Opera San José Presents Humperdinck’s Enchanting Hansel and Gretel

SAN JOSE, Calif. - Aug. 29, 2013 - PRLog -- Hansel and Gretel is an enduring fairy tale of lost children, candy treats, and an evil witch comes to life for the holiday season in this delightful production. Hansel and Gretel will be sung in English, with English supertitles. Eight performances are scheduled from November 16 through December 1,at the California Theatre, 345 South First Street, in downtown San José. Tickets are on sale at the Opera San José Box Office, online at operasj.org or by phone at (408) 437-4450. The production of Hansel and Gretel is made possible, in part, by a Cultural Affairs Grant from the City of San José.

Hansel and Gretel, with libretto by Adelheid Wette, is an enchanting story about two imaginative siblings who embark on a precarious journey to find something to eat, when their fortunes turn for the worst. Based on a story by the Brothers Grimm, this nineteeth-century opera is admired for its fun and folk-music-inspired themes, including the famous “Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep.”

Joseph Marcheso conducts Hansel and Gretel. Marcheso returns after conducting Opera San José’s productions ofSuor Angelica, Gianni Schicchi, Faust, La traviata, La bohème, Manon, La Cenerentola, The Elixir of Love and Lucia di Lammermoor. Marcheso has conducted over 30 operas in theaters around the country and recently made his debut with Opera Theater St. Louis. Marcheso is on the conducting staff of San Francisco Opera and is also a conductor and coach for the San Francisco Conservatory of Music.

Andrew Whitfield will conduct two alternating performances. Whitfield recently made his debut as principal conductor for the company’s production of Falstaff. Whitfield served as assistant conductor for Il trovatore, The Pearl Fishers and Pagliacci. Whitfield was also Chorus Master for the company’s productions of Suor Angelica, Gianni Schicchi, Idomeneo, Pagliacci, La traviata and Faust. He made his West Coast professional debut conducting Lucia di Lammermoor with Festival Opera.

Layna Chianakas returns to Opera San José todirect Hansel and Gretel. Chianakas, a former OSJ resident artist, previously directed the company’s 2011 production of La voix humaine. In addition, she has performed with such opera companies as Cleveland Opera, Nashville Opera, Des Moines Metro Opera, Sarasota Opera, Virginia Opera, Dayton Opera, Festival Opera, Nevada Opera, Opera Santa Barbara, Madison Opera, Sacramento Opera, Intermountain Opera, and the Richard Wagner Bayreuth Festival. Chianakas is currently an assistant professor of voice at San José State University’s School of Music and Dance.

Hansel and Gretel features current members of Opera San José’s resident ensemble in the principal roles as well as guest artists. Alternating in the role of Hansel are resident mezzo-soprano Lisa Chavez and guest artist Kindra Scharich. Chavez recently made her debut as Meg Page for the company’s production of Falstaff. Other roles performed recently by Chavez include Dinah (Trouble in Tahiti), Geraldine (A Hand of Bridge), and Lorca (Ainadamar) with Opera Parallèle of San Francisco.

Resident soprano Cecilia Violetta López and guest artist Sara Gartland alternate the role of Gretel. López is in her second season in the resident ensembleand recently performed the role of Nannetta in Opera San José’s production of Falstaff. She appeared last season in the title role of Opera San José’s production of Suor Angelica, Leonora (Il trovatore), Rosalinde (Die Fledermaus) and as Léïla (The Pearl Fishers).

Sharing the role of Gertrud, Hansel and Gretel’s mother, are mezzo-sopranos Nicole Birkland and returning guest artist Buffy Baggott. Birkland made her company debut last season and has appeared as Dame Quickly (Falstaff), Prince Orlofsky, (Die Fledermaus), Azucena (Il trovatore), Principessa (Suor Angelica) and Zita (Gianni Schicchi).

Resident Evan Brummel and former resident Karassen Karagiozov share the role of Peter, Hansel and Gretel’s father. Brummel returns for a third year as a member of the resident ensemble after appearing in the roles of Ford (Falstaff), Gianni Schicchi (Gianni Schicchi), Count di Luna (Il trovatore), and Zurga (The Pearl Fishers).

Resident tenors Marc Schreiner and James Callon alternate in the role of the Witch.They previously shared the role of Fenton (Falstaff). Recent engagements for Schreiner include Rodolfo (La bohème) with Fargo-Moorhead Opera and Orfée (Orphée et Eurydice) with Opera Memphis. Callon is in his second year in the resident ensemble. Previous credits include the roles of Nadir (The Pearl Fishers), Eisenstein (Die Fledermaus), Manrico (Il trovatore), and Rinuccio (Gianni Schicchi).Rounding out the cast are Christine Capsuto and Chloe Smart as the Dew Fairy. Smart also alternates as the Sandman with Antonia Tamer.

Opera San José’s production of Hansel and Gretel includes set designs by Larry Hancock and John Draginoff, costumes by Elizabeth Poindexter, lighting design by Pamila Gray, and wig and makeup designs by Jeanna Parham.