Opera Philadelphia is All About the Ladies Next Season

Christine Goerke

The big news from today’s 2016-17 season announcement from Opera Philadelphia is pretty simple: It’s all about the ladies.

In fact, when browsing the full lineup for the upcoming year, the three main highlights can easily be boiled down to Opera Philadelphia’s casting of two superstar singers for 2016 and 2017, plus the premiere of a female composer’s new work. Here’s a breakdown of the leading ladies that will be taking center stage:

Christine Goerke: The soprano caused quite a stir back in 2013 when she appeared as Die Färberin in the Met Opera’s production of Die Frau ohne Schatten, garnering massive critical acclaim which led the company to sign her as Brünnhilde in Wagner’s Ring Cycle during the 2018-19 season at the New York venue. Goerke won’t be singing Wagner while in Philly, but she will star as the title role in Puccini’s final opera, Turandot, at the Academy of Music, September 23-October 2.

Stephanie Blythe

Stephanie Blythe: The acclaimed mezzo-soprano will be making her role debut as the title character in Opera Philadelphia’s Tancredi, February 10-19, 2017, at the Academy of Music. Blythe has become something of a household name, appearing at opera houses around the globe, singing everything from Verdi to Wagner, and was recently featured on the PBS broadcast of Celebration! Stephanie Blythe Meets Kate Smith. You can watch that concert for free online (and you should, it’s really quite lovely).

Missy Mazzoli

Missy Mazzoli: Mazzoli has been called “one of the more consistently inventive, surprising composers now working in New York” by The New York Times, and Opera Philadelphia will be presenting the world premiere of her new work, Breaking the Waves, based on the 1996 film, September 22-October 1, at the Perelman Theatre. The company is clearly all about new work, and it’s refreshing to see a young female composer get an opportunity to have a major spotlight.

The company has other highlights, including co-producing the American premiere of Third World Bunfight‘s adaption of Verdi’s Macbeth with FringeArts in September, and a new production of Mozart’s Le Nozze di Figaro at the Academy, April 28-May 7. Subscription tickets for the 2016-17 season go on sale today at noon; single tickets go on sale in August. For more information, visit Opera Philadelphia’s website.