Concert Opera Makes Pittsburgh Debut with a star-studded vast at the newly renovated Carnegie Music Hall in Oakland
Pittsburgh Festival Opera (PFO) presents Adriana Lecouvreur on September 8 at the newly renovated Carnegie Music Hall. Inspired by the scandalous life of French actress Adrienne Leouvreur, this concert opera premieres with a full orchestra, renowned opera stars, and Pittsburgh Festival Opera Artistic Director and vocal legend Marianne Cornetti at the helm.
Adriana Lecouvreur, by Francesco Cilea, with an Italian libretto by Arturo Colautti, is a four-act opera based on the 1849 play Adrienne Lecouvreur by Eugène Scribe and Ernest Legouvé. Since its debut in 1902 at the Tetro Lirico in Milan, there have been numerous recordings, performances, and even a 1955 movie adaptation.
Cornetti, having previously starred in Adriana Lecouvreur, was determined to bring this dramatic tale to Pittsburgh. Said Cornetti, “The music is truly beautiful. I absolutely love this opera. Having done Adriana Lecouvreur internationally to wide acclaim, I knew this needed to be brought here. This is the story of a talented actress brought to her deathbed by jealousy and deceit. It’s not often you hear of death by poisoned violets, let alone have it sung in opera. I think audiences will be mesmerized by both the story and the voice,” nCornetti states.
The voices Cornetti has assembled for Adriana Lecouvreur are a powerhouse of opera legends. Featured cast includes Csilla Boross (Adriana Lecouvreur), Victor Starsky (Maurizio, Conte di Sassonia), Marianne Cornetti (La Principessa di Bouillon), Michael Chioldi (Michonet), Joseph Frank (L’Abate di Chazeuil) and Brian Kontes (Il Principe di Bouillon). Famed conductor and Pittsburgh native Christopher Franklin is the Maestro.
“It’s always my mission to present the highest opera caliber to Pittsburgh. As an artistic leader and an artist, I understand the specific challenges and goals of finding the perfect voice for each operatic role. This Adriana Lecouvreur is no different. Given the newness of the piece to Pittsburgh, I knew I had to create a flawless cast for this debut. The audience deserves nothing less than the best,” Cornetti says.
PFO Welcomes Csilla Boross to Pittsburgh
Csilla Boross will also kick off PFO’s Legends in the Limelight Concernt Series on September 24 at the Carnegie Free Music Hall and Library in Carnegie!
Hungarian-born soprano Csilla Boross is one of the world’s leading dramatic sopranos today. She has appeared with major opera houses around the globe including The Metropolitan Opera, Hungarian State Opera, Teatro dell’opera Rome, Teatro Regio Torino, Teatro Massimo Palermo, Raveena, Washington National Opera, Pittsburgh Opera, Opera Philadelphia, Palm Beach Opera, Opéra National de Lyon, Opéra de Marseille, Chorégies d’Orange, Savonlinna Opera Festival, New National Theatre, Tokyo, Janácek Opera Brno, Czech Republic, Macao International Music Festival, and Festival Castell de Peralada.
Recently she sang Madame Butterfly and Tosca at the Hungarian State Opera, Tosca and Nabucco at the National Theatre in Brno, and Madame Butterfly in Prague, all to the highest acclaim.
TICKETS AND DETAILS
Adriana Lecouvreur is third program in Pittsburgh Festival Opera’s 2024/2025 season, All About the Voice, with one performance on September 8 at the Carnegie Music Hall in Oakland. For tickets, visit: https://pittsburghfestivalopera.org/upcoming/2024-season/adriana-lecouvreur
PFO’s season continues with Legends in the Limelight with Csilla Boross at the Carnegie Free Music Hall and Library in Carnegie on September 24, 2024. For tickets visit: https://pittsburghfestivalopera.org/upcoming/2024-season/legends-in-the-limelight-csilla-boross/
Categories: Arts and Ideas, Show Previews
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