The music calls for not only truly exceptional technique, but also the stylistic freedom to ornament the arias appropriately. Noble Ariodante, lovesick Ginevra, dastardly Polinesso, and all the other characters are enormously engaging and intriguing figures, involved in predicaments and relationships that we can connect with as an audience. It s an astonishingly powerful story, in which virtue and villainy confront each other in a riveting way.

Ariodante is unquestionably a masterpiece, in which Handel was able to distill his extraordinary genius for both melodic invention and psychological precision. Prior to this season, we d produced eight Handel works, to which we can now add one of the greatest of them all. These operas were written for theaters probably a third the size of the Lyric Opera House, and yet we ve repeatedly demonstrated that Handel can make a terrific impact on our stage. 2 March 2-17, 2019Ħ From the General Director Lyric s record of achievement in the operas of George Frideric Handel is one of the more unlikely success stories in any American opera company.

4 Table of Contents MICHAEL COOPER/CANADIAN OPERA COMPANY IN THIS ISSUE Ariodante pp NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH 4 From the General Director 6 From the Chairman 8 Board of Directors 9 Women s Board/Guild Board/Chapters Executive Board/Young Professionals/Ryan Opera Center Board 10 Administration/Administrative Staff/ Production and Technical Staff 12 Notes of the Mind 18 Title Synopsis 21 Cast 22 Artist Profiles 27 Opera Notes 30 Director's Note 31 After the Curtain Falls 32 Music Staff/Orchestra/Chorus 33 Backstage Life 34 Artistic Roster 35 Patron Salute 36 Production Sponsors 37 Aria Society 47 Supporting Our Future Endowments at Lyric CONNECTING MUSIC WITH THE MIND pp Major Contributors Special Events and Project Support 49 Lyric Unlimited Contributors 50 Commemorative Gifts 51 Ryan Opera Center 52 Ryan Opera Center Alumni Around the World 53 Ryan Opera Center Contributors 54 Planned Giving: The Overture Society 56 Corporate Partnerships 57 Matching Gifts, Special Thanks, and Acknowledgements 58 Annual Individual and Foundation Support 64 Facilities and Services/Theater Staff On the cover: Findlater Castle, near Sandend, Aberdeenshire, Scotland.

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