Inaugural BAM Opera Festival—Curated by William Christie and Featuring His Acclaimed Ensemble Les Arts Florissants—Begins Mar 18

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Inaugural BAM Opera Festival—curated by William Christie and featuring his acclaimed ensemble Les Arts Florissants—begins Mar 18

Features world premiere productions of Purcell’s Dido and Aeneas and Charpentier’s Actéon—Mar 18–21

Festival centerpiece, Purcell’s The Fairy Queen, will be presented from Mar 23–27 in a rare complete staging and U.S. premiere

An assortment of Opera Festival events includes Baroque Cabaret performances, Armide on screen, a commented rehearsal of The Fairy Queen with William Christie, an intimate vocal recital featuring soloists from The Fairy Queen with William Christie on harpsichord, a Les Arts Florissants archival exhibition, an artist talk with William Christie moderated by Ara Guzelimian, and events at The Juilliard School

American Express is the presenting sponsor of BAM Opera Festival

BAM 2010 Spring Season is sponsored by Bloomberg

Brooklyn, N.Y./Feb 8, 2010—From March 18–April 2, the stately sounds of the 17th-century descend on New York for BAM’s inaugural Opera Festival, curated by the visionary conductor William Christie with an eye towards the Baroque. An indispensible figure at BAM, Christie and his gifted ensemble Les Arts Florissants made their BAM debut in 1989 with Jean-Baptiste Lully’s enchanting Atys, marking the dawn of the city’s infatuation with the ensemble and the exhilarating fire and pathos it lends to the Baroque opera experience. On the occasion of their 30th anniversary, Christie and Les Arts Florissants return to New York to transform BAM into a musical panorama of Restoration-era England (and beyond) with two opera masterpieces by Purcell—Dido and Aeneas and The Fairy Queen—the French Baroque jewel Actéon, an intimate recital with Christie, Baroque Cabaret, and more.

Dido and Aeneas World premiere By Henry Purcell

Les Arts Florissants Musical Direction by William Christie Directed by Vincent Boussard

Conducted by William Christie (Mar 18, 21) and Jonathan Cohen (Mar 20) Musical direction and harpsichord by William Christie Assistant direction by Jonathan Cohen Costumes by Chantal de la Coste Messelière Lighting by Gloria Montesinos

Cast: Emmanuelle de Negri (Belinda); Katherine Watson (Second Woman); Ana Quintans (Second Witch); Céline Ricci (First Witch); Sonya Yoncheva (Dido); Hillary Summers (Sorceress); Konstantin Wolff (Aeneas); Damian Whiteley (Sailor); Ed Lyon (Spirit)

In English with titles

Actéon World premiere By Marc-Antoine Charpentier

Les Arts Florissants Musical Direction by William Christie Directed by Vincent Boussard

Cast: Emmanuelle de Negri (Aréthuze); Katherine Watson (Diane); Ana Quintans (Daphné); Céline Ricci (Hyale); Ed Lyon (Actéon); Hillary Summers (Junon)

In French with English titles

BAM Harvey Theater (651 Fulton Street) Mar 18 & 20 at 7:30pm Mar 21 at 6pm Tickets: $35, 65, 85, 125

The BAM Opera Festival opens with two masterpieces of the 17th-century, Henry Purcell’s Dido and Aeneas and Marc-Antoine Charpentier’s Actéon. Renowned conductor and harpsichordist William Christie and the beloved period ensemble Les Arts Florissants bring together these two thematically linked works. Capturing the tensions and decorum of the Baroque era—in strikingly divergent ways— both new productions reveal Les Arts Florissants’ musical mastery of and passion for the British and French repertories. Dido and Aeneas is Virgil’s tragic story of star-crossed lovers, a queen and a Trojan refugee, while Actéon brilliantly retells the Greek myth of Diana and her eponymous suitor, who must be punished after glimpsing the goddess bathing. These distinctive, dramatically astute works create a seamless marriage of narrative, song, dance, and music.

William Christie, harpsichordist, conductor, musicologist, and teacher, is the inspiration behind one of the most exciting musical adventures of the last 30 years. His pioneering work has led to a renewed appreciation of 17th- and 18th-century French repertoire. Born in Buffalo, N.Y., Christie studied at Harvard and Yale Universities and has lived in France since 1971. The major turning point in his career came in 1979 when he founded Les Arts Florissants. As director of this vocal and instrumental ensemble, Christie brings new interpretations of largely neglected or forgotten repertoire to fruition. Major public recognition came in 1987 with the production of Atys at the Opéra-Comique in Paris. Christie has since collaborated with renowned theater and opera directors, and has created a discography spanning more than 100 recordings. Since 2002, he has appeared regularly as a guest conductor with the Berlin Philharmonic. In November 2008, William Christie was elected to the Académie des Beaux-Arts; he was officially received under the dome of the Institut de France in January 2010.

The vocal and instrumental ensemble Les Arts Florissants is one of the most renowned and respected early music groups in Europe and around the world. Dedicated to the performance of Baroque music on original instruments, the ensemble was founded in 1979 by William Christie and takes its name from a short opera by Marc-Antoine Charpentier. The ensemble has collaborated on productions with renowned stage directors and choreographers and produced a discography of more than 80 recordings for Harmonia Mundi, Warner Classics/Erato, and EMI/Virgin Classics.

The Fairy Queen U.S. premiere By Henry Purcell

Les Arts Florissants Produced by Glyndebourne Festival Opera, Opéra-Comique, Théâtre de Caen, and BAM Musical direction by William Christie Directed by Jonathan Kent

Conducted by William Christie (Mar 23, 25, 26) and Jonathan Cohen (Mar 27) Set design and costumes by Paul Brown Lighting design by Mark Henderson Choreography by Kim Brandstrup

Emmanuelle De Negri (Night/The Plaint); Lucy Crowe (Juno); Claire Debono (Mystery/Fairy/Nymph); Miriam Allan, Anna Devin, and Maud Gnidzaz (Fairies); Ed Lyon (Chinese Man); Robert Burt (Mopsa); Andrew Foster-Williams (Hymen/Sleep/Winter); Sean Clayton (Summer); David Webb (Autumn); Andrew Davies (Phoebus); Helen Jane Howells (Eve); and Callum Thorpe

In English with titles

BAM Howard Gilman Opera House (30 Lafayette Ave) Mar 23*, 25–27 at 7:30pm Tickets: $35, 65, 105, 150 *The Fairy Queen Gala: A celebration of the BAM Opera Festival. For tickets and information contact BAM Patron Services at 718.636.4182

“With The Fairy Queen at Opéra Comique, Purcell’s music and the language of [William Shakespeare] achieve a triumph of equal parts. A treat.” –Le Figaro

“Let’s be clear: this is a rare treat…it could well be a new and equally mythic Atys.” –Le Monde

The centerpiece of BAM’s inaugural Opera Festival is Henry Purcell’s The Fairy Queen (1692). In a rare staging, this “semi-opera” is presented as originally composed, featuring spoken text (an anonymous adaptation of Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream performed by a full company of actors), music (overtures, preludes, and allegorical masques which complete each act), and dance. For decades, conductors and directors have chosen to dispense with the spoken text, leaving songs, dances, and choruses without context. Served in its complete form—from a new edition of the score first performed in 2009 by Glyndebourne Festival Opera—the work is an extravagant feast of theater, music, dance, and visual spectacle, featuring a cast of more than 40 artists on stage. Its tableaux feature swans that turn into fairies, the sun-god descending from the ceiling, and Titania, the ice queen, caught in a spider’s web. The Fairy Queen will be conducted by William Christie on Mar 23, 25, and 26, and by Jonathan Cohen on Mar 27.

On its premiere at Glyndebourne in June 2009, The Telegraph (UK) commented on William Christie’s “…customary bonhomie and spirit of fun, using the lightest of touches to capture all of Purcell’s playfully sly and sexy charm.” The Guardian (UK) called the production “…a great achievement and you’re a fool if you miss it.” According to The Independent, “…it’s not often you see a director and designer collude so seamlessly, so imaginatively, and so amusingly in their endeavors…Kim Brandstrup’s choreography is both discreet and exquisite…”

Additional BAM Opera Festival Events:

Baroque Cabaret Mar 21 & 24 at 9pm BAMcafé Tickets: $20

Revel in a dressed-down version of the English Baroque with two concerts in the intimacy of BAMcafé featuring members of Les Arts Florissants and conductor Jonathan Cohen. On March 21, Love’s Delights is the theme of an evening of arias and instrumentals by Purcell, Handel, Mancini, and Blow. The evening will feature soprano Claire Debono, tenor Robert Burt, and bass Callum Thorpe, as well as an instrumental ensemble of Sébastien Marq, recorder, and Myriam Gevers and Sophie Gevers- Demoures, violins. On March 24, the evening entitled The Tempest comprises excerpts from this fanciful work by Purcell as well as “Raise, raise the voice” from the Ode for St. Cecilia’s Day. This evening will feature soprano Lucy Crowe, tenor Ed Lyon, baritone Andrew Foster-Williams, and an instrumental ensemble comprising violinists Florence Malgoire and Catherine Girard, cellist David Simpson, and lutist Brian Feehan. A BAMcafé menu will be available throughout the evening.

The Fairy Queen Gala: a celebration of the BAM Opera Festival Mar 23 Celebrate the historic occasion of BAM’s first Opera Festival with a special gala performance of The Fairy Queen preceded by a spectacular cocktail reception and dinner at One Hanson Place. Co-chairs: Aashish & Dinny Devitre; Corporate Chair: Pamela Codispoti, American Express; Honoree: Ronald P. Stanton Please call BAM Patron Services at 718.636.4182 for more information.

Armide on Screen Mar 24 at 6:30pm BAM Rose Cinemas Tickets: $12 Tickets to this event are available at BAM.org or by calling 718.777.FILM.

Jean-Baptiste Lully’s final masterpiece shimmers on the big screen in this production by William Christie and Les Arts Florissants, staged in 2008 at the Théâtre des Champs Élysées with direction by Robert Carsen (sung in French). Christie creates an inspired take on the story of a sorceress and her ill-fated love spell as the cameras provide views from the best seats in the house. The film will be introduced by William Christie.

Artist Talk with William Christie Moderated by Ara Guzelimian Mar 25 at 6pm Hillman Attic Studio Tickets: $10 ($5 for Friends of BAM)

William Christie discusses opera, his work, and his thoughts of the day in a conversation with Ara Guzelimian, dean of The Juilliard School. Followed by an audience Q&A.

Rehearsal with Commentary: The Fairy Queen Mar 26 at 5:15pm BAM Howard Gilman Opera House $20

Enjoy a rare, behind-the-scenes glimpse of Christie’s creative process as he offers special audience commentary during an open rehearsal of Purcell’s The Fairy Queen. Candid and insightful, Christie reveals what it takes to make this work take flight.

Purcell Songs and Duets Mar 28 at 3pm BAMcafé (Lepercq Space) Tickets: $150

William Christie curates and performs in an intimate recital of Purcell songs and duets at BAMcafé. Featuring harpsichord (played by Christie), viola da gamba (played by Anne-Marie Lasla), and soprano soloists Miriam Allan and Claire Debono (from The Fairy Queen), this program will include excerpts from King Arthur, The Indian Queen, The Fairy Queen, and other Purcell highlights. The performance will be followed by a champagne reception.

Archive Exhibition BAM, Peter Jay Sharp Building, 3rd floor Free Accessible during Opera House and BAMcafé events, beginning in mid-March

With sixteen previous engagements at BAM, William Christie and Les Arts Florissants have established an inimitable legacy in New York. Relive some of their highlights in a special archival exhibition chronicling their extraordinary productions at BAM.

Events at The Juilliard School Master Class Mar 31 at 4pm / Paul Hall Free; tickets available Mar 17

Juilliard Period Instrument Ensemble Apr 2 at 8pm / Alice Tully Hall Free; tickets available Mar 19

Complementing the BAM Opera Festival, The Juilliard School offers a master class with William Christie and a concert by the Juilliard Period Instrument Ensemble, conducted by Christie.

Tickets are available to the general public at The Juilliard Box Office only. A limited number of tickets to these events are accessible to Friends of BAM at the Producers Council level and above by phone at 718.636.4182. For more information, visit juilliard.edu or call 212.769.7406.

Credits American Express is the presenting sponsor of BAM Opera Festival. BAM 2010 Spring Season is sponsored by Bloomberg. Programming in the BAM Howard Gilman Opera House is supported and endowed by The Howard Gilman Foundation.

Leadership support for BAM Opera provided by The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, The SHS Foundation, Ronald P. Stanton, The Delancey Foundation, The Florence Gould Foundation, Geoffrey C. Hughes Foundation, The Devitre Fund, and The Fan Fox & Leslie R. Samuels Foundation, Inc. with additional support from The Francena T. Harrison Foundation Trust, The Grand Marnier Foundation, Susan Baker & Michael Lynch, Anne H. Bass, Joseph A. Stern, Mr. and Mrs. Henry Christensen III, Charles and Mildred Schnurmacher Foundation, Mary Sharp Cronson, and The Isak and Rose Weinman Foundation, Inc.

BAM thanks its many donors and sponsors, including: The Peter Jay Sharp Foundation, The Leona M. & Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust, Estate of Richard B. Fisher, The Shubert Foundation, Inc., The Norman & Rosita Winston Foundation, Inc., The Starr Foundation, Time Warner Inc., Carnegie Corporation of New York, Henry and Lucy Moses Fund, Inc., Forest City Ratner Companies, The Skirball Foundation, and Friends of BAM and BAM Cinema Club. Sovereign Bank is the BAM Marquee sponsor. Yamaha is the official piano for BAM. R/GA is the BAM.org sponsor. New York Marriott at the Brooklyn Bridge is the official hotel for BAM.

General Information

BAM Howard Gilman Opera House, BAM Rose Cinemas, and BAMcafé are located in the Peter Jay Sharp building at 30 Lafayette Avenue (between St Felix Street and Ashland Place) in the Fort Greene neighborhood of Brooklyn. BAM Harvey Theater is located two blocks from the main building at 651 Fulton Street (between Ashland and Rockwell Places). Both locations house Shakespeare & Co. at BAM kiosks. BAM Rose Cinemas is Brooklyn’s only movie house dedicated to first-run independent and foreign film and repertory programming. BAMcafé, operated by Great Performances, is open for dining prior to Howard Gilman Opera House evening performances. BAMcafé also features an eclectic mix of spoken word and live music for BAMcafé Live on Friday nights with a special BAMcafé Live menu available starting at 8pm.

Subway: 2, 3, 4, 5, Q, B to Atlantic Avenue; D, M, N, R to Pacific Street; G to Fulton Street; C to Lafayette Avenue Train: Long Island Railroad to Flatbush Avenue Bus: B25, B26, B41, B45, B52, B63, B67 all stop within three blocks of BAM Car: Commercial parking lots are located adjacent to BAM

For ticket and BAMbus information, call BAM Ticket Services at 718.636.4100, or visit BAM.org.

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