'La Bohème' Heats Up Alltech Fortnight Festival
LEXINGTON, Ky. (Sept. 24, 2010) – As international visitors descend on Lexington for the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games, the University of Kentucky Opera Theatre will open their season with perhaps the world’s favorite opera, "La Bohème," by Giacomo Puccini. Culminating in two of opera's greatest arias, this piece has gone on to inspire Broadway and Hollywood hits. The poignant tale of love, friendship and heartbreak, presented as part of the Alltech Fortnight Festival, will grace the stage at 7:30 p.m. Sept. 30, Oct. 1 and Oct. 3, and 2 p.m., Oct. 3, at the Lexington Opera House.
The original script for "La Bohème," a story of young artists' loves, triumphs and tragedies was set around Christmas in 1920s Paris, France. Puccini's opera was based on a set of stories by Henri Murger titled "Scenes de la Vie de la Bohème." The story of this wildly popular opera is the epitome of young starving artists whose lifestyles and escapades gave us the Bohemian genre. A notion of the poverty in which they are developing their artistic talents is evident from the very first scene as painter Marcello and poet Rodolfo try to keep warm by burning pages of Rodolfo's latest drama.
Opera-goers who are also theatre and movie fans will recognize much of the story and music in "La Bohème." It was the inspiration for the story in the smash hit Broadway musical "Rent" and the movie of the same name. And, the music was featured in two popular Oscar nominated best picture films "Moonstruck" and "Atonement."
Directing the UK production of "La Bohème" is Michael Ehrman, who has won acclaim for his productions at such companies as Houston Grand Opera, Greater Miami Opera, Minnesota Opera, Wolf Trap Opera, Chautauqua Opera, Atlanta Opera, Boston Lyric Opera and Chicago Opera Theater. Ehrman also has extensive experience as a teacher and as author and director of many educational opera programs.
"La Bohème" has been double-cast to showcase as many of UK's talented singers as possible. Returning to the Lexington Opera House stage as part of the talented cast is celebrated UK opera alumnus Gregory Turay, who will portray Rodolfo for two of the performances. The award-winning tenor has appeared multiple times on the Metropolitan Opera stage and is currently an Artist in Residence with UK Opera Theatre.
The entire list of vocalists appearing in the UK production and the roles they are portraying are: Mitchell Hutchings and Michael Preacely as Marcello; Manuel M. Castillo and Turay as Rodolfo; Daniel Koehn and Reginald Smith Jr. as Colline; Caleb C. Ashby and Nicholas Provenzale as Schaunard; Byron Johnson and Matthew Turner as Benoit; Mary-Hollis Hundley and Catherine Clarke Nardolillo as Mimi; Elliot Lane as Parpignol; Julie LaDouceur and Christine Jobson as Musetta; and Christopher Baker as Alcindoro. Rachel Sterrenberg and Charles Calhoun are understudies for Musetta and Alcindoro respectively.
"La Bohème" will be sung in Italian, but carry English subtitles on a viewing screen above the stage. The music will be performed by UK Symphony Orchestra, under the direction of John Nardolillo.
To hear music from a previous performance of "La Bohème" by UK Opera Theatre, visit their YouTube page at www.youtube.com/watch?v=FtFmXpND97E.
Tickets for "La Bohème" at the Lexington Opera House are $37 for general admission, $33 for UK faculty/staff and seniors, $15 for students and $10 for children under 12. A handling fee will be added upon transaction. To purchase tickets, contact the Singletary Center ticket office at (859) 257-4929 or visit online at www.singletarytickets.com.