Season 2002-2003

Opera Potpourri

Friedberg Hall, October 22

The Peabody Opera Workshop presents scenes from The Marriage of Figaro, The Merry Wives of Windsor, Andrea Chenier, Cendrillon, and La Rondine, showcasing Peabody’s new talents; staged with piano accompaniment

Peabody Opera Theatre

Benjamin Britten’s

Albert Herring

Friedberg Hall, November 21-24

Since no girl of suitable purity can be found in the English village of Loxford to be May Queen, mama’s boy Albert is selected by default. All goes well until he tastes his first sip of rum! Harlan Parker conducts the Peabody Symphony Orchestra; Roger Brunyate directs.

This production is funded in part by a grant from the Maryland State Arts Council

Berlin/Munich

Baltimore Theatre Project, January 24-February 2

The Peabody Chamber Opera presents Mahagonny Songspiel and White Rose: Kurt Weill’s raucous indictment of Americanized materialism in Berlin after the first World War, and Udo Zimmermann’s moving study of the brother and sister who founded a student resistance movement against Hitler in Munich at the height of the second. JoAnn Kulesza conducts the chamber ensemble, and Roger Brunyate directs and designs.

The production of “Mahagonny” is funded in part by a grant from the Kurt Weill Foundation

“Peabody Chamber Opera’s exceptional double bill at the Theatre Project.” Baltimore Sun

Orfeo

Baltimore Museum of Art, March 7-8

The earliest opera still to hold the stage tells the story of Orpheus and his descent into the underworld to reclaim his bride Euridice. Less a tragedy than an opera about survival, Monteverdi’s most lavish masterpiece is a celebration of the power of music itself. Webb Wiggins leads the original instruments of the Peabody Baroque Ensemble; Roger Brunyate and Christine Glazier direct.

Peabody Opera Theatre

Leonard Bernstein’s

Candide

Friedberg Hall, March 27-30

Testing his teacher’s belief that “all is for the best in this best of all possible worlds,” innocent Candide pursues the not-so-innocent Cunegonde through a series of historic misfortunes, in Bernstein’s colorful rendition of Voltaire’s satirical tale. Hajime Teri Murai conducts the Peabody Concert Orchestra; John Lehmeyer directs.

This production is funded in part by a grant from the Maryland State Arts Council

Opera Etudes

Friedberg Hall, April 14

Contrafact, Contrafiction: a program of short new operas by Peabody student composers, loosely based on historical or contemporary subjects, and developed in collaboration with the singers who will perform them.