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A universal story: Your guide to the Kentucky Opera's new season

Kathryn Gregory
Courier Journal

A strong woman stuck in an abusive relationship. A prisoner of war faced with reuniting with a family that has moved on. A man who takes what he wants and has to learn how to see his own "privilege."

Each relatable, each emotional, these themes embody elements of the universal human story. They should anger, inspire, delight — make you feel something.

At least that's what Kentucky Opera's General Director Barbara Lynne Jamison wants to happen after you see any of the newest productions taking the stage in the just announced Brown-Forman 2019-20 season. 

Opera "is something worth experiencing. It goes beyond entertainment. These operas aren’t here necessarily just to entertain us, but to give us joy, help us feel a tighter connection to our community, to have a better understanding of issues that have an impact on our community. Art can do more than just entertain.

“People should be willing to give it a try ... and feel passionately about something as they are leaving.”

The newest season debuts with in September with "Carmen." It is followed by "Glory Denied" in November and Mozart's "The Marriage of Figaro" in February 2020. New this year, the opera will also stage "Robin Hood," its first youth opera in years.

"It's a renewed commitment to youth programming," Jamison said of the March 2020 production that will take place at the Bomhard Theatre at The Kentucky Center for the Performing Arts, 501 W. Main St.

"It’s not adult works that has been changed to cater to youths ... it is a story that was created for youth to be sung by youth about the good they can do in the world," she said.

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General Director of the Kentucky Opera Barbara Lynne Jamison.

The Youth Opera, which will also be featured in the chorus of "Carmen," will be inclusive and “we won’t turn anyone away for lack of skill or experience. We hope it will be an exciting opportunity for kids who like to sing and act and move and dance,” she said.  

The reintroduction of a youth opera and a commitment to community-centered programming are all part of Jamison's grand as the new general director.

"I really believe that we program, as a nonprofit arts organization, for our community and to be part of that community conversation and discussion and values,” she said.

For "Glory Denied," a contemporary opera which tells the story of prisoner of war James Thompson, the company is partnering with numerous veterans organizations and looking at ways "we can have dialogue around this and how our community supports our veterans and how we can honor their duty and service to our country."

While Thompson, a Vietnam veteran who was America's longest-held POW, did come home, Jamison stresses there are still families in Kentucky "whose fathers and brother’s sons did not come home. We are also looking at how family members of our soldiers, who have given their ultimate sacrifice, how they need to go on."

"Glory Denied" is bookended by two historic productions, which wasn't by accident.

"This season illustrates what I’ve learned about our community and what Kentucky Opera should be doing for our community right now,” Jamison said. “One thing is new operagoers, as well as the stalwart operagoers here, love the classics. They love this iconic idea of historical opera ... I wanted to be sure to shoulder our season here with those historical pieces" that have a universal human story to tell.

"We’re leaning into the story of 'Carmen' where she is torn by her circumstances of being in a relationship that is not healthy. And she looks for a way out. In the end, she realizes it is the unhealthiest of all possible domestic relationships where she is abused and eventually killed,” she said. “That is a very 21st-century story, unfortunately.”

In "The Marriage of Figaro," look for the themes of forgiveness and restoration. Once a censored production for its portrayal of "the power of the masses" over the aristocracy, this story will focus on how just because your perceived privilege gives you the right to fo something, it does not mean it's the right thing to do.

"We’ll really lean into what the story was about at the time and why it was censored in the first place," she added.

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Before all of this, though, the opera is staging its final production of the 2018-19 season with Giuseppe Verdi's "Rigoletto," on Feb. 15 and 17.

“It’s a great show … with some really glorious costumes, some really fantastic sets. So, if people are visually inclined for the theater, this will definitely be a feast for their eyes,” she said.

Rigoletto, however, sometimes has a problematic plotline. “It happened in the 16th century when women were property. It’s about a philandering duke who is assisted by his jester in the court and they prey upon women,” she said. “It’s a problematic topic for the #metoo movement, but I think it’s important for us to look at what happened and how it happened in the past and to always compare the past with our present. Not that we’re stamping approval because we’re putting it on stage, but we’re saying, ‘this is worth remembering because it’s worth not repeating.’”

But for Jamison, and she hopes others, opera is definitely worth repeating.

“We hope people will try opera. I think there a lot people who assume what opera is who haven’t actually been to one,” she said. “I would hope with these universal stories and a fresh approach to these stories, both old and new, that people will be willing to give it a try with us this year.”

Reach Kathryn Gregory at kgregory@courier-journal.com. Follow her on Twitter @kitgregory.

Rigoletto

By Giuseppe Verdi. Kathleen Belcher, director; Roberto Kalb, conductor

WHAT: Giuseppe Verdi's dark drama of politics, love, lustand betrayal is filled with some of opera's greatest melodies.

WHERE: The Brown Theatre, 335 W. Broadway

WHEN: 8 p.m. Feb. 15, 2 p.m. Feb. 17

Kentucky Opera Brown-Forman 2019/20 Season

Carmen

By George Bizet. Sung in French with English supertitles

Kentucky Opera will stage "Carmen" during its Brown-Forman 2019-20 season.

WHAT: 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. 

WHERE: The Brown Theatre, 335 W. Broadway

WHEN: 8 p.m. Sept. 20; 2 p.m. Sept. 22

CAST: Starring Elise Quagliata* as Carmen, Dominic Armstrong* as Don José, Richard Ollarsaba* as Escamillo, and local soprano Emily Albrink as Micaëla. 

Glory Denied

Music by Tom Cipullo; Libretto by Tom Cipullo, based on the book by Tom Philpott

Kentucky Opera will stage "Glory Denied" during its Brown-Forman 2019-20 season.

WHAT: 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. 

WHERE: The Brown Theatre, 335 W. Broadway

WHEN: 8 p.m. Nov. 8; 2 p.m. Nov. 10

CAST: Starring the 2019/20 Sandford Studio Artists.

PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS: Kentucky Opera is partnering 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. Sung in Italian with English supertitles

Kentucky Opera will stage "The Marriage of Figaro" during its Brown-Forman 2019-20 season.

WHAT: 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?

WHERE: The Brown Theatre, 335 W. Broadway

WHEN: 8 p.m. Feb. 14, 2020; 2 p.m. Feb. 16, 2020

CAST: Starring Tess Altiveros* as Susanna, Amber Monroe* as Countess Almaviva and Brian Vu* as Count Almaviva*

Robin Hood, a youth opera

By Ben Moore and Kelley Rourke. Originally commissioned by The Glimmerglass Festival

Kentucky Opera will stage "Robin Hood" during its Brown-Forman 2019-20 season.

WHAT: 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. 

WHERE: Bomhard Theater, Kentucky Center for the Performing Arts, 501 W Main St.

WHEN: 7 p.m. March 27, 2020; 2 p.m. March 29

CAST: Featuring Kentucky Opera’s 2019/20 Youth Opera Chorus

*Kentucky Opera Debut

How to get Kentucky Opera tickets

Season ticket holders get the best seats in the house at a savings of up to 25 percent over individual tickets. Current subscribers are able to renew their season tickets at 2018/19 prices until Feb. 11. Prices will increase after this date and new subscriptions will be available starting Feb. 12. 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.

Apply for the Youth Opera Project

The Youth Opera Project is a multifaceted music theatre program designed to offer youth experience in the performing arts through 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.

The 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.