Email this Article Printer-friendly RELATED ARTICLES: 27 Feb 2007 -- Why Pirates?

By Matthew Westphal
08 Mar 2007

New York Harbor and environs probably saw their share of pirates back in the day, but it's been a century or two. (Wall Street doesn't count.) This month, Gotham is getting a primer in pirattitude, as New York City Opera presents The Pirates of Penzance, or, The Slave of Duty. Following three preview performances last weekend, the company opened its spring 2007 season with the Gilbert and Sullivan favorite last night.

Broadway stalwart Marc Kudisch stars as the Pirate King, with his colleague Mark Jacoby as Major-General Stanley (the very model). Both are Tony Award® nominees. From the opera world come bass Kevin Burdette (playing the Sergeant of Police) and contralto Myrna Paris (as Ruth, the piratical maid-of-all-work), as well as our romantic leads: tenor Matt Morgan (as Frederic, the young pirate and subtitular slave of duty) and soprano Sarah Jane McMahon (as his beloved Mabel, the very daughter of our modern Major-General). Gerald Steichen conducts, and the staging is directed by Lillian Groag.

Pirates sets sail from Lincoln Center's New York State Theater a dozen more times from tonight through March 31, with a special Gala performance on Thursday, March 15. For more information about this production and all of New York City Opera's spring 2007 season, visit www.nycopera.com.

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All photos by Carol Rosegg for New York City Opera.

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