San Diego Opera Announces 2021-2022 Season
For subscription and tickets, visit SD Opera.
San Diego Opera’s season’s Fall Concert Series begins on Saturday, October 23, 2021 at 7:30 with a special concert by mezzo-soprano Stephanie Blythe. Stephanie will draw from her vast repertoire of opera and Broadway to present a concert of arias and art songs, as well as a few surprises. Stephanie Blythe made her Company debut in 2014’s A Masked Ball as Ulrica, sang in the Company’s Verdi Requiem that same year, and returned in recital later that fall for We’ll Meet Again: The Songs of Kate Smith.
Mezzo-soprano Stephanie Blythe.
On Saturday, November 20, 2021, there will be a concert by soprano Michelle Bradley. Michelle dazzled audiences in her 2019 Company debut as Aida and will perform a program of soprano arias, spirituals, and art songs in this intimate concert.
Soprano Michelle Bradley.Then on Friday, December 3, 2021 is the Company debut of Arturo Chacón-Cruz, who has established himself in recent years as a leading tenor with exciting appearances in renowned theaters and concert halls across the globe. He has sung over 60 roles in more than 30 countries. Expect an exciting concert of opera favorites, zarzuela, mariachi, and personal favorites of the Mexican tenor.
Tenor Arturo Chacón-Cruz.
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Soprano Alisa Jordheim returns to sing Despina in Così fan tutte.
The mainstage series returns with Mozart’s delightful comedy Così fan tutte, welcoming the return of soprano Alisa Jordheim, who dazzled local audiences and critics as Gilda in 2019’s production of Rigoletto, as Despina. Young artists making important house debuts include baritones Reginald Smith, Jr. as Don Alfonso and Gihoon Kim as Guglielmo. They are joined by tenor Konu Kim as Ferrando, and mezzo-soprano Samantha Hankey as Dorabella.
Baritone Reginald Smith, Jr. makes his Company debut as Don Alfonso in Così fan tutte.
Così fan tutte tells the story of two young soldiers who disguise their identities to test their lovers’ fidelity. Will the women fall for their “new” suitors as the opera’s title (“All women do it”) suggests? Filled with humor and keen insight into human nature, this opera features some of Mozart’s most seductive music. Director Tim Nelson makes his Company debut and San Diego Opera’s Chorus Master Bruce Stasyna conducts.
A scene from Roméo et Juliette. Opens March 26, 2022 at the San Diego Civic Theatre.
Photo by Dan Norman.
Then, Gonoud’s heartbreaking tragedy Roméo et Juliette, offering company debuts for tenor Pene Pati as Roméo, a role he has sung to critical and popular acclaim (see Stage and Cinema‘s review of SFO’s production); soprano Kristina Mkhitaryan as Juliette; baritone Yunpeng Wang as Mercutio; and mezzo-soprano Sarah Coit as Stephano. Returning singers include bass Simon Lim as Friar Laurent, tenor Adrian Kramer, last seen as Don José in 2017’s The Tragedy of Carmen, as Tybalt; and bass Colin Ramsey, last heard as Colline in 2020’s La bohème, as Count Capulet. Yves Abel leads the orchestra, while director Matthew Ozawa makes his Company debut.
A scene from Aging Magician at ASU. Photo by Jill Steinberg.
Produced by Beth Morrison Projects, one of the most influential and innovative taste makers on the forefront of the “indie opera” movement, Paola Prestini’s Aging Magician makes its triumphant San Diego Opera debut. It ells the story of Harold, an eccentric and aging clockmaker who is nearing the end of his life. He has been working on a children’s book, called The Aging Magician, and is at a critical point in his story. Should Harold kill off the magician? Should he allow him to live? As Harold ponders these decisions he finds himself transported to a magical place where fiction and reality collide. Aging Magician stars Rinde Eckert, as Harold, joins the Brooklyn Youth Chorus. The director is Julian Crouch and the conductor is Dianne Berkun Menaker, both in San Diego Opera debuts. The composer is Paola Prestini. These are the first performances of Aging Magician by San Diego Opera and the West Coast Premiere of the opera.
dētour Series
Stephanie Blythe in Concert
The Balboa Theatre
Saturday October 23, 2021 at 7:30pm
Michelle Bradley in Concert
The Conrad Performing Arts Center, Baker Baum Recital Hall
Saturday November 20, 2021 at 7:30pm
Arturo Chacón-Cruz in Concert
California Center for the Performing Arts, Escondido
Friday December 3, 2021 at 7:30pm
Aging Magician
The Balboa Theatre
Friday May 13, 2022 at 7:30pm
Saturday May 14, 2022 at 2:00pm
Saturday May 14, 2022 at 7:30pm
Mainstage Series
Così fan tutte
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
San Diego Civic Theatre
Saturday February 12, 2022 at 7:30pm
Tuesday February 15, 2022 at 7:30pm
Friday February 18, 2022 at 7:30pm
Sunday February 20, 2022 at 2:00pm
Roméo et Juliette
Charles Gounod
San Diego Civic Theatre
Saturday March 26, 2022 at 7:30pm
Tuesday March 29, 2022 at 7:30pm
Friday April 1, 2022 at 7:30pm
Sunday April 3, 2022 at 2:00pm
for subscription and tickets, visit SD Opera