Center
City Opera Theater is proud to present the regional premiere of Carlisle
Floyd’s Of
Mice and Men. Part of our intimate Opera Encore Series,
Of
Mice and Men will be presented in the Kimmel Center’s Innovation
Studio on Sunday, March 11th at 2:30 pm.
The New York Times writes,“Though Carlisle Floyd's 1955 opera
Susannah is his most popular work, his 1970 opera Of
Mice and Men may be his best. With a libretto by Mr. Floyd
based on the Steinbeck novel, it offers his most powerful, sophisticated
and effective score.”
Don’t miss your chance to see this beautiful opera in the intimacy of
the Innovation Studio. A 1:30 pm pre-performance discussion with Artistic
Director Andrew Kurtz and Stage Director Stephen
Carr will explore Floyd's setting of this literary classic. Click
here for ticket information.
Originally from Kalamazoo, MI, tenor David Gordon's operatic
roles include Don José (Carmen), Hoffmann
(The Tales of Hoffmann), Herodes (Salome), Bacchus (Ariadne
auf Naxos), Tamino (Die Zauberflöte), Tito (La clemenza
di Tito), Ferrando (Così fan tutte),
Rodolfo (La Bohème), Alfredo
(La traviata), Duca di Mantua (Rigoletto), The Male Chorus
(The Rape of Lucretia), Elders Hayes and Gleaton (Susannah)
and the Governor (Candide). He has performed with the New
York City Opera, Bohème Opera NJ, American Opera Projects,
Center for Contemporary Opera, Opera Company of Brooklyn, Bronx Opera, Lake
George Opera Festival, Fort Worth Opera,
Central City Opera, One World Symphony, Glens Falls Symphony
Orchestra, Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra, Kalistos Orchestra, Camerata New
York, Manhattan School of Music and the University of Michigan. 
Baritone
Jason Switzer
recently made his professional debut with Central City Opera
singing Hel Helson in Paul Bunyan and the Bonze
in Madama Butterfly. He then went to both Utah
Opera and Opera Tampa to perform the role of Capulet
in Roméo et Juliette. These engagements
followed his completion of his studies at the Academy of Vocal Arts,
where he performed many roles including Il Conte in Le Nozze
di Figaro, Guglielmo in Così fan tutte,
Orest in Elektra and Schaunard in La
Bohème. Mr. Switzer was also an Apprentice Artist at
Central City Opera in 2004 where he performed the Four Villains in Les
Contes d'Hoffmann. Jason was a two time national semi-finalist
in the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions. He
has also won other prestigious competitions including the Bel Canto
Vocal Scholarship Competition and the Sullivan Foundation
Competition.
Michelle
Giglio returns to her native United States following five years
of concerts, tours and recordings in France and throughout Europe. Recent
performances include Carmina Burana with the Florida
West Coast Symphony and Sarasota Ballet; Mozart’s "Exultate Jubilate"
with the Florida West Coast Symphony; Bach’s Cantata Ich esse mit Freuden
BMV 84 and “Der hölle rache” from Mozart’s Magic Flute with the
Anna Maria Island Chorus and Orchestra. She has performed with both the
Orchestre National de France and the Orchestre
Philharmonique de France, in addition to frequently being heard
live on France Musique (French national classical music
station). 
Tickets
are going fast for our annual fundraising event "Divine Harmony:
An Evening of Fine Wine, Delectable Food and Delicious Music."
This year's elegant and intimate affair will be held on Saturday,
March 10th at 7pm in the Kimmel Center's
Comcast Circle. Philadelphia's most popular sommelier Marnie
Old will lead guests through a divine wine tasting
accompanied by delectable food, as well as delicious jazz, Broadway and
classical music performed by Center City Opera Theater artists. A live
and silent auction to benefit the company will feature restaurant
gift certificates, works of art and tickets to area events. Tickets are
$75 per person. For an extra $50, you can purchase a personal
serenade for your special someone. Call the Kimmel Center Box Office at
(215) 893-1999 for reservations or click
here.
Back by popular demand! Center City Opera Theater expands its Opera Encore Series 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 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.
Volunteers
are a critical component of the Center City Opera Theater team. 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 have volunteer opportunities in event support, fundraising and marketing.
Call (215) 968-2492 or email info@operatheater.org
to join our team today.