Utah Opera 2019/2020 Season Preview
In its upcoming season, Utah Opera produces four operas, including two Utah Opera premieres, at the Janet Quinney Lawson Capitol Theatre.
The Capitol Theatre will close in April 2019 to undergo renovations to improve seating and sightlines on the orchestra level of the theatre. It will reopen in October 2019 for the opening of Utah Opera’s 2019/2020 season.
A word from Artistic Director Christopher McBeth:
“Utah Opera is thrilled to open the newly renovated Janet Quinney Lawson Capitol Theatre with a season of opera that includes works from the masters of Italian opera like Verdi and Rossini to the new-to-Utah Opera audiences–including the exotic in French repertoire and even a Pulitzer Prize-winning American work. The productions range from the sumptuous and traditional, to a fresh look at an old favorite, to an award-winning theatrical spectacular. In the 2019-2020 season, Utah Opera shows the breadth of what this terrific art form can offer.”
Utah Opera’s production of Verdi’s Italian classic “La traviata,” conducted by Steven White, stars soprano Anya Matanovič as Violetta Valéry, the young Parisian courtesan who is conflicted by love, lifestyle and health. Tenor Rafael Moras makes his company debut in the role of Alfredo Germont, Violetta’s love interest, and baritone Michael Chioldi returns to Utah Opera in the role of Giorgio Germont, Alfredo’s father. Garnett Bruce directs the performance, which features the remounting of Utah Opera’s newly refurbished and ever-popular production designed by Peter Dean Beck with costumes by Susan Memmott Allred. Kevin Puts and Mark Campbell’s 2012 Pulitzer Prize for Music-winning opera “Silent Night” has its Utah debut in January 2020. The opera tells the story of the 1914 Christmas truce between the German, French and Scottish soldiers during World War I. Baritone Craig Irvin performs the German Lieutenant Horstmayer. Baritone Daniel Belcher performs Ponchel, the French lieutenant’s aide-de-camp. Director Tomer Zvulun makes his Utah Opera debut with a gripping production by Erhard Rom with costumes by Victoria (Vita) Tzykun. Robert Tweten conducts the opera, which is sung in five languages—English, French, German, Italian, and Latin—with English supertitles projected above the stage.
Season at a Glance
Verdi’s La Traviata – October 12 through 20
Kevin Puts and Mark Campbell’s Silent Night – January 18 through 26
Rossini’s The Barber of Seville – March 14 through 22
Utah Opera produces Rossini’s Italian comedic masterpiece “The Barber of Seville” with conductor Gary Thor Wedow. Baritone Michael Adams sings the famous “Figaro! Figaro! Figaro!” aria as the barber who is enlisted by Count Almaviva to help him gain the interest of the Rosina, the young ward of the older Dr. Bartolo, who plans to marry her himself. Former Utah Opera Resident Artist mezzo-soprano Sarah Coit performs the role of Rosina with tenor Matthew Grills performing Count Almaviva and bass Kevin Burdette performing Don Bartolo.
Michael Shell directs with a colorful production set in the 1960s with scenery by Shoko Kambara and costumes by Amanda Seymour.
Massenet’s Thais – May 9 through 17
Utah Opera’s 2019-20 season closes with the company debut of Jules Massenet’s French opera “Thaïs.” The opera takes place in Egypt under the rule of the Roman Empire and features Massenet’s famous “Méditation” for violin and orchestra. The role of the Alexandrian courtesan Thaïs, thought to be one of the most challenging vocal roles in opera, will be performed by soprano Nicole Heaston. Athanaël, the Cenobite monk who is trying to convert Thaïs to Christianity and persuade her to enter a convent, will be performed by Troy Cook.
The lavish production, with sets and costumes originally designed by Lorenzo Cutùli for Minnesota Opera, will be directed by Andrea Cigni with conductor Kenneth Montgomery leading the Utah Symphony from the podium.
Tickets and Subscriptions
Season subscriptions are on sale now by calling (801) 533-6683 or visiting utahopera.org. Single-opera tickets go on sale to the general public on June 14, 2019 through Utah Opera and ArtTix outlets.