2008 - 2009 Rimrock Opera celebrates 10th season

CALENDAR of events

September 3, 10, 16 Opera 101, Magic of Mozart

September 6, 8:00 PM Auction of Arias- Opera on the Avenue. McCormick Café

September 20, Saturday, 7:30 PM Mozart’s The Marriage of Figaro in English @ Alberta Bair Theater

September 21, Sunday, 3:00 PM Mozart’s The Marriage of Figaro in English @ Alberta Bair Theater

2009

March 21, 2009, OperaFest, Yellowstone Country Club

March 28, 2009 Saturday, 7:30 PM Bizet's Carmen in French @ Alberta Bair Theater

March 29, 2009, Sunday 3 PM Bizet’s Carmen in French @ Alberta Bair Theater

Subject: Rimrock Opera press release

Rimrock Opera, Billings, Montana 406-671-2214
Douglas Nagel, General Director

For Immediate Release

RIMROCK OPERA ANNOUNCES TENTH SEASON OF MIRTHFUL MISCHIEF AND MURDEROUS MAYHEM

FIGARO OUTFIGURES BOSS
Rimrock Opera opens its tenth season with Mozart’s beloved “The Marriage of Figaro.” The thwarting of a haughty Count by his cunning servant, Figaro; a long-lost child returned; a “pants role” – young man played by a woman -- who reappears disguised as a girl; blunders and double-crosses; it all adds up “The Marriage of Figaro.” A comedy through and through, this is an opera which transcends popularity to such a degree that it has acquired musical immortality. Every note of Mozart's magical music is famous. The story is a sequel to "The Barber of Seville" (Rimrock Opera’s inaugural show, 2000) where most of the characters were introduced. The story continues in "Marriage" with revenge-seeking, secret-revealing, and appropriately applied come-uppance throughout one “day of madness” in a nobleman’s court, ending with a host of happy couples sorted out at last.

Populated by vivacious singers brought back by popular demand, the cast line-up includes baritone Robert Aaron Taylor in the title role. He will be remembered as the show-stealing quack, Dr. Dulcamara, in Rimrock Opera’s Elixir of Love. As his bride-to-be, soprano Amy Logan sings Susanna. Christopher Holmes returns to Rimrock Opera in the role of Figaro’s arrogant master, Count Almaviva, with mezzo soprano Diedra Walker as the clever Countess. Meghan Dibble, Nancy Downing, Isai Jess Munoz, Aaron Pagniano and Dennis Rupp round out the cast. Making his Billings conducting debut, French-born Michel Singher leads the Rimrock Opera Orchestra in some of the world’s most beloved music. Dr. Chris Sheppard prepares the chorus, with Sandi Rabas as rehearsal pianist. The opera is sung in English, with English text projected above the stage to aid the audience in keeping up with the hilarity

The Marriage of Figaro hits the boards September 20 and 21, as Rimrock Opera shifts to Saturday evening with a 7:30 PM curtain, followed by a Sunday matinee at 3:00 PM, one hour later than in the past. Tickets are available at Alberta Bair Theater box office or at the Rimrock Opera website. Full synopsis and cast biographies can be found at www.rimrockopera.org.

NOBODY GETS THE GIRL
Rimrock Opera winds up its tenth season with Bizet’s Carmen in March 2009. The story that shocked Paris in 1875 has become the world’s favorite opera. Filled with touchstones of familiar melody, the brilliant orchestration of Bizet’s music brings Carmen, the mercurial gypsy temptress, to life. Playing a love-struck soldier, Don José, against the passionate toreador Escamillo, she sets the stage ablaze and seals her own fate. Heidi Rae stars in the title role. She has performed professionally with Opera San José and in Los Angeles with the acclaimed Baz’Luhrmann’s Bohème on Broadway. Tenor Jeffrey Kitto, who melted hearts in Rimrock Opera’s Elixir of Love, and baritone Christopher Holmes, appearing here in The Girl of the Golden West, take the roles of Carmen’s ardent admirers. From Kansas City, Megan King makes her Billings debut on stage and Andy Anderson returns to conduct the Rimrock Opera Orchestra. Smugglers, soldiers and gypsy dancers keep audience pulses pounding with vigorous rhythms as the story crescendos toward the shattering and tragic climax. As familiar as Bizet’s music is to nearly every ear, it never fails to ravish the senses.

Stunning sets, lavish period costumes, and members of the Rimrock Opera Chorus for Kids frame the principal singers to break faithful hearts once again. Dr. Chris Sheppard is chorus master, with Sandi Rabas as rehearsal pianist. Carmen runs Saturday, March 28, at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, March 29, 2009 at 3:00 p.m. at the Alberta Bair Theater. Full information about Rimrock Opera’s coming season is at www.rimrockopera.org.