Rossini's The Barber of Seville
Shave and a haircut
Dec. 5 and 7, 2008
Carol Morsani Hall
Is it love or just a passing infatuation? Only your hairdresser knows for sure!  How can the ardent Count Almaviva win the love of Rosina, the pretty ward of Doctor Bartolo, who wants to marry her himself? With the help of disguise, intrigue and a barber named Figaro, of course! Rossini’s comic masterpiece, The Barber of Seville is beloved by audiences and a mainstay in popular culture.

One of the most-produced operas in world, The Barber of Seville tells the story of a love struck young Count who tries to woo the beautiful Rosina from her guardian, Dr. Bartolo. The Count enlists the help of Seville’s most notorious barber, matchmaker, messenger, valet, wigmaker, surgeon, pharmacist, masseur, veterinarian and general factotum — Figaro, Figaro, Figaro. Luminously crafted, musically ingenious and uproariously hilarious, Barber is a tour de force for the human voice. It contains some of the most popular and recognizable music, including Figaro's “Largo al factotum,”Rosina’s “Una voce poco fa” and the duet they have together, “Dunque io son.” The two-act comic opera founded upon the text “Le Barbier de Séville” by Pierre Beaumarchais with a libretto by Cesare Sterbini debuted at Rome’s Teatro Argentina in February of 1816.  It will be sung in Italian with English translations projected above the stage.

Puccini's Suor Angelica and Gianni Schicchi
Saints and sinners
Feb. 27 and March 1, 2009
Ferguson Hall
Nuns and ne’er-do-wells meet in two one-act operas from Puccini’s Il trittico. Sister Angelica has devoted her life to God and to hiding a terrible secret.  Gianni Schicchi holds the power (and the purse strings) that will determine an aristocratic family’s future. These two diverse stories exemplify the originality of Puccini’s vision and contain some of the most memorable arias of all time.

Suor Angelica (Sister Angelica) is the tragic story of a young nun, Suor Angelica, sent to a convent by her wealthy, noble family for having a child out of wedlock. After hearing the news of her son’s death, she poisons herself, pleading to the Virgin Mary for redemption for her sin, suicide. Suor Angelica features the beautiful and stirring aria “Senza mamma.”

Chaos ensues after Buoso Donati (an extremely wealthy man) dies. His money-grubbing relatives, pretending to be mourning his death, search frantically for his will. After it is found, and it is discovered that he left most of his money and possessions to the local monks, the family is horrified. They beg cunning Gianni Schicchi to find a solution. At first Schicchi does not want to help the family, but eventually agrees to impersonate Buoso Donati and attempt to change the will. In the end, Schicchi succeeds, but ends up giving most of the possessions to himself!

The two productions are the second and third of a trio of Puccini operas known as Il trittico. Set to a libretto by Giovacchino Forzano, it received its world premiere at New York’s Metropolitan Opera on Dec. 14, 1918.  They will be sung in Italian with English translations projected above the stage.

Frederica von Stade and Samuel Ramey
Beauty and the beast
March 22, 2009
Carol Morsani Hall
Mezzo-soprano Frederica von Stade and bass Samuel Ramey join their critically acclaimed voices to bring a concert paying tribute to American music. Frederica von Stade, affectionately known as “Flicka,” has enjoyed success performing both opera and Broadway. Samuel Ramey is considered one of the finest basso cantante singers of his generation, greatly admired for his range and versatility. 

Frederica von Stade has enriched the world of classical music for three decades with her appearances in opera, concert and recital. She has more than 60 recordings including complete operas, aria albums, symphonic works, solo recital programs and popular crossover albums. She was awarded France's highest honor in the arts when she was appointed as an officer of L'Ordre des Arts et des Lettres, and in 1983 she was honored with an award given at The White House by President Reagan in recognition of her significant contribution to the arts.

At the peak of an extraordinary career, Samuel Ramey reigns as the foremost interpreter of bass operatic and concert repertoire. With astounding versatility, he commands an impressive breadth of repertoire encompassing virtually every musical style. His versatility ─ combined with his exceptional musicianship, elegant stage presence and uncommon theatrical abilities ─ enable him to pursue portrayals of tremendous range.

Gounod’s Faust
To hell and back
April 17 and 19, 2009
Carol Morsani Hall
Ever dance with the devil by the pale moonlight? Gounod’s Faust, based on the poetic drama by Goethe, explores the extremes of human desire. To gain the love of the beautiful Marguerite, Faust barters his own soul to Mephistopheles and pays the ultimate price. With lavish costumes and sets, Faust exemplifies the full spectrum of grand opera.

What would you trade to make your wildest dreams come true? Goethe’s story of Faust and his deal with the devil has been the basis for many dramatic and musical interpretations, none more popular than Gounod’s. In the opera, aged alchemist and necromancer, Doctor Heinrich Faust makes a deal with Satan to restore his youthful virility that allows him to pursue the love of the virgin Marguerite. In this story steeped in romance, intrigue and spirituality, Faust is eventuality damned to a hellish servitude for all eternity. A staple of the international repertory, Faust will be sung in French with English translations projected above the stage.