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Opera Southwest: Franco Faccio's Hamlet

Airs Saturday, November 28, at 12 noon. Originally premiered in 1865 in Genoa and then performed again in 1871 in Milan, Franco Faccio’s Amleto (Hamlet) was thought lost for over 135 years. Opera Southwest’s artistic director, Anthony Barrese, has spent nearly a decade in libraries and the Ricordi archives recovering the work from a microfilm of the composers autograph. This performance, recorded in the fall of 2014 at the National Hispanic Cultural Center – Journal Theatre in Albuquerque, New Mexico, is the first performance of the work in over 143 years, and is the American premiere.

Founded in 1972 as Albuquerque Opera Theatre, Opera Southwest is Albuquerque’s professional, regional company. With a mission to produce quality, professional, enjoyable and accessible opera in an intimate setting for audiences of all ages, Opera Southwest produces two to three major operas each year selected from the best of the standard and not-so-standard repertoire. To date, Opera Southwest has produced 122 operas, including 23 world premieres, many of which were original operas created especially for children and families.

Our cast features Alex Richardson as Hamlet, Shannon De Vine as Claudius - King of Denmark, Matthew Curran as Polonio, and Joseph Hubbard as Orazio. This production will also have Paul Bower as Marcello; Javier Gonzalez as Laerte, Abla Lynn Hamza as Ofelia, Caroline Worra as Geltrude, Jeff Beruan as the Ghost, Paul Bower as Un Sacerdote, Jonathan Charles Tay in dual roles as Un Araldo and as Il Re Gonzaga, Heather Youngquist as La Regina, Jeffrey Beruan as Luciano, and Matthew Curran as Primo Becchino. Anthony Barrese leads the Opera Southwest Ochestra and Chorus with Paul Bower as chorus master. KathleneRitch will host.