Pacific Northwest Opera Presents Don Giovanni

Don Giovanni, Mozart?s setting of the Don Juan legend, is regarded as one of the most sublime works of Western art. The Danish philosopher Kierkegaard called it the highest example of classical art and the French novelist Flaubert called it ?one of the three finest things that God ever made.? Pacific Northwest Opera will continue in its tradition of presenting a cast of brilliant young professional singers in a fully-staged production. Jose Rubio who played the dashing Guglielmo in Skagit Opera?s Cosi Fan Tutte last year, will be performing the title role for the first time. Joining him in performing their roles for the first time will be Ksenia Popova, Skagit Opera?s Gretel in Hansel and Gretel as Donna Anna and Jordan McClellan , Skagit Opera?s Adalgisa in last year?s Norma, as Zerlina. Three singers will be making their Pacific Northwest Opera debuts: Jesse Nordstrom as Don Ottavio, Craig Grayson as Commendatore, and Benjamin Kramer as Masetto. Returning favorites include Christina Kowalski (Tosca, Norma, Madam Butterfly, Rosalinda, Fiordiligi ) as Donna Elvira and Jonathan Silvia (Ramfis in Aida, Dandini in Cinderella, Oroveso in Norma , Sarastro in Die Zauberflote, and Zuniga in Carmen) as Leporello. Also making their debut will be stage director, Linda Kitchen and conductor, Philip Kelsey. Kitchen, a former principal soprano at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, had a 25-year career as an opera singer in major European opera houses before becoming a stage director, first in UK then New Zealand and recently in Seattle. Kelsey has been conducting at Seattle Opera for three decades. Don Giovanni will be performed in its original Italian with English supratitles projected over the stage. Tickets and information for DON GIOVANNI are available through the McIntyre Hall Box Office, 360.416.7727 ext. 2 or online, www.mcintyrehall.org. The Box Office is open Tuesday through Friday, noon ? 4:00pm. McIntyre Hall is located on the Mount Vernon Campus of Skagit Valley College.