Opera Pacific’s 17th Season to Include Its First ‘Salome’

Opera Pacific will mount its first production of Strauss’ “Salome” during its 17th season, Nov. 5 through May 4, 2003, at the Orange County Performing Arts Center in Costa Mesa.

Strauss’ opera will be presented Feb. 25-March 2, 2003. The season will open with Puccini’s “La Boheme,” Nov. 5-10, continue with Mozart’s “The Abduction From the Seraglio,” Jan. 21-26, 2003, and conclude with Verdi’s “Il Trovatore,” April 29-May 4, 2003.

Bernard Uzan will stage the Canadian Opera Company production of “Boheme,” with sets by Wolfram Skalicki. Alternating as Mimi will be Robin Follman (Nov. 5, 7 and 9) and company resident artist Rachel Cobb (Nov. 6, 8 and 10). Rodolpho will be Ukrainian tenor Misha Didyk (Nov. 5, 7 and 9) and Scott Piper (Nov. 6, 8 and 10).

Anita Johnson will make her company debut as Musetta. Frank Hernandez will sing Marcello. Opera Pacific artistic director John DeMain will conduct.

Mozart’s “Abduction,” staged in the 1920s on the Orient Express, will be directed by James Robinson with sets by Allan Moyer. Jan Grissom will sing Constanze. Shawn Mathey will be Belmonte, and Kurt Link Osmin. The opera will be sung in English with English supertitles. Jane Glover will conduct.

Ian Judge will direct “Salome,” with sets and costumes by Tim Goodchild. Turid Karlsen will sing the title role (Feb. 25, 27 and March 1). Christopher Robertson will sing Jokanaan. Adam Klein will be Herod. Milena Kitic will be Herodias. DeMain will conduct.

Dejan Miladinovic will stage “Il Trovatore,” in a new production with sets by Mileta Leskovac and costumes by Milonka Berbezovic.

Alternating as Leonora will be Zvetilina Vassileva (April 29, May 1 and 3) and Karlsen (May 2 and 4). Manrico will be Hugh Smith (April 29, May 1 and 3) and Andrew Richards (May 2 and 4). Irina Mishura will sing Azucena (April 29, May 1 and 3). A mezzo to be announced will sing the role May 2 and 4. DeMain will conduct.

Information: (800) 346-7372.