Opera/Vocal
Our opera and vocal events will feature eight Resident Opera Artists (ROAs) who were chosen from over 460 applicants by Program Director Lucy Thrasher and Artistic Director, Joshua Major. These eight artists are some of the finest young singers in the country and we are proud to be hosting them in the Upper Peninsula.
Making his Festival debut, conductor Stephen Hargreaves will join stage director Joshua Major to lead a production of Verdi's masterpiece, La Traviata. This is a heart-wrenching story of a courtesan who gives up her glamorous lifestyle for love. Unfortunately, the father of her lover disapproves, and forces her to abandon her love, leading to a tragic ending. This intense story is about love and the power it gives us to overcome the constraints of social order.
Festival favorite Jerry DePuit returns to guide our singers and audiences through an evening of songs by the great American songwriters Jerome Kern and Irving Berlin. Both of these composers helped establish musical theatre as a great American art form in the early 20th century. Jerome Kern even said of Irving Berlin, "Irving Berlin has no place in American music - he is American music." This evening will be in the style of last year's smash success, 'Cole Porter in Revue.' 'Jerome Kern and Irving Berlin in Revue' will tour to Calumet, Marquette, Iron Mountain, Ironwood and Escanaba.
Stephen Sulich returns to lead our Resident Opera Artists in "An Evening of Art Song". This will be an intimate concert of music from Schubert to Bernstein.
You will have a chance to hear our singers in a more intimate setting at the annual Chippewa Club Gala and at the Keweenaw Kickoff Gala. At both Galas you will have a chance to relax, have dinner and hear opera and musical theatre hits performed by our ROAs. There will be a chance to socialize with the singers following the concerts.
"In the Beginning . . .", an evening of music written by Evan Premo, will feature Nathan Brian and Mary Bonhag reprising their roles in The Diaries of Adam and Eve, which was given its world premiere by PMMF in 2007. We are so pleased to be reviving this work, which met with such success when first premiered. Rounding out the evening will be a new work for string quintet based on the Anishinaabe creation story. Both pieces will feature the Bergonzi String Quartet.
We will restore our free concert on July 4th in the Houghton Waterfron Park to help celebrate our nation's birthday. Bring a blanket or chair, and relax to some great music and great voices.
For dates, times and tickets information please go to the Calendar and Ticket Info sections of our website.