No menu items!

COSTA RICA'S LEADING ENGLISH LANGUAGE NEWSPAPER

HomeArchivePlans Announced for 2005 Symphony and Opera Seasons

Plans Announced for 2005 Symphony and Opera Seasons

CHOSEI Komatsu, musical director ofthe National Symphony, has announced hisprojects for the upcoming 2005 season.Continuing his commitment to young people,Maestro Komatsu will conduct twoweeks of concerts in schools outside themetropolitan area under the “outreach concerts”program. He will also present a specialnon-subscription evening in San Joséfeaturing three young Costa Rican pianists.The National Symphony is scheduledfor a tour to Japan in September that willinclude seven performances in the Nagoyaarea and in Tokyo. Private and institutionalgrants are helping to underwrite theexpenses of this undertaking as part of thecelebration of the 70th anniversary ofCosta Rican-Japanese relations.The regular symphony series at theNational Theater opens March 4 and featuresYumi Takagi in Rachmaninoff’sSecond Piano Concerto. Two Costa Ricanconductors, Marvin Araya and AlejandroGutiérrez, will direct programs, and 15Tico soloists will perform during the season.These artists include José A. Castillo,Álvaro González and Jacques Sagot, whowill be soloists in Beethoven’s TripleConcerto for violin, cello and piano onMay 6 and 8.Other highlights of the season includeMendelssohn’s oratorio “Elijah,” Mahler’sFifth Symphony and five Mozart works.MAESTRO Komatsu will be in chargeof six of the 12 concerts in the 2005 season.Christine Komatsu, American sopranoand vocal coach, has been appointed thenew director of the National OperaCompany. In cooperation with the Operaof Orlando, Florida, she will present“Popera” (scenes and arias from popularoperas) in December at the Melico SalazarTheater. In March she will initiate a youngartists program, in which four students willwork with established professionals tohone their musical and interpretive skills.The company will mount GiacomoPuccini’s “Madama Butterfly” in late Julyat the National Theater. Two Japanesesingers will play the female leads of Cio-Cio-San and Suzuki, and Japanese fabricartists will help give an authentic touch tothe production.The government of Japan and privateindividuals are supporting this undertakingin celebration of the 70th anniversary ofties between the two nations. ChoseiKomatsu will be on the podium for his firstlocal appearances in opera.The scenery for Butterfly will be constructedhere, but many costumes will bebrought from Japan. Members of theJapanese community will help with themakeup, costumes and movements of thelarge cast.PUCCINI’S sixth opera celebrated itscentennial last year and continues to be anaudience favorite. Nine repetitions havebeen scheduled to be performed by twocasts. Returning to the stage are two U.S.-Tico artists lauded in previous seasons:tenor Scott Piper, who will portrayBenjamin Franklin Pinkerton, the U.S.naval officer who marries and leavesButterfly; and baritone Guido LeBron,who comes to Tiquicia after performancesin New York, San Francisco andWashington to sing the role of Sharpless,the U.S. consul in Nagasaki.“I love singing Puccini,” remarksLeBron. “He writes so beautifully for thebaritone voice.”Ticket prices will range from ¢1,000-20,000 ($2.15-43.50), ensuring that all willhave a chance to enjoy this highly anticipatedproduction.

Trending Now

UN Experts Warn of Possible Nicaraguan Government Role in Exile’s Murder in Costa Rica

A team of UN human rights experts said Tuesday that involvement by the Nicaraguan government in the killing of retired major Roberto Samcam cannot...

Costa Rica’s Tourism Faces Decline Amid Rising Crime and Costs

Costa Rica’s flagship tourism industry, long a cornerstone of our nation’s economy, is dealing with a noticeable downturn in 2025 as rising crime, health...

Costa Rica Rescues Endangered Amphibians and Turtles in Store Bust

The Judicial Investigation Agency (OIJ), through its Specialized Section Against Environmental Crimes, carried out an operation at a store in Vázquez de Coronado, San...

Costa Rica Reports Surge in Human Trafficking Cases

The General Directorate of Immigration (DGME) has reported 36 confirmed victims of human trafficking for commercial or sexual purposes in Costa Rica during the...

Costa Rica Dismantles Human Trafficking Ring Linked to Tren de Aragua

Costa Rican authorities dismantled a human trafficking network linked to the criminal gang Tren de Aragua, which financed the travel of women from Venezuela...

El Salvador NGO Flees to Guatemala as Bukele Intensifies Crackdown on Critics

The prestigious NGO Cristosal, which investigates corruption cases and denounces human rights violations in El Salvador, announced Thursday that it has been forced into...
Avatar
spot_img
Costa Rica Coffee Maker Chorreador
Costa Rica Coffee Maker Chorreador
Costa Rica Travel Insurance
Costa Rica Rocking Chait
Costa Rica Travel

Latest News from Costa Rica