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WEILL'S MARIE GALANTE, WITH ISABEL BAYRAKDARIAN, TO BE PERFORMED IN NEW YORK
By Matt Blank
PlaybillArts
http://www.playbillarts.com/fe atures/article/7806.html
Nov 7 2008
NY
Kurt Weill's rarely-seen work Marie Galante will be presented at
Florence Gould Hall this month by Opéra Francais de New York,
in partnership with the French Institute Alliance Francaise. This
marks the first time the piece has been produced in its entirety by
a professional company in the U.S.
Billed as a tale of "kidnap, sex and espionage," the opera - written
during Weill's brief exile in Paris (where it premiered in 1934) -
"centers around the innocent and tragic Marie, who is abducted in
France and taken to South America by the lustful Captain Letuvier. Our
valiant heroine scorns Letuvier's advances only to find herself
abandoned in a strange and exotic land. Having turned to prostitution
in order to survive, Marie plans for her return to Bordeaux, but is
caught in a web of deception that ultimately leads to her demise."
Weill's score is informed by the passion and allure of 1920s French
cabaret, foreshadowing the impending threat of Nazi Germany.
In a collaboration with the French Institute Alliance Francaise, Marie
Galante - based on an original play by Jacques Deval - is staged by
the company's co-artistic directors Jean-Philippe Clarac and Olivier
Deloeuil, with production design by Carol Bailey and lighting design
by Rick Martin.
OFNY music director Yves Abel conducts the orchestra in his only New
York appearance this season.
Singing the title role is internationally-renowned young soprano Isabel
Bayrakdarian, a first prize winner in Plácido Domingo's 2000 Operalia
competition. A Canadian citizen of Armenian descent, Ms. Bayrakdarian's
stage performances of note include Pamina in Die Zauberflöte at the
Metropolitan Opera, Zerlina at the Salzburg Festival's celebration
of Mozart's birthday, the title role in Pélleas et Mélisande at
the Canadian Opera Company and Le nozze di Figaro at Covent Garden.
The Lebanese-born soprano also participated in the world premiere of
Jake Heggie and Gene Sheer's one-act opera To Hell and Back alongside
Broadway legend Patti LuPone and San Francisco's Philharmonia Baroque
Orchestra. Cinematically, her voice may be heard on the Grammy-winning
soundtrack for The Lord of The Rings: The Two Towers and in the
celebrated Canadian film Ararat. She will next be seen in New York
as Zerlina in the Met's April run of Don Giovanni- part of a strong
company that features Barbara Frittoli, Peter Mattei and Samuel Ramey.
In another unique turn, Marie Galante will be sung in French with
English dialogue and subtitles.
Part of the Florence Gould Hall 20th Anniversary Celebration, this
rare operatic gem will enjoy three performances at the East 59th Street
venue: November 13 at 8pm, November 15 at 8pm and November 16 at 3pm.
Tickets, priced at $60-$80 (or $50 for FIAF members), may be purchased
by calling (212)307-4100 or at Ticketmaster. Discounted $40 tickets
are available to students with valid ID.
Premier membership subscribers (packages priced between $250 and $1500)
will receive prime orchestra seats at the first performance and an
invitation to the special VIP wine and hors d'Å"uvres reception held
in the exquisite Le Skyroom.
--Boundary_(ID_tGJ1MfJx0cPVuAyEuavc9w)--
By Matt Blank
PlaybillArts
http://www.playbillarts.com/fe atures/article/7806.html
Nov 7 2008
NY
Kurt Weill's rarely-seen work Marie Galante will be presented at
Florence Gould Hall this month by Opéra Francais de New York,
in partnership with the French Institute Alliance Francaise. This
marks the first time the piece has been produced in its entirety by
a professional company in the U.S.
Billed as a tale of "kidnap, sex and espionage," the opera - written
during Weill's brief exile in Paris (where it premiered in 1934) -
"centers around the innocent and tragic Marie, who is abducted in
France and taken to South America by the lustful Captain Letuvier. Our
valiant heroine scorns Letuvier's advances only to find herself
abandoned in a strange and exotic land. Having turned to prostitution
in order to survive, Marie plans for her return to Bordeaux, but is
caught in a web of deception that ultimately leads to her demise."
Weill's score is informed by the passion and allure of 1920s French
cabaret, foreshadowing the impending threat of Nazi Germany.
In a collaboration with the French Institute Alliance Francaise, Marie
Galante - based on an original play by Jacques Deval - is staged by
the company's co-artistic directors Jean-Philippe Clarac and Olivier
Deloeuil, with production design by Carol Bailey and lighting design
by Rick Martin.
OFNY music director Yves Abel conducts the orchestra in his only New
York appearance this season.
Singing the title role is internationally-renowned young soprano Isabel
Bayrakdarian, a first prize winner in Plácido Domingo's 2000 Operalia
competition. A Canadian citizen of Armenian descent, Ms. Bayrakdarian's
stage performances of note include Pamina in Die Zauberflöte at the
Metropolitan Opera, Zerlina at the Salzburg Festival's celebration
of Mozart's birthday, the title role in Pélleas et Mélisande at
the Canadian Opera Company and Le nozze di Figaro at Covent Garden.
The Lebanese-born soprano also participated in the world premiere of
Jake Heggie and Gene Sheer's one-act opera To Hell and Back alongside
Broadway legend Patti LuPone and San Francisco's Philharmonia Baroque
Orchestra. Cinematically, her voice may be heard on the Grammy-winning
soundtrack for The Lord of The Rings: The Two Towers and in the
celebrated Canadian film Ararat. She will next be seen in New York
as Zerlina in the Met's April run of Don Giovanni- part of a strong
company that features Barbara Frittoli, Peter Mattei and Samuel Ramey.
In another unique turn, Marie Galante will be sung in French with
English dialogue and subtitles.
Part of the Florence Gould Hall 20th Anniversary Celebration, this
rare operatic gem will enjoy three performances at the East 59th Street
venue: November 13 at 8pm, November 15 at 8pm and November 16 at 3pm.
Tickets, priced at $60-$80 (or $50 for FIAF members), may be purchased
by calling (212)307-4100 or at Ticketmaster. Discounted $40 tickets
are available to students with valid ID.
Premier membership subscribers (packages priced between $250 and $1500)
will receive prime orchestra seats at the first performance and an
invitation to the special VIP wine and hors d'Å"uvres reception held
in the exquisite Le Skyroom.
--Boundary_(ID_tGJ1MfJx0cPVuAyEuavc9w)--