Madison Opera's ROMEO & JULIET and THE MAGIC FLUTE to Broadcast on WPR

Madison Opera partners with Wisconsin Public Radio to present recorded broadcasts of Gounod's Romeo & Juliet on Saturday, May 20 and Mozart's The Magic Flute on Saturday, May 27. Both broadcasts begin at 1pm. Listeners can tune into their local WPR station or stream online at www.wpr.org/listen-live.

Each spring, two operas from Madison Opera's season are presented by Wisconsin Public Radio to let listeners re-live the season. These broadcasts cap off the end of the season of live radio broadcasts from The Metropolitan Opera that run from December through May on WPR's News & Classical Music Network.

"We are committed to showcasing some of the best music and arts performances in Wisconsin. Our broadcast partnership with the Madison Opera, and organizations and musicians throughout the state, help to ensure everyone has access to live and local concerts no matter where they live," Peter Bryant, director of WPR's News and Classical Music, said.

Charles Gounod's Romeo & Juliet opens the broadcast series on Saturday, May 20 at 1pm. In 14th century Verona, Romeo meets Juliet in a crowded ballroom, setting in motion a chain of events that will change both their families. With soaring arias, impassioned scenes, and plenty of sword fights, Gounod's gorgeous opera brings Shakespeare's classic tale of star-crossed lovers to vivid life.

Madison Opera's cast features Emily Birsan as Juliet, John Irvin as Romeo, Sidney Outlaw as Mercutio, Stephanie Lauricella as Stephano, Liam Moran as Friar Lawrence, Allisanne Apple as Gertrude, Chris Carr as Tybalt, Philip Skinner as Lord Capulet, Benjamin Sieverding as the Duke of Verona, NathaniAl Hill as Gregorio, James Held as Paris, and Andrew F. Turner as Benvolio. John DeMain conducts, featuring the Madison Opera Chorus and Madison Symphony Orchestra. The broadcast includes an intermission feature with Birsan, Irvin, and DeMain, interviewed by WPR's Lori Skelton.

On Saturday, May 27 at 1pm, the broadcasts conclude with Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's The Magic Flute. A prince, a princess, a bird-catcher, and a host of other fascinating characters invite you into a fantastical world of charmed musical instruments, mystical rituals, and a quest for enlightenment and wisdom. Written in the last year of his life, Mozart's sublime opera is part fairy tale, part adventure story, and all enchantment.

Madison Opera's cast features Amanda Woodbury as Pamina, Andrew Bidlack as Tamino, Alan Dunbar as Papageno, Caitlin Cisler as The Queen of the Night, Nathan Stark as Sarastro, Scott Brunscheen as Monostatos, Amanda Kingston as the First Lady, Kelsey Park as the Second Lady, Anna Parks as the Third Lady, Anna Polum as Papagena, Matthew Scollin as the Speaker, Robert A. Goderich as the First Priest / Armored Man, and James Held as the Second Priest / Armored Man. Gary Thor Wedow conducts, featuring the Madison Opera Chorus and Madison Symphony Orchestra. The broadcast include an intermission feature with Woodbury, Bidlack, Dunbar, and Wedow, interviewed by WPR's Lori Skelton.

Madison Opera is a non-profit professional opera company based in Madison, Wisconsin. Founded in 1961, the company grew from a local workshop presenting community singers in English-language productions to a nationally recognized organization producing diverse repertoire and presenting leading American opera singers alongside emerging talent. A resident organization of the Overture Center for the Arts, Madison Opera presents three productions annually in addition to the free summer concert Opera in the Park and a host of educational programming.