General Director Barbara Lynne Jamison launches Youth Opera Initiative, adding 4th opera to the season!
The Brown-Forman 2019/20 Season — the first programmed by General Director Barbara Lynne Jamison who joined the company in August 2018 — will be framed by two timeless classics along with two Kentucky Opera debuts that allow the company to deeply engage with its community. The season kicks off in September with Georges Bizet’s Carmen. On Veteran’s Day weekend in November, Kentucky Opera presents Tom Cipullo’s Glory Denied – a story that follows the saga of Jim Thompson, America’s longest-held prisoner of war. The season continues with Mozart’s classic comedy The Marriage of Figaro over Valentine’s Day weekend in 2020. All three of these operas will be presented at the Brown Theatre and are available now for purchase as part of Kentucky Opera’s 3-show subscription package with up to 25% savings over single ticket prices. Kentucky Opera will conclude the season with a production of Robin Hood, a youth opera by Ben Moore (Enemies, A Love Story) and Kelley Rourke. This opera, presented at the Bomhard Theater, will be performed by our own Youth Opera Chorus (ages 8–18) in two performances for our community’s youth and their families.
Jamison had this to say about her first season, “Since I arrived in my new hometown of Louisville in August, I have discovered that the warm and welcoming people here have a remarkable enthusiasm for the arts and its capacity for building community around shared ideals. Opera’s power to connect us to the past, the future, to our inner selves, and to each other is reflected in each opera presented this season.”
SEASON TICKETS Season ticket holders get the best seats in the house at a savings of up to 25% over individual tickets. Current subscribers are able to renew their season tickets at 2018/19 prices until February 11, 2019. Prices will increase after this date and new subscriptions will be available starting February 12, 2019. Kentucky Opera also offers a $45 student season ticket series, with a valid I.D. Although not part of the season subscription package, subscribers will have the opportunity to add Robin Hood to their package at a cost of $15 per ticket.
To become a season ticket holder, visit www.kyopera.org or call 502-584-4500. Single tickets will go on sale to the public at a later date.
BONUS OPPORTUNITIES Kentucky Opera offers the community opportunities to learn more about the art-form and each opera with a series of admission-free events. One hour prior to each performance, Kentucky Opera presents a pre-show lecture, offering historical context, character analysis, and in-depth discussion about the opera in order for patrons to thoroughly enjoy their experience.
Kentucky Opera also offers audience members a chance to interact with artists and delve deeper into what they have just witnessed on stage during Opera Unwrapped following each Sunday Matinee.
YOUTH OPERA PROJECT Kentucky Opera’s General Director, Barbara Lynne Jamison, announced a new Youth Opera Initiative to begin this year. Select members of the Youth Opera Chorus will perform in the MainStage production of Carmen, and the 2019/20 chorus schedule will culminate in the production of Robin Hood, a youth opera by Ben Moore (Enemies, A Love Story) and Kelley Rourke. This opera, presented at the Bomhard Theater, will be performed by our newly formed Youth Opera Chorus (ages 8–18) in two performances for our community’s youth and their families. Says Jamison, “People of all ages deserve to experience the power and promise of the arts, and this iconic tale of personal action and responsibility is the perfect way to begin our renewed commitment to our youth. Robin Hood teaches us that we all have the power to do good in the world if we choose to ‘Lead with Love.’”
The Youth Opera Project is a multifaceted music theatre program designed to offer youth experience in the performing arts through the exciting process of producing an opera. Participants will work weekly with professional teaching artists in a fun and enriching environment. The Youth Opera Chorus accepts everyone ages 8-18, regardless of skill level, experience, or ability to pay. No prior experience is necessary. Program fee will be $700 for the year with financial assistance available. Placement auditions for Carmen and Robin Hood will be held in mid-May, 2019.
ABOUT THE PRODUCTIONS All performances at the Brown Theatre feature projected English supertitles. Players from the Louisville Orchestra perform for all MainStage productions at the Brown Theatre.
Carmen
By Georges Bizet
Friday, September 20, 2019 at 8 PM | Sunday, September 22, 2019 at 2 PM Performed at the Brown Theatre
Sung in French
Can the power within give you the strength to survive your circumstance?
Iconic. Brave. Timeless. Carmen struggles to overcome her tragic circumstances. Featuring Bizet’s magnetic music, hear some of the most recognizable music in opera, including the “Habanera,” the “Seguidilla,” and the famous “Toreador Song.” Carmen is a heroine for the ages.
Conductor: Joseph Mechavich
Director: Dan Wallace Miller* Starring Elise Quagliata* as Carmen, Dominic Armstrong* as Don José, Richard Ollarsaba* as Escamillo, and local soprano Emily Albrink as Micaëla.
*Kentucky Opera Debut
Glory Denied
Music by Tom Cipullo; Libretto by Tom Cipullo, based on the book by Tom Philpott
Produced by permission of ECS Publishing Group, St. Louis, MO Sole Agent for E. C. Schirmer Music Company, Publisher and Copyright Owner
Friday, November 8, 2019 at 8 PM | Sunday, November 10, 2019 at 2 PM
Performed at the Brown Theatre
Sung in English
How do you return home from war when the world has left you behind?
One of the most important new works of present-day opera follows the saga of Jim Thompson, America’s longest-held prisoner of war. This production over Veteran’s Day weekend will amplify the stories, of our brave service men and women and their families who have made the ultimate sacrifices serving our country.
Conductor: Steven Crawford
Director: Mary Birnbaum
Starring the 2019/20 Sandford Studio Artists.
Kentucky Opera is proud to partner with area military veterans’ organizations to take the conversation about this important production out into the community including:
● Veteran Community Alliance of Louisville
● Active Heroes
● Louisville VA Medical Center
● Veteran Shakespeare Group
● Veteran’s Club and Kentucky Veteran of the Year, Jeremy Harrell
The Marriage of Figaro
By Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Friday, February 14, 2020 at 8 PM | Sunday, February 16, 2020 at 2 PM
Performed at the Brown Theatre
Sung in Italian
Does having the right to do something make it the right thing to do?
Witness the redemptive power of friendship in what many call the perfect opera. Mozart takes audiences on an adventure of love and deception. Countess Almaviva conspires with the young couple Figaro and Susanna to thwart the Count’s devious intentions to ruin the young couple’s wedding day. Will Susanna and Figaro make it to the altar?
Conductor: Tyson Deaton*
Director: Kelly Kitchens*
Starring Tess Altiveros* as Susanna, Amber Monroe* as Countess Almaviva, André Courville* as Figaro, and Brian Vu* as Count Almaviva*
*Kentucky Opera Debut
Robin Hood, a youth opera
By Ben Moore and Kelley Rourke
Originally commissioned by The Glimmerglass Festival © Ben Moore and Kelley Rourke.
Friday, March 27, 2020 at 7 PM | Sunday, March 29, 2020 at 2 PM
Performed at the Bomhard Theater
Sung in English
We all have the power to do good in this world — if we choose.
The culmination of our inaugural Youth Opera Program, this production is a fresh take on the classic childhood tale performed by youth for youth and their families. Faced with corruption from the tyrannical Sheriff, Robin follows the voice of his heart and leads a merry band of ordinary citizens to change their world.
Featuring Kentucky Opera’s 2019/20 Youth Opera Chorus.
ABOUT KENTUCKY OPERA Currently in its 67th season of production, Kentucky Opera was founded in 1952 and designated the State Opera of Kentucky in 1982. The mission of Kentucky Opera is to enrich and engage our community through spectacular music, creative storytelling and
the thrill of the human voice. Follow the Kentucky Opera on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest. The Kentucky Arts Council, the state arts agency, supports Kentucky Opera with state tax dollars and federal funding from the National Endowment for the Arts.