Opera Company Presents Porgy And Bess

On February 9 to February 24, the Opera Company presents a jewel of American opera repertoire, the Gershwins' Porgy and Bess. The touching tale of the triumphs and struggles of the residents of Catfish Row, each rich with depth and personality, Porgy and Bess features unforgettable, show-stopping hits like "Summertime," "A Woman is a Sometime Thing," "It Ain't Necessarily So," and "Bess, You Is My Woman Now," as jazz and blues come together in the embodiment of American musical tradition.

OCP reunites the talented Gregg Baker and Angela Brown (Margaret Garner, '06) to make their much-anticipated title role debuts. Baker and Brown have both spent much of this year singing roles that Philadelphia audiences recognize: Baker performed the role of Amonasro in Aida with Florida Grand Opera and Michigan Opera Theatre, while Brown performed the title role in Aida with Opera Pacific, Florentine Opera and Florida Grand Opera. Brown and Baker also paired up in a recital at the University of California, Northridge, and sang concert performances of Aida with Opera Pacific.

Joining these familiar favorites are two baritones in their Opera Company debuts: Lester Lynch as the menacing Crown and Eric Greene as Jake. Both men recently performed these roles with Washington National Opera to much acclaim and reprise them after Philadelphia in performances with Los Angeles Opera.

Serena is sung by soprano Lisa Daltirus, whom audiences will remember for her acclaimed, last-minute debut in the title role of Aida in 2005. Since that unscheduled OCP appearance, Daltirus has made company debuts with Palm Beach Opera and Minnesota Opera in the title role of Tosca and a role debut as Leonora in Il trovatore with Connecticut Opera.

Tenor Steven Cole (Boris Godunov, '87) makes his long-awaited return as the drug-peddling Sportin' Life, with Curtis graduate and Philadelphia native Karen Slack (Ariadne auf Naxos, '03) singing the role of Clara. Mezzo-soprano Linda Thompson Williams reprising the role of Maria, which she performed in OCP's last production of the work, and AVA-trained mezzo-soprano Tracie Luck is Lily.

Maestro Stefan Lano, who made his Company debut with last season's Margaret Garner, leads the orchestra, with Walter Dallas, Artistic Director of Philadelphia's New Freedom Theatre, making his operatic directorial debut, and choreographer Patricia Scott Hobbs joins him on movement. This celebrated Opera Company of Philadelphia co-production features sets and costumes by Felix E. Cochren, Jr. and lighting by Drew Billiau. -- www.operaphilly.com

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Posted February 7th, 2007 by ruzik_tuzik