Released on: February 13, 2008, 8:59 am

Press Release Author: Rachel Carter PR

Industry: Entertainment

Press Release Summary: 2008 Season Features La Traviata, Vermont & International
Artists,
And Three Weeks of Opera in the Mad River Valley


Press Release Body: Waitsfield, VT - International opera performers, world renowned
directors, and emerging opera artists will all come together this June in the Green
Mountains of Vermont for the 2008 Green Mountain Opera Festival. This three week
operatic Vermont sojourn is now in its third year under internationally acclaimed
artistic director and bass, Taras Kulish. The Green Mountain Opera Festival begins
on June 1st and explores the art and beauty of opera with concerts, open air events,
free open rehearsals, and free master classes throughout the Mad River Valley
culminating with two fully staged and costumed performances of Giuseppe Verdi's La
Traviata, accompanied by the Green Mountain Opera Orchestra at the beautifully
restored Barre Opera House.

La Traviata performances at the Barre Opera House will be Friday, June 20th at 7:30
pm and Sunday, June 22nd at 3:00 pm. La Traviata literally means "the woman who
strayed" and is a tragic love story where rich boy, Alfredo - sung by nationally
acclaimed tenor, Derek Taylor, falls for Violetta, a high-class courtesan - sung by
internationally renowned soprano, Aline Kutan. Alfredo\'s father, Germont - sung by
long-standing international career baritone, Theodore Baerg, doesn\'t approve of his
son's relationship with Violetta and persuades her to abandon him because her
scandalous past threatens his son's future. She leaves Alfredo and goes back to her
old life, but falls mortally ill. Germont relents and allows Alfredo and Violetta a
touching deathbed reunion.

The young artists accepted into the Emerging Artist Program will sing supporting and
ensemble roles. The Emerging Artist Program is a residence program for auditioned
young opera singers taking place during the course of the Green Mountain Opera
Festival. These opera stars of tomorrow will also perform the Emerging Artists
Showcase on June 13th at the Josyln Round Barn in Waitsfield.

Several other events are scheduled throughout the Green Mountain Opera Festival and
more will be announced as the festival nears. Opera enthusiasts are invited to join
the Emerging Artists at a series of free master classes taught by legendary soprano,
Phyllis Curtin, bass-baritone, Sanford Sylvan, festival conductor, Francis Graffeo,
and festival stage director, Ron Luchsinger. Free rehearsals of La Traviata will be
open to the public throughout the festival. On June 6th, the La Traviata cast will
perform opera favorites at the festival's opening concert at the Joslyn Round Barn
and on June 11th, they will perform Broadway tunes at a picnic at the Lareau Farm
Inn. Master classes and concerts will take place at the Joslyn Round Barn, the open
rehearsals will take place at the Valley Players, the broadway picnic will take
place at the Lareau Farm Inn, all located in Waitsfield, Vermont. Dates and times
will be posted at www.greenmountainoperafestival.com.

"You won't want to miss any of these fantastic events coming up in our 3rd annual
opera festival. I couldn\'t be more proud and excited to present you all these
established and emerging artists in the gorgeous Central Vermont landscape. High
quality opera and breathtaking nature.what more could you want?!" exclaims artistic
director, Taras Kulish.

The Green Mountain Opera Festival is co-sponsored by the Inn at the Round Barn Farm
and the Green Mountain Cultural Center, a non-profit organization that has promoted
the visual and performing arts in Vermont's Mad River Valley for twenty years and
was founded by the Inn at the Round Barn Farm's original owners. Additional
contributions for the festival and the Emerging Artist Program, which is free for
those chosen to attend, come from the Sheila C. Johnson Foundation, which supports
programs related to education, children, and the arts and was founded by the Black
Entertainment Television co-founder and opera enthusiast. The Green Mountain Opera
Festival's Annual Gala Fundraiser helps raise additional funds and this year will
feature Metropolitan Opera soprano, Wendy Nielsen, who will perform at the Joslyn
Round Barn in Waitsfield on Sunday, March 16th.

The Green Mountain Opera Festival is Vermont's premier annual and professional opera
festival and was created to awaken the opera soul throughout the Mad River Valley
and beyond. Tickets go on sale May 1st through the Green Mountain Cultural Center
at 802-496-7722 or by emailing tickets@greenmountainoperafestival.com. For all
additional information, please visit www.greenmountainoperafestival.com.


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Web Site: http://www.greenmountainoperafestival.com

Contact Details: Rachel Carter PR
802-318-5527
rachel@rachelcarterpr.com