Utah Opera Announces 2011-12 Season



FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 16, 2011

CONTACT: Hilarie Ashton
Public Relations Manager, Utah Symphony | Utah Opera
(801) 869-9027, hashton@usuo.org
UTAH OPERA ANNOUNCES 2011-12 SEASON

SALT LAKE CITY – Utah Opera Artistic Director Christopher McBeth announced the Utah Opera’s complete 2011-12 season yesterday, featuring four dynamic works: a thematic opener, one of Verdi’s most enduring masterpieces, an Italian comedy and a stunning adaptation of a classic American novel.

The season will open with Beethoven’s only opera, “Fidelio,” which highlights the triumph of the human spirit over adversity, ideally presented in October of 2011, just after the tenth anniversary of 9/11. A subsequent January 2012 run of Giuseppe Verdi’s popular “Rigoletto” will explore matters of love, betrayal, jealousy and revenge. Following the thematic weight of “Fidelio” and “Rigoletto,” Utah Opera will present a bit of comic relief in the form of Donizetti’s “The Elixir of Love“ in March of 2012. Carlisle Floyd’s adaptation of the classic American novel, “Of Mice and Men,” will close the season in May of 2012 as the continuation of McBeth’s American Opera Initiative for the Utah Opera.

The initiative aims to educate and expose Utah Opera audiences to new and classic American operas, a goal McBeth plans to reach by programming one into each new season. The current 2010-11 season’s upcoming production of “Little Women” by Mark Adamo in March will be the first opera to contribute to the initiative, followed by “Of Mice and Men” in 2012.

Season tickets for the 2011-12 Utah Opera season go on sale March 1and can be purchased by calling 801-533-NOTE (6683) or by visiting www.utahopera.org . Seating is assigned on a first-come, first-served basis.

Opera Preview Lectures

Enlightening Opera Preview Lectures are held at the City Library on the Wednesday before each opening night at 7:00 pm.

Opera Prelude
Half-hour introductory lectures by Dr. Carol Anderson, Principal Coach, take place in the orchestra level of the Capitol Theatre one hour prior to curtain of each Utah Opera performance.

Post-performance Q&A with Christopher MCBeth
Utah Opera Artistic Director Christopher McBeth answers questions about the opera following each performance in the Founders Room on the Mezzanine level of the Capitol Theatre.

Classical 89 Broadcasts
Utah Opera performances are broadcast on Classical 89.1. A performance schedule is located at http://www.utahsymphony.org/broadcasts.php.

Vivace and cadenza
Utah Symphony | Utah Opera offers two social and networking organizations, Vivace and Cadenza. Vivace subscribers receive discounted tickets, special program notes, after-parties with guest artists, great catering and the chance to mingle with musicians and guest artists. They will be invited to attend the opening night performance of “Of Mice and Men” on May 5, 2012. Cadenza members receive similar benefits as Vivace members and dine together at local restaurants before performances. They will be invited to attend a performance of “The Elixir of Love” on March 16, 2012.

FULL SCHEDULE OF PERFORMANCES

Fidelio
By Ludwig van Beethoven
October 8, 10, 12, 14, 2011 | 7:30 PM
October 16 | 2 PM
Capitol Theatre

Libretto: Joseph Sonnleithner
Sung in German with English Supertitles
Premier November 20, 1805 in Theater an der Wien in Vienna, Austria
Utah Opera productions: March 1999

Rigoletto
By Giuseppe Verdi
January 21, 23, 25, 27, 2012 | 7:30 PM
January 29 | 2 PM
Capitol Theatre

Libretto: Francesco Maria Piave
Sung in Italian with English Supertitles
Premier March 11, 1851 at La Fenice in Venice, Italy
Utah Opera productions: October 1982, January 1990, January 2001

The Elixir of Love
By Gaetano Donizetti
March 10, 12, 14, 16, 2012 | 7:30 PM
March 18 | 2 PM
Capitol Theatre

Libretto: Felice Romani
Sung in Italian with English Supertitles
Premier: May 12, 1832 at the Taetro della Canobbiana in Milan, Italy
Utah Opera productions: May 1986

Of Mice and Men
By Carlisle Floyd
May 5, 7, 9, 11, 2012 | 7:30 PM
May 13 | 2 PM
Capitol Theatre

Libretto: Carlisle Floyd
Sung in English with English Supertitles
Premier: January 22, 1970 at the Moore Theatre by Seattle Opera
Utah Opera productions: January 1999

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Hilarie Ashton
Public Relations Manager
801.869.9027
hashton@usuo.org