Atlanta Opera’s 2013-2014 lineup features three beloved works: Puccini’s “Tosca” opens the season in October, followed by Gounod’s “Faust” and Rossini’s “The Barber of Seville.”
This will be the inaugural season for the company’s new general and artistic director, Tomer Zvulun. He has a separate career as stage director, and will be the director for “Tosca,” a decision that had been made before he was hired to run the company. He has staged the work elsewhere, and here he will be working with sets from Fort Worth Opera.
In an interview, Zvulun talked about the “dramatic intensity of the opera – how it moves relentlessly forward from that first downbeat to the tragic conclusion.”
One of Puccini’s greatest works, “Tosca” is set in Rome when it was threatened by Napoleon. Corrupt churchmen wield extreme power, and the melodrama turns on intense jealousy, torture, murder, and suicide. But what makes it work is Puccini’s surging score, filled with some of the greatest arias and ensembles in all of opera. Zvulun described it as “the Hitchcock thriller that Hitchcock never directed. Lighting designer Robert Wierzel and I try to feature the cinematic quality of the piece through lighting and storytelling.”
Soprano Kara Shay Thomson, who will make her Atlanta debut in the title role, has portrayed Tosca more than 75 times. The role of Cavaradossi will be sung by Italian tenor Massimiliano Pisapia, making his U.S. debut. Arthur Fagen, the company’s music director, will conduct. “Tosca” opens on Oct. 8 at the Cobb Energy Centre.
On March 8th, the curtain will open on Gounod's "Faust," a five-act, 3½-hour, stage-filling example of French Grand Opera. Based on Goethe's famous work of a knowledge-seeking Renaissance man's deal with the devil, the opera was wildly popular in the 19th Century, and has continued to appear regularly ever since. The demanding role of Marguerite will be sung by soprano Mary Dunleavy, who wowed Atlanta audiences in "La Traviata" last season. The title role will be performed by Noah Stewart, an American tenor, in his Atlanta debut. Zvulun said: "he is on a meteoric rise and we are thrilled to have him here."
The “Faust” production was originally created for Houston Grand Opera by Francesca Zambello, one of America’s best-know opera directors, and will be directed here by Louisa Muller. Earl Staley was the designer. Fagen will conduct.
Rossini's "The Barber of Seville" will open on April 26. Set in Spain, the opera buffa tells the exploits of the wily barber Figaro as he assists Count Almaviva in wooing the maiden, Rosina, who is also being pursued by Dr. Bartolo. Zvulun described "Barber" as "one of the funniest, most charming operas ever written."
For “Barber,” we’ll be getting a “delicious young cast,” according to Zvulun. Baritone Sidney Outlaw will sing the role of Figaro and tenor Juan José de León will portray Almaviva. Both will be making Atlanta debuts. The role of Rosina will be performed by mezzo Irene Roberts. John Stoddart designed the production, which will be directed here by José Maria Condemi, who directed “Cosi fan futti” here in 2011. Craig Kier will conduct.
On Monday, September 30, the company will present a free preview concert, “Opera with an Edge,” featuring excerpts from all three operas, at the Cobb Energy Center at 7 p.m. Zvulun will preside, aided by the inimitable Bob Edge, one of Atlanta Opera’s most illustrious and knowledgeable supporters. The highlights will be performed on the set of “Tosca.”
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