Utah Opera's 2014-15 season mixes old ..

This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2014, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

Utah Opera has unveiled its 2014-15 season, and it's a mix of new-to-Utah works and returning favorites — along with the opera company's first collaboration with Utah Symphony Music Director Thierry Fischer.

Fischer will conduct the Utah Opera premiere of Igor Stravinsky's "The Rake's Progress" in May 2015. It's his first time conducting a Utah Opera production.

Here's the full lineup of productions:

"Madame Butterfly" • The return of Puccini's classic, about the doomed romance between a Japanese geisha and an American naval officer, will feature Korean-American soprano Yunah Lee (in her Utah Opera debut) as the ill-fated Cio-Cio San and mezzo-soprano Nina Yoshida Nelson as her servant Suzuki. Garnett Bruce will direct; Robert Tweten will conduct. Performances run Oct. 11, 13, 15, 17 and 19, 2014.

"The Pearl Fishers" • The Utah Opera premiere of Georges Bizet's lesser-known work, set in a fishing village on the island of Ceylon (now Sri Lanka). Two men vow to maintain their friendship, which was nearly destroyed by the rivalry over a woman. But when the woman returns, all bets are off. Tenor Phillippe Talbot, soprano Andrea Carroll and bass-baritone Derrick Parker lead the cast. Kristine McIntyre will direct; Carlos Iscaray will conduct. Performances will run Jan. 17, 19, 21, 23 and 25, 2015.

"Così fan tutte" • Mozart's satire of infidelity makes a return to Utah Opera. Karin Wolverton plays Fiordiligi, and Abigail Levis portrays the maid Despina. Crystal Manich will direct the production, which runs March 14, 16, 18, 20 and 22, 2015.

"The Rake's Progress" • Thierry Fischer makes his Utah Opera conducting debut with this production of Igor Stravinsky's opera — a premiere for Utah Opera, in a vintage production designed by the British artist David Hockney for Glyndebourne in 1975. Tenor Norman Reinhardt portrays Tom Rakewell, who leaves his girlfriend Anne Trulove (soprano Joélle Harvey) for the wild life of London with the devilish Nick Shadow (bass-baritone Mark Schnaible). The English libretto was written by the English poet W.H. Auden., based upon lithographs by William Hogarth. The production will be performed May 9, 11, 13, 15 and 18, 2015.

For full details, go to the Utah Opera's website, www.utahopera.org.

Utah Opera's 2014-15 season mixes old and new