Ash Lawn announces its 2008 Season!

My Fair Lady by Lerner and Loewe

Professor Henry Higgins, England's leading phoneticist, bets an aristocratic friend that he can turn Eliza Doolittle, a cockney peddler of violets, into a proper society lady. Despite a setback that humiliates Eliza, the professor perfects her accent and completes her transformation. In celebrating his success, Higgins loses sight of the person beneath his experiment. His blindness almost costs him the real prize, as Eliza storms out in hurt and anger. Finally aware of his loss, the professor sings his regret. Hearing his wistful song, Eliza returns, and happiness prevails.

Carmen by Bizet

From the moment Carmen encounters Don Jose, the delectable and impudent gypsy is determined to win his love. She succeeds quickly and leads the enraptured soldier away from his honorable lifestyle into her own world of crime and chaos. Don Jose's sacrifice proves worthless, however, as Carmen turns her attention to a new lover, the famous toreador Escamillo. As complications abound, Don Jose's adoration becomes enraged jealousy, with tragic results. One of the most popular operas of all time, this powerful work has enthralled audiences since its Paris debut in 1875.

Ash Lawn Opera receives grant for Noye's Fludde

The Prana Fund of the Charlottesville Area Community Foundation has awarded the Festival a $25,000 grant to produce Benjamin's Britten's Noye's Fludde.  The production, to be held in the fall of 2008, will be part of the Festival's thirtieth anniversary celebration, and will include over 70 area children and youth from low- to middle-income families.  These children will participate in all aspects of the production as singers, instrumentalists, stagehands, scenic artists, costumers, and make-up artists.

The Prana Fund was established by Tom and Karyn Dingledine and their children in 2004 to support programs directed at lower- and middle-income children.  In 2006, the award focused on programs in the visual and performing arts.  “What an exciting adventure," says Judy Walker, Ash Lawn Opera's General Director, "one I've dreamed of doing for many years! This production is a wonderful way to celebrate our community, without which the Festival would not exist. With the help of the Dingledines, we look forward to beginning the process of making Britten's Noye's Fludde a reality.”

2008 MidWinter Eve Success!

On Friday, January 18, the Ash Lawn Opera Guild hosted its annual MidWinter Eve event. The evening included a silent auction, dinner, and a program and took place at Farmington Country Club. Thanks to the Lady Blanka Rosenstiel and the Chopin Foundation, the talented Elizabeth Borowsky entertained guests with an exquisite piano performance.

The Guild was pleased to report that over 100 items were sold in the silent auction, including a wide variety of specialty goods and services. The Guild themselves provided two auction items – a dinner for eight in a winning bidder's home and an “Evening at the Opera” including a picnic for four and tickets to a 2008 summer ALO performance. Among the other fine items purchased were original artwork, a fishing trip, fine dining experiences, theatre tickets, a handcrafted inlay table, an oriental rug, designer jewelry from local jewelers, box seats to a UVA basketball game, and getaways such as a week in a 4 bedroom villa in St. Maarten. Click here to see the full list of generous donors and their silent auction donations.

A special thanks to Payne Ross & Associates for donating the invitation and program graphic design, to Mint Printing for donating the printing of the program, and to Patterson's Flower Shop for donating the flowers for the event.

Ash Lawn Opera office gets a new home!

The Ash Lawn Opera offices have moved downtown.  The office is located on Fourth Street between the Downtown Mall and Market Street, one block from the Market Street parking garage.  Our address is 111 Fourth Street NE, Charlottesville, VA 22902.  We look forward to welcoming visitors!