Yale Bulletin and Calendar

February 8, 2008|Volume 36, Number 17

Among the singers from the Yale Opera who alternate in the lead roles of "Die Fledermaus" are Adelaide Muir (Rosalinde) and Edward Parks (Eisenstein).

Yale Opera will present ‘Die Fledermaus,’
comic tale of intrigue in 19th-century Vienna

“Die Fledermaus,” a comic tale of intrigue, marital indiscretions and backstabbing in the champagne-and-waltzes world of 19th-century Viennese society, will be presented by Yale Opera Friday-Sunday, Feb. 15-17, at New Haven’s Shubert Theater, 247 College St.

The classic work, which features the music of Johann Strauss, will be presented by students currently in the School of Music’s Yale Opera program as well as alumni of the program now with the Metropolitan Opera. Internationally acclaimed British conductor Jeremy Silver will lead the singers and the musicians of the Philharmonia Orchestra of Yale. Stage direction will be by Marc Verzatt, a lecturer in the School of Music. Doris Yarick Cross is artistic director of Yale Opera.

“Die Fledermaus” revolves around a plot devised by Dr. Falke against his friend Gabriel von Eisenstein in revenge for a practical joke played years beforehand. Eisenstein is a randy tenor who does not let his marriage to Rosalinde stand in the way of frequent diversions with the young ladies of the ballet. On his way to serve a brief jail sentence for insulting a public official, Eisenstein attends Prince Orlofsky’s party where he woos an enchanting Hungarian countess, who turns out to be none other than Rosalinde, seeking — and getting — her revenge for her husband’s indiscretions.

In addition to Strauss’ music, the production features a libretto by Carl Haffner and Richard Genée (after Henri Meilhac and Ludovic Halévey’s “Le réveillon”) and new English dialogue by Verzatt. It will be sung in German with projected English translations.

The singers from Yale Opera featured in “Die Fledermaus” include the students who captured three of the top four prizes in the New England regional finals of the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions held in Boston on Jan. 27 — baritones Edward Parks and Christopher Magiera, who took first place and moved on to the national semi-final round in New York; and tenor Zach Borichevsky, who won the Encouragement Award. Parks and Borichevsky will alternate in the role of Eisenstein in “Die Fledermaus”; and Magiera and Joshua Copeland will share the role of Dr. Falke and Dr. Blind. Other featured students include Adelaide Muir and Samantha L. Talmadge as Rosalinde; Christy Lombardozzi as Adele; Emily Righter, Ana Sinicki and Olivia Vote as Prince Orlofsky; Joshua Kohl and Tadeusz Szlenkier as Alfred; Nicholas Masters and Damien Pass as Frank; Grant Neale, guest actor, as Frosch; and Emily Righter and Ana Sinicki as Ida.

The Yale Opera alumni now with the Metropolitan Opera who will make guest appearances are Patrick Carfizzi ’99 Mus.M., Matthew Polenzani ’94 Mus.M. and Jennifer Black ’04 Mus.M. All have appeared in opera houses throughout the world, and Polenzani was seen in movie houses and on television around the globe in his role as Tamino in the Metropolitan Opera production of “The Magic Flute.”

The production team for “Die Fledermaus” includes Peter Dean Beck (set design), William Warfel (lighting design), Elsen Associates (wigs and makeup) and Steven Gearhart (chorus master).

“Die Fledermaus” will be performed at 8 p.m. on Friday and Saturday and at 2 p.m. on Sunday. Standard ticket prices range from $19 to $41. Student tickets are available for $10 with a student I.D. Patrons 65 years of age or older will receive a 15% discount. Yale faculty and staff are eligible for half-price tickets. All groups of 10 or more are eligible for a 25% discount off standard priced tickets. Tickets may be purchased by phone by calling the Shubert box office at (203) 562-5666 or (888) 736-2663; online at www.shubert.com; and in person at the Shubert box office between the hours of 9:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and between the hours of 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. on Saturday. For more information, visit www.yale.edu/music.

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