SU prof designs Syracuse Opera’s ‘Rigoletto’

SU prof designs Syracuse Opera’s ‘Rigoletto’October 04, 2007SU News ServicesSUnews@syr.edu

Giuseppe Verdi’s “Rigoletto” will be offered in a new production designed for Syracuse Opera by Alex Koziara, assistant professor of design/technical theater for Syracuse University’s Department of Drama, in his Syracuse Opera debut. The opera, to be performed Friday, Oct. 26 at 8 p.m. and Sunday, Oct. 28, at 2:30 p.m. at downtown Syracuse’s John H. Mulroy Civic Center, will open Syracuse Opera’s 2007-08 season.

Koziara will also create the lighting for this production. “Rigoletto” stars Greek baritone Constantinos Yiannoudes (Opera San Jose/Sarasota Opera/Athens Grand Opera) as the jester, Rigoletto; soprano Judy Berry (Tri-Cities Opera/Houston Grand Opera/Leipzig Opera/Baltimore Opera) as his ill-fated daughter, Gilda; and Marc Schreiner (Nashville Opera, Minnesota Opera) as the Duke of Mantua, all in their Syracuse Opera debuts. Maestro John Di Costanzo returns to conduct, and Ronald Holgate (best known as Richard Henry Lee in the original Broadway production and film of the musical “1776,” for which he won a Tony Award) makes his Syracuse Opera debut as the stage director.

One of Verdi’s most popular operas, “Rigoletto” is full of recognizable tunes, from Gilda’s plaintive “Caro nome” to the Duke’s callous “La donna e mobile”. The opera is a story of revenge gone bad, as the hunchback Rigoletto seeks to kill his boss, the duke, because he has seduced Rigoletto’s daughter. Not realizing how intense Gilda’s love is for the duke, Rigoletto seeks to destroy the man he hates, but ends up destroying the one thing in life that he loves.

Bass Eric Johnson, director of Syracuse University’s Opera Workshop, returns to Syracuse Opera as Sparafucile. Johnson has performed throughout Europe and the United States for more than 20 years. His Syracuse Opera credits include Raimondo in “Lucia di Lammermoor,” Lodovico in “Otello,” Sarastro in “The Magic Flute” and Commendatore in “Don Giovanni.”

Excellus BlueCross BlueShield is the Exclusive Corporate Sponsor. The Syracuse Opera Board of Directors, SU’s College of Visual and Performing Arts and WTVH-5 also sponsor “Rigoletto.”

For more information, visit http://www.syracuseopera.com.