Florentine Opera Season 2012-13

2012-2013 Season From fiery passion

Carmen and a spark of romance,

That’s Amore to comic misadventures

Albert Herring and playful innuendo

The Marriage of Figaro

the Florentine Opera offers a stunning season of world-class performances.

florentine opera company

WILLIAM FLORESCU • GENERAL DIRECTOR

FO_ACQBrochure.indd 3

4/23/12 12:38 PM

“Milwaukee’s Florentine Opera consistently provides the most interesting programming of any opera company in the Midwest.”

– William Weinke, Channel 3000.com • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

THE

2012-2013 Season

by Georges Bizet

October 26 & 28, 2012

“a dangerous m ingling of sex, rebellion and violence”

– The New York Times

A concert of love songs featuring the Florentine Opera Studio Artists

Feb. 8, 9 &10, 2013 ill never be another May Queen w e r e like.

Th ..

ERT A LB ER H

RING

by Benjamin Britten

March 8,10,12,13,15 &17, 2013

BY WOLFGANG AMADEUS MOZART

Playful innuendo and conspiracy run rampant in this day of madness!

May 10 & 12, 2013

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

FO_ACQBrochure.indd 4

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

4/23/12 12:45 PM

by Georges Bizet

October 26 & 28, 2012

Uihlein Hall,

• • • • •

Marcus Center for the Performing Arts

Performed in French with English supertitles projected above the stage Production Sponsored by Charles and Mary Ann LaBahn

Fall under the seductive spell of the gypsy Carmen and her fiery affairs with Don José and the handsome toreador, Escamillo.

The season opens with a scorching production of Bizet’s final work, as one of opera’s most beloved classics returns to the Florentine Opera stage.

s

3

• • • • •

Featured artists include: Audrey Babcock. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Carmen Noah Stewart*. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Don José Rena Harms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Micaëla Keith Phares. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Escamillo Peter Volpe. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Zuniga Dean Anthony . . . . . . . . . . . . . Stage Director Joseph Rescigno. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Conductor *denotes Florentine Opera debut

“With his lustrous voice and good looks, Noah Stewart’s Don José is absolutely superb, both vocally and dramatically.”

– The Chicago Sun-Times

“Audrey Babcock is smoldering!”

– The Washington Post

Babcock

FO_ACQBrochure.indd 5

Stewart

4/23/12 12:46 PM

Sponsored by Glen and Claire Hackmann

February 8, 9 & 10, 2013 Vogel Hall,

Marcus Center for the Performing Arts

Romance abounds as the 2012-2013 Florentine Opera Studio Artists woo audiences in the intimate surroundings of Vogel Hall.

As our Valentine to you, your subscription package includes this ‘affair of the heart’ that is certain to inspire amore. Our Studio Artists will serenade you with classic love songs for an unforgettable evening.

“The Florentine Opera Studio Artist program has become a finishing school for talented young singers.”

– Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

FO_ACQBrochure.indd 6

4/23/12 12:47 PM

Choose a Performance Package that works for you: EVENING PACKAGE – 7:30 pm curtain Friday, October 26, 2012 Friday, February 8 OR Saturday, February 9, 2013 Friday, March 8 OR Friday, March 15, 2013 Friday, May 10, 2013 MATINEE PACKAGE – 2:30 pm curtain Sunday, October 28, 2012 Sunday, February 10 OR Saturday, February 9, 2013 Sunday, March 10 OR Sunday, March 17, 2013 Sunday, May 12, 2013

Or, Enjoy Opera Your Way with a FLEX PACKAGE: Our most flexible subscription package provides you with four vouchers.

Each voucher is redeemable for one seat at any performance – you choose the dates and times that work best for your schedule. As a Flex Pass Subscriber, you can take advantage of voucher redemption during subscriber priority week, before single tickets are made available for purchase to the general public.

Flex Packages are available at the following three seating levels – Tier II (Orchestra Premium, Side Loge, Center Loge A-D) $259 Tier III (Mid, Side and front Orchestra) $203 Tier IV (Rear Orchestra, Center Loge E-J) $155

Pricing and Seating Options

by Benjamin Britten

er be another May Q h ere will nev ueen l T

E B R L T A

ike...

HERRING

March 8, 10, 12, 13, 15 & 17, 2013 Vogel Hall, Marcus Center for the Performing Arts On the centennial of Britten’s birth, the Florentine Opera presents a new production of this 20th century comedic British classic for the very first time! This endlessly witty, poignant, and beautifully layered comic opera reveals the hysterical misadventures of a lonely shop boy in a small English village. Albert Herring is simply teeming with colorful and wickedly amusing characters that will evoke laughter and smiles.

Featured artists include: Rodell Rosel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Albert Herring Abigail Nims*. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Nancy Kathy Pyeatt. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Lady Billows Kathryn Leemhuis*. . . . . . . . . . Florence Pike Andrew Wilkowske*. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Vicar Jamie Offenbach. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Budd William Florescu. . . . . . . . . . . Stage Director Christopher Larkin . . . . . . . . . . . . Conductor Noele Stollmack . . Scenic & Lighting Designer Holly Payne. . . . . . . . . . . . Costume Designer

“Rodell Rosel already possesses the magnetism of a high-voltage Broadway star.”

– The Chicago Sun-Times

*denotes Florentine Opera debut

“Rounding out Don Giovanni’s trio of women, mezzo-soprano Abigail Nims was a spirited, warm-voiced Zerlina.”

* Price includes sales tax and facility fees.

All sales are final.

All mainstage operas feature orchestral accompaniment. That’s Amore features piano accompaniment.

FO_ACQBrochurePS2pager.indd 2-3

Rosel

– New Jersey Star-Ledger

Nims

4/27/12 2:04 PM

BY WOLFGANG AMADEUS MOZART

May 10 & 12, 2013 Uihlein Hall, Marcus Center for the Performing Arts Performed in Italian with English supertitles projected above the stage

Get caught up in the deceptions, counter-deceptions, skirt-chasing, and bullying run rampant in the palace of the Count Almaviva. Set in Spain, this continuation of the plot of The Barber of Seville focuses on the intrigue that unfolds during a single “day of madness” in this grand folly of aristocratic courtship.

Featured artists include: Daniel Belcher . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Figaro Jamie-Rose Guarrine* . . . . . . . . . . Susanna Craig Verm. . . . . . . . . . . . . Count Almaviva Diana McVey*. . . . . . . . Countess Almaviva Adriana Zabala*. . . . . . . . . . . . . Cherubino Frank Kelley . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Don Basilio Candace Evans* . . . . . . . . . . Stage Director Joseph Rescigno. . . . . . . . . . . . . Conductor *denotes Florentine Opera debut

“Guarrine’s sublime performance of Susanna’s fourth‐act aria, Deh vieni non tardar, was a performance highlight.”

– Salt Lake Tribune

Guarrine

FO_ACQBrochure.indd 8

Belcher

“Daniel Belcher balanced polished vocal work with a perfectly charming character...”

– Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

4/23/12 12:51 PM

Why Subscribe?

By subscribing for our full season, you can ensure that you’ll be in the best seats, all season long while saving 20% over the cost of single tickets.

Priority Seating: Florentine Opera season ticket holders receive priority seating over single ticket buyers.

Guaranteed Discount on Additional Single Tickets Subscribers also receive single ticket priority and discounts on additional single ticket orders to bring friends and family to the opera.

Generous Ticket Exchange Privileges Subscribers are the only patrons granted ticket exchange privileges in the event that they cannot attend their scheduled performance.

The ‘Diva Discount’ Card This exclusive subscriber benefit offers subscribing patrons rewards and discounts to a variety of events, area businesses and restaurants.

How To Subscribe Full Payment You may pay for your ticket subscription in full by check, payable to Florentine Opera, or charge your Visa, MasterCard, American Express or Discover credit card.

Installment Option The easy, affordable way to subscribe!

Credit/debit cards only. First installment is one half of the total amount due; the first installment is charged to your credit card when you subscribe or renew. Second installment (the remaining balance plus $8.00 handling fee) is charged to your credit card in July 2012. Full payment is required prior to tickets being mailed.

The Florentine Opera opens the 2012-2013 Season with Audrey Babcock in Carmen.

Photo by Cory Weaver, courtesy of Utah Festival Opera

FO_ACQBrochure.indd 9

4/23/12 12:51 PM

Choose a Performance Package that works for you: EVENING PACKAGE – 7:30 pm curtain Friday, October 26, 2012 Friday, February 8 OR Saturday, February 9, 2013 Friday, March 8 OR Friday, March 15, 2013 Friday, May 10, 2013 MATINEE PACKAGE – 2:30 pm curtain Sunday, October 28, 2012 Sunday, February 10 OR Saturday, February 9, 2013 Sunday, March 10 OR Sunday, March 17, 2013 Sunday, May 12, 2013

Or, Enjoy Opera Your Way with a FLEX PACKAGE: Our most flexible subscription package provides you with four vouchers.

Each voucher is redeemable for one seat at any performance – you choose the dates and times that work best for your schedule. As a Flex Pass Subscriber, you can enjoy priority seating by purchasing during the subscriber only period (May 1 - July 31, 2012), before single tickets are made available for purchase to the general public.

Flex Packages are available at the following three seating levels – Tier II (Orchestra Premium, Side Loge, Center Loge A-D) $259 Tier III (Mid, Side and front Orchestra) $203 Tier IV (Rear Orchestra, Center Loge E-J) $155

Pricing and Seating Options

* Price includes sales tax and facility fees.

All sales are final.

All mainstage operas feature orchestral accompaniment. That’s Amore features piano accompaniment.

FO_ACQBrochure.indd 10

4/23/12 12:52 PM

Secure your seat for tales of passion, wit and intrigue from the Florentine Opera Company!

Questions?

Call 414.291.5700 ext. 224

FO_ACQBrochure.indd 11

4/23/12 12:52 PM

Once you have completed this form: Fold along the perforation, detach this page and mail to the addresses listed above.

To order by phone, call 414.291.5700 ext. 224

or 1.800.326.7372

FO_ACQBrochure.indd 12

4/23/12 12:52 PM

General Information VENUES: Uihlein Hall (Carmen, The Marriage of Figaro) Vogel Hall (That’s Amore, Albert Herring) All performances of the 2012-2013 season are held at: Marcus Center for the Performing Arts • 929 N. Water Street, Milwaukee, WI

Uihlein Hall

Vogel Hall

Handling Fee All subscription orders are subject to an $8.00 handling fee.

Marcus Center Facility Fee All ticket prices include a $3.00 per seat facility fee that ensures the future maintenance of the Marcus Center for the Performing Arts.

Special Needs Special seating and assistance are available for patrons in wheelchairs, as well as visually and hearing impaired patrons.

Questions Call 414-291-5700 ext. 224 or 1-800-326-7372 ext. 224 (9:00am-4:00pm, Monday thru Friday), email us at info@florentineopera.org, or visit our website at www.florentineopera.org anytime.

Opera Around Town For a complete list of other community enrichment events and appearances around town, visit www.florentineopera.org/events.

FO_ACQBrochure.indd 13

4/23/12 12:52 PM

www.florentineopera.org

A note from General Director William Florescu-

We’ve planned an exciting 2012-2013 season — beginning in October with the hottest Carmen in our history, continuing in February with our Studio Artists’ tribute to love That’s Amore, a March return to intimate Vogel Hall for one of my personal favorites, Benjamin Brittan’s poignantly comic chamber opera, Albert Herring, and a May invitation to The Marriage of Figaro in Uihlein Hall — these tales of passion, innuendo, and romance will touch your soul and delight your spirit.

Don’t miss the opportunity to secure the best seats in the house at 20% Off and receive special benefits.

Subscribe today for tales of passion, wit, and intrigue performed by renowned singers in live, internationally-celebrated productions created by the Florentine Opera Company.

Call 414-291-5700 ext. 224 for personalized assistance with ticketing.

The Florentine Opera celebrates two Grammy Awards for the NAXOS recording of the Florentine’s production of Elmer Gantry by composer Robert Aldridge. The 2012 Grammy Awards include: Best Classical Contemporary Composition and Best Engineered Album, Classical with an additional nomination for Classical Producer of the Year.

A special thanks to:

Florentine Opera 2012-2013 season promotional art was created by Brian Frey, Sami Mainiero, Michael Petrella and Ryan Streolz: Visual Resources Design Group; Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design © 2012; Cover Photo by Christopher Barbeau courtesy of Toledo Opera.

FO_ACQBrochure.indd 2

For up-to-the-minute news, special offers, and events: Find us on Facebook / Follow us on Twitter.

4/19/12 3:38 PM