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P R O F I L E S | L Y R I C O P E R A O F C H I C A G O
28
|
February 11 - March 25, 2017
JP TENUTA
Previously at Lyric:
Seven operas since 2006,
most recently
Carousel
,
Tannhäuser
(both 2014-
15);
Parsifal
(2013-14).
In addition to Lyric, the
dancer has performed as
a soloist in the Chicago
area with The Civic Ballet, Kenneth von
Heidecke’s Chicago Festival Ballet, and the
Salt Creek Ballet. An alumnus of Northern
Illinois University, where he studied with
Randall Newsom and Judith Chitwood,
Tenuta subsequently performed for two
years with the Nashville Ballet and two years
with Luna Negra Dance Company. He is a
regular faculty member at the Academy of
Movement and Music. He has also taught on
the Dance Masters circuit and recently served
as assistant director for Momenta as it toured
for Tanzsommer International in Austria.
HARRY BICKET
(
Conductor
–
Feb. 11- March 6
)
Previously at Lyric:
Four
productions since 2002,
most recently
Rinaldo
(2011-12);
Hercules
(2010-11);
Orfeo ed
Euridice
(2005-06).
The internationally renowned British opera
and concert conductor's schedule this season
is highlighted by performances of two Handel
works – Handel’s
Ariodante
in Paris and
Vienna,
Alcina
in Santa Fe – as well as the
Suite from Rameau’s
Les Boréades
with the
Cleveland Orchestra. Especially noted for
his interpretation of Baroque and classical
repertoire, Bicket is artistic director of The
English Concert, widely regarded as one of
today’s most remarkable period orchestras.
In 2013 Bicket became chief conductor of
The Santa Fe Opera, where his successes over
the past three summers have included
Romeo
and Juliet, La finta giardiniera
, and
Fidelio
.
Other recent highlights include acclaimed
productions in North America for Houston
Grand Opera (
The Marriage of Figaro
,
Rusalka
),
the Canadian Opera Company (
Maometto
Secondo
,
Hercules
), Atlanta Opera (
Orfeo
), the
Metropolitan Opera (
Rodelinda
,
La clemenza
di Tito
,
Giulio Cesare
), and guest-conducting
engagements with the New York Philharmonic,
the Los Angeles Philharmonic, the Los Angeles
Chamber Orchestra, and the major orchestras
of Boston, San Francisco, Detroit, Houston,
Seattle, St. Paul, Ottawa, and Indianapolis.
Bicket has collaborated on recital discs with
Renée Fleming, Lucy Crowe, and David
Daniels. On DVD he conducts productions
of
Rodelinda
(Met),
Rinaldo (
Munich), A
Midsummer Night’s Dream
and Martin y Soler’s
The Tree of Diana
(both from Barcelona).
AINĀRS RUBIĶIS
(
Conductor
–
March 16-25
)
Lyric debut
The celebrated Latvian
conductor,
whose
performances of
Carmen
include his debut at
Barcelona’s Gran Teatre
del Liceu, made his
debut this season with Theater Basel (
La
forza del destino
) and returned to Latvian
National Opera (
Eugene Onegin
) and the
Basque National Orchestra. Rubiķis came
to international attention in 2010, winning
the third annual Gustav Mahler conducting
competition in Bamberg, Germany. The
following year, he received the second Nestlé
and Salzburg Festival Young Conductors
Award, subsequently conducting the Gustav
Mahler Jugendorchester at the Salzburg
Festival. As music director and chief conductor
of the Novosibirsk State Academic Opera
and Ballet Theatre (2012-14), Rubiķis led
a varied repertoire, highlighted by
Carmen
,
Don Giovanni
, and Britten’s
War Requiem
.
He was also awarded a prestigious Golden
Mask Award as Best Conductor for a new
production of Bernstein’s
Mass
. Highlights of
recent seasons include debuts with the Bolshoi
Theatre (
Boris Godunov
)
,
the Oberammergau
Festival (
Nabucco
), Tokyo’s New National
Theatre, and major orchestras of Toronto,
Melbourne, Hong Kong, Strasbourg, Brussels,
The Hague, and Budapest. Rubiķis conducted
the world premiere of composer Kristaps
Pētersons’
Mikhail and Mikhail Play Chess
for
Latvian National Opera.
A successful choral
interpreter, he has served as artistic director
of Dziesmuvara, the University of Latvia
chamber choir.
ROB ASHFORD
(
Director and
Choreographer
)
Previously at Lyric:
Carousel
(2014-15);
The Barber of Seville
(operatic debut, 2013-14).
The
award-winning
American director earned
acclaim for his production of
Carmen
at
Houston Grand Opera, where he subsequently
returned for
Carousel
. A Tony Award winner
as choreographer for
Thoroughly Modern
Millie
, he has received Tony nominations for
Evita
,
Promises, Promises,
How to Succeed in
Business Without Really Trying
(both direction
and choreography), John Waters’s
Cry-Baby
(for which he won Drama Desk, Outer Critics
Circle, and Fred Astaire awards),
Shrek
,
Curtains
, and
The Wedding Singer.
Among his
other Broadway credits is a much-acclaimed
revival of
Cat on a Hot Tin Roof.
Ashford
directed
The Winter’s Tale,
starring Kenneth
Branagh and Judi Dench, and
Harlequinade,
Romeo and Juliet,
and
The Entertainer
all for
London’s Kenneth Branagh Theatre Company;
Macbeth
at New York’s Park Avenue Armory
and at the Manchester International Festival;
and the Olivier Award-winning productions
of
Anna Christie, A Streetcar Named Desire,
and
Parade,
all for London’s Donmar Warehouse.
Peter Pan Live!
and
The Sound of Music Live!
for NBC both earned him DGA Award
nominations. Ashford has choreographed
opening numbers for numerous Tony and
Academy Awards shows (the latter earned him
the 2009 Emmy for Best Choreography). A
former associate director at London’s Old Vic
Theatre and Donmar Warehouse, he is also a
trustee of New York’s Joyce Theatre.
(See “A
Talk with the Director,” p. 34.)
DAVID ROCKWELL
(
Set Designer
)
Lyric debut
The work of the celebrated
American architect and
designer has been repre-
sented on Broadway this
season by the critically
acclaimed new production
of
Falsettos
. In 2016, Rockwell won the Tony,
Drama Desk, and Outer Critics Circle awards
for
She Loves Me
. His work on Broadway
includes set designs for
On the Twentieth
Century
,
You Can’t Take It With You
,
Kinky
Boots
,
Lucky Guy
(all Tony-nominated),
Hairspray
(Tony, Drama Desk, and Outer
Critics Circle nominations), and
The Rocky
Horror Show
(Drama Desk nomination).
Broadway credits also include sets for
Side
Show
,
The Normal Heart
,
Catch Me If You
Can
, and
Dirty Rotten Scoundrels
. He is the
founder and president of Rockwell Group,
an architecture and design studio. Rockwell’s
honors include the AIA New York Chapter
President’s Award, Cooper Hewitt National
Design Award for outstanding achievement in
interior design, the Pratt Legends Award, and
the Presidential Design Award. Known for
his commitment to charitable organizations,
Rockwell currently serves on the boards of
the Design Industries Foundation Fighting
AIDS (DIFFA), the Cooper Hewitt National
Design Museum, Citymeals-on-Wheels, and
New York Restoration Project.
DONALD HOLDER
(
Lighting Designer
)
Lyric debut
The acclaimed work of the
American lighting designer
can be seen this season
at the Metropolitan Opera
(
The Magic Flute
) and on
Broadway (
The Cherry
Orchard, Fiddler On The Roof, Anastasia
).
Holder’s work in opera includes lighting
world-premiere productions of Nico Muhly’s
Two Boys
(Met), Jake Heggie’s
Moby Dick
(Dallas Opera), Elliot Goldenthal’s
Grendel