Four major talents return in starring roles for the opening production:  Finnish-Canadian soprano Eilana Lappalainen (Carmen, 1992; Turandot, 1993; and La Traviata, 1994) as Leonora, Argentina’s Teatro Colón leading tenor Gustavo López Manzitti (Cavalleria Rusticana/I Pagliacci, 2007) as Manrico, two-time Grammy Award winning baritone Nmon Ford (Salome, 1994; Otello, 1999; and Tristan & Isolde, 2005) as Count di Luna, and Grammy-nominated Metropolitan Opera mezzo-soprano Victoria Livengood – the “Dixie Diva” – as Azucena. Ms. Livengood made her debut with Virginia Opera in the 1986 production of Carmen alongside fellow opera star Renée Fleming.

New designs for Il Trovatore include the set by Michael Ganio (Fidelio, 2004; Tristan & Isolde, 2006; and Agrippina, 2007) and lighting by Richard Winkler, who makes his design debut with the company. Returning in the director’s chair is Lillian Groag, acclaimed time and again for her inspired staging of Virginia Opera productions that include most recently Tales of Hoffmann, which opened the current season in September, and last season’s Virginia Premiere of Agrippina. Artistic Director Peter Mark will conduct, marking his 100th production conducted for Virginia Opera in 34 seasons with the company.

In November, Virginia Opera toasts the holidays with Gaetano Donizetti’s intoxicating romantic comedy, The Elixir of Love, in which a young farmer attempts to win the girl of his dreams by drinking a love potion that turns out to be just cheap wine. Starring as the dream girl Adina is returning soprano Jane Redding, whom audiences will remember from roles as Poppea in last season’s Agrippina and Susanna in the 2006 production of The Marriage of Figaro. Making his debut is tenor Joshua Kohl as the love struck farmer, Nemorino. Returning to direct the production is Dorothy Danner (The Merry Widow, 2004; Die Fledermaus, 2003; La Traviata, 2005; Carmen, 2006; Susannah, 2006; and Lucia di Lammermoor, upcoming). Assistant Artistic Director and Associate Conductor Joseph Walsh will conduct.

In January 2009, Virginia Opera rings in the New Year with a quintessential production from the Italian repertoire:  Giacomo Puccini’s Tosca. British stage director Lorna Haywood returns to stage her third production at Virginia Opera following the success of The Marriage of Figaro in 2006 and Cavalleria Rusticana/I Pagliacci last season. Peter Mark will conduct the production, which tells the tale of fiery soprano Floria Tosca, whose lover’s life is jeopardized when he is captured by the malicious police chief who lusts after her. Additional casting details will be announced at a later date.

The Barber of Seville, Gioachino Rossini’s hilarious comedy, serves up laughter and mayhem as the season’s final opera follows the madcap adventures of an outrageous barber with matchmaking on the mind. Handsome baritone Jason Detwiler, who makes his company debut in the title role of Eugene Onegin next month, returns as the barber whose name is the opera’s claim to fame:  “Figaro, Figaro, Figaro!” Baritone Steven Condy and bass Mark McCrory also debut as Dr. Bartolo and Don Basilio. Greg Ganakas (Carousel, 1996; Oklahoma!, 1997) will direct and Peter Mark will conduct.

Virginia Opera performs in Norfolk at the Edythe C. & Stanley L. Harrison Opera House, at the Landmark Theater in Richmond and at George Mason University’s Center for the Arts in Fairfax.

All operas in the 2008-2009 Season will be sung in Italian, with English supertitles projected above the stage.