2011 Season Release
Embargoed For Release
Monday, April 19, 2010
Contact
Edward Wilensky, Director of Media Relations
Edward.Wilensky@sdopera.com
Telephone: (619) 232-7636
San Diego Opera Announces 2011 International Season
Puccini’s Turandot opens the season in the spectacular David Hockney designs featuring the important house debut of soprano Lise Lindstrom and the return of soprano Ermonela Jaho and tenor Carlo Ventre.
January 29, February 1, 4 and 6, 2011
Last seen in San Diego in 1991, and celebrating its 100th Anniversary in 2011, Richard Strauss’s bittersweet masterpiece Der Rosenkavalier features the return of soprano Anja Harteros and bass Ferruccio Furlanetto in historic role debuts. Joining them are mezzo-soprano Anke Vondung and soprano Patrizia Ciofi, in exciting Company debuts.
April 3, 6, 9 and 12, 2011
Gounod’s masterpiece Faust welcomes the return of the stars of last season’s Romeo and Juliet, the American tenor Stephen Costello and his real life wife, soprano Ailyn Pérez with San Diego Opera favorite Greer Grimsley as Méphistophélès.
April 23, 26, 29 and May 1, 2011
Bizet’s Carmen, one of the most popular operas ever composed, closes the season with the long awaited Company debuts of mezzo-soprano Nino Surguladze, tenor Salvatore Licitra and soprano Talise Trevigne.
May 14, 17, 20 and 22, 2011
Subscriptions begin at $93 for three operas and $124 for a full-series.
The 2011 Season is Sponsored by a Generous Contribution from the Viterbi Family
San Diego, CA – Important artists, historic performances, long awaited role debuts and four stunning operas make up the 2011 San Diego Opera season.
The season opens on Saturday, January 29, 2011 at 7 PM with Giacomo Puccini’s grand operatic spectacle, Turandot. A tale of mystery, intrigue and ultimately the triumph of love set in Imperial China, these performances mark the return of visual artist David Hockney’s stunning designs. Making her house debut in the title role of Turandot is American soprano Lise Lindstrom who reprises her signature role. Of her house debut as Turandot at the Metropolitan Opera, The New York Times reported “she sang with chilling power and nailed the top notes. Her sound was impressively focused, with a vibrant vibrato on sustained tones and no wobble. The youthful shimmer of her singing was balanced by rich emotional maturity.” These performances also mark the return of Albanian soprano Ermonela Jaho as the slave girl Liù and the return of San Diego favorite, the Uruguayan tenor Carlo Ventre as Calaf. Persian stage director Lotfi Mansouri returns to direct the action and Italian conductor Edoardo Müller brings his mastery of Puccini’s repertory to the podium.
Last seen in 1991, Richard Strauss’s masterpiece Der Rosenkavalier makes its triumphant return to the San Diego Opera stage on Sunday, April 3, 2011 at 2 PM in time to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the opera. Der Rosenkavalier’s moving story of young love and the fear of growing older provides a perfect setting for two historic role debuts and two important Company debuts. San Diego Opera favorite, the great Italian bass Ferruccio Furlanetto, will sing the role of Baron Ochs for the first time in his long career. Mr. Furlanetto, who has claimed that this is the final role he has wanted to add to his repertoire, will also be the first Italian in the history of this opera to perform the role in German. Joining him is the star of La traviata in 2004 and Simon Boccanegra in 2005, the German soprano Anja Harteros, who sings the role of Marschallin for the first time in her career. Making important company debuts are German mezzo-soprano Anke Vondung in the trouser-role Octavian and Italian soprano Patrizia Ciofi as Sophie. German conductor Christof Perick returns to lead the orchestra through Strauss’s rousing score, and Lotfi Mansouri directs the farcical action onstage.
Last heard here in 2001, Gounod’s morality masterpiece Faust opens on Saturday, April 23, 2011 at 7 PM. These performances welcome back the stars of last season’s Romeo and Juliet; tenor Stephen Costello as Faust and soprano Ailyn Pérez as his love interest Marguérite. Local favorite, American bass Greer Grimsley, returns to sing the role of Méphistophélès. San Diego Opera Resident Conductor Karen Keltner brings her mastery of the French repertoire to the podium, and stage director David Gately returns to lead the action.
Opening on Saturday, May 14, 2011, Bizet’s immortal masterpiece Carmen is the final opera of the 2011 season. Last seen in 2006, these performances of the world’s most popular opera mark the important debuts of Georgian mezzo-soprano Nino Surguladze in the title role and the long awaited Company debuts of famed Italian tenor Salvatore Licitra as Don José and American soprano Talise Trevigne as Micaëla. Edoardo Müller will lead the orchestra, and British stage director John Copley returns once more to stage the action.
As part of the ongoing effort to keep opera accessible and affordable to as wide an audience as possible, the lowest seat price for subscribers is $31, making subscription packages for three operas available for as little as $93 and a full season available for only $124. Single ticket prices will be announced in the winter.
Pre-production artwork is available online at:
http://www.sdopera.com/Company/News/2011Preview
Purchasing Tickets
Three or four-opera subscriptions for the 2011 International Season are now available. Regular subscriptions range from $93 - $740 (some Saturday subscriptions slightly higher) and can be purchased by calling (619) 533-7000 or online at www.sdopera.com.
For information about single tickets please visit www.sdopera.com. Single ticket prices will be announced in the winter.
General Information
A widely respected member of the international opera community, San Diego Opera brings the world’s finest artists to San Diego. Founded in 1965, and led for the last 27 years by General Director and Artistic Director Ian D. Campbell, San Diego Opera produces performances of the highest artistic quality while remaining financially stable.
www.sdopera.com
San Diego Opera 2011 International Season Performance Schedule
Turandot
Giacomo Puccini
Saturday January 29, 2011 7:00pm
Tuesday February 1, 2011 7:00pm
Friday February 4, 2011 8:00pm
Sunday February 6, 2011 2:00pm
Der Rosenkavalier*
Richard Strauss
Sunday April 3, 2011 2:00pm
Wednesday April 6, 2011 7:00pm
Saturday April 9, 2011 6:00pm
Tuesday April 12, 2011 7:00pm
*Please note the change in days and times for these performances of Der Rosenkavalier.
Faust
Charles Gounod
Saturday April 23, 2011 7:00pm
Tuesday April 26, 2011 7:00pm
Friday April 29, 2011 8:00pm
Sunday May 1, 2011 2:00pm
Carmen
Georges Bizet
Saturday May 14, 2011 7:00pm
Tuesday May 17, 2011 7:00pm
Friday May 20, 2011 8:00pm
Sunday May 22, 2011 2:00pm
Turandot
Giacomo Puccini
Sung in Italian with English translations above the stage
Last performed by San Diego Opera in 2004
Production owned by San Francisco Opera
January 29, February 1, 4 and 6 (matinee), 2011
Turandot: Lise Lindstrom* Director: Lotfi Mansouri
Calaf: Carlo Ventre Conductor: Edoardo Müller
Liu: Ermonela Jaho Sets: David Hockey
Timur: Reinhard Hagen Costumes: Ian Falconer
Ping: Jeff Mattsey
Pang: Joel Sorensen
Pong: Joseph Hu
*San Diego Opera debut
Select cast biographies for Turandot
Lise Lindstrom, Turandot
San Diego Opera debut. American soprano Lise Lindstrom is well known for her portrayal of Turandot having made her Metropolitan Opera debut in the role in 2009. Companies with which she has performed Turandot include De Nederlandse Opera, Festival Ópera de Coruña, Deutsche Oper Berlin, Opera Hong Kong, Palm Beach Opera, Kentucky Opera, Orlando Opera, Cleveland Opera and the Savonlinna Festival. Notable performances include Senta in The Flying Dutchman with New Orleans Opera, Tosca with Glimmerglass Opera, Elisabeth and Venus in Tannhäuser with Greek National Opera and Suor Angelica with Opera Tampa. Other roles include Amelia in A Masked Ball, Ariadne in Ariadne auf Naxos, Giulietta in The Tales of Hoffmann, Lady Rich in Gloriana and Magda in The Consul. Her concert work has brought her to the Washington National Cathedral and San Francisco Symphony, among others.
Carlo Ventre, Calaf
Uruguayan tenor Carlo Ventre made his San Diego Opera debut in 2005 as Gabriele in Simon Boccanegra, returning in 2008 as Radames in Aida and in 2009 for Pinkerton in Madama Butterfly. Notable highlights in his career include Arrigo in I Vespri Siciliani in Tokyo with Teatro Massimo Palermo, Pollione in Norma at Arena Sferistica Macerata in Italy, Andrea Chénier at Barcelona’s Liceo, Cavaradossi in Tosca with Oper Frankfurt, Staatsoper Hamburg and Arena di Verona, Luigi in Il tabarro in Hamburg and Ricardo in A Masked Ball in Frankfurt. For his La Scala debut, he sang the Duke in Rigoletto, also appearing there as Ismaele in Nabucco. Roles for Welsh National Opera include Rodolfo in La bohème and Cavaradossi in Tosca. Other roles include Don José in Carmen and Alfredo in La traviata. He has sung in opera houses in Berlin, Rome, San Francisco, Vienna, St. Petersburg, Amsterdam, Frankfurt, Washington, Verona, Chicago, Genoa and Cologne.
Ermonela Jaho, Liù
Albanian soprano Ermonela Jaho made her San Diego Opera debut in 2008 in the title role of Mary, Queen of Scots (Maria Stuarda). Recent notable engagements include Cio-Cio-San in Madama Butterfly, Liù for the Opera Company of Philadelphia, Violetta in La traviata for her Metropolitan Opera debut, Royal Opera House, Covent Garden debut and for L’Opera de Marseille, Marguerite in Faust at Finnish National Opera, Mimì in La bohème at Berlin Staatsoper, Michigan Opera Theatre, Opera Company of Philadelphia and Baltimore Opera, Giulietta in I Capuleti ed i Montecchi as well as Vitellia in La Clemenza di Tito in Avignon. Other recent performances include the title role of Anna Bolena for Opera de Lyon, the title role of Zaira for the Festival de Radio France in Montpellier, Micaëla in Carmen with Teatro dell’Opera di Roma, Madga in La Rondine at Teatro Giuseppe Verdi in Trieste and the title role of Manon Lescaut at L’Opera de Marseille. She made her professional debut as Violetta at the age of 17 in her native Tirana.
Reinhard Hagen, Timur
German bass Reinhard Hagen made his San Diego Opera debut in 2000 as Heinrich in Lohengrin returning in 2003 as Rocco in Fidelio, in 2006 as Raimondo in Lucia di Lammermooor, in 2007 as Landgraf Hermann in Tannhäuser andin2008as Talbot in Mary, Queen of Scots and Ramfis in Aida. For several seasons Hagen was a member of the Deutsche Oper Berlin after his debut in Tannhäuser. He made his Metropolitan Opera debut as Sarastro in The Magic Flute, a role he has sung with L’Opera de Montreal, Opéra Bastille, Los Angeles Opera, Gran Teatro Liceu and Staatsoper Hamburg and Bayerische Staatsoper, among others. Other appearances include the King in Aida with Metropolitan Opera, Rocco in Fidelio with The Dallas Opera and Théâtre Châtelet, the King in Lohengrin with Staatsoper Hamburg, Seneca in L'incoronazione di Poppea in Los Angeles, Fasolt in Das Rheingold, Hunding in Die Walküre, the Commendatore in Don Giovanni and Titurel in Parsifal for San Francisco Opera.
Edoardo Müller, conductor
Italian conductor Edoardo Müller has led more than 30 productions in San Diego, beginning in 1980 with Giovanna d’Arco. In 2009, he conducted Tosca, Rigoletto and Madama Butterfly and last season he conducted Nabucco. Known worldwide for his mastery of the Italian operatic repertoire, he has enjoyed a long association with the Teatro alla Scala in Milan where he conducted Aida, I due Foscari, Il trovatore, I masnadieri, La forza del destino, Ernani, The Barber of Seville and Anna Bolena, among others. His career has taken him to the Metropolitan Opera, Teatro Municipal in Santiago, Teatro Colón in Buenos Aires, Seattle Opera, Lyric Opera of Chicago, The Dallas Opera, Houston Grand Opera, Cincinnati Opera as well as companies in Paris, Rome and Tokyo.
Lotfi Mansouri, director
A native of Iran, director Lotfi Mansouri is the former General Director of San Francisco Opera and the Canadian Opera and made his San Diego Opera debut in 1973 directing The Daughter of the Regiment. Recent productions here include Nabucco in 2010, Rigoletto in 2009, Cavalleria rusticana / Pagliacci in 2008, Boris Godunov and Samson and Delilah in 2007, The Barber of Seville in 2006, Die Fledermaus and Simon Boccanegra in 2005 along with Don Carlo, Turandot, Otello and Idomeneo in previous seasons. He attended UCLA and took U.S. citizenship before becoming resident stage director at Opernhaus Zürich in 1976. He has directed at many opera houses throughout Italy including Teatro alla Scala. In North America, his work has been seen at the Metropolitan Opera, New York City Opera and in Chicago, Houston, Santa Fe, Philadelphia, Dallas and many other cities, and he has a lengthy association with Opera Australia at the Sydney Opera House. Six of his productions have been videotaped for telecast and commercial sale: Mefistofele, Orlando furioso, Capriccio, Turandot, The Dangerous Liaisons and A Streetcar Named Desire. In 2009, Mansouri was a recipient of a NEA Opera Honor for his contributions to the art form.
Der Rosenkavalier
Richard Strauss
Sung in German with English translations above the stage
Last performed by San Diego Opera in 1991
Sets and Costumes from San Francisco Opera
April 3 (matinee), 6, 9 and 12, 2011
Marschallin: Anja Harteros Conductor: Christof Perick
Octavian: Anke Vondung* Director: Lotfi Mansouri
Baron Ochs: Ferruccio Furlanetto Sets and Costumes: Thierry Bosquet
Sophie: Patrizia Ciofi*
Herr von Faninal: Hans-Joachim Ketelsen*
Marianne: Stephanie Weiss*
The Singer: Stephen Costello
*San Diego Opera debut
Please note the change in the performances schedule for Der Rosenkavalier. Performances are:
Sunday, April 3, 2011 at 2:00 PM
Wednesday, April 6, 2011 at 7:00 PM
Saturday, April 9, 2011 at 6:00pm
Tuesday, April 12, 2011 at 7:00pm
Select cast biographies for Der Rosenkavalier
Anja Harteros, Marschallin
German soprano Anja Harteros made her San Diego Opera debut in 2004 as Violetta in La traviata, and returned in 2005 as Amelia in Simon Boccanegra. Her repertoire also includes Desdemona in Otello, Alice Ford in Falstaff, Fiordiligi in Così fan tutte, the Countess in The Marriage of Figaro, Donna Anna in Don Giovanni, Elettra in Idomeneo: King of Crete, Agathe in Der Freischütz, Eva in Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg, Elisabeth in Tannhäuser and the title roles in Alcina and Arabella. She has sung in all the great opera houses, including the Metropolitan Opera, La Scala, the state opera houses of Munich, Vienna, Berlin, Hamburg and Dresden, as well as the opera houses in Florence, Amsterdam, Paris, Tokyo, Lyon, Berlin, Frankfurt, and at the Edinburgh and Salzburg Festivals. Recent notable performances include Elisabeth in Tannhäuser and Amelia in Simon Boccanegra in Milan and Desdemona in Otello in Berlin. In recognition of her outstanding vocal and acting achievements, Harteros was appointed a Bavarian Kammersängerin in 2007.
Ferruccio Furlanetto, Baron Ochs
Italian bass Ferruccio Furlanetto made his San Diego Opera debut in 1985 in the title role in Verdi’s Oberto, returning for Méphistophélès in Faust and the title role in Don Giovanni on two occasions each, King Philip in Don Carlo, Basilio in The Barber of Seville, and most recently in the title roles of Boris Godunov in 2007 and Don Quixote in 2009. Recent engagements include Boris Godunov at the Wiener Staatsoper and King Philip and Boris Godunov at The Mariinsky Theatre in St. Petersburg, making him the first Italian ever to sing those roles there. At theSalzburg Festival he was first heard in 1986 as Mozart’s Figaro, returning as Leporello, Don Alfonso, Don Giovanni and King Philip. He appears regularly with the opera companies in Vienna, Milan, Paris, London, Florence, Rome, Turin and with the Metropolitan Opera. Many of his performances are available on more than twenty-seven CDs and DVDs including King Philip, Don Giovanni, Attila, Figaro, Alfonso and Leporello. Ferruccio Furlanetto is a Kammersänger of the Wiener Staatsoper and an Honorary Ambassador to the United Nations.
Anke Vondung, Octavian
San Diego Opera debut. German mezzo soprano Anke Vondung made her debut at the Opernschule Mannheim as Nancy in Benjamin Britten’s Albert Herring. She has enjoyed a long relationship with Semperoper Dresden where she sang for two seasons as a resident mezzo soprano and is now a frequent guest artist singing such roles as Siébel in Faust, Wellgunde in Das Rheingold, Waltraute in Die Walküre, Tebaldo in Don Carlos, Hansel in Hansel and Gretel, Meg Page in Falstaff, as well as the title role of Carmen, among others. She is known for her portrayal of Octavian which she recently performed at the Munich Opera Festival, Opéra Bastille and Deutsche Staatsoper. Other notable performances include Cherubino in The Marriage of Figaro and Dorabella in Così fan tutte at Bayerische Staatsoper. She made her Metropolitan Opera debut as Cherubino and returned to sing Annio in La clemenza di Tito. An active recitalist she has sung with many major orchestras around the world.
Patrizia Ciofi, Sophie
San Diego Opera debut. Italian soprano Patrizia Ciofi made her La Scala, Milan, debut as Violetta in La traviata returning for Amelia in A Masked Ball, the title role of Lucia di Lammermoor, Corinna in Il viaggio a Reims and Ilia in Idomeneo: King of Crete. Recent engagements include Marie in The Daughter of the Regiment at Gran Teatre del Liceu in Barcelona, Gilda in Rigoletto with the Vienna Staatsoper and Teatro Real in Madrid, Ophelia in Hamlet with Bayerische Staatsoper and Opéra de Marseille, Violetta with Teatro La Fenice in Venice, Amenaide in Trancredi at Teatro Regio in Turin, Donna Anna in Don Giovanni for Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, Cleopatra in Julius Caesar in Egypt at Bilbao Opera, Nannetta in Falstaff and Giulietta in I Capuleti e i Montecchi for Paris Opéra Bastille and Susanna in The Marriage of Figaro and Poppea in L’incoronazione d’Poppea for Théatre des Champs-Elysèes, among others.
Hans-Joachim Ketelsen, Herr Von Faninal
San Diego Opera debut. German baritone Hans-Joachim Ketelsen has enjoyed a long history as a principal artist with Dresden’s Semperoper where he has appeared as Jochanaan in Salome, Mandryka in Arabella, Orest in Elektra, Amfortas in Parsifal, Heerrufer and Telramund in Lohengrin, Geisterbote in Die Frau ohne Schatten, Kothner and Beckmesser in Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg, Kurwenal in Tristan und Isolde, Morone in Palestrina, Donner in Das Rheingold, Eisenstein in Die Fledermaus, Peter in Hansel and Gretel, The Speaker in The Magic Flute and as Faninal. He made his Bayreuth Festival debut as Kothner and for his Metropolitan Opera debut sang Mandryka, returning again for Beckmesser and Faninal. Other notable performances include Telramund for the opening of the New National Theatre in Tokyo and Gunther in Götterdämmerung at Teatro Real Madrid. He’s been heard with the world’s greatest companies including the Wiener Staatsoper, Bayerische Staatsoper, La Scala, Deutsche Oper Berlin, Teatro Real in Madrid, Gran Teatre del Liceu in Barcelona and Leipzig Opera, among others. He has recorded Kothner in Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg for Berlin Classics and EMI.
Stephanie Weiss, Marianne
San Diego Opera debut. San Diego born soprano Stephanie Weiss enjoys a long association with Deutsche Oper Berlin where she has performed such varied roles as Marianne, Frasquita in Carmen, Musetta in La bohème, The First Lady and The Second Lady in The Magic Flute, Gerhilde in Walküre, Schlafittchen in Das Traumfresserchen, The Overseer in Elektra, The Landlady in Der Traumgorge, The Second Servant in Die Ägyptische Helena and Grimgerde in Die Walküre, among others. Other notable performances include The First Lady at Berlin Staatsoper Unter den Linden, Musetta at Oper Frankfurt, The Novice in Sour Angelica with Deutsche Oper Berlin, Rose in Lakmé with the Opera Orchestra of New York and Fiordiligi in Così fan tutte with Académie Lyrique de Vendôme.
Stephen Costello, The Singer
American tenor Stephen Costello made his San Diego Opera debut last season as Romeo in Romeo and Juliet. He made his Metropolitan Opera debut in 2007 as Arturo in Lucia di Lammermoor and was then invited to sing Edgardo that same season. He recently sang Cassio in Otello with the Salzburg Festival, Rinuccio in Gianni Schicchi with Royal Opera Covent Garden, The Duke of Mantua in Rigoletto at Deutsche Oper Berlin, Edgardo at Fort Worth Opera, Camille in The Merry Widow, Leicester in Mary, Queen of Scots (Maria Stuarda), the title role of Roberto Devereux with The Dallas Opera and Christian in Cyrano with the Opera Company of Philadelphia and at Italy’s Spoleto Festival. He made his professional debut as Rodolfo in La bohème with Fort Worth Opera and his European debut as Nemorino in The Elixir of Love with Opéra National de Bordeaux. He was awarded a 2007 Career Grant for the Richard Tucker Music Foundation, as well as a 2006 Sara Tucker Study Grant. He won first prize in the 2006 George London Foundation for Singers Competition, First Prize and Audience Prize in the Giagiari Competition as well as First Prize in the Licia Albanese Puccini Foundation Competition.
Christof Perick, Conductor
German conductor Christof Perick made his San Diego Opera debut conducting Fidelio in 2003 and returned in 2006 for The Magic Flute. He is Music Director of Germany’s Nürnberg Philharmonic and Opera, Music Director of the Charlotte Symphony and for several seasons was Principal Guest Conductor of the Sächsische Staatsoper, Dresden. Recent performances include Ariadne auf Naxos, The Marriage of Figaro, Hansel and Gretel, Tannhäuser, Lohengrin, The Flying Dutchman and Die Entführung aus dem Serial. He has held Music Director positions with the Niedersaechsisches Staatsorchester and Staatsoper in Hannover, Germany, the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra, the Badische Staatskapelle Karlsruhe, and the Rundfunk-Sinfonieorchester Saarbrücken, Germany. For the Metropolitan Opera, Perick has conducted Fidelio, Tannhäuser, Die Frau ohne Schatten, Hansel and Gretel and Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg. At Lyric Opera of Chicago, he has conducted Parsifal and The Magic Flute, an opera he also conducted for San Francisco Opera.
Lotfi Mansouri, Stage Director
A native of Iran, director Lotfi Mansouri is the former General Director of San Francisco Opera and the Canadian Opera and made his San Diego Opera debut in 1973 directing The Daughter of the Regiment. Recent productions here include the season opener Turandot, Nabucco in 2010, Rigoletto in 2009, Cavalleria rusticana / Pagliacci in 2008, Boris Godunov and Samson and Delilah in 2007, The Barber of Seville in 2006, Die Fledermaus and Simon Boccanegra in 2005 along with Don Carlo, Turandot, Otello and Idomeneo in previous seasons. He attended UCLA and took U.S. citizenship before becoming resident stage director at Opernhaus Zürich in 1976. He has directed at many opera houses throughout Italy including Teatro alla Scala, Milan. In North America, his work has been seen at the Metropolitan Opera, New York City Opera and in Chicago, Houston, Santa Fe, Philadelphia, Dallas and many other cities, and he has a lengthy association with Opera Australia at the Sydney Opera House. Six of his productions have been videotaped for telecast and commercial sale: Mefistofele, Orlando furioso, Capriccio, Turandot, The Dangerous Liaisons and A Streetcar Named Desire. In 2009, Mansouri was a recipient of a NEA Opera Honor for his contributions to the art form.
Faust
Charles Gounod
Sung in French with English translations above the stage
Last performed by San Diego Opera in 2001
Sets and Costumes from the Lyric Opera of Chicago
April 23, 26, 29 and May 1 (matinee), 2011
Marguérite: Ailyn Peréz Conductor: Karen Keltner
Faust: Stephen Costello Director: David Gately
Méphistophélès: Greer Grimsley Sets and Costumes: Robert Perdziola
Valentine: Joshua Hopkins*
Siébel: Sarah Castle
Wagner: Scott Sikon
*San Diego Opera debut
Select cast biographies for Faust
Ailyn Peréz, Marguerite
American soprano Ailyn Pérez made her San Diego Opera debut last season as Juliet in Romeo and Juliet. She made her professional debut at Palm Beach Opera where she sang Zerlina in Don Giovanni and Soeur Constance in Dialogues of the Carmelites. She recently performed Juliet with the Salzburg Festival, the Four Heroines in The Tales of Hoffmann with Opera Theatre of St. Louis and Susanna in The Marriage of Figaro with Michigan Opera Theatre, Boston Lyric Opera as well with the Salzburg Festival on a tour of Japan. Other notable performances include Violetta in La traviata with Opera Theatre of St. Louis, Amor in the world premiere of Concierto para Mendez with Los Angeles Opera and Gilda in Rigoletto for Opera Carolina. She has also toured the United States and Mexico with Andrea Bocelli. Other roles in repertoire include the title role of Lucia di Lammermoor, Adina in The Elixir of Love, Suzel in L’amico Fritz, Mimì in La bohème and Anna in Le villi.
Stephen Costello, Faust
American tenor Stephen Costello made his San Diego Opera debut last season as Romeo in Romeo and Juliet and returned earlier this season as the Singer in Der Rosenkavalier. He made his Metropolitan Opera debut in 2007 as Arturo in Lucia di Lammermoor and was then invited to sing Edgardo that same season. He recently sang Cassio in Otello with the Salzburg Festival, Rinuccio in Gianni Schicchi with Royal Opera Covent Garden, The Duke of Mantua in Rigoletto at Deutsche Oper Berlin, Edgardo at Fort Worth Opera, Camille in The Merry Widow, Leicester in Mary, Queen of Scots (Maria Stuarda), the title role of Roberto Devereux with The Dallas Opera and Christian in Cyrano with the Opera Company of Philadelphia and at Italy’s Spoleto Festival. He made his professional debut as Rodolfo in La bohème with Fort Worth Opera and his European debut as Nemorino in The Elixir of Love with Opéra National de Bordeaux. He was awarded a 2007 Career Grant for the Richard Tucker Music Foundation, as well as a 2006 Sara Tucker Study Grant. He won first prize in the 2006 George London Foundation for Singers Competition, First Prize and Audience Prize in the Giagiari Competition as well as First Prize in the Licia Albanese Puccini Foundation Competition.
Greer Grimsley, Méphistophélès
American bass-baritone Greer Grimsley made his San Diego Opera debut in Lohengrin in 2000, returned for Fidelio in 2003, Samson and Delilah in 2007 and as Scarpia in Tosca in 2009. He made his Metropolitan Opera debut as Captain Balstrode in Peter Grimes and has subsequently performed Escamillo in Carmen, Jokanaan in Salome, Scarpia in Tosca, Telramund in Lohengrin and Amfortas in Parsifal. Recent engagements include Wotan in Seattle Opera’s Ring Cycle, the title role of The Flying Dutchman in Lithuania and Seattle Opera, the title role of Macbeth with Vancouver Opera, Don Pizarro in Fidelio with the Saint Louis Symphony, Amonasro in Aida with Portland Opera and Méphistophélès in Faust with New Orleans Opera. A frequent singer in Europe, Grimsley has performed leading roles at Deutsche Oper Berlin, Teatro Comunale di Bologna, Royal Danish Opera, Prague National Theatre, Aarhus-Den Jyske Opera in Denmark, the Scottish Opera and the Stadttheater Basel in Switzerland, among others.
Joshua Hopkins, Valentine
San Diego Opera debut. Canadian baritone Joshua Hopkins made his Metropolitan Opera debut as Ping in Turandot. Other recent engagements include Papageno in The Magic Flute for Opera Lyra Ottawa, Santa Fe Opera and Arizona Opera, Olivier in Capriccio at Pacific Opera Victoria, Figaro in The Barber of Seville at Arizona Opera, Sid in Albert Herring at Santa Fe Opera, Guglielmo in Così fan tutte at Madison Opera, Valentin at Calgary Opera, Junius in The Rape of Lucretia with Central City Opera and Marcello in La bohème with Houston Grand Opera. Other notable performances have included appearances in Pagliacci with Opera Carolina, Don Giovanni and La clemenza di Tito at L’Opera de Montrèal and Carmen at the Canadian Opera Company. A former member of the Houston Grand Opera Studio he has appeared in numerous productions with the Company. He is an active concert soloist and recitalist and has given performances at Carnegie Hall.
Sarah Castle, Siébel
New Zealand mezzo soprano Sarah Castle made her San Diego Opera debut in 2007 as Cherubino in The Marriage of Figaro, returned in 2008 as Lola in Cavalleria rusticana and last season appeared as Stephano in Romeo and Juliet. Recent engagements include the title role in Tan Dun’s Marco Polo for the Netherlands Opera, Cherubino in The Marriage of Figaro for Seattle Opera, Fox in The Cunning Little Vixen for Israeli Opera, Nicklausse in The Tales of Hoffmann for Teatro Real, Hansel in Hansel and Gretel and Ruggiero in Alcina for Opera Australia and Prince Orlovsky in Die Fledermaus with Opera Company of Philadelphia. She has sung Dryad in Ariadne auf Naxos, Siegrune in Die Walküre and Tisbe in Cinderella for Covent Garden, Oberto in Alcina for San Francisco Opera and Staatsoper Stuttgart, Olga in Eugene Onegin at Théâtre Royal de la Monnaie, Flosshilde in both Das Rheingold and Götterdämmerung and Grimgerde in Die Walküre with Bayreuther Festpiele and Carmen for both Opernhaus Zürich and New Zealand Opera.
Karen Keltner, Conductor
San Diego Opera’s Resident Conductor Karen Keltner has been associated with the Company since 1982 and has conducted a broad repertoire including last season’s La bohème and Romeo and Juliet. Other operas which she has conducted for San Diego Opera include Don Quixote, The Pearl Fishers, Samson and Delilah, Wozzeck, Carmen, The Conquistador, Così fan tutte, Thérèse Raquin, The Flying Dutchman, The Lighthouse, Cold Sassy Tree, A Streetcar Named Desire and Rigoletto. Other engagements have been with Utah Fesitval Opera, Opéra National du Rhin, Strasbourg, New York City Opera, Anchorage Opera, Kansas City Opera, Glimmerglass Opera, Pittsburgh Opera, and Opera Carolina. Karen Keltner gives master classes for singers in universities and cities where she guest conducts.
David Gately, Stage Director
American stage director David Gately made his San Diego Opera debut in 2002 directing Don Pasquale, a production also seen at Kentucky Opera, Opera Colorado, Calgary Opera, Chautauqua Opera, Virginia Opera, Dayton Opera, Canadian Opera Company, Opera Omaha, Edmonton Opera and Forth Worth Opera. Recent productions of note include The Elixir of Love with Dallas Opera and Atlanta Opera, Madama Butterfly with Seattle Opera, La bohème with Florida Grand Opera, Carmen in New Orleans, The Tales of Hoffmann with Edmonton Opera, The Magic Flute with Cincinnati Opera and Vancouver Opera, A Midsummer Night’s Dream with Florentine Opera and Glimmerglass Opera, Falstaff with Opera Omaha and Rigoletto with Utah Opera. Other productions include The Barber of Seville with Washington National Opera, Opera Colorado and Manitoba Opera, Simon Boccanegra for L’Opera de Montreal and Before Night Falls with Fort Worth Opera where he also directed an acclaimed production of Dead Man Walking and Cinderella, among others.
Carmen
Georges Bizet
Sung in French with English translations above the stage
Last performed by San Diego Opera in 2006
Sets and costumes from Utah Opera
May 14, 17, 20 and 22 (matinee), 2011
Carmen: Nino Surgurladze* Conductor: Edoardo Müller
Don José: Salvatore Licitra* Director: John Copley
Micaëla: Talise Trevigne* Sets: John Conklin
Escamillo: Wayne Tigges Costumes: Susan Memmott Allred
Frasquita: Laura Portune
Mercédès: Priti Gandhi
Zuniga: Kevin Langan
Dancaïro: Joshua Hopkins
Remendado: Joseph Hu
Morales: Scott Sikon
* San Diego Opera debut
Select cast bios for Carmen
Nino Surgurladze, Carmen
San Diego Opera debut. Georgian mezzo soprano Nino Surgurladze made her professional debut as Marguerite in La damnation de Faust in Parma. Recent engagements include Siebel in Faust at La Scala, the title role of Carmen in Bologna, Dorabella in Così fan tutte at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, Maddalena in Rigoletto at Teatro Real in Madrid, Magdalene in Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg at Grand Teatre del Liceu in Barcelona, Nicklausse and the Muse in The Tales of Hoffmann for Teatro Regio and Olga in Eugene Onegin for the Lyric Opera of Chicago. In 2001 she joined the Academy Studio of La Scala and has performed roles there in productions of Salome, Boris Godunov, Donizetti’s Ugo, conte di Parigi, Verdi’sOberto, Conte di San Bonifacio and The Italian Girl in Algiers.
Salvatore Licitra, Don José
San Diego Opera debut. Italian tenor Salvatore Licitra is a frequent singer at the world’s greatest opera companies and concert stages. Recent engagements include the title role of Ernani at the Lyric Opera of Chicago and Opernhaus Zurich, Calaf in Turandot, Luigi in Il Tabarro and Radames in Aida at the Metropolitan Opera, Dick Johnson La fanciulla del West at San Francisco Opera, the title role of Don Carlo at Wiener Staatsoper, Caravadossi in Tosca at Deutsche Oper Berlin as well as with the Rome Opera on tour in Tokyo, Manrico in Il trovatore for Tel Aviv Opera, Ricardo for Washington National Opera, and Radames for Los Angeles Opera. Other notable performances include his debut at the Teatro Regio as Riccardo, a role he also performed at Arena di Verona and Alvaro in La Forza del Destino for La Scala. He made his Metropolitan Opera debut as Cavaradossi, stepping in at the last moment to replace Luciano Pavarotti. Additional performances include Pollione in Norma, Cavaradossi, the title role of Andrea Chenier, Radames and Alvaro for Wiener Staatsoper and Canio in Pagliacci and Turridu in Cavalleria Rusticana in the same evening at the Metropolitan Opera. His extensive recording credits include Il trovatore and Tosca both conducted by Maestro Muti, as well as two solo cds of Verdi, Puccini, and verismo arias. He also appears on the Opernhauz Zurich DVD of Aida.
Talise Trevigne, Micaëla
San Diego Opera debut. Amercian soprano Talise Trevigne’s performances include Violetta in La traviata with Birmingham Opera Company and Gilda in Rigoletto with Tulsa Opera. She made her Australian debut as The Beloved in the world premiere of The Navigator, a role she reprised at Moscow’s Chekov International Arts Festival and Opéra Bastille. She originated the role of Pip in Jake Heggie’s Moby Dick at The Dallas Opera, a role she’ll reprise at San Diego Opera in 2012. She also created the role of June Gibbons in The Silent Twins for London’s Almedia Opera. Other recent performances include her Dallas Symphony debut in Carmina Burana, Gilda for Tulsa Opera and Knoxville Opera, Mimì in La bohème for Hartford Opera Theatre and Violetta and Rosina in The Barber of Seville for San Jose Opera. Other roles in her repertoire are Nerea in Deidamia, Norina in Don Pasquale, Constance in Dialogues of the Carmelites, Miranda in The Tempest and Sophie in Der Rosenkavalier.
Wayne Tigges, Escamillo
American baritone Wayne Tigges made his San Diego Opera debut as Zuniga in Carmen in 2006. Notable appearances include his Metropolitan Opera debut as Achilla in Julius Caesar in Egypt, Jochanaan in Salome with Arizona Opera, Donner in Das Rheingold and Zuniga and Escamillo for Los Angeles Opera. He also performed the Vicar in Albert Herring and Hercules in Alceste for Santa Fe Opera and his Opera National de Paris debut as Kolenaty in The Makropolous Case. Other appearances include the title roles in Don Giovanni and The Marriage of Figaro with Austin Lyric Opera, the Bonze in Madama Butterfly with Los Angeles Opera, the Speaker in The Magic Flute, the Doctor in Pelleas et Melisande and the Second Soldier in Salome for Cincinnati Opera and Sacerdote in Nabucco for Gran Teatro del Liceu. His many appearances with Lyric Opera of Chicago include Snook in the world premiere of A Wedding, Angelotti in Tosca, Sam in A Masked Ball, the Bonze in Madama Butterfly and Capulet in Romeo and Juliet.
Laura Portune, Frasquita
American soprano Laura Portune was a member of the San Diego Opera Ensemble from 2000-2002 and made her main-stage debut in Madama Butterfly in 2003, followed by Tebaldo/Celestial Voice in Don Carlo in 2004, Shepherd Boy in Tannhäuser in 2008 and Shepherd Boy in Tosca in 2009. Roles include Musetta in La bohème, Gilda in Rigoletto, Rosina in The Barber of Seville, Juliet in Romeo and Juliet, Susanna in The Marriage of Figaro, Violetta in La traviata, Cunegonde in Candide, Sophie in Der Rosenkavalier, Mabel in The Pirates of Penzance, Phyllis in Iolanthe and Gianetta in The Gondoliers. She has sung in such houses as Dayton Opera, Opera Columbus, Des Moines Metro Opera, Lyric Opera of San Diego and Lake George Opera.
Priti Gandhi, Mercédès
Indian-born soprano Priti Gandhi made her San Diego Opera debut as the Mexican Woman in A Streetcar Named Desire in 2000, returning as Second Lady in The Magic Flute in 2001 and 2006, Emilia in Otello in 2003, Varvara in Katya Kabanova in 2004, Inez in Il trovatore in 2007, the High Priestess in Aida in 2008, the Second Niece in Peter Grimes in 2009, Musetta in La bohème and Anna in Nabucco last season. Other appearances include her New York City Opera debut in Carmen, Lakmè and The Fox in The Little Prince for Tulsa Opera, the High Priestess with Seattle Opera, the title role in Gypsy Princess and Cinderella for Lyric Opera San Diego, Opera Pacific debut in The Magic Flute, Waltraute in Walküre with Paris Châtélèt, Donna Elvira in Don Giovanni at the Theatre of the Estates, Dorabella in Così fan tutte with Austin Lyric Opera, Echo in Ariadne auf Naxos for Seattle Opera, the title role of La Cenerentola at Dayton Opera and her Los Angeles Opera debut in Rise and Fall of the City of Mahagonny. She sang Rosina in The Barber of Seville with Caramoor Music Festival and made her New York Philharmonic debut in Elektra at Lincoln Center.
Edoardo Müller, Conductor
Italian conductor Edoardo Müller has led more than 30 productions in San Diego, beginning in 1980 with Giovanna d’Arco. In 2009, he conducted Tosca, Rigoletto and Madama Butterfly and last season he conducted Nabucco. Known worldwide for his mastery of the Italian operatic repertoire, he has enjoyed a long association with the Teatro alla Scala in Milan where he conducted Aida, I due Foscari, Il trovatore, I masnadieri, La forza del destino, Ernani, The Barber of Seville and Anna Bolena, among others. His career has taken him to the Metropolitan Opera, Teatro Municipal in Santiago, Teatro Colón in Buenos Aires, Seattle Opera, Lyric Opera of Chicago, The Dallas Opera, Houston Grand Opera, Cincinnati Opera as well as companies in Paris, Rome and Tokyo.
John Copley, Director
British stage director John Copley first appeared with San Diego Opera directing Eugene Onegin in 1985 (and in 1994) followed by The Marriage of Figaro in 1986 and 1992, La bohème in 1990, Così fan tutte in 1991, The Barber of Seville in 1993, Ariodante in 2002, Norma in 2003, Julius Caesar in Egypt in 2006 and Peter Grimes in 2009. He began his theatrical career performing the Apprentice in the first Covent Garden production of Peter Grimes in 1949. Soon after, he became the Stage Manager of Sadler's Wells Opera and Sadler's Wells Theatre Ballet. He then joined the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden as Stage Manager, then became Assistant Producer and subsequently Principal Resident Producer. His productions there include Così fan tutte, The Marriage of Figaro, Don Giovanni, La bohème, Faust, The Elixir of Love, Ariadne auf Naxos, Maria Stuarda, Lucrezia Borgia, Alceste and Semele. Among his milestone productions are Il pirata at Metropolitan Opera, The Barber of Seville seen in Chicago, San Francisco and The Dallas Opera and Midsummer Marriage for San Francisco Opera. Copley has worked with English National Opera, Welsh National Opera, Scottish Opera and the English Opera Group. He has directed with The Metropolitan Opera, the Bayerische Staatsoper in Munich, Opera Australia, New York City Opera, Canadian Opera, Lyric Opera of Chicago, and San Francisco Opera, among others.