Opera lovers will have a wide selection to choose from this summer with companies offering Baroque to musical comedy productions.
Glimmerglass Opera presents four productions at the Alice Busch Opera Theater near Cooperstown.
Puccini’s “Tosca” opens July 9 in 15 performances at varied times that end Aug. 24. With its lush, sweeping score and plot filled with sex, politics, religion and a murder or two, it’s a perfect theatrical evening. Sung in Italian with English supertitles, it will be conducted by David Angus, the company’s new music director.
Copland’s “The Tender Land” begins July 10 in nine performances at varied times that end Aug. 21. Written for a cast of young singers, the opera tells a bittersweet story of a young girl’s coming of age. In keeping with authenticity, the entire cast will be from the Class of 2010 and will be conducted by Stewart Robertson, the former music director who founded the company’s Young American Artists Program. The production will be sung in English.
Mozart’s “The Marriage of Figaro” (the second company this season to offer this opera — see Seagle Music Colony) will open July 17 in 12 performances at varied times that end Aug. 22. It’s a madcap comedy of misunderstandings, disguises and intrigues sure to delight. Sung in Italian with English supertitles, Angus will conduct.
Handel’s “Tolomeo” opens July 18 in eight performances at varied times that end Aug. 23. This is the first professional staging of the opera in America and will feature countertenor Anthony Roth Costanzo, who will soon make his New York City Opera and Metropolitan Opera debuts. Audiences will thrill to its virtuosic vocal writing and intricate plots. Sung in Italian with English supertitles, Christian Curnyn will conduct.
Subscription prices vary depending on the day of the week, the seat location and the number of performances. Single tickets also vary and run from $26 to $126. Call 607-547-2255 or visit www.glimmerglass.org.
Lake George Opera at Saratoga opens its 49th summer season and the 13th year it has performed at the Spa Little Theatre in Saratoga Springs.
Bizet’s “Carmen” will open July 8 in six performances at varied times that end July 18. The enormously popular opera is a star vehicle for any mezzo-soprano. This season it is Kendall Gladen, who is making her company debut. The opera will be sung in French with English supertitles. Artistic director Curt Tucker will conduct.
Donizetti’s “Viva La Mamma” will open July 9 in four performances at varied times that end July 17. This is the first time the company will produce this comic opera, which is considered one of Donizetti’s most hilarious. It will be sung in Italian with English supertitles. John Douglas, the director of the company’s Apprentice Artist Class, will conduct.
Subscriptions range from $144 to $90. Single tickets go on sale Feb. 16 and are $90 to $45. Call 584-6018 or visit www.lakegeorgeopera.org.
Hubbard Hall Opera Theater returns this season with Humperdinck’s “Hansel and Gretel.” The cast will involve several local children. The production will be sung in English. As in the past, the dress rehearsal on Aug. 12 will be open to the public by donation. Five performances at varied times are scheduled from Aug. 13 through Aug. 22. Michael Ricciardone will conduct. Single tickets are $30 to $20. Call 677-2495 or visit www.hubbardhall.org.
The Seagle Music Colony in Schroon Lake opens its 95th season with four productions scheduled for 8 p.m. on the mainstage at the Oscar Seagle Memorial Theatre. As in all productions this summer, the singers are young artists who either are just making a name for themselves in the professional world or are exceptionally talented graduate students from many of the nation’s top conservatories.
Jerry Herman’s “Hello Dolly” (June 29 through July 2) is a musical theater classic of almost larger than life Broadway proportions with some of the most famous tunes.
Mozart’s “The Marriage of Figaro” (July 14 through July 17), which will be sung in Italian with English supertitles, is one of the most performed of all operas. The Seagle is one of two companies performing the opera this season. See Glimmerglass Opera.
Gounod’s “Romeo and Juliet” (July 28 through July 31) is the most famous retelling of the tragic love story. Critics say it is the opera that is closest to Shakespeare’s play and is the most frequently staged because of its soaring melodies.
Rodgers and Hammerstein’s “Carousel” (Aug. 11 through Aug. 14) was considered Richard Rodgers’ own favorite musical with unforgettable characters and beautiful songs.
Subscriptions are $93.50 (adult) and $59.50 (child 12 and under) and went on sale Jan. 1. Single tickets are $25 and $30. For more information, call 532-7875 or visit www.seaglecolony.com.
Categories: Life and Arts
