Announcing Opera Santa Barbara’s 2012-2013 Season

This November, Opera Santa Barbara (OSB) will open what Artistic Director Jose Maria Condemi promises to be one of its “most memorable seasons.”

The season will begin with a production of Puccini’s Madame Butterfly, conducted by Sara Jobin and directed by Keturah Stickann. Jobin, who made history by becoming the first woman to conduct mainstage subscription performances at San Francisco Opera in 2004, will feature Mihoko Kinoshita as Butterfly (Cio Cio San). Kinoshita made her London debut in the role at Royal Albert Hall in 2011, and was subsequently exulted in London’s Daily Express: “There is currently nobody who plays the vulnerable heroine better than Mihoko Kinoshita; she dominated the performance.” Hers will surely be a performance this season that you won’t want to miss.

Then in March 2013, OSB will debut its company premiere of Verdi’s Aida. This rendition was created by Francesca Zambello for New York’s Glimmerglass Festival, and has been described by her as “an intimate Aida.” OSB’s production will be directed by Michael Rau and conducted by Valéry Ryvkin. Michelle Johnson, who was chosen for the part of  Aida in  Zambello’s original Glimmerglass production, will sing the part again in Santa Barbara.

OSB’s third show of the season, Don Pasquale, will be staged in April 2013 and directed by the company’s own Jose Maria Condemi. The title role will be sung by Philip Cokorinos, who has been featured in over 30 productions for the Metropolitan Opera.

With so many renowned artists involved, Opera Santa Barbara’s upcoming season is sure to be a great one.

-Alex Francis

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