Bernard Uzan, also a newcomer to Cincinnati Opera, will direct, and Julius Rudel, a former Cincinnati May Festival director, returns to Cincinnati Opera to conduct.
CosÐ fan tutte runs June 28 and 30 and features soprano Alexandra Deshorties as Fiordiligi, mezzo-soprano Marianna Pizzolato (in her U.S. debut) as Dorabella, tenor Shawn Mathey as Ferrando, and baritone Teddy Tahu Rhodes as Guglielmo. Making their company debuts are baritone William Shimell as Don Alfonso and soprano Nuccia Focile as Despina. Alain Gauthier and Stefan Lano return to Cincinnati to direct and conduct, respectively; the production originated at Seattle Opera.
James Robinson's production of Nixon in China, a Cincinnati Opera premiere, will run July 12 and 14. It features baritone Robert Orth in the title role, soprano Maureen O'Flynn as Pat Nixon, tenor Mark T. Panuccio as Mao Tse-Tung, baritone Chen-Ye Yuan as Chou En-Lai, bass Thomas Hammons as Henry Kissinger, and soprano Georgia Jarman as Madame Mao. Sešn Curran will provide the choreography and Kristjan J‹rvi will conduct the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra (of which his brother Paavo is music director).
The season closes with Aida, which runs July 25, 27, 29, and 31. Soprano Lisa Daltirus makes her house debut in the title role. Tenor Richard Margison returns to Cincinnati to sing the role of Radams; mezzo-soprano Irina Mishura returns to sing Amneris; baritone Gordon Hawkins makes his company debut as Amonasro and bass Burak Bilgili returns to sing Ramfis.
