Kentucky Opera opens the BROWN-FORMAN 2010 FALL SEASON with two operas, two betrayed husbands and two tragic ends - Mascagni’s CAVALLERIA RUSTICANA (kahv ah leer ee ah Roost ee kah nah) and Leoncavallo’s I PAGLIACCI (ee Pahl ee ah chee) at the Brown Theatre on Friday, September 24 at 8pm and Sunday, September 26 at 2pm.

To kick off the season, Kentucky Opera is pulling out the red carpet for the Opening Night Gala. Guests may dine from prix fixe “Opera” menus around the Brown Theatre neighborhood, have their pictures taken on the red carpet and celebrate with us the opening of wonderful season of Italian opera. Following the performance, guests are welcomed to meet our guest artists at the Cast Party hosted by Theater Square Marketplace conveniently located by the Brown Hotel at 651 South Fourth Street.

Subscriptions for the BROWN-FORMAN 2010 FALL SEASON range from $78 - $198 and are now available by calling 502.584.4500 or by visiting www.kyopera.org where additional information may be found on the operas, artists, and our exclusive Enrichment Events for subscribers. Single tickets (on sale August 23) range from $30 - $95 and are available by calling 502.584.7777 or by visiting www.kyopera.org.

In CAVALLERIA RUSTICANA, the calm of a Sicilian Easter morning is broken by a jilted lover who sets off a chain of events culminating in tragedy. An opera in one act by Pietro Mascagni CAVALLERIA RUSTICANA made its premiere in May 1890 at the Teatro Costanzi, Rome. Kentucky Opera last performed CAVALLERIA RUSTICANA and I PAGLIACCI in March of 1995. For a full synopsis, visit KYOpera.org.

Director: Kristine McIntyre (WERTHER 2008)
Conductor: Richard Buckley*

Turiddu: Michael Wade Lee*
Alfio: Lester Lynch (Count di Luna, IL TROVATORE 2007)
Santuzza: Kara Shay Thomson*
Mamma Lucia: Rebekah Bortz Hardin (Kate Pinkerton, MADAMA BUTTERFLY 2005)
Lola: Brandy Hawkins SA

In true theatrical tradition, I PAGLIACCI'S clown tries to go on with the show, but his real life humiliation and despair lead to a grim climax. An opera in two acts, I PAGLIACCI premiered at the Teatro dal Verme, in Milan in May 1892.

Director: Kristine McIntyre
Conductor: Richard Buckley*

Canio: John Mac Master (Otello, OTELLO 2008)
Nedda: Elizabeth Cabellero*
Tonio: Lester Lynch
Silvio: Michael Mayes*
Beppe: Daniel Anderson SA (Carlson, OF MICE AND MEN 2009)

* Denotes a Kentucky Opera debut artist
(SA) Denotes a Kentucky Opera Studio Artist

Know before you go Kentucky Opera has many enrichment events, which enhances any opera-goers experience at the performance.

Lunch & Listen
Wednesday, Sept. 8 | 12pm | Louisville Public Media | 619 S. 4th St.
A collaboration with Classical 90.5 WUOL, Lunch & Listen is produced in front of a live studio audience, and features the artists performing musical excerpts from upcoming operas. David Roth interviews guest artists and leads the listening audiences through the plot, music, and history of the production. For a City Café box lunches are available by calling Kate Kleinert at 587.8681.

Sights & Sounds
Sunday, Sept. 12|1:30pm | The Speed Art Museum Auditorium | 2035 S. 3rd St.
A partnership with The Speed Art Museum, Kentucky Opera staff and guest speakers explore an aspect from each opera as it relates to a similar theme in visual arts at that time. For CAVALLERIA RUSTICANA / I PAGLIACCI, the program will explore the realism movement of the 19th century, which provided the inspiration for the composition of the operas.

Opera Previews
Friday, Sept. 24 | 7pm | Sunday, Sept. 26 | 1pm | ArtSpace Rehearsal Hall | 323 W. Broadway, 2nd Floor
These intimate discussions given by Thomson Smillie, former Kentucky Opera General Director and opera aficionado, highlight the major themes, musical nuances, and points of interest of the opera and production one hour prior to curtain.

Entering its 58th season of production, Kentucky Opera was founded in 1952 and designated the State Opera of Kentucky in 1982. The mission of Kentucky Opera is to entertain and educate a broad, diverse audience by producing opera of the highest quality.
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