Utopia Opera Presents Sondheim's PASSION In NYC

On March 9 at 8pm, March 10 at 3pm and 8pm, and March 11 at 3pm, Utopia Opera presents PASSION with music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, book by James Lapine, based on the film "Passione d'Amore" by Ettore Scola, in a fully-staged production performed with a 15-piece orchestra at the Ida K. Lang Recital Hall at Hunter College (695 Park Avenue). Benjamin Spierman stage directs and Utopia founder William Remmers conducts.

Winner of the 1994 Tony Awards for Best Musical, Best Book of a Musical, and Best Original Score, PASSION is a stunning and emotionally dynamic tour de force of obsessive love and military madness in 19th-century Italy from the team behind INTO THE WOODS and SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE. Conductor William Remmers says, "With its elusively lush and mostly through-composed score requiring peak vocalism, PASSION would be well within its rights to occupy a firm place as one of the finest chamber operas in recent memory."

About Utopia Opera

Utopia Opera was founded in 2011. Striving to present the most entertaining operatic performances possible (for audiences and performers alike) while also maintaining a high standard of musical integrity, Utopia Opera has established itself as a young and vibrant addition to New York City's vast operatic landscape, and was recently featured on the cover of the August 2016 issue of Opera News.

In addition to providing young singers with performance opportunities, Utopia aims to share opera of all varieties with a general audience and to reveal its modern relevance. A central part of that mission is realized through giving its audience and performers a stake in the direction of the company, allowing the public to vote on their annual repertoire. Their 2016-17 season featured ASSASSINS, THE GRAND DUKE, THE BALLAD OF BABY DOE, and EUGENE ONEGIN. Their current, seventh season opened with Glass & Ginsberg's HYDROGEN JUKEBOX and Flotow's MARTHA and continues with the U.S. premiere (138 years delayed) of Arthur Sullivan's dramatic oratorio, THE MARTYR OF ANTIOCH on May 5th and, as an official part of the composer's 90th birthday celebrations, the NYC premiere of Thea Musgrave's THE STORY OF HARRIET TUBMAN in early Fall. For more information, find Utopia on Facebook at facebook.com/utopiaopera or visit their website: utopiaopera.org

Tickets ($20 for general admission) are available online (with card) and at the door (card/check/cash). Tickets are available online at: utopiapassion.brownpapertickets.com

CAST

(3/9 & 3/10 matinee)

Clara: Paige Cutrona

Giorgio: Jonathan Fox Powers

Fosca: Elizabeth Bouk

(3/10 evening & 3/11)

Clara: Allyson Herman

Giorgio: Conrad Schmechel

Fosca: Legera Danielides

(all dates)

Colonel Ricci: Dennis Wees

Doctor Tambourri: Jack Anderson White

Lieutenant Torasso: Ray Calderon

Sergeant Lombardi: Benjamin Herman

Lieutenant Barri: Platon Vavylis

Major Rizzolli: Nick Miller

Private Augenti: Ross Schwaber

Foscas Mother: Hannah Spierman

Foscas Father: Benjamin Spierman

Ludovic: Jonathan Price

Mistress: Olivia Harding

Attendants: Lauren Maxwell, MaKayla McDonald, Jessica Vadney

Stage Director: Benjamin Spierman

Conductor: William Remmers
Wardrobe: Eric Lamp/Angel Betancourt

PASSION

Music and Lyrics by Stephen Sondheim

Book by James Lapine

Based on the film "Passione d'Amore" by Ettore Scola

PASSION
Is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI).
All authorized performance materials are also supplied by MTI.
www.MTIShows.com

Photo: Utopia Opera's production of Patience (2013) (photo by: Brynne Morrice)