Opera Saratoga’s Digital Concert Series AMERICA SINGS with Baritone Luis Alejandro Orozco

Opera Saratoga announced today that AMERICA SINGS, the company’s free concert series that was created to amplify the voices of artists from racial groups historically underrepresented on the concert stage, will return to Caffè Lena this weekend after the series had to be temporarily paused due to COVID-19. Caffè Lena has recently reinstated its live-streamed programming and welcomes baritone Luis Alejandro Orozco and pianist Michael Lewis to its historic venue for a program featuring music by Schubert, Brahms, and Piazzolla. The concert will take place at 7pm ET, Sunday, February 21st, 2021. Concerts by soprano Brandie Sutton, baritone Justin Austin, and composer/pianist Damien Sneed that were to have taken place in December and January are being rescheduled for the spring. To access each concert, and for additional information please visit: www.operasaratoga.org/america-sings

All concerts in Opera Saratoga’s AMERICA SINGS series are live-streamed to the public for free, but viewers are encouraged to contribute through a virtual tip jar during each event to support both Opera Saratoga and the featured artists. All “tips” made during each concert will be split equally between Opera Saratoga and the featured artists, providing vital support to artists who have been financially impacted by the shutdown of live opera performances across the country. Each event is live-streamed on Caffè Lena’s YouTube Channel, and the Facebook pages of both Opera Saratoga and Caffè Lena. AMERICA SINGS is presented with generous leadership support from Greenberg Traurig, LLP, and hospitality sponsorship from The Hampton Inn & Suites, Saratoga Springs.

ABOUT LUIS ALEJANDRO OROZCO
An El Paso, Texas native, and alumnus of Opera Saratoga’s Young Artist Program, Mexican-American Baritone Luis Alejandro Orozco has been praised for his “voluminous baritone and beautiful legato.” Luis Orozco recently made his Swiss debut as Riolobo in Florencia en el Amazonas with Theater St. Gallen and performed Escamillo in Carmen with  Pensacola Opera. During the COVID-19 shortened 2019-2020 season, he performed with Opera in Williamsburg singing Zurga in The Pearl Fishers, then joined Opera Roanoke to sing Silvio in their production of Pagliacci. With Opera Santa Barbara, he debuted the role of Sharpless in Madama Butterfly, followed by performances as the baritone soloist in Carmina Burana with Wichita Symphony Orchestra. He essayed the bass solos in part one of Handel’s Messiah with the Las Vegas Philharmonic, and appeared as Maximillian in Candide with Syracuse Opera. During the summer of 2018, Luis appeared as Escamillo in Carmen with Mill City Summer Opera and traveled across Russia in a concert tour honoring Bernstein. His 2018-2019 season began with his Arizona Opera company debut, singing El Payador in María de Buenos Aires. He joined both Opera Santa Barbara and Anchorage Opera as Marcello in La bohème and returned to the role of Riolobo in Florencia en el Amazonas with Pensacola Opera. Luis began the 2017-2018 season with Mill City Summer Opera as El Payador in María de Buenos Aires, a role which also marked his debut with Nashville Opera and Fort Worth Opera. He also made his debut with San Diego Opera as Riolobo in Florencia en el Amazonas, and returned to Syracuse Opera as Escamillo in Carmen, Anchorage Opera as Hannah before in As One, and New Orleans Opera as El Payador in María de Buenos Aires. Previous seasons have included performances of Figaro in Il barbiere di Siviglia with Florentine Opera and Syracuse Opera, Escamillo in Carmen with Michigan Opera Theater, Mercutio in Roméo et Juliette with Lyric Opera Baltimore, Opera Grand Rapids, and Austin Lyric Opera, Belcore in L’elisir d’amore with Opera Santa Barbara, Riolobo in Florencia en el Amazonas with Washington National Opera and Arizona Opera, Hannah before in As One with Urban Arias, Taddeo in L’italiana in Algeri with Opera Santa Barbara, Périchaud in La rondine with Opera Theater of St. Louis, the title role in Don Giovanni with Opera Western Reserve, and Marcello in La bohéme with Kentucky Opera. He is also known as the leading interpreter in the United States for the role of El Payador in Piazzolla’s María de Buenos Aires, a role which he has performed at Florida Grand Opera, Cincinnati Opera, the Aspen Music Festival, and Anchorage Opera. Overseas, Orozco has performed the role of Papageno in Mozart’s The Magic Flute, with The Seoul International Opera Festival in South Korea, and the title role in Rossini’s Il signor Bruschino with the CCM Spoleto Festival. Orozco was a part of the Kennedy Center World Stages Festival in the premiere staged reading of Fallujah by composer Tobin Stokes in 2013.

ABOUT OPERA SARATOGA
Opera Saratoga, formerly known as Lake George Opera, began with a production of Die Fledermaus at the Diamond Point Theatre on July 5, 1962, playing to an audience of 230. The Company now calls Saratoga Springs home and performs for more than 25,000 people annually. Opera Saratoga celebrates its 60th Anniversary this season. The company serves the communities of Saratoga Springs, the Lower Adirondack and New York State Capital areas by providing access to world-class opera through the production of an annual Summer Festival, as well as year-round activities including extensive educational programs, mentorship of emerging operatic artists, and unique opportunities for the public to experience opera in both our home theater and non-traditional venues that leverage and embrace the unique cultural, historic, and natural resources of the area. To date, the company has performed 104 different fully staged works by 65 different composers, including 42 works by American composers and 14 premiere productions. In 2014, the Board of Directors appointed Lawrence Edelson Opera Saratoga’s Artistic and General Director. Edelson’s leadership has marked a new chapter in the company’s history, with increased emphasis on community partnerships throughout the year, diversification of the company’s repertoire, and a reaffirmed commitment to both the presentation of American opera and the mentorship of emerging artists as core activities in the company’s programs each season. For more information, visit www.operasaratoga.org