NYS Music 2023

Tag: opera saratoga

  • Opera Saratoga Announces 2023 Summer Festival Lineup

    Gearing up for Summer festival season, Opera Saratoga has released their slated lineup of performances that will take place in the heart of Saratoga Springs in 2023.

    “We are excited to be partnering with Universal Preservation Hall this season for our MainStage performances and look forward to introducing our audiences to this amazing space right in downtown Saratoga Springs” says Managing Director, Amanda Robie. However, the season will also showcase performances in various beloved Saratoga venues including Spa Little Theatre, The Mansion of Saratoga and at Caffè Lena (which will play host to their America Sings concert series). 

    This year’s summer festivals will be comprised of various talents who emerged through Saratogas Young Artist Program

    Opera Saratoga Lineup and Performances 

    Overall, this year’s summer festival season is keeping in theme, as the lineup consists of sixteen festival singers, two conductors, a pianist and two directors. With this intention, two noteworthy guest acts, Andy Papas and Eric McConnell will also feature (both of whom are alums of Opera Saratoga’s prestigious training program).

     “I am particularly excited about this season” says Head of Music Staff, Laurie Rogers, “as it is cast completely from either current or former members of our prestigious Young Artist program. Additionally, this year’s talented singers, drawn from an application pool of over 900, will be take part in our Broadway and Stars of Tomorrow concerts.”

    Opera Saratoga provides something for all, featuring three productions brought to life. Namely, the Tony-award winning A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder, historic composer Donizetti’s bel canto masterpiece Don Pasquale, and a world-premiere of a new children’s opera based upon Oscar Wilde’s short story The Selfish Giant. Additionally, Clarice Assad and libretto by Lila Palmer will handle scoring and additional festival concerts. Moreover, each performance will feature production elements that leverage the unique site-specific features of Universal Preservation Hall. All in all, Opera Saratoga’s summer festival lineup is suitable for the entire family.

    For more information on Opera Saratoga and this summer’s lineup and the America Sings concert series at Caffè Lena, visit Opera Saratoga’s official website.

    2023 Festival Performances:

    A Gentleman’s Guide — June 30, July 2 (matinee), 6, & 8, 2023, Universal Preservation Hall

    Don Pasquale — July 1, 7, & 9 (matinee), 2023, Universal Preservation Hall

    The Selfish Giant — July 1 (matinee) & 8 (matinee), 2023, Universal Preservation Hall

  • Opera Saratoga Names Mary Birnbaum Artistic and General Director

    On Feb. 9, Opera Saratoga’s board of directors named Mary Birnbaum their new general and artistic director. Birnbaum succeeds Lawrence Edelson, whose eight-year tenure concluded at the end of the 2022 season. The 10th general director in Opera Saratoga’s history, Birnbaum’s hiring comes ahead of the summer 2023 season.

    Credit: http://www.marybirnbaum.com/about

    “We are incredibly excited and honored to have Mary Birnbaum join Opera Saratoga. She was selected after an extensive nationwide search, in which we interviewed many highly qualified candidates. Mary’s level of enthusiasm and love of opera are infectious and I am certain she will be an inspirational leader for the company as well as an integral part of the Saratoga Springs community,” said Board President Steve Rosenblum.

    Other than her hiring at Opera Saratoga, Birnbaum teaches acting for singers as the Dramatic Advisor to the Masters of Music and Graduate Diploma Program at Juilliard. Birnhaum will main her position at Juilliard in addition to her role at Opera Saratoga. Birnbaum has worked both internationally, from Taiwan (Otello) to Australia and Israel, and across the U.S.

    “I am thrilled to accept the position of General and Artistic Director of Opera Saratoga and look forward to collaborating with the talented staff and superior board of directors to bring exceptional music theater to Saratoga Springs and the surrounding communities,” Birnbaum said.

    Fans can meet Birnbaum this summer, during the 2023 festival season. Her introduction to the public will happen on Thursday, June 8, 2023, at the Saratoga National Golf Club.

    Opera Saratoga started under the name Lake George Opera Festival on July 5, 1962. Its first production was Die Fledermaus at the Diamond Point Theatre. The company now calls Saratoga Springs home and has put on productions for more than 25,000 people annually.

    Shortly after Birnbaum’s introduction, Opera Saratoga’s summer festival will begin Friday, June 30, and continue until Sunday, July 9. Curated by Managing Director Amanda Robie, Don Pasquale, A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder, and The Selfish Giant, are among the acts set to perform. Tickets can be purchased through www.operasaratoga.org.

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