Caramoor Presents CIRO IN BABILONIA, 7/7

On July 7, Caramoor's Director of Opera Will Crutchfield, leading the Orchestra of St. Luke's, will open the 16^th season of the Bel Canto at Caramoor series with the American premiere of Gioachino Rossini's Ciro in Babilonia in collaboration with the renowned Rossini Festival in Pesaro, Italy.

This annual operatic exploration has been called "an essential contribution" by The New York Times. Celebrated contralto Ewa Podle? returns to the Venetian Theater in the role of Ciro in a production semi-staged with high-tech projected images designed by stage director Davide Livermore. The performance features tenor Michael Spyres as Baldassare and soprano Jessica Pratt in her American debut as Amira, among others. The production with the cast led by Mr. Crutchfield will perform at the Rossini Festival on August 10, 13, 16, 19 and 22.