Dan Wakin of the New York Times reveals details of New York City Opera's 2011-12 season, which will be formally announced next week. According to his sources, the season will include a new Christopher Alden production of Così fan tutte; a revival of Jonathan Miller's Glimmerglass staging of Traviata; the expected U.S. premiere of Rufus Wainwright's Prima Donna; and an unspecified opera by Telemann. Locations are said to be BAM, John Jay College, and El Museo del Barrio. Wakin's story also includes bemused reaction from Julius Rudel, the former City Opera director who has publicly criticized the current management. City Opera itself did not comment. La Cieca, doyenne of New York opera bloggers, seems skeptical. We'll see what George Steel has to say next week.
Update: Catherine Malfitano has sent out an open letter accusing City Opera management of “the dismembering of City Opera, piece by piece, person by person.” Plácido Domingo, José Carreras, Frederica von Stade, Sherrill Milnes, Samuel Ramey, Hal Prince, Phyllis Curtin, Joyce DiDonato, Regina Resnik, and Carlisle Floyd, among others, also signed the letter. “We know opera," they say, "and we want to help.”
Further update: You can read the entire letter here. The Save NYCO organization, which is now equipped with its own website, Facebook page, and Twitter account, will be protesting the press conference on Tuesday.
