NEC Opera to Present American Premiere of New Critical Edition of Rossini's La Gazzetta, 4/6-9

New England Conservatory will present the American premiere of Rossini's comic opera, La Gazzetta (The Newspaper) in the 2002 critical edition by Philip Gossett and Fabrizio Scipioni, April 6-9, 2013 at the Paramount Theater in Boston. Not only will this production mark the first time the critical edition has been performed in the United States, but it will feature the world premiere of the Act I quintet recovered in 2011 in the Library of the Conservatory of Palermo. The fully staged production with all-student cast and orchestra will be conducted by Joseph Rescigno, Artistic Advisor and Principal Conductor of Florentine Opera Company of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and directed by Chair of Opera Studies Joshua Major. The leading women's roles, Lisetta and Doralice, will be sung (April 6, 8 performances) by soprano Soyoung Park and mezzo soprano Jaime Korkos, currently candidates for the Artist Diploma in Opera.

Internationally renowned expert on 19th Century Italian opera, Philip Gossett is serving as consultant for the April production. He is writing out recitatives for the singers and will advise them on appropriate 19th Century ornamentation and phrasing. NEC is also pleased to offer two special opportunities for the public to hear first-hand about what constitutes the definitive version of a musical work, the detective work that goes into making a critical edition, and, specifically, about La Gazzetta and the extraordinary recovery of the missing quintet. Gossett will take part with other scholars and performers in a panel discussion, The Musical Work in Transit: Revision, Reception, and Edition, March 13 at 4:30 in NEC's Pierce Hall. Then, he will present a lecture, Rossini's Comic Opera, "La Gazzetta," Complete for the First Time Ever, Wednesday, April 3 at 5 pm in NEC's Keller Room.

Additionally, in recognition of the service Gossett has done for opera, he will be the recipient of an honorary doctorate from the Conservatory and will give the Commencement address at the annual Commencement Exercises, Sunday May 18.

Maestro Rescigno, along with his wide experience conducting opera from the baroque to the present, brings a highly specialized expertise to this production. Fluent in the Neapolitan dialect, he will be coaching the singers portraying Don Pomponio, the character who "speaks" in dialect. Rescigno, as a little boy, learned Neapolitan from his great-grandmother and that was how he communicated with her throughout her lifetime.

April 6, 8, 9, 2013 at 8:00 p.m.; April 7, 2013 at 3:00 p.m.
The Paramount Theater
(559 Washington St., Boston, MA 02111)
NEC Opera
Rossini, La Gazzetta
(American Premiere of Critical Edition by Philip Gossett and Fabrizio Scipioni; world premiere of the newly found Act I quintet)
Joseph Rescigno, Conductor
Joshua Major, Director
Soyoung Park, Soprano; Jaime Korkos, Mezzo-soprano

Wednesday, March 13, 4:30 p.m.
Panel Discussion "The Musical Work in Transit: revision, reception, and edition"
with Philip Gossett
Pierce Hall, St. Botolph Building (241 St. Botoloph St., Boston)
Wednesday, April 3, 2013 at 5:00 p.m.
"Rossini's comic opera, La gazzetta, Complete for the First Time Ever"
with Philip Gossett
The Keller Room, Jordan Hall (30 Gainsborough St., Boston)

La Gazzetta Tickets: $20, $16 for students/seniors; 2 for 1 with WGBH Member ID.
Lecture, Panel discussion: Free
For more information, or to order tickets: http://necmusic.edu/opera .