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[email protected] Opera Boston Opens 2012-12 Season with Berlioz’ Béatrice et Bénédict October 21 –25, 2011 Panikkar, Boulianne make company debuts in title roles; Kneuss and Perdziola—production team from La Grande-Duchesse —return to direct and design (BOSTON – Sept. 21, 2011) Opera Boston’s new production of Berlioz’ Béatrice et Bénédict —the first local staging since the early 1990s—stars Canadian mezzo-soprano Julie Boulianne in a local debut, and Sean Panikkar , a “dashing tenor with apt stage presence and a full-voiced, exceptional sound” (Opera News) and a rising star of American opera. Opera Boston Artistic Director Gil Rose conducts. Béatrice et Bénédict reunites the production team from 2010’s acclaimed La Grande-Duchesse de Gérolstein ; Metropolitan Opera Executive Stage Director David Kneuss directs and Robert Perdziola designs scenery and costumes. Performances take place on Friday, Oct. 21 and Tuesday, Oct. 25 at 7:30 p.m., and Sunday Oct. 23 at 3 p.m. at the Cutler Majestic Theatre (219 Tremont St., Boston). The opera will be sung in French with English titles and features dialogue in English. Tickets are now on sale through the Cutler Majestic Theatre box office, online at www.CutlerMajestic.org , and by phone at 617-824- 8000. French-Canadian mezzo-soprano Julie Boulianne —debuting the role of Béatrice—performs in Boston for the first time. She is an acclaimed Cenerentola, having sung the role at Florida Grand Opera, Glimmerglass, and Pacific Opera Victoria (BC). Other recent highlights include Fragoletto in Offenbach’s Les brigands at the Opéra-Comique, Lazuli in L’étoile at New York City Opera, Elisa in Tolomeo at Glimmerglass Opera, and roles in Roméo et Juliette (Stéphano) and Iphigénie en Tauride (Diane) at the Metropolitan Opera.