Livermore Valley Opera
NEWS RELEASE
Media Contact:
Heidi Massie
925-519-5158
Photos attached
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 15, 2015
Donizetti’s Opera Lucia di Lammermoor Opens March 14 at Bankhead
LIVERMORE, CALIF. — The Tri-Valley’s own professional opera company, the Livermore Valley Opera, presents Donizetti’s dramatic and tragic story of love that turns into death with arias that launched the careers of opera’s most famous divas. LVO offers four performances over two weekends. Details are as follows:
Lucia di Lammermoor
March 14, 2015; 7:30pm, opening night
March 15, 2015; 2pm
March 21, 2015; 7:30pm
March 22, 2015; 2pm
Opening Night Gala celebration dinner at Uncle Yu’s at the Vineyard, 4:30pm. Separate ticket purchase.
Lucia di Lammermoor is a tragic story that serves as a protest against deceitful tactics and a practice of forced marriage that is unfortunately still current in some parts of the world. Lucia is a beautiful young woman deeply in love with a young man from a family hated by her villainous brother. Her brother forces her into a political marriage for his own benefit, using deceit, lies, and forgery.
Written and performed in Italian, the opera is loosely based upon Sir Walter Scott‘s historical novel The Bride of Lammermoor. In a feud between the Scottish families of Ravenswood and Lammermoor, Enrico (Lord Henry Ashton of Lammermoor) has gained the upper hand over Edgardo (Edgar of Ravenswood), killing his kinsmen and taking over his estates. By the time of the opera’s action, however, Enrico’s fortunes have begun to wane. In political disfavor, he stakes all on uniting his family with that of Arturo (Lord Arthur Bucklaw), whom he means to force his sister, Lucia (Lucy Ashton), to marry.
Although the tale ends in tragedy for everyone, Donizetti’s not-to-be-missed music is among the most glorious in opera and its “Mad Scene” has been a dramatic and vocal vehicle for making stars of sopranos like Maria Callas and Dame Joan Sutherland. “Lucia” is most known for “Chi mi frena in tal momento”, performed by a sextet, is the opera’s most recognized melody which has been featured in many films.
Tenor Christopher Bengochea, an LVO favorite, (Carmen 2013; Madama Butterfly 2011), will perform the role of Edgardo alongside soprano Erin Sanzero as Lucia. Another LVO favorite and charismatic performer is baritone Roberto Perlas Gomez as Enrico (Roméo et Juliette, 2011; Pagliacci & Cavaleria Rusticana, 2009).
“Donizetti’s extravagant and beautiful music will transport you to a world of brooding power, spectacular emotion and vocal pyrotechnics,” says Artistic Director and Music Conductor Alexander Katsman.
Opera Week Special Events
Opening Night Gala at Uncle Yu’s at the Vineyard
Gala ticket includes wine donated by one of Livermore’s newest wineries Dante Robere Vineyards, appetizers and dinner at Uncle Yu’s at the Vineyard, followed by a dessert reception in the Bankhead Theater lobby. The welcome reception of wine and appetizers begins at 4:00 pm and seating at 5:00 pm at Uncle Yu’s, conveniently located one-half block from the theater. Guests will have a chance to meet the Stage Director Candace Evans and Alexander Katsman, LVO’s Artistic Director and Music Conductor.
Gala Tickets are $85, and are available through Bankhead Theater box office. Raffle tickets will be sold during the Gala for a chance to win a Neiman Marcus of Walnut Creek gift certificate. Proceeds from the evening allow LVO to continue its mission of bringing quality opera to the Tri-Valley and beyond.
Ice Cream & Opera
Sunday matinees of Livermore Valley Opera productions offer an extra tasty treat with ice cream for all at intermission. Ice cream for this event is generously donated by Safeway.
Pre-opera talk; artist reception
Included in the ticket price are pre-opera talks providing insights to the featured opera, held one hour prior to curtain.
LVO’s traditional artist reception is held in the lobby immediately following each performance.
Performance & Box Office Location:
Bankhead Theater
2400 First Street, Livermore, CA 94550
Bankhead Ticket Office: 925-373-6800
www.livermoreperformingarts.com
Ticket Pricing
Adults $39-$84. Students 18 years and younger $10 off on all days, all seating sections. Student ID required. Opening night Gala tickets are a separate ticket purchase of $85.
OperaLIVE! event at local library
Continuing with its commitment of making opera more accessible to the community, Livermore Valley Opera will showcase talented opera singers who will appear in Lucia di Lammermoor in a free OperaLIVE! event in the Tri-Valley. Details are as follows:
Sunday, March 8, 2:00 p.m.
Livermore Library
1188 S. Livermore Ave
Sponsored by Friends of the Livermore Library
Artistic Talents
Christopher Bengochea is a prize winning international opera tenor who has been heralded as having “power, sure intonation, and fine diction that come in a package tied with a ribbon of ‘natural sound.’ He performed the title role in Idomeneo to enormous success. Jason Victor Serinus of Opera News says: “Tenor Christopher Bengochea’s dark-hued (voice)…conquered virtually every vocal hurdle Mozart set out for Idomeneo … Bengochea’s performance was exceptional.” Other engagements included Vasco da Gama in Meyerbeer’s L’Africaine for Opera Orchestra of New York and Rodolfo in Puccini’s La bohème. Christopher had been a Resident Artist of Opera San José, 2005-2008, where he performed Rodolfo in La bohème, the title role in Roméo et Juliette, Alfredo in La traviata, Pinkerton in Madame Butterfly, Edgardo in Lucia di Lammermoor, the title role of Werther, the Duke in Rigoletto, and Tamino in Die Zauberflöte. Companies with which he has performed include: Opera San Jose, Atlanta Opera, Opera Idaho, Opera Canada, Center City Opera, Opera Company Brooklyn, Jarvis Conservatory, Intermountain Opera, Townsend Opera, Rimrock Opera, Palm Beach Opera, Pacific Repertory Opera, Livermore Valley Opera, West Bay Opera, Teatro Felice, Caramoor Opera, Tigulio Festival Opera, and Opera Santa Barbara.
Soprano Erin Sanzero (Lucia) makes her role debut as Lucia in Lucia di Lammermoor with Livermore Valley Opera. Her recent performance in Gregory Spear’s Paul’s Case at the Prototype Festival in New York City was declared one of the top 10 musical events of 2014 by Alex Ross of The New Yorker. Anne Midgette of The Washington Post praised her “…assured high soprano” in UrbanArias’ production of John Musto and William Bolcom’s comic double bill Bastianello and Lucrezia. Ms. Sanzero made her LA Opera debut as Emmie in Albert Herring conducted by James Conlon, and as a member of the Young Artist Apprentice Program, she appeared in the same production at the Santa Fe Opera under Sir Andrew Davis. She has also appeared with Washington Concert Opera, under the baton of Antony Walker in Adriana Lecouvreuer, and completed a workshop of Nico Muhly’s Dark Sisters with subsequent performances at Gotham Chamber Opera and Opera Company of Philadelphia. Recent engagements include: a premiere of Mollicone’s Beatitude Mass, as Edith in The Pirates of Penzance with Virginia Opera, and in a role debut as Gretel in Hansel and Gretel at the Kimmel Center in Philadelphia. Ms. Sanzero has received awards from the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions as well as the Mario Lanza Foundation. Last year she was the district winner and a finalist for the Mid-Atlantic region.
Roberto Perlas Gomez, baritone, with over eighty roles to his credit, has performed extensively throughout the United States. He has performed supporting roles with Michigan Opera, Los Angeles Opera, San Diego Opera, and San Francisco Opera. He has done multiple leading roles with most of the regional companies in California. As an Opera San Jose resident artist, Mr. Gomez performed lead roles in Carmen, La Traviata, Il barbiere di Siviglia, and created the role of the Drosselmeier in the premiere of The Tale of the Nutcracker. He has further performed what has become his signature role of Figaro with Nevada Opera, Santa Barbara Opera, Accorde Opera in Mexico, Sacramento Opera, and Opera Idaho.
Conductor Alexander Katsman
Mr. Katsman is the Artistic and Music Director for Livermore Valley Opera. An alumnus of the San Francisco Opera’s Merola Opera Program, Mr. Katsman received his M.M. from St. Petersburg Rimsky-Korsakov State Conservatory and his B.M. cum laude from Mussorgsky College of Music in St.Petersburg, Russia. Since his arrival in the United States, Alexander has been sought after as a conductor and collaborative pianist. He conducted for Opera San Jose, West Bay Opera, Martinez Opera, Bayshore Lyric Opera, Berkeley West Edge Opera, Oakland Lyric Opera, Solo Opera, San Francisco Lyric Opera, Diablo Light Opera, Opera Academy of California, Peninsula Teen Opera and also at Cal State University East Bay and Diablo Valley College. His conducting credits include over 60 opera, operetta, and musical theater productions, among them are “Don Giovanni,” “La Traviata,” “Un ballo in maschera,” “Madama Butterfly,” “La Bohème,” “Der Rosenkavalier,” and “Faust.”
Stage Director Candace Evans
Candace Evans is a director and choreographer known for the clarity of her story telling; praised by Opera News for her “flawless sense of timing.” Through the interplay of music, movement and text, she brings stories to life and audiences to their feet. With a career of directing and choreographing over ninety operas, musicals, plays, and ballets, Ms. Evans is known for her collaborative spirit. Her work has been acclaimed internationally and her new production of Akhnaten has been selected by Philip Glass to be released as a definitive DVD.
Ms. Evans was trained as an opera singer, danced with the Wisconsin Ballet Company, and toured the world as a stage actor; a combination which gives her a most unique ability to understand the disciplines essential to artistic success. She focuses on clear and supportive communication with singers toward the integration of their voice, mind and bodies to release a performance of true emotional and physical freedom.
About LVO
Livermore Valley Opera was founded in 1992, and presents fully-staged operas at Livermore’s Bankhead Theater in the spring and fall. This new theater features excellent lines of sight and acoustics, helping the opera to attract talented singers and stage directors for their performances.
In 2011, the company was granted full status as a Professional Company Member of Opera America, the national organization dedicated to this unique art form. LVO combines the talents of professional musicians, stage directors, principal singers, and designers with the dedication and practical abilities of volunteers filling such critical roles as board members, chorus, stage crew, and set builders to reach our artistic goals.
Livermore Valley Opera is a regional opera company and a 501(c) 3 non-profit charitable arts organization. For more information, visit www.livermorevalleyopera.com.
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Heidi Massie
Communications Consultant
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