Opera Theatre of the Rockies Announces its 15th Anniversary Season

Opera Theatre Announces its 15^th Anniversary Season

Who:               Opera Theatre of the Rockies
What:              15^th Anniversary Season
When:              Oct. 1, 2012-September 30, 2013
Where:            Pikes Peak Center for the Performing Arts, Armstrong Theater at Colorado College, and Other Smaller Venues in Colorado Springs
Tickets:           Tickets for Die Fledermaus will go on sale on January 11 at the Pikes Peak Center box office and all Tickets West outlets; by calling 719-520-SHOW (7469) or toll-free at 866-464-2626; Online at www.ticketswest.com.  Inquire about student, senior or group discounts.
For more information, please go to www.operatheatreof the rockies.org or call the Opera Theatre at 719-570-1950.   Watch for updated information about tickets for our other performances.
Opera Theatre of the Rockies has announced its exciting 15^th Anniversary Season.  And 2013 is sure to offer something for everyone with a full calendar of operatic music planned.  Once again, Opera Theatre will produce two major operas.  The first production is Johann Strauss’ effervescent Die Fledermaus coming to the Pikes Peak Center for the Performing Arts on Saturday evening, March 2 at 7:30 pm and Sunday afternoon, March 3, 2013 at 3 pm.  An audience favorite, this mainstay of the operetta repertoire is the fun-filled story of pranks, mistaken identity, glamorous parties, and laughter galore set in romantic Vienna.  First performed in 1874, Die Fledermaus is produced by opera companies across the globe and is remembered for its endearing tunes and Viennese waltz.
Back by popular demand and together again after a triumphant performance of Verdi’s La Traviata in March 2012, are heralded stars, Annamarie Zmolek and Joel Burcham, singing the lead roles of Rosalinde and Alfred.  Annamarie’s beautiful singing has been called “a voice that defines the art of the soprano, a gift from beyond, a sweet lyric tone that is musical at all times.” She is a true star on the rise and together with Joel once again, we anticipate no less than magic on stage.  Also returning this year is local favorite, Brittany Ann Robinson singing the role of Adele, fresh from “stealing the stage” in her heralded performance as Musetta in Puccini’s La Boheme with Florida Grand Opera.
We also welcome to our company Drake Dantzler, tenor in the role of Eisenstein (Opera News says: “he has a voice of molten silver, immaculate musicianship, and an expressive stage persona”), and Christopher Clayton as Dr. Falke who has been praised for his “golden baritone” and “dynamic stage presence” as well as being lauded by the Salt Lake Tribune for his “charisma and warmth”.  Amber Markova will sing Prince Orlovsky, Brian Harris is Dr. Blind, Chad Reagan is Frank and Amy Mushall is cast as Ida.  Also exciting is the return of our highly praised conductor and director from 2012, Christopher Zemliauskas and Linda Ade Brand, respectively.  With last year’s La Traviata hailed as “the finest operatic orchestral performance ever given in the Pikes Peak Region,” this should be a superlative production of Die Fledermaus.
Spring and summer will bring us a number of exciting opera events such as the return of Marcia Ragonetti with Steven Taylor in a Cole Porter benefit concert on May 9.  We all remember the beauty of their performances in A Little Night Music.  Sparks will surely fly as they reunite for this special performance.
Southern Colorado’s opera company, Opera Theatre of the Rockies is also excited to include in this year’s packed season theVocal Arts Festival - a combining of already established professional opera singers with a Young Artist Intensive Training Program for aspiring singers in conjunction with Colorado College’s Summer Music Festival, set for July 8–August 4, 2013.  This newly restructured festival underlines Opera Theatre’s mission to feature gifted Colorado performers in professional productions, in addition to providing opportunities for younger singers to train with some of the country’s renowned teachers/performers and to gain actual stage experience.  This exciting offering features a fully-staged-scenes concert in July and a special performance as featured artists in the 2013 Colorado Springs Philharmonic Free Summer Outdoor Series.   The Vocal Arts Festival Ensemble’s featured performance, POP-era in the Park is generously underwritten by the Bee Vradenburg Foundation celebrating the legendary Bee Vradenburg and Charles Ansbacher.
The Festival culminates with Opera Theatre’s second major opera production, Robert Ward’s Pulitzer-prize winning opera,The Crucible on August 2 & 4, 2012 at Armstrong Theater.  Based on Arthur Miller’s celebrated play, this is a work of historic proportions.  Set in 1692 during the infamous Salem witch trials, accusations explode like fireworks in this fully staged opera production – the 17th Century version of “Girls Gone Wild”.  Be prepared to be transported back in time as Armstrong Theater on the Colorado College campus will be “turned” into Salem, Massachusetts as this riveting drama comes to life on Friday evening, August 2 and Sunday afternoon, August 4, 2013.  With a cast of 23 named roles, Opera Theatre’s amazing singer/actors will bring this exceptional score to life as never before.  Also familiar to Colorado Springs’ audiences, the wildly successful team of conductor, James Allbritten and stage director, Steven LaCosse, both from Piedmont Opera, Opera Carolina, and North Carolina’s famed School of the Arts will return for this powerful production.
Martile Rowland, Opera Theatre of the Rockies’ Founder and Artistic Director, says, “I’m so thrilled that Opera Theatre of the Rockies has reached this important milestone in presenting a full calendar of exciting musical events for its 15^th Anniversary Season. The Pikes Peak Region has embraced Opera Theatre and all its talented singers through the years, performing in more than 22 different operas. This season is particularly noteworthy as we offer southern Colorado a wide range of unique opera productions including everything from a one act comedic work, Old Maid and the Thief, that successfully kicked off our Crystal Season this fall and a free community concert with The Colorado Springs Philharmonic to one of the most performed American operas in the repertoire. And we congratulate the Pikes Peak Opera League on their first annual Young Voice Competition coming up this spring.  This will be a year of extraordinary performance opportunities and we especially thank our opera family – our amazing company singers, hundreds of volunteers, our donors and supporters and especially, our dedicated audiences as once again, we make glorious opera music together.”
Tickets are on sale January 11, 2013 for Opera Theatre of the Rockies’ Die Fledermaus, so check your local listings and also the Opera Theatre web site at www.operatheatreoftherockies.org for more information. You may also call the opera office at 719-570-1950. Tickets are sold at all Tickets West outlets including the Pikes Peak Center Box Office, or by calling 719-520-SHOW (7469) or toll-free at 866-464-2626.  Or, you may also purchase tickets online at www.ticketswest.com.  Discounts are available for students, seniors and groups of more than ten people.