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All performances will feature the New York City Opera Orchestra and singers.
"The River To River Festival is thrilled to join with New York City Opera in bringing three nights of free opera to festival-goers this year," said Valerie Lewis, Senior Vice President of Marketing & Communication for the Downtown Alliance. "At a time when audiences need art and inspiration more than ever, we are determined to bring them outstanding, world-class entertainment at a price that cant be beat."
The performance schedule is as follows:
June 25, 2009 7 PM
The Magic Flute
Rockefeller Park, River Terrace and Warren Street
A one-hour version of Mozart's The Magic Flute, sung in English and featuring New York City Opera soloists and orchestra. The Magic Flute is an ideal introductory opera, offering familiar tunes, colorful characters, rollicking comedy, and an upbeat message for audiences of all ages.
Conducted by Jayce Ogren, the cast for this performance includes Brian Anderson as Tamino, Lielle Berman as Pamina, Michael Zegarski as Papageno, Sharla Nafziger as Papagena, Amy Shoremount-Obra as Queen of the Night, Jeffrey Halili as Monastatos, Eric Jordan as Sarastro, Melissa Fogarty as First Lady, Emily Langford Johnson as Second Lady and Krysty Swann as Third Lady.
June 26, 2009 7 PM
La Navarraise
220 Vesey Street - World Financial Center, Winter Garden
A concert performance of La Navarraise, a rarely performed Massenet opera. In this gripping one-act work, a turbulent love story unfolds against the backdrop of civil war in Spain.
The cast includes Eric Jordan as Garrido, Theodora Hanslowe as Anita, Andrew Drost as Ramon, Ra‹l Melo as Araquil, Brian Kontes as Remigio, Jeffrey Tucker as Bustamente. The concert will also feature tenor Brian Anderson and baritone Michael Zegarksi. La Navarraise will be conducted by Steven Osgood.
June 27, 2009 7 PM
Opera on the Pier
The Seaport, Pier 17
New York City Opera's popular Opera for All program comes to The Seaport with a concert program of beloved arias, duets and overtures. The program will include orchestral pieces along with selections from 19th and 20th century repertoire.
BERNSTEIN Candide Overture
BIZET Duet from Les pê_cheurs de perles
BLITZSTEIN "Addie's Blues" from Regina
RODGERS AND HAMMERSTEIN Carousel Overture
FLOYD "The Trees on the Mountain" from Susannah
STRAVINSKY "Here I Stand" from The Rakes Progress
ROSSINI "Largo al factotum" from Il barbiere di Siviglia
COPLAND "The Promise of Living" from The Tender Land
VERDI "La donna mobile" from Rigoletto
DELIBES Duet from Lakm_
WEILL Ice Cream Sextet from Street Scene
Opera on the Pier will be conducted by Steven Mosteller, with soprano Lielle Berman, mezzo-soprano Krysty Swann, tenors Andrew Drost and Ra‹l Melo, baritone Marco Nistic‹, and bass Eric Jordan.
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Founded in 2002 to revitalize Lower Manhattan by bringing the arts to new audiences and new artists to public attention, the River To River Festival is New York's largest free summer arts festival.
For more information, visit www.RiverToRiverNYC.com
