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  • JOHN MAUCERI LEADS HOLLYWOOD BOWL ORCHESTRA AND AN ALL-STAR CAST FOR FIRST PERFORMANCE OF "TURANDOT" IN HOLLYWOOD BOWL'S HISTORY
  • Aug. 15, 2004
  • Performance of Puccini's Masterpiece Features International Opera Stars Andrea Gruber, Richard Margison, and Hei-Kyung Hong

    Gruber (pictured) Makes Her Hollywood Bowl Debut

    SUNDAY, AUGUST 15, AT 7:30 PM

    Sponsored by The Korea Times;
    media support provided by KPCC and K-MOZART

    An all-star cast makes history when it performs Giacomo Puccini's last opera, Turandot, in the first-ever presentation of the opera at the Hollywood Bowl on Sunday, August 15, at 7:30 p.m. The concert performance features internationally renowned soprano Andrea Gruber (Turandot) in her Hollywood Bowl debut, tenor Richard Margison (Calaf), and soprano Hei-Kyung Hong (Liù). Gruber, Margison, and Hong have performed these roles to great acclaim at many of the world's leading opera houses, including New York's Metropolitan Opera. Rounding out the cast are Oren Gradus (Timur), Joseph Frank (Altoum), Marcus DeLoach (Ping), Doug Jones (Pang), and Chad Berlinghieri (Pong).

    Principal Conductor John Mauceri leads the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra combined with the Pacific Chorale (John Alexander, artistic director), and the Los Angeles Children's Chorus (Anne Tomlinson, artistic director).

    One of Puccini's most beloved scores, Turandot remained unfinished at the composer's death and was completed by his student, Franco Alfano. Featuring "Nessun dorma," one of the most famous arias in the operatic repertoire, the opera tells the story of the icy Princess Turandot, who challenges her suitors to answer three riddles to prove their worthiness. Turandot orders the execution of all who cannot answer her riddles and has their bodies carried through the streets of Peking. Much to his beloved Liù's dismay, Calaf accepts the princess's challenge. Set against the backdrop of mythical China, Turandot offers audiences Italian grand opera at its most thrilling.

    ANDREA GRUBER is enjoying an international career, singing some of the most demanding roles of the dramatic soprano literature in many of the best theaters in the world. Her powerful voice and deeply felt musicianship have taken her repeatedly to the major stages of the world, including the Royal Opera House Covent Garden, the Vienna State Opera, the Bavarian State Opera in Munich, the Deutsche Oper Berlin, and the Liceo in Barcelona. Gruber is a graduate of the Manhattan School of Music.

    Blessed with a lyric soprano voice of uncommon beauty and warmth, HEI-KYUNG HONG has captured critical and popular acclaim at the world's leading opera houses and concert halls. A native of Seoul, South Korea, Hong is a Juilliard graduate. Her credits include performances with the Metropolitan Opera, Opéra de Paris, the Munich Philharmonic, and the Los Angeles Opera.

    Canadian tenor RICHARD MARGISON has performed in many of the world's leading opera houses. The 2003/2004 season was one of new roles and old favorites for Margison, taking him to Brussels for his debut in the title role of Peter Grimes; to Seattle to sing Dick Johnson in La Fanciulla del West; and to London in June and July for appearances as Bacchus in Ariadne auf Naxos. Also a much sought-after concert artist, Margison has appeared with the Royal Philharmonic in London, the Philadelphia Orchestra, and the San Francisco Symphony, to name a few. His most recent release is an all-Verdi recording on CBC records.

    JOHN MAUCERI's accomplishments extend nationally and internationally, not only to the world's greatest opera companies and symphony orchestras, but also to the musical stages of Broadway and Hollywood, before large television and radio audiences, and in recording studios and major publications. Mauceri has received substantial recognition for his work as one of the principal forces behind the movement to preserve two of America's great art forms, the American musical and music for the American cinema. He is equally at home conducting artists ranging from Plácido Domingo (during a live broadcast of the Grammy Awards) to Madonna (with whom he recorded the soundtrack to Andrew Lloyd Webber's Evita), from Garth Brooks (an inaugural inductee into the Hollywood Bowl Hall of Fame) to the Smashing Pumpkins (for the 1996 MTV Music Awards). Carol Burnett, Chicago, John Denver, Rodney Gilfry, Jonathan Pryce, Jane Eaglen, Jennifer Larmore, Patrick Stewart, Tito Puente, Charlotte Church, and Trisha Yearwood are among the multitude of artists who have performed with Mauceri and the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra. Mauceri and the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra have presented an astonishing number of premieres, and during his tenure, opera and ballet returned to the Bowl's stage. In addition to his Hollywood Bowl position, Mauceri has served as music director for the Pittsburgh Opera since June 2000. The only American ever to have held the post of music director of an opera house in Great Britain and Italy, he served as music director of the Scottish Opera, and recently completed his three-year tenure as music director (direttore stabile) of the Teatro Reggio in Torino.

    Under the leadership of acclaimed Artistic Director John Alexander, PACIFIC CHORALE is one of America's most respected and accomplished professional choruses. Pacific Chorale is an artistic partner of the Orange County Performing Arts Center, presenting its 160-voice ensemble in Segerstrom Hall and its professional chamber ensemble, the John Alexander Singers, in the intimate setting of Founders Hall. Since taking the helm of the organization in 1972, John Alexander has consistently rewarded Pacific Chorale audiences with innovative programming that has included numerous World, U.S. and West Coast premieres. The Pacific Chorale frequently collaborates with the Pacific Symphony and the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra, and occasionally with the Los Angeles Philharmonic, the Pasadena Symphony and the Long Beach Symphony.

    The LOS ANGELES CHILDREN'S CHORUS is a community chorus made up of 180 children from throughout Los Angeles County, ranging in ages from eight to sixteen years. The chorus includes members from over 35 separate communities and represents the diverse ethnic composition of Southern California. The Chorus is carefully structured to place children into one of its four divisions, according to vocal and musical ability and experience. Its season includes community outreach activities to performances at local, regional, and national venues, as well as international concert tours. The Chorus frequently collaborates with musical organizations including the Los Angeles Opera, Los Angeles Master Chorale, Los Angeles Philharmonic, Cambridge Singers, and Pasadena Pops Orchestra.

    EDITORS PLEASE NOTE:

    Sunday, August 15, 2004 at 7:30 p.m.

    HOLLYWOOD BOWL, 2301 N. Highland Ave. in Hollywood

    HOLLYWOOD BOWL ORCHESTRA

    JOHN MAUCERI, conductor

    PACIFIC CHORALE

    JOHN ALEXANDER, artistic director

    LOS ANGELES CHILDREN'S CHORUS

    ANNE TOMLINSON, artistic director

    ANDREA GRUBER as Turandot

    RICHARD MARGISON as Calaf

    HEI-KYUNG HONG as Liù

    with

    OREN GRADUS as Timur

    JOSEPH FRANK as Altoum

    MARCUS DeLOACH as Ping

    DOUG JONES as Pang

    CHAD BERLINGHIERI as Pong

    PUCCINI Turandot

    Sponsored by The Korea Times; media support provided by KPCC and K-MOZART

    Tickets ($6 - $35.50) are on sale now at the Hollywood Bowl Box Office, by calling Ticketmaster at 213.480.3232, at all Ticketmaster outlets (Robinsons May, Tower Records, and Ritmo Latino locations), or online at HollywoodBowl.com. Groups of 12 or more may be eligible for a 20% discount, subject to availability; call 323.850-2050 for further details.
    For general information or to request a brochure, call 323.850.2000.

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  • Contact:

    Ryan Jimenez, 213.972.3405