New York City Opera Announces River to River Festival Programming

New York City Opera has announced its programming and casting for its appearances at the 2009 River to River Festival, which takes place at various venues in and around downtown Manhattan.

On June 25 at 7pm, the company will present a one-hour version of The Magic Flute at Rockefeller Park; on June 26 at 7pm, the company will perform Massenet’s one-act opera La Navarraise at the World Financial Center Winter Garden; and at 7pm on June 27, the company will present Opera on the Pier, featuring selections by Bizet, Bernstein, Blitzstein, Floyd, Rodgers, Weill, and more, at Pier 17 at the South Street Seaport.

Participating NYCO artists include vocalists Brian Anderson, Lielle Berman, Andrew Drost, Melissa Fogarty, Jeffrey Halili, Theodora Hanslowe, Emily Langford Johnson, Eric Jordan, Brian Kontes, Raul Malo, Sharla Nafziger, Marco Nistico, Amy Shoremount-Obra, Kristy Swann, Jeffrey Tucker, and Michael Zegarski.

The festival will also feature appearances by Mark O’Connor (June 15), Ian Hunter (June 24), Conor Oberst (July 4), the Emmet Cohen Trio (July 16-17), Richie Havens (July 23), Arlo Guthrie (July 30), the Merce Cunningham Dance Company (August 1-2), and John Kelly, performing the songs of Joni Mitchell (August 6). There will also be movie nights at the Elevated Acre, featuring screenings of The Seven Year Itch (July 6), The Taking of Pelham 123 (July 13), West Side Story (July 20), and Sweet Smell of Success (July 27).

For more information, visit www.rivertorivernyc.com.