New Year's Eve Night at the Operetta - Cascade Arts & Entertainment

Johann Strauss’ Die Fledermaus or The Revenge of the Bat, will kick off the OperaBend 2015/16 Season on December 31, 2015 and January 2, 2016. Strauss’ effervescent comedic operetta is filled to the brim with hijinks and buoyant music.

In OperaBend’s first production featuring a cast of guest stars from the Northwest region and a former MET Opera baritone, the emphasis is on frivolity, celebration and glimmering talent in what can be described as the perfect New Year’s extravaganza. It is also a perfect ‘first opera’ for newcomers to this genre.

Sung in English and family friendly, this ‘little opera’ is an upbeat beginning to the New Year. David Malis, director of opera studies at the University of Arkansas, and a twelve season MET

Opera baritone is directing the production. He will also star as Dr. Falke, the protagonist of the revenge scheme which is the basis of the operetta.

Playing his unwitting victim is tenor Jason Stein as Gabriel Eisenstein. Joining in the prank is soprano Kari Burgess, Roselinde Eisenstein and her chambermaid, Adele, played by soprano Jocelyn Claire Thomas.

Complicating things further is the sudden appearance of Rosalinda’s old flame, Alfred, tenor Scott Carroll and Gabriel’s bumbling lawyer, sung by tenor Matt Habib. The Russian Prince Orlofsky, played by mezzo-soprano Abigail Dock, is throwing the party of the year and provides the perfect setting for the revenge Falke seeks.

Rounding out the cast is baritone Zachary Lenox as the Jailer, Rich Doyle as Frosch, Deb Leonard as Sally and the seventeen member OperaBend chorus with Maestro Michael Gesme conducting.

7pm Thursday, December 31, 2015
2pm Saturday, January 2, 2016

Pinckney Center for the Arts
Pence Hall, COCC