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PRESS RELEASE – AUGUST 15, 2006

Young American soprano JESSICA RIVERA will create the leading role of Kumudah in JOHN ADAMS’ newest opera, “A Flowering Tree,” directed by PETER SELLARS. The world premiere will be in Vienna, Austria, on November 14, 2006, as part of the New Crowned Hope Festival. Further performances are scheduled with the Berlin Philharmonic, the San Francisco Symphony, London’s Barbican Centre, and Lincoln Center.

Ms. Rivera came to international attention last year when she created the role of Nuria in Osvaldo Golijov’s opera, “Ainadamar,” which received its revised premiere at the Santa Fe Opera before performances with the Atlanta Symphony, the Lincoln Center Festival, the Ravinia Festival, the Ojai Festival, and London’s Barbican Centre. The recently released Deutsche Grammophon recording of “Ainadamar” has garnered great critical acclaim for this exciting young artist.

Ms. Rivera created the role of the Princess Anastasia in Los Angeles Opera’s world premiere of Deborah Dratell’s “Nicholas and Alexandra,” later returning to sing Musetta in “La Bohème” and Susanna in “Le nozze di Figaro” with the company.

The soprano will record Vaughan Williams’ “Serenade to Music” with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra under Robert Spano, debut with the Cincinnati Opera, and sing and record Golijov’s “La Pasión según San Marcos” in Miami and Caracas, Venezuela.