2016-2017 Season Debuted Associate Director, Choreographers and Dramaturge

Summary: The Metropolitan Opera’s 2016-2017 season debuted an associate director, two choreographers and a dramaturge in production.

Juilliard School graduate Austin McCormick made his choreographic debut Feb. 2, 2017, at Met Opera in the opera house's 28th performance of Dvořák: LA Dance Foundation @LADForg, via Twitter Feb. 26, 2017

The Metropolitan Opera’s 2016-2017 season debuted an associate director, two choreographers and one dramaturg in four of the season’s 26 productions. The first production debut took place Oct. 18, 2016. The season’s fourth and last debut occurred Feb. 2, 2017.

Guillaume Tell by Gioachino Rossini (Feb. 29, 1792-Nov. 13, 1868) claimed the 2016-2017’s first production debut. Rossini’s final opera held performances from Oct. 18 through Nov. 12. Klaus Bertisch debuted as the production’s dramaturge on opening night.

The new production of Guillaume Tell was directed by French-Lebanese theatre director Pierre Audi. Other members of Audi’s team were set designer George Tsypin, costumer designer Andrea Schmidt-Futterer, lighting designer Jean Kalman and choreographer Kim Brandstrup.

Previously, from 1979 to 1987, Klaus Bertisch was Frankfurt Opera’s dramaturge. From 1987 on, he has freelanced internationally as a dramaturge.

Bertisch’s collaboration with Pierre Audi predates the 2016-2017 Metropolitan Opera season’s production of Guillaume Tell. Since 1990 he has served as dramaturge at the Dutch National Opera, where Audi has held the position of artistic director since 1988.

The 2016-2017 season’s second production debut coincided with the Metropolitan Opera premiere of Finnish composer Kaija Saariaho’s medieval-themed opera, L’Amour de Loin. Opening night was Dec. 1. Closing night was Dec. 29. Franco-British stage director Sybille Wilson debuted on opening night as associate director.

Wilson joined the production team directed by French Canadian film and stage director Robert Lepage. Other production team members were set and costume designer Michael Curry, lighting designer Kevin Adams, lightscape image designer Lionel Arnould and sound designer Mark Grey.

Sybille Wilson’s career as a stage director, with an emphasis on music- and opera-based performances, dates to 2002. Her resume includes involvements in Belgium (Théâtre Royal de la Monnaie in Brussels), France (Festival Lyrique d’Aix en Provence, Théâtre de la Criée in Marseille) and Germany (Frankfurt Opera).

The 2016-2017 season’s third production debut was credited to Roméo et Juliette by Charles-François Gounod (June 17, 1818-Oct. 18, 1893). The operatic tragedy’s performances ran from Dec. 31, 2016, through March 18, 2017. Chase Brock debuted on opening night as the production’s choreographer.

Brock joined a production team headed by American theatre director Bartlett Sher. The rest of the production team comprised set designer Michael Yeargan, costume designer Catherine Zuber and lighting designer Jennifer Tipton.

Chase Brock’s resume includes founding the Chase Brock Experience, his Brooklyn-based contemporary dance company, in 2006.

Rusalka by Antonín Dvořák (Sept. 8, 1841-May 1, 1904) claimed the 2016-2017 season’s final production debut. Rusalka was performed between Feb. 2 and March 2. Opening night marked Austin McCormick’s debut as the production’s choreographer.

American opera and theatre director Mary Zimmerman headed the opera’s production team. Other production team members were set designer Daniel Ostling, costume designer Mara Blumenfeld and lighting designer T.J. Gerckens.

Austin McCormick’s resume includes graduating with a fine arts degree in 2006 from The Juilliard School. Also in 2006 the American choreographer founded Company XIV as a dance company blending Baroque dance, ballet and opera with circus, live music and lavish design.

The takeaway for the 2016-2017 season’s production team debuts is the fresh injections of creativity brought to the Metropolitan Opera’s productions by an associate director, two choreographers and one dramaturge.

International freelancer Klaus Bertisch made his Met Opera dramaturge debut Oct. 18, 2016, in the opera house's 32nd performance of Rossini's Guillaume Tell: De Nationale Opera @DutchNatOpera, via Twitter Aug. 12, 2015

Acknowledgment

My special thanks to talented artists and photographers/concerned organizations who make their fine images available on the internet.

Image credits:

Juilliard School graduate Austin McCormick made his choreographic debut Feb. 2, 2017, at Met Opera in the opera house's 28th performance of Dvořák: LA Dance Foundation @LADANCEForg, via Twitter Feb. 25, 2017, @ https://twitter.com/LADForg/status/835685762318290944

International freelancer Klaus Bertisch made his Met Opera dramaturge debut Oct. 18, 2016, in the opera house's 32nd performance of Rossini's Guillaume Tell: De Nationale Opera @DutchNatOpera, via Twitter Aug. 12, 2015, @ https://twitter.com/DutchNatOpera/status/631420878329286658

For further information:

“Debuts: Chase Brock, Diego Silva.” MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 356582 Roméo et Juliette {330} Metropolitan Opera House: 12/31/2016.
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=356582

“Debuts: Hyesang Park, Anthony Clark Evans, Daniela Mack, Austin McCormick.” MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 356617 Rusalka {28} Metropolitan Opera House: 02/02/2017.
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=356617

“Debuts: Klaus Bertisch, Michele Angelini, Ross Benoliel, Marco Spotti.” MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 356500 Guillaume Tell {32} Metropolitan Opera House: 10/18/2016.
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=356500

“Debuts: Susanna Mälkki, Sybille Wilson.” MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 356550 L’Amour de Loin {1} Metropolitan Opera House: 12/01/2016.
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=356550

LA Dance Foundation @LADForg. “Missed today’s #MetinHD Rusalka with choreography by #AustinMcCormick of #CompanyXIV? There’s an encore March 1.” Twitter. Feb. 25, 2017.
Available @ https://twitter.com/LADForg/status/835685762318290944

Metropolitan Opera. “L’Amour de Loin: Live in HD Intermission Interview.” YouTube. Dec. 15, 2016.
Available @ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2kHlFaxWLM8

Metropolitan Opera. “Pierre Audi on His New Production of Guillaume Tell.” YouTube. Feb. 17, 2016.
Available @ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3AGHbs0A41g

De Nationale Opera @DutchNatOpera. “’I safeguard the stories that are being told on stage,’ Klaus Bertisch, dramaturge DNO.” Twitter. Aug. 12, 2015.
Available @ https://twitter.com/DutchNatOpera/status/631420878329286658