The Orlando Philharmonic, in collaboration with Mad Cow Theatre and Florida Opera Theatre, presents Puccini’s classic opera
Friday, April 29, 8:00 PM & Sunday, May 1, 2:00 PM
Bob Carr Performing Arts Centre
Christopher Wilkins, conductor & Frank McClain, director
Purchase Tickets – April 29, 8 PM | Purchase Tickets – May 1, 2 PM
Seating is assigned based on the date orders are received. Last year’s Concert Opera subscribers will be seated first and new orders will be seated after February 1. If you would like to receive a follow-up call or email regarding your seat assignments, please enter “PLEASE CALL” in the Promotion Code field. Someone from the box office will be in touch when your seats have been assigned.
With thanks to Darden Foundation, United Arts of Central Florida, Florida Opera Theatre and individual donors from the community, the Orlando Philharmonic is proud to continue its popular Concert Opera performances with a concert staging of Giacomo Puccini’s La Bohème. Performances will be held on Friday, April 29, 2011 at 8:00 PM, and Sunday, May 1, 2011 at 2:00 PM at the Bob Carr Performing Arts Centre, 401 W. Livingston Street, Orlando. The Philharmonic once again collaborates with Mad Cow Theatre, and also collaborates with Florida Opera Theatre for this production. Frank McClain, who has directed Philharmonic productions Porgy and Bess and Guys and Dolls, to critical acclaim, serves as director.
La Bohème is one of Puccini’s most popular operas. The story focuses on the love between the seamstress Mimì and the poet Rodolfo. Arias include “Che gelida manina,” “Quando me’n vo’ (Musetta’s Waltz),” “O suave fanciulla” and “Si, mi chiamano Mimì.” The world première performance of La Bohème took place in Turin on February 1, 1896 at the Teatro Regio and was conducted by the young Arturo Toscanini. The opera quickly became popular throughout Italy and productions were soon produced throughout the country.
Conducted by Philharmonic Music Director Christopher Wilkins, the Philharmonic’s production stars Maria Antuñez as Mimì and Noah Stewart as Rodolfo. We are thrilled to say that María Antúnez has just advanced to the semi-finals round of the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions. Read More.
Wilkins describes the opera, “La Bohème is a story of young people: youthful idealism, close kinship, first love and the coming of springtime. I am thrilled that we can feature a leading pair who embodies everything this opera is about. Maria Antuñez and Noah Stewart are young, beautiful, and ardent performing artists. They also are consummate musicians with the necessary vocal agility and power to deliver these demanding roles with tremendous power and punch.”
Wilkins continues, “La Bohème is quintessential Puccini. On stage, spirits soar and emotions are hot. We are won over by the glowing personalities of Puccini’s characters right from the start. The action is taken from everyday life and is completely believable. Gradually, we are seduced into a more empathic understanding of Mimì, Rodolfo, Musetta, and the whole cast of young people. With every musical phrase, each one more beautiful than next, we fall into deeper connection until…
“Well, it is quintessential Puccini. What we love most, we live in dreaded fear of losing. This drama touches us so deeply. La Bohème is a great example of why Puccini has been called the most intuitive of all composers. His music seems to know so much about each one of us.”
Unlike traditional opera, the Philharmonic’s opera performances are described as Concert Opera. The key difference between these productions and fully staged opera is that the orchestra performs on stage rather than in the orchestra pit. Generally, the chorus sits on risers behind the orchestra in a traditional concert placement. This places greater emphasis on the musical expression of the drama rather than on sets, costumes, and movement. As a musical organization, this fits the Philharmonic’s mission completely. Without all of the set and costume elements, audiences are more likely to focus on and enjoy the music. In all other respects, the singers come on and off stage and interact in the same way they do in a fully staged production. Lighting plays an even more crucial role in these productions than it does in traditional opera stagings because it is the primary agent for creating mood and establishing spatial relationships.
The Orlando Philharmonic recognizes the importance of keeping opera as an art form alive in the Central Florida community. “The Orlando Philharmonic is grateful to our many individual donors, but offers special funding kudos to United Arts of Central Florida and Darden Restaurants Foundation, for helping to preserve opera as an art form in Central Florida,” says David Schillhammer, Executive Director. “We were overwhelmed by the critical acclaim and audience enthusiasm to our efforts last season, and are proud to continue the tradition this year with our production of La Bohème.”
Schillhammer continues, “We are also deeply respectful of our long standing collaborative partner, Mad Cow Theatre. With Mitzi Maxwell at the helm, Mad Cow has played a significant role in the production of these operas. We are delighted to be working with that team once again this year. We are pleased to announce a new collaborative partner for Boheme, Florida Opera Theatre. This organization, comprised of hard working, dedicated and generous supporters of opera, are deeply committed to ensuring that opera will never again fade in our community. With their recent hiring of the talented Frank McClain as their artistic director, they are a perfect and natural additional collaborator. It will take the efforts of many to further our long term goal of establishing a new opera organization in Orlando.”
Purchase Tickets – April 29, 8 PM | Purchase Tickets – May 1, 2 PM
Seating is assigned based on the date orders are received. Last year’s Concert Opera subscribers will be seated first and new orders will be seated after February 1. If you would like to receive a follow-up call or email regarding your seat assignments, please enter “PLEASE CALL” in the Promotion Code field. Someone from the box office will be in touch when your seats have been assigned.
For Tickets:
VISIT-http://orlandophil.org/the-orlando-philharmonic-in-collaboration-with-mad-cow-theatre-presents-puccini’s-la-boheme/
