The University of Central Florida returns to the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts with it’s UCF Celebrates the Arts event April 7-19, 2020.
UCF Celebrates the Arts encompasses theater, music, art, and more, with several different productions each day, as well as exhibitions in the Dr. Phillips Center lobby.
The Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra will present Leonard Bernstein’s Candide, the first operetta in the Opera Series, on October 13, 14, and 16, 2016, at The Plaza Live.
From the team that brought you last season’s hit production of The Magic Flute, join Maestro Eric Jacobsen and a stellar cast for Bernstein’s operetta, a fully-costumed production sung in English with supertitles.
The Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra will produce Rossini’s comedic opera, The Barber of Seville, at the Bob Carr P.A.C. on October 25 and 27.
The Barber of Seville tells the story of how town barber and local nuisance, Figaro, helps the young Rosina escape an unwanted marriage to her elderly guardian, Dr. Bartolo. Meanwhile, Figaro helps the Count Almaviva evade Bartolo’s close watch and win Rosina’s heart through a series of disguises and tricks. Figaro’s aria, “Largo al factotum,” is one of the most recognized in all of opera.
The Philharmonic’s production will be fully staged with costumes, sets and projected backdrops. Unlike past Philharmonic productions which have featured the orchestra on stage, The Barber of Seville will see the orchestra perform in the pit, as in grand opera. The opera will be sung in Italian, with English translations projected above the stage.
Performances are at 8pm on Friday, October 25, and at 2pm on Sunday, October 27. Tickets are $20-$82, and are available at 407-770-0071 or OrlandoPhil.org/opera. Select tickets are half price or $10 on the day of the show for students with a valid student ID.
The Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra has announced their schedule for the 2013-2014 season, and it has a wide variety of offerings.
Opening night will be September 28, and the program will include Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 20, and Strauss’ Ein Heldenleben (A Hero’s Life), conducted by Christopher Wilkins. An opening night dinner gala will be hosted by the Friends at the Sheraton Downtown Orlando beginning at 6pm.
Here are the rest of the performances scheduled:
Most of the concerts will take place at the Bob Carr Performing Arts Center, with the exception of the Focus Series, which will be held at the Margeson Theater at Lowndes Shakespeare Center.
Tickets are available in subscription packages now. Individual tickets will go on sale in August 26, 2013.
For more information, or to purchase tickets, visit OrlandoPhil.org.
The Orlando Philharmonic‘s production of the classic Pucinni opera Madama Butterfly will be performed for audiences this weekend on April 5 & 7, but CitySurfing Orlando was invited to attend the final dress rehearsal last night at the Bob Carr Performing Arts Center.
The story follows Cio-Cio-San (aka Madama Butterfly), a beautiful young geisha, who sacrifices her family, her religion, and even her life, for new husband, American naval officer Lieutenant Pinkerton.
WIth minimal sets, including a virtual backdrop, this production of the opera was very well done. The cast and the orchestra also put in excellent performances.
I must mention strong vocals from leads Shu-Ying Li as Butterfly and Brian Jagde as Pinkerton, really made this production a joy to listen to. In fact, Jagde completely stood out for me with his amazing vocals.
And if the Italian lyrics were hard to follow, one only had to look to the top of the stage for an electronic translation to English of everything that was sung. A very nice touch to make the opera more accessible to the audience.
My photographer and I really enjoyed this production of Madama Butterfly, and I would suggest checking out one of the two performances this weekend.
Here are some additional pictures from the sneak preview:
The Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra will be presenting Puccini’s Madama Butterfly onstage at the Bob Carr Performing Arts Center on April 5 and 7, 2013.
When it does, it will take a new approach to its staged opera productions by adding virtual sets. Instead of creating real scenery and backdrops, they will use projected images to help tell the story.
“Projected images help us expand beyond the limitations of hard scenery,” said Robert Swedberg, stage director for this production. “They allow the inclusion of visual themes and visions that would otherwise not be possible.”
The cast includes Shu-Ying Li as Cio-Cio-San, Brian Jagde as Lieutenant Pinkerton, Thomas Potter as Sharpless, and Mika Shigematsu as Suzuki. The graphic projections and sets will be designed by scenic designer Lisa Buck, and the chorus will be directed by Robin Stamper of Florida Opera Theatre.
Written by Giacomo Puccini and premiered in 1904, the story of Madama Butterfly follows Cio-Cio-San, a beautiful young geisha who sacrifices her family, her religion, and ultimately her life for an American naval officer, Lieutenant Pinkerton, who takes her as his bride for convenience, with no intention of bringing her home to America. The original opera later inspired the Broadway musical, Miss Saigon.
Conducted by Christopher Wilkins, performances will take place on Friday, April 5 at 8pm and Sunday, April 7 at 2pm.
Tickets are $22-$82, and available at 407-770-0071 or OrlandoPhil.org/Opera. The Orlando Philharmonic’s 2012-2013 opera series is sponsored by United Arts of Central Florida, Darden Restaurants and The Bryce L. West Foundation.