FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONNECTICUT OPERA
PRESENTS ENGELBERT HUMPERDINCK’S FAMILY CLASSIC
HÄNSEL AND GRETEL
Two nights only
At The Bushnell, November 18 & 20, 2004

Connecticut Opera welcomes Cheryse McLeod back to the Connecticut Opera stage to perform Hänsel, soprano Alexandria Shammas returns as Gretel, and tenor Gary Harger sings the role of the Witch.

Willie Anthony Waters, General and Artistic Director of Connecticut Opera, conducts the Hartford Symphony Orchestra, resident orchestra of Connecticut Opera, and a children’s chorus. Performances of the Hartford Symphony Orchestra are underwritten by a generous grant from LES Investment Partners.

“Inside the Opera Studio” returns at The Mark Twain House & Museum November 11, 7:00 pm – An open discussion forum with the stars of Hänsel and Gretel.

Pre-Opera dinners at The Bushnell, catered by Max at The Bushnell.

Sung in English with ENGLISH TRANSLATIONS projected above the stage.

Get a Family Four-Pack: Four tickets for as little as $40.

Single tickets now available, at 860.987.5900, or online at www.ctopera.org, prices from $20 - $90.

Hartford, CT – On November 18th at 7:30 pm and November 20th at 7:00 pm (please note early curtain time), Connecticut Opera will present the second opera of its 2004-2005 season, Engelbert Humperdinck’s family classic, Hänsel and Gretel, at the Bushnell in Hartford. All performances are sung in English, feature supertitles in English, and are accompanied by the Hartford Symphony Orchestra, resident orchestra of Connecticut Opera. A children’s chorus will also perform. All performances will be conducted by Willie Anthony Waters, General and Artistic Director of Connecticut Opera.
Hänsel and Gretel, one of the most well-known stories, is based on a fairy tale by the Brothers Grimm, and written as a favor for Humperdinck’s sister for performance by her children. Since its premiere in 1893 Hänsel and Gretel has become a popular favorite on opera stages all over the world. It was last performed at The Bushnell in 1983.

THE CAST

Returning to the Connecticut Opera stage is the sultry mezzo-soprano, Cheryse McLeod, a former resident artist with the company and a rising talent in the opera world. Ms. McLeod has performed in numerous roles for Connecticut Opera including Giovanna in the spring production of Rigoletto and Alisa in the critically acclaimed production of Lucia di Lammermoor. The dynamic young soprano Alexandria Shammas, resident artist with Connecticut Opera, appears as Gretel. Ms. Shammas recently performed the role of Countess Ceprano in Connecticut Opera’s spring production of Rigoletto. She has studied with the famed soprano Mignon Dunn and has performed with the American Symphony Orchestra and the Manhattan School of music.

A Connecticut Opera favorite, tenor Gary Harger, returns as the Witch. Mr. Harger’s last appearance with Connecticut Opera was Eisenstein in Die Fledermaus. He has also performed with San Francisco Opera, Greater Miami Opera and Dallas Opera, among others. Making her Connecticut Opera debut is soprano Elizabeth Printy, singing the role of Gertrude, the mother. Ms. Printy has thrilled audiences at opera houses throughout the United States including the Metropolitan Opera, Boston Lyric Opera and New York City Opera. Baritone Victor Benedetti also makes his debut with Connecticut Opera as the father, Peter. Mr. Benedetti has a wide performing experience with major companies around the United States including New York City Opera, Washington National Opera and Lyric Opera of Chicago.

SPECIAL EVENTS

Inside the Opera Studio: Thursday, November 11, 7:00 p.m.
Pre-Opera Buffet Dinner in the Seaverns Room: November 18, 5:00 pm
The Hana and George Shechtman Opera Overtures: On stage, 1 hour before curtain

Join in an open discussion forum with the stars of Connecticut Opera’s production of Hänsel and Gretel at Inside the Opera Studio, at the Mark Twain House & Museum, 351 Farmington Avenue, Hartford. Tickets are $10 for the general public, $5 for Connecticut Opera Subscribers, Guild Members, Let’s Go* Card Holders and Mark Twain House & Museum members, and can be purchased by calling 860.527.0713, ext. 300. Members of the press are invited to attend free of charge. Please call Christen Eure, Marketing Manager, 860.527.0713, ext 308 to reserve press tickets.

BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND: PRE-OPERA BUFFET DINNERS. Enjoy a buffet dinner in The Seaverns Room at The Bushnell before the Thursday performance, November 18th at 5:00 pm. Dinners are catered by Max at The Bushnell and cost $40 per person. Advance reservations are required. Please call Aric Isaacs, 860-527-0713, ext. 300.

Don’t miss the Hana and George Shechtman Opera Overtures, special pre-opera lectures given by Maestro Willie Anthony Waters onstage at every performance, one hour before curtain.
NEW EARLIER CURTAIN TIMES! This season, in an effort to accommodate patrons, Connecticut Opera introduces a new earlier curtain time for its opening night performances. Curtain for all Thursday night performances will now be at 7:30 pm. In addition, the Saturday night performance of Hänsel and Gretel will begin at 7:00 pm to accommodate younger children attending.

TICKETS

Single tickets are priced at $20, $35, $40, $65, $70, $75, & $90, and are now available. A FAMILY FOUR PACK is being offered for this production only: Four tickets for as little as $40 in select seating areas.

Single tickets to all Connecticut Opera productions can be purchased by calling The Bushnell 860.987.5900, Monday – Saturday, 10am – 5pm; Sunday, noon – 4pm; or online at www.ctopera.org. The Bushnell is fully handicapped accessible, and free and secure parking is available close to the theater. All Connecticut Opera performances have supertitles in English projected above the stage.

Family Four Pack: Four tickets for $40 in select seating areas. Upgrade this package to a closer seating location for only $20 more. Please call 860-987-5900.

For more information about Hänsel and Gretel, or to reserve press tickets for any of the performances, please contact Christen Eure, Marketing Manager, 860.527.0713, ext. 308, or by e-mail at christen@ctopera.org.

Connecticut Opera’s
Broadcast Sponsor:

Connecticut Opera
Presents
HÄNSEL AND GRETEL
by Engelbert Humperdinck
An opera in two acts
Libretto by Adelheid Wette
Based on a fairy tale by the Brothers Grimm
First performed at Weimar Hoftheater, on December 23, 1893
First performed by Connecticut Opera in 1983

Performances: November 18, 7:30 pm & November 20, 7:00 pm
The Mortensen Hall in The Bushnell Center for the Performing Arts
166 Capitol Avenue, Hartford, CT

CAST
(In order of vocal appearance)

HÄNSEL......................................CHERYSE McLEOD, meezo-soprano
GRETEL......................................ALEXANDRIA SHAMMAS+, soprano
GERTRUDE, THE MOTHER.............ELIZABETH PRINTY*, soprano
PETER, THE FATHER.....................VICTOR BENEDETTI*, baritone
WITCH......................................GARY HARGER, tenor
SANDMAN...................................JOLIE ROCKE-BROWN, soprano
DEW FAIRY................................JOLIE ROCKE-BROWN, soprano

Opera and cast are subject to change without notice.

* Connecticut Opera debut
+ Connecticut Opera Resident Artist

SYNOPSIS