Artistic and General Director Jonathan Eaton says: “The season boasts powerful women, from Cleopatra to Carmen, and from waspish Kate to a champagne glass-shattering Silent Woman. Each one of these women is an extraordinary, charismatic, sometimes dominating character. To cope with them we have some pretty strong men, too – from Julius Caesar to Don José to ego-strutting seducer Petruchio. All in all, this makes for a season that promises fireworks of the most magnificent kind – a Diva Riot!”
Other offerings will include Händel’s Julius Caesar, starring Metropolitan Opera artist Andrey Nemzer, accompanied by Chatham Baroque; The Silent Woman, by Richard Strauss, the fourth of the composer’s seldom heard works consecutively offered by the company; Kiss Me, Kate by Cole Porter, part of the “Classic Broadway” series; and Night Caps, five funny mini-operas commissioned and first presented to sold-out houses at SummerFest 2012. In addition, concerts will feature Andrey Nemzer with The Three (Counter)Tenors, Daphne Alderson, and members of the SummerFest Young Artist Program. All main stage operas are sung in English with projected English surtitles.
The main stage festival moves to a new venue this year, the Falk Auditorium at Winchester Thurston School on its City Campus in Shadyside, at 555 Morewood Avenue. “Winchester Thurston School provides a wonderful new setting for expanded SummerFest programming,” Mr. Eaton, who has served as artistic and general director since 1999, says. “After five successful seasons, we have outgrown our boots – and we are thrilled to be moving to larger facilities and WT’s Falk Auditorium, beautifully renovated by Pittsburgh’s premier theater architect, Al Filoni. This is now perhaps the most attractive medium-sized theater in the city. We think our audiences will love the theater’s great acoustics, comfortable seating, easy private parking and proximity to one of Pittsburgh’s liveliest neighborhoods,” Mr. Eaton added.
The SummerFest 2016 Line-Up:
Carmen the Gypsy, Opera Theater’s adaptation of Bizet’s masterpiece, moves Carmen’s story to “an intimate gypsy tavern where the pulsations of flamenco guitar and dance propel a tragedy of dangerous liaisons.” Kara Cornell will reprise the title role, which she first performed to critical acclaim in 2012,
with James Flora as Don José (also reprising his 2012 role), Christopher Scott as Escamillo, the toreador, and Katie Manukyan as Micäela. Favorite arias include “The Habanera,” “The Toreador Song” and “The Flower Song.” Directed by Jonathan Eaton and conducted by Robert Frankenberry, SummerFest Music Director, the performances will take place as follows: Wed., June 22 & Thurs., June 23 at 7 pm, Sphinx Café, 401 Atwood St., Pittsburgh, PA 15213; Sat., June 25 at 7:30 pm & Sun., June 26 at 2 pm, Artifacts, 110 S. Main St., Pittsburgh, PA 15220; Fri., July 1 & Sat., July 2 at 7:30 pm, Snuggery Farm, 1551 Camp Meeting Rd., Sewickley, PA 15143; Sat., July 9 at 7:30 pm, Falk Auditorium, Winchester Thurston School.
Julius Caesar, in which “Politics explode into Romance! SummerFest goes for Baroque,” with a new production of George Frederick Händel’s masterpiece, 
The Silent Woman, Richard Strauss’ tale of a retired sea captain, Dr. Morosus, who marries a quiet young woman who finds her own voice in this romantic comedy sung in English, based on a story by Ben Jonson. “A troupe of boisterous players stirs up the romance with a succession of disguises,” and guest artist and Metropolitan Opera singer Jeremy Galyon, who was 
Night Caps, according to OTP’s announcement, are “Five short comic operas [that] tell stories of hilarious antics in hotel bedrooms. Perfect for new audiences, these recently commissioned mini-operas dispel any preconceived notions about opera and debuted to sold-out audiences in 2012 
George Washington Suite by Daron Hagen, directed by Briana Sosenheimer; Moonlight Suite by Gilda Lyons, directed by Seamus Ricci; Penthouse Suite by Roger Zahab, directed by Seamus Ricci; Honeymoon Suite by Alberto Garcia Demestres, directed by Daniel Brylow; Valkyrie Suite by Eric Moe. Directed by Aaron Dunn. Two evenings only: Thurs., July 21 at 7:30 pm and Sun., July 24 at 6:30 pm, in the Hilda Willis Room, Winchester Thurston School.
Little Red Riding Hood – “A delightful take on a classic story! So, did the wolf just get a bad rap? Little Red goes into the woods to help her grandmother in this fast-paced, imaginative musical adventure – a great introduction to opera for 
The Concert and Recital Series will continue Opera Theater’s tradition of sold-out recitals. This year’s SummerFest includes an expanded array of concerts, featuring world-class singers and pianists, emerging international talent, and special programs to celebrate music from around the world.
Liam Bonner in Concert, Thu
The Three (Counter) Tenors, Sun., July 10 at 6:30 pm, Falk Auditorium, Winchester Thurston School. Taking on the repertoire of the famed castrati, acclaimed countertenor Andrey Nemzer joins Min Sang Kim and Zachary Wood as they chart the path and the music of the castrato, through the male alto, to today’s countertenor voice.
Alderson as Piaf in Recital, Thurs., July 14 at 7:30 pm, Falk Auditorium, Winchester Thurston School. When French icon Edith Piaf came to Carnegie Hall in 1956 she received a seven-minute standing ovation. Beloved Pittsburgh chanteuse Daphne Alderson recreates this legendary 1956 recital to mark Bastille Day 2016.
Young Artists’ Schumann Recital, Wed., July 17 at 6:30 pm, McClintic Hall, Calvary Episcopal. This free recital showcases the stars of tomorrow as talented Young Artist Program participants take the stage with art songs by Robert Schumann at the historic Calvary Episcopal Church on Shady Avenue.
La Divina Cornetti in Conce
Opening Night Parties and Late Night Cabarets
The festival spirit permeates Opera Theater SummerFest with ticketed Opening Night Parties ($25) for each main stage production, featuring the popular Late Night Cabarets, food, drink, and good company. Two additional free Late Night Cabarets follow Kiss Me, Kate on Sat., July 16 and the closing performance Julius Caesar on Sat., July 23 at 10:30 pm.
Visit Opera Theater SummerFest for complete production details, tickets and more! Keep an eye out for our reviews once the season opens! While you’re here, don’t forget to donate to our indiegogo!
Check out the rest of our 2016 Summer Preview here! Follow along with our summer adventures with the hashtag #SummerwithPITR on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram!
Categories: Feature