COMPLETE CASTING
AND FULL PROGRAM FOR
2017 SUMMER FESTIVAL PROGRAM

Falstaff
Music by Giuseppe Verdi Libretto by Arrigo Boito
New Production: Directed by Chuck Hudson; Conducted by Craig Kier
Featuring: Caroline Worra, Emily Tweedy, Vera Savage, Lindsay Ammann, Dominick Corbacio,
Michael Chioldi, and Craig Colclough
July 1 – 15, 2017

Zémire et Azor (Beauty and the Beast)
Music by André Grétry; Libretto by Jean François Marmontel
New Production: Directed by James Ortiz; Conducted by Lidiya Yankovskaya
Featuring: Maureen McKay, Lisa Rogali, Katherine Maysek,
Andrew Bidlack, Keith Jameson and Christopher Burchett
July 2 – 14, 2017

The Cradle Will Rock
Music and Libretto by Marc Blitzstein
Directed and Choreographed by Lawrence Edelson; Conducted by John Mauceri
Featuring: Ginger Costa-Jackson, Audrey Babcock, Keith Jameson, 
Christopher Burchett, Justin Hopkins and Matt Boehler
July 9 – 16, 2017

Saratoga Springs, NY – Opera Saratoga’s Artistic and General Director Lawrence Edelson announced today complete casting for the three exciting new productions that will comprise the company’s 2017 Summer Festival, which will build on the company’s commitment to producing masterpieces from the operatic cannon, important American works, and works in which dance plays an integral role. In addition, a wide variety of free and ticketed concert events will be presented from May 28th through July 16th at venues throughout the region.

At the center of the 2017 Summer Festival will be a new production of Marc Blitzstein’s The Cradle Will Rock, directed and choreographed by Edelson, and conducted by noted Maestro John Mauceri (company debut), who has been responsible for many significant operatic restorations, including Blitzstein’s Regina.  The Cradle Will Rock has been almost exclusively produced with piano since its infamous opening night, which was shut down by the Federal Government in 1937. Both an attack on the abuse of political power by the wealthy and a paean to labor and poor people struggling to get by, “Cradle” is as timely now as it was when it premiered in 1937. Opera Saratoga celebrates the 80th Anniversary of Blitzstein’s revolutionary American labor opera in a new production that will be performed with Blitzstein’s original orchestrations – the first such performances since the 1960 production at New York City Opera.  Featured artists include mezzo soprano Ginger Costa-Jackson  (company debut) as Moll; bass Matt Boehler (company debut) as Mr. Mister; mezzo soprano Audrey Babcock as Mrs. Mister; tenor Keith Jameson (company debut) as Harry Druggist; baritone Christopher Burchettas Larry Foreman; and bass baritone Justin Hopkins as Reverend Salvation.