Green Mountain Cultural Center
December 20, 2006
For immediate release
Contact: Sally Molnar, 802-496-7442
The Green Mountain Opera Festival
Announces its 2007 Season
The board of the Green Mountain Opera Festival is pleased to announce
its plans for the June 2007 season. Building on the success of its 2006
season, the festival will expand to three weeks and for the first time, will
include a Young Artist’s Program and master classes open to the public.
Artistic Director Taras Kulish has again assembled a talented group of
professionals who will give concerts in Waitsfield and take part in a fully
staged production of Puccini’s popular masterpiece, Madama Butterfly,
accompanied by a full orchestra, at the Barre Opera House in June.
Festival dates are June 4-24.
The season will begin with a gala benefit dinner and concert at the Round Barn in Waitsfield on
March 18. The dinner will start at 6 p.m. and will be catered by Cooking from the Heart. Each
course will be accompanied by a fine wine chosen by local wine expert Jorge Klauck.
Following the dinner, three young opera stars will present a concert of opera favorites.
Returning for the benefit is Mariateresa Magisano, who thrilled audiences at the Barre Opera
House last June as Rosina, the soprano lead in the Barber of Seville. Those attending will also
be treated to a preview of the coming season’s Suzuki in Madama Butterfly. Julie Nesrallah,
the mezzo-soprano who will perform the role, has been described as a “future supernova” of the
opera world. This season she is singing the role of Carmen at Syracuse Opera. Our Artistic
Director, Taras Kulish will also perform at the concert. Kulish is a talented bass, as well as an
accomplished opera impresario, whose career has recently taken off with engagements in
Guatemala, Calgary, Vancouver and Ontario.
The festival sponsors have also announced an exciting opportunity for art lovers. Billy Brauer,
a nationally known artist living and working in Warren, is donating a painting to be auctioned off
for the benefit of the festival. The painting, which will capture themes from Madama Butterfly,
will be on display at the fundraiser and at other opera events. The auction will be a silent one,
with the highest bidder announced during the festival in June.
The Green Mountain Opera Festival is sponsored by the Green Mountain Cultural Center, a
not-for-profit organization that has promoted the arts in the Mad River Valley and beyond for the
past 15 years. Proceeds from the fundraiser will help to underwrite the performances at the
Barre Opera House as well as the Young Artist Program and master classes. The public is
invited to attend both dinner and concert or come at 8 p.m. for the concert only. Tickets may be
purchased by calling 802-496-7722 or online at www.greenmountainoperafestival.com.