Lyric Opera 2018-2019 Issue 14 West Side Story

May 3 - June 2, 2019 | 13 direct the e ervescent Lyric production that marked his operatic debut in 2013/14. Sir Andrew Davis will be on the podium for this comic gem. Freud is eagerly anticipating the return of four remarkable artists in Barber, all of whom have recently delighted Lyric audi- ences. Adam Plachetka, who debuted at Lyric as the “other” Figaro (Mozart’s), will be back as Rossini’s ever-resourceful barber. Marianne Crebassa (Rosina) was previously Lyric’s irresistible Dorabella in Così fan tutte and impish Stéphano in Romeo and Juliet . Lawrence Brownlee (Almaviva) created a sensation in Lyric’s La Cenerentola , I puritani , and Charlie Parker’s Yardbird . Brownlee’s character in Barber has a spec- tacular nal aria, so di cult that it’s often cut in stage performances, but “when you have an Almaviva like Lawrence Brownlee, of course you do that aria,” declares Freud. e king of Rossini comedy, legendary Italian baritone Alessandro Corbelli, returns to reprise his incomparable portrayal of pompous Dr. Bartolo, and the exceptionally gifted young Polish bass Krzysztof Bączyk debuts as Don Basilio. Another Italian work that invariably thrills Lyric audiences is Puccini’s exquisite romantic tragedy, Madama Butterfly , the tale of a Japanese geisha and the feckless American Navy lieutenant she loves. At the Met, the Vienna State Opera, and many other major houses internationally, the opera’s title role has brought ecstatic acclaim to one of Lyric’s most cherished artists, Ana María Martínez, for whom Butter y is her eighth role with the company. Brian Jagde (Pinkerton) returns to Puccini at Lyric, where he made a triumphant debut ve seasons ago in Tosca. Starring in the March 5 and 8 performances will be two other world-renowned artists: the radiant Armenian soprano Lianna Haroutounian, a star of Covent Garden and San Francisco Opera, in her company debut, and Lyric favorite Brandon Jovanovich, in the rst of four Lyric roles he sings in 2019/20. Henrik Nánási conducts the beautiful production originally directed by Olivier and Tony Award-winner Michael Grandage. Mozart works are central to Lyric’s repertoire, and Don Giovanni is the Mozart opera most closely associated with the com- pany (it launched Lyric in 1954, and new productions opened both the 50th- and 60th-anniversary seasons). Goodman eatre artistic director Robert Falls’s 2014/15 production is a riveting updating of the work, placing it in the period between World War I and the Spanish Civil War. ere’s big news in the cast, with no fewer than seven Lyric debuts! Only Matthew Rose (Leporello) and Ryan Opera Center alumna Amanda Majeski (Donna Elvira) have appeared with the company before. Two uniquely charismatic artists, Ildar Abdrazakov and Davide Luciano, will share the title role. Others making eagerly awaited debuts are Rachel Willis-Sørensen (Donna Anna), Ying Fang (Zerlina), Ben Bliss (Don Ottavio), Brandon Cedel (Masetto), and Mika Kares (Commendatore). Returning to Lyric – and to Mozart – will be James Ga gan, after his elegant conducting of Così fan tutte last season. Bel canto reworks will be highlighted in three semi-staged concerts starring Sondra e Barber of Seville at Lyric, 2013/14 season. SERVIN LAINEZ SIMON FOWLER/ERATO TODD ROSENBERG Butter y and Suzuki await Pinkerton’s arrival: Michael Grandage’s production of Madama Butterfly , Houston Grand Opera. Ana María Martínez (left) and Lianna Haroutounian (right) will share the title role of Madama Butterfly. TOM SPECHT FELIX SANCHEZ/HOUSTON GRAND OPERA Stars of e Barber of Seville: (left to right) Adam Plachetka (Figaro), Marianne Crebassa (Rosina), and Lawrence Brownlee (Almaviva).