The Livermore Valley Opera will present two, one-hour operas full of action, drama and even some humor when it opens March 7 at the Bankhead Theater with the West Coast staged premiere of Zemlinksy’s psychological thriller A Florentine Tragedy and Puccini’s comedy
Gianni Schicchi. Details and special events are as follows:
Zemlinsky’s A Florentine Tragedy & Puccini’s Gianni Schicchi
• March 7, 7:30pm, Opening night
• March 8, 2pm
• March 14, 7:30pm
• March 15, 2pm
• Opening Night Dinner at Uncle Yu’s at the Vineyard, 4:00pm. (Separate ticket purchase required.)
• Pre-opera lecture one hour before each performance
“LVO is proud to be presenting the West Coast fully-staged premiere of Zemlinsky’s powerful drama and the American premiere of Roland Freisitzer’s arrangement for soloists and chamber orchestra,” says Erie Mills, LVO’s Artistic Director. “Both operas take place in Florence, set in the World War I era, the time period when they were composed.”
The two one-act operas – one a tragedy, one a comedy, are both set in Florence, Italy. Based on fragmentary tales by two literary giants Oscar Wilde in the first case, Dante Alighieri in the second, A Florentine Tragedy tells a tale of jealousy and commerce, while Gianni Schicchi is a farcical tale of greed and commerce.
Stage Director Layna Chianakas provides insight to the two operas. “A Florentine Tragedy is a story of the power of marriage and redemption which is, as we take into consideration our modern sensibilities, perhaps, naïve. The dark, psycho-drama-nature of the piece lends itself to an interpretation that leans toward female objectification and the ego-maniacal nature of both male leads. Gianni Schicchi, which can be argued as the greatest comic opera ever written, displays the inner workings of a Mediterranean family as they fight over a dead relative’s will, ultimately bonding over their love of money and hatred of Schicchi, who proves far smarter than all of them.”
Chianakas will direct a cast specifically chosen for both commanding operas. The three principal artists, Robert Mellon, Michael Day, and Anush Avetisyan will make their debut for LVO.
Robert Mellon, who recently sang the role of Simone in A Florentine Tragedy for Opera de Oviedo in Spain, is acclaimed by Opera News for having “excellent comic timing,” and a “domineering baritone, gleaming like polished copper.” Michael Day is a lyric tenor whose voice has been described by Opera News as “bright, clear, and endearing.” Anush Avetisyan, an Armenian-American soprano who made her debut in Carnegie Hall this past December, will sing the roles of Bianca and Lauretta.
Several familiar artists from past LVO performances are among the talented cast including Kirk Eichelberger, Deborah Rosengaus, Bojan Knežević, and Ryan Bradford. All, except Knežević, appeared in LVO’s Barber of Seville last spring. Bass-baritone Knežević, “display[ed] boisterous comic flair” as Don Magnifico, the despicable stepfather in LVO’s Cinderella, and as Mustafa in An Italian Girl in Algiers.
LVO's Music Director Alexander Katsman will conduct the professional orchestra for A Florentine Tragedy with its music and drama of Wagnerian intensity, followed by Gianni Schicchi, featuring one of the most memorable arias in all of opera “O Mio Babbino Caro.”
Mills explains why this special “two-for-one” opera event is one not to miss. “In approximately two hours you will experience much of what great opera is capable: tragedy and comedy, beautiful music, incredible theater, and a vivid display of human emotions right before your eyes and ears. Both operas are guaranteed to captivate in utterly different ways.”
Special Events
2nd Saturday Casual, Post-Opera party
Join us March 14th, 2020; 10:00pm at Hops & Sessions Gastropub for a lively post-opera party. Dress up or dress down, because it’s 2nd Saturday Casual night at the Livermore Valley Opera. You may even see the orchestra in jeans. Located on First Street directly across from The Bankhead Theater, Hops & Sessions has 28 beers on tap and small bites available for purchase.
Bring your opera ticket to get your first beer on us! Must be 21 or over.
Opening Night Dinner at Uncle’s Yu’s at the Vineyards
The opening night festivities include dinner and sweets at Uncle Yu's at the Vineyard. The welcome reception with wine and appetizers begins at 4:00pm and dinner seating at 4:30 pm at Uncle Yu's, conveniently located one-half block from the theater at 39 South Livermore Avenue. The three-course dinner will be paired with wines donated by Leisure Street Winery.
Stage Director Layna Chianakas and LVO’s Music Director Alexander Katsman will be available to meet with guests and provide opera insights.
Dinner tickets are $95, and are available through Bankhead Theater box office or online at LVOpera.com. Opera performance tickets are a separate ticket purchase.
Red carpet Step & Repeat photo op
The red carpet is rolled out for all opera attendees with a photo op against a “step and repeat” backdrop featuring Livermore Valley Opera’s newly designed logo.
Pre-opera talk
Included in the ticket price are engaging lectures before each performance at 6:30pm and 1:00pm, one hour prior to curtain time. LVO’s traditional artist’s reception is held in the lobby immediately following each performance.
New Ticket Pricing:
LVO, like other similar companies, is making a major effort to attract younger people who may have had little or no experience with the magical world of opera, with new pricing for all except tier 1 (row F and G center) seating sections. You may be asked for ID.
Regular adult pricing: $42-$90
Age 40 and under: $40
Age 20 and under: $20
Tickets can be purchased through the Bankhead box office or LVO website at www.LVOpera.com. Opening Night Dinner tickets are $95 per person, separate purchase.
Performance & Box Office Location:
Bankhead Theater
2400 First Street, Livermore, CA 94550
Bankhead Ticket Office: 925-373-6800
The Box Office is open Tuesday through Saturday: 12:00 Noon to 6:00 p.m.
About the Stage Director
Layna Chianakas, stage director and mezzo-soprano, has portrayed over fifty opera roles across the United States spanning three decades of performing. Most recently, she was seen as Filipievna in LVO’s production of Eugene Onegin. Her stage directing credits include the National Opera Association award-winning, Postcard from Morocco for San José State Opera Theater and numerous productions for Opera San José, Intermountain Opera, Opera Santa Barbara and Vivace Youth Chorus Summer Opera. Recently she directed Nabucco for West Bay Opera, and Hansel and Gretel for Opera San José. This April, she makes a role debut as Marcellina in Le nozze di Figaro with Intermountain Opera. Ms. Chianakas is also the Artistic Director of the Assyrian Arts Institute.
About the Professional Performers
Performer biographies can be found on the LVopera.org website, Season and Events page for the double-bill.
About Music Director and Conductor Alexander Katsman
Alexander Katsman is the Music Director of Livermore Valley Opera. As alumni of the San Francisco Opera’s Merola Program, Mr. Katsman received his M.M. from St. Petersburg Rimsky-Korsakov State Conservatory and his B.M. cum laude from Mussorgsky College of Music in St. Petersburg, Russia.
Since his arrival in the United States, Alexander has been sought after as a conductor and collaborative pianist. He conducted for Opera San Jose, West Bay Opera, Martinez Opera, Bayshore Lyric Opera, Berkeley West Edge Opera, Oakland Lyric Opera, Solo Opera, San Francisco Lyric Opera, Opera Academy of California, Peninsula Teen Opera, Diablo Light Opera, Town Hall Theater, and also at CalState University East Bay and Diablo Valley College. Recently Alexander was rehearsal conductor for Castleton Festival’s Berkeley performances of Albert Herring and The Rape of Lucretia. He was also Artistic Director for the Alexander Vocal Series, premier vocal recital series in Piedmont, California.
Mr. Katsman serves on conducting faculties of Bay Area Summer Opera Theater Institute and Opera Academy of California. He is also on the coaching staff at the San Francisco Conservatory.
About LVO
Livermore Valley Opera was founded in 1992, and presents fully-staged operas at Livermore’s Bankhead Theater in the spring and fall. This gem of a theater features excellent lines of sight and acoustics, helping the opera to attract talented singers and stage directors for their performances.
LVO is a professional opera company and a 501(c) 3 non-profit charitable arts organization. For more information, visit LVOpera.com.
###