NORFOLK, Va. (January 14, 2014) Go for the real thing as Virginia Opera invites you to experience the superb quality of Metropolitan Opera artists performing live on our stages! In keeping with our company standard to offer only the very best in opera – Virginia Opera is proud to announce that, following his critically acclaimed performance as Tamino in the recent Virginia Opera production of The Magic Flute, Tenor Matthew Plenk headed straight for The Metropolitan Opera to reprise the role on their illustrious stage. Soprano Audrey Luna will soon dazzle audiences across the state in the spitfire role of Zerbinetta in Stauss’ romantic comedy Ariadne auf Naxos, coming to Virginia Opera fresh from performing at The Met. Virginia audiences will have this extraordinary opportunity to experience one of the opera world’s most exciting artists,
Soprano Audrey Luna, whom Opera News says “has power and a blazing coloratura facility that most lyric sopranos can only dream of.”
In her triumphant performance of Ariel in The Tempest at The Metropolitan Opera, The New York Times said: “Mr. Adès’s Ariel is a dazzling creation, and Ms. Luna conquers the role.” This production of The Tempest featuring Ms. Luna was so well received that it was recorded and is available on DVD with Deutsche Grammophom, earning the cast a Grammy nomination for 2014.
Performing at Virginia Opera in early February, Miss Luna will reprise the role she recently performed at Fort Worth Opera garnering acclaim. ays the Dallas News, “Audrey Luna’s spunky Zerbinetta flits fetchingly around the stage and flutters easily through her vocal fireworks.”;
Virginia Opera will perform Stauss’ Ariadne auf Naxos – a rare comic opera “spoof” that masterfully melds slapstick comedy with a most gorgeous score – sung in English with SuperTitles – in Norfolk on Feb 7, 9 &11, in Fairfax for Valentine’s Day Weekend on Feb 14 & 16 and in Richmond on Feb 21 & 23. Tickets to all performances start at just $19 are on sale now at www.vaopera.org or for personalized ticketing assistance please call the Virginia Opera box office at 1.866.OPERA.VA.