Kentucky Opera announces 2017-18 line-up

The Kentucky Opera’s lineup for the 2017-18 season includes works by Romanic composers Strauss and Rossini and American composer Jake Heggie’s “Dead Man Walking.”

Elizabeth Kramer spoke with Kentucky Opera General Director Ian Derrer about the line-up the company announced Wednesday for its 66th season as well as some of the award-winning singers who will be in the company’s productions.

Sept. 15 and 17: “Ariadne auf Naxos”

By Richard Strauss.

Principal Conductor Joseph Mechavich conducts the opera’s production that includes stage director Chas Rader-Shieber. Sung in English and German.

The cast includes Grammy Award-Winning soprano Christine Brewer as Ariadne, who has performed the role with the Metropolitan Opera, Opéra de Lyon, Théatre du Chatelet, Santa Fe Opera, English National Opera and Opera Theater in St. Louis. Other cast members: soprano Elizabeth Sutphen as Zerbinetta; Louisville residents, Garrett Sorenson as Bacchus and Elizabeth Batton as The Composer; and artists Daniel Mobbs and Rodell Rosel and members of the company’s studio artists program.

Oct. 27 and 29: “Dead Man Walking”

By Jake Heggie, with libretto by Terrence McNally and based on the book by Sister Helen Prejean.

Conducted by Mechavich with direction by Ellen Douglas Schlaefer in her company debut.

The cast includes mezzo-soprano Emily Fons as Sister Helen Prejean, baritone Morgan Smith as Joseph DeRocher, mezzo-soprano Phyllis Pancella as Mrs. Patrick DeRocher, soprano Karen Slack as Sister Rose, Allan Glassman, and Louisville natives Chad Sloan, Emily Albrink and Evan Boyer.

Feb. 16 and 18, 2018: “The Barber of Seville”

By Gioachino Rossini.

Conducted by Robert Tweten with direction from Matthew Ozawa. Sung in Italian.

The cast — all making their Kentucky Opera debuts — includes baritone Will Liverman as Figaro, mezzo-soprano Megan Marino as Rosina, tenor Alasdair Kent as Count Almaviva, bass-baritone Dale Travis as Dr. Bartolo, and bass Adam Lau as Basilio.

The performance schedule also is available at kyopera.org.

Reach reporter Elizabeth Kramer at (502) 582-4682 and ekramer@courier-journal.com. Follow her on Twitter @arts_bureau and on Facebook at Elizabeth Kramer - Arts Writer.