lighting designer)

Thursday, March 18, L'Étoile
Julie Boulianne (Lazuli)
Liza Forrester (Aloès)
Dominic Armstrong (Hérisson de Porc-Épic)
François Loup (Siroco)
Alain Gauthier (associate director)

Saturday, April 3, Partenope
Anthony Roth Costanzo (Prince Armindo of Rhodes)
Nicholas Coppolo (Emilio)
Christian Curnyn (conductor)

Friday, March 19, Madama Butterfly
Quinn Kelsey (Sharpless)
Nina Yoshida Nelsen (Suzuki)

Saturday, April 10, Madama Butterfly
Konstantin Stepanov (B.F. Pinkerton)
Nicholas Pallesen (Sharpless)
Krysty Swann (Suzuki)

CITY OPERA FIRSTS

Saturday, November 7, Esther
Beth Clayton (Vashti)
Gerald Thompson (Hegai)
Stephen Kechulius (Xerxes)
Branch Fields (Gravedigger)

Sunday, November 8, Don Giovanni
Keri Alkema (Donna Elvira)
Jason Hardy (Leporello)

Thursday, March 18, L'Étoile
Jean-Paul Fouchécourt (King Ouf I)
Jennifer Zetlan (Laoula)
Andrew Drost (Tapioca)

Friday, March 19, Madama Butterfly
Steven Harrison (B.F. Pinkerton)
Jeffrey Halili (Goro)

Saturday, April 3, Partenope
Cyndia Sieden (Partenope)
Laura Vlasak Nolen (Rosmira)
Iestyn Davies (Prince Arsace of Corinth)
Daniel Mobbs (Ormonte)

Since its founding in 1943, New York City Opera has been recognized as one of America's preeminent cultural institutions, celebrated for its adventurous programming and innovative, risk-taking production style. The company's wide-ranging repertory of 275 works spans five centuries of music and includes 29 world premieres and 61 American and/or New York premieres of such notable works as Bartók's Bluebeard's Castle, Britten's A Midsummer Night's Dream, Shostakovich's Katerina Ismailova, Busoni's Doktor Faust, Prokofiev's The Love for Three Oranges and The Flaming Angel, Zimmermann's Die Soldaten, Schoenberg's Moses und Aron, and Glass' Akhnaten. The company has been a leading showcase for young artists, helping to launch the careers of more than 3,000 singers, including José Carreras, Phyllis Curtin, David Daniels, Plácido Domingo, Lauren Flanigan, Elizabeth Futral, Jerry Hadley, Catherine Malfitano, Bejun Mehta, Sherrill Milnes, Samuel Ramey, Gianna Rolandi, Beverly Sills, Norman Treigle, Tatiana Troyanos, and Carol Vaness. In 1983, City Opera made operatic history when it became the first American opera company to use supertitles, an innovation that has revolutionized the way opera is produced and appreciated worldwide.

In February 2009, George Steel, former executive director of the Miller Theatre at Columbia University, began his tenure as New York City Opera's new General Manager and Artistic Director. Building on the company's core mission of artistic excellence and accessibility, Mr. Steel's plans include broadening the company's adventurous approach to repertory, supporting the careers of promising artists, and continuing to develop the company's acclaimed education and outreach programs.

New York City Opera gratefully acknowledges the following institutions for their leadership support of our 2009-2010 Season: the Mary Flagler Cary Charitable Trust, The Horace W. Goldsmith Foundation, Estate of Ruth Klotz, Lincoln Center Corporate Fund, The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, The Peter Jay Sharp Foundation, and The Alice Tully Foundation.

Production support for Esther generously provided by the Mary Flager Cary Charitable Trust, Susan Zises Green, and the National Endowment for the Arts.

Production support for Don Giovanni generously provided by The Peter Jay Sharp Foundation, Emilie Roy Corey, Dr. Sanfurd G. Bluestein, and Herbert Z. Gold in loving memory of Rita Gold.

Production support for L'Étoile generously provided by Susan Baker and Michael Lynch.

Production support for Partenope generously provided by Joan Granlund and the Charles and Mildred Schnurmacher Foundation, Inc.

American Airlines is the Official Airline of New York City Opera.

The 2009-2010 Season is made possible, in part, with public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs, the New York State Council on the Arts, and the National Endowment for the Arts.

For more information, visit www.nycopera.com.

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