Speakeysie News Desk
Macbeth, Rigoletto, La bohème in two different productions, and Semele
$25 Annual Membership Gives Access to a Library of Operas || Stream.AtlantaOpera.org
Atlanta, GA —The Atlanta Opera Film Studio has released five new cinematic operas, each a tragic mainstay of the operatic canon by Verdi, Puccini, and Handel. This is the third release of films from the Film Studio this fall.
This release of films features a pair of Verdi masterworks – Macbeth and Rigoletto – two versions of Puccini’s La bohème, one in a traditional production on a proscenium stage and the other an immersive production set in 2020, and Handel’s timeless Semele.
Together, these films trace a sweeping arc of human longing and consequence, from political ambition and moral reckoning to youthful passion and divine seduction. While the themes remain timeless, these films reveal the many ways great stories can be told.
Produced from live performances with additional filming done on-stage and in-studio, with meticulously mastered audio under the direction of Carl W. Knobloch, Jr. General & Artistic Director Tomer Zvulun, and Film Studio Director Felipe Barral, these films will be available exclusively on The Atlanta Opera Film Studio streaming platform.
About Each Film
Macbeth – A powerful and emotional work, Giuseppe Verdi’s Macbeth is a darkly riveting scramble to seize power at any cost. Dominating the drama, Michael Mayes as Macbeth and Sara Gartland as Lady Macbeth bring their passionate and dramatic voices to this tightly paced work of magnificent music. Directed by Tomer Zvulun and conducted by Iván López Reynoso, the creative team assembled the talents of Scenic Designer Steven Kemp, Costume Designer Robert Israel, and Lighting & Projection Designer Driscoll Otto.
Rigoletto – Internationally acclaimed baritone George Gagnidze stars as Rigoletto, the wily wordsmith with a malicious edge, in Verdi’s definitive tragic opera. When he finds himself cursed by an affronted courtier, Rigoletto will discover the true consequences of his words. Jasmine Habersham returns home to perform the role of Gilda in this production. Bringing this production to the stage, Director Tomer Zvulun and Conductor Roberto Kalb collaborated with Set Designer Erhard Rom, Costume Designer Jessica Jahn, Lighting Designer Thomas C. Hase, Wig & Makeup Designer Melanie Steele, and Choreographer Ricardo Aponte. This original Atlanta Opera production was also presented in Los Angeles, Houston, and Dallas to unanimous acclaim.
La bohème – Giacomo Puccini’s transcendent masterpiece captures the essence of love, loss, and life in this tragic story of four friends clinging to each other as harsh realities of life threaten to tear them apart. International opera stars Long Long (Rodolfo) and Gabriella Reyes (Mimi) lead an all-star cast in this production. Under the direction of Tomer Zvulun and conducted by Jonathan Brandini, the creative team consisted of Scenic & Projection Designer Erhard Rom, Costume Designer Martin Pakledinaz, Lighting Designer Robert Wierzel, and Wig & Makeup Designer Melanie Steele. This Atlanta Opera production has been mounted in Dallas and Seattle.
La bohème at Pullman Yards – An updated and immersive production filmed at Pullman Yards, a thriving entertainment district at a one-time industrial site, this modern-day La bohème replaces tuberculosis, a persistent 19th-century threat, with COVID-19. Kameron Lopreore and Amanda Batista star as Rodolfo and Mimi, with Luke Sutliff as Marcello. This innovative program was presented as part of “The Boheme Project” in tandem with the musical Rent, the musical heir to the original opera, which earned The Atlanta Opera an International Opera Award nomination. Breaking boundaries with staging and concept was the team of co-Directors Tomer Zvulun and Vita Tzykun, with Tzykun also designing sets and projections. Rounding out the creative team are Conductor James Lowe, Costume Designer Amy Sutton, Lighting Designer Thomas C. Hase, and Sound Designer Joshua Reid.
Semele – Handel’s dazzling fusion of opera and oratorio, this visually stunning production tells the story of Semele, a mortal woman whose pursuit of love in the realm of the gods leads to her downfall. Josh Lovell and Lauren Snouffer star as Jupiter and Semele. Directed by Tomer Zvulun and conducted by Christine Brandes, Handel’s elegant work was brought to the Atlanta Opera stage by Scenic & Projection Designer Erhard Rom, Costume Designer Vita Tzykun, Lighting Designer Robert Wierzel, Wig & Makeup Designer Joyce Degenfelder, and Choreographer Amir Levy. As another Tomer Zvulun production, Semele has been presented at the Seattle Opera.
FILM STUDIO MEMBERSHIP Information
Access to the entire digital opera library, including the 18 new cinematic titles, is available through a $25 annual membership. For more flexible access, viewers may opt for a $7 monthly membership.
Subscribers will enjoy unlimited streaming of an extensive library of opera features, including cinematic opera productions, documentaries, interviews, video shorts, podcasts, and livestream replays from one of America’s most forward-thinking opera companies—all from the comfort of home. The channel offers content available to view for free with an email registration.
Visit stream.atlantaopera.org to learn more, subscribe, or tune in to upcoming livestreams.
About The Atlanta Opera Film Studio
Launched to expand the reach of opera through cinematic artistry, The Atlanta Opera Film Studio reimagines live performances into dynamic visual experiences. Each production is filmed with a focus on dramatic intimacy and visual storytelling, offering a unique perspective on classic and contemporary operatic works. The Atlanta Opera Film Studio is led by Tomer Zvulun, the Carl W. Knobloch, Jr. General and Artistic Director of The Atlanta Opera. The project was founded to support the Opera’s activities during the coronavirus pandemic, but has become an integral part of the company’s transformation into one of the top opera companies in the U.S.
Director and filmmaker Felipe Barral began a creative partnership in 2017 with Zvulun, and their mutual vision led to the development of The Atlanta Opera as a digital media company. Barral has transformed the way opera is presented on screen by leveraging multi-camera setups, immersive editing, artistic staging, and meticulous sound and audio presentation. His unique blend of theatrical performance with feature-film aesthetic creates content with exceptional impact.
About The Atlanta Opera
Hailed by The New York Times for “Bringing Opera Back from the Brink,” The Atlanta Opera’s mission is to break the boundaries of opera to create exceptional experiences for audiences everywhere. Founded in 1979, the company has grown to achieve “Tier One” status (Opera America) in 2024 and works with world-renowned singers, conductors, directors, and designers who seek to enhance the art form. Under the leadership of internationally recognized stage director and Carl W. Knobloch, Jr. General & Artistic Director Tomer Zvulun, The Atlanta Opera expanded from three to four mainstage productions at Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre and launched the acclaimed “Discoveries” event series, as well as the innovative 96-Hour Opera Project. In recent years, the company has been named among the “Best of” by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution and was nominated in 2016 and 2023 for International Opera Awards. It also received ArtsATL’s 2019 Luminary Award for Community Engagement in recognition of its successful Veterans Program in partnership with the Home Depot Foundation, while the 2023 Governor’s Award for the Arts and Humanities recognized the excellence of the 96-Hour Opera Project. In addition, The Atlanta Opera was featured in a 2018 Harvard Business School case study about successful organizational growth, and Zvulun presented a TEDx Talk at Emory University titled “The Ambidextrous Opera Company, or Opera in the Age of iPhones.” During the COVID-19 pandemic, The Atlanta Opera was one of the only companies in the world to create a full, alternative season, consisting of no fewer than 40 live performances in two different outdoor venues, including a revolutionary custom-designed circus tent. The critically acclaimed productions and concerts were streamed in HD on the newly created “Atlanta Opera Film Studio” streaming platform, which continues to allow The Atlanta Opera to reach a global audience. National media coverage of the “pandemic season” included features in the Wall Street Journal and on PBS NewsHour. Reflecting on the company’s achievements over the past decade, Musical America declared, “The Atlanta Opera has arrived.” For more information, visit atlantaopera.org.
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