The Brevard Music Center and Asheville Lyric Opera Partner to Co-Produce Verdi's RIGOLETTO in 2015

The Brevard Music Center (BMC) and Asheville Lyric Opera (ALO) announce a new partnership to co-produce Giuseppe Verdi's masterful opera Rigoletto in 2015. Performances will take place in Brevard, at the Porter Center on the campus of Brevard College, on June 25 and June 27, 2015, and in Asheville, at the Diana Wortham Theatre, on July 2 and July 5, 2015. All performances will occur during ALO's 2015 season and BMC's 2015 Summer Institute and Festival.

BMC alumnus and leading operatic baritone Grant Youngblood will return to western North Carolina to sing the title role of Rigoletto. Youngblood has appeared at the Metropolitan Opera and with orchestras and opera companies throughout the U.S. and internationally. All other roles will be performed by BMC opera students who, during the summer institute, comprise the Janiec Opera Company of the Brevard Music Center. BMC Director of Opera Dean Anthony will direct the production and ALO's Jon Truitt will serve as Artistic Advisor. The artistic staffs of both organizations will work together throughout the preparation and performance timeline to take full advantage of the strengths of both institutions. BMC and ALO will share technical responsibilities and general administrative support.
"This partnership will attract regional arts and civic leaders who are interested in two of western North Carolina's most vibrant arts organizations working together to individually and collectively add value to their institutions," said BMC President Mark Weinstein. "This collaboration is exciting and unique in the business, and will significantly impact our students and faculty, as well as music and opera lovers across the region."

ALO Founder David Starkey, who serves as General and Artistic Director of the company, echoed Weinstein's enthusiasm.

"As a Brevard Music Center alumnus, the partnership of these institutions forging a new future is such an honor to witness," said Starkey. "ALO believes that both organizations can showcase the best in each other as we give life to this towering work of the operatic repertoire."

The project leverages BMC's and ALO's valued bonds and accomplishment of community partnerships with established local arts organizations. It will enable the organizations to share costs and resources, resulting in a production of the best possible artistic quality. The performances will reach a larger, regional and more diverse audience, and will have a greater impact on the arts and culture of western North Carolina. The collaboration will enhance the education and mentoring of Brevard's students as they will be provided the opportunity to work in an established professional opera house, tour a show and perform it in different surroundings and acoustics, while experiencing the accoutrements of the professional opera world. The partnership seeks to establish and highlight the natural stepping stone process students can take from a top-tier educational institution to a successful professional opera company.

BMC Artistic Director Keith Lockhart, also conductor of the legendary Boston Pops, welcomes the collaboration.
"This partnership has the potential to establish a new way of thinking and working between professional and educational institutions. The commitment and leadership of both BMC and ALO illustrate that fresh and innovative thinking is alive and well in the arts."

Tickets for the production are now on sale at www.dwtheatre.com or by calling 828-257-4530, or by visiting

www.ashevillelyric.org or calling 828-236-0670. Visit www.brevardmusic.org and www.ashevillelyric.org for more information.

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