Opera Carolina Announces New Season

Opera Carolina has announced its 2013-14 season and thanks to a large grant from Wells Fargo Private Bank the company has a lot for fans to get excited about.

The season will begin Sept. 12 with a gala benefit concert titled Art to Poetry to Music at the Knight Theater and the first production will be the Verdi opera Aida on Oct. 19.

See the press release below for more information. For more information on the individual shows, including full cast listings, click here.

Opera Carolina announces its 2013-2014 season, underwritten for a third consecutive year by a significant grant from Wells Fargo Private Bank.

"We are profoundly grateful for the enduring generosity of Wells Fargo. Time after time, they step forward with support that reinforces our mission and boosts our ability to deliver a season of spectacular productions in a way that is fiscally sustainable," said James Meena, general director and principal conductor of Opera Carolina.

The company previews its 65th season with a Gala Benefit Concert entitled, Art to Poetry to Music, on Sept. 12 at the Knight Theater. The evening features some of Opera Carolina's most stunning stars performing under the baton of Maestro James Meena and accompanied by the Charlotte Symphony. Art to Poetry to Music, a multi-media event presented in collaboration with The Confucius Institute at Pfeiffer University, will fuse together opera, spoken word, and the power of the visual.

Single tickets, available on Aug. 1 by calling 704-372-1000, are $40 and include a pre-concert reception. Season subscribers receive a 50 percent discount.

The mainstage season opens with a new production of Verdi's grand tale of love and war, Aida, on October 19, 22, 24 and 27, featuring Canadian-American Opéra de Montréal soprano Othalie Graham; Russian born Metropolitan Opera mezzo-soprano Irina Mishura; and internationally acclaimed Italian tenor Antonello Palombi in leading roles.

Puccini's Il Trittico, three one-act operas created for the Metropolitan Opera, follows on January 18, 23 and 26. Passion and intrigue swirl as a seamless evening unfolds with Il Tabarro, Suor Angelica and Gianni Schicchi starring Washington Opera soprano Jill Gardner; Chinese born Welsh National Opera baritone Chen-Ye Yuan, and Korean born Royal Opera Covent Garden tenor Dongwon Shin.

The season concludes with Wagner's haunting tale of love on the high seas, The Flying Dutchman, on March 22, 27 and 30. Metropolitan Opera bass-baritone Greer Grimsley and Seattle Opera soprano Elizabeth Kataria lead the cast.

"Wells Fargo takes pride in supporting Charlotte's diverse cultural community. Our support for Opera Carolina reflects Wells Fargo's commitment to making sure that compelling arts programming and experiences are available to our clients and community," said Madelyn Caple, regional managing director for Wells Fargo Private Bank in the Greater Charlotte area.

All mainstage performances are at the Belk Theater, North Carolina Blumenthal Performing Arts Center. Season subscriptions are now on sale at 704-332-7177, ext. 1. Single tickets go on sale Aug. 1 through the Performing Arts Center Box Office at 704-372-1000, or visit www.operacarolina.org. Season tickets begin at $33 and single tickets start as low as $15.

Opera Carolina provides significant discounts for subscribers, as well as the new Youth Discount to encourage adults to bring young people to the Opera, plus Student Rush tickets, and Group Discounts. The season celebrates love as depicted by three of the greatest opera composers, as it also commemorates the 200th anniversary of both Verdi's and Wagner's births. The Il Trittico production marks the continuation of a five-year Puccini cycle, in which Opera Carolina intends to perform all of Puccini's operas through the spring of 2017.