"Just look at the production of Mozart's "Così Fan Tutte" opening this weekend at the California Theatre, directed by Alek Shrader and with Music Director Joseph Marcheso leading the orchestra. Instead of a gala Saturday night debut, the first performance is a matinee on Sunday. That's going to be the norm for all the shows this season - a Sunday matinee opening followed by two weekends of Friday and Sunday performances."
"As a company known for its rising stars, Opera San Jose doesn't always have super-established singers in the big roles. Lucey said Opera San Jose founder Irene Dalis' solution was to have two casts for each show, but today's budgets just don't allow for that. Sometimes Lucey would bring in another singer to fill in last-minute - a relief tenor, if you will - which might rankle audience members expecting someone else."
Opera San Jose begins its 42nd season with a scheduling change: season openings move to Sunday matinees followed by two weekends of Friday and Sunday performances. The change aims to prevent singers from performing demanding roles on consecutive days and to preserve vocal health across every performance. Founder Irene Dalis established a two-cast solution for big roles, but current budgets prevent maintaining two full casts. Last-minute replacements have been used when needed, and the company is staging Mozart's Così Fan Tutte at the California Theatre with direction by Alek Shrader and Joseph Marcheso leading the orchestra, while also experimenting with audience participation.
Read at The Mercury News
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