Austin, TX—Austin Lyric Opera opens its 2007/08 season with three performances of Simply The Best, Opera’s Greatest Hits featuring opera’s best-loved overtures, arias and ensembles from Verdi to Bernstein as sung by ALO favorites and rising young singers making their debut with the company.  The performances take place in the elegant setting of Riverbend Centre and will feature the Austin Lyric Opera Orchestra and Chorus led by Maestro Richard Buckley, ALO’s Principal Conductor.

            “These concerts offer a rare opportunity to experience some of the greatest melodies in the operatic repertory,” said Kevin Patterson, Austin Lyric Opera’s General Director.  “It’s a musical banquet, a feast for the audience.”

            Soprano Brenda Harris will provide vocal fireworks with ensembles and arias from operas by Wagner and Verdi.  Ms. Harris has sung leading roles with opera companies throughout the world including the Metropolitan, Washington National, Minnesota and New York City operas as well as Opera Theatre of St Louis. Austin audiences will remember her stirring roles as Katarina in Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk and Chrysothemis in Elektra.

            Brilliant young tenor Stephen Costello debuted recently in the Metropolitan Opera’s new production of Lucia de Lammermoor conducted by James Levine.  Upcoming engagements include the Salzburg Festival, Deutsche Oper Berlin, and Baltimore, Florida Grand and Dallas Operas.  Costello will sing “Che gelida manina” from Puccini’s La Bohème and will join other cast in selections from Giordano’s Andrea Chénier and Gounod’s Faust for ALO.

            Coloratura soprano Jennifer Rowley made her operatic debut as the First Lady in The Magic Flute with Cleveland Opera.  Other recent engagements include the Opera Company of Brooklyn and the gala for the Martina Arroyo Foundation.

            “Over the years, (Peter) Volpe has garnered praise for his dark, dynamic bass and his ability to make a character come alive…” notes Opera News.  Mr. Volpe has made notable debuts with the Metropolitan Opera and San Francisco Operas, Lyric Opera of Chicago, and Washington National, Palm Beach and Florida Grand Operas.

Vibrant mezzo-soprano Jennifer Holloway made her debuts with the Théâtre du Châtelet, the Teatro Regio di Parma, Pittsburgh Opera and Tulsa Opera.  She will sing arias from Offenbach’s Les Contes d’Hoffmann and Handel’s Xerxes.

The dynamic American baritone Stephen Powell brings his handsome voice, elegant musicianship, and robust stage presence to a wide range of music, from Monteverdi and Handel through Verdi and Puccini to Sondheim and John Adams.  In addition to numerous roles with New York City Opera, Mr. Powell has sung with the Metropolitan Opera, Lyric Opera of Chicago, Hawaii Opera Theatre, and San Diego, Portland and Cleveland Operas.

Stephen Costello, Jennifer Rowley, Peter Volpe, Jennifer Holloway and Stephen Powell will be making their debuts with Austin Lyric Opera.

Tickets for Simply the Best, Opera’s Greatest Hits are available for as little as $19 and are available at Austin Lyric Opera’s Box Office at 901 Barton Springs Road, by calling (512) 472-5992 or 1-800-31-OPERA or order on line at www.AustinLyricOpera.org   Driving directions for Riverbend Centre are also available at ALO’s website. 

The Austin Lyric Opera Guild will host a post-performance celebration on Friday, November 2, 2007 10 pm to midnight at the County Line on the Lake, 5204 RR-2222.  Tickets for the event are $75 per person.  For information and tickets call (512) 472-5927 x 116 or email abonnici@AustinLyricOpera.org

Austin Lyric Opera will move to its new home, the state-of-the-art performance venue, The Long Center for the Performing Arts, for the remainder of the 2007/08 season.  ALO will present Bizet’s Carmen April 18, 20, 24, 26, 2008; and close the season with Strauss’ The Bat (Die Fledermaus) a new production with book and lyrics by Esther’s Follies, Texas’ premiere comedy troupe.  The Bat will be presented May 30, June 1, 5, 7, 2008.