national broadcast of its 2008 production of Faust on NPR World of
Opera from 6:30 to 10 p.m. on Sat., Sept. 11. Charlotte area
listeners will be able to hear the broadcast on WDAV Classical Public
Radio (89.9FM) or online at wdav.org.
As the only classical performing arts organization in the southeast to
be featured on the acclaimed nationally syndicated program NPR World
of Opera, Opera Carolina takes its place among the most prestigious
international opera houses, including La Scala, Vienna State Opera,
and Covent Garden. Other U.S. opera companies, which have been
featured on the program, include Washington National Opera and Houston
Grand Opera.
Opera Carolina's stellar reputation extends far beyond its Charlotte
roots. The company is highly regarded among the national arts
community for world-class productions, earning Opera Carolina
continued attention from NPR World of Opera. The most recent
broadcast was Opera Carolina's 2006 production of Margaret Garner by
Nobel laureate Toni Morrison and composer Richard Danielpour, which
will be re-broadcast in November.
NPR World of Opera is produced by WDAV Classical Public Radio. The
national broadcast of this production of Opera Carolina's Faust is
sponsored by the Wachovia Wells Fargo Foundation.
About Faust - The Production and Cast
This lush drama by Gounod is surely the most popular
musical representation of the immortal story of Faust, who confronts
the hellish consequences of his own weakness when the devil makes him
an offer he can't refuse -- but probably should have.
The cast includes Metropolitan Opera soprano Maureen
O'Flynn (Marguerite); Metropolitan Opera tenor James Valenti (Faust);
The Paris Opera's Chester Patton (Mephistopheles); plus American
artists Corey McKern (Valentin) and Diane McEwen-Martin (Siébel); and
Charlotteans Jeremy Collier ( Wagner); Kim Blanchard (Marthe), the
Opera Carolina Chorus and the Charlotte Symphony are under the
direction of James Meena, conductor.
Peter Perrett, Classic Voice of North Carolina, noted,
"Tenor James Valenti was an elegant and seductive Faust, with a lovely
voice and a great tessitura, handling with ease the high C and the end
of the beautiful aira. Maureen O'Flynn, making her Opera Carolina
debut as the "chaste and pure" Marguerite, looked and acted the part
and sounded angelic."
About Opera Carolina
Founded in 1948 as the Charlotte Opera Association by a
small group of volunteers, today Opera Carolina is the largest
professional opera company in the Carolinas with an operating budget
of over $3.3 million for the fiscal year 2009. The mission of Opera
Carolina is to inspire the region's diverse community through the
presentation of excellent Opera, Operetta, and Education & Outreach
programs that elevate the quality of life in the Carolinas. Opera
Carolina is a community resource with a commitment to artistic
excellence and community service.
Opera Carolina is supported by individuals and
corporations throughout the region. Opera Carolina is also supported,
in part, with operating support from the Arts & Science Council.
Additional support is provided by the North Carolina Arts Council, a
division of the Department of Cultural Resources, and the National
Endowment for the Arts. Opera Carolina is a member of OPERA America.
