In deep gratitude for their extraordinary, life-saving dedication in the fight against COVID-19, Opera Saratoga is pleased to offer healthcare professionals and front-line workers in hospitals and public health settings complimentary tickets to the final dress rehearsal of the Tony Award winning musical, MAN OF LA MANCHA, on Wednesday, July 7th at 8:00pm. Complimentary dress rehearsal tickets must be reserved by Tuesday, July 6th at Noon, and are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Health care and front-line workers will be asked to confirm their organizational affiliation at the time of their ticket request, which may be made online at www.operasaratoga.org/man-of-la-mancha-dress-rehearsal
"The team at Saratoga Hospital has made it possible for us to return to the stage this summer by partnering with us to provide regular testing to all of our artists and production personnel," explains Opera Saratoga's Artistic and General Director, Lawrence Edelson. "As we prepare to take the stage again for the first time since the onset of the pandemic, we wanted to show our appreciation to all of the health care workers who have sacrificed so much to ensure our safety over the past 18 months, and who have helped facilitate our return to the stage. It is our deepest pleasure to be able to invite health care heroes from across the region to join us for the final dress rehearsal of Man of La Mancha – a musical that celebrates optimism and looks forward to what is possible in the face of life's greatest challenges. I am deeply grateful to our season sponsors, Adirondack Trust and Stewart's Shops / The Dake Family Foundation, for making this open dress rehearsal for health care and front-line workers possible."
Opera Saratoga returns to the stage for its 60th Anniversary with a season of performances inspired by the iconic novel Don Quixote by Miguel de Cervantes. At the center of the festival is a new production of MAN OF LA MANCHA, the Tony Award winning musical, featuring Broadway and Opera star Zachary James in the role of Cervantes / Don Quixote; and Opera Saratoga favorite, Kelly Glyptis, returning to Saratoga Springs as Aldonza. The production, directed and choreographed by Opera Saratoga's Artistic and General Director Lawrence Edelson, will feature projection and lighting design by Barry Steele, costumes by Glenn Avery Breed, and will be conducted by Laura Bergquist - who most recently led the musical Allegiance on Broadway. The beloved musical, with a book by Dale Wasserman, music by Mitch Leigh, and lyrics by Joe Darion, was inspired by Miguel de Cervantes' 17th Century masterpiece Don Quixote. A universal tale of love, hope, and adventure, Man of La Mancha celebrates the perseverance of one man who refuses to relinquish his ideals, and who is determined to see life not as it is, but as it ought to be. The celebrated score includes "The Impossible Dream," "I, Don Quixote," "Dulcinea," "I Really Like Him," "Little Bird," and "To Each His Dulcinea." Three performances are scheduled on the SPAC Amphitheater Stage on July 8th, 9th, and 10th at 8pm. Tickets to these performances are on sale through the SPAC box office at www.spac.org.
In a more classical vein, Opera Saratoga will also present DON QUICHOTTE AT CAMACHO'S WEDDING, a one-act comic serenata by Georg Philipp Telemann with a libretto by Daniel Schiebeler, taken from an episode from Part Two of Cervantes' celebrated novel, in which the Knight and his squire Sancho Panza encounter some rather strange wedding celebrations as they roam the world in search of adventure. The al fresco production will be staged by Rebecca Miller Kratzer and will be conducted by Michelle Rofrano in and around the Columbia Pavilion in Saratoga Spa State Park, with the backdrop of the forest creating a natural set for this pastoral adventure. The performances will feature Festival Artists from Opera Saratoga's Young Artist Program – the second oldest professional training program for emerging professional singers in the country. Ten performances are scheduled between July 14th and July 18th, with performances at 11am, 1pm, 6pm, and 8pm. In addition, Festival Artists will be featured in A KNIGHT AT THE OPERA, a one-night-only gala concert featuring scenes from operas - both famous and forgotten - that embrace the world of chivalry and knighthood, including music by Verdi, Wagner, Rossini, Gluck, Haydn, and Purcell. This special program is scheduled for Saturday July 17th at 7pm in "The Jousting Tent" at The Lodge of Saratoga Casino Hotel. Complete details about Opera Saratoga's 60th Anniversary Season may be found at www.operasaratoga.org
ABOUT OPERA SARATOGA
Opera Saratoga, formerly known as Lake George Opera, began with a production of Die Fledermaus at the Diamond Point Theatre on July 5, 1962, playing to an audience of 230. The Company now calls Saratoga Springs home and performs for more than 25,000 people annually. Opera Saratoga celebrates its 60th Anniversary this season. The company serves the communities of Saratoga Springs, the Lower Adirondack and New York State Capital areas by providing access to world-class opera through the production of an annual Summer Festival, as well as year-round activities including extensive educational programs, mentorship of emerging operatic artists, and unique opportunities for the public to experience opera in both our home theater and non-traditional venues that leverage and embrace the unique cultural, historic, and natural resources of the area. To date, the company has performed 104 different fully staged works by 65 different composers, including 42 works by American composers and 14 premiere productions. In 2014, the Board of Directors appointed Lawrence Edelson Opera Saratoga's Artistic and General Director. Edelson's leadership has marked a new chapter in the company's history, with increased emphasis on community partnerships throughout the year, diversification of the company's repertoire, and a reaffirmed commitment to both the presentation of American opera and the mentorship of emerging artists. For more information, visit www.operasaratoga.org.
