of The Palmetto Opera's upcoming production of Giacomo Puccini's Madama Butterfly! Artists' biographies and headshots can be viewed here.
Madama Butterfly will be at the Koger Center for the Arts for one performance only on Sunday, January 29, 2023 for a special 3:00 pm matinée.
Tickets are on sale at the Koger Center Box Office.
A classic tale of tragedy, Giacomo Puccini’s Madama Butterfly is one of the most famous operas ever written. It follows the unforgettable story of a young Japanese woman who falls in love with United States Navy Lieutenant Pinkerton. This is a story of immature love, new life, death, and remorse.
Madama Butterfly’s captivating melodies and classic story are what make it a cornerstone of opera today. With famous arias as Un bel dí, vedremo, Madama Butterfly will be appreciated by opera lovers and newcomers alike.
Approximately 2 hours and 30 minutes, including one 20-minute intermission Sung in Italian with projected English supertitles.
Tickets are available at the
Koger Center Box Office 803-251-2222.
There is an additional $2 Koger Center restoration fee
for each ticket purchase.
Individual Tickets:
Premium Orchestra-$55
Side Orchestra-$50
Accessible-$45
Seniors-$5 off
MEET THE ARTISTS OF MADAMA BUTTERFLY
MELLIANGEE PÉREZ
CIO-CIO-SAN
Ms. Pérez was born in Ponce, Puerto Rico. Graduated from the Puerto Rico Conservatory of Music and studied with Zoraida López and the famous Puerto Rican bass-baritone Justino Díaz. She has won the Puerto Rico District Metropolitan Opera House Competitions Editions 1999, 2003 and 2004. In 2005 and 2008, she finished as a semifinalist at the International Singing Contest Francisco Viñas in Barcelona, Spain. She has sung in different countries such as Puerto Rico, the United States of America, Dominican Republic, Italy, Spain, Colombia, Cuba, Martinique, Mexico, Guatemala and Venezuela. She has performed the leading operatic roles of Cio-Cio San in MADAME BUTTERFLY, Donna Anna in DON GIOVANNI, Mimì in LA BOHÈME, Contessa da Almaviva in LE NOZZE DI FIGARO, Micaela in CARMEN, Narrator in ¨SI ME VEN LLORANDO¨, Elvira in MACÍAS, Lauretta and Nella in GIANNI SCHICCHI, Suzel in L’AMICO FRITZ, Princess Patricia in THE MIRROR OF THE QUEEN, Isabelle/Madeline in THE FACE ON THE BARROOM FLOOR, Fresquita in “EL HOMBRE QUE SE CASÓ CON MUJER MUDA”, The Little Red Riding Hood, Euridice in ORFEO ED EURIDICE, Elisetta in IL MATRIMONIO SEGRETO, Suor Zelatrice in SUOR ANGELICA and Giannetta in L’ELISIR D’AMORE. She also performed the leading roles of the zarzuelas and operetas: Cecilia Valdés, Duquesa Carolina in LUISA FERNANDA, Hanna Glawari in THE MERRY WIDOW, Julieta in “EL MISTERIO DEL CASTILLO”, Santa in “ALMA LLANERA”, Constancia in “EL HUÉSPED DEL SEVILLANO”, Aurora in “LAS LEANDRAS”, Casta in “LA VERBENA DE LA PALOMA”. For the last nine years, Pérez has performed with la Sociedad Pro Arte Latinomericana, SPL in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, all the “Romance Latino” concerts, A Zarzuela Anthology, Luisa Fernanda and Cecilia Valdés zarzuelas. Ms. Pérez has performed different concerts from classical music, oratorios, masses, art songs, zarzuelas´ anthologies, musical theater to popular music. She is the Choral Conductor of the Juan Morel Campos Children and Youth Choirs in her hometown and also teaches vocal technique at the Juan Morel Campos Free Music School in Ponce, Puerto Rico.
ALESSIO BORRAGGINE
B.F. PINKERTON
LIEUTENANT, U.S. NAVY
Discovered by the renowned tenor Giacomo Aragall, Roman native Alessio Borraggine is one of today’s up and coming Italian tenors. He is consistently praised for the beauty of his tone, his musicality and the physical embodiment of his roles. He is fast garnering consistent acclaim in his performances winning critics and audience alike. Upon his operatic debut as Pinkerton in MADAMA BUTTERFLY at the International Festival of the Aegean, “the Italian tenor with a beautiful sound and a good technique convincingly conveyed the hero who marries the young geisha and then leaves her behind.” Upon his New York City debut with Teatro Grattacielo in the lead role of Marcello in Leoncavallo’s LA BOHÈME, “…but of particular note was Alessio Borraggine, who carried us away with Marcello’s love” (Opera News) and “Alessio Borraggine sang the role of Marcello with delight and tenacity. His voice carried across the theater with purpose and connection to his character.” (OperaWire) In his debut in LA TRAVIATA with Teatro Lirico D’Europa in winter 2020: “Tenor Alessio Borraggine as Alfredo Violetta’s ardent lover - nailed the part, both vocally and dramatically.” (Captiva Current)
He has been heard in concert in such prestigious venues as the Musikverein in Vienna and the Auditori of Barcelona. His past engagements include role debuts of Marcello (Leoncavallo's LA BOHÈME) with the Teatro Grattacielo of New York City for their 25th Anniversary Gala, Don José in CARMEN For the Narnia Festival in Italy, Pinkerton in Puccini's MADAMA BUTTERFLY with the Syros Opera Festival in Greece and Teatro Lirico d’Europa in winter 2020, Turiddu in CAVALLERIA RUSTICANA with Juneau Lyric Opera, Alfredo in Verdi's LA TRAVIATA and Rodolfo in Puccini’s LA BOHÈME with Teatro Lirico d’Europa and in a special filmed version of LA BOHÈME at the Teatro Ginnasi di Roma during the pandemic. In 2022, his engagements included his role debut of Cavaradossi in TOSCA with Gulfshore Opera and a Gala Concert Homage to Maria Callas at the Alte Oper Frankfurt. 2023 includes reprisals of Pinkerton in MADAMA BUTTERFLY with Teatro Lirico D’Europa at major USA venues and concerts with orchestra and international soloists entitled A CELEBRATION OF SONG.
MICHAEL NANSEL
SHARPLESS
AMERICAN CONSUL AT NAGASAKI
Michael Nansel is an award-winning singer and actor. Best known as an opera singer, he is also an accomplished recitalist and concert artist, and appears frequently in musical theater classics. Between Opera and Musicals, Mr. Nansel has over 80-roles to his credit. He sings music from the Mozart to Sondheim, from Verdi to Rodger & Hammerstein. He was the Wichita Grand Opera’s Singer of the Year in 2012 and was the dual winner in 2003 of the Washington Area Theatre Community Honors for Outstanding lead actor in a musical and Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical. He has also twice been a member of Casts nominated for Helen Hayes Awards.
His voice has been described as “stentorian”, “rich” with “great vocal and emotional power”. Reviewers have also remark that his acting “communicates deep humanity”, can be “tender and anguished” and that he is “the top banana”. Mr. Nansel possesses a diverse repertoire ranging from the comedic Figaro (BARBER OF SEVILLE), DON GIOVANNI (DON GIOVANNI) and Belcore (L'ELISIR D'AMORE) to the dramatic Count Di Luna (IL TROVATORE), the title role of RIGOLETTO and Escamillo (CARMEN). Among his most widely acclaimed roles are the Di Luna, Iago (OTELLO), Figaro, as well as Danilo (THE MERRY WIDOW), and the Title Character in SWEENEY TODD: THE DEMON BARBER OF FLEET STREET. He has also performed the roles of Giorgio Germont (LA TRAVIATA), Marcello (LA BOHEME) Scarpia in (TOSCA) and Sharpless (MADAMA BUTTERFLY) with opera companies all over the USA.
His concert credits include: Mendelsohn’s ELIJAH, Haydn's CREATION, Mozart's REQUIEM, Faure's REQUIEM, Handel's MESSIAH, Brahms’ REQUIEM, Beethoven’s MASS IN C MAJOR, and Block’s SACRED SERVICE (Avodat Hakodesh).
He has been conducted by several Maestros of note include Julius Rudel, Plácido Domingo, Eugene Kohn, Marin Alsop, Steven Mercurio and Gregory Buchalter. Directors of note include Stephen Lawless, Jonathon Loy, Jayme McDaniel, James Marvel and Scott Schwartz. He has shared the stage with Joyce DiDonato, Salvatore Licitra, Yunah Lee, Denise Graves, Lucas Meachem, Samuel Ramey and Paul Plishka.
Mr. Nansel studies with Andrea DelGiudice and resides in the Washington, DC area with his wife of 36 years and their pack of dogs, lizards, and various fosters.
Upcoming Engagements for 2022-23 include LOHENGRIN (Fredrick), MESSIAH, VERDI SCENES (Aida/Falstaff), MACBETH & THE SHAKESPEARE RIOTS (William Charles Macready), MACBETH (Macbeth) as well as performances as Sharpless in Teatro Lirico’s MADAMA BUTTERFLY at major USA venues. Engagements during the 2021-22 included La Boheme (Marcello), Elektra (Orest), RIGOLETTO (Rigoletto), MADAMMA BUTTERFLY (Sharpless), TRIAL BY JURY (The Usher)
EMILY GELLAR
SUZUKI
MAID TO CIO-CIO-SAN
Lauded for her "lower extension that has to be heard to be believed," Emily Geller is contralto based in New York City. A uniquely versatile artist, she has established herself as a performer to watch in opera, operetta, new music, musical theater, and oratorio.
The 2022-2023 season includes appearing Ruth in THE PIRATES OF PENZANCE with Pacific Opera Project, Zita in GIANNI SCHICCHI with Salt Marsh Opera, Brahms’s ALTO RHAPSODY with the Mendelssohn Glee Club of New York City, and Suzuki in MADAMA BUTTERFLY with Teatro Lirico d’Europa for their East Coast Tour. Ms. Geller’s 2021-2022 season featured a non-traditional casting as Germont in LA TRAVIATA with MassOpera at the historic Eustis Estate, and “Gather Together: A Taste for the Season” with Tri-Cities Opera. She returned to Newport Classical to perform Benoit/Alcindoro in LA BOHÈME, continuing the exciting casting theme. Ms. Geller’s 2020-2021 season, canceled due to Covid-19, included Desiree Armfeldt in A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC with Tri- Cities Opera, Suzuki in MADAMA BUTTERFLY with NJ Association of Verismo Opera, and Florence Pike in ALBERT HERRING with Penn Square Music Festival.
In the 2019-2020 season, Ms. Geller garnered rave reviews for creating the role of Sylvia, an image-obsessed Hollywood mother, in the world premiere of CHUNKY IN HEAT with Experiments in Opera and Contemporaneous as a part of New York Opera Festival. Opera News singled her out for the "layers of complexity" she brought to her character. She also toured the East Coast as Suzuki (MADAMA BUTTERFLY) and Flora (LA TRAVIATA) with Teatro Lirico d'Europa, including collaborations with Opera New Hampshire and Palmetto Opera. Ms. Geller was also featured as the alto soloist in Handel's MESSIAH with the MidAtlantic Symphony Orchestra in The Great Auditorium in Ocean Grove, NJ. Additional concert work included “Meeting of the Masters” with the Westchester Oratorio Society presenting works of Bach and Mozart, “Songs of a Traveler” solo recital at The Long Island Children’s Museum presented by Chamber Players International, and featured soloist in “Opera Night” presented by Career Bridges NY.
Recent notable concert soloist work includes Mozart’s REQUIEM, Mendelssohn’s ELIJAH, Vivaldi’s GLORIA, Bach's WEIHNACHTS-ORATORIUM, Duruflé’s REQUIEM, Britten’s REJOICE IN THE LAMB, and Handel’s MESSIAH with companies across the United States.
Ms. Geller has been a Resident Artist at Opera North, Opera on the James, Natchez Festival of Music, and Tri-Cities Opera. As an audience favorite, Ms. Geller returned to Opera North several times, performing Ma Moss (THE TENDER LAND), Mrs. Jones (STREET SCENE), Hattie (KISS ME, KATE), and Oreste (LA BELLE HÉLÈNE). After covering Marthe (FAUST) at St. Petersburg Opera, she was invited back as a Principal Artist, appearing as Alma Hix and covering Eulalie Mackecknie Shinn (THE MUSIC MAN). As a two-year Resident Artist with Tri-Cities Opera, she performed Prince Orlofsky (DIE FLEDERMAUS), Mercédès (CARMEN), Lola (CAVALLERIA RUSTICANA) and Ines (IL TROVATORE).
JORDAN WEATHERSON PITTS
GORO
A MARRIAGE BROKER
Tenor Jordan Weatherston Pitts has been recognized for his "heroic", "passionate" and "bewitching" performances both on the operatic stage, as well as in concert. He has been seen in The Wall Street Journal, The New York Classical Review, The Financial Times, Opera News, OperaWire, The Boston Globe, Early Music America Magazine, and The New York Times. He has made guest appearances on NPR, WQXR, New York 1, and ABC News as well as featured articles in The New Yorker Magazine and The London Times International. Jordan made his principal artist debut to critical acclaim as the drag queen Renata in Iain Bell and Mark Campbell’s world premiere of STONEWALL with New York City Opera and continues an active performance schedule of romantic and lyric repertoire. His most recent roles include the cover of Romeo in Gounod’s ROMEO ET JULIETTE with the Hawaii Opera Theatre, a cover of The Magician (Nika Magadoff) in Menotti’s THE CONSUL with Opera Saratoga, Don Ottavio in DON GIOVANNI, Achille in LA BELLE HELENE, Rinuccio in GIANNI SCHICCHI, Alfredo in LA TRAVIATA, Younger Thompson (Cover) in Tom Cipullo's GLORY DENIED, Goro in MADAMA BUTERFLY, and MacDuff in Verdi's MACBETH. In 2018 Jordan was both a Studio Artist with Opera Saratoga’s Young Artist Program as well as an Orvis Studio Artist with the Hawaii Opera Theatre. Other roles include Oronte in ALCINA, William Lyons in the world premier of Darryl Glenn Nettle's THE FALL OF STAG LEE, Spoletta in TOSCA, The Narrator in Britten's OWEN WINGRAVE with the Boston University Opera Institute, Vittellozzo in LUCREZIA BORGIA with LoftOpera, King Kaspar in AMAHL AND THE NIGHT VISITORS, Gastone in LA TRAVIATA, Davey Palmer in Jonathan Dove's critically acclaimed one-act opera, SIREN SONG, Joe in Richard Wargo's BALLYMORE, and a cover of Hoffmann in Offenbach’s LES CONTES D'HOFFMANN.
VLADIMIR HRISTOV
THE BONZE
BHUDDIST PRIEST, THE UNCLE OF CIO-CIO-SAN
Bulgarian bass Vladimir Hristov graduated from the National Academy of Music in Sofia. He has been a soloist with Teatro Lirico D'Europa on its American and European tours since the winter of 2003 performing roles in Verdi’s RIGOLETTO, NABUCCO, LA TRAVIATA and AIDA, Puccini’s MADAMA BUTTERFLY and TOSCA, Rossini’s IL BARBIERE DI SIVIGLIA and others.
ASHER COBB
SORROW
CHILD OF CIO-CIO-SAN AND PINKERTON
Asher Cobb, age 5, is a kindergartener from Blythewood, SC. Some of his favorite things are trains, candy, and playing baseball. He loves taking photos, making friends, and jumping in muddy puddles. When Asher grows up he want's to be a performer and a police officer.
VINCENTE PORTALATIN
PRINCE YAMADORI
SUITOR OF CIO-CIO-SAN
Vicente Portalatin was born in the town of Camuy, Puerto Rico, but currently has his residence in the town of Trujillo Alto, Puerto Rico. He is a professor of Music Foundation at the Ernesto Ramos Antonini Specialized School of Music in San Juan, PR. He has a bachelor's degree in Musical Education from the University of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras Campus and a Master's degree in Education in Fine Arts Education. Thanks to the Opera Workshop at the University of Puerto Rico, he has sung in opera and Zarzuela productions presented at the Center of Performing Arts of Santurce, one of the island’s top performing arts centers. His voice teachers were Zoraida Lopez in January 1999 and then, in August 1999 he began studying voice with tenor José Ramón Torres who is a professor at the Conservatory of Music of Puerto Rico. His most recent performance was in opera MADAMA BUTTERFLY in the role of the Imperial Commissioner, in addition to being in the opera chorus of the productions and concerts made by the Puerto Rico Symphony Orchestra, Opera of Puerto Rico, and Teatro de la Opera de Puerto Rico. He has been a chorus of the Catholic singer Quique López, and directs a musical ministry called VOCES PEREGRINAS. In addition to his day teaching at the Specialized Secondary School of Music, Dr. Carlos Conde gave him the opportunity to teach Music Theory at the Department of Music at the University of Sacred Heart in Santurce, Puerto Rico since 2016. In winter 2021 Vicente performed on tour with Teatro Lirico D’Europa as Alcinodo/Benoit in performances of Puccini's LA BOHEME and in winter 2022 joined Teatro Lirico in the chorus for both Verdi's RIGOLETTO and Rossini's IL BARBIERE DI SIVIGLIA at major venues in the USA on both the east and west coast.
GABRIELLE TIMOFEEVA
KATE PINKERTON
Gabrielle Timofeeva is a Puerto Rican mezzo soprano who has been praised for her “sizable voice” of “amber beauty” that “combines penetrating top notes with a richly colored mid-range” by the South Florida Classical Review. She has sung several operatic roles, including Armide (Lully), Hänsel (Humperdinck), Rinaldo (Handel), Kate Pinkerton (MADAMA BUTTERFLY), Shepherd Boy (TOSCA), Suora Zelatrice, Suora Cercatrice II (SUOR ANGELICA), and Dritter Knabe (DIE ZAUBERFLÖTE), among others. Ms. Timofeeva has also worked as a soloist with organizations such as the Puerto Rico Symphony Orchestra, with whom she has sung Mozart's GREAT MASS IN C MINOR, Vivaldi's GLORIA, and Handel's MESSIAH. She is an alum of the Puerto Rico Conservatory of Music, where she received a Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance, and also of the Miami Music Festival, Tafelmusik Baroque Summer Institute, and American Bach Soloists Academy. She is a winner of the Dr. José J. Rabelo Bel Canto Award and of an Honorable Mention in Voice – Mezzo Soprano - by the National Young Arts Foundation. She first performed Kate Pinkerton with Teatro Lirico D'Europa in 2018 and is pleased to return for a new season!
MAESTRO GREGORY BUCHALTER
CONDUCTOR
Gregory Buchalter holds the title of Music Director and conductor of Varna International and is in high demand as a guest conductor throughout the world. He makes frequent guest appearances conducting at Florida Grand Opera, the South Florida Symphony, Teatro Lirico D'europa and the Vienna Summer Music Festival. Internationally he has conducted SALOME at the Savonlinna Opera Festival, DIE FLEDERMAUS at the Vienna Volksoper, Mozart’s ENTFÜHRUNG AUS DEM SERAIL at the Spoleto Festival, COSI FAN TUTTE with the Mediterranean Opera Festival in Italy and EUGENE ONEGIN with the New Opera World Festival in Moscow and many operas at Varna International including the Bulgarian premieres of CANDIDE and Kurt Weil's STREET SCENE. He was Music Director of Opera Las Vegas for 5 years and conducted the American Premieres of Mercadante’s I DUE FIGARO, Von Winter’s DAS LABYRINTH and Donizetti’s OLIVO E PASQUALE in New York. At Opera Fairbanks he has conducted LA BOHEME, CARMEN, L'ELISIR D'AMORE, DON GIOVANNI, TOSCA, LA CENERENTOLA, L'ITALIANA IN ALGERI, HANSEL AND GRETEL, MAGIC FLUTE, PAGLIACCI and concerts featuring Vivica Genaux. During his leadership with these companies, he has brought in many internationally renowned singers including Paul Plishka, Sondra Radvanovsky, Francisco Casanova, and Alessandra Marc. Maestro Buchalter is also an active symphonic conductor. He recently had great successes in Fairbanks conducting Mahler's FOURTH SYMPHONY and Bernstein's WEST SIDE STORY SYMPHONIC DANCES as well as a recent concert in Belgrade featuring the Sibelius Violin Concerto. Maestro Buchalter conducted the American Premiere of Mercadante's I DUE FIGARO, Von Winter's DAS LABYRINTH, and Donizetti's OLIVO E PASQUALE with New York's Amore Opera and received glowing reviews for the performances. He was the first American to conduct with the Kazakhstan State Opera; the performances there included a televised Gala concert for the President of Kazakhstan. Mr. Buchalter has been Chorus Master of Santa Fe Opera, where he received great acclaim for his choral preparation for PETER GRIMES, TURANDOT, and many other operas. In addition he was Chorus Master at the Bregenz Festival in Austria, Theater des Westens in Berlin, and the Chautauqua Symphony Orchestra. Maestro Buchalter has been a cover conductor at the Metropolitan Opera for 30 years where the position of "Maestro di Banda" was created for him. He has worked extensively with the Metropolitan Opera Chorus and has been Chorus Master at the Met for several productions including the telecast of Franco Zeffirelli’s production of DON GIOVANNI and Gershwin’s PORGY AND BESS. He has also prepared several world premiers at the Met: John Corigliano’s THE GHOSTS OF VERSAILLES, Philip Glass’ THE VOYAGE, and John Harbison’s THE GREAT GATSBY. In the latter, Mr. Buchalter created the on-stage part of the jazz band conductor. Mr. Buchalter founded his own chorus, Choros Aristos, and led them in a performance of Rossini’s PETITE MESSE SOLENNELLE at New York’s Merkin Hall in commemoration of the composer’s 200th birthday. Mr. Buchalter conducted the Metropolitan Consort, a group composed of members of the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra in a highly successful concert of Baroque music. For many seasons he was a guest conductor with the New York Symphonic Arts Ensemble where he has conducted such works as Prokofiev’s ALEXANDER NEVSKY. As both pianist and conductor, Mr. Buchalter has toured such places as Cairo, Kuwait, Malaysia, Turkey, and Hong Kong. As a lecturer and speaker he has been invited to hold Master Classes throughout the United States. Maestro Buchalter conducted IDOMENEO with New England Conservatory right before the pandemic and in winter 2022 received rave reviews for both A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE at Florida Grand Opera and RIGOLETTO at Opera Orlando. In winter 2022 he also conducted IL BARBIERE DI SIVIGLIA with Pacific Northwest Opera and Teatro Lirico D'Europa. Most recently in summer 2022 Maestro Buchalter conducted DON GIOVANNI with Vienna Opera Summer Music Festival and CARMEN, SUOR ANGELICA/GIANNI SCHICCHI and Rossini's STABAT MATER with Varna International. Upcoming in winter 2023 he conducts TOSCA with Florida Grand Opera, MADAMA BUTTERFLY and A CELEBRATION OF SONG for Miramar Opera Works and and MADAMA BUTTERFLY with Teatro Lirica D'Europa at major SE USA venues.
GIORGIO LALOV
(Artistic Director/Stage Director)
TEATRO LIRICO D'EUROPA
About Teatro Lirico D’Europa
Teatro Lirico D’Europa was created in 1988 by the late Yves Josse, a former ballet divo and brilliant French arts promoter, and Giorgio Lalov, a young Bulgarian opera singer who made his debut at Teatro alla Scala, Milan, at the age of 25, while participating in Scala’s famous international training program for young singers. The collaboration between Josse and Lalov was a huge success in a very short time, resulting in tours with over 250 performances a season throughout France, Belgium, Switzerland, Germany, Japan, The Netherlands, Denmark, Spain, Italy, Sicily and Portugal. Performances included those for Opera Dijon, at Salle Pleyel and Pavillion Baltard in Paris; Okinawa Performing Arts Center; Tivoli Gardens in Copenhagen; Theatre Carre in Amsterdam, Congresshaus in Zurich; Theatre Trinidade in Lisbon; Teatro Atlantida in Barcelona; Salida de La Compania, Teatro Cervantes, Teatro Bueno Vallejo in Madrid; Teatro Lope de Vega in Seville; Le Cirque Royale in Brussels, and L’Atrium Theatre on the Island of Martinique.
Mr. Lalov created the sets and costumes for the productions and organized the chorus and orchestra in Bulgaria. He drew the soloists for the productions from a huge reservoir of operatic talent in Bulgaria, central Europe and the United States, where he held yearly auditions that resulted in the engagement of well over a hundred American singers. Mr. Josse booked the performances for the company from his office in Paris. From the very beginning, the company established itself as highly competent in delivering traditional, full-scale productions featuring a professional orchestra and chorus and outstanding soloists who performed at the top national theatres in their native countries. The unusual chemistry of the company proved to be very popular with European audiences.
Teatro Lirico D’Europa had completed over 2,000 performances worldwide before embarking on its first U.S. tour in the winter 2000 season. Teatro Lirico D'Europa had developed a well-documented history of success with a portfolio of hundreds of rave reviews for full-scale opera productions that had been presented at 180 different venues, including Italian summer festivals such as Festival Busetto, Festival San Giovanni Valdarno, and open-air festivals in Spello, Montecatini Terme, Siena, Chianciano Terme, Cortona, Padova and Aimini.
The company also has a fine collection of outstanding, professionally mastered live CDs. The response to the debut tour from both press and theater management was very positive. The popular company has now completed 17 consecutive U.S. tours with over 800 performances at 140 different venues, including performances for 11 American regional opera companies. The February 2002 issue of OPERA NEWS presented a four-page article on Teatro Lirico D'Europa entitled “Road Warriors,” written by former BOSTON GLOBE opera critic Richard Dyer that stated:
In the past couple of years, the company has presented TURANDOT, AIDA and NABUCCO in Boston. The physical productions and Lalov's stagings were reassuringly traditional. Lalov's stagings tell the story clearly. The solo and ensemble singing in all three operas was lusty, whole hearted-full throated and honest. Something personal and passionate that is often missing from evenings of opera. OPERA NEWS–Richard Dyer
Most recently, in addition to its tours in the USA, the company has toured in in Europe, in France, Spain and Italy at major venues and summer festivals with CARMEN, LA TRAVIATA, RIGOLETTO and NABUCCO, including five performances in Paris presented in collaboration with Opera de Massy.