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Inna Heasley 215.280.4824 inna@pr-perfect.com FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Russian Opera Workshop Presents Philadelphia Premiere of The Demon by Anton Rubinstein in Free Public Concerts PHILADELPHIA, June-July 2015: In its fifth season, Russian Opera Workshop presents in-concert opera productions of Anton Rubinstein's The Demon, a Philadelphia premiere (June 23-25), and Tchaikovsky's last opera Iolanta (July 28-30). Performances are sung in Russian with English supertitles, with Founder & Music Director Ghenady Meirson at the piano. The artists are introduced in the “preview” Russian Romances concerts Monday June 22 and July 27. All performances are free to public and start at 7:30 PM at the Helen Corning Warden Theater at the Academy of Vocal Arts, 1920 Spruce Street, Philadelphia, 19103. Known for its dynamic educational structure, top notch professional faculty, revivals of seldom performed operas and free public performances filled to capacity, Russian Opera Workshop 2015 brings aspiring opera artists to Philadelphia from across the United States, Canada and Mexico. During the course of each month, the faculty members (marked with **) conduct a series of Master Classes, which are open to general public at no charge. "Rubinstein’s The Demon was composed in 1871 and premiered in 1875 in St. Petersburg, with libretto by Pavel Viskovatov based on the popular poem of the same name by Mikhail Lermontov which was banned in Russia until 1860. While being still often performed in Russia, the opera is a rare event in the West. On June 23, The Demon will receive its premiere in Philadelphia. The Philadelphia premiere performance of The Demon includes a chorus comprised of singers from the local choral groups: Philadelphia Singers, Choral Arts Philadelphia and Mendelssohn Club, with Julia Zavadsky (faculty at Rutgers University) as the chorus master. “From a training perspective, the Workshop helps to place rarely performed Russian operas on the map, making our important contribution to the visibility of these great works,” said Meirson. “I was happy that this season The Metropolitan Opera produced Tchaikovsky’s Iolanta for the first time in their history, with Anna Netrebko in the title role. This summer marks my sixth production of this opera. And in January 2015, Dmitry Hvorostovsky made his Demon role debut in Moscow. All of these efforts help bring rarely performed and important Russian operas to life." Russian Opera Workshop 2015 Faculty: Ghenady Meirson, Founder & Music Director (AVA and The Curtis Institute of Music) Dr. Sharon Bain, Russian Language Class (Bryn Mawr College) Benita Valente, distinguished American soprano (AVA) Thor Eckert, professional development coach (AVA) William Stone, baritone (AVA), Michael Eberhard, Artistic Administrator (Opera Philadelphia) Daron Hagen, American composer Michele Scanlon, voice/opera coach (AVA) Donald St. Pierre, voice/opera coach (Curtis Institute of Music) Elise Auerbach, voice/opera coach (Temple University) Russian Opera Workshop 2015 Schedule All events at Academy of Vocal Arts, 1920 Spruce St., Philadelphia, PA 19103. No tickets/reservations, open seating. More information at www.RussianOperaWorkshop.com CONCERTS – all start at 7:30 PM: Monday, June 22 Lecture and Concert of Russian Romances Introducing Russian Opera Workshop artists. Foreword to The Demon by composer Daron Hagen Tuesday-Thursday, June 23-25 A. Rubinstein: The Demon, opera in concert, a Philadelphia Premiere Ghenady Meirson, Music Director and Pianist Monday, July 27 Concert of Russian Romances Introducing Russian Opera Workshop artists. Tuesday-Thursday, July 28-30 Pyotr I. Tchaikovsky: Iolanta, opera in concert Ghenady Meirson, Music Director and Pianist MASTER CLASSES – all start at 1 PM: Thursday & Friday, June 4 and 5 Thor Eckert, AVA faculty Professional Development: Auditioning for competitions, agents and opera companies. Thursday & Friday, June 11 and 12 Benita Valente, a distinguished American soprano Vocal master class on standard opera repertoire. Two groups of singers on consecutive days. Thursday & Friday, July 9 and 10 Michael Eberhard, Artistic Administrator at Opera Philadelphia Professional Development Auditioning. Two groups of singers on consecutive days. Thursday & Friday, July 16 and 17 William Stone, Baritone, AVA faculty Vocal master class on standard opera repertoire. Two groups of singers on consecutive days. About Russian Opera Workshop: An independent summer training program for aspiring and professional opera singers, the workshop was founded in 2011 by Ghenady Meirson, faculty member at the Academy of Vocal Arts and Curtis Institute of Music. The workshop offers an intensive 30-day long multi-faceted opera and vocal performance training and Russian language immersion which concludes with free public performances of the opera and arias the singers have learned in the course of study. For more information contact Ghenady Meirson 267.475.6500 or http://www.russianoperaworkshop.com/contact.html. More at RussianOperaWorkshop.com. Members of the press are invited to reserve their complimentary seating for any of the above events by contacting publicist Inna Heasley at inna@pr-perfect.com. RELATED LINKS: Russian composer Anton Rubinstein: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anton_Rubinstein Rubinstein’s opera “Demon”: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Demon_%28opera%29 Pyotr I. Tchaikovsky’s opera “Iolanta”: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iolanta Russian Opera Workshop program 2015: http://www.russianoperaworkshop.com/summer-2015.html # # #  A fallen angel, the Demon is banished from heaven and is condemned to spend eternity alone. Angel appears and warns Demon not to destroy God’s creation and try to reconcile with heaven. Rebellious Demon rejects the idea. Enamored with Tamara, Demon woos her. "Tamara, love me! ... you will be the queen of the universe, my eternal companion," he whispers into her soul. Feeling fear and powerful temptation, Tamara succumbs to his seduction. Demon's kiss kills her and in the moment of conquest, he is defeated by the Angel who saves Tamara's soul. Alone again, Demon curses the universe. (Synopsis by Russian Opera Workshop)
Singers applying for DEMON (Jun 1-25), visit bit.ly/1vCOxpI for roles, synopsis, full opera video.
This clip (12 min) - AVA Russian Concert - Marina Costa-Jackson (Tamara), Michael Adams (Demon), Ghenady Meirson, Piano  ConcertoNet REVIEW: "From Russia, with AVA love" by Lewis Whittington - bit.ly/1zvpAAx
I was so proud of my AVA Artists!!! All of their duet repertoire consisted of all Russian operas I have produced during Russian Opera Workshop summer seasons 2011-2014. Can't wait for Russian Opera Workshop 2015, when we will do a Philadelphia premiere of THE DEMON by Anton Rubinstein.  Hear AVA Artists that also include Russian Opera Workshop Alums and recent district winners of Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions
For tickets visit AVAOpera.org or call 215-735-1685 Anton Rubinstein THE DEMON - Latvian National Opera with Kristine Opolais as Tamara, Complete Video11/29/2014
OPERA ROLES
Prince Gudal - Bass Tamara, his daughter - Soprano Tamara's Nurse - Contralto Tamara's girlfriends - Ensemble Prince Sinodal, Tamara's betrothed - Tenor Sinodal's servant - Bass Courier - Tenor Demon - Baritone Angel - Mezzo Soprano SYNOPSIS A fallen angel, the Demon is banished from heaven and is condemned to spend eternity alone. Angel appears and warns Demon not to destroy God’s creation and try to reconcile with heaven. Rebellious Demon rejects the idea. Enamored with Tamara, Demon woos her. "Tamara, love me! ... you will be the queen of the universe, my eternal companion," he whispers into her soul. Full of fear and powerful temptation Tamara succumbs to his seduction. Demon's kiss kills her and in the moment of conquest, he is defeated by the Angel who saves Tamara's soul. Alone again, Demon curses the universe. (Synopsis by Russian Opera Workshop) |
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