Boston Lyric Opera Debuts Verdi's "Rigoletto"....

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BOSTON LYRIC OPERA CONTINUES 37th SEASON WITH NEW PRODUCTION OF VERDI’S TRAGIC MASTERPIECE RIGOLETTO

SET IN A RICH AND DECADENT RENAISSANCE ITALY

Tomer Zvulun Makes Boston Lyric Opera Directorial Debut

Baritone Michael Mayes and Tenor Bruce Sledge Make Company Debuts

Alongside Soprano Nadine Sierra and Bass Morris Robinson

LIMITED ENGAGEMENT: FIVE PERFORMANCES ONLY

March 14, 16, 19, 21 and 23, 2014

Citi Performing Arts CenterSM Shubert Theatre, Boston

BOSTON (DATE)—Boston Lyric Opera (BLO), New England’s largest opera company, continues its 37th season with the premiere of a new production of Giuseppe Verdi’s tragic masterpiece, Rigoletto, sung in Italian with English projected titles. Directed by internationally renowned Tomer Zvulun in his Boston Lyric Opera directorial debut, the production opens March 14 at the Citi Performing Arts CenterSM Shubert Theatre and runs through March 23, for five performances only. Italian based maestro, Christopher Franklin, also makes his BLO debut, following critically acclaimed recent performances of Doubt at Minnesota Opera. This production of Rigoletto is a co-production of Boston Lyric Opera, The Atlanta Opera, and Opera Omaha.

Set in a rich and decadent Renaissance Italy, the production stars baritone Michael Mayes in the title role, singing his first Rigoletto, and tenor Bruce Sledge as the Duke of Mantua, both making their Company debuts. The production also features soprano Nadine Sierra (recently profiled in Opera News Magazine) as Gilda, and celebrated bass Morris Robinson, a former all-American offensive lineman for the Citadel in South Carolina, as Sparafucile.

Known for having some of opera’s most famous arias including “La Donna e Mobile” and “Caro Nome,” Verdi’s Rigoletto tells the riveting story of the Duke of Mantua, always in pursuit of his next romantic conquest, and his jester, Rigoletto, obsessed with protecting his innocent daughter Gilda from the corruption in the Duke’s court. Rigoletto can lock his daughter away, but he cannot contain the passion stirring in her young heart. When a betrayed husband places a curse on the Duke and Rigoletto, a thirst for revenge leads to tragic results.

Boston Lyric Opera’s new production opens March 14 at 7:30 p.m. and continues with performances on Sunday, March 16, at 3:00 p.m.; Wednesday, March 19, at 7:30 p.m.; Friday, March 21 at 7:30 p.m.; and Sunday, March 23, at 3:00 p.m. Performances are held at the Citi Performing Arts CenterSM Shubert Theatre located at 265 Tremont Street in Boston. For tickets or more information, please visit blo.org or call 866. 348.9738.

ABOUT  BOSTON LYRIC OPERA

Boston Lyric Opera is the largest opera company in all of New England. Now in its 37th season, BLO celebrates the art of the voice through its mission of building curiosity, enthusiasm and support for opera by creating musically and theatrically compelling productions, events, and educational resources for the Boston community and beyond. Since its founding in 1976, the Company has staged world premieres, U.S. premieres, co-productions and co-commissions of note with organizations such as The Royal Opera, Covent Garden and Scottish Opera, and continues to be a destination for some of the leading artists, conductors, directors and designers from around the world.

BLO produces four productions each season: three at the Citi Performing Arts Center Shubert Theatre in Boston and the annual Opera Annex production in a found space. BLO’s programs are funded, in part, by a grant from the Massachusetts Cultural Council and the National Endowment for the Arts.

ASSOCIATED LINKS

Opera News magazine profile on soprano Nadine Sierra:

http://www.operanews.com/Opera_News_Magazine/2014/2/Departments/Sound_Bites__Nadine_Sierra.html

National Public Radio’s All Things Considered interview with bass Morris Robinson:

http://www.npr.org/2007/03/02/7689767/operas-morris-robinson-goes-home-musically