2008-9 Announced 6/24/08: Asheville Lyric Opera Tenth Season the Best to Date
Asheville NC — The Asheville Lyric Opera (ALO) announces its
tenth anniversary season for 2008-2009 which will feature two classic,
opera productions and one powerhouse concert.
Charles Gounod’s Romeo and Juliet (October 3 & 4, 2008)
and Guiseppe Verdi’s Rigoletto (March 28 & 29, 2009) will
feature international opera favorites with chorus completed by local
and regional talent. The gem of the season will be the Tenth Anniversary
Gala Concert (January 30, 2009) featuring performances by Angela
Brown, America’s most promising Verdi soprano; Lawrence Brownlee,
one of the most prominent bel canto tenors; and David Miles, baritone
12 year veteran of the Metropolitan Opera. A special appearance will
be made by honorary guest Sherrill Milnes, the greatest living opera
baritone. Milnes will also present a masters class and lecture on
January 31.
“Asheville Lyric Opera has been dedicated to producing opera’s
finest classical compositions since we began in 1999,” said
David Starkey, General and Artistic Director for Asheville Lyric
Opera (ALO). “This year’s season features events that
will intrigue newcomers as well as satisfy our seasoned patrons who
have come to love and appreciate the level of production we offer.”
ALO has been a rising star in regional opera companies over the
last decade. Currently, it is the only touring production company
in the nation, continues to showcase some of the biggest names in
the business, and offers an opera experience in a venue, Diana Wortham
Theatre, described as “acoustically perfect” by performers.
“People are often surprised by what we are doing,” said
Starkey. “For a town the size of Asheville to produce operas
at this level with this quality of talent is unusual. Typically you
would have to go to Atlanta or Charlotte. But everyone — our
board, directors, musicians, conductors and performers — is
committed to offering this region the finest in opera. The professional
headliners
we bring in see it and they want to come back again and again. They
understand the uniqueness of ALO and this town...”
The 2008-2009 season features several important debuts and many
returns including ALO principal guest conductor Dr. Robert Hart
Baker; New York City Opera conductors Tim Myers and Keith Chambers;
stage
director for Washington National Opera’s David Toulson; world
renowned baritone Scott Bearden, winner of the 2008 American Verdi
Baritone Competition, will sing the title role in Rigoletto; and
opera singers Jonathan Hodel, Helen Todd, Benjamin Bunsold, Branch
Fields, John Truitt, Bryce Westervelt and Andrea Blough, plus many
others.
A preseason party will take place and will feature the cast of Romeo
and Juliet. The two full productions will be performed at The Diana
Wortham Theatre and the Tenth Anniversary Concert Gala will be held
at Thomas Wolfe Auditorium.
Season tickets go on sale June 24 with subscriptions ranging from
$135 to $105. Single tickets for Romeo and Juliet, Tenth Anniversary
Gala Concert, and Rigoletto go on sale August 15 with prices ranging
from $28 to $49. Preview dress rehearsal tickets are available for
$18 (adults) and $12 seniors $5 for students.
For information on season or dress rehearsal tickets, group discounts,
or for a season brochure, please contact ALO at (828) 236-0670 ....
Single tickets will be sold through Diana Wortham Theatre box office
at (828) 257-4530 ... and Thomas Wolfe Auditorium
(828) 251-5505 ... starting August 15,
2008.
Founded in 1999, the Asheville Lyric Opera is recognized for its
excellent artistic productions of lyric repertoires that entertain
and inspire audiences, featuring established and emerging operatic
talent. Their outreach programs bring opera to 8,000 school age children
each year. ALO opera productions tour throughout southeastern United
States and reach opera lovers in six states.
