December 14, 2013 at 8pm—CHRISTMAS POPS with Binghamton Philharmonic. Featuring: Jill Gardner, The Madrigal Choir of Binghamton, Basically Bach Choir and many others! Buy Tickets Here!
November 1 & 3, 2013—Puccini’s great masterpiece of love, lust, and revenge is one of the most dramatically compelling in the entire operatic repertoire. The opera diva Floria Tosca is in love with the painter Mario Cavaradossi, but the evil Baron Scarpia, the Roman Chief of Police, desires her as well. His nefarious plot to have her involves political intrigue, sadistic brutality and horrific torture. Tosca’s dream of love is shattered by Scarpia’s duplicity, and in one of the most famous endings in opera, she leaps to her tragic death. The production will star rising American superstar Jill Gardner in the title role, celebrated Puccini specialist Dinyar Vania as Cavaradossi, and…
September 28, 2013, 8pm—A special night of operatic favorites, accompanied by a full orchestra conducted by Maestro Joel Revzen, Artistic Director of Arizona Opera and the Lake Tahoe SummerFest, in historic Aycock Auditorium. Patrons will be treated to an evening featuring Jill Bowen Gardner, other alumni and the finest singers from the UNCG School of Music, Theatre and Dance. The performance is preceded by a wine tasting from North Carolina vineyards from 6–7:45pm. Patrons can purchase wine by the glass or take home a bottle from their favorite vineyard. More details here.
The Modell Performing Arts Center at The Lyric will offer a complimentary preview of the gala 2013–14 opera season on Sunday September 22nd at 6:30pm. This FREE concert is open to the public on a first-come, first-serve basis and is our ‘thank you’ to our supporters for helping continue the success of grand opera in our community. Get the details here.
A gallery of highlights from Art to Poetry to Music at Knight Theater, Charlotte, NC. Read the full article here.
By Steven Mark / smark@staradvertiser.com See the original posting here. “Tosca” is one of the most popular operas in the repertoire, and it’s easy to see why. Puccini’s melodrama features everything from political and sexual intrigue to manipulation, torture, backstabbing (literally) and other assorted mayhem. No wonder a part of it was used in the James Bond film “Quantum of Solace.” It’s all tied up in a singer named Floria Tosca, a raven-haired, dark-eyed beauty who proclaims — in third person no less, like a star athlete touting his talents — “Tosca’s blood burns with a mad love.” “She is a very complex, multifaceted, mercurial, chameleonlike character,” said soprano…
Catch glimpses of rehearsals for HOT’s Tosca and hear stage director Jay Lesenger and singers Jill Gardner, Ta’u Pupu’a and Michael Chioldi talk about this beautiful and passionate opera by Giacomo Puccini.
Tucson Lifestyle Magazine features Jill Gardner’s performance of TOSCA with Arizona Opera, January–February 2013. Read the full article here.
The online publication OPERA LIVELY featured an exclusive interview with Jill for her performances of TOSCA with Opera Carolina in October 2012. Read the full article here. Jill is also featured in the book by the same name, Opera Lively: The Interviews which is available on Amazon.com here.
In anticipation of Opera Carolina’s production of Tosca in Charlotte, NC, on October 13, 18, and 21, 2012, Opera Lively has interviewed Ms. Jill Gardner who will be singing the title role. Read the full article here.