Curtis Opera Theatre Presents Eugene Onegin November 16–19 at Prince Theater

PHILADELPHIA—November 9, 2017—The Curtis Opera Theatre presents Tchaikovsky’s Eugene Onegin, conducted by Joseph Mechavich and directed by Chas Rader-Shieber, November 16 through 18 at 7:30 p.m. and November 19 at 2:30 p.m. at the Prince Theater at 1412 Chestnut Street.

A sentimental ingénue confesses her love for an imperious aristocrat, and meets a crushing rejection. Years pass and the tables are turned, with poignant regrets for both. Based on Pushkin’s famed novel, Tchaikovsky’s deeply moving drama is marked by impassioned interactions and a continuous outpouring of glorious lyricism.

Joseph Mechavich conducts members of the Curtis Symphony Orchestra and Chas Rader-Shieber directs the fully staged production, sung in Russian with English supertitles. Scenic design is provided by Adam Crinson with costume design by Matthew Pedersen, lighting design by Mike Inwood, and hair and costume design by Tommy Kurzman. The Curtis Opera Theatre season is sponsored by the Wyncote Foundation.

Tickets for $25 or $50 are available through the Prince Theater Box Office at (215) 422-4580 or PrinceTheater.org.

Joseph Mechavich is principal conductor of Kentucky Opera. He has presided over productions for Deutsche Oper Berlin, Auckland Philharmonia/New Zealand Opera, Washington National Opera, New York City Opera, Arizona Opera, Calgary Opera, Dayton Opera, Des Moines Metro Opera, Florida Grand Opera, Madison Opera, Opera Saratoga, Tulsa Opera, Utah Opera, and Virginia Opera; and at the Aspen Music Festival, New England Conservatory of Music, and Oberlin Opera Theatre.

Mr. Mechavich is also known for his deep commitment to American opera. He has conducted productions of Nixon in China by John Adams; Susannah, Wuthering Heights, Of Mice and Men, and Cold Sassy Tree by Carlisle Floyd; and Moby-Dick, Great Scott, Out of Darkness, and Dead Man Walking  by Jake Heggie.

On the concert stage, Maestro Mechavich has appeared with the Florida and Sarasota orchestras; the Naples and Orlando philharmonics; the Oberlin Chamber Orchestra; and the Hartford, Virginia, and Waterbury symphonies

Mr. Mechavich has held the positions of principal conductor for Opera Birmingham, director of music for Orlando Opera, and cover conductor for the Santa Fe Opera. He studied at the Oberlin College Conservatory of Music and the Yale University School of Music.

Chas Rader-Shieber has directed over 30 productions for the Curtis Opera Theatre. His recent work outside of Philadelphia includes new productions of Grétry’s L’Amant jaloux for Pinchgut Opera, Faust for the Macau International Music Festival, La traviata for Pittsburgh Opera, Così fan tutte for Yale Opera, and Gluck’s Orphée et Eurydice for Des Moines Metro Opera. His work has been seen at the opera companies of Los Angeles, San Francisco, Santa Fe, Houston, Glimmerglass, St. Louis, Boston, Philadelphia, Minnesota, and Vancouver; Staatstheater Darmstadt; Washington National Opera; the New York City Opera; and the Spoleto Festival, among others.

Having made a specialty of 17th- and 18th-century operas, he has directed Mozart’s Idomeneo, La Clemenza di Tito, Die Zauberflöte, Le nozze di Figaro, Don Giovanni, Il re pastore, and Così fan tutte; Handel’s Giulio Cesare, Semele, Ariodante, Acis and Galatea, Imeneo, Alcina, Xerxes, Partenope, Tolomeo, and Flavio; and works by Monteverdi, Cavalli, Purcell, Charpentier, and Gluck. Upcoming plans include Ariadne auf Naxos for Kentucky Opera, Rusalka for Des Moines Metro Opera, and Orfeo ed Euridice for Portland Opera.

Under the artistic direction of Mikael Eliasen, the Curtis Opera Theatre has become known for imaginative productions, bold concepts, and absorbing theatre. Promising young singers work alongside established professional directors and designers, resulting in fresh interpretations of standard repertoire and contemporary works. All of Curtis’s 25 voice and opera students cast repeatedly each season, receiving a rare level of performance experience on stage and through collaborations with Opera Philadelphia, Curtis on Tour, and the Curtis Symphony Orchestra. As a result Curtis graduates have sung with opera companies all over the world, including La Scala, Covent Garden, the Vienna Staatsoper, Houston Grand Opera, the San Francisco Opera, and the Metropolitan Opera.

CURTIS OPERA THEATRE: EUGENE ONEGIN

Thursday, November 16 at 7:30 p.m.
Friday, November 17 at 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, November 18 at 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, November 19 at 2:30 p.m.

Prince Theater, 1412 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia

Joseph Mechavich, conductor
Chas Rader-Shieber, stage director
Adam Crinson, scenic designer
Matthew Pedersen, costume designer
Mike Inwood, lighting designer
Tommy Kurzman, hair and costume designer

Fully staged production with members of the Curtis Symphony Orchestra, sung in Russian with English supertitles; Performed without intermission

Tickets: $25–50 sold by the Prince Theater Box Office, PrinceTheater.org or (215) 422-4580.

The Curtis Opera Theatre season is sponsored by the Wyncote Foundation. 

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