VANCOUVER OPERA

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

DATE February 27, 2009

Excitement builds for Vancouver Opera’s Rigoletto

A bold production that brings new dimensions to Verdi’s dark, tender drama of

love and revenge

Vancouver. BC ~ Rehearsals are well underway for Vancouver Opera’s production of Rigoletto, opening

in just a few days! As last minute adjustments are made to the sets and costumes, and the performers get

ready to thrill, audiences excitedly anticipate director Glynis Leyshon’s bold new take on this Verdi classic.

Leyshon’s innovative, imaginative treatment of this beloved opera drew rave reviews at its première in

Calgary. In less than one week, this production will be presented on the Vancouver Opera stage for the

first time. Leyshon’s stunning new take on Rigoletto boasts bold visuals that twin beautifully with Verdi’s

dark, tender drama of love and revenge.

Opening night is Saturday, March 7, 2009, with subsequent performances Tuesday, March 10; Thursday,

March 12; Saturday, March 14 and Tuesday, March 17. All performances take place at the Queen

Elizabeth Theatre, Georgia and Hamilton Streets, Vancouver, B.C. and begin at 7:30pm.

www.vancouveropera.blogspot.com

This is a rare production that cannot be missed.

The Singers

Grammy Award-winning baritone Donnie Ray Albert (Rigoletto) has received accolades for his previous

performances in this role. “From his first, world-weary appearance on stage as the overture concluded,

Albert bore not only the hunchback jester’s physical pain but his total transformation from mocking tool

of the duke to blood-thirsty seeker of vengeance,” raves the Tuscon Citizen, “His commanding baritone

won the audience.” He last appeared with VO in 1994, singing the title role in Nabucco.

Rising Cuban-American soprano Eglise Gutierrez (Gilda) has been praised for her “gorgeous, creamy

soprano” (Cinncinnati.com). She has impressed audiences with her performances as Violetta in La

Traviata, Lakmé in Lakmé, and previous appearances as Gilda, with many more engagements scheduled

for next year. This performance is her début with Vancouver Opera.

Tenor Bruce Sledge (The Duke) has earned rave reviews for a variety of roles, including praise from The

San Antonio Express-News for his “silky, almost sensual voice”. He has appeared at the Metropolitan

Opera as Almaviva in  Il barbiere di Sivigli and New York City Opera as Ernesto in Don Pasquale, and

recently appeared at a recital for the Marilyn Horne Foundation at Carnegie’s Weill Hall. He last

appeared with Vancouver Opera in the title role in VO’s 2006 concert version of Werther.

California-based bass-baritone Kirk Eichelberger will sing the role of Sparafucile in his Vancouver Opera

début. His past roles include the title role in Le nozze di Figaro for Opera Memphis and Méphistophélès

in Opera San Jose’s  Faust, a role he will be performing again with Opera Grand Rapids.

Mezzo-soprano Norine Burgess (Maddalena) last appeared with VO as Madame Larina in Eugene Onegin, and before

that as Siébel in Faust. She has sung Princess Marie Bolkonskaya with Canadian Opera Company. She appeared in the premiere of Glynis Leyshon’s treatment of Rigoletto with Calgary Opera in 2007, earning praise from the

Calgary Herald: “Norine Burgess is seductive and vocally elegant as Maddalena.”

London, Ontario bass-baritone Chad Louwerse (Count Monterone) last appeared with Vancouver Opera

as Captain Petrovich and Zaretsky in Eugene Onegin, and will return as First Nazerene in the upcoming Salome.

Also from Ontario, baritone Willy Miles-Grenzberg will be singing Count Ceprano, and also

returning to Vancouver Opera in Salome.

Countess Ceprano will be sung by Vancouver-based soprano  Raphael Wagner, returning to Vancouver Opera after  her last performance as Cio-Cio-San’s cousin in 2004’s Madama Butterfly.

Also in the cast are baritone John Conlon as Marullo, tenor Sam Chung as Borsa, soprano Sheila Christie

as Giovanna, baritone W. David Collins as the Herald and mezzo-soprano Barbara Towell as the Page.