Opera Ithaca announces its fourth annual New Year’s Eve gala, featuring the charming 1904 operetta Cendrillon by the Spanish and French composer, Pauline Viardot. This special event at Ithaca’s Hangar Theatre starts with a catered reception by Serendipity and a silent auction, along with a recital program featuring songs and arias by Viardot and her peers and influencers, performed by members of the Opera Ithaca Apprentice Artist Program. Following the performance of Cendrillon, there will be a champagne toast to ring in the new year.
/p>
Continuing Opera Ithaca’s rich tradition of focusing on presenting works by female composers, this production of Cendrillon has been reconceptualized as a fantasy look at the life of Pauline Viardot herself and her deep friendship with the famed Polish and French composer, Frédéric Chopin. Cendrillon is the young Viardot on a quest to find true and meaningful love; her Fairy Godmother is an older and wiser Viardot writing the operetta as a metaphysical letter of encouragement to herself. She communes with her friend, Chopin, whose own music is infused with Viardot’s in a nod to his immense musical impact on her life. Featuring a new English libretto by Artistic Director Ben Robinson, this production of Cendrillon celebrates the vast gifts of an often-overlooked female composer and offers a fun, funny, and family-friendly spin on the famous Cinderella tale.
Richard Montgomery is the music director, also playing the representation of Chopin. Norman Johnson, Jr. serves as stage director. In Opera Ithaca debuts, soprano Leah Brzyski assumes the role of Cendrillon/Pauline Viardot, tenor Stefan Barner sings the role of Le Prince Charmant, and Rachel Schutz appears as stepsister Maguelonne. Apprentice Artist Adam Tarpey makes his mainstage debut as Barigoule. Returning to Opera Ithaca are Lynn Craver (The Fairy Godmother/Pauline Viardot), Steve Stull (Baron Pictordu), and former Apprentice Artist Alyce Daubenspeck (Armelinde). Tickets available through www.operaithaca.org.
Cendrillon
Pauline Viardot, including musical selections by Frédéric Chopin and Eva Dell’Acqua New English Libretto by Ben Robinson
Music Director: Richard Montgomery Director: Norman Johnson, Jr.
Cendrillon/Pauline Viardot: Leah Brzyski La Fée/Pauline Viardot: Lynn Craver
Le Prince Charmant: Stefan Barner Baron Pictordu: Steve Stull
Maguelonne: Rachel Schutz Armelinde: Alyce Daubenspeck Barigoule: Adam Tarpey
Individuals with disabilities requiring accommodations should contact Deborah Montgomery at dmontgom@ithaca.edu or (607) 274-3175. We ask that requests for accommodations be made as soon as possible.
https://www.ithaca.edu/intercom/article.php/20191212075856818