Nashville Opera announced their 2022 season and they are going for the gold! There’s a new world premiere from an award-winning Nashville songwriter. We will finally get to witness the long awaited John Hoomes’ film noir staging of Verdi’s classic, Rigoletto. The season closes with the first four epic operas included in Wagner’s The Ring Cycle to be performed at the fabulous new Belmont University Performing Arts Center. Details below!
FAVORITE SON
FRI, JAN 21, 2022 | 8 PM
SAT, JAN 22, 2022 | 8 PM
SUN, JAN 23, 2022 | 3 PM
Noah Liff Opera Center
The world premiere of Favorite Son marks Nashville Opera’s second collaboration with GRAMMY Award-winning Nashville songwriter Marcus Hummon. Along with Top 40 singles for Tim McGraw, Wynonna Judd, and Alabama, Hummon has three #1 country hits to date: “Cowboy Take Me Away” by the Chicks, “Born to Fly” by Sara Evans, and the Rascal Flatts version of “Bless the Broken Road,” which won the GRAMMY for Best Country Song in 2006. Drawing from experiences in the composer’s own life, the poignant FAVORITE SON journeys through one man’s memories to find the essence of truth. Cast members include singer, songwriter, session musician, and four-time Grammy-nominated artist Darrell Scott; popular crossover tenor and minor-league baseball player John Riesen; Jennifer Whitcomb-Oliva, seen in last fall’s world premiere opera film One Vote Won; and Emma Grimsley, who led the North American touring company of The Phantom of the Opera as Christine through its closing in February 2020.
Music and libretto by Marcus Hummon
Directed by John Hoomes
Sung in English with projected English lyrics
RIGOLETTO
NOIR
THU, APRIL 7, 2022 | 7:30 PM
SAT, APRIL 9, 2022 | 7:30 PM
Andrew Jackson Hall, TPAC
John Hoomes’ creative new staging puts an edgy film-noir spin on the story while letting Verdi’s music pack its original punch! The wise-cracking Rigoletto, despised by all save his beautiful daughter, is powerless to protect her from the lechery of his boss, Duke. From the slick world of the jet set to a seedy back-alley dive bar, Rigoletto soon discovers that revenge can be a double-edged sword. Lush melodies blend with dark intrigue in this tale of a father’s vengeance. Spoiler alert: Verdi uses what is arguably the most famous aria on the planet to serve up the plot’s bitterest twist!
Music by Giuseppe Verdi
Directed by John Hoomes
Conducted by Dean Williamson
Featuring the Nashville Opera Orchestra and Ensemble
Sung in Italian with projected English titles
RIGOLETTO will contain its own original film noir by Penumbra Entertainment, winner of the Nashville Opera Noir Filmfest! More.
Lexi Cline and Chris Hollo of Penumbra Entertainment, the winning filmmaking team, at the Black & White Bash, March 1
DAS RHEINGOLD
FRI, MAY 6, 2022 | 7:30 PM
SUN, MAY 8, 2022 | 3 PM
Belmont University Performing Arts Center
Nashville Opera will close its 2021.22 season at the Belmont University Performing Arts Center with Richard Wagner’s DAS RHEINGOLD—the first of four epic operas comprising The Ring Cycle. Wagner’s music is seared into the pop psyche as the score for the famous helicopter scene in Apocalypse Now, and that same power infuses DAS RHEINGOLD (The Gold of the Rhein River). This intense extended one-act draws from Norse mythology and German folklore to weave a story of gods, monsters, and an epic heist of precious gold. Characters are represented by unique musical leitmotifs, which are combined throughout the opera to bring the story to life. It is believed this DAS RHEINGOLD will be the first fully staged production of this masterwork in Nashville.
Music by Richard Wagner
Directed by John Hoomes
Conducted by Dean Williamson
Featuring the Nashville Opera Orchestra
Sung in German with projected English titles
