The Greek National Opera’s first major summer production for 2022, Giuseppe Verdi’s darkly menacing masterpiece Rigoletto, conducted by Lukas Karytinos and directed by Katerina Evangelatos, is to be presented at the Odeon of Herodes Atticus on 2, 5, 8 and 11 June as part of the Athens Epidaurus Festival. March 30, April 2, 5 and 7 at the Civic Theatre.This production is made possible by a grant from the Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF) [ to enhance the GNO’s artistic outreach. Other debuts include tenor Robert Watson as Carmen’s vengeful lover Don José, baritone Scott Connor as bullfighter Escamillo and soprano Sarah Tucker as Don José’s discarded love, Micaëla. Italian-American mezzo Ginger Costa-Jackson makes her company debut in the title role. “Carmen” by Georges BizetĪlthough a distilled, small-cast version of the dark tragedy (“The Tragedy of Carmen”) was done last year as part of the company’s Detour series, the full grand opera version returns in a production rented from Atlanta Opera. March 8, 9 and 10 at Patrick Henry High School’s PHAME Theatre. Von Stade and Clayton reprise the roles they played in the piece’s 2008 premiere at Houston Grand Opera. The Detour series continues with this chamber opera starring famed mezzo Frederica von Stade as an aging Broadway actress estranged over the course of 20 years from her two adult children, played by soprano Kristin Clayton and baritone Steven LaBrie.

The traditional period production is newly purchased from Seattle Opera. Scott Quinn debuts as the Duke, whose bar ditty “La donne è mobile” is one of the most famous tenor arias in all opera.

Coloratura soprano Alisa Jordheim makes her company debut as Rigoletto’s naive daughter, Gilda. Last seen here in 2009, Verdi’s 1851 tragedy will star baritone Stephen Powell as Rigoletto, a court jester who plays a horrific price for humiliating his Duke’s courtiers.

Rigoletto sf opera