Download Press Release: SVF Ends on High Note, Unveils Expanded 2017

SAVANNAH VOICE FESTIVAL ENDS ON HIGH
NOTE, UNVEILS EXPANDED 2017 LINEUP
SAVANNAH, GA - August 23, 2016 – The 2016 Savannah VOICE Festival capped off
a wildly successful fourth season on Sunday, Aug. 21 with a sold-out finale performance
at the Charles H. Morris Center at Trustees Garden. Hundreds of fans crowded into the
venue for the “Summer of Romance” concert, which also served as an opportunity for
organizers to unveil the 2017 season lineup – as well as a few exciting announcements.
Like this year’s Savannah VOICE Festival, next year’s event will feature an astounding
three operas and plenty of longstanding festival favorites. However, in order to fit in all
the shows, recitals, classes and activities, the annual celebration of classical music will
expand from two weeks to three.
Slated to run from Aug. 5-27 2017, the fifth annual VOICE Festival will present two
operas based on the 18th Century Figaro plays written by the French Pierre
Beaumarchais, Le Barbier premiered in 1775. Its sequel, Le Mariage, was initially
premiered six years later. The Savannah VOICE Festival in true Star Wars style will
present the Marriage of Figaro before its prequel – Barber of Seville.
Mozart’s “The Marriage of Figaro” (Le Nozze di Figaro) will be a studio production,
presented by students in the festival’s VOICE Studio Program. This comic opera will be
sung in Italian with English super titles. Rossini’s Barber of Seville or (Il barbiere di
Siviglia), will feature Argentinian opera sensation Santiago Ballerini as Count Almaviva.
The two-act comic opera will be sung in Italian with English super titles as a wonderful
climax to three exciting weeks next August.
In addition, the fifth annual Festival will impress fans with a preview of another specially
commissioned Savannah-centric opera, “Anna Hunter.” This is preceded by the now
famous “Alice Ryley,” which has been drawing Savannah-area fans to showings since
October 2015, when it debuted during National Opera Week. Michael Ching, who
composed “Alice” will again put his masterful skills to work, bringing to life the music for
“Anna.” This new comedic piece focuses on the remarkable work of Anna Hunter, who
assembled a group of women – they came to be known as "The Seven Ladies" – to
persuade bankers and businessmen to help them preserve Savannah's historic
structures by portraying them as financial assets to the city.
In addition to the three operas, fans can expect the triumphant return of the everpopular American Music Concert, Voices in Sacred Song, free masterclasses and much
more.
“The 2017 Savannah VOICE Festival will be a phenomenal experience for fans who’ve
been with us from the beginning and also our new friends. The events are always so
well received by Savannah music lovers, and attendance has grown steadily since the
festival’s inception. It just makes sense to expand the celebration to three full weeks in
our fifth year. We’re growing and we couldn’t be happier about it!” said Maria Zouves,
SVF co-founder and executive director.
For more information on the Savannah VOICE Festival, please visit
www.savannahvoicefestival.org, call 855-76-OPERA or email
[email protected].
This program is supported in part by the Georgia Council for the Arts throughs the
appropriations from the Georgia General Assembly. GCA is a Partner Agency of the
National Endowment for the Arts.
- ENDS Editor’s Notes
Savannah VOICE Festival is a 501(c) 3 tax exempt nonprofit arts organization in the
state of Georgia. The Festival brings classical vocal excellence to the Savannah area
through a two-week celebration of concerts, events and educational presentations
during the month of August and throughout the year. Focusing on arts awareness and
audience development in the performing arts, it offers music from opera, musical theatre
and popular song. Donations are tax-deductible.
For media inquiries, please call Hollie Barnidge at 912-272-8651 or email
[email protected] or call Lesley Francis at 912-429-3950 or email
[email protected].