Florentine Opera’s 2015-16 Season

Season Reveal. Photo courtesy of Florentine Opera Company.

THE IRON HORSE HOTEL IN MILWAUKEE, Wisconsin, 7:30PM, March 25, 2015—The Florentine Opera Company General Director William Florescu announced the nation’s sixth oldest opera company’s 82nd season with a ‘grand reveal party’:

“I am thrilled to introduce you to our exciting 2015-16 season, which is an exciting reflection of our vision – outstanding performances of standard and new work performed by the finest singing actors working in opera today.

This season features three opera productions by the art-form’s finest composers: Giacomo Puccini’s Madama Butterfly and Johann Strauss II’s Die Fledermaus are consistently chosen as favorite operas throughout the world – and the vocal, musical, and dramatic forces we are assembling for these works promise performances to rival those you can hear and see anywhere in the world.

Our new production of Three Decembers by this country’s most performed operatic composer, Jake Heggie (Dead Man Walking, Moby Dick) promises an intimate operatic experience in the Wilson Theater at Vogel Hall.  This work follows in the tradition of Florentine Opera’s philosophy of contemporary opera – inventive, engaging works that speak to audiences through a musical idiom that moves, thrills, and transports.

Our Annual Studio Artist Concert at the Wilson Theatre at Vogel Hall has a frothy theme this year – Vienna… City of my Dreams will continue to warm the hearts of opera-goers and new comers alike–a great opportunity to hear the next generation of singers as we help launch them here in Milwaukee.”

Noted the company’s general Director William Florescu at the full-house event (over 100 RSVPs and hefty a local walk-up).

The 82nd Season of great opera from the Florentine begins on October 16 and 18, 2015 with Giacomo Puccini’s tale of romance and betrayal Madama Butterfly in the Marcus Center’s Uihlein Hall, in Milwaukee, WI. Acclaimed soprano Alyson Cambridge (Mimi in La Bohème 2014) returns as Cio-Cio-San, tenor Eric Barry makes his Florentine debut in the role of Pinkerton, and Julia Mintzer makes her Florentine debut singing the role of Suzuki. A cast of acclaimed singers including Mark Walters (La Traviata 2013) as Sharpless, Rodell Rosel (The Magic Flute 2009, Susannah 2012, Albert Herring 2013) as Goro, join the Florentine Opera Chorus on stage–directed by William Florescu, and the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra with Francesco Lecce-Chong making his Florentine conducting debut.

On February 12, 13 and 14, 2016 the 2015-2016 Florentine Opera Studio Artists perform Vienna… City of my Dreams in the newly renovated Wilson Theater in the Marcus Center’s Vogel Hall  – Valentine’s Day weekend would not be complete without a romantic tour of the old world origins of musical drama. The new quartet of Florentine Opera Studio Artists will delight audiences with the beauty of operetta, arias and song.

On March 11, 13, 16, 18 and 20, 2016, the season continues in the Wilson Theater at Vogel Hall with Three Decembers by Jake Heggie (Moby-Dick, Dead Man Walking). This lustrous chamber opera reveals three decades in the lives of a Broadway diva (Lucy Schaufer, debut), her adult son sung by Keith Phares (Title role in the two-time Grammy® Winner Elmer Gantry 2010) and her daughter sung by Rena Harms (Turandot 2011), with a poignant and witty libretto by Gene Scheer– directed by William Florescu and conducted by the Florentine’s Joseph Rescigno in the Wilson Theater at Vogel Hall. – “a modern masterpiece” (Opera Today).

On May 13 and 15, 2016, The 82nd Season waltzes to delightful operatic tempo of Die Fledermaus by Johann Strauss II. This comical tale of playful deceptions and witty social games is layered in the great Viennese melodies of Strauss II with a playful German libretto by Karl Haffner and Richard Genée.  John Hoomes (Elmer Gantry 2010) returns to direct a cast of talented singers including Inna Dukach in her Florentine debut as Rosalinde, Corey McKern (The Elixir of Love 2015, La Bohème 2014) as Eisenstein, Milwaukee favorite Bill Theisen as Frosch, and the Florentine Opera chorus, under the baton of Joseph Rescigno in Uihlein Hall.

In addition, the Florentine Opera will continue its new community based performance series in the Riverwest neighborhood. The @ The Center series will kick-off its 3rd season in the Fall of 2015 – this innovative, neighborhood series will provide a variety of intimate performances including: concerts and staged scene revues. The @ The Center series will be held at the Wayne and Kristine Lueders Florentine Opera Center. More to come, on this celebrated series.

TICKETS

Single ticket prices begin at just $30 (@ The Center tickets will begin at just $15) with ‘Friday Evening’ and ‘Sunday Matinee’ season ticket packages from $78-$318. ‘Quartet’, ‘Trio’, ‘Duet’, and ‘Flex Packages’ are also available (allowing you to choose the dates and times that work best for you). New subscription sales begin May 1, 2015 and single ticket sales begin August 31, 2015.  For more information on ordering ticket packages visit www.florentineopera.org or call (414) 291-5700 ext. 224.

PERFORMANCE / EVENT INFORMATION

WHAT:

82nd Season Reveal – a free event, hosted by Bill Florescu with performances by the Florentine Opera Studio Artists

WHEN:      

Wednesday, March 25, 2015 @ 6 PM – 7:30 PM

WHERE:   

The Iron Horse Hotel
500 W Florida St, Milwaukee, WI 53204

CAST:   

Soprano / Julie Tabash
Mezzo-Soprano / Lindsay Metzger
Tenor / Aaron Short
Baritone / Pablo Siqueiros

WHAT:    

Madama Butterfly
By Giacomo Puccini
Performed in Italian with English translations displayed above the stage     

WHEN:       

Friday, October 16, 2015 @ 7:30 PM
Sunday, October 18, 2015 @ 2:30 PM

WHERE:   

All performances are held in Uihlein Hall at Marcus Center for the Performing Arts, 929 North Water Street, Milwaukee, WI 53202

CAST:   

Stage Director / William Florescu
Conductor / Francesco Lecce-Chong
Cio-Cio-San / Alyson Cambridge
Pinkerton / Eric Barry *
Suzuki / Julia Mintzer *
Sharpless / Mark Walters
Goro / Rodel Rosell
*denotes Florentine debut

WHAT:    

Vienna… City of my Dreams.
A concert revue     

WHEN:       

Friday, February 12, 2016 @ 7:30 PM
Saturday, February 13, 2016 @ 7:30 PM
Sunday, February 14, 2016 @ 2:30 PM

WHERE:   

All performances are held in the newly renovated
Wilson Theater at the Marcus Center’s Vogel Hall
123 E State Street Milwaukee, WI 53202

CAST:   

Director | William Florescu
Musical Preparation | Scott S. Stewart
2015-2016 Florentine Opera Studio Artists

WHAT:    

Three Decembers
By Jake Heggie
Performed in English

WHEN:       

Friday, March 11, 2016 @ 7:30 PM
Sunday, March 13, 2016 @ 2:30 PM
Wednesday, March 16, 2016 @ 7:30 PM
Friday, March 18, 2016 @ 7:30 PM
Sunday, March 20, 2016 @ 2:30 PM

WHERE:   

All performances are held in the newly renovated
Wilson Theater at the Marcus Center’s Vogel Hall
123 E State Street Milwaukee, WI 53202

CAST:   

Stage Director / William Florescu
Conductor / Joseph Rescigno
Madeline / Lucy Schaufer *
Beatrice / Rena Harms
Charlie / Keith Phares
*denotes Florentine debut

WHAT:    

Die Fledermaus
By Johann Strauss II
Performed in German with English translations displayed above the stage

WHEN:       

Friday, May 13, 2016 @ 7:30 PM
Sunday, May 15, 2016 @ 2:30 PM

WHERE:   

All performances are held in Uihlein Hall at Marcus Center for the Performing Arts, 929 North Water Street, Milwaukee, WI 53202

CAST:   

Stage Director / John Hoomes
Conductor / Joseph Rescigno
Eisenstein / Corey McKern
Rosalinde / Inna Dukach *
Frausch / Bill Theisen
*denotes Florentine debut

INFORMATION / INTERVIEWS

For additional biographies or to schedule an interview, please contact Richard Clark, Director of Marketing & Communications, by telephone at 414/291.5700 ext 213, or via email at rclark@florentineopera.org.

ABOUT THE FLORENTINE OPERA COMPANY

The Florentine Opera Company’s productions reflect the highest musical and theatrical standards, while supporting community and educational programs. As a leader in Wisconsin’s art community and the nation’s sixth-oldest opera company, the Florentine Opera seeks to establish a significant presence in the cultural, educational and civic life of the state of Wisconsin and beyond. Audiences enjoy beautiful main stage productions that include first-rate vocal artistry brought to life by established and emerging international, national and local opera stars. With a foundation of fiscal responsibility, the company continues to grow its artistic and educational programs. Through its community engagement and in-school educational programming, the Florentine provides vital arts education experiences for children, nurtures new audiences, and expands cultural horizons for the next generation. The Florentine Opera is a cornerstone member organization of the United Performing Arts Fund and receives funds from Milwaukee County the State of Wisconsin and the National Endowment for the Arts, as well as support from corporations, foundations and individuals. The Florentine Opera Company is an organizational member of OPERA America.

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. It has not been verified for its accuracy or completeness.

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