WVIA: The Bucksbaum Family Lyric Opera returns to WVIA FM (2012-04-27)

The Matthew Bucksbaum Family Lyric Opera returns to WVIA FM on Saturday, May 12 at 1 p.m. The broadcasts continue every Saturday throughout May and June on WVIA FM.

Since its early days, Lyric Opera of Chicago has been regarded as one of the top 3 US opera companies, along with the Met and San Francisco.

"WVIA is thrilled to broadcast once again the Lyric Opera of Chicago", said Larry Vojtko, WVIA FM Program Manager. "It's a sparkling and varied season featuring performances by some of the greatest singers before the public today. The season offers everything from the grandest of grand operas, "Aida", to a masterwork of American musical theatre, "Showboat". Saturday afternoon will be "appointment listening" on WVIA-FM."

The Matthew Bucksbaum Family is the generous sponsor of the Lyric Opera of Chicago Bucksbaum Family Broadcasts through the 2011-12 Season, with matching funding provided by Crown Family Philanthropies, Richard P. and Susan Kiphart, and The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation.

On Saturday, May 12 at 1 p.m. on WVIA FM enjoy "The Tales of Hoffman" (in French) by Jacques Offenbach. The cast includes: Matthew Polenzani, James Morris, Anna Christy, Erin Wall, Alyson Cambridge, Emily Fons, Rodell Rosel, David Cangelosi, and Christian Van Horn. The conductor is Emmanuel Villaume. Stage Director is St phane Roche.

Listen to "Lucia di Lammermoor" (in Italian) by Gaetano Donizetti on Saturday, May 19 at 1 p.m. The cast includes: Susanna Phillips, Giuseppe Filianoti, Brian Mulligan, Christian Van Horn, Ren Barbera, Emily Birsan, and Paul Scholten. The conductor is Massimo Zanetti. Stage Director is Catherine Malfitano.

A powerful Russian opera is featured Saturday, May 26 at 1 p.m. Modest Mussorgsky's "Boris Godunov" will be sung by Ferruccio Furlanetto, tefan Margita, Andrea Silvestrelli, Raymond Aceto, Erik Nelson Werner, Ljubomir Pu kari , and David Cangelosi. The conductor is Sir Andrew Davis. The Stage Director is Julia Pevzner.

On Saturday, June 2 at 1 p.m. it's "The Magic Flute" (in German) by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. The cast includes Nicole Cabell, Charles Castronovo, St phane Degout, Audrey Luna, G nther Groissb ck, Richard Stilwell, Rodell Rosel, and Elisabeth: Meister. The conductor is Sir Andrew Davis. The Stage Director is Matthew Lata.

Inspired by ancient mythology, "Ariadne auf Naxos" (in German) by Richard Strauss is the offering on Saturday, June 9 at 1 p.m. The cast includes Amber Wagner, Anna Christy, Alice Coote, Brandon Jovanovich, Eike Wilm Schulte, and Matthew Worth. The conductor is Sir Andrew Davis. The Stage Director is John Cox.

On Saturday, June 16 at 1 p.m. it's a delightful treat: the ground-breaking musical by Jerome Kern and Oscar Hammerstein, "Show Boat". The cast includes Nathan Gunn, Ashley Brown, Alyson Cambridge, Morris Robinson, Angela Ren e Simpson, Ross Lehman, Erika Mac, Bernie Yvon and Cindy Gold. The conductor is John DeMain. Stage Director is Francesca Zambello.

On Saturday, June 23 at 1 p.m. enjoy the glorious sounds of Baroque opera with "Rinaldo" (in Italian) by George Frideric Handel. The cast includes two outstanding countertenors David Daniels and Iestyn Davies, along with Julia Kleiter, Elza van den Heever, Luca Pisaroni, and Sonia Prina. The conductor is Harry Bicket. Stage Director is Francisco Negrin.

Finally, on Saturday, June 30 at 1 p.m. it's the height of grand opera: "A da" (in Italian) by Giuseppe Verdi. The cast includes Sondra Radvanovsky, Marcello Giordani, Jill Grove, Gordon Hawkins, and tefan Koc n. The conductor is Renato Palumbo. The Stage Director is Matthew Lata.

WVIA FM, which can be found at 89.9 FM in northeast PA, 99.3 FM in Allentown, 105.7 FM in Bethlehem, 90.3 FM in Clarks Summit, 90.9 FM in Lewisburg, 89.7 FM (WVYA) in Williamsport, 89.3 FM in south central PA, 99.7 FM in Mainesburg, 94.9 FM in Pottsville, 94.3 FM in Stroudsburg/East Stroudsburg, 105.7 FM in Sunbury, and 103.5 FM in Wellsboro. WVIA FM can also be heard via an online stream at http://www.wvia.org/radio/listen-live.