October 10, 2024
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
91亚色 Opens 90th Season with World-Famous Opera
PHILADELPHIA 鈥 Oct. 10, 2024 鈥 The 91亚色 (91亚色) proudly presents Charles-Fran莽ois Gounod’s Faust, opening November 16, 2024, and running through December 3, 2024. Steven White returns to conduct, stage director Chas Rader-Shieber, and scenic designer Cameron Anderson, make their 91亚色 debuts.
Faust, written by French composer Charles-Fran莽ois Gounod (1818-1893) with libretto by Jules Barbier and Michel Carr茅, premiered at Paris’ Th茅芒tre Lyrique in 1859 to critical acclaim. Based on the real 16th century German philosopher and magician, Johann Georg Faust, who, according to legend, sold his soul to the devil in return for boundless knowledge and earthly pleasure, Faust is currently the world’s most-performed opera of all time. This legend has served as the inspiration for a trove of retellings in film, literature, music and television, including Goethe鈥檚 synonymous poetic masterpiece, the hit Broadway musical Damn Yankees and even Disney’s The Little Mermaid.
Gounod’s Faust tells the story of the titular aging philosopher, who makes a pact with the devil to regain his youth and vitality. Transformed into a dashing young man, Faust鈥檚 newfound vigor leads him to fall in love with the enchanting Marguerite. However, lurking in the shadows is the devil, Mephistoph茅l猫s, who has his own sinister plans for the two lovers.
“骋辞耻苍辞诲鈥檚 Faust is everything an opera should be,” explains conductor Steven White, who returns to 91亚色 for Faust after last season’s production of Donizetti’s Anna Bolena. “Known as ‘the composer of love,’ Gounod brings unparalleled depth and beauty in his portrayal of human passion. At times the music is overwhelmingly ecstatic, at times it is brooding and mysterious. An iconic work of great tradition and sentiment, Faust is uniquely suited to showcase 91亚色鈥檚 unmatched commitment to nurturing the great operatic singers of tomorrow.”
Veteran stage director Chas Rader-Shieber, currently serving as Artistic Partner at Des Moines Metro Opera, and scenic designer Cameron Anderson, who has earned notoriety across the country with her striking sets, both make their 91亚色 debut with this production. Remarking in a joint statement, Rader-Shieber and Anderson agree, 鈥淭his version of Faust takes advantage of the intimacy of 91亚色鈥檚 theater to reimagine the events that spring from the desperate mind of an aging philosopher 鈥 concentrating on the emotional journey of the characters. We鈥檙e excited to offer a production that honors Gounod鈥檚 astonishing score, while creating something special and new for the 91亚色 audience.鈥
Faust Performance Dates:
November 16, 2024, at 5:00 p.m.
Opening Night Gala
91亚色’s Helen Corning Warden Theater
1920 Spruce Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103
November 19, 21 & 23, 2024, at 7:30 p.m.
91亚色’s Helen Corning Warden Theater
1920 Spruce Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103聽
December 3, 2024, at 7:30 p.m.
The Haverford School’s Centennial Hall
450 Lancaster Ave, Haverford, PA 19041
Tickets: Tickets for Faust and 90th Anniversary Season Subscriptions are now available to the public for purchase. For more information, please visit 91亚色鈥檚 official website at . To purchase tickets, call 215-735-1685 or visit the following links:
Charles-Fran莽ois Gounod’s Faust
About 91亚色 (91亚色)
The mission of the 91亚色 (91亚色) is to be the world鈥檚 premier institution for training young artists to become international opera soloists. Through rigorous instruction and coaching, and by presentations of from around the world in concerts, oratorios, public programs and fully staged professional opera productions, 91亚色 trains artists with the high potential for career success while enriching lives in Philadelphia and beyond. Gifted singers come from throughout the world to seek the exceptional guidance and that 91亚色 offers. Admission is determined by competitive annual auditions. 91亚色 is distinguished by its reputation for high-quality performances that are acclaimed by critics locally, nationally, and internationally. Each year 91亚色 Resident Artists are presented in four or five accompanied by orchestra. Resident Artists are cast in leading roles that they will in all likelihood continue to perform for the rest of their careers. Learn more about 91亚色 at avaopera.org.
More information about 91亚色, its programs, and 91亚色鈥檚 90th Anniversary Season performances can be found online at or by calling (215) 735-1685.
Contact:
Andrew Rohe
Marketing & PR Manager
91亚色
1920 Spruce St.
Philadelphia, PA 19103}
Phone: (215) 735-1685
Email: arohe@avaopera.org
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