Stilwell and Bernstein Replace Del Carlo in Ravinia Operas, 8/5-8

Bass-baritone Richard Stilwell will sing the role of Don Alfonso in Cosí fan tutte, and bass-baritone Richard Bernstein will sing the role of Bartolo in The Marriage of Figaro with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and members of the Chicago Symphony Chorus conducted by James Conlon. These artists replace an ailing John Del Carlo, who was scheduled to perform both roles. Ravinia will present one evening and one matinee performance each of both full-length operas in the Martin Theatre. Così will be performed at 7 p.m. on Aug. 5 and 1 p.m. on Aug. 7, and Figaro at 7 p.m. on Aug. 6 and 1 p.m. on Aug. 8.

Hailed by The New York Times as "representative of the best type of American singing actor," Richard Stilwell appears regularly with the major opera companies of North America and Europe. He has performed roles in wide range of opera, including Monteverdi's Orfeo, L'incoronazione di Poppea and Il ritorno d'Ulisse in patria; Mozart's The Marriage of Figaro, Don Giovanni and Cosi fan tutte; Rossini's The Barber of Seville; Tchaikovsky's Yeugeny Onegin, Verdi's Falstaff and Britten's Billy Budd.

A 2008 Grammy-nominated artist, Richard Bernstein is at the forefront of singers of his generation. Acclaimed for the resonant beauty of his voice and consummate stage abilities, his magnetic bass-baritone garners praise from critics and audiences alike. He has performed his signature role of Mozart's Figaro worldwide with the Metropolitan Opera as well as companies of Philadelphia, San Diego, Pittsburg, Atlanta, Chicago, Los Angeles, Vancouver, Portland, Palm Beach and others.
Both operas feature all-star casts, including Frederica von Stade and Ana Maria Martinez in Cosí fan tutte, and Nathan Gunn and Ildebrando D'Arcangelo in The Marriage of Figaro. For tickets and information, visit www.ravinia.org.