Szkafarowsky has title role in "Agamemnon" (06/06/04)

Szkafarowsky has title role in "Agamemnon"

NEW YORK - Bass Stefan Szkafarowsky will sing the title role in the premiere production of "Agamemnon," an opera by Sergey Taneyev (1856-1915), in Carnegie Hall on Wednesday, June 16, at 7 p.m.

The concert performance is under the baton of Peter Tiboris and with the Manhattan Philharmonic. The performance will be in the original Russian, with English supertitles.

The cast of performers includes soprano Nina Terentieva (Clytemnestra), mezzo-soprano Angela Brown (Cassandra), Peter Lightfoot (Aegisthus) and bass Mark Risinger (Sentinel).

The production also features the Russian Chamber Chorus of New York; the New Jersey and Connecticut Choral Societies; and members of the Aquila Theatre Company, with actress Olympia Dukakis in a speaking role.

"Agamemnon" is based on the first great play of the Oresteia Trilogy by Aeschylus. Written around 458 B.C., it explores the timeless themes of ambition, justice, revenge and retribution.

For tickets to "Agamemnon," readers may call MidAmerica's box office at (212) 239-4699. Tickets are also available through CarnegieCharge at (212) 247-7800. Ticket prices: $125, $85, $50, $35.

Mr. Szkafarowsky is described as "one of America's important artists, praised for the beautiful quality of his bass voice as well as for his impeccable technique."

He has appeared with opera companies throughout the United States, including the Metropolitan Opera, Lyric Opera of Chicago, New York City Opera, and The Washington Opera, among others, as well as in Canada. In South America, he has appeared in leading opera productions in São Paolo, Brazil, Santiago, Chile, and Caracas, Venezuela.

On the concert stage, Mr. Szkafarowsky has been a featured soloist with the Pittsburgh Symphony conducted by Michael Tilson Thomas in excerpts from Rimsky Korsakov's "Mlada"; the National Symphony Orchestra conducted by Mstislav Rostropovich as the Sergeant in Boris Godunov; the Minnesota Orchestra conducted by Leonard Slatkin as Montano in "Otello"; and at the Casals Festival.

A native of New York, he attended Mercy College, the Westchester Conservatory of Music and the American Opera Center at The Juilliard School of Music, where he appeared in several productions.

Mr. Szkafarowsky is a recipient of grants from the Sullivan Foundation, a winner of the Tito Gobbi Award from the Rosa Ponselle Foundation and a regional winner of the Metropolitan Opera Auditions.

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