This is a temporary web site for Opera in Williamsburg. To buy tickets for Opera in Williamsburg production of Traviata, April 23, 2013, please click here:

https://www.artful.ly/store/events/745

Or buy your tickets through the Kimball Theatre (at the box office, through the Kimball web site, or 1-800-HISTORY).

To make a donation that would benefit Opera in Williamsburg through the fiscal sponsorship of Fractured Atlas, please click here:

https://www.fracturedatlas.org/donate/7778

 

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The most up-to-date information on Opera in Williamsburg can be found on the facebook page www.facebook.com/opera-in-Williamsburg.

 

 

Past events:

Press release:

Contact: Naama Zahavi-Ely
Cell phone 757-876-8204
Email nxzaha@wm.edu
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

OPERA IN WILLIAMSBURG: THE ELIXIR OF LOVE AT THE KIMBALL

Naama Zahavi-Ely

Williamsburg, Virginia - October 5, 2012 - Opera in Williamsburg presents a live performance of Donizetti's popular opera The Elixir of Love (L'Elisir d'Amore) with a superb cast of young professional singers on Friday October 26 at 8 PM at the Kimball Theatre. Fully staged, with piano, violin, and clarinet accompaniment. Directed by Carlos Conde and Mathieu Guertin. Conducted by Jorge Parodi, with Jamison Livsey at the piano; performed in Italian, with English supertitles.

Opera in Williamsburg is the brainchild of opera lover and William & Mary professor Naama Zahavi-Ely, who is realizing her dream to bring mainstream, live, fully-staged opera with top-notch opera singers to the Williamsburg public. "Opera is unforgiving: if a performance isn't excellent, it is unbearable. And excellence in opera singing is very demanding indeed. Yet I know people who can meet these high demands, from the IVAI summer program in Israel, which is run by Joan Dornemann and Paul Nadler of the Metropolitan Opera. The IVAI faculty have decades of experience in evaluating such ability and nurturing it," says Zahavi-Ely. "This production is a dream casting of superbly talented opera singers on their way up. I love their voices and stage presence. They relish the opportunity to work with each other and under outstanding musicians like Jorge Parodi and Carlos Conde. They know that this is a production that puts the focus on their talents and creativity."

Donizetti's charming opera L'Elisir d'Amore, The Elixir of Love, premiered in 1832 and has been one of the most popular operas in the world ever since. It has humane, believable characters and beautiful melodies, including the famous tenor aria "Una Furtiva Lagrima." The story is timeless and touching. The production of Opera in Williamsburg is modeled on the standards of the IVAI in Israel. "The productions of the IVAI have made me realize that creative people can do wonders with next to nothing," says professor Zahavi-Ely. "What you must have for good opera are outstanding people: singers/actors with superb well-trained voices and musical ability whose voices are right for the roles and match each other, outstanding musicians, and creative directors with vision. With such people, you can get a magical, deeply satisfying production. Without them, you can do nothing."

Jonathan Blalock's beautiful, sensitive, effortless tenor voice and his magnificent acting are a perfect fit for the shy Nemorino, whose insecurity fuels the plot. Soprano Tal Ganor from Israel is the ideal Adina, his bright, confident, and well-educated love interest. Sidney Outlaw's gorgeous baritone and his deft comic delivery bring life to the role of Dulcamara, the flamboyant itinerant doctor. Spanish baritone Pedro Quiralte-Gomez sparkles and entertains as the dashing Sergeant Belcore, self-appointed God's gift to women. Raquel Suarez's lovely voice and acting talent rounds up the cast of characters as Giannetta, while mezzo Fiorella Velez from Puerto Rico and Greek-American soprano Nikoleta Rallis serve as a mini-chorus. New York City based pianist Jamison Livsey has served as assistant conductor/pianist at Minnesota Opera, Opera Cleveland, Sarasota Opera, Opera North, and Toledo Opera, as well as performances at Kennedy Center and NPR broadcasts. He is joined by two local musicians, clarinet player Nick Hecker and violinist Susan Bedell.

Tickets available at the Kimball, at 1-800-HISTORY, or www.Kimballtheatre.com at $45 ($40 for seniors, teachers/faculty, and military; $15 for students). See more details about the production on the Facebook page of Opera in Willliamsburg.

For more information about the event or about Opera in Willliamsburg, or to schedule an interview, please contact Naama Zahavi-Ely at nxzaha@wm.edu or 757-876-8204.

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Press release:

Contact:  Naama Zahavi-Ely

Cell phone 757-876-8204

Email nxzaha@wm.edu                                           

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 

OPERA IN WILLIAMSBURG

A Dream Comes True for Naama Zahavi-Ely

 

Williamsburg, Virginia – April 25, 2012 – Opera in Williamsburg presents Emily Duncan-Brown and Jonathan Estabrooks in Gian Carlo Menotti’s comic one-act English-language opera The Telephone on Sunday May 6 at 2 PM at the Kimball Theatre, fully staged, with Jonathan Ware at the piano.  The program also includes opera scenes from Bel Canto to Verismo. 

 

Opera in Williamsburg is the brainchild of opera lover and William & Mary professor Naama Zahavi-Ely, who is finally realizing her dream to bring live fully-staged opera with top-notch opera singers to the Williamsburg public.  “Opera, like theater, thrives in intimate productions” says Zahavi-Ely. 

 

Soprano Emily Duncan-Brown has been “thrilling audiences with her warm, rich middle, a shimmering flexible top, and excellent control…and her exquisitely beautiful delivery.” (Opera News Online).  She is joined by baritone Jonathan Estabrooks, “commanding and energetic,” whose voice “exhibits vocal flexibility with a round voice thundering especially in its lowest register” ( L’ACADIE NOUVELLE, Caraquet.).  Jonathan Ware, the program’s pianist, has played recently at Alice Tully Hall, The Ravinia Festival, Carnegie’s Weill Hall and Wigmore Hall.

 

 “Emily Duncan-Brown and Jonathan Estabrooks are both superbly talented opera singers on their way up” says Zahavi-Ely.  “I have seen them in several major opera roles in Tel Aviv and I love their voices and stage presence.  When I found out recently that they were performing Menotti’s The Telephone in Virginia, I asked them to bring it to Williamsburg as well.  This program is a wonderful opportunity for our community.  Hopefully we will be able to follow it with others.” 

 

Menotti’s 1947 comic opera The Telephone is a gem.  The story is funny and touching, and the music is beautiful.  The topic is one we can still relate to: what happens to relationships when technology interferes – in this case, the telephone?  Menotti is familiar to Williamsburg from the Williamsburg Choral Guild’s production of Amahl and the Night Visitors last December.  The English-language opera The Telephone played on Broadway for more than 250 performances in 1947 and 1950. 

 

Opera in Williamsburg’s “The Telephone” will take place at the Kimball Theatre in Williamsburg, VA at 2 PM on Sunday May 6.  The program will also offer opera scenes, from Bel Canto to Verismo. Tickets are $30, with $25 for seniors and military personnel and $10 for students, through 1-800-HISTORY (1-800-447-8679) (unfortunately the program was added too late to go on the on-line calendar of programs).  For more information on Emily Duncan-Brown see www.emilyduncanbrown.com; for more information on Jonathan Estabrooks see www.jonathanestabrooks.com   For more information about the event or about Opera in Willliamsburg, please contact Naama Zahavi-Ely at nxzaha@wm.edu or 757-876-8204. 

 

 

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Contact: to schedule an interview or for more information about the event or about Opera in Willliamsburg, please contact Naama Zahavi-Ely at nxzaha@wm.edu or 757-876-8204