ENTERTAINMENT

Cincinnati Opera reveals casting for its 2015 season

Janelle Gelfand
jgelfand@enquirer.com

Cincinnati Opera has finalized most of the casting for its 95th anniversary season.

The 2015 summer festival of the nation's second oldest opera company will feature four operas, including the world premiere of "Morning Star," with music by Ricky Ian Gordon and a libretto by William M. Hoffman.

The season, set for June 18 to July 31, will open in Music Hall with Verdi's "Il Trovatore." "Morning Star" will have seven performances in Cincinnati Opera's alternative venue, the 760-seat Corbett Theater at the School for Creative and Performing Arts.

"Morning Star" marks the company's first world premiere in more than 50 years.

Adapted from Sylvia Regan's 1940 play, the story follows the Feldermans, a family of Russian Jewish immigrants in New York City, during the early 20th century, including the tragedy of the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire, World War I, the Great Depression and the Labor Movement. The Jewish Foundation of Cincinnati has provided a lead gift of $50,000 in support of production costs and community programming.

Donizetti's comedy "Don Pasquale" returns to Music Hall's stage after 20 years in a new, updated production that premiered at Arizona Opera in April 2014. The season will close with a new production of Puccini's "Turandot" designed by André Barbe and Renaud Doucet. Cincinnati Opera is a co-producer of the production with The Minnesota Opera, Pittsburgh Opera, Seattle Opera and Utah Opera.

Cincinnati Opera will kick off the season on June 7 with Opera in the Park in Washington Park.

At a glance

June 18, 20: Verdi's "Il Trovatore." Baritone Stephen Powell performs the role of Count di Luna. Tenor Russell Thomas sings Manrico and soprano Julianna Di Giacomo sings the role of Leonora. Ferrando is sung by Morris Robinson, who commanded the stage as Ramfis in "Aida" (2013). José Maria Condemi directs. 7:30 p.m. both nights in Music Hall.

June 30, July 2, 8, 10, 12, 17 and 19: "Morning Star," by Ricky Ian Gordon and William M. Hoffman, a world premiere. Soprano Twyla Robinson stars as the matriarch Becky Felderman. Baritone Morgan Smith sings the role of Aaron Greenspan, Becky's lodger and suitor. Sadie, Becky's eldest daughter, will be sung by mezzo-soprano Elizabeth Pojanowski. Fanny, the middle daughter who longs to be a singer, will be played by Jennifer Zetlan. Esther is sung by Elizabeth Zharoff. Harry Engel will be sung by Andrew Lovato. Ron Daniels directs and Christopher Allen conducts. 7:30 p.m. except for 3 p.m. July 12 and 19, Corbett Theater at SCPA, Over-the-Rhine.

July 9, 11: Donizetti's "Don Pasquale." The cast is headed by husband-and-wife team bass-baritone Burak Bilgili as Don Pasquale and soprano Eglise Gutiérrez as Norina. Norina's young lover, Ernesto, will be played by tenor Ji-Min Park in his United States debut. Alexey Lavrov will sing the role of Malatesta. Richard Buckley conducts and Chuck Hudson directs. 7:30 p.m. in Music Hall.

July 25, 29 and 31: Puccini's "Turandot." As the ice princess Turadot, soprano Marcy Stonikas will make her company debut. Tenor Stuart Neill sings the lovestruck hero Calaf. Rising star Norah Amsellem will portray the tragic Liù. Baritone Jonathan Beyer, tenor Julius Ahn and tenor Joseph Hu are Ping, Pang and Pong, respectively. Baritone Norman Garrett returns to play the Mandarin. Renaud Doucet returns as director and choreographer; Carlo Montanaro will conduct. 7:30 p.m. Music Hall.

Artistic director Evans Mirageas delivers "Opera Insights" one hour before each performance.

Tickets: Suscription renewals will be sent this fall. New subscriptions go on sale during winter (December or January) and single tickets will go on sale in spring of 2015. 513-241-2742 or visit www.cincinnatiopera.org. ■