Opera Pacific, led by Artistic Director John DeMain, presents its first production in ten years of Verdi’s Aïda at Segerstrom Hall of the Orange County Performing Arts Center, Opera Pacific’s home opera house. The production will be conducted by DeMain, and directed, and choreographed by Michèle Assaf, who directed last season’s Samson and Delilah. The production from Opera de Montreal is designed by Bernard Uzan and Claude Girard.
Two of the nation’s most exciting singers will alternate in the title role – Angela Brown sings Aïda on April 18, 20, and 22. Ms. Brown had a triumph at the Metropolitan Opera in the role of Aida. For Opera Pacific, she will also sing Bess in its concert production of Porgy and Bess that will help inaugurate the new Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall of the Segerstrom Center for the Arts this October. Ms. Lister has also performed the role of Aida for the Orlando Opera and Aalto Theater Essen.Opposite Brown will be Carl Tanner, who just performed the title role in a new production of Andrea Chenier at the National Theatre in Tokyo and was Santa Fe Opera’s Calaf in its new Turandot. Yu Qiang Dai from Beijing will return to Opera Pacific to sing opposite Marquita Lister; Yu will then sing Don José in Opera Pacific’s Carmen in late winter, 2007.
Milena Kitic, who starred as Delilah in Opera Pacific’s Samson and Delilah last season and recently sang Carmen at the Met and LA Opera, sings Amneris on April 18, 20 and 22. Jill Grove, who sings at the Met and in major opera houses all over the world, sings the role on April 23. Donnie Ray Albert who originated Porgy in John DeMain’s celebrated production of Porgy and Bess, and who will sing the part in the Opera Pacific concert version this fall, sings Amonasro; Andrew Gangestad, who performed the role of Agelotti in Tosca this past November, and will sing Leporello in next season’s Don Giovanni, sings Ramfis.
Aïda had its world premiere in Cairo on Christmas Eve of 1871, and has been the opera that most exemplifies the glory of large-scale opera ever since. Set in the pageantry of ancient Egypt and strewn with the triumphal grandeur of Verdi’s music, Aïda tells the story of war hero Radames and his unlikely lover, the slave girl Aïda. Plagued by her jealous rival Amneris, Aïda and Radames are doomed by family loyalty amid war and conquest. Their plight inspires an unforgettable tale of overwhelming love and tremendous courage.
With these performances, Opera Pacific continues to celebrate its 20th season. Since its inception Opera Pacific has proudly performed at the Orange County Performing Arts Center for the entire history of the venue.
About the artists of Aïda
“At last an Aïda. A major event." was the response of The New York Times to Angela M. Brown's Metropolitan Opera debut. The Associated Press said, "At this still-early stage of her career, she combines a potent, dusky lower register with a striking ability to spin out soft high notes of shimmering beauty. There's no doubt her voice is powerful enough for Verdi; she sailed loud and clear above even the massed choruses that crowd the Met stage during the Triumphal Scene in Act II." Brown reprised the role in January 2005 for Opera Company of Philadelphia, followed by Amelia (Un Ballo in Maschera) at the Met, and the role of Cilla in Margaret Garner, a new opera by Richard Danielpour and Toni Morrison, for Michigan Opera Theatre, Cincinnati Opera and Opera Company of Philadelphia.
Brown previously appeared with Opera Pacific in its “Opera Under the Stars” 2004 summer program. Her 2003-2004 season encompassed four successful role debuts including Leonora in Il Trovatore and Elisabetta in Don Carlo for Opera Company of Phladelphia, and Cassandra in Taneyev’s Agamemnon in Poland. She also had her Carnegie Hall debut, and glowing reviews from The New York Times and Opera Now, as well as a “word to the wise” to keep a watch on her career from Opera News.
Tenor Carl Tanner (Radames)has just performed the title role of Andrea Chenier in a new production for the new National Theater in Tokyo. This past summer he was Santa Fe Opera's Calaf in their new Turandot and was "stunning in his powerful performance" as Washington Opera's Samson last spring. Earlier in the spring he performed Fanciulla at the Deutsche Oper Berlin and just prior Butterfly in Las Palmas after completing his return to Dresden as Calaf.
He also performed at the Richard Tucker Memorial Gala at Avery Fisher Hall in January and during the holiday season, he sang 'O Holy Night' at the Christmas Tree lighting at the White House. Just prior he sang the lead tenor role in La Fanciulla del West in concert in Carnegie Hall. This was preceded by his
Washington Opera debut in Il Trovatore. Earlier in the fall he scored a great triumph in the new production of Turandot in Dresden and at La Scala as Don José and as Cavaradossi at Covent Garden this past summer.
He reprised his Don José for the New York City Opera this spring and performed the title role in Puccini's Edgar with the Orchestre de Radio France in Paris with a "seductive and imposing timbre, firm line and easy emission." One of the busiest opera performers, Mr. Tanner is already booked in opera houses through 2009.
Despite earning a degree in engineering from the Beijing Institute of Industry and Technology, Chinese tenor Yu Qiang Dai (Radames) 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. 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.
Opera Pacific’s Diva Guild 2004-2005 “DIVA of the Year”, Milena Kitic starred as Delilah in Opera Pacific’s Samson and Delilah and received outstanding reviews for her performance. Ms. Kitic made her Opera Pacific debut as Herodias in Salome in 2003 and quickly became an Orange County favorite. She returned in October 2003 to perform a benefit concert with Plácido Domingo, John DeMain, and the Opera Pacific Orchestra.
In October 2005 she made her New York Metropolitan Opera debut as the title role in Carmen. For the same role she won unanimous raves for the previous season at the Los Angeles Music Center Opera. This past summer Ms. Kitic performed at the Ravinia Festival in Chicago as Emilia in Otello and Meg in Falstaff with the Los Angeles Music Center Opera.
Within five years of coming to America, Ms. Kitic made her Carnegie Hall debut with the Opera Orchestra of New York as Emilia in Othello for Carlo Bergonzi's farewell concert; and debuted with Washington National Opera as Carmen and with Los Angeles Opera as Giulietta in Les contes dâ Hoffmann.
Opera News said, “Mezzo-soprano Jill Grove offered a riveting portrait of Azucena in Houston Grand Opera’s production of Il Trovatore. Throughout the evening, Grove rose to the vocal challenge of Verdi’s exacting vocal demands and then some; her chest tones around middle C and below, as well as the sheer volume of sound she generated in that register, were most impressive.” In the 2005/6 season, Grove adds to her list of Verdi roles with her first performances of Preziosilla in La Forza del Destino marking her return to San Francisco Opera in a new production conducted by Nicola Luisotti. She returns to the Metropolitan Opera for Margret in Wozzeck under James Levine and Cieca (debut at the Teatro Municipal, Santiago).
Her busy concert season is dominated by the Beethoven 9th Symphony in performances with the Boston Symphony Orchestra under James Levine (including Carnegie Hall), the Los Angeles Philharmonic under Esa-Pekka Salonen and the Philadelphia Orchestra under Christoph Eschenbach.
One of opera's leading dramatic baritones, Donnie Ray Albert is a regular guest of leading opera companies around the world. He has appeared with Opera Pacific and with the Houston Grand Opera as Tonio in I Pagliacci, the Florentine Opera of Milwaukee in the title role of Nabucco, Cincinnati Opera as Amonasro in Aida, Dallas Opera as Savour in La Vida Breve, Arizona Opera as Jack Rance in La Fanciulla del West; and the Austin Lyric Opera as Wotan in Die Walküre, the title role in Der Fliegende Holländer, and Sharpless in Madama Butterfly.
Abroad, in Germany he sang all Four Villains in Les Contes d'Hoffmann, Cavalleria Rusticana, I Pagliacci, and Frank in Die Tote Stadt, at Cologne Opera, in Great Britain at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden as the Four Villains, in Belgium at the Royal Opera Wallonie in Liege for Zemlinsky's Florentine
Tragedy, in Japan with the New National Theater in Tokyo as Wotan and the Wanderer in Keith Warner's production of Der Ring des Nibelungen, in Brazil as Jochanaan in Salome in Sao Paolo, and in Vienna in the title role in Ernst Bloch's Macbeth for the Vienna "Klangbogen" Festival.
Andrew Gangestad is a rare bass known for his dark rich sound and his strong musicality. Following performances of Banquo in Macbeth with Sarasota Opera, the Sarasota Herald-Tribune said that he possesses a "bass voice of great power and beauty." The Post and Courier marveled at his "startling power and resonance" after performances in Tamerlano with Spoleto Festival USA.
The bass’ engagements for the 2005-06 season included returns 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.
Opera Pacific Prologue
An Opera Pacific prologue on Aïda will be held on Sunday, April 2 at 2 p.m. at the Irvine Barclay Theatre located on the University of California, Irvine campus. Opera Pacific’s Prologues provide an introduction to the opera for all audiences and are designed to provide information for those new to opera, as well as those who have been lifelong fans of the art form. Prologues provide audience members an opportunity to ask questions of and engage in discussions with the guest speaker and hear excerpts from the upcoming productions performed by mainstage cast members.
Past Prologue speakers have included scholars, critics, artists, stage directors and conductors. Each has lent insight into the history, music and plot intricacies as intended by the composer. Presented in two parts with refreshments at intermission, Prologues also provide audience members an opportunity to ask questions in discussions with the guest speaker, and hear excerpts from the upcoming productions performed by mainstage cast members.
20th Season of Opera Pacific
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.
Opera Pacific’s 21st season (2006-2007) includes three operas produced by Opera Pacific in The Center’s Segerstrom Hall. 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 begins 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 mainstage productions and Porgy and Bess. 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.
