The Asheville Lyric Opera (ALO) breaks new ground with a
rare double bill of two one-act operas at 8pm on Friday, October 4 and
Saturday, October 5, 2013 at the Diana Wortham Theater in Asheville, North
Carolina. The evening begins with a performance of Leoncavallo’s I Pagliacci, a tragedy about a traveling
band of performers; and is followed by Puccini’s Suor Angelica, a story of an exiled princess turned nun who finds
redemption through tragic circumstances. Both operas feature the incredible
talent of nationally acclaimed soprano Jennifer Davison who played Cho-Cho San
in the title role of ALO’s 2011 production of Madame Butterfly.
In I Pagliacci,
Ms. Davison plays Nedda, the unfaithful wife of Canio, the hot-tempered leader
of their traveling acting troupe. Nedda, who appears to be the fixation of many
men, plans to run away with her lover. Her husband, goaded by the treacherous
Tonio, plot to catch the lovers in the act. Ms. Davison then transforms into
the title role of Puccini’s Suor Angelica.
We’re introduced to Angelica several years after she has taken her solemn vows.
It’s unclear as to how she ended up at the cloistered convent, but what is
clear is that she has a heavy heart and dark secrets in her past.
Suor Angelica
features not only Jennifer Davison, but also nationally acclaimed mezzo-soprano
Barbara LeMay (Principessa). Joining Ms. Davison and Ms. LeMay are an
incredible cast of local professional and up-and-coming artists including two
Asheville favorites, Karen Svites (Sister Genevieve) and Heather Ferguson (The
Monitor).
I Pagliacci cast
features ALO favorites tenor Brian Cheney (Canio) and baritone Mark Owen Davis
(Tonio), both last seen in ALO’s Madame
Butterfly; as well as baritone Jon Truitt (Silvio), and tenor Wayne Hobbs
(Beppe), recently seen in Carousel as
Enoch Snow.
The artistic staff for both operas features returning
director Jon Truitt and Asheville Symphony conductor Daniel Meyer. Truitt
directed and performed in last April’s production of La Traviatta. Truitt is the artistic director of ALO’s Summer
Artist Training Program. Julie K. Ross returns as scenic designer alongside
Hair & Makeup Designer Patricia Zinke and Costume Coordinator Jayne
Harnett-Hargrove.
Performances begin at
8pm on both Friday, October 4 and Saturday, October 5, 2013 at the Diana
Wortham Theater in Asheville, NC. Both operas will be performed in original
Italian with English supertitles provided throughout. Tickets are available at the theatre box office: 828-257-4530. Student tickets to
the October 2, 2013 Preview Dress
Rehearsal at 7pm are available through the opera office. Call the Asheville Lyric Opera at
828-236-0670 to make preview dress rehearsal reservations. For more
information, visit www.ashevillelyric.org.
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