Press Releases

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 6, 2011
CONTACT: Kathleen Fay, Executive Director
617-661-1812 | kathy@bemf.org

MEDIA ALERT: FULLY STAGED OPERA PRESENTED BY BOSTON EARLY MUSIC FESTIVAL – THE NORTH AMERICAN PREMIERE OF STEFFANI’S NIOBE, REGINA DI TEBE

WHEN:	Sunday, June 12, 2011 at 3:30pm Tuesday, June 14, 2011 at 7pm Wednesday, June 15, 2011 at 7pm Friday, June 17, 2011 at 7pm Sunday, June 19, 2011 at 3:30pm Cutler Majestic Theatre at Emerson College (219 Tremont Street, Boston, MA) Friday, June 24, 2011 at 7pm Saturday, June 25, 2011 at 7pm Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center (14 Castle Street, Great Barrington, MA)
PROGRAM:	North American Premiere of Steffani’s Niobe, Regina di Tebe Paul O’Dette and Stephen Stubbs, Musical Directors Gilbert Blin, Stage Director Caroline Copeland and Carlos Fittante, Choreographers Anna Watkins, Costume Designer Gilbert Blin, Set Designer Lenore Doxsee, Lighting Designer Flying effects provided by ZFX, Inc. Amanda Forsythe, Niobe Philippe Jaroussky, Anfione Yulia Van Doren, Manto Charles Robert Stephens,Tiresia Kevin D. Skelton, Clearte Matthew White, Creonte Jesse Blumberg, Polifierno Colin Balzer, Tiberino José Lemos, Nerea
TICKETS:	Tickets are priced from $30 to $250 and are available through the BEMF Box Office at 617-868-BEMF or WWW.BEMF.ORG. Tickets can also be purchased through the individual venues at 617-824-8000 or AEStages.org for the Cutler Majestic Theatre and 413-528-0100 or mahaiwe.org for the Mahaiwe.
EVENT DESCRIPTION: The Boston Early Music Festival (BEMF) presents the fully staged North American premiere of Steffani’s opera, *Niobe, Regina di Tebe* as the centerpiece of the June 2011 Festival, with five (5) performances from June 12 to 19, at the Cutler Majestic Theatre at Emerson College (219 Tremont Street, Boston, MA, USA) followed by two (2) performances in the Berkshires at the Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center (14 Castle Street, Great Barrington, MA, USA) on June 24 and 25. An important influence on the Baroque composer, George Frideric Handel, Steffani’s brilliant music recounts a story from Ovid’s Metamorphoses about the Queen of Thebes whose pride earns her family the vengeance of the gods. “Our discovery of this unknown masterpiece has been very exciting,” remarks Artistic Co-Director Paul O’Dette. “Niobe is an extraordinary piece – with breathtaking music, intense drama, and spectacular sets and costumes. BEMF has assembled 75 singers, dancers, and instrumentalists perfectly suited to bring it to life.” Leading the international cast will be soprano Amanda Forsythe as Niobe. Ms. Forsythe has performed in numerous BEMF opera productions and is a rising international star. In the role of Anfione, Niobe’s husband, countertenor Philippe Jaroussky makes his North American stage début. Mr. Jaroussky counts a 2008 Echo Award for Best Singer and a recent The New York Times Magazine among a growing number of accolades. The production will be led by three-time Grammy-nominated BEMF Artistic Co-Directors Paul O’Dette and Stephen Stubbs; Stage Director Gilbert Blin; and Costume Designer Anna Watkins. Behind the Scenes preview at http://youtu.be/LdlBPJMvlAQ PRESS TICKETS Media organizations intending to cover the 2011 Boston Early Music Festival are invited to request two (2) complimentary tickets to a single performance of the Centerpiece Opera, Steffani’s Niobe, Regina di Tebe, for the purposes of reviewing the performance. Please email brian@bemf.org with your request.. RESOURCES: Download artist photos http://www.bemf.org/pages/press/images.htm ABOUT THE BOSTON EARLY MUSIC FESTIVAL: Recognized as the preeminent early music presenting organization in North America, the Boston Early Music Festival has been credited with securing Boston’s reputation as “America’s early music capital” (The Boston Globe). Founded in 1981, the Boston Early Music Festival offers diverse programs and activities, including three Grammy-nominated opera recordings, an annual concert series that brings early music’s brightest stars to the Boston and New York concert stages, and a biennial week-long Festival and Exhibition recognized as the “world’s leading festival of early music” (The Times, London). The 2011 Boston Early Music Festival is presented with support from the Massachusetts Cultural Council, ConstellationCenter, WGBH Radio Boston, Harpsichord Clearing House, Zuckermann Harpsichords International, the National Endowment for the Arts, The Gregory E. Bulger Foundation, the U. S. Trust/Bank of America Private Wealth Management, the Dante Alighieri Society, the Viola da Gamba Society of America, and the American Recorder Society. Dates, times, venues, artists, and programs are subject to change. Dates, times, venues, artists, and programs are subject to change. For more information, images, press tickets, or to schedule an interview, please contact Kathleen Fay at 617-661-1812 or email kathy@bemf.org ###