Tag Archives: Jamie Offenbach

Listen Online! Hawaii Public Radio presents A Curious Person’s Guide to “A Midsummer Night’s Dream”

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Hawaii Public Radio has been on hand recording interviews and snippets during the rehearsals for HOT’s new production of Britten’s opera, A Midsummer Night’s Dream.

Listen to their documentation in this program hosted by HOT’s Simon Crookall online now!

And don’t miss A Midsummer Night’s Dream when it opens on Feb. 12, 2016!

Hawaii Opera Theatre announces the 2015-16 Opera Season

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Hawaii Opera Theatre (HOT), the Islands’ only major operatic company, announces the 2015-2016 Opera Season, themed Things Are Not As They Seem.

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s eternally popular and entertaining tale of love, The Magic Flute, opens the season on October 9, 11 & 13. Metropolitan Opera Stage Director Daniel Rigazzi created this new and innovative production, which follows the love-struck Tamino on his quest to rescue the lovely princess, Pamina. Accompanied by an affable bird-catcher, Papageno, and possessing a mystical flute, Tamino must brave several trials, certain to reveal far more than simple matters of the heart. Set in a fictitious Egypt, this fairy-tale sings of the classic struggle between good and evil, the power of music, and the pursuit of noble virtues. Originally debuting in September of 1791, Mozart’s final opera continues to captivate operagoers of all ages with its elegant balance of mystery and whimsy, and stunning music.

The magic continues February 12, 14, & 16, 2016 with A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Benjamin Britten’s inventive interpretation of Shakespeare’s comic play. Set in dual locations, a mythical Athens, and an enchanted forest, this playful fantasy explores three very different realms – that of the fairies, of the nobility, and of the working class. When the Fairy King, Oberon, introduces a magic flower to the land, madness ensues as unlikely romances blossom. Originally debuting in June of 1960 at the Aldeburgh Festival, Britten gave new life to a charming classic. This production will be under the stage direction of HOT’s award-winning Artistic Director, Henry Akina, marking his 20th year with the company.

The season concludes with Giuseppe Verdi’s epic masterpiece Il Trovatore. Set in the Spanish Middle Ages, this is a complex story of love and revenge. When her mother is unjustly sentenced to death, Azucena knows only vengeance. Meanwhile, star-crossed lovers Manrico and Leonora defend their union in this exciting story of mistaken identity. Originally premiering in January of 1853 at the Teatro Apollo, this production is elevated by intense passion and drama.

HOT is known for bringing some of the world’s finest voices to the Honolulu.  Making her HOT debut this season, So Young Park stars as the Queen of the Night in The Magic Flute. Park will be ready for the role as she stars in this Summer’s acclaimed Glimmerglass Festival’s production of the opera in New York.  Last season’s breakout stars Rachel Schutz (Papagena, The Magic Flute) and Kyle Erdos-Knapp (Flute, A Midsummer Night’s Dream) take the stage once again this season joined by Metropolitan opera talent and HOT favorites Jamie Offenbach (Theseus, A Midsummer Night’s Dream), Michael Chioldi (Count di Luna, Il Trovatore). Curt Olds (Papageno, The Magic Flute) and Victoria Livengood (Azucena, Il Trovatore) also make their return to Honolulu. Olds and Livengood thrilled audiences during 2014’s modern take on The Mikado. 

Join us on this enchanting journey through three fantastical tales. Subscribe today by contacting the HOT Box Office at (808) 596-7858.  From now through Oct. 1, 2015, New Season Subscribers can receive a special Buy 2, Get 1 Free discount.

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Hawaii Opera Theatre presents Puccini’s iconic opera Madam Butterfly

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Honolulu, Hawaii Hawaii Opera Theatre (HOT) undertakes a series of Life Changing Journeys, the 2014-15 Opera Season, with the Italian Composer Giacomo Puccini’s famous classic, Madam Butterfly.

Originally created for the Savonlinna Opera Festival in Finland (Madam Butterfly 2009 & 2014), this production was the product of a Hawaiian collective, including HOT Artistic Director, Henry Akina (Stage Director), Fashion Designer Anne Namba (Costume Designer), and Dean Shibuya (Set Designer).  The three revisit their work in a homecoming of sorts as Madam Butterfly comes to life in Hawaii, with Maestro Ivan Törzs taking the podium as Conductor.

Known for beautiful melodies including the aria “Un bel di” (“One fine day”), this opera is set in Nagasaki, Japan, where an American naval officer named Pinkerton is set to marry a young woman named Cio-Cio-San (“Butterfly” in Japanese). While Cio-Cio-San is truly in love, Pinkerton views the marriage as a simple convenience. Butterfly has become so infatuated with Pinkerton that she renounces her Buddhist beliefs and converts to Christianity. Hearing this, Butterfly’s uncle shows up at their wedding and curses her. Not long after, Pinkerton leaves Japan, promising to return to Butterfly soon, all the while knowing that he doesn’t feel the same about her as she does him.

For three years, Madam Butterfly waits for Pinkerton. When he finally does return, Pinkerton is accompanied by his new American wife and it is revealed that Cio-Cio-San has given birth to a son. How will she react to the news that the love of her life has taken another wife?

Highly acclaimed Soprano Lina Tetriani makes her HOT debut as Cio-Cio San with Tenor Eric Margiore, last seen in HOT’s La Traviata (2011), starring as Pinkerton.  Joining them are Metropolitan Opera regulars Mezzo-Soprano Ning Liang as Suzuki and Baritone Daniel Sutin as Sharpless. Bass-Baritone Jamie Offenbach returns to Hawaii to perform as the Bonze.  Offenbach, who starred in the title role of HOT’s modern take of The Mikado this past June, is a native of Hawaii and former resident of Oahu.

Madam Butterfly will be performed at the Neal S. Blaisdell Concert Hall on October 10, 12, & 14, 2014.

Tickets to Madam Butterfly and Season Subscriptions can be purchased by contacting the HOT Box Office at (808) 596-7858, online at www.HawaiiOpera.org or via www.TicketMaster.com

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For Immediate Release
Media Contact:  Jason M.A. Walter | 808-596-7372 ext. 211 | j_walter@hawaiiopera.org

HOT presents a modern take of the family friendly The Mikado

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Hawaii Opera Theatre (HOT), closes the 2013-2014 HOT Opera Season this June with a modern take on the operetta by Gilbert & Sullivan, The Mikado.  Performed in English, this family friendly classic takes the audience through a series of hilarious events, as Nanki-Poo, the son of The Mikado, tries to escape an arranged marriage and finds new love along the way.   

Although set in Japan, this enchanting work brings together worlds in only the way the opera can, as the story makes fun of English society and mores of the time.  Directed by HOT Artistic Director, Henry Akina, with Costumes designed by local Fashion Designer Anne Namba, the Artistic Team is presenting a modern take on the tale with characters dressed in the style of Harajuku Girls, Yakuza, and Anime characters.  Conductor Tim Shaindlin returns to Hawaii to lead the orchestra.

Bass-Baritone Jamie Offenbach, a native of Honolulu, leads a phenomenal cast and stars as in the title role.  Offenbach has enjoyed a stellar career and has performed at venues around the world including his appearance in Florentine’s Opera’s production of Elmer Gantry, which earned two Grammy Awards in 2012.

Tenor Joshua Kohl portrays Nanki-Poo, a role he performed with the Lyric Opera of Kansas City and was described as having “an excellent lyric tenor voice” by The KC Independent.  Baritone Curt Olds, who The Rochester Times describes as “born to interpret Gilbert’s witty libretto” plays The Lord High Executioner, Koko.  The object of both Nanki-Poo and Koko’s affection is Yum-Yum, who will be performed by rising star, Soprano Sarah Asmar (Yum-Yum).

Metropolitan Opera star Mezzo-Soprano Victoria Livengood (Katisha), University of Hawaii Professor Bass-Baritone John Mount (Pooh-Bah), and Baritone Leon Williams (Pish-Tush) round out the Soloists.

The Mikado will be performed over two weekends at the Neal S. Blaisdell Concert Hall from June 13-15 & 20-22.  HOT will also bring opera back to the island of Maui for the first time in seven years with a performance of The Mikado at the Maui Arts & Cultural Center’s Castle Theatre on Maui on June 18.

For all Oahu performances, tickets can be purchased by contacting the HOT Box Office at (808) 596-7858, online at www.HawaiiOpera.org or via www.TicketMaster.com.

Tickets to the performance on Maui can be purchased by contacting the Maui Arts & Cultural Center at (808) 242-7469 or online at www.MauiArts.org.