Great Barrington, MA — Having succeeded in restoring world-class, fully-staged opera to the Berkshires, the “innovative, clever and thoroughly professional” (Bachtrack) BERKSHIRE OPERA FESTIVAL (BOF) is now busy rehearsing and producing its tenth anniversary season in Great Barrington, MA. The only company of its kind in the Berkshire region, BOF produces opera at the highest level under the vision of esteemed Co-founders Brian Garman (William E. Briggs Artistic Director) and Jonathon Loy (Director of Production).
The 2025 mainstage attraction is a new production of one of the most popular operas of all time: Giuseppe Verdi’s masterpiece La Traviata. BOF will bring it to the Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center on August 23, 26, and 29. The Mahaiwe and BOF formalized a multi-year partnership last year, committing to bring top-tier performing artists to the Berkshires. Director Jonathon Loy and conductor Brian Garman will turn the Mahaiwe into the gritty underbelly of 19th century Paris with this Traviata.
BOF is also excited to produce a special 10th Anniversary Concert at the Mahaiwe on August 14, featuring music from beloved operas and performances by top talent from previous and upcoming seasons along with members of the cast of La Traviata.
A combination of exceptional singers, a great orchestra, and arresting productions, all in a perfectly sized theater for unamplified voices (680 seats) and at affordable prices has led national opera critics to declare “destination” status on Berkshire Opera Festival. And as the local Berkshire On Stage writes: “No longer need we confine our opera-going to HD films—now we have the highest quality productions and performers in our own backyard.”
Brian Garman says: “For the centerpiece of our celebratory 10th Anniversary Season, I’m thrilled to present Verdi’s masterpiece of love and sacrifice, La Traviata. I know our audiences will be delighted by the beautiful and passionate singing of our internationally-renowned cast. And the celebration starts even earlier in August with a gala concert to mark our 10th Anniversary. It features many operatic favorites from Handel, Mozart, Puccini, and everything in between. This is a season not to be missed!”
Recently appointed President and CEO Natalie Johnsonius Neubert says: “This summer, BOF marks our 10th anniversary of bringing world-class opera to the Berkshires — through performances that are both artistically excellent and accessible to our entire community. This milestone season is a testament to the unwavering support of our audiences, artists, and partners, for which we are truly grateful. Through our productions, talks, and meet-the-artist events, BOF’s commitment to making opera engaging and inclusive remains stronger than ever. Whether you’re a lifelong opera lover or experiencing it for the first time, we invite you to join us for this very special season.”
Janis Martinson, Executive Director of Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center, says: “We are pleased to present both Berkshire Opera Festival’s La Traviata and their 10th Anniversary Concert in the Mahaiwe’s historic theater. Mahaiwe audiences have come to count on the artistic excellence of everything that BOF does and will no doubt be thrilled to have two opportunities to hear the fabulous vocalists and musicians under Maestro Brian Garman’s baton. These artists grace some of the most famous stages of the world, and we are honored that they appear on ours.”
Looking ahead, BOF is thrilled to announce that Donizetti’s bel canto masterpiece Lucia di Lammermoor will be the summer 2026 mainstage production. Leading the cast are soprano Christine Lyons, tenor Terrence Chin-Loy, baritone Dean Murphy, and bass Stefan Egerstrom. Performances will take place August 22, 25, and 28 at the Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center.
August 23, 26, 29
Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center, Great Barrington, MA
Starring
VANESSA BECERRA as Violetta Valéry
JOSHUA BLUE as Alfredo Germont
DARREN DRONE as Giorgio Germont
Conducted by BRIAN GARMAN
Stage Direction by JONATHON LOY
Plus a spectacular
August 14
Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center, Great Barrington, MA
BOF celebrates its past, present, and future with music from
beloved operas and new favorites
Featuring members of the cast of La Traviata and guest artists
with the Berkshire Opera Festival Orchestra and Chorus
under the musical direction of Brian Garman
Tickets from $20
berkshireoperafestival.org
Music by Giuseppe Verdi
Libretto by Francesco Maria Piave
Saturday, August 23, 1pm
(Free pre-performance talk with dramaturg Cori Ellison at 12pm)
Tuesday, August 26, 7:30pm
Friday, August 29, 7:30pm
Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center, 14 Castle Street, Great Barrington, MA
Approximate running time: 2 hours, 30 minutes including one intermission
Sung in Italian with projected English translations
Tickets start at $20
CAST
Soprano VANESSA BECERRA – Violetta Valéry
Tenor JOSHUA BLUE – Alfredo Germont
Baritone DARREN DRONE – Giorgio Germont
Mezzo-soprano ERIN REPPENHAGEN – Flora Bervoix
Tenor MAXIMILLIAN JANSEN – Gastone
Bass-baritone JOHN CHEEK – Doctor Grenvil
Baritone YAZID GRAY – Baron Douphol
Baritone ADAM PARTRIDGE – The Marquis of Obigny
and featuring the
BERKSHIRE OPERA FESTIVAL ORCHESTRA AND CHORUS
CREATIVE TEAM
Conductor BRIAN GARMAN
Stage Director JONATHON LOY
Scenic Designer HANNAH POSTLETHWAITE
Costume Designer BROOKE STANTON
Lighting Design by ALEX JAINCHILL and ALEJANDRO FAJARDO
Hair and Make-up Designer BECKIE KRAVETZ
Choreographer SARA ERDE
Assistant Conductor and Chorus Master LUCA ANTONUCCI
Principal Coach and Rehearsal Pianist TRAVIS BLOOM
Musical Preparation DAKOTA PEREZ
Supertitles Author CORI ELLISON
Production Stage Manager CINDY KNIGHT
On the BOF mainstage this anniversary year is a new production of Giuseppe Verdi’s LA TRAVIATA, the timeless tale of love and sacrifice that has become one of the most beloved operas of all time. Violetta lives a life of decadence and grandeur until she finds true love for the first time with Alfredo. They leave high society for a life in the countryside together, but when fate intervenes, Violetta must make an agonizing choice. Verdi’s exquisite melodies and rousing choruses are a perfect accompaniment for this doomed romance.
Stage Director and BOF Co-founder Jonathon Loy says: “This season will be filled with heightened emotions, not only because we are tackling one of the most popular and tragic operas in the repertoire, La Traviata, but that it coincides with BOF’s 10th anniversary. This is a milestone that calls for celebration, and celebrate we will.”
Three performances take place at the Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center in Great Barrington. Playing Violetta Valéry is soprano Vanessa Becerra, making her BOF debut. Becerra has been praised for her “bold and bright” singing (Opera News), “full, beautifully focused” instrument (Wall Street Journal), and “charismatic and eloquent” presence (San Francisco Chronicle), and she sings with the Chicago Lyric Opera and Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center as well as BOF this season. Opposite Becerra is tenor Joshua Blue as Alfredo Germont. Blue returns to BOF after a thrilling performance in the company’s 2022 production of Don Giovanni. In addition to BOF, Blue has performed with the English National Opera, Metropolitan Opera, and Opera Philadelphia. In the role of Giorgio Germont is Darren Drone, who has been described as having “a gorgeously warm tone and deep resonance” (Opera News). Drone has sung with the Metropolitan Opera, Cincinnati Opera, and Lyric Opera of Chicago.
Celebrating BOF’s Past, Present, and Future
Thursday, August 14, 7:30PM
Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center, 14 Castle Street, Great Barrington, MA
1 hour, 30 minutes (no intermission)
Tickets start at $20
(Premium tickets include an invitation to a post-show reception)
Berkshire Opera Festival invites all to come celebrate its 10th anniversary with a festive concert on the stage of the Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center. This spectacular concert features operatic favorites from Madama Butterfly, Carmen, Aida, The Marriage of Figaro, and many others, alongside lesser-known selections that are destined to become new favorites. Joined by esteemed artists from previous and upcoming seasons, including Raquel González from BOF’s 2024 Faust, the internationally renowned cast of La Traviata will thrill with their voices and passion. These artists will be joined as always by the talented musicians of the Berkshire Opera Festival Orchestra and Chorus, all under the musical direction of Artistic Director and Co-founder Brian Garman.
CAST
Tenor VIKTOR ANTIPENKO
Soprano VANESSA BECERRA
Tenor JOSHUA BLUE
Bass-baritone JOHN CHEEK
Baritone DARREN DRONE
Soprano RAQUEL GONZÁLEZ
Baritone YAZID GRAY
Tenor MAXIMILLIAN JANSEN
Baritone ADAM PARTRIDGE
Mezzo-soprano ERIN REPPENHAGEN