Virginia Opera will open its 2013-14 season with the company’s first production of Verdi’s last opera, “Falstaff.” Other works on the schedule are Mozart’s “The Magic Flute,” Richard Strauss’
“Ariadne auf Naxos” and Bizet’s “Carmen.”The coming season also features two special engagements: Puccini’s “The Girl of the Golden West” in January at the Sandler Arts Center in Virginia Beach, Ferguson Arts Center at Christopher Newport University in Newport News and Richmond CenterStage; and Stephen Sondheim’s “Sweeney Todd” in May at the Harrison Opera House in Norfolk and Richmond CenterStage. The Puccini was to have been produced last fall by Lyric Opera Virginia, but the company delayed the show for lack of funds. The Sondheim musical is running during the Virginia Arts Festival.
All six productions will be staged at the Carpenter Theatre of Richmond CenterStage, five of them at the Harrison Opera House in Norfolk. The four-opera regular season also will be presented at George Mason University’s Center for the Arts in Fairfax. “The Girl of the Golden West” will be performed at the Sandler Arts Center in Virginia Beach and Ferguson Arts Center of Christopher Newport University in Newport News, as well as the Richmond venue.
Ticket subscription prices for the four-opera season range from $89 to $369 in Norfolk and $96 to $358 in Richmond. Subscriptions will go on sale in Fairfax on April 11. Ticket prices for the two specials are $35 to $100 in Norfolk and Virginia Beach, $35 to $97 in Richmond; and $32 to $90 in Newport News.
For more information, call (866) 673-7282 or visit Virginia Opera’s website, www.vaopera.org
Dates and casting for Virginia Opera’s 2013-14 season:
* “Falstaff” (in Italian, English captions) – Joseph Rescigno conducting; Stephen Lawless, stage director. Stars Stephen Powell (Falstaff), Weston Hurt (Ford), Elizabeth Caballero (Alice Ford). Sept. 27 (8 p.m.), Sept. 29 (2:30 p.m.) and Oct. 1 (7:30 p.m.) in Norfolk; Oct. 4 (8 p.m.) and Oct. 6 (2:30 p.m.) in Richmond; Oct. 11 (8 p.m.) and Oct. 13 (2 p.m.) in Fairfax.
* “The Magic Flute” (in English, English captions) – Mark Russell Smith conducting; Michael Shell, stage director. Stars Matthew Plenk (Tamino), Nadine Sierra (Pamina), Heather Buck (Queen of the Night), David Pershall (Papageno). Nov. 8 (8 p.m.), Nov. 10 (2:30 p.m.) and Nov. 12 (7:30 p.m.) in Norfolk; Nov. 22 (8 p.m.) and Nov. 24 (2:30 p.m.) in Richmond; Dec. 6 (8 p.m.) and Dec. 7 (2 p.m.) in Fairfax.
* “The Girl of the Golden West” (in Italian, English captions) – Conductor TBA; Lillian Groag, stage director. Cast TBA. Jan. 10 (8 p.m.) and Jan. 12 (2:30 p.m.) in Virginia Beach; Jan. 17 (8 p.m.) and Jan. 19 (2:30 p.m.) in Richmond; Jan. 23 (7:30 p.m.) in Newport News.
* “Ariadne auf Naxos” (in German, English captions) – Garrett Keast conducting; stage director TBA. Stars Christina Pier (Ariadne), Audrey Luna (Zerbinetta). Feb. 7 (8 p.m.), Feb. 9 (2:30 p.m.) and Feb. 11 (7:30 p.m.) in Norfolk; Feb. 14 (8 p.m.) and Feb. 16 (2 p.m.) in Fairfax; Feb. 21 (8 p.m.) and Feb. 23 (2:30 p.m.) in Richmond.
* “Carmen” (in French, English captions) – John DeMain conducting; Tazewell Thompson, stage director. Stars Heather Johnson (Carmen), Corrine Winters (Micaëla). March 21 (8 p.m.), March 23 (2:30 p.m.) and March 25 (7:30 p.m.) in Norfolk; April 4 (8 p.m.) and April 6 (2:30 p.m.) in Richmond; April 11 (8 p.m.) and April 13 (2 p.m.) in Fairfax.
* “Sweeney Todd” (in English, English captions) – Conductor TBA; Ron Daniels, stage director. Cast TBA. May May 9 (8 p.m.), May 10 (2:30 and 8 p.m.) and May 11 (2:30 p.m.) in Norfolk; May 23 (8 p.m.), May 24 (2:30 and 8 p.m.) and May 25 (2:30 p.m.) in Richmond.