Thursday, January 28, 2021
Subscriber Login
SpotlightNews
  • Home
  • News
    • Business
      • Spotlight On Business
      • Spotlight on Finance
    • Community
    • Covid-19 Updates
    • Crime
    • Environment
    • Government
    • Milestones
    • Obituaries
  • Sports
  • The Spot 518
  • Hot Spots Calendar
    • Calendar Listings
    • Submit Your Event
  • Opinion
    • Blogs
    • Our Opinion
    • Point of View
    • Your Opinion
  • Family Now
  • Classifieds
    • Classified Listings
    • Advertiser Login
  • Subscribe
    • Subscriber LogIn
    • Join us – Subscribe Today
    • Renew Subscription
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
    • Business
      • Spotlight On Business
      • Spotlight on Finance
    • Community
    • Covid-19 Updates
    • Crime
    • Environment
    • Government
    • Milestones
    • Obituaries
  • Sports
  • The Spot 518
  • Hot Spots Calendar
    • Calendar Listings
    • Submit Your Event
  • Opinion
    • Blogs
    • Our Opinion
    • Point of View
    • Your Opinion
  • Family Now
  • Classifieds
    • Classified Listings
    • Advertiser Login
  • Subscribe
    • Subscriber LogIn
    • Join us – Subscribe Today
    • Renew Subscription
No Result
View All Result
Spotlight News
No Result
View All Result
Home The Spot Art

Opera Saratoga to serve eclectic mix

Michael Hallisey by Michael Hallisey
June 21, 2016
in Art, Saratoga County, The Spot, Towns
0
Opera Saratoga to serve eclectic mix

Daniel Montenegro (right, above) reprises his role as Mario,, The postman in “Il Postino,” directed by Opera Saratoga’s General Director Lawrence Edelson (far left.).

Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

SARATOGA SPRINGS — In the two years since Lawrence Edelson was named Artistic and General Director of Opera Saratoga he’s developed the reputation of bringing contemporary American productions to the stage.

So, doesn’t he throw everyone for a loop by starting the summer program with Figaro?

“I really feel it is important we do contemporary work, but I also found it important we don’t abandon the classics.”

Larry Edelson, artist and general director for OperaSaratoga, has developed the reputation for bringing contemporary American operas to the Spa City. — Submitted photo
Larry Edelson, artist and general director for Opera Saratoga, has developed the reputation for bringing contemporary American operas to the Spa City. — Submitted photo

Three major productions highlight the 2016 Summer Festival Program. Opera Saratoga’s annual festival also promises art lovers recitals, concerts and master classes during its seven-week run that started May 28.

The line-up of players involved with this year’s festival makes it difficult to choose which of the three productions to attend, if limited by just one.

The first of the three starts with Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s classic “Le nozze di Figaro” on Friday, June 24. Since it was first composed in 1786, Mozart’s four-act opera buffa has become synonymous to classic opera itself. Yet, to Edelson’s recollection, this is the first time in 20 years since the opera house has staged Figaro. With any piece, the director said, “we really only do it when we have the right singers and the right players.”

Peixin Chen is one of those singers Edelson considered right for the role.

Edelson crossed paths with Chen at the Houston Grand Opera Studio as the latter sang an audition for the director he said, “just blew me away.”

Peixin Chen to play the title role in "Le Nozze di Figaro." Submitted Photo
Peixin Chen to play the title role in “Le Nozze di Figaro.” Submitted Photo

“He is really a rising star,” Edelson said of the recent graduate of the Houston Grand Opera. It will be Chen’s debut performance at Opera Saratoga, in a role he has yet to perform — Figaro. Chen played Bartolo in the same work earlier in the season at Houston. But, to Edelson, Figaro is “a role that will clearly be a part of his repertoire.”

The production also features the company debuts of Katherine Whyte as the Countess and Keith Phares as the Count. Andrew Bisantz makes his conducting debut with the company, along with director David Paul who helms this new production. And, Chelsea Basler — an alumna of Opera Saratoga’s Young Artist Program previously seen as Josephine in “H.M.S. Pinafore” – returns as Susanna, Figaro’s bride-to-be.   

Figaro is then followed by the American premiere of “The Witches of Venice,” featuring music from one of opera’s most important modern-day composers, Philip Glass. His minimalist signature is paired with the choreography of Karole Armitage to share a whimsical tale of a boy who was grown from a plant as he traverses his way through the struggles of life.

“Witches” marks Armitage’s return to Saratoga, following the success of last year’s “Dido and Aeneas.” The world renowned dancer and choreographer is a recipient of France’s prestigious Commandeur de l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres. She is often known as the “punk ballerina,” sporting a rebellious hairstyle that pairs with her propensity for contemporary styles of dance, music and art.

Karole Armitage, the "Punk Ballerina," is a world renowned dancer and choreographer. She returns to Saratoga for a second summer directing a production at OperaSaratoga. — Submitted photo
Karole Armitage, the “Punk Ballerina,” is a world renowned dancer and choreographer. She returns to Saratoga for a second summer directing a production at Opera Saratoga. — Submitted photo

This Armitage directed production opens Saturday, July 2, and highlights performances of players from Armitage Gone! Dance, The Capital District Youth Chorale and The School of the Arts at The National Museum of Dance.

The pairing of dance with opera is yet another factor, Edelson said, separates Opera Saratoga from other opera houses. Whereas dance may be seen as an addition, and unnecessary expense to houses across the country, Saratoga’s strong ties to the art makes it not only necessary, but possible.

“I have worked to put together a season that reflects the incredible power of opera to tell vivid and compelling stories through music in very different ways,” said Edelson.

“I am very excited to introduce our audiences to the music of Daniel Catán with our new production of ‘Il Postino.’”

The plot of “Postino” involves the maturation of a young postman who finds a passion for writing poetry after his daily deliveries to esteemed Chilean poet Pablo Neruda.

This opera was originally composed in 2010, based on the Academy Award-winning 1994 Italian film and the 1985 novel “Ardiente Paciencia” by Antonio Skármeta. Catán wrote the opera for Plàcido Domingo, who sang the role of Neruda at the opera’s Los Angeles Opera premiere shortly before the composer’s death at age 63.

Daniel Montenegro, who shared the stage with Domingo for “Postino,” will sing the title role of Mario Ruoppolo — the postman — a role he recently sang in Paris at the Théâtre du Châtelet. Richard Troxell sings the role of Pablo Neruda; and Sandra López sings the role of Matilde Neruda, the poet’s third wife. James Lowe also makes his company debut conducting the production, all under Edelson’s direction.

“If you love music of (Tosca) Puccini, you will love this opera,” said Edelson.

For tickets and information on the 2016 Summer Festival, visit operasaratoga.org.

Tags: Karole ArmitageMozartoperaOpera SaratogaPhilip Glass
Previous Post

Peace for pranks

Next Post

Today’s darlings: Things are looking up for Darling Valley

Next Post
Today’s darlings: Things are looking up for Darling Valley

Today's darlings: Things are looking up for Darling Valley

Leave Comment

Stay Connected with Us

  • 7k Fans
  • 4.6k Fans
  • 608 Fans
  • 357 Subscribers

Recent News

Office, storage facility proposed for Central Avenue

Office, storage facility proposed for Central Avenue

January 27, 2021
Colonie Planning Board tables project

Colonie Planning Board tables project

January 27, 2021
Bethlehem having first First Night celebration to ring in new year

Chamber launches Passport to Bethlehem to coax customers back to stores, restaurants

January 27, 2021
Albany County breaks hospitalization record; three more deaths

Albany County passes 300 deaths; ‘high risk’ sports will not start on Feb. 1

January 27, 2021

Hot Stories This Week

  • Trending
  • Comments
  • Latest
Moriah Formica debuts new all-female band, Plush

Moriah Formica debuts new all-female band, Plush

January 22, 2021
POLL: 75 percent plan to get vaccinated; nearly half say Sen. Schumer will have a positive impact as majority leader

POLL: 75 percent plan to get vaccinated; nearly half say Sen. Schumer will have a positive impact as majority leader

January 20, 2021
Demolition of Tobin’s First Prize to start soon

Demolition of Tobin’s First Prize to start soon

January 21, 2021
JIM FRANCO: Laying odds on who will run for Colonie supervisor

JIM FRANCO: Laying odds on who will run for Colonie supervisor

January 27, 2021
Office, storage facility proposed for Central Avenue

Office, storage facility proposed for Central Avenue

January 27, 2021
Colonie Planning Board tables project

Colonie Planning Board tables project

January 27, 2021
Bethlehem having first First Night celebration to ring in new year

Chamber launches Passport to Bethlehem to coax customers back to stores, restaurants

January 27, 2021
Albany County breaks hospitalization record; three more deaths

Albany County passes 300 deaths; ‘high risk’ sports will not start on Feb. 1

January 27, 2021
Spotlight News

Spotlight News, The Spot 518 and Capital District Family Now are divisions of Community Media Group, LLC. Our local offices are located at 341 Delaware Ave, Delmar, NY 12054. You can contact us at 518.439.4949.

Browse

Follow Us

  • About
  • Advertise
  • Contact the Editor
  • Employment
  • Our Team
  • Privacy & Policy

© 2021 Community Media Group, LLC - 341 Delaware Ave. Delmar, NY 12054. 518.439.4949

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
    • Spotlight On Business
    • Spotlight on Finance
  • Sports
  • The Spot 518
  • Hot Spots Calendar
  • Opinion
  • Subscribe
  • Log In
  • Classifieds
    • Advertiser Login

© 2021 Community Media Group, LLC - 341 Delaware Ave. Delmar, NY 12054. 518.439.4949