News & Announcements

Soprano Lisa Daltirus is the Ethiopian slave, Aida.			Keith Miiller (l) is Egyptian Chief of Scared Priests, Ramfis and Philip Webb (w/ sword) is the Captain of the Egyyptian Guard, Radames.  They stand on an enormous bronze eagle (35 ft. wingspan x 24 ft. high) that symbolizes Horace, the God of Power.
Jeffrey Beruan (center in purple robe) is the King of Egypt and Leann Sandel-Pantaleo (r) is his daughter, Amneris.			Tenor Philip Webb sings Radames, the Egyptian Captain loved by both Aida and Amneris.
Lisa Daltirus (l) is Aida, and Greer Grimsley (r) is her father, the King of Ethiopia, who has been taken captive by the Egyptians.			Ethiopian slave Aida Lisa Daltirus (l) and her mistress Amneris, Leann Sandel-Pantaleo, Amneris (r) are rivals for the love of Radames.

More information about Aida here.

Don’t have tickets?  They’re going fast.  503-241-1802 to get yours now!

Working rehearsals are a magical place.  Jeans and tennis shoes, a hint of costumes, a few props, a piano, and lots of time, sweat, and talent.  Here's a quick look behind the scenes as we get Aida ready for its May 9 Keller Auditorium opening.

Technician Rick Schreiner in a cubby hole beneath the huge set with all the machinery and computers that run the revolving set.			And the leading lady!!  Heralded for almost a year in Aida graphics . . . and now brightly running around the region on TriMet buses, Lisa Daltirus is a powerful presence.  With a voice that has almost stopped rehearsals in their tracks.
Anyone who saw our 2005 Tosca will remember the powerful force of Greer Grimsley as Scarpia.  Here, as Aida's father Amonasro, that same power comes through loud and clear.			Aida is a love story at its heart.  And a tragic one to be sure.  Here, a poignant moment between Radames (Phillip Webb) and Aida.
Aida is perhaps the grandest of all operas.  And grand opera means dance.  Expect a triumphal march complete with dazzling dance.			Maestro Vjekoslav Sutej (or "Gigi" as he's known here) brings an exuberant passion to the podium.
And over it all, a guiding light for the company and the rehearsals, our mission--"to celebrate the beauty and breadth of opera."

More information about Aida here.

Don’t have tickets?  They’re going fast.  503-241-1802 to get yours now!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:  April 22, 2008
CONTACT:  Julia Sheridan, 503-295-3508, email
download pdf here

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:  April 22, 2008
CONTACT:  Julia Sheridan, 503-295-3508, email
download pdf here

PORTLAND OPERA HOLDS

ELEANOR LIEBER AWARDS

Sunday, May 18, 2008, 2:00pm
At the Hampton Opera Center

Portland Opera General Director Christopher Mattaliano has announced that the Portland Opera will hold its biennial Eleanor Lieber Awards on Sunday, May 18, 2008.  The public is invited to an exciting afternoon where the stars of tomorrow’s opera world compete for prizes totaling $18,500.  After a preliminary competition on Saturday, the weekend culminates on Sunday with ten finalists vying for a first place prize of $10,000, a second place prize of $5,000 and a third place prize of $2,500.  A special $1,000 prize is awarded to the audience favorite.  In addition to these awards, all 10 finalists will be presented an honorarium.

Established in 1980 and named after Eleanor Lieber, these awards recognize her special appreciation for young singers.  Through her vision and generous patronage, an endowment fund was created to ensure continuing support for the development of young operatic artists into the future.

The 2008 Eleanor Lieber Awards are open to singers across the United States, who are in the early stages of a professional opera career.

WHAT:     Eleanor Lieber Awards 2008
WHEN:     Sunday, May 18, 2008, 2:00pm
WHERE:   The Hampton Opera Center
                211 SE Caruthers St, Portland, OR 97214

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:  March 24, 2008
CONTACT: Julia Sheridan, 503-295-3508
download pdf here

PORTLAND OPERA’S

“Would you like an aria with those fries?”

BROWN BAG SERIES CONTINUES
APRIL TOPIC
OPERA IMPROV
We’ll give the audience the nuts and bolts of an opera, and they will create one on the spot!

This month Portland Opera will offer the lunchtime audience the opportunity to create an opera…on the spot!  Comedy, tragedy, adventure?  The audience will decide.  The talented performers from Portland Opera To Go, the touring division of Portland Opera’s Education and Outreach department, will be on hand to take the cues and provide plenty of entertainment.  

OPERA IMPROV was conceived and directed by Kristine McIntyre for Portland Opera To Go.  After a successful three-month tour bringing OPERA IMPROV to 12,000 students across the state, Portland Opera To Go artists will be back in town on April 4, for a free public performance.
                                     
WHAT:     Portland Opera’s “Would You Like an Aria with Those Fries?” lunchtime presentation.  April topic: Opera Improv.  FREE TO THE PUBLIC!
WHEN:     Noon – 1:00pm, Friday, April 4, 2008.
WHERE:   Multnomah County Central Library (801 SW 10th Ave) in the U.S. Bank room.

These ongoing lunch presentations are held at Multnomah County Central Library from 12:00pm to 1:00pm on the First Friday of each month.
# # #

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:  February 6, 2008
CONTACT: Julia Sheridan, 503-295-3508
download pdf here

PORTLAND OPERA PRESENTS
THE COMPANY PREMIERE OF BRITTEN’S

After battling a bronchial infection that sidelined her for her opening night Company debut, Jennifer Aylmer took the stage Sunday in the title role to thundering applause. The opening night audience, however, was clearly thrilled with the performance of Portland Opera Studio soprano Sharin Apostolou who stepped up from her position as Ms. Aylmer's cover. Ms. Apostolou's performance was appreciated by local blogger and reviewer for Opera magazine in London, James Bash. You can enjoy his comments here. Ms. Aylmer will sing both the remaining Rodelinda performances on Thursday and Saturday.

With Rodelinda nearing its February 8 opening, the final details are being readied. Here is an inside peek at final rehearsals in order to share the look and feel of Handel’s exquisite masterpiece.

The rehearsal hall is a very special place. It's a place for risk taking, as the cast and team explore the emotional and musical terrain of each opera. It's a place for hard work, hours and hours of theatrical and musical work. All in an effort to mount the most riveting production possible. For you. When you're baring your soul and taking considerable personal risk to discover the exquisite richness in a work like Rodelinda, it's not easy to have a camera trained on you. Our hats are off to everyone in the rehearsal hall for allowing our camera to prowl around in order to share an early look at the production with our family of patrons!

Tenor Brendan Tuohy, a member of the Portland Opera Studio Artists, won the Metropolitan Opera Northwest Regional Audition competitions last weekend in Seattle. Not only did he walk away with top honors, but won Audience Favorite as well! Patrons will soon enjoy his work in the title role of Albert Herring when it opens in the Portland Opera Studio Theater on March 14.