THE MAGIC FLUTE, LA BOHEME et al. Set for Opera Columbus 2012-13 Season

Subscriptions go on sale today for the 2012-13 Opera Columbus season which sees the return of Toronto-based Opera Atelier and the New YorK Gilbert & Sullivan Players. The two-show season includes Opera Atelier's revival of Mozart's wildly popular The Magic Flute and the back-by-popular-demand New YorK Gilbert & Sullivan Players in H.M.S. Pinafore. Both productions will again employ local artists-the Opera Columbus Chorus and the Columbus Symphony-and all performances will be held in the Southern Theatre.

In addition, Opera Columbus will collaborate with Shadowbox Live in the 2012-13 season to launch a new program called Opera Cabaret. The program strives to make the art form of opera accessible to new audiences with live, abridged performances of popular operas sung in English that are free of charge. The first Opera Cabaret presentation will be Puccini's La bohème.

The 2012-13 Opera Columbus subscription includes:

Opera Atelier in Mozart's THE MAGIC FLUTE
Saturday, April 27, 2013, 8pm
Sunday, April 28, 2013, 2pm
Southern Theatre (21 E. Main St.)
Toronto-based Opera Atelier specializes in the production of opera, ballet, and drama from the 17th and 18th centuries, drawing upon the aesthetics and ideals of the period, showcasing soloists of international acclaim, and featuring period ballet, elaborate stage decor, exquisite costumes, and an imaginative energy that sets them apart. The Magic Flute tells the story of a prince named Tamino who is sent by The Queen of the Night to rescue her daughter Pamina from her nemesis Sarastro. Accompanied by the endearingly incorrigible Papageno and the aid of a magic flute, the besotted Tamino ventures into the temple and quickly finds that all is not as it seems. An enchanting tale that delights audiences of all ages, The Magic Flute is perhaps Mozart's greatest popular success. Sung in English with English SURTITLES™, the opera will be performed with the Opera Columbus Chorus and Columbus Symphony, and feature the Artists of Atelier Ballet. 

The New YorK Gilbert & Sullivan Players in H.M.S. PINAFORE
Friday, June 7, 2013, 8pm
Saturday, June 8, 2013, 8pm
Sunday, June 9, 2013, 2pm
Southern Theatre (21 E. Main St.)
Ride a wave of music and laughter as romantic sailors, sisters, cousins, and aunts sing and dance their way across the deck of the fanciful British naval vessel with the improbable name. Set directly on the ship's deck, this energetic production offers the rich sounds of a full orchestra, chorus, and soloists who seamlessly merge the classic elegance of the musical with a contemporary sense of humor to keep the show alive and exciting for a modern audience.
Performed with the Opera Columbus Chorus and Columbus Symphony. www.nygasp.org

Subscriptions range from $65.50-$177 per person and go on sale today. They can be purchased at the Ohio Theatre Ticket Office (39 E. State St.) or by phone at (614) 469-0939.

In addition, Opera Columbus will embark on a new collaboration with Shadowbox Live called Opera Cabaret, an innovative, new program designed to take opera out of a traditional theatre setting and transform it into an immersive, interactive, and highly accessible experience in a casual environment. Opera Cabaret is designed to appeal to audiences aged 21-40, and to provide an introduction to opera for those who have no experience with the art form or who may not be inclined to attend a traditional opera performance in a theatre. Admission is free.

In the 2012-13 season, the Opera Cabaret program will present Puccini's La bohème:

Opera Cabaret presents LA BOHÈME
Co-presented by Opera Columbus and Shadowbox Live
October 14-November 18, 2012, 4pm (Sundays only)
Shadowbox Live's Backstage Bistro (503 S. Front St.)
Opera Columbus and Shadowbox Live present the Opera Cabaret performance of Puccini's La bohème, one of the most popular operas of all time. Directed by Shadowbox's Stev Guyer, the performances will feature young artists performing an abridged, English-language adaptation of this opera centered on a community of artists in Paris and the romantic and stormy relationship between Rodolfo and Mimi. First performed in 1896, it became the inspiration for the Broadway musical, Rent, winner of the 1996 Pulitzer Prize for Drama and the 1996 Tony Award for Best Musical, Best Score, and Best Book. Free admission.

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