Words and Images Courtesy of the Virginia Opera
2021-2022 Season Concludes with Traditionally Staged Production
Norfolk, Richmond, Fairfax VA (March 9, 2022)—
Providing an exclamation point to the return to its three mainstage venues across the Commonwealth, Virginia Opera presents Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s The Marriage of Figaro. This traditional production of one of opera’s most loved and performed works includes a full orchestra and chorus in addition to a classic set and period costumes. Performances are planned at the Harrison Opera House in Norfolk, the Carpenter Theatre at the Dominion Energy Center in Richmond, and the Center for the Arts at George Mason University in Fairfax.
“Grand opera is back!” exclaims Peggy Kriha Dye, General Director and CEO of Virginia Opera. “Our company showed a great deal of flexibility and innovation this season. Kicking off with Das Rheingold at Topgolf, followed by a tailored version of La Bohème, and most recently the contemporary and powerful family story of Three Decembers allowed us to return to producing opera for our audiences. We are thrilled to conclude our season bringing a classic to life with The Marriage of Figaro. Everything about this production epitomizes ‘Grand Opera’ and we know our audiences are ready for the complete experience – including a beverage at intermission.”
The Marriage of Figaro will be sung in Italian with English surtitles and will feature the Richmond Symphony.
"It's thrilling to be revisiting Mozart's masterpiece after a nearly decade-long hiatus, and this production of Figaro is going to be nothing short of enchanting." said Adam Turner, Artistic Director of Virginia Opera. "Guided by our talented Stage Director Kyle Lang, with a proven track record of beguiling stagings over the years, we have a phenomenally talented cast featuring several new voices. One of our very "own" - former Herndon Foundation Emerging Artist Symone Harcum - returns to debut the role of the Countess, while Alisa Jordheim and Erik Earl Larson make their Virginia Opera mainstage debuts as the beloved wedding couple Susanna and Figaro. Our fabulous Chorus also makes its return after a more than two-year hiatus, and our wonderful colleagues at the Richmond Symphony round out this beautiful production. Figaro promises to deliver a performance to remember, with its resounding message best encapsulated by one of the show's final lines - in the end there is only love."
Kyle Lang, Stage Director for recent Virginia Opera productions of Cinderella and The Elixir of Love, returns for this production. “This story allows us to see the many facets of love in its characters, from the first pangs of physical attraction to the deep-rooted love that is tested. Through humor and tension, we may glance in the mirror at the complexity that lies within the heart and maybe understand more of the human condition.”
Tickets are on sale for The Marriage of Figaro which can be purchased at vaopera.org/figaro or by calling 866.673.7282.
Harrison Opera House, Norfolk, Virginia
Wednesday, March 23, 2022, Student Night at the Opera
Friday, March 25, 2022, at 8:00 pm
Saturday, March 26, 2022, at 7:30 pm
Sunday, March 27, 2022, at 2:30 pm
Carpenter Theatre at the Dominion Energy Center, Richmond, Virginia
Friday, April 1, 2022, at 8:00 pm
Sunday, April 3, 2022, at 2:30 pm
Center for the Arts at George Mason University, Fairfax, Virginia
Saturday, April 9, 2022, at 8:00 pm
Sunday, April 10, 2022, at 2:00 pm
The Marriage of Figaro Production Notes
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Sung in Italian with English Surtitles
Orchestra provided by the Richmond Symphony
The Marriage of Figaro Cast and Creative
Conductor
Adam Turner
Stage Director
Kyle Lang
Set Designer
Peter Dean Beck
Lighting Design
Driscoll Otto
Costume Design
Paul Brown
Wig and Make Up Designer
James P. McGough
CAST
Richard Ollarsaba
Bass-baritone: Count Almaviva
Last Virginia Opera Appearance: Raimondo, Lucia di Lammermoor, 2018
Recent Highlights: Representing USA, 2019 BBC Cardiff Singer of the World; Don Giovanni, Don Giovanni, Opera Hong Kong; Figaro, Le nozze di Figaro, New Zealand Opera
Upcoming: Escamillo, Carmen, Glimmerglass Festival; Lyric Opera of Kansas City
Symone Harcum ±
Soprano: Countess Almaviva
Last Virginia Opera Appearance: Clorinda, La Cenerentola, 2020
Recent Highlights: Leontine, L'Amant Anonyme, Minnesota Opera; Mascha, Pique Dame, Des Moines Metro Opera
Upcoming: Micaela, Carmen, Minnesota Opera; Glimmerglass Opera; Almirena, Rinaldo, Minnesota Opera; Donna Anna, Don Giovanni, Minnesota Opera
Alisa Jordheim *
Soprano: Susanna
Virginia Opera Debut
Recent Highlights: Despina, Così fan tutte, San Diego Opera; Gilda, Rigoletto, Central City Opera & San Diego Opera; Cunegonde, Candide, Palm Beach Opera; Ninetta, La gazza ladra, Teatro Nuovo; Erster Knappe, Parsifal, Opéra national de Paris
Upcoming: Adele, Die Fledermaus, Central City Opera
Erik Earl Larson *
Baritone: Figaro
Virginia Opera Debut
Recent Highlights: Géneral Moncada, Zorro (World Premiere), Fort Worth Opera; Count Ceprano, Rigoletto, Austin Opera
Upcoming: Bass Soloist, Messiah, Memphis Symphony Orchestra; Marullo, Rigoletto, The Dallas Opera
Lauren Cook ^
Mezzo-soprano: Cherubino
Last Virginia Opera Appearance: Wellgunde, Das Rheingold, 2021
Recent Highlights: Hannah After, As One (Oklahoma Premiere), Painted Sky Opera; Antonia, Man of La Mancha, Opera Saratoga; Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Scalia-Ginsburg, Opera Naples
Upcoming: Marion Roose Pullin Studio Artist, Arizona Opera
Whitney Robinson ^
Mezzo-soprano: Marcellina
Last Virginia Opera Appearance: Erda/Flosshilde, Das Rheingold, 2021
Recent Highlights: Zanetto, Zanetto, Operativo; Erda/Flosshilde, Das Rheingold, Virginia Opera; Housekeeper, Man of La Mancha, Opera Saratoga
Upcoming: Sister Sophia, The Sound of Music, Virginia Arts Festival & Virginia Opera; Berta, Il Barbiere di Siviglia, Opera Saratoga
Jason Ferrante *
Tenor: Basilio/Don Curzio
Virginia Opera Debut
Recent Highlights: Beadle Bamford, Sweeney Todd, Opera Omaha; Little Bat, Susannah, Nashville Opera; Don Basilio, Le Nozze di Figaro, Opera Philadelphia
Upcoming: Fourth Jew, Salome, Tulsa Opera
Eric J. McConnell ^
Bass-baritone: Bartolo
Last Virginia Opera Appearance: Colline, La Bohème, 2021
Recent Highlights: Donner, Das Rheingold, Virginia Opera; Bartolo, Il barbiere di Siviglia, Opera Steamboat; Ceprano, Rigoletto, Central City Opera
Upcoming: Osmin, The Three Billy Goats Gruff, Opera on the James; Ufficiale/Basilio (cover), Il barbiere di Siviglia, Opera Saratoga; Carl-Magnus, A Little Night Music, Union Avenue Opera
Catherine Goode ^
Soprano: Barbarina
Last Virginia Opera Appearance: Woglinde, Das Rheingold, 2021
Recent Highlights: Amore, Orfeo ed Euridice, Kentucky Opera; Young Artist, Merola Opera Program; Lucia, Lucia di Lammermoor, Opera in the Heights
Upcoming: Krysia, Two Remain, Central City Opera; Adele, Die Fledermaus (family performance), Central City Opera; Lauretta/Plaintiff, Gianni Schicchi/Trial by Jury, Salt Marsh Opera
Chauncey Blade *^
Bass-baritone: Antonio
Virginia Opera Debut
Recent Highlights: Sir John Falstaff, Falstaff, IU Opera Theatre; Count Monterone, Rigoletto, Sacramento Phil & Opera
*Denotes VA Opera Debut
^Denotes 21-22 Herndon Foundation Emerging Artist
±Denotes Former Herndon Foundation Emerging Artist
ABOUT VIRGINIA OPERA
Virginia Opera, the official opera company of the Commonwealth of Virginia, is one of the finest regional opera companies in the nation and is the only company to perform regularly in three separate main stage venues: the Harrison Opera House in Norfolk, the Carpenter Theatre at the Dominion Energy Center in Richmond, and Center for the Arts at George Mason University in Fairfax. Organized in 1974, Virginia Opera is respected nationwide for the identification and presentation of the finest young artists, for the musical and dramatic integrity of its productions, and for the ingenuity and variety of its education and outreach programs.