Christopher McBeth, Artistic Director
2008-2009 SEASON
Become a subscriber Dear Friends Opera has never been more popular than it is today. There are more opera companies in the United States than there are in Italy, and the same number of Americans attend live opera performances as attend NFL football games! Opera is now so popular, people even flock to movie theaters around the country to see performances. Why is opera so exciting? It’s the beautiful voices and music combined with drama, scenery, and costumes all rolled up into one exhilarating art form. Be a part of this trend when you see Utah Opera performances, and experience for yourself why opera is so thrilling. In this season, you will see the most beloved of all operas, Madame Butterfly, an uniquely American opera in Regina, as well as one of my personal favorites The Marriage of Figaro, plus the hilariously funny Don Pasquale. We’ve engaged some of the world’s finest artists to bring these operas to life, and I’m eager to share them with you. So, be a part of the excitement and I’ll see you at the opera! Sincerely Christopher McBeth Opera Artistic Director
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oin us for a season of beautiful music and
amazing productions. As a season subscriber, you will have a seat to call your own at the events you want
embrace the romance! to attend—all with one simple phone call! And if lastminute schedule conflicts come up, don’t worry. Your season tickets are as flexible as your schedule is complicated—meaning free exchanges to all performances.
B u y N o w a n d S av e . As a subscriber, your season tickets not only claim your seat at Capitol Theatre—but at a price 20% less than the price of single tickets. Any additional tickets you purchase for the 2008-2009 Utah Opera season and popular Deer Valley® Music Festival are also 20% off. And Utah Symphony tickets are 25% off. You’ll also receive our Subscriber Advantages Card with special discounts at the area’s best restaurants, theaters, spas, book/music stores, museums, and more! Visit utahopera.org/advantages for complete list of subscriber savings.
Call 801-533-NOTE (533-6683)
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adame Butterfly is ranked number 1 on Opera America’s list of the top 20 most-performed works in North America. Some scholars suggest its tragic tale reflects actual events that occurred in Nagasaki, Japan during the early 1890s. Madame Butterfly passionately explores the consequences of obsessive devotion. Pinkerton, a U.S. Navy officer in Japan, contracts what he considers a temporary marriage to Cio-Cio-San, called Butterfly, who renounces religion and family in her adoration for him. When Pinkerton leaves for America, he promises to return “when the robins nest again.” Butterfly blissfully ignores warnings of his unfaithfulness and adamantly insists that her husband would never forget their son, “Sorrow.” Pinkerton does come back, but Butterfly’s devotion and heart are shattered when she realizes he has not returned for her. In her despair she makes the ultimate sacrifice. October 18, 20, 22, 24, 2008 | 7:30 pm Sung in Italian with English supertitles October 26, 2008 | 2 pm Capitol Theatre
Joseph Mechavich Conductor
Garnett Bruce Director
Barbara Shirvis Cio Cio San
Scott Piper Pinkerton
Andrew Oakden Sharpless
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Regina
Marc Blitzstein
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ased on the play The Little Foxes by Lillian Hellman, Regina holds special note for Utahns as it premiered on Broadway in 1949 with conductor Maurice Abravanel. Set in the Deep South in the year 1900, this distinctively American opera chronicles the demise of a wealthy southern family torn apart by greed. Regina Giddens schemes and double-crosses until she is left with only her wealth and loneliness. In Regina, Blitzstein adeptly blends operatic lyricism, spirituals, ragtime, blues, and Dixieland. Though Blitzstein’s work is littleknown today, it has been said that in his era, no one surpassed his genius for setting American words to American music.
January 17, 19, 21, 23, 2009 | 7:30 pm January 25, 2009 | 2 pm Capitol Theatre
Sung in English with English supertitles
Keith Lockhart Conductor
Michael Scarola Director
Deanne Meek Regina
Kristopher Irmiter Horace
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Lisa Vroman Birdie
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The
Marriage
of Figaro
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
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hey say that sequels are never as good as the original…but in this sequel to The Barber of Seville, Mozart created one of his most successful works. Set in Count Almaviva’s castle in Seville, Spain in the late 18th century, The Marriage of Figaro is an opera of love triangles. Figaro is set to marry the beautiful Susanna. Susanna is constantly repelling the repeated advances of the Count. A creditor of Figaro, Marcellina, plans to sabotage Figaro’s nuptials and allow him to settle his debt by marrying her. Cherubino, the page, is lovesick over the Countess. And the Countess seeks to re-attract the attentions of her husband. It is not difficult to imagine the confusion and hilarity that ensues. Through an elaborate domino-effect of blunders, follies, and mistaken identities that are sure to entertain, all parties discover the identity of their rightful partners, repentance and forgiveness abound, and all rejoice in a rightful happily ever after. March 14, 16, 18, 20, 2009 | 7:30 pm Sung in italian with English supertitles March 22, 2009 | 2 pm Capitol Theatre
Christopher Larkin Conductor
David Gately Director
Ryan McKinny Figaro Heidi Stober Susanna Philip Cutlip Count Almaviva
Nicolle Foland Countess Almaviva
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Gaetano Donizetti
Don
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hile Don Pasquale is traditionally set in Rome, Utah Opera’s production uses the Wild West as its backdrop. Don Pasquale is the story of an elderly, wealthy, (and miserly) bachelor who has no heir. To remedy the situation, he tries to persuade his young nephew Ernesto to accept an arranged marriage. Ernesto refuses to obey his uncle since his heart is already pledged to the glamorous yet penniless widow, Norina. In a fit of anger, Pasquale turns the tables on his nephew by disinheriting him and deciding to get married and produce an heir himself. After a bewildering chain of events involving a little fraud and some bogus legal proceedings, the story ends well with true love conquering all — as we hope it always does. May 16, 18, 20, 22, 2009 | 7:30 pm Sung in italian with English supertitles May 24, 2009 | 2 pm Capitol Theatre
Susanne Sheston Conductor Robert Herriot Director
Steven condy Don Pasquale
Celena Shafer Norina
Robert McPherson Ernesto
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Carlos Archuleta Dr. Malatesta
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Pasquale
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*Glade Peterson Society or Maurice Abravanel Society With a $2,000 tax-deductible donation, you can become a member of one of these new societies. You will be eligible to purchase up to two seats in the Grand Tier of the Capitol Theatre or in Section A or B of the First Tier in Abravanel Hall. A $3,000 donation provides membership in both the Peterson Society and Abravanel Society. With your membership, you will also receive free parking, admission to all intermission receptions, and invitations to special events. Please call 801-869-9012 for further details.
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Subscribe Now and Save 20%! When you become a Utah Opera subscriber by purchasing season tickets, you’ll save in multiple ways. ❖ Save 20% on season tickets compared with the price of single tickets ❖ 25% off single tickets to the Utah Symphony and 20% off single tickets to the Deer Valley® Music Festival ❖ No counter fees or phone fees ❖ Valuable savings at restaurants, stores, and more with your Subscriber Advantages Card. Plus ❖ A seat to call your own ❖ Flexible ticket exchanges ❖ Free subscription to e-notes newsletter ❖ Exclusive special event invitations
How to Subscribe To purchase season tickets to the 2008-2009 season of Utah Opera, return the order form included with this season brochure or call 801-533-NOTE (533-6683). Abravanel Hall Ticket Office: 123 West South Temple, Salt Lake City, UT 84101 Hours: M-F 10 am – 6 pm, SAT 10 am – 2 pm utahopera.org/subscriptions Wheelchair seating is available.
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Keeping the Music Alive Utah’s rich artistic heritage is unmatched, as demonstrated by the international recognition garnered over the years by Utah Opera and the Utah Symphony. Both continue to thrive because of your generous support. When buying your season tickets, please keep in mind that your ticket purchase accounts for only one-quarter of our operating cost. We hope you’ll consider adding a tax-deductible donation to your season ticket order. Your contribution will be recognized in our monthly programs, and you’ll feel more connected to the music than ever before. Join the ranks of our supporters today. For more information about making a tax-deductible donation call 801-869-9012 or visit utahopera.org.
Student Season Tickets Students may purchase any four performances in advance for only $32. You’ll have access to performances that are normally restricted—at the student price. You’ll also receive all the benefits of being a subscriber, including unlimited ticket exchanges and the exclusive Subscriber Advantages Card. Student season tickets will be available starting May 5, 2008. For information on student tickets, visit utahopera. org/students.
Utah Symphony Be a part of Keith Lockhart’s Finale Season with the Utah Symphony. For a complete list of concerts and pricing visit utahsymphony.org/ subscriptions or receive a season brochure by calling 801-533-NOTE (533-6683).
E-notes If you’d like to learn more about a performance, sign up for our weekly e-notes newsletter. We’ll e-mail you upcoming performance information, advanced program notes, synopses, music clips, radio spots, discounts, exclusive photos, and more. Simply visit utahopera.org to join and always be informed.
Classical 89.1 Broadcasts Tune-in to Classical 89.1 at 8 pm on the second Tuesday following the close of each production for Utah Opera broadcasts. Visit utahopera.org/broadcasts for performance schedule. 14
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2008-2009 Vivace performances: OPENING WEEKEND Ode to Joy — September 13, 2008 UTAH OPERA Puccini’s Madame Butterfly — October 18, 2008 Elgar’s Cello Concerto — November 8, 2008 UTAH OPERA Blitzstein’s Regina — January 17, 2009 Keith & Olga — February 28, 2009 An Evening of Adventure — March 28, 2009 Tchaik’s Big 5 — May 9, 2009
Performance Lectures Get a behind-the-scenes perspective on the music. Utah Opera Preludes: Begin one hour prior to each performance at the Capitol Theatre. Utah Opera Previews: Begin at 7:30pm at the Downtown Public Library the Wednesday before opening night. Utah Opera Post-Performance Q&A with Christopher McBeth: Following every performance in the Founders Room on the Mezzanine level of Capitol Theatre.
Parking Now that the Downtown Rising construction projects are underway, we would like to assure our patrons there is ample parking available for your upcoming 0ARKING performances. 0LAZAô(OTEL 3OUTHô4EMPLE
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(533-6683)
Vivace is a funkified group—single/ partnered/married—who just happen to get their groove on at classical concerts and opera. To purchase a Vivace (Classical V) subscription, fill out the enclosed Classical V order form, send an email to vivace@utahsymphonyopera.org and request a form, or download it from utahsymphonyopera.org/vivace. On sale May 5, 2008.
For even more downtown parking options please visit utahopera.org/parking or call 801-533-NOTE (533-6683).
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very season Utah Opera & Utah Symphony present a festival that bridges all forms of artistic expression, providing an opportunity to expand and explore how each defines the human experience. This season our theme, A Toast to Vienna, is centered on Utah Opera’s production of Mozart’s The Marriage of Figaro, Utah Symphony’s An Evening in Vienna on March 6-7, and the Viennese Waltzes in our March 20-21 Pops concerts. We’re collaborating with local museums, art galleries, libraries, film centers, performing arts groups, and scholars to explore the lively world of Vienna. This is one festival you won’t want to miss. Visit utahopera.org/ festival for details.
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Abravanel Hall Box Office: 123 West South Temple, Salt Lake City, UT 84101 Hours: Weekdays 10 am – 6 pm; Saturdays 10 am – 2 pm utahopera.org 801-533-NOTE (533-6693) or 800-864-9298