Calgary Opera presents the Canadian Premiere of The Ballad of Baby Doe

January 10, 2008 08-07

For Immediate Release

Calgary Opera presents the Canadian Premiere of The Ballad of Baby Doe

Calgary AB... this January Calgary unveils the centrepiece of the 2007-2008 season, the boom-bust themed American Classic The Ballad of Baby Doe, by Douglas Moore. The Ballad of Baby Doe performs at the Jubilee Auditorium January 26, 30 & February 1, 2008. Joining us on Opening Night is Soprano Leyna Gabriele, who first created the role of Baby Doe over 50 years ago.

"We are absolutely thrilled to be able to present this professional Canadian premiere, and to have one of the original cast members in attendance on opening night, "says Bob McPhee, General Director & CEO. "The boom-bust storyline of this opera will resonate with many Calgarians, and will provide the theme of our third annual Community Symposium, a series of public events leading up to the opening night performance."

The Canadian premiere is conducted by Hal France, Music Director of the Orlando Philharmonic, with stage direction by Kelly Robinson, who last directed Frobisher in 2007. In a casting change due to illness the title role of Baby Doe will be sung by Soprano Tracy Dahl, after her stunning performance as Gilda in this season's opening production of Rigoletto. She will be joined on stage by Baritone John Fanning, who last season created the role of Frobisher, as Horace Tabor. Also appearing are Mezzo-Soprano Elizabeth Turnbull (Frobisher, 2007) as Augusta Tabor, Baritone John Avey (Turandot, 2005) as Wm. Jennings Bryan, and the eight young singers in the Emerging Artist Development Program, who perform the small roles as well as covering the lead roles. Alongisde the Calgary Opera Chorus led by Chorusmaster Sandra Atkinson, The Cantarˆ© Children's Choir will also perform. Lighting Design is by renowned designer Harry Frehner.

Leading up to opening night of the Canadian premiere is a series of public events exploring the boom-bust theme central to the opera. For more information on the Community Symposium along with company biographies and synopsis visit: http://calgaryopera.com/stage/babydoe/index.php

Calgary Opera acknowledges the generous support of our media sponsors, The Calgary Herald and CBC Radio Two.

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For further information, please contact: Brian O'Neill, Calgary Opera 802-3409