Press Release

Toledo Opera Presents Verdi’s Il Trovatore
at the
Maumee Performing Arts Center

Saturday, March 1, 7:30pm
Friday, March 7, 7:30 pm
Sunday, March 9, 2pm 

Toledo, OH – Toledo Opera presents Giuseppe Verdi’s Il Trovatore, an opera packed with improbable death-defying twists, turns, and cliffhangers. Your mind might not believe it, but your heart will. Propelled by glorious music and an action-packed plot, this gripping tale of persecution, vengeance, and love in time of war will leave you breathless. Prepare to be astonished, and deeply stirred!

Verdi’s forcefully passionate, melodic score for Il Trovatore was a veritable blockbuster when it premiered. He was the Steven Spielberg of his era, churning out populist entertainments that were both formulaic and original. It was what the people wanted, yet also led them in exciting new directions. Within a year of its premiere Il Trovatore was presented throughout Italy and beyond. Over the next few years it swept the globe and today still remains a worldwide favorite.

Plot Summary
Il Trovatore is a chilling tale of love and impossible revenge involving characters that are larger than life: Count di Luna, a nobleman, the troubadour Manrico, the woman whom they both love, Leonora, and the mysterious gypsy, Azucena.

Il Trovatore tells the story of a vengeful mother who steals the baby of her enemy, raises him as her own and sets him against his brother who competes for the same woman and political power. Not knowing they are related, one brother captures, tortures and executes the other, only to find out too late that it is his brother.

About the Artists
Performing the role of the gypsy, Azucena, is mezzo-soprano, Robynne Redmon. Ms. Redmon has performed leading roles with major opera houses including Maddalena in Rigoletto at The Metropolitan Opera, Adalgisa in Norma with Lyric Opera of Chicago, Clytemnestre in Gluck’s Iphigenie en Aulide at the Berlin State Opera, and Eboli in Don Carlos with the Boston Lyric Opera. A respected interpreter of modern music and creator of new roles, Ms. Redmon created the title role in the world premiere of Bright Sheng’s Madame Mao for the Santa Fe Opera. Soprano Kerri Marcinko returns to Toledo Opera in the role of the romantic heroine, Leonora. She has performed at Houston Grand Opera as Despina in Cosi van tutti and Fortune and Venus in L’incoronazione di Poppea. She made her debut at the Boston Lyric Opera as Missy in Tod Machover’s Resurrection. Recent engagements include Micaela at New York City Opera. The role of the Troubador Manrico will be sung by Tenor Dongwon Shin, a native of Seoul, Korea. A National Finalist in the 2003 Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions, his recent roles include Radames in Aida at Houston Grand Opera, the title role in Samson et Dalila at Dayton Opera and Pollione in Norma with Michigan Opera Theatre. In 2008, he will perform the title role in Otello with Opera Australia. Baritone Sebastian Catana, sings his first Conte di Luna with Toledo Opera. He made his Metropolitan Opera debut as Schaunard in la Boheme in 2003, and has performed there in Carmen, Madama Butterfly, Rigoletto, and il barbiere di Siviglia. Other roles include Marcello in la Boheme at the Seattle Opera and the Count in Le Nozze di Figaro at the Baltimore Opera.Grammy-award winning Thomas Conlin will conduct Il Trovatore and Elizabeth Bachman will direct the action.

Enrico Caruso once said that Il Trovatore is very easy to produce. “All you need is the four best singers in the world.” Toledo Opera’s production has put together a cast of extraordinary singers that will bring this great opera to life.

Performances of Verdi’s Il Trovatore are Saturday, March 1 at 7:30 pm, Friday, March 7 at 7:30 pm and Sunday, March 9 at 2 pm at the Maumee Performing Arts Center, 1150 Saco St. in Maumee. All performances are preceded by informal, pre-opera chats designed to make your opera experience more enjoyable. Toledo Opera’s production of Il Trovatore is presented with generous support from Reuter Charitable Trust - Comerica Charitable Services Group, Trustee.

Single ticket prices begin at $29.00 and may be purchased online at toledoopera.org or by phone at 419-255-7464. Discounts are available for students, seniors and groups of ten or more. Il Trovatore will be sung in Italian with simultaneous English translations projected above the stage.