Opera Saratoga Announces 2023 Summer Festival Lineup at Universal Preservation Hall

Opera Saratoga has shared a 2023 summer festival season that will be anchored in the heart of Saratoga Springs.

"We are excited to be partnering with Universal Preservation Hall this season for our MainStage performances and look forward to introducing our audiences to this amazing space right in downtown Saratoga Springs" says Managing Director, Amanda Robie. The season will also feature concert performances in the beloved Spa Little Theatre, The Mansion of Saratoga, and at Caffè Lena.

This season is a celebration of the immense talent of our Festival Artists, comprised of sixteen Festival Artist singers, two conductors, a pianist, and two directors, capstoned by two distinguished guest artists, Andy Papas and Eric McConnell (both of whom are alums of Opera Saratoga's celebrated training program). "I am particularly excited about this season" says Head of Music Staff, Laurie Rogers, "as it is cast completely from either current or former members of our prestigious Young Artist program. Additionally, this year's talented singers, drawn from an application pool of over 900, will be showcased in our Broadway and Stars of Tomorrow concerts."

The festival season provides something for all, featuring three productions: the Tony-award winning A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder, Donizetti's Bel Canto masterpiece Don Pasquale, and a world-premiere of a new children's opera based upon Oscar Wilde's short story The Selfish Giant with music by Clarice Assad and libretto by Lila Palmer and additional festival concerts. Each performance will feature production elements that leverage the unique site-specific features of UPH.

A Gentleman's Guide to Love & Murder is a delightfully devilish musical comedy, with book by Robert L. Freedman and music by Steven Lutvak. The four time Tony-award winning show opened on Broadway at the Walter Kerr Theatre in 2013, winning a Tony for "Best Musical". Opera Saratoga is excited to share a new presentation of this musical comedy, with themes of love, deception, and trickery woven throughout both festival MainStage performances. The Italian "opera buffa" Don Pasquale is one of Gaetano Donizetti's most celebrated works as a musical comedy in three acts. Enjoy this Bel Canto classic as the scheming Dr. Malatesta and Norina's plot unfolds, much to the surprise of her beloved Ernesto and the wealthy Don Pasquale.

In a different thematic context, Opera Saratoga shares the story of Oscar Wilde's The Selfish Giant. The Selfish Giant was developed at American Lyric Theater under the auspices of the Composer Librettist Development Program in New York City with leadership support from The Mellon Foundation and the New York State Council on the Arts. With great timeliness, this opera addresses themes of empathy, compassion, and togetherness as the selfish giant learns to share his bountiful garden with neighboring children - this show is suitable for the entire family! Opera Saratoga presents this work in the summer as an extension of our touring school production, Opera-to-Go which will visit schools throughout the greater Capital region and free performances will occur throughout the summer festival season. A full recording of this work, and comprehensive virtual lesson plan were shared with teachers, free of charge throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.

2023 Festival Performances:

A Gentleman's Guide - June 30, July 2 (matinee), 6, & 8, 2023, Universal Preservation Hall

Don Pasquale - July 1, 7, & 9 (matinee), 2023, Universal Preservation Hall

The Selfish Giant - July 1 (matinee) & 8 (matinee), 2023, Universal Preservation Hall