mannes school of music presents Stravinsky's the rake's progress

WHAT:

Mannes School of Music presents a fully staged production of Igor Stravinsky's The Rake's Progress, performed by young artists of The Mannes Opera and The Mannes Orchestra. Conducted by Mannes Opera Artistic Director Joseph Colaneri with staging by Laura Alley.

“I am thrilled to be presenting our new production of Igor Stravinsky’s The Rake’s Progress with The Mannes Opera," says Joseph Colaneri. "It is truly one of Stravinsky’s masterpieces, capturing as it does the essence of Auden and Kallman’s brilliant libretto. The opera is a product of Stravinsky’s neo-classical period and I chose it specifically to complement our fall 2017 production of Mozart’s Le nozze di Figaro. Stravinsky modeled The Rake on 18th century operatic style and even made a point to employ exactly the same orchestration Mozart used for Le nozze. The music is a fusion of 18th and 20th century styles and filled at every turn with elegance and pathos. The Rake is a perfect vehicle for young voices and I am looking forward to leading our two excellent casts and The Mannes Orchestra in this scintillating opera.”

WHO:

Joseph Colaneri has served as Artistic Director of The Mannes Opera at Mannes School of Music since 1998, which under his leadership has become one of the best regarded conservatory opera programs in America. He has conducted The Mannes Opera with The Mannes Orchestra in many highly successful fully staged productions at Hunter College’s Kaye Playhouse and the Gerald W. Lynch Theater at John Jay College. Music Director of the acclaimed Glimmerglass Festival since 2013, he leads new productions this summer of Janáček’s The Cunning Little Vixen and Rossini’s  Il barbiere di Siviglia. Joseph Colaneri has served as a member of the Metropolitan Opera conducting roster since 1998 and recently conducted the Met’s new production by Sir David McVicar of Bellini’s Norma. He returns to the Met next season to conduct Boito’s Mefistofele and also debuts at the Teatro Colón in Buenos Aires with Puccini’s La bohème. In 2017, he led critically acclaimed performances of Mozart’s La finta giardiniera with the Juilliard Opera and Donizetti’s Don Pasquale in his Atlanta Opera debut. This past January took him to Arizona Opera for Bernstein’s Candide and in March he led Puccini’s Gianni Schicchi with Seiji Ozawa’s Music Academy in Japan. Mo. Colaneri served as Artistic Director of the West Australian Opera from 2012-2014 and began his career as a conductor with the New York City Opera (NYCO) in 1987. From 1995-1996 Mr. Colaneri served as Acting Music Director for NYCO, and from 1991-1998 served as Music Director of NYCO’s touring arm, the New York City Opera National Company. A frequent speaker on opera, Mo. Colaneri leads an annual lecture series for The Metropolitan Opera Club.

Mannes Orchestra, led by Maestro David Hayes, Artistic Director, is the premiere large ensemble at The New School's Mannes School of Music. The orchestra strives to foster the highest level of music-making by engaging with a wide range of repertoire in a focused, dynamic, and supportive environment that mirrors the culture and practices of professional orchestras. The Mannes Orchestra performs a multitude of concerts each season in venues including Alice Tully Hall, Carnegie Hall, City Center, and Tishman Auditorium at The New School.

WHEN:

Friday, May 4, 7:30 pm and Saturday, May 5, 2:00 pm at Gerald W. Lynch Theater, John Jay College, 524 W. 59th Street

Members of the press must RSVP with Will Wilbur.