The ABDUCTION from the Seraglio

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2018 2019 SEASON Opera SAN JOSÉ Celebrating 35 YEARS of Excellence Mozart's SEPTEMBER 15-30, at

1 SEASON Opera SAN JOSÉ Celebrating 35 YEARS of Excellence Mozart's SEPTEMBER 15-30, at the California Theatre MOZART'S The ABDUCTION from the Seraglio SEPTEMBER 15-30, 2018 PRESS KIT

3 presents MOZART S The ABDUCTION from the Seraglio Opera in three acts Music by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Libretto by Gottlieb Stephanie First performed July 16, 1782 at the Burgtheater, Vienna. Sung in German with English spoken dialogue and English supertitles. Performances of The ABDUCTION from the Seraglio are made possible in part by a Cultural Affairs grant from the City of San José and a grant from The Packard Humanities Institute. Performance Sponsors September 15: Fred and Peggy Heiman September 23: George and Susan Crow PRESS CONTACT Chris Jalufka Communications Manager Box Office (408) Direct (408) jalufka@operasj.org OPERASJ.ORG For additional information go to

4 CAST IN ORDER OF APPEARANCE Konstanze Blonde Belmonte Osmin Pedrillo Pasha Selim Rebecca Davis Brittany Renee Robinson (9/30) Katrina Galka Matthew Grills Ashraf Sewailam Michael Dailey Nathan Stark Covers Brittany Renee Robinson, Konstanze Maya Kherani, Blonde Jacob Wright, Belmonte Mason Gates, Pedrillo Jason Sarten, Osmin Kirk Eichelberber, Pasha Selim 4 Opera San José

5 ARTISTIC TEAM CONDUCTOR George Manahan ASSISTANT CONDUCTOR Ming Luke STAGE DIRECTOR Michael Shell SET DESIGNER Steven C. Kemp COSTUME DESIGNER Ulises Alcala LIGHTING DESIGNER Pamila Z. Gray WIG AND MAKEUP DESIGNER Christina Martin PROPERTIES MASTER Lori Scheper-Kesel CHORUS MASTER Ming Luke ASSISTANT STAGE DIRECTOR Rory Willats PRODUCTION STAGE MANAGER Darlene Miyakawa ASSISTANT STAGE MANAGERS Rebecca Bradley Kendra L. Green MUSIC STAFF Veronika Agranov-Dafoe Victoria Lington The ABDUCTION from the Seraglio Press Kit 5

6 1ST VIOLIN Cynthia Baehr, Concertmaster Alice Talbot, Assistant Concertmaster Matthew Szemela Valerie Tisdel Chin Le Virginia Smedberg Rochelle Nguyen Daniel Flanagan 2ND VIOLIN Claudia Bloom, Principal Sally Dalke, Assistant Principal Susan Stein Sue-Mi Shin Sergi Goldman-Hull Elizabeth Corner VIOLA Chad Kaltinger, Principal Janet Doughty, Assistant Principal Melinda Rayne Ivo Bokulic CELLO Lucinda Breed Lenicheck, Principal Evan Kahn, Assistant Principal Paul Hale Nancy Kim BASS Andrew Butler, Principal William Everett, Assistant Principal FLUTE Isabelle Chapuis, Principal Teresa Orozco PICCOLO Mary Hargrove OBOE Pamela Hakl, Principal Patricia Emerson Mitchell CLARINET Mark Brandenburg, Principal Jeannie Psomas BASSOON Deborah Kramer, Principal Carolyn Lockhart FRENCH HORN Meredith Brown, Principal Eric Achen TRUMPET William B. Harvey, Principal John Freeman TROMBONE Kathryn Curran, Principal Bruce Chrisp C.L. Behrens TIMPANI Mark Veregge, Principal PERCUSSION James Kassis Frank Wyant Nick Mathiessen ORCHESTRA MANAGER Mark Veregge ORCHESTRA LIBRARIAN Tim Spears 6 Opera San José

7 SYNOPSIS ACT I, At the main entrance to Pasha Selim s summer palace on the Turkish coast After months of searching, Belmonte, a Spanish noble, arrives seeking his beloved, Konstanze, who, with her maidservant Blonde and Belmonte s valet Pedrillo have been captured and sold as slaves to the Pasha. Belmonte intends to rescue them from the Pasha s palace. The first person he meets is Osmin, a gardener who watches jealously over the Pasha s wives. Belmonte asks if he has found Pasha Selim s palace, but Osmin ignores him as long as possible, then breaks into a tirade accusing Belmonte of wanting to carry off women from the seraglio. When Belmonte finally breaks through to Osmin and asks where he can find Pedrillo, Osmin loses his already explosive temper and orders Belmonte to get out or be arrested and tortured. Belmonte goes and very soon the flippant Pedrillo arrives. Osmin lets fly a burst of deadly threats, then leaves. With Pedrillo still in the garden, Belmonte returns and the two are greatly relieved to find one another. It is especially good news that Belmonte has a ship waiting offshore to take them all to safety and freedom. Now, all they must do is figure out a way to get the four of them out of the palace and into a boat. As soon as Belmonte and Pedrillo have left to make their plan, Pasha Selim and Konstanze arrive from an outing. The Pasha expresses his love for Konstanze and tells her that he is determined to win her affection. Konstanze explains that before her captivity, she was already in love and is promised to that man. She is firmly resolved never to break her vow, and Pasha Selim marvels at her steadfastness and finds that he loves her all the more. Pedrillo returns with Belmonte and introduces him to the Pasha as an accomplished architect. As architecture is Selim s great passion, he welcomes Belmonte into his household. The first stage of the plan has gone smoothly until Osmin decides to block the entrance of Belmonte and Pedrillo into the palace. There is a scuffle. The ABDUCTION from the Seraglio Press Kit

8 Intermission (15 minutes) ACT II, The same day, a garden within the palace walls Osmin tries to convince Blonde that she is his property, given to him by the Pasha. Blonde tries to instruct him on how to deal with women, but it all ends with Blonde threatening to scratch out his eyes if he doesn t leave immediately. Osmin is astonished that Englishmen allow their women to behave like this, but leaves, as does Blonde. Konstanze reflects on her present sorrow at having been separated from Belmonte, realizing that she has never before experienced heartbreak. Pasha Selim arrives to convince Konstanze of his sincere and deep feelings for her. She responds that while she will always hold him in high regard, she will never love him. Angered, he informs her that he could force her or submit her to all kinds of torture if she continues to refuse. She responds adamantly that he can do his worst; she will never break her vow. Pedrillo tells Blonde that Belmonte has arrived to set them free. After Pedrillo deals with Osmin, they will all escape at midnight. Blonde rushes off to tell Konstanze while Pedrillo stays behind to ponder how he will overcome Osmin. He settles on enticing him to drink a generous amount of wine, though this is firmly against Islamic law. Succumbing to temptation, and unaccustomed to alcohol, Osmin becomes inebriated and passes out. The coast is clear for the reunion between Belmonte and Konstanze, which, as with Pedrillo and Blonde s reunion, has challenges Intermission (20 minutes) ACT III, At night, outside the seraglio A scaffold erected by workers at Belmonte s direction, supposedly to facilitate an addition to the building, is ready as an escape route from the second floor. To signal that the ship is at the ready, Pedrillo sings a serenade. All seems well until Pedrillo s singing wakes Osmin who calls the guards. The Pasha is awakened by the ruckus and the scene pivots to reveal his private apartments. 8 Opera San José

9 Inside the Pasha s apartments Osmin tells all, and Konstanze pleads for the life of Belmonte. Belmonte tells Pasha Selim that his father, Commandant Lostados, will pay any amount for their safe release. Selim rejoices that the son of Lostados, Selim s most hated enemy, is kneeling before him, pleading for mercy. He asks Belmonte what fate he would have should he be kneeling before Lostados. Belmonte admits that his fate would be bleak. Selim, however, announces that responding to injustice with injustice, and to violence with more violence, is misguided. He instructs Belmonte to be a better man than his father, which would be reward enough to Selim for his clemency. All rejoice, except Osmin. The ABDUCTION from the Seraglio Press Kit 9

CAST BIOGRAPHY Rebecca Davis SOPRANO HOMETOWN: NAPERVILLE, IL Konstanze Former resident company member Rebecca Davis returns in the 2018-19 season to perform the role of Konstanze in the company

10 CAST BIOGRAPHY Rebecca Davis SOPRANO HOMETOWN: NAPERVILLE, IL Konstanze Former resident company member Rebecca Davis returns in the season to perform the role of Konstanze in the company premiere of Mozart s The Abduction from the Seraglio. Recent performances for Ms. Davis included role debuts as Louise in Henze s Der Junge Lord, The First Lady in Mozart s Die Zauberflöte, Agathe in Weber s Der Freischütz, and Marie in Smetana s The Bartered Bride, all with Staatsoper Hannover. During the season, Ms. Davis performed the roles of Mimì (Puccini s La bohème), Micaëla (Bizet s Carmen), Rosalinda (Strauss s Die Fledermaus), and the Countess (Mozart s The Marriage of Figaro), all with Germany s Staatsoper Hannover. Ms. Davis returned to OSJ during the season as a featured artist in the Irene Dalis Memorial Concert on May 16. During the season, Ms. Davis was named First Place winner in the 2012 Irene Dalis Vocal Competition. During the summer of 2012, she was a featured soloist with the Midsummer Mozart Festival, performing the aria Vorrei spiegarvi, oh Dio and as a soloist in the Great Mass in C minor. 10 Opera San José

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CAST BIOGRAPHY Brittany Renee Robinson SOPRANO HOMETOWN: MINNEAPOLIS, MN Konstanze (9/30) Brittany Renee Robinson makes her company debut in the 2018-19 season, performing the role of Konstanze in

12 CAST BIOGRAPHY Brittany Renee Robinson SOPRANO HOMETOWN: MINNEAPOLIS, MN Konstanze (9/30) Brittany Renee Robinson makes her company debut in the season, performing the role of Konstanze in Mozart s The Abduction from the Seraglio. Recent performances for Ms. Robinson included her house debut as Konstanze at Opera Orlando, the roles of Madame Herz and Nella in a double bill production of Mozart s Impresario and Puccini s Gianni Schicchi for Knoxville Opera, as well as Lucia in Knoxville s Education/Outreach Production of Donizetti s Lucia di Lammermoor. Other recent appearances have included her international debuts at the Semperoper Dresden, the Deutsches Theater München, The Charles Bronfman Auditorium in Tel Aviv, Israel, and the Teatro Petruzzelli in Bari, Italy in the role of Bess and Clara with the New York Harlem Theatre World Tour of Gershwin s Porgy & Bess and Sister Rose in Jake Heggie s riveting production of Dead Man Walking with Opera on the Avalon in Canada. National debuts have included Konstanze with Salt Marsh Opera s production of The Abduction from the Seraglio, Musetta in Knoxville Opera s La bohème, featured soloist with Out of Box Opera, The Handel Choir of Baltimore, Guelph Symphony Orchestra conducted by Judith Yan, and Greensboro Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Dmitry Sitkovetsky. 12 Opera San José

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CAST BIOGRAPHY Katrina Galka SOPRANO HOMETOWN: MILWAUKEE, WI Blonde - Making her company debut during the 2018-19 season, Katrina Galka appears as Blonde in OSJ s company premiere of Mozart s The

14 CAST BIOGRAPHY Katrina Galka SOPRANO HOMETOWN: MILWAUKEE, WI Blonde - Making her company debut during the season, Katrina Galka appears as Blonde in OSJ s company premiere of Mozart s The Abduction from the Seraglio. Recent engagements for Ms. Galka include Adina in Donizetti s The Elixir of Love and her role debut as Gilda in Verdi s Rigoletto, both for Portland Opera. She also returned to Arizona Opera as Cunegonde in Bernstein s Candide, Rosina in Rossini s The Barber of Seville, Woglinde in Wagner s Das Rheingold, and a quartet of roles in Morganelli s Hercules vs Vampires as well as joining the Las Vegas Philharmonic for Handel s Messiah. On the concert stage, Ms. Galka has joined the Rhode Island Civic Chorale for the Angel in Respighi s Laude to the Nativity and Handel s Messiah. She sang Elvira in excerpts of Rossini s L italiana in Algeri with the Oregon Symphony and Violetta in excerpts of Verdi s La traviata with the Metropolitan Youth Symphony. Ms. Galka is a three-time regional award winner in the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions, and was the first-place winner of the Mario Lanza Scholarship. She has also received awards from the National Opera Association Vocal Competition, Marcello Giordani International Vocal Competition, and the Heida Hermanns International Vocal Competition. 14 Opera San José

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CAST BIOGRAPHY Matthew Grills TENOR HOMETOWN: SANDY HOOK, CT Belmonte Matthew Grills makes his company debut in Mozart s The Abduction from the Seraglio, appearing as Belmonte.

16 CAST BIOGRAPHY Matthew Grills TENOR HOMETOWN: SANDY HOOK, CT Belmonte Matthew Grills makes his company debut in Mozart s The Abduction from the Seraglio, appearing as Belmonte. Recent appearances include Tobias in San Francisco Opera s production of Sondheim s Sweeney Todd and a debut with Seattle Opera as Almaviva in Rossini s The Barber of Seville. He recently returned to Bayerische Staatsoper as a member of the company s ensemble, where his roles included the roles of Pedrillo in The Abduction from the Seraglio, Brighella in Richard Strauss s Ariadne auf Naxos as well as Kedril in Janacek s From the House of the Dead, Danieli in Verdi s Les vêpres siciliennes, and Vierter Knappe in Wagner s Parsifal, all new productions. Last season, he made a company and role debut at the Opéra national de Lorraine as Idreno in Rossini s Semiramide, joined the Gyeonggi Philharmonic Orchestra in Seoul, Korea for Nemorino in Donizetti s L elisir d amore, and returned to the States as Pedrillo in The Abduction from the Seraglio with Atlanta Opera. Mr. Grills is the unprecedented winner of both the grand prize in the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions and first prize in the Lotte Lenya Competition in the same year, The tenor holds a Master of Music degree from the Eastman School of Music and a Bachelor of Music from The Boston Conservatory. 16 Opera San José

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CAST BIOGRAPHY Ashraf Sewailam BASS-BARITONE HOMETOWN: NEW YORK, NY (CAIRO, EGYPT) Osmin - Ashraf Sewailam makes his company debut as Osmin in Mozart s The Abduction from the Seraglio and Queequeg in

18 CAST BIOGRAPHY Ashraf Sewailam BASS-BARITONE HOMETOWN: NEW YORK, NY (CAIRO, EGYPT) Osmin - Ashraf Sewailam makes his company debut as Osmin in Mozart s The Abduction from the Seraglio and Queequeg in Heggie s Moby-Dick. Engagements for Mr. Sewailam during the season include directing Janacek s The Cunning Little Vixen for Dell Arte Opera, performing the role of Capitán in Catán s Florencia en el Amazonas with Madison Opera, Monterone in Verdi s Rigoletto with Opera Grand Rapids, Toledo Opera, and Opera Carolina, where he also performs Lignieres in DiChiera s Cyrano. Past engagements featured Mr. Sewailam in the roles of Mustafa in Rossini s L italiana in Algeri with Portland Opera, Alidoro in Rossini s La Cenerentola with San Diego Opera, and Basilio in Rossini s Il barbiere di Siviglia with Opera San Antonio. Mr. Sewailam was named a prize winner at the New Voices (Neue Stimmen) international competition in Gütersloh, Germany and was featured in the opening concert of the New Alexandria Library singing Beethoven s Symphony No. 9 in Arabic. In addition to his singing engagements, Mr. Sewailam has taught at the American University in Cairo, and served as music director for Disney Character Voice International (DCVI), dubbing Disney productions into Arabic, and performed several of the characters. He earned a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Vocal Performance and Pedagogy from the University of Colorado at Boulder. 18 Opera San José

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CAST BIOGRAPHY Michael Dailey TENOR HOMETOWN: VIRGINIA BEACH, VA Pedrillo Former resident artist Michael Dailey returns during the 2018-19 season, appearing as Pedrillo in the company premiere of

20 CAST BIOGRAPHY Michael Dailey TENOR HOMETOWN: VIRGINIA BEACH, VA Pedrillo Former resident artist Michael Dailey returns during the season, appearing as Pedrillo in the company premiere of Mozart s The Abduction of the Seraglio. Mr. Dailey most recently appeared as Basilio in OSJ s production of The Marriage of Figaro. Other recent OSJ appearances include Lindoro in The Italian Girl in Algiers ( ) and Alfredo (Die Fledermaus) in While a member of OSJ s resident ensemble, Mr. Dailey performed the roles Beppe (Pagliacci), Alfredo (La traviata), the title role in Faust, amongst others. Roles performed with other companies include Rodolfo (La bohème) with Portland Opera to Go and Sportin Life (Porgy and Bess) with the New York Harlem Production company. For Tri- Cities Opera, he has performed the role of Romeo (Roméo et Juliette), Camille (The Merry Widow) and Parpignol (La bohème)). On the concert stage, Mr. Dailey has been a featured soloist with the Virginia Choral Society in their performances of Bruckner s Te Deum and Vaughn Williams Serenade to Music. While a member of Tri-Cities Opera s Resident Artist in Training Program, Mr. Dailey received their Opera Guild and Adele Bernstein Scholarship. He also participated in Des Moines Metro Opera s Apprentice Artist Program in summer of Opera San José

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22 NOTES 22 Opera San José

23 CONTENTS OF PRESS PACKET Opera San José The Abduction from the Seraglio Calendar Release Opera San José The Abduction from the Seraglio News Release Opera San José The Abduction from the Seraglio Press Kit Opera San José The Abduction from the Seraglio Program California Theatre History Headshots Production Images For additional information go to The ABDUCTION from the Seraglio Press Kit 23

The Abduction from the Seraglio

Press Contact: Chris Jalufka Communications Manager jalufka@operasj.org Opera San José Presents Mozart s The Abduction from the Seraglio SAN JOSE, CA (August 14, 2018) On September 15th, Opera San José