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Opera Pacific announces its 2006-2007 season at Orange County Performing Arts Center in Costa Mesa, which includes three operas produced by Opera Pacific in The Center’s Segerstrom Hall, Opera Pacific’s home opera house. Mozart’s Don Giovanni performs January 17-27, 2007, followed by Bizet’s Carmen from February 28 to March 10, 2007, and Donizetti’s The Elixir of Love, performing April 11-22, 2007. 

 

The season will begin with two special events. The first is a full concert version of Gershwin’s Porgy and Bess (October 4-5, 2006) during the opening celebration for the Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall at Segerstrom Center for the Arts, which is part of the Orange County Performing Arts Center’s expansion. Porgy and Bess is also a component of Pacific Symphony’s American-Russian Festival: The Jazz Connection, part of the opening celebration for the new concert hall.

 

Opera Pacific Artistic Director John DeMain will conduct the Opera Pacific Chorus and Orchestra for the three-mainstage productions, and for Porgy and Bess, the opera with which he has been closely associated throughout his distinguished career.

 

The second special event is the full production of Mussorgsky’s Boris Godunov by the Kirov Opera of the Mariinsky Theatre of St. Petersburg, Russia (October 13-15, 2006) at Segerstrom Hall. Boris Godunov, presented in cooperation with the Orange County Performing Arts Center, is part of the Center-wide Mariinsky Festival.   Kirov Artistic Director Valery Gergiev, internationally acclaimed as one of this generation’s great conductors, will lead all of the performances. 

The Kirov Opera’s Boris Godunov, and Opera Pacific’s Don Giovanni, Carmen, and The Elixir of Love will all be part of the season ticket package. Since there are only two performances of Porgy and Bess, in the more intimate 2,000-seat Concert Hall, tickets will be available first to renewing subscribers.

 

Opera Pacific is led by DeMain and President and Executive Director Robert C. Jones. DeMain and Jones have assembled this season featuring productions and singers from all over the world for presentation in Orange County.

 

To subscribe, please call 1-800-34-OPERA (1-800-346-7372).

 

 

Jossie Pérez, who is singing Isabella for Opera Pacific in The Italian Girl in Algiers in the 2005-2006 season, will return to sing Carmen, a role that makes headlines for her. The Boston Globe said “The mezzo's got looks, charisma, confidence, humor and a voice to die for - resinously sexy at the bottom and blooming into a full soprano at the top.  She sang with subtlety, craftsmanship, and fire...” The acclaimed tenor Yu Qiang Dai, who made a great impression with Opera Pacific as Calaf in Turandot, returns to sing Don José.   The production of Carmen is designed by Ricardo Hernandez (sets) and Constance Hoffman (costumes) and is directed by Ron Daniels.

 

 

Donizetti’s The Elixir of Love will have its Opera Pacific company premiere and features William Burden, who just created the role of Gilbert Griffiths in the world premiere of Tobias Picker's An American Tragedy at the Met. Opposite Burden are Sari Gruber, most recently Opera Pacific’s stunning Susanna in 2005’s The Marriage of Figaro, and Gregg Baker, who will also sing Crown in Porgy and Bess.

 

In 1976, DeMain and Houston Grand Opera established this American work as one of the masterpieces of opera with a production that became historic. A decade later Opera Pacific opened its residency with the Orange County Performing Arts Center with Porgy and now the company helps to inaugurate the new Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall with it. Donnie Ray Albert, who sang Porgy in the original 1976 Houston Grand Opera production, returns to the work to lead a dream cast that includes Angela Brown – Opera Pacific’s Aïda in the 2005-2006 season – as Bess, and Gregg Baker as Crown.

Porgy and Bess is also a part of the Orange County Performing Arts Center’s Celebration 2006 – and Pacific Symphony’s American-Russian Festival: The Jazz Connection. Celebration 2006 is a six-week festival, commemorating the opening of the Concert Hall and The Center’s 20^th Anniversary. It focuses on the connections between Jazz and Russia, as expressed through the music of Stravinsky, Gershwin and Bernstein, and composers of Russian descent who were influenced by jazz.

 

Opera Pacific President and Executive Director Robert C. Jones said, “We have much to be excited about for this season, one that will be unique in our 21-season history. We are producing three great main-stage productions, and helping to open the new concert hall with Porgy and Bess.

 

“The Orange County Performing Arts Center is also presenting the Mariinsky Festival, marking the first time that the three legendary companies of the Mariinsky Theatre of St. Petersburg, Russia – Kirov Opera, Kirov Symphony and Kirov Ballet - have performed together and individually in this country during a single festival. This will be one of the most important musical events of the decade anywhere in the world. We felt it important that our subscribers be assured of the opportunity to see the renowned Valery Gergiev lead performances of the legendary Kirov Opera in one of the great works that is long associated with this company.

 

“To that end we have made special arrangements with The Center for Boris Godunov, perhaps the greatest of Russian operas, to be part of our regular season package, so that our subscribers can attend this historic visit.

 

 

“The new Concert Hall also gives us much more time in our home, Segerstrom Hall, the 3,000-seat opera house. Starting this season, we will have the luxury of spreading performances over a two-week period with opening night on Wednesdays, followed by a weekend performance, then a performance on Thursday, and ending with another weekend performance. This optimum schedule allows us to place all our resources into one cast that can perform the entire run with the appropriate vocal rest between performances.” 

 

 

A cornerstone of the celebrations for the 20^th Anniversary of the Orange County Performing Arts Center will be the Mariinsky Festival. The origins of the Kirov Opera of the Mariinksy Theatre date back to 1783 founded by Empress Catherine II. With its superlative ensemble of soloists, chorus and world famous orchestra, the Kirov performs the original 1869 version of Boris Godunov, Mussorgsky’s historical masterpiece (the later 1874 version had its premiere at the Mariinsky Theatre). 

 

The title role is one of the greatest bass roles in the operatic repertory, and the opera contains thunderous choral movements of unprecedented power as well as captivating moments of riveting intimacy. Boris Godunov chronicles the rise and fall of the notorious tsar, an epic tale of religious revolution, mysterious imposters and murderous deception.

 

Boris was reconstructed by Kirov General and Artistic Director Valery Gergiev and Producer/Director Victor Kramer and was first performed in 2002. The set designer is Geroge Tsypin and the costume designer is Tatyana Noginova.

 

 

George Gershwin’s masterpiece will be performed in a concert version by Opera Pacific in the new Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall, giving Opera Pacific’s audience the first chance to see and hear an operatic performance in the new space. The remarkable cast – perhaps the best Porgy ensemble in the world – includes Donnie Ray Albert as Porgy, Angela Brown as Bess, Gregg Baker as Crown, Tony award nominated Broadway star André DeSheilds as Sportin’ Life, Los Angeles native Anita Johnson as Clara, and Henrietta E. Davis debuting as Serena.

 

Dramatic baritone Donnie Ray Albert starred in Opera Pacific’s 1987 production of Porgy and Bess, and will appear in April 2006’s Aïda as Amonasro. In the 2003 season, Mr. Albert returned to Tokyo as the Wanderer in Keith Warner's New National Theatre production of Siegfried. He debuted in the title role of Macbeth at the Klangbogen Festival in Wien. Other highlights include a Fidelio Concert with the Cincinnati Symphony under the baton of Paavo Järvi; Minnesota Orchestra's Mahler 8th with James Conlon; and the Cincinnati May Festival with Maestro Conlon. 

 

In past seasons, Mr. Albert has performed with the opera companies of Cincinnati, Dallas, Chicago, Los Angeles, New York City, Washington DC, Houston, Miami, Atlanta, Austin, Minnesota, Utah, New Orleans, Baltimore, Columbus, Omaha, Calgary, Edmonton, Canadian, Montreal, Manitoba, Vancouver, Berlin, Giessen, Bordeaux, Köln, Bregenz, Milan, Mannheim and Hamburg.

 

In October 2004, Angela Brown made her Metropolitan Opera debut as Aida; Miss Brown reprised the role in January 2005 for Opera Company of Philadelphia. She again sings it in April 2006 for Opera Pacific and later at Florentine Opera. She was last seen in Orange County in Opera Pacific’s 2004 “Opera Under the Stars” summer concert.   In May 2005 she created the role of Cilla in the world premiere of Margaret Garner, by Richard Danielpour and Toni Morrison, for Michigan Opera Theatre and Cincinnati Opera. The 2005-2006 season holds performances of Amelia in Un Ballo in Maschera and Cilla in Margaret Garner for Opera Company of Philadelphia.

 

Gregg Baker sings Crown in Porgy and Bess and Belcore in The Elixir of Love for Opera Pacific in the 2006-2007 season. He has sung both roles at the Metropolitan Opera. The Met heard his performance of Crown in Radio City Music Hall's production of Porgy and Bess and immediately engaged him for their own production. Since then, he has returned to the Metropolitan Opera in the roles of High Priest (Samson et Dalila), Amonasro (Aida), Escamillo (Carmen), Silvio (I Pagliacci), and Donner (Das Rheingold). He has also performed leading roles at Vienna Staatsoper, Arena di Verona, Glyndebourne Opera, Hamburg Opera, New Israeli Opera, Stuttgart Opera, Frankfurt Opera, Scottish National Opera, Michigan Opera, and Houston Grand Opera.

 

Mozart: Don Giovanni

Segerstrom Hall – January 17 at 7:30pm, 21 at 2:00pm, 25 at 7:30pm, 27 at 7:30pm, 2007

 

The acclaimed Santa Fe Opera production features a bold stage set by David Zinn, direction by Chas Rader-Schieber, and a cast of rising and acclaimed stars, including Wayne Tigges in the title role, Andrew Gangestad, returning to Opera Pacific, as Leporello, Zheng Cao as Zerlina, Barry Banks as Don Ottavio, Ellie Dehn as Donna Anna, and Jessica Jones as Donna Elvira.   Mozart’s immortal creation is often called “the opera of all operas” and hailed as one of the most exalted works in the repertoire. Based on the story of Don Juan, the 18^th century aristocrat who was irresistible to women, it’s a tale filled with passion, lust and danger, underscored by some of the greatest music ever written.

 

Wayne Tigges made a triumphant success on the opera scene filling in for Illdebrando D’Arcangelo for 10 complete performances as Figaro in Le nozze di Figaro for the Lyric Opera of Chicago 2003 season. He created the role of Snooks in the world premiere of Bolcolm’s The Wedding, and performed the role of Angelotti in Tosca. He appeared as Figaro for Austin Lyric Opera, with Chicago Symphony Orchestra in Tippett’s A Child of our Time, and as Elijah with the Apollo Chorus and Orchestra. He also appeared in The Creation at the Teatro Regio in Parma, Italy, Basilio with the Santa Fe Opera in Barber of Seville, and Zuniga in Carmen with the San Diego Opera (2006).

Andrew Gangestad sings twice in the 2005-2006 season with Opera Pacific as Ramfis in Aida and Angelotti in Tosca. In the 2004-05 season, he sang at the Metropolitan Opera as Colline in La Bohème, Vaudemont in I Vespri Siciliani, and Lignière in the company premiere of Cyrano de Bergérac. He also sang at Sarasota Opera as Leporello in Don Giovanni and Carnegie Hall as Hermit in Der Freischütz with Opera Orchestra of New York. The bass’ engagements for the 2005-06 season includes returning to the Metropolitan Opera as Truffaldino in Ariadne auf Naxos, Count Ceprano in Rigoletto, and Lignière in Cyrano de Bergerac. He also makes his debut with Michigan Opera Theatre as Alidoro in La Cenerentola and 1st Nazarene in Salome.

 

During the 2005-2006 season, Jessica Jones will make her debut at Tulsa Opera in her first performances of Marguerite in Gounod’s Faust.  She also makes her debut with Seattle Opera reprising her acclaimed Fiordiligi in Cosi fan tutte.  Her operatic season concludes with a return to Houston Grand Opera as Micaela in Carmen conducted by Sebastian Lang-Lessing.

 

Bizet: Carmen

Segerstrom Hall – Feb. 28 at 7:30pm, March 4 at 2:00pm, 8 at 7:30pm, and 10 at 7:30pm, 2007

 

The most popular opera of all time, Carmen is the story of a woman whose lust – and tragedy – is to live life on her own terms. Opera Pacific’s Carmen is Jossie Pérez; the fiery mezzo-soprano from Puerto Rico who stars in January 2006’s The Italian Girl in Algiers. Alongside Ms. Pérez is tenor Yu Qiang Dai, who returns to Opera Pacific in the role of Don José, Luis Ledesma as Escamillo, and Laquita Mitchell as Micaela. The story overflows with Latin flair, featuring vibrant sun-splashed sets, the Opera Pacific chorus, and toreadors, soldiers and gypsies galore.

  

Jossie Pérez has been championed by Plácido Domingo and James Levine since she won the Metropolitan National auditions in 1999; she then went on to win the 2001 Operalia competition and a Sara Tucker Study Grant. She completed the. Metropolitan Opera’s Young Artist Program and at age 22, during the 2000-2001 season, she made her Met debut as Mercedes in Carmen. She has since sung at the Met as Ascanio in Les Troyens, Siebel in Faust, Dryade in Ariadne auf Naxos, andCherubino in Le nozze di Figaro. 

 

Born in Puerto Rico, Ms. Pérez received her degree in Vocal Performance from the New England Conservatory in 1998. Opera Pacific audiences also know her from her performance at Opera Under the Stars (2004).

 

Despite earning a degree in engineering from the Beijing Institute of Industry and Technology, Chinese tenor Yu Qiang Dai decided to pursue a life as a professional opera singer. He then attended opera classes at the Central Academy of Drama and became a company member in the Shan Xi Song and Dance Company. From 1990 to 1992, the National Opera House engaged him to sing Calaf in Puccini’s Turandot, a role in which he has earned wide recognition, the role he also sang with Opera Pacific.

 

In 1996, Mr. Dai was awarded the top prize in the Shizuoka International Opera Contest in Japan. In August 2004, he released an album on EMI Classics titled “Yu Qiang Dai, Opera Arias.” Over the past five years, Mr. Dai has made debuts all over the world, including appearances with Royal Opera House Covent Garden, Michigan Opera Theatre, and Portland Opera.

 

Segerstrom Hall – Opera Pacific Company Premiere April 11 at 7:30pm, 14 at 7:30pm, 19 at 7:30pm, and 22 at 2:00pm, 2007

 

Donizetti’s light-hearted confection is all about – what else? – romance, love potions, the twists and turns of courtship, and happy endings. The Opera Pacific production, a re-imagination of Jonathan Miller’s, is set in a west Texas diner in the 1950s. The All-American cast includes William Burden as Nemorino, Sari Gruber as Adina, Gregg Baker as Belcore and Louis Otey as Dulcamara. Elixir is a lively romp – the tale of a country bumpkin, Nemorino, who cannot quite catch the eye of the woman he adores. He turns to a traveling salesman who’s pushing the title’s love potion – and hilarity ensues.

 

William Burden opened the current San Francisco Opera season as Lindoro in L'Italiana in Algeri. He then returned to the Metropolitan Opera to create the role of Gilbert Griffiths in the world premiere of Tobias Picker's new opera, An American Tragedy, and to the Opéra National de Paris for the revival of Julietta. He also makes his debuts at the Houston Grand Opera as Nerone in L'incoronazione di Poppea, and Madrid's Teatro Real as the Chevalier de la Force in Dialogues des Carmélites.

 

Sari Gruber’s 2005-06 season includes her debut with Pittsburgh Opera as Despina in Così fan tutte, Poppea in Agrippina with Boston Baroque, as well as returns to Opera Columbus for Gretel in Hänsel und Gretel and Kentucky Opera for her first performances of Beth in Little Women. She received high acclaim as Susanna in Opera Pacific’s January 2005 production of The Marriage of Figaro. In the summer of 2005, she sang her first performances of Adina in L’elisir d’amore with Berkshire Opera.

 

 

 

In just twenty seasons, Opera Pacific has established itself as one of the finest professional opera companies in the nation. Opera Pacific's mainstage productions, extensive community outreach programs, and energetic Guild Alliance combine to create a cultural resource for all of Southern California. More than 670,000 people have enjoyed Opera Pacific's productions at the Orange County Performing Arts Center, while over 575,000 young people have discovered the world of opera through the company's in-school presentations, Student Previews, and nationally recognized Opera Camps.

 

 

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