NORFOLK, VA | July 17, 2015- Virginia Opera, The Official Opera Company of the Commonwealth of Virginia, is proud to announce two company highlights this week: Principal Conductor and Artistic Advisor, Adam Turner guest-conducts at Central City Opera while baritone Edward Parks, soon to be seen on Virginia Opera stages in La Bohème, secures a coveted place in the final round of Operalia at the Royal Opera House in London!
Fans will recall the high praise earned last September across the state by Turner who conducted Virginia Opera’s 40th Anniversary Season opener, Sweeney Todd, the Demon Barber of Fleet Street. Says Turner, “After spending a year on Fleet Street with crazed demon barbers, I’m thrilled to be joining a crazed knight on his impossible quest throughout the deserts of Spain! Central City Opera’s production of Man of La Mancha is an earthy and intimate portrayal, with heart-wrenching performances and marvelous orchestral playing. It’s a tremendous honor to be guest-conductor for Man of La Mancha, celebrating the 50th Anniversary of this timeless classic.”
Man of La Mancha is part of the Central City Opera 2015 Summer Music Festival and will be performed July 18-August 9. Tickets and information available at centralcityopera.org.
In other exciting Virginia Opera news this weekend, baritone Edward Parks, set to portray the role of Marcello in the 2015-2016 production of La Bohème (to be conducted by Adam Turner), has won a place in the finals of Operalia, The International Opera Competition, being held July 19th at the Royal Opera House in London. Operalia, founded in 1993 and hosted by Placido Domingo, aims at revealing the most promising talent and personalities in the operatic world. In fact, a glance at the cast lists of the leading opera houses around the world today would reveal that there is at least one Operalia laureate performing every season. Of his portrayal of the role of Marcello, Opera News said of Parks, “The most compelling performance of the night was the Marcello of Edward Parks, whose warm, velvety baritone filled the house.” This is thrilling news for this young, upcoming artist and we will be sure to keep you posted on the results of the competition!
About Virginia Opera: Virginia Opera Association, Inc., currently in its 41st year of operation, is known and respected nationwide for the identification and presentation of the finest young artists, for the musical and dramatic integrity of its productions, and for the ingenuity and variety of its education and outreach programs. Mainstage performances in three markets across the Commonwealth reach nearly 50,000 attendees annually. In March of 1994, by unanimous vote of the Virginia General Assembly, Virginia Opera was named The Official Opera Company of the Commonwealth of Virginia in recognition of the organization’s contribution to the state as well as to the world of opera. For tickets and information visit vaopera.org or call 866.673.7282. For more information on any Virginia Opera event, please call Maggi George at 757.627.9545, ext. 3316, or e-mail maggi.george@vaopera.org