JAY HUNTER MORRIS TO SING THE ROLE OF CAPTAIN AHAB, REPLACING BEN HEPPNER

Sep 13, 2012 by admin

JAY HUNTER MORRIS TO SING THE ROLE OF CAPTAIN AHAB IN ALL PERFORMANCES OF
JAKE HEGGIE AND GENE SCHEER’S MOBY-DICK, REPLACING BEN HEPPNER IN HIS
PREVIOUSLY ANNOUNCED PERFORMANCES

SAN FRANCISCO, CA (September 12, 2012)—San Francisco Opera announces a
casting change for the Company’s production of Jake Heggie and Gene Scheer’s
Moby-Dick at the War Memorial Opera House, October 10–November 2, 2012.
American tenor Jay Hunter Morris, who was last seen at San Francisco Opera
in the title role of Wagner’s Siegfried as a part of the Company’s 2011 Ring
cycle, will now sing the role of Captain Ahab in all eight performances,
replacing tenor Ben Heppner, who has withdrawn from the production for
personal reasons.

“It is with regret I announce today that Ben Heppner has withdrawn from our
Moby-Dick production,” stated San Francisco Opera General Director David
Gockley. “Ben is a distinguished artist with a great history with this
Company and we respect his decision, wishing him the very best. However, we
are fortunate to have another talented tenor already scheduled to sing Ahab
in the final two performances and we welcome the opportunity to now present
Jay Hunter Morris for the entirety of the production.”

Jay Hunter Morris most recently made a triumphal appearance at San Francisco
Opera in the title role of Siegfried, stepping in at late notice to replace
the originally scheduled tenor. He has previously appeared to critical
acclaim as Captain Ahab in Adelaide, Australia and San Diego, where
sandiego.com wrote of him: “the fiery brilliance of his resplendent upper
range captured both Ahab’s inner strength and demonic possession.” Morris
made his Company debut as Mitch in Previn’s A Streetcar Named Desire in
1998; he also created roles in San Francisco Opera’s world premiere
productions of Heggie’s first opera, Dead Man Walking (2000) and John Adams’
Doctor Atomic (2005). The Texas native’s other Company appearances include
Števa (Jenůfa), Walther (Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg), Lykov (The Tsar’s
Bride), and roles in Louise, Saint François d’Assise, and Doktor Faust.
Other recent engagements include a widely acclaimed portrayal of Siegfried
at the Metropolitan Opera in their 2012 Ring cycle; Florestan (Fidelio) with
Portland Opera; Tristan (Tristan und Isolde) with Welsh National Opera; and
Erik (Der Fliegende Holländer) in Atlanta; Seattle; Santiago, Chile; and Sydney.

Moby-Dick is composer Jake Heggie and librettist Gene Scheer’s new
adaptation of Herman Melville’s classic meditation on man and the sea. Now
making its first appearance in the Bay Area, this San Francisco Opera
co-commission has previously been presented by the Dallas Opera, Calgary
Opera, San Diego Opera and the State Opera of South Australia. Joining Jay
Hunter Morris will be tenor Stephen Costello as Greenhorn (Ishmael),
baritone Morgan Smith as Starbuck and Samoan bass-baritone Jonathan Lemalu
as Queequeg. Conducted by San Francisco Opera Principal Guest Conductor
Patrick Summers, this co-production features innovative set designs by
Robert Brill and is directed by Leonard Foglia.  Moby-Dick runs for eight
performances from October 10 through November 2.