MIDATLANTIC OPERA Presents Verdi's "Rigoletto"

MIDATLANTIC OPERA
Presents
Verdi’s “Rigoletto”

SUNDAY October 26, 2014, 5:00 pm to 7:30 pm
Ridge Performing Arts Center (RidgePAC)
268 South Finley Ave, Basking Ridge, NJ 07920

TICKETS NOW ON SALE AT

WWW.EVENTBEE.COM OR WWW.MIDATLANTICOPERA.ORG

The MidAtlantic Opera Company will present a fully-staged production of Giuseppe Verdi’s well-loved classic, Rigoletto, conducted by Jason C. Tramm (http://www.jasontramm.com/) and stage directed by Eric Gibson (http://www.gibsoneric.com/). There will only be one not-to-be-missed performance on Sunday October 26, 2014 at 5:00 pm at the Ridge Performing Arts Center, Basking Ridge, NJ. The cast features baritone Jason Stearns (Metropolitan Opera, Lyric Opera of Chicago, Savonlinna Festival, and the Los Angeles Opera) as Rigoletto, tenor Alok Kumar (Cincinnati Opera and Cedar Rapids Opera Theatre) as the Duke of Mantua, and soprano Jamilyn Manning-White (NY Gotham Chamber Opera, Heartbeat Opera and Berkshire Theatre Festival) as Gilda. The MidAtlantic Opera Orchestra will accompany the cast which will include additional principal roles and a men’s ensemble (full cast list is listed below). According to Dr. Tramm, Artistic Director of MidAtlantic Opera, “Rigoletto was Verdi’s first mature masterwork. For sheer melodic beauty and vocal characterization, it is unmatched.”

About MidAtlantic Opera: MidAtlantic Opera is an exciting new professional opera company now entering its second season of performances. It is one of very few professional opera companies that calls New Jersey its home and that is regularly presenting professional level operatic works. MidAtlantic Opera’s mission is to inspire audiences and enrich the cultural life of our community by sharing the aesthetic power, and intellectual and emotional engagement of world class opera. Learn more about this opera company atwww.midatlanticopera.org/.

About Rigoletto: Rigoletto premiered on March 11, 1851 at a sold-out performance at La Fenice in Venice, Italy as the first part of a double bill with Giacomo Panizza’s ballet Faust. The opening night was a complete triumph, especially the scena drammatica and the Duke’s cynical aria, “La donna è mobile,” which was sung in the streets the next morning. Verdi had maximized the aria’s impact by only revealing it to the cast and orchestra a few hours before the premiere, and forbidding them to sing, whistle or even think of the melody outside of the theatre. Rigloletto is considered by many to be the first of the operatic masterpieces of Verdi’s middle-to-late career. Its tragic story revolves around the licentious Duke of Mantua, his hunch-backed court jester, Rigoletto, and Rigoletto’s beautiful daughter, Gilda. The opera’s original title, La maledizione (The Curse), refers to the curse placed on both the Duke and Rigoletto by a courtier whose daughter had been seduced by the Duke with Rigoletto’s encouragement. The curse comes to fruition when Gilda likewise falls in love with the Duke and eventually sacrifices her life to save him from the assassins hired by her father.

CAST

Conductor . . . . . . . . . Jason C. Tramm

Stage Director . . . . . . Eric Gibson

Rigoletto . . . . . . . . . . . Jason Stearns

Gilda . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jamilyn Manning White

Duke . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Alok Kumar

Sparafucile . . . . . . . . . . Matthew Curran

Maddalena . . . . . . . . . . Karin Mushegain

Borsa . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Kevin Courtemanche

Marullo . . . . . . . . . . . . . Ivan Conrad

Count Ceprano . . . . . . . Justin Beck

Countess Ceprano . . . . Melanie Campbell

Monterone . . . . . . . . . . Daniel Lickteig

Giovanna . . . . . . . . . . . .Elizabeth Grohowski

AT A GLANCE

WHAT: Verdi’s RIGOLETTO, Produced by MidAtlantic Opera

WHEN: Sunday October 26, 2014 @ 5 pm

VENUE: Ridge Performing Arts Center (Ridge PAC)

268 South Finley Avenue, Basking Ridge, NJ

TICKETS: Premium Seating: $55 General Admission: $35

Order tickets online at www.midatlanticopera.org or http://www.eventbee.com/event?eid=102826043

Group Rates Available: Contact info@midatlanticopera.org or (973) 216-7282

DETAILS:

• Libretto by Francesco Maria Piave
• Performed in Italian with English subtitles
• Approximate Running Time: 2 hours 30 minutes

Conducted by Maestro Jason C. Tramm (http://www.jasontramm.com/)

Stage Directed by Eric Gibson (http://www.gibsoneric.com/)

For further information about Rigoletto and MidAtlantic Opera’s 2014 season, please visit www.midatlanticopera.org.