Virginia Opera will stage its first productions of “The Seven Deadly Sins” by Kurt Weill and Bertolt Brecht and “Der Freischütz” by Carl Maria von Weber, as well
as launching a five-year Puccini cycle, next season.The company’s 2016-17 season will begin with “The Seven Deadly Sins,” on a double bill with Ruggero Leoncavallo’s “Pagliacci,” Sept. 30 and Oct. 2 and 4 at Norfolk’s Harrison Opera House, Oct. 8 and 9 at George Mason University’s Center for the Arts in Fairfax, and Oct. 14 and 16 at the Carpenter Theatre of Dominion Arts Center (formerly Richmond CenterStage).
Adam Turner, resident conductor of Virginia Opera and the first recipient of the Kurt Weill-Julius Rudel Conducting Fellowship, will lead the Weill-Leoncavallo double bill, with stage direction by Keturah Stickann. Ute Gfrerer, in her US operatic stage debut, will star in “The Seven Deadly Sins.” The cast of “Pagliacci” will be led by Kelly Kaduce and Michael Chioldi.
“The Seven Deadly Sins” will be sung in English, “Pagliacci” in Italian, both with projected captions.
The company’s second production of the ’16-’17 season will be Gioachino Rossini’s greatest hit, “The Barber of Seville,” first produced in 1816. Performances are slated for Nov. 11, 13 and 15 in Norfolk, Nov. 18 and 20 in Richmond, and Dec. 3 and 4 in Fairfax.
Will Liverman, a Virginia Beach native, will star as the barber Figaro, in a cast also featuring Megan Marino and Andrew Owens. The production, in Italian with English captions, will be conducted by John Baril, music director of Colorado’s Central City Opera, and directed by Michael Shell.
“Der Freischütz,” staged as “The Magic Marksman” in an English translation with captions, will star Issachah Savage, winner of the 2014 Seattle Wagner Competition and rated as one of the leading young Heldentenors of opera in the US. The cast also will include Katherine Polit and Jake Gardner.
Turner will conduct and Stephen Lawless will direct the Weber, presented on Jan. 27, 29 and 31 in Norfolk, Feb. 4 and 5 in Fairfax, and Feb. 17 and 19 in Richmond.
Virginia Opera’s ’16-’17 season concludes with Giacomo Puccini’s last opera, “Turandot,” staged on March 17, 19 and 21 in Norfolk, March 25 and 26 in Fairfax, and March 31 and April 2 in Richmond. Kelly Kae Hogan will sing the title role, and Roger Honeywell will co-star as Calaf, voice of the popular aria “Nessun dorma.”
“Turandot,” sung in Italian with English captions, will be conducted by John DeMain and directed by Lillian Groag.
For information on ticket subscriptions for the Norfolk and Richmond seasons, call (866) 673-7282 or visit http://www.vaopera.org
Fairfax subscriptions will go on sale this spring.