MANNES OPERA TO PRESENT "VIVA VERDI" AN EVENING OF FULLY STAGED OPERATIC SCENES CELEBRATING VERDI’S CENTENNIAL

Joseph Colaneri to conduct the Mannes Orchestra Wednesday, May 9 and Thursday, May 10 at 7:30 PM at the Kaye Playhouse at Hunter College

(New York, NY — March 13, 2001) The Mannes Opera at Mannes College of Music, a division of New School University, will present "Viva Verdi," an evening of fully-staged operatic scenes celebrating the centennial of Giuseppe Verdi (1813-1901). The program, honoring one of the greatest opera composers who ever lived, will feature scenes from "Rigoletto," "Il Trovatore," "Falstaff," and "La Traviata." Joseph Colaneri, who recently had a successful debut with the Metropolitan Opera, is the Artistic Director of the Mannes Opera and will conduct the Mannes Orchestra for the two evenings. Samuel Wong is the Music Director of the Mannes Orchestra.

Tickets are available at $20; $10 for students with an ID. To purchase tickets, call (212) 772-4448. The Kaye Playhouse at Hunter College is located at 68^th Street (between Park and Lexington Avenues) in NYC. For further information on Mannes College of Music, call (212) 580-0210.

The performances will feature young artists of the Mannes Opera program. Laura Alley is the Stage Director of the production. Set designer is Peter Harrison. Lighting designer is Jeff Davis, and costume coordinator is Helen Rodgers.

Mr. Colaneri is completing his third year as director of the Mannes Opera program at Mannes College of Music. He has been a conductor at the Metropolitan Opera for three years and recently made his Met conducting debut on November 18, 2000 in La Bohème.

The Mannes Opera program trains aspiring young professionals. Mannes College of Music features a superb artist faculty and offers small, intimate classes to ensure close interaction among the faculty and students. Students in the Mannes Opera program have the opportunity to appear in fully staged opera productions and in workshop performances during the year.

The Mannes Opera program also presents master classes by world-renowned singers each year. Recent guest artists have included soprano Renata Scotto, who spent a week in residence coaching Mannes students, and dramatic tenor John Vickers.

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