Seen as “cinematic and fresh,” Tomer Zvulun, the new general and artistic director of the Atlanta Opera, has planned his first season to include three new productions, a Southeastern premiere and a Choral Silver Celebration. Zvulun joined the opera last June.
Leading the company’s 2014-15 season is the Choral Silver Celebration — a showcase spanning 300 years of opera and highlighting Chorus Master Walter Huff’s 25th anniversary with the opera chorus. Show times at Emory University’s Schwartz Center for Performing Arts are 8 p.m. Sept. 12 and 3 p.m. Sept. 14. The final performance is 7:30 p.m. Sept. 16 at Kennesaw State University’s Bailey Performance Center.
Madama Butterfly, reimagined with projections and other new elements, plus a set from New Orleans Opera, opens the mainstage season at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre, with performances Nov. 8, 11, 14 and 16.
Rigoletto, unseen in Atlanta for 15 years, is a co-production with the Boston Lyric Opera and Opera Omaha. Performances are Feb. 28 and March 3, 6 and 8, 2015.
A revival of The Marriage of Figaro, closes the season and features a cast of rising stars. Bass-baritone Craig Colclough makes his Atlanta Opera and role debut as Figaro, soprano Lauren Snouffer sings Susanna and Irish mezzo-soprano Naomi O’Connell sings the pants role of Cherubino. Performance are April 4, 7, 10 and 12, 2015.
The expanded season closes with the Southeastern premiere of Three Decembers, a chamber opera by American composer Jake Heggie. It’s the story of a fading Broadway actress and her two children. Performances are May 15-17, 2015. The venue is yet-to-be determined.
Season subscriptions are available. Single mainstage performance tickets go on sale in August. Season subscribers can purchase priority tickets for the Choral Silver Celebration and Three Decembers. The remaining tickets will go on sale in August and October, respectively.
