The cast of 35 will be lead by NICHOLAS SIMPSON (Die Tote Stadt, Silent Night, Opportunity Makes the Theif) as Tannhäuser, AMBER SMOKE (Die Walküre, La Clemenza di Tito, Threepenny Opera) as Elisabeth, and JODI KAREM (Santuzza, Vesperae solennes de confessore, Requiem) as Venus. The production will feature a full orchestra lead by MATTHEW JENKINS JAROSZEWICZ (Flight, Gianni Schicchi, Suor Angelica), who is also the Artistic Director of Apotheosis. Jaroszewicz will serve as director, musical director, and conductor, with choreography by MAAYAN VOSS DE BETTANCOURT, scenic design by GALEN KIRKPATRICK, and costume design by NED CHRISTENSEN.

TANNHÄUSER is a unique and powerful dramatic opera in three acts with music and text by Richard Wagner. History and myth collide in Wagner’s renowned early masterpiece, which is set in 13th century Germany and based on the German legends of a real Minnesinger and his relationships with the goddess Venus and a pure young maiden.

Tickets are available for $15, $25, and $45, and can be purchased at tannhauser2015.org.

APOTHEOSIS OPERA seeks to bring fresh energy into the New York opera scene by connecting new performers with new audiences. They create affordable, fully-staged, English-language productions of large-scale works to make opera more accessible to a wider audience. Opera is hot when its stars shine brightly and Apotheosis productions give some of New York’s most talented young performers the game-changing opportunity to sing big roles for the first time. The upcoming production of Tannhäuser will largely feature college students, recent graduates, and other emerging artists in its cast and creative team.

Website: http://www.tannhauser2015.org/