The Marriage of Figaro

Mozart

Saturday, March 16, 2013 at Seven O' Clock PM
Century II Concert Hall

overview
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Moart’s The Marriage of Figaro Saturday, March 16, 2013, 7:00pm – Century II Concert Hall

A Comedic, Social Satiric Opera in Four Acts Libretto in Italian by Lorenzo da Ponte Based on the French comedy by Beaumarchais Premiere: Vienna, May 1, 1786

Producer
Parvan Bakardiev

Production Design
Margaret Ann Pent
Stage Director		Conductor
Stanley M. Garner		Dean Williamson

Set Design		Stefan Pavlov
Lighting Design		Tyler LEssin
Chorusmaster		Edward Lada

Wichita Grand Opera Orchestra and Chorus
CAST OF CHARACTERS
FIGARO, the Count’s vale (baritone)		Patrick Carfizzi
COUNT ALMAVIVA, (baritone)		Jason Detwiler
COUNTESS ALMAVIVA, (soprano)		Zvetelina Vassileva
SUSANNA, Figaro’s betrothed & the Countess’ maid (soprano)		Ava Pine*
CHERUBINO, the Count’s page (mezzo)		Kaitlyn Costello+
MARCELLINA, an aging lady (mezzo)		Erin Mundus+
DR. BARTOLO, a doctor from Seville (bass)		Charles Turley*
DON BASILIO, the music teacher (tenor)		Brian Frutiger
DON CURZIO, a judge (tenor)		Brian Frutiger*
ANTONIO, the Count’s gardener (bass)		John Stephens
BARBARINA, his niece (soprano)		Alyssa Nance+

CHORUS: Country men and women, ladies-in-waiting, servants
*WGO Resident Artists †WGO Young Artists

Production and Artists subject to change

Star Bios

	PATRICK CARFIZZI FigaroPatrick Carfizzi has starred in over 275 performances with the Metropolitan Opera in roles including Schaunard in Zeffirelli’s iconic production of La Bohème and Masetto in Don Giovanni. Notable past engagements include Henry Kissinger in San Francisco Opera’s premiere of Nixon in China, Paolo in Simon Boccanegra (San Francisco Opera and The Met), Belcore in L’elisir d’amore (Santa Fe Opera), Dr. Bartolo in The Barber of Seville (Seattle Opera, Houston Grand Opera, Opera Theatre of Saint Louis, and Canadian Opera Company), and Papageno in Die Zauberflöte (Houston Grand Opera, Dallas Opera). Mr. Carfizzi made his European debut with Oper Köln as Leporello in Don Giovanni.

	AVA PINE SusannaSoprano Ava Pine, a native of Texas, continues to dazzle audiences and critics. Recent seasons have included performances of Adina in L’elisir d’amore with the Arizona Opera and the Fort Worth Opera, Norina in Don Pasquale with Opera New Jersey, as well as Josephine for Lyric Opera of Kansas City’s H.M.S. Pinafore. Ava was a Grammy nominee (Best Opera Recording 2011) for her work in a period instrument recording with Ars Lyrica of Houston, singing Cleopatra in Hasse’s Marc’Antonio e Cleopatra. She also starred as Serpina in La serva padrona with the Vestfold Festspillene festival in Norway.

	ZVETELINA VASSILEVA Countess AlmavivaMs. Vassileva makes her second appearance with Wichita Grand Opera this season as the Countess. Her recent performances include Desdemona at Royal Opera Covent Garden and San Francisco Opera, Violetta in La Traviata and Leonora in Il Trovatore at The Met, and Elisabetta in Don Carlo at Sofia (Bulgaria) National Opera. Notable European engagements include Marenka in The Bartered Bride at Royal Opera House Covent Garden and Mimi in La Bohème with the Berlin Staatsoper.

	JASON DETWILER Count AlmavivaStarring in the pivotal role of Count Almaviva is baritone Jason Detwiler. With more than 40 leading roles to his credit in Opera Houses across the U.S., Mr. Detwiler is becoming widely-known for his magnetic and energizing performances.

	KAITLYN COSTELLO CherubinoKaitlyn Costello recently made her professional debut with Central City Opera as Ado Annie in Oklahoma!, followed by her Atlanta Opera debut as Mercédès in Carmen. Additional performance credits include The Ghosts of Versailles (Susanna), Cosi fan tutte (Dorabella), the title role of Carmen, Falstaff (Meg Page), Albert Herring (Nancy), Les Contes d’Hoffmann (Nicklausse), Gianni Schicchi (La Ciesca), and The Dialogues of the Carmelites (Mother Marie).

	STANLEY M. GARNER Stage DirectorStanley M. Garner, one of the country’s most-respected stage directors, brings a wealth of experience to WGO’s new production. Garner began his career serving as Associate Director to legendary directors Franco Zeffirelli and Stephen Wadsworth. In addition to six years as a staff director at Los Angeles Opera, he has directed productions at San Francisco Opera, Vancouver Opera, Houston Grand Opera, l’Opera de Montreal, Washington National Opera, and Santa Fe Opera, among others.

	DEAN WILLIAMSON ConductorThe production will be conducted by Dean Williamson, widely known throughout the United States for his perceptive and commanding conducting style. His ambitious and versatile career in standard and contemporary repertoire has earned him worldwide acclaim.