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Stages in Miami and Fort Lauderdale will glitter with stars from all corners of the operatic firmament in a grand season filled with romance, ruses, and rebellion.
The 81st Season begins with a delightful valentine to Miami’s vibrant international culture, a Spanish-language production of Domenico Cimarosa’s family comedy, El matrimonio secreto (The Secret Marriage). Specially commissioned by FGO general director and CEO Susan T. Danis, the exclusive Spanish translation and 1980s Miami Beach location conceived by Puerto Rican creative Crystal Manich celebrate Miami’s Caribbean, Latin, and South American diaspora.
FGO’s prestigious Studio Artists are widely featured in the ensemble cast. In the role of Carolina, who has naughtily married behind her father’s back, Metropolitan Opera soprano Vanessa Bercerra makes house debut. Of Peruvian and Mexican-American descent, this rising star is enjoying a season packed with appearances across the U.S.
Second-year Studio Artist Page Michels, fresh from a concert at the Aspen Music Festival, will assume the role for Sunday matinee. Miami soprano and FGO favorite Catalina Cuervo returns in the role of the witty oldest daughter, Elisetta. Cuervo, known as “The Fiery Soprano,” last appeared in FGO’s 2022 Zarzuela concert, and to great acclaim in the title role of 2019’s Frida.
First-year Studio Artist and native of Wesley Chapel, FL, soprano Ashley Shalna, will make her FGO debut as Elisetta in the Sunday matinee performance. The role of Fidalma, who has her own designs on her niece’s secret husband, will be taken by first-year Studio Artist, mezzo-soprano Erin Alford, at the Sunday matinee. First-year Studio Artist, tenor Joseph McBrayer, makes his debut as the lovestruck Paolino, secret husband of Carolina.
Successful Cuban hotelier and doting papa Geronimo is played by baritone Phillip Lopez, a first-year Studio Artist who recently premiered Thumbprint by Kamala Sankaram at Chautauqua Opera. The role of the cocky Count Robinson is TBD.
El matrimonio secreto will be directed by Elena Araoz and conducted by Cuban conductor and founder/music director of Florida Chamber Orchestra, Marlene Urbay. It is a new production by FGO, conceived by Crystal Manich, with set design by Lindsay Fuori, costumes by FGO’s own Darío Almirón, and lighting by Stevie Agnew. The production runs from Nov. 12-15 at the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts.
Puccini’s comic gem Gianni Schicchi returns to the FGO stage for the first time since 1953.
The darkly comic tale of a toxic family who tries to circumvent their late patriarch’s will pairs with Michael Ching’s equally clever contemporary sequel, Buoso’s Ghost, which picks up at the moment Schicchi ends. International baritone Franco Pomponi returns to lead the casts of both operas as the wily lawyer Schicchi, after his triumphant 2017 appearance in the title role of Eugene Onegin.
Miami favorite, the venerable Metropolitan Opera mezzo-soprano Robynne Redmon, returns in the role of querulous Aunt Zita, having last graced FGO’s stage as Madame Larina in Eugene Onegin. Once again, FGO’s Studio Artists provide the backbone of the operas, with second-year tenor Charles Calotta and soprano Page Michels as the worried young lovers Rinuccio and Lauretta, Ashley Shalna as Nella, Erin Alford as La Ciesca, Joseph McBrayer as Gherardo, and Philip Lopez as Betto.
Audiences will enjoy the rare opportunity to hear a composer conduct his own opera, as Michael Ching takes the stand for both one-acts. Ching served on the FGO music staff for several years at the beginning of his impressive career: first as music assistant, then music administrator, and finally, chorus master.
International stage and film director Mo Zhou returns to stage the Puccini comedies, having last overseen 2019’s critically acclaimed Don Giovanni. The double bill runs Jan. 28-31, 2023 at the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts in Miami.
A fiery tale of love, loyalty, and sacrifice in Napoleonic Rome, Tosca is one of Puccini’s most beloved scores, and the cast is filled with FGO favorites and the most exciting rising stars.
Metropolitan Opera soprano Toni Marie Palmertree follows a time-honored FGO tradition, making her house and role debut as Tosca before taking it to the international stage to which she is quickly ascending.
Returning as her lover, Cavaradossi is Miami resident, the Mexican star tenor Arturo Chacón Cruz. He last appeared at FGO as Rodolfo in 2012’s La bohème, opposite Metropolitan Opera star soprano Ailyn Pérez as Mimi. Completing the leading trio is FGO favorite, baritone Todd Thomas, an acclaimed veteran Scarpia whose stunning Rigoletto broke hearts in the 2021-22 season.
FGO favorite, bass-baritone Neil Neilson, joins the cast as the Sacristan after his triumphant performance as the Emperor Claudius in last season’s Agrippina. Maestro Gregory Buchalter and stage director Jeffrey Marc Buchman reunite after last season’s acclaimed A Streetcar Named Desire to conduct and direct, respectively. The scenery and costumes are from Sarasota Opera.
The opera plays Mar. 18- 21 at the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts in Miami.
In the final show of the season, FGO revives the beloved Rossini comedy, The Barber of Seville, last seen in 2015. Rising star, South Korean baritone Young-Kwang Yoo, takes on the lovable rascal Figaro. Returning as a guest artist after two years in the Studio Program, mezzo-soprano Stephanie Doche brings her brilliant coloratura and charming stage presence to the clever ward Rosina. International tenor, Michele Angelini, plays her suitor, the Count Almaviva. He returns to FGO for the first time since 2013, when he appeared opposite Metropolitan Opera soprano Rachel Gilmore as Elvino in La Sonnambula. The cast is rounded out with former Studio Artist, Brazilian bass-baritone Rafael Porto as Don Basilio, and soprano Susan Neves as Berta. Casting for Dr. Bartolo will be announced at a later date.
Stage director and FGO Studio Artist Program manager Matt Cooksey makes his FGO directing debut composer. Maestro Anthony Barrese, artistic director and principal conductor of Opera Southwest who last appeared with FGO in 2018’s critically acclaimed Orfeo ed Eurydice, conducts.
The scenery is provided by the New Orleans Opera Association and costumes are from Sarasota Opera. This perennial favorite runs Apr. 29-May 2 at the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts in Miami.
Tickets for all shows begin at $16 at the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts and are available at fgo.org.
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