This
Sunday, Center City Opera Theater
presents the REGIONAL PREMIERE of LITTLE
WOMEN, the operatic adaptation of Louisa May Alcott's American
classic. Since its premiere at Houston Grand Opera in 1998, LITTLE
WOMEN has been performed at some of the country's most prestigious
opera companies, including New York City Opera, Central City Opera and
Glimmerglass Opera. Center City Opera Theater is presenting the work to
Philadelphia audiences as part of its Opera Encore Series.
The
New York Times called LITTLE WOMEN "Masterly, and
often poetic: Jo and her sisters are touchingly drawn, often with humor,
and Mr. Adamo's sense of timing is nearly perfect... [LITTLE WOMEN] does
everything an opera should do. Not least, it leaves an audience moved."
Opera News reports that "Adamo's score, which can soar exhilaratingly,
is dotted with singer-showcasing arias, duets and ensembles."
Come experience the intimacy, passion and joy of one of opera's most-performed
new works for one performance only Sunday, January 14th at
2:30pm. A free pre-performance lecture will be given one hour
prior to the show. Click
here for ticket information.
New
York City Opera soprano Jody
Sheinbaum will sing Beth in Center
City Opera Theater's regional premiere of LITTLE WOMEN. Ms.
Sheinbaum worked with composer Mark Adamo while previously
covering the role. Center City Opera audiences might remember Ms. Sheinbaum
as Musetta from last season's LA BOHÈME.
She has also appeared with Santa Fe Opera,
San Francisco Opera's Western Opera Theater and made her
Carnegie Hall debut with the New York Pops. Ms. Sheinbaum's
upcoming engagements include Young Alyce in the premiere performance of
Tom Cipullo's Glory Denied with Center for Contemporary
Opera in New York and will return to the mainstage this year in
THE PICTURE OF DORIAN GRAY as Sybil.
Opera
Carolina Artist-in-Residence Leandra
Ramm joins Center City Opera Theater as Meg in Center City
Opera Theater's semi-staged production of LITTLE WOMEN.
What is it like to sing a regional premiere of a new American work? Come
ask Leandra yourself and enjoy this talented young mezzo-soprano. Leandra
recently completed apprenticeships at Des Moines Metro Opera, Sarasota Opera
and New Jersey Opera Theater.
Mary
Johnson of the Baltimore Sun reported that Rosa
Ponselle award-winner and soprano Ashleigh Rabbitt "displayed
a voice of compelling beauty and agility" in her concert appearance with
Annapolis Opera. Ms. Rabbit reprises her role as Amy, which she originally
sung with Lyric Opera of Cleveland and worked with the composer Mark
Adamo. Other performance experience includes Lyric Opera
of New York, Skylight Opera of Wisconsin, Opera
in the Ozarks and Shaker Mountain Opera.
The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette described Aspen Opera
Theater mezzo-soprano Kara Cornell as "lyric and
flexible, soaring through her top register beautifully." A graduate of Carnegie
Mellon, Ms. Cornell has sung with The Northport Opera Company,
Pacific Opera, was the alto soloist in Judas Maccabaeus with The
Brooklyn Philharmonic and has been a repeated guest artist with Stony Brook
Opera. Kara also performs in musicals, portraying such roles as "Mother
Abbess" and "Eliza Doolittle" with The Smithtown Center for the Performing
Arts. 
Back by popular demand! Center City Opera Theater will expand its Opera Encore Series as it moves from the Kimmel Center's Rendell Room to Innovation Studio, the Kimmel Center's 200-seat black-box theater. In this intimate setting, Center City Opera Theater's artists will perform semi-staged productions with piano accompaniment, operas based on great literary works: Hansel and Gretel, Little Women, Macbeth, Of Mice and Men and Romeo and Juliet. Click here for tickets and more information.
Born
in 1961, Lowell Liebermann is one of the most widely performed and commissioned
composers. The
Picture of Dorian Gray, his first opera, was commissioned
by the Opéra de Monte-Carlo and premiered at the Salle Garnier,
Monte-Carlo on May 8, 1996. Recipient of a Pew Charitable Grant
through the support of the Philadelphia Music Project,
Center City Opera Theater has commissioned a chamber
orchestration of the opera, which will receive its world premiere in Philadelphia
on June 6, 9, 10m, and 12, 2007. For
tickets, click
here.
Have you always wanted
to know what an opera singer's day-to-day life is like? Find out by
volunteering to host one of our artists during their rehearsal and performance
time in Philadelphia. Short-term and longer stays are needed. We also welcome
volunteers to help with mailing and other marketing and outreach efforts.
To find out more about volunteering with Center City Opera Theater, call
or email (215) 968-2492, info@operatheater.org