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Click here for the Opera Plus Series Order form
2009-2010 OPERA PLUS SERIES
Two operas offered each year with a reception, dinner or both -- excellent seats. This season: Hagemann's, Ruth and Wolf-Ferrari's I gioielli della Madonna. Also New American Opera Previews program.
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Metro Chamber Orchestra
The Metro Chamber Orchestra, under the direction of founder PHILIP NUZZO, will open its seventh season with the New York City concert premiere of PHILIP HAGEMANN’s one-act chamber opera Ruth. Ruth is based on the Old Testament book of the same name. The familiar story is of Naomi and her two Moabite daughters-in-law, Ruth and Orpah, all of whom have become widows. Naomi says she must return to Judah, her homeland, and the young women must return to their Moabite families. But Ruth insists on accompanying Naomi to Judah ("Whither thou goest ..."). In Judah Ruth works in the fields of Boaz, an unmarried kinsman who notices her and takes her as his wife.
The opera was first staged at Southern Illinois University in 2003. Prior to that (2001) it received a concert performance by the Rockland County Choral Society, conducted by the composer, and one scene was presented in 2002 at a program of the New York Singing Teachers Association in the Rose Building, Lincoln Center. This will be the New York City premiere. An important element of the opera is a women's chorus, which sometimes narrates the story and sometimes functions as the women of the village. The musical idiom is basically harmonic and lyrical.
The program will also include the world premiere of the reduced orchestration of Rossini’s cantata Giovanna d’arco and the final scene of Saint-Saën’s Samson et Dalila. The Metro Chamber Orchestra will present these operas in concert on Sunday, November 8, 2009,7:30 PM, at the Christ and St. Stephens Episcopal Church, 122 West 69th St. @ Columbus Ave. A reception will follow.
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New American Opera Previews
MIDGE WOOLSEY will host an afternoon of excerpts from two new operas that will be performed in the near future. These opera excerpts will be performed by singers from the Encompass New Opera Theatre and the Manhattan School of Music. Ms. Woolsey will moderate panels comprised of composers, librettists, directors, and performers.
New American Opera Previews will be held on Sunday, March 14, 2010, 2:30 PM at the Manhattan School of Music, Broadway and West 122nd St., Greenfield Recital Hall - second floor. A reception will follow.
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Teatro Grattacielo
Teatro Grattacielo, of which DUANE PRINTZ is the founder and general director, will present the only verismo opera written by Ermanno Wolf-Ferrari, I gioielli della Madonna (The Jewels of the Madonna). Wolf-Ferrari was best known for his comic operas, many set to texts by Venetian playwright, Carlo Goldoni. I gioielli della Madonna premiered in Berlin in December 1911. It premiered in Chicago in January 1912 and it premiered at the Metropolitan Opera conducted by Arturo Toscanini in March 1912.
The opera is verismo at its crudest; a violent story that takes place in Naples on the Festival of Madonna (July 16th) and the next morning. The leading soprano, Maliella, is a restless, willful young woman – a potential Carmen. She is pursued by a good young man but loves a “mafioso”-type. Her passion for the “jewels of the Madonna” leads to a tragic ending. The opera will be performed in concert version in late spring at Avery Fisher Hall, Lincoln Center. The seats are located in the “house seat” area. Included in the price is a reception after the performance.
Please reserve for 2009-2010 OPERA PLUS SERIES
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