Mercury Opera Rochester Presents. Friday, January 26 Sunday, January 28. Eastman Theatre

Transcription

1 Mercury Opera Rochester Presents Friday, January 26 Sunday, January 28 Eastman Theatre

2 presents Norma A Lyric Tragedy in Two Acts Music by Vincenzo Bellini Libretto by Felice Romani Benton Hess Artistic Director & Conductor Steven Daigle Stage Director Accompanied by the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra Scenery designed by Keith Brumley Lighting designed by Nic Minetor There will be one 25-minute intermission.

3 Scene Gaul (Britain) in the time of the Roman occupation, about 50 B.C. Synopsis Act I, Scene 1: The sacred grove. The high priest Oroveso and the community pray to the gods that they will destroy their enemy, the Romans. After they have gone, Pollione confides to Flavio that he no longer loves Norma, the high priestess, who has secretly broken her vows of chastity and is the mother of his two children. Pollione has fallen in love with a younger virgin priestess, Adalgisa. The Druid sacred rites begin, and Norma, protecting her lover, prophesizes that Rome will fall through its own weakness and that it is not the will of the gods that the community should go to war. She also privately prays to the goddess for the return of the Roman leader who she suspects has been unfaithful. The ceremony ends, and Adalgisa secretly meets Pollione in the sacred grove. He begs her to flee to Rome with him and she reluctantly agrees. Act I, Scene 2: Norma s dwelling. Norma shares with her friend and caretaker of her children, Clotilde, that she is consumed by sadness. She knows that Pollione plans to desert her and their children, but she is still not aware of her rival s identity. Adalgisa enters to unburden her heart to Norma, telling her that she is in love. Norma is about to release Adalgisa from her vows, remembering that she too had broken her vows for love. Pollione enters and suddenly Norma realizes the object of his new affection. Adalgisa rejects Pollione and resolves to remain a priestess. 25-Minute Intermission Act II, Scene 1: Norma s dwelling. Norma is filled with despair. Watching her sleeping children, she has an impulse to kill them, but her love for them is stronger than her anger. She decides to allow Pollione and Adalgisa to be united, but Adalgisa must promise to take her place as mother to her children. Adalgisa, however, will not hear of it. She will go to Pollione, but only to remind him of his duty to the mother of his children. Act II, Scene 2: A wooded grove. The warriors of Gaul have gathered as Norma awaits the outcome of Adalgisa s plea to Pollione. Adalgisa returns, unsuccessful, and Norma s wrath is beyond control. She strikes the gong and announces war against the Romans. They hear the sound of tumult from the temple a Roman has broken in and has been captured. Norma knows that it is Pollione, returned to take Adalgisa away. The penalty for his intrusion is death. Norma, moved by love and still hoping to save her lover, offers a new victim to the crowd a fallen virgin of the priesthood. The crowd demands the name, and she confesses her own guilt, placing her children in the care of her father. A funeral pyre is erected and Norma prepares to mount it. Pollione, his love rekindled at the spectacle of her greatness of soul, joins her to atone with her their offenses against God.

4 CAST Pollione, Roman Pro-consul in Gaul...John Pickle Oroveso, Archdruid and father of Norma...Malcolm Smith Flavio, a Roman Centurion...Vernon Di Carlo Norma, High priestess of the druidical temple... Stella Zambalis Adalgisa, a virgin of the temple...mary Elizabeth Williams Clotilde, Norma s confidante...allyn Van Dusen Children of Norma & Pollione...Hannah Kralles & Benjamin Leone Priests, Officers of the Temple, Gallic Warriors, Villagers, Priestesses, and Virgins of the Temple Joel Atella, Andrew Bawden, Jack Beetle, Sean Brabant, Becki Boyanski, Sheila Buck, Pat Fussell, Ryan Glick, Anton Grasch, Kurt Griffen, Jennifer Groves, Jamie Gusloff, Bill Hearne, Stacie Henshaw, Jason Holmes, Lindsay Holmes, Bob Holmes, Paul Hopper, Denise Kless, Kyle Knapp, Korin Kormick, Evangelia Leontis, Katherine Maroney, Mary Menzie, Madeline Miskie, Nathan Oakes, Nathan Padgett, James Pike, Colin Porter, David Recca, Matthew Richardson, Lori Romaniw, Lisa Rosenbauer, Dennis Rosenbaum, Katherine Scally, Holley Shafer, Sam Sommers, Robert Strauss, Elizabeth Swarthout, Laura Szymanowicz, Pamela Terry, Thomas Vendafreddo, Taylor Ward, Daniel Welch, Joseph Wilgenbusch, Aubrie Willaert, Jordan Wilson, Lynn Zicari. Cover for Mr. Smith... Sam Sommers Cover for Ms. Williams...Allyn Van Dusen Production staff Artistic Director & Conductor... Benton Hess Stage Director...Steven Daigle Stage Manager... Ken Saltzman Technical Director/Production Manager...Matthew Scheidt Assistant Conductor & Chorus Master...Nathaniel Motta Coach/Accompanist & Asst. Chorus Master... Christopher Mokrzewski Assistant Stage Director...Stephen Carr Costume Coordinator... Nellica Rave Scenery Design... Keith Brumley, for Des Moines Opera Lighting Design... Nic Minetor Assistant Stage Manager... Mary Beth Lowery Prop Master...Sue Petty Wardrobe Assistant...Claudette Hercules Costumes provided by... Malabar Ltd. Hair Assistant...Sue Harrison Make-up Assistant... Lesley Bush Assistant Lighting Designer... Dan O Donnell Lightboard Operation...Jenny Kleinhenz Additional Scenery Design...Matthew Scheidt Additional Scenic Painting... Eddie Davis Supertitle Creation...Steven Daigle Supertitle Operation... Galina Fesyuk RPO Box Office Operations...Kate Wahl House Management & Ushers...David T. Meyer

5 ORCHESTRA Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra Christopher Seaman, Music Director Violin I Juliana Athayde, Concertmaster The Caroline W. Gannett & Clayla Ward Chair, Funded in perpetuity Wilfredo Deglans, Associate Concertmaster Perrin Yang Tigran Vardanyan Ellen Rathjen Janice Macisak William Hunt Sabina Slepecki Kenneth Langley Lise Stoddard Violin II David Brickman, Principal Shannon Nance, Assistant Principal John Sullivan Lara Sipols Nancy Hunt Boris Zapesochny Liana Koteva An-Chi OuYang Viola Melissa Matson, Principal Michael Larco, Assistant Principal Marc Anderson Elizabeth Seka Olita Povero Linda Kirkwood Cello Stefan Reuss, Principal The Clara and Edwin Strasenburgh Chair, Funded in perpetuity Kathleen Murphy Kemp, Assistant Principal Robert F. Taylor Jason Wang Marjorie Hunsberger Ingrid Bock Bass Robert Zimmerman, Principal The Anne Hayden McQuay Chair, Funded in perpetuity Michael Griffin, Assistant Principal Jack Stauber Gaelen McCormick Flute Rebecca Gilbert, Principal The Charlotte Whitney Allen Chair, Funded in perpetuity Jan Angus Oboe Monica Fosnaugh, Acting Principal The Dr. Jacques M. Lipson Chair, Funded in perpetuity Anna Petersen Clarinet Kenneth Grant, Principal The Robert J. Strasenburgh Chair, Funded in perpetuity Ramon Ricker Bassoon Abraham Weiss, Principal Charles Bailey Horn W. Peter Kurau, Principal The Cricket and Frank Luellen Chair Matthew Annin, Assistant Principal Jennifer Burch David Angus Stephanie Zimmerman Trumpet Douglas Prosser, Principal The Elaine P. Wilson Chair Wesley Nance Trombone Mark Kellogg, Principal The Austin E. Hildebrandt Chair, Funded in perpetuity Mark Salatino Andrew Chappell Tuba W. Craig Sutherland, Principal Timpani Charles Ross, Principal The Harold and Joan Feinbloom Chair, Funded in perpetuity Percussion Jim Tiller, Principal Brian Stotz Harp Grace Wong, Principal The Eileen Malone Chair, A Tribute by Mr. and Mrs. Harcourt M. Sylvester, Funded in perpetuity Personnel Manager Joseph Werner Librarian Kimberly Hartquist Stage Managers Rick Fuller Curtis Bradley Artistic Administration J. Andrew Cassano Nana Harby Thomas Posavac Box Office Services Katherine M. Wahl Teddy Sainphor House Management David T. Meyer David Henderson

6 CONTRIBUTionS Corporate Donors Major Underwriter $10,000 and above Constellation Brands Corporate Patron $1,500 to $4,999 Nixon Peabody LLP Corporate Benefactor $1,000 to $1,499 EBS Benefit Solutions RBC Dain Rauscher Business Patron $500 to $999 Canandaigua National Bank Business Sponsor $100 to $249 Carol Sue Hai Interiors Consulting Risk Associates Mytee UnderCar(e) Specialists Parachute Graphics Renaissance Art Gallery Individual and Foundation Support Platinum $25,000 and above New York State Music Fund Gold $10,000 to $24,999 Ron & Jane Fondiller Suzanne & Gerard Gouvernet New York State Council on the Arts New York State Legislature Senator Jim Alesi The Rainbow Fund Silver $5,000 to $9,999 Arts & Cultural Council for Greater Rochester Rose-Marie B. Klipstein New York State Legislature Senator Joe Robach Rochester Area Community Foundation The Rochester Fund for Opera Maestro $2,500 to $4,999 Agneta D. Borgstedt, MD Sarah H. Collins Prima Voce $1,000 to $2,499 Anonymous James & Catherine Aquavella Arthur & Jeanette Axelrod Nancy & Alan Cameros Peter & Suzanne Durant David & Linda Friedman Benton Hess Jack & Gail Langerak Craig & Susan Larson James & Jane Littwitz Gar & Cindy Lowenguth Mary McNamara Mary Menzie Judith & Ramon Ricker Sunny Rosenberg John L. & Katherine T. Schumacher Joel & Friederike Felber Seligman Corky & Mary Lee Strakosh The Estate of Tessie Taylor* Wende W. Young Impressario $500 to $999 Anonymous Cortland & Ella Brovitz Allen Cohen John & Carol Condemi Robert & Ellen Croog Vito & Marge D Ambruso Maria Dunphrey Rob W. Goodling William & Deven Hearne Konar Foundation Mary Alice Fournier Carolee & Robert Powers Barbara Reifler & Charles Unison Helga & Alexander Strasser Comprimario $250 to $499 Anonymous Helen D. Brooks Margaret J. Carnall William & Marcia Casey Harry & Marion Fulbright Marjorie & Donald Grinols Karen Harkenrider & John Herring Mary Ann Hrankowski Ernest & Roberta Ierardi Bejan & Sharon Iranpour Kristen Kessler & Michael Williams Chuck Lundeen & John Williams Rosemarie Molser Roland & Roberta Paul William & Elizabeth Powell Stephen & Elise Rosenfeld Justin & Kelly Runke James & Wendy Undercofler Coro $100 to $249 James & Jacquie Adams Warren & Mary Elaine Aldoretta Etta Atkin Susan Barocas Ruth & George Beede Mort & Maxine Bittker Sara Bliss David O. Boehm Beverly T. Bowen Robert & Linda Bretz William & Anne Buckingham Josephine Buckley John & Sharon Camesano Rosalie Cavallaro Thomas Christian Noreen Cole Albert & Sybil Craig John & Louise Creatura Sally Crowley Christopher C. Dahl Joseph & Judy Darweesh Linda Wells Davey Rosalie DiPasquale Thomas Donnan Dana & Leaf Drake Dr. Eric M. Dreyfuss Peter & Margaret Dundas Marcia Elwitt Giuseppe Erba & Mark Pierzynski Joseph & Maria Finetti Thomas & Janet Fink Anita & Vincent Fiordeliso Susan Fischer Gerard & Joan Floriano Cathy L. Flowers Margaret Freeman Amy Fujimura Donald & Harriette Ginsberg Coral T. Glassman Marie Graham Helen & George Greer Marian Griswold Robert & Muriel Haggerty Sally Harper Patrick Harrington Monica Hayden McCrea Hazlett Warren & Barbara Heiligman Kathleen Holt Gloria Horwitz Gwyneth Hunting Robert & Maria Isgro Earl W. Kage

7 Marcia Karch Martin & Phyllis Korn John & Janet Kucaba Leo & Charlotte Landhuis John & Alice Leddy Annette D. Lee Werner & Sandra Lemke Swaminathan Madhu Rebecca Martin Stephen Matkowsky Robert McCrory Barbara McIver & Robert Wason Karen & Robert McIver Thomas & Dale McMeekin Katharine M. McNally Terry Melore Lynn Merrell Harry & Linda Messina Ilene Montana Susan Mou & Frank Slovick John & Annabel Muenter Philip Nash Hon. John C. Ninfo II Alexandra Northrop & Jules Smith Frederick Nuernberg John O Brien Bernard & Molly Panner Thomas & Esther Paul Donald & Andrea Pedersen David & Marjorie Perlman Dorothy Pitlick George & Rosa Rich Dr. Suzanne H. Rodgers Judge & Mrs. Richard D. Rosenbloom Eleanor Santo George Scharr & Linda Rice Conrad Scheg Werner & Janet Schenk Ruth Schnabel Eugene Schneider, MD & Gloria Baciewicz, MD Arthur & Kathryn Schuster Paul Schutt Paul & Jean Seidel Mark & Holley Shafer David Sharkey Simi & Leonard Singer Charles H. Speirs Muriel Steinberg Robert & Sally Jo Stookey June M. Stornelli Paul & Karin Stuart Robert Terhorst Margaret Tonkinson Kathy Toole Harry & Pamela Turner Gary & Marie Van Graafeiland Margaret Vanas Paul & Joan Van Ness Mr. & Mrs. Stephen F. Venuti Judit S. Wagner, MD Anne & Robert Wells Pamela S. Wilkens White Christine Wickert Wilma & Ed Wierenga Lois Williams Robert & Mary Alice Wolf Jesse P. Woodward Jay & Hanna Zukoski * indicates deceased Tributes & Honors Tribute and Honorary Gifts are a special way to remember loved ones or commemorate special occasions such as birthdays, anniversaries, weddings, births, or graduations. In Honor of Marjorie Grinols Birthday Sarah Collins Sandra Koon Peggy Webber s Birthday Joanne Prives Claude Spingarn s Birthday Richard & Nancy Reitkopp Laura & Gary Brown Timothy & Elizabeth Brown In Memory of Peggy Curlin Agneta D. Borgstedt, MD Rose-Marie B. Klipstein Margaret Kessler Agneta D. Borgstedt, MD Mary Burgess Edward & Linda Dunn Patricia & E. Robert Fussell Doris Kerber Rose-Marie B. Klipstein Joan & Peter Mitchell Marie Mou Susan Mou & Frank Slovick Gavin & Mary Lee Strakosh Margaret Webber Belle Y. Lovenheim Lisa & Rudolf Rubiner Haskell Rosenberg Agneta D. Borgstedt, MD Cortland & Ella Brovitz Margaret J. Carnall Robert Cherry Sally Clapp Sarah Collins Anne Gitlin William & Deven Hearne Janet Irwin Rose-Marie B. Klipstein James & Jane Littwitz Robert & Chita McKinney Mary E. McNamara Tom & Esther Paul Lisa & Rudolf Rubiner Martin & Margie Sabath Gavin & Mary Lee Strakosh Tessie Taylor Agneta D. Borgstedt, MD Peter Plummer Carolyn Tuke Agneta D. Borgstedt, MD Gifts In Kind Mark IV Enterprises Parachute Graphics Additional Special Thanks: Eastman School of Music Bethlehem Lutheran Church Nazareth College John Beck Many thanks to the Guild of Mercury Opera Rochester and to the many volunteers who have enabled the company to produce the finest, worldclass opera in Rochester. Although every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of this list, occasional errors and omissions do occur. Please contact Mercury Opera Rochester at with any changes or corrections. This list reflects donors of record at the Coro level and above (minimum of $100 donation) as of January 11, Tax-deductible contributions by check or credit card are gratefully accepted by Mercury Opera Rochester, 300 Winton Road South, Rochester, NY 14610, and also at our website at www. mercuryoperarochester.org. This production is funded in part by grants from the Arts and Cultural Council for Greater Rochester, the New York State Council on the Arts, The New York State Music Fund, and the New York State Legislature.

8 BIOGRAPHIES Benton Hess, Artistic Director/Conductor After training at the New England Conservatory as a pianist, Benton Hess served as assistant conductor for several regional opera companies before taking the podium himself in 1970 for a Boston production of Benjamin Britten s The Rape of Lucretia, replacing conductor James Levine on a week s notice. Since then he has conducted hundreds of performances for dozens of opera companies in America, Europe, and the Middle East. Local audiences will remember his work with the Opera Theatre of Rochester from the middle 1970s through the 1980s. Hess has presided over many world and important regional operatic premieres and has assisted numerous composers in presenting their works: David Amram, Carlisle Floyd, Lee Hoiby, Karel Husa, Libby Larsen, Daniel Pinkham, Greg Sandow, and Conrad Susa, to name but a few. He has also served on the faculties of several prestigious institutions: Boston University, Boston Conservatory, the New England Conservatory, Mannes College of Music in New York City, the Hartt School of Music, Rutgers University, and the University of North Carolina at Greensboro among them. Since 2001 Maestro Hess has been Distinguished Professor of Voice and Musical Director of Eastman Opera Theatre. As one of New York City s most respected and sought-after vocal coaches for more than twenty years, his clientele reads like a Who s Who in opera, from Nicolai Gedda and Eleanor Steber at the ends of their careers to Renée Fleming at the beginning of hers. Besides his responsibilities at Eastman and with Mercury Opera, Hess is Musical Director of Tacoma (WA) Opera and a member of the faculties of both the Centro Studi Italiani Opera Festival in Urbania, Italy and the International Vocal Arts Institute in Tel Aviv, Israel. Last season Maestro Hess conducted Mercury Opera Rochester s wildly popular production of Puccini s Madama Butterfly in the Eastman Theatre. This is his first production of Norma. Steven Daigle, Stage Director Steven Daigle has served as part of the artistic staff for more than 300 lyric theater productions, along with calling over 400 professional operatic performances as a production stage manager. Daigle s experience as a stage director encompasses a range of repertory for the lyric theater stage. Extensive directing credits include the complete spectrum of grand opera, light opera, and Broadway musical fare in companies as diverse as Ohio Light Opera Company, Eastman School of Music, The Lyric of Atlanta, Oberlin Conservatory, Louisiana State University, Florida State Opera, South Georgia Opera, Columbia Theater Players, and Kent State Opera Workshop. Articles and reviews of Daigle s work have been published in Opera News, Opera London, American Record Guide, Gramophone, Fanfare, Classical Singer, and Opera Now. With the Ohio Light Opera Company in a variety of capacities since 1990, in 1999 he was appointed Artistic Director for the company. He has directed over 50 operettas and served on the artistic team in over 100 productions. As Artistic Director, he has produced and directed revivals of a number of traditional operettas that have been given an American premiere in their original form, and produced six historical reconstructions all of which have resulted in complete recordings. In September 2003, The Ohio Light Opera was given an Award of Achievement by Northern Ohio Live for its role in preserving operetta during the past 25 years. Mr. Daigle presently is Associate Professor and Head of Opera at the Eastman School of Music, where he has served

9 on the faculty since Last season Mr. Daigle directed Mercury Opera Rochester s production of Donizetti s L Elisir d Amore in the spring. Vernon Di Carlo, Flavio A New Orleans native, Vernon Di Carlo has recently completed a Bachelors of Music degree in Vocal Performance at Loyola University New Orleans. Opera roles at Loyola included Tamino in The Magic Flute, Gerald in Lakmé, and Romeo in Gounod s Romeo and Juliet. Mr. Di Carlo is now pursuing a Master of Music degree in Opera Performance at the Eastman School of Music where he will make his Eastman Opera Theatre debut singing Tebaldo in Bellini s I Capuleti e i Montecchi. His professional credits include the roles of Strephon in Iolanthe and Richard in Maytime with The Ohio Light Opera, Bastien in Bastien und Bastienne with the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra, and solo performances with the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra. Mr. Di Carlo is a student of Carol Webber. John Pickle, Pollione Tenor John Pickle has performed in opera and operetta with companies including New York City Opera National Company, Nevada Opera, Sarasota Opera, Utah Festival Opera, Toledo Opera, Shreveport Opera, Bohème Opera of New Jersey, Center City Opera Theater in Philadelphia, Opera at Florham, Salt Marsh Opera, Opera de las Américas in Santo Domingo and Ohio Light Opera. Last spring he was called in with only five days notice to perform the role of Pinkerton in Madama Butterfly with Opera Southwest, his debut in the role and with the company. Other appearances have included the roles of the Duke in Rigoletto, Rodolfo in La Bohème, Ferrando in Così fan tutte, Gérald in Lakmé, Camille in The Merry Widow, Pirelli in Sweeney Todd, Alfred in Die Fledermaus, Karl Franz in The Student Prince, King Kaspar in Amahl and the Night Visitors, Pong in Turandot, Judge Danforth in The Crucible, Sam Kaplan in Street Scene, Philippe in The New Moon, and the title roles in Werther and Offenbach s Robinson Crusoe. In addition to opera and operetta John has been an active concert soloist, recently appearing as Captain Dick in a concert version of Naughty Marietta with Little Orchestra Society at Alice Tully Hall. Other appearances at Alice Tully Hall have included Lieutenant Karl in a concert version of Victor Herbert s Sweethearts also with Little Orchestra Society, and with Teatro Grattacielo as Gabriello/Un Cantore in Giordano s rarely performed La Cena delle Beffe in his Alice Tully Hall debut. Other concert appearances have included the Cobb Symphony Orchestra, New Jersey Choral Society, Rhode Island Civic Chorale and Orchestra, Long Bay Symphony, Gotham City Baroque Orchestra, Greater Trenton Choral Society and Stonington Choral Society. Concert repertoire has included Handel s Messiah, Beethoven s Mass in C, Bach s St. John Passion, Mendelssohn s Elijah and Orff s Carmina Burana. This is Mr. Pickle s debut performance in the role of Pollione. Malcolm Smith, Oroveso One of America s leading basses, Malcolm Smith has appeared with the world s major operatic and symphonic organizations. He has performed with such renowned companies as the Metropolitan Opera, La Scala, Deutsche Oper Berlin, Hamburg Opera Munich Opera Vienna State Opera, and the Paris Opera Bastille, among many others. He has been heard in concert repertoire with such leading orchestras as the Chicago Symphony, Los Angeles Philhar-

10 monic, Vienna Philharmonic, and the Baltimore, Montreal, and National Symphonies. In 1996, the honorary title of Kammersaenger was bestowed on Mr. Smith by the Opera in Düsseldorf, where he had been Principal Bass since He has performed countless operas with Düsseldorf, such as Tannhauser, Das Rheingold, Der Rosenkavalier, Siegfried, Lohengrin, Der Freischuetz, Il Barbiere di Seviglia, Parsifal, and Aida. Other performances around the world include Don Carlos, Tristan und Isolde, Der fliegende Hollaender, Boris Godunov, Die Zauberflöte, Roméo et Juliette, Pelleas et Melisande, Arabella, and Britten s Noyes Fludde and Peter Grimes. Concert performances include the Verdi Requiem, Beethoven s Symphony #9 and Fidelio with Maazel and the Pittsburgh Symphony at Carnegie Hall, among numerous others. Smith made his Metropolitan Opera debut in 1975 in La Gioconda and his New York City Opera debut in Prokofiev s Flaming Angel. Mr. Smith is making his debut performance in the role of Oroveso. A native New Yorker, Mr. Smith holds degrees from the Oberlin College Conservatory of Music and Columbia University, has studied at Indiana University, and teaches at the University of Southern Maine in Portland. He is currently listed in Who s Who in America. Allyn Van Dusen, Clotilde Mezzo-soprano Allyn Van Dusen is a versatile performer who has appeared as a soloist with the Boston Symphony Orchestra, the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra, the Rochester Oratorio Society, and with many other orchestras and choruses in the Midwest and Northeast. She has given dozens of recitals throughout her career, and enjoys exploring a wide variety of song repertoire, ranging from early music to contemporary art song to classic popular standards. Among her lead operatic roles are Lucretia in Britten s The Rape of Lucretia, Prince Orlovsky in Die Fledermaus, Zia Principessa in Suor Angelica, Ramirio in La Finta Giardiniera, Kirstin in the world premiere of Cary Ratcliff s Beside the Golden Door: The Story of Ellis Island and the title role in his opera Eleni, as well as Elmire in Kirke Mechem s Tartuffe and The Drummer in The Emperor of Atlantis. Ms. Van Dusen has premiered and recorded solo vocal chamber works of Sydney Hodkinson, Cary Ratcliff, and Samuel Adler. A longtime church soloist, she made a recording of sacred solos for Songburst Records in 2000, and followed it with a second solo CD of wedding and love songs in 2001 ( net). Ms. Van Dusen enjoys teaching voice privately and has been on the faculty at Hochstein Music School since She is a founder of the Rochester Vocal Arts Collaborative, which hosts frequent educational workshops and performance opportunities for vocalists in upstate New York. She holds a Master of Music with Performer s Certificate from the Eastman School of Music, where she studied with renowned mezzo-soprano Jan DeGaetani, and she also worked with Phyllis Curtin at Tanglewood. She won the Audience Prize in CyberSing 2002, a biennial global internet voice competition. Mary Elizabeth Williams, Adalgisa A Philadelphia native and promising young singer, Mary Elizabeth Williams recently won a grant from the Georg Solti Foundation of Belgium, and was a finalist in the Concours Reine Elisabeth Competition in In November of 2005, Ms. Williams made her debut with Atlanta Opera as Serena in Porgy and Bess. She was a member of the prestigious Centre de Formation Lyrique at the Opera National de Paris. During her first year in Paris, Ms. Williams was invited by Thomas Hampson to sing in concert with him at the Theatre du Chatelet. In the summer of 2003, just after winning the Lyric Artist prize given every year by the

11 Bastille s Cercle Carpeaux, she made her professional debut as the Countess in Le Nozze di Figaro in a production that toured France and Belgium. In 2001, she was a semi-finalist in the National Metropolitan Opera auditions and was invited to New York by the Metropolitan Opera to study and was given scholarship grants to audition in other regions. In addition to performing roles in The Telephone, Don Giovanni, Der Rosenkavalier, Le Nozze di Figaro, Suor Angelica, and Show Boat, Ms. Williams has been an active recitalist in Portugal, France and the United States. Ms. Williams is making a return engagement in Rochester, having performed the role of Kate Pinkerton in Mercury Opera Rochester s production of Madama Butterfly last season. She also recently made her debut performance as soloist in concert with the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra under the baton of Maestro Benton Hess. This is her debut performance in the role of Adalgisa. Stella Zambalis, Norma Stella Zambalis has appeared with many of the leading opera companies in the United States, including the Metropolitan Opera (Cherubino in The Ghosts of Versailles), New York City Opera (Magda in La Rondine, Micaela in Carmen and Mimi in La Bohème), Houston Grand Opera (Zerlina in Don Giovanni, Dorabella in Cosi fan Tutte, Musetta in La Bohème and Nedda in I Pagliacci), Seattle Opera (Dorabella in Cosi fan Tutte and Sophie in Prokofieff s War and Peace), Florida Grand Opera (Adalgisa in Norma), and Opera Company of Philadelphia (Pamina in The Magic Flute, Donna Elvira in Don Giovanni, Rosalinda in Die Fledermaus, and Mimi in La Bohème), Nashville and Indianapolis Opera companies (Liu in Turandot) to name a few. Internationally, she has performed with the Deutsche Oper Berlin (Mimi in La Bohème) and the Festival of Two Worlds in Spoleto, Italy (Countess in The Marriage of Figaro). Other engagements include roles of all three heroines in Les Contes d Hoffmann, Floria Tosca in Tosca, Inez in Maria Padilla, the Stepmother in Philip Glass and Robert Moran s The Juniper Tree, Rosina in Il Barbiere di Siviglia, Euridice in Gluck s Orfeo ed Euridice, Giovanna Seymour in Anna Bolena, Hanna and Valencienne in The Merry Widow, Lucy Lockett in The Beggar s Opera, Angelina and Tessa in The Gondoliers, Donna Anna in Don Giovanni, Sara in Roberto Devereux, and Walter in La Wally with companies including Opera Columbus, Opera Hamilton (Ontario), Opera Omaha, Indianapolis Opera, Madison Opera (Wisconsin), Chautauqua Opera, Opera Theater of Saint Louis, Tacoma Opera, Knoxville Opera, San Antonio Symphony, Arkansas Symphony, and Opera Orchestra of New York in Carnegie Hall. Ms. Zambalis concert repertoire highlights include Verdi s Requiem with the late Robert Shaw, Beethoven s Ninth Symphony and his Missa Solemnis, Strauss Four Last Songs, and Orff s Carmina Burana to name a few of her frequently performed works. On recordings, Ms. Zambalis may be heard as Juliet in Tchaikovsky s unfinished work: Romeo and Juliet: Overture Fantasy (completed by Taneyev) with the Moscow Radio and Television Orchestra for Bridge Records (a division of Koch International), and a solo album featuring three complete solo song cycles by Dvorak for the Opus label. Mercury Opera Rochester s production is Ms. Zambalis debut performance in the role of Norma. Ms. Zambalis first captured the attention of the music world as a finalist in the San Francisco Opera Auditions and as a winner of the Metropolitan Opera Auditions. A native of Cleveland who grew up in Florida, she was a 22 year career long student of the late renowned Elena Nikolaidi and currently resides in New York.

12 Ken Saltzman, Stage Manager Ken Saltzman continues to mark his 25th season in the performing arts with this production of Norma. Most recently, Ken stage managed his 7th Yuletide Celebration with the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra, and Porgy and Bess with Michigan Opera Theatre, where last season he stage managed Salome, Aida, La Bohème, and Norma. Ken has worked with opera companies in cities that include Philadelphia, Atlanta, Honolulu, Tucson/Phoenix, Indianapolis, Dayton and Memphis. Upcoming engagements include Turandot and Romeo and Juliet, and the world premiere of Cyrano with Michigan Opera Theatre. July 29th, 2006 was proclaimed Kenneth R. Saltzman Day in Springfield, Ohio as Ken celebrated his 25th and last season as Production Manager of the Springfield Summer Arts Festival. Ken and his partner, Duane Prill, make their home on Lamoka Lake in the Finger Lakes region. Matthew Scheidt, Technical Director/Production Manager A native of Rochester, Matthew Scheidt has been building scenery and working in production management for Eastman Opera Theatre for the last six years. He has worked in the local theatre scene for over 15 years as stagehand and audio engineer. Matt also built the sets for Mercury Opera Rochester s productions of L Amico Fritz, L Elisir d Amore, and Abduction from the Seraglio. Nathaniel Motta, Asst. Conductor & Chorus Master Nathaniel Motta was the founding music director of the Sanctuary Concert Series (Pittsburgh) where he conducted performances of Faure s Requiem, Mozart Symphony No. 25, Schubert s Mass in G, and the Mozart Requiem. Mr. Motta acted as Assistant Conductor to Robert Page and Marvin Hamlisch for the Pittsburgh Symphony Pops performances of A Tribute to the Music of Richard Rodgers. He also was a vocal coach and ensemble conductor at the Civic Light Opera, performed in the professional core of the Mendelssohn Choir of Pittsburgh, sang with the Pittsburgh Opera Chorus, was on the faculty of the Jr. Mendelssohn Choir, and was director of music at Wesley Academy. Mr. Motta has conducted in master classes at the Julliard Complete Choral Musician Workshop, the Westminster Choir College Advanced Conducting Seminar, and was selected as a conducting fellow for the Dennis Keene Choral Festival. He was also a private conducting student of Robert Page for five years. He has performed with the Rochester Chamber Orchestra, Pittsburgh Opera, Opera Theater of Pittsburgh, St. Vincent s Camerata, Mendelssohn Choir of Pittsburgh, and the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra. He has coached opera scenes for Carnegie Mellon School of Music, Civic Light Opera Academy, and Mercury Opera Rochester. Mr. Motta holds a Bachelor s degree in vocal performance from Carnegie Mellon University and Master s degree in conducting from the Eastman School of Music. Currently he is the Upper School Music Director at Laurel School just outside Cleveland, OH. Christopher Mokrzewski, Coach/Accompanist & Assistant Chorusmaster Pianist and conductor Christopher Mokrzewski completed his early musical training in Toronto, Canada and Paris, France. As a soloist he has been a winner of numerous awards including first prizes at the Milosz Magin International Piano Competition and the Eastman School of Music Young Artist International Piano Competition. A student of Douglas Humpherys, he attained a BM in piano

13 performance and he will complete his MM at Eastman this spring. This past summer he attended the Music Academy of the West where he worked under the guidance of Marilyn Horne and Warren Jones. Mr. Mokrzewski thoroughly enjoys collaborative work as coach/accompanist for Eastman Opera Theatre, as well as coach/accompanist/assistant chorus master for Mercury Opera. Upcoming engagements include work as pianist for performances Eastman Opera Theater s L Enfant et les Sortilèges, and music director of Assassins at Eastman in May. Stephen Carr, Assistant Stage Director Stephen Carr was last involved with Mercury Opera as Stage Director for the fall 2006 production of Mozart s Abduction from the Seraglio. Prior to that, he acted as Assistant Director for Mercury s productions of both Madama Butterfly and L Elisir d Amore. A student of Steven Daigle, he is currently completing a MM in Stage Directing at the Eastman School of Music, where he also teaches and coaches. After graduating from Eastman with a BM in Voice in 2000, Stephen went on to complete graduate studies in musical theatre at the Royal Academy of Music in London. While in London, he participated in master classes with Ralph Fiennes, Denyce Graves, Philip Quast, Jeremy Sams, and Julia McKenzie, and he played the role of Ernst in Matthew Ryan s production of Cabaret at the Sir Jack Lyons Theatre. Additional performance credits include equity New York, regional, and international productions of Ragtime, Jesus Christ Superstar (European Tour), and The Scarlet Pimpernel, as well as operatic and oratorio engagements with the Baltimore Opera Company, Annapolis Opera, Choral Arts Society, Ohio Light Opera, and Baltimore Symphony Orchestra. He can be heard on recordings of Naughty Marietta and Utopia, Limited for the Newport Classics label. This past summer, Stephen served as Assistant Director for both Opera North and Ohio Light Opera. Upcoming directing engagements include Of Mice and Men for Center City Opera Theater of Philadelphia, Assassins for Eastman Opera Theatre, and Bluebeard for the Ohio Light Opera. Nellica Rave, Costume Coordinator Nellica Rave is pleased to be working with Mercury Opera Rochester for her fourth production. Nellica has been designing costumes nationwide for ten years. She has her MFA in Costume Design from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. Projects include designing West Side Stories for New World Theater, Blithe Spirit for Pioneer Valley Summer Theater, and costume shop for the Paralympics Opening Ceremonies in She has worked locally for the JCC, Eastman Opera Theatre, RIT, Irondequoit Theatre Guild and TYKES. Nellica recently joined the staff of Mercury Opera Rochester as the company Costume Collection Manager. She and her husband are expecting their first child in February. Nic Minetor, Lighting Design Lighting designer/director for theater, film and TV, Nic Minetor has been resident designer for more than 40 productions of Eastman Opera Theatre, including Candide, La Bohème, The Medium, Dialogues of the Carmelites, and Sweeney Todd. He has also designed many Opera Theatre of Rochester and Geva Theatre productions, including A Christmas Carol. This is his fourth production with Mercury Opera Rochester. His work is also seen at NTID, SUNY Brockport, Elmira and Nazareth Colleges.

14 PRODUCTION NOTES How fortunate we are that recording companies have given us ample documentation of the world s great singers since the advent of recorded sound at the beginning of the 20th century. We can hear the actual voices of those artists who created their roles in the late Verdi operas Tamagno, the first Otello and Victor Maurel, the first Iago, and a virtually complete original cast of Falstaff: Victor Maurel (Falstaff), Adelina Stehle (Nanetta), Edoardo Garbin (Fenton), and Antonio Pini-Corsi (Ford). The singers who created roles in nearly all of Puccini s masterpieces can be heard on recording, from Cesira Ferrani, the first Manon Lescaut (Puccini s third opera and first big success) to Rosa Raisa the first Turandot in Puccini s last opera. What a shame it is, however, that that the only knowledge we have of the singers and voices who created roles in Bellini s Norma (1831) comes from reviews of their performances or other writing of the period. Giuditta Pasta is the artist for whom Bellini wrote the role of Norma, and what a singer she must have been! She had also appeared in the first cast of Rossini s Il Viaggio a Reims, and Donizetti had entrusted her with the title role in Anna Bolena. She had also appeared as the first Amina in Bellini s La Sonnambula. Described as a mezzo-soprano, Pasta must have had an unusual voice with a very large range. The role of Norma sits primarily in the middle voice, and the singer must put out a lot of sound to be heard above a large orchestra. But there are also flights into the vocal stratosphere that have Norma singing several written high Cs, not to mention any of the others she chooses to interpolate, combined with death-defying coloratura passages, often encompassing a range of two octaves or more, all the more difficult to accomplish because she has been singing so heavily in her middle voice. Combine all of this with the fact that Norma is a highly emotionally charged character that would be a tour de force for any actress in the legitimate theater, and you end up with a role that is very difficult to cast. Norma is widely considered to be the most difficult role in all of operatic repertoire. The first singer to sing the role of Adalgisa, a role that is usually undertaken these days by mezzo-sopranos, was Giulia Grisi, a bona-fide soprano, who went on later to sing the first Elvira in I Puritani and the first Norina in Donizetti s Don Pasquale. Adalgisa has to match Norma in coloratura capability and frequently has high Cs of her own to deliver. This is not your everyday seconda donna. Mercury Opera is fortunate to have two artists in these formidable roles who I believe must come close to having the kinds of voices possessed by Pasta and Grisi. Stella Zambalis began her career as a mezzo-soprano, but sang many of the bel canto coloratura roles before moving up to soprano; these days she sings roles like Tosca and Madama Butterfly, so she is no stranger to high drama, either. Mary Elizabeth Williams is a soprano who is fearless in the top of her instrument, but has a certain creamy richness to her lower and middle voice. I have never heard a performance of Norma or a recording (and I have twenty-three of them!) in which the Norma and Adalgisa were so well matched as these two remarkable artists. We are also blessed with the presence of Malcolm Smith singing Oroveso, Norma s father. Mr. Smith has spent the last several decades singing leading bass roles in all the major opera houses of the world. He was particularly happy to be asked to come here to sing Oroveso, because although he had covered Jerome Hines in the role at the Metropolitan Opera, he had never had the chance to perform it. John Pickle is another singer who is fearless in the top of his voice, and we are delighted to have the tenor singing Pollione with us. Norma is grand opera at its best, but beneath the grandeur, perhaps the most interesting discovery is how real these characters are and how the human heart has remained unchanged from 50 B.C. through Bellini s time to by Benton Hess, January 2007

15 The primary mission of Mercury Opera Rochester is to produce professional opera for a growing, appreciative audience, utilizing the following principles: Uphold high artistic standards in all endeavors. Maintain fiscal responsibility. Educate present and future audiences. We want people to enjoy and appreciate opera. This includes adult education and fun events as well as structured programs in schools and colleges. Provide performance opportunities for local singers, both professional and amateur. Collaborate with other like-minded organizations in the area. For more information about Mercury Opera Rochester and any of our upcoming performances, call or check our newly updated website at www. mercuryoperarochester.org. We keep patrons informed of our projects via mail and . If you would like to be added to our private mailing list or would like to receive our newsletter, please let us know. Artistic Directors: Benton Hess & Gerard Floriano Staff: Kristen Kessler, Executive Director Lynn Zicari, Operations Manager Nellica Rave, Costume Collection Manager Board of Directors: Sarah Collins, President Craig Larson, President-elect C. Gavin Strakosh, Vice President William Hearne, Treasurer Justin Runke, Secretary Arthur Axelrod Agneta Borgstedt Steven Daigle Peter Durant Ron Fondiller David Friedman Jack Langerak Gar Lowenguth Mary McNamara Mary Menzie Rosalba Pisaturo Barbara Reifler Unison Judith Ricker Sunny Rosenberg Jamal Rossi Friederike Seligman Helga Strasser James Undercofler Margaret Webber

16 We need your HELP! The community response to our inaugural season, , far exceeded our expectations, as more people saw live professional opera here than in a long time. Because of the outpouring of community enthusiasm and support, we accomplished our twin goals: to meet high artistic standards while maintaining strict fiscal responsibility. We ve proven to ourselves and the community that there can be a future for professional opera in Rochester, and we re already talking about our season and beyond! But opera productions are very expensive (think sets, costumes, singers, orchestra, theatre, stagehands...the list goes on and on.) Your ticket price covers less than half of our costs. We need your help to continue to make the vision of Mercury Opera Rochester a reality. If you enjoy our performance and agree with our goals, please support our future. Consider a donation to continue professional opera performances and to reach out to future opera lovers in Rochester. Tax-deductible donations are gratefully accepted by Mercury Opera Rochester, 26 Gibbs Street, Rochester, NY, 14604, and on our website at Future Events The Guild of Mercury Opera Rochester presents: Beat the Blahs DVD Showing & Talk Tchikovsky s Eugene Onegin Sunday, February 4 at 1:00 PM, Temple B rith Kodesh, for information Bus Tour to Tri-Cities Opera, Binghamton Gounod s Romeo et Juliette Sunday, May 6, for information Opera Lectures at the Fairport Library Thursdays, March 8, 15, 22, 29, & April 12 at 7:00 PM, for registration Annual Guild Recital & Reception for Mercury Opera Rochester Donors Sunday, May 20 at 2:00 PM, for information & registration The Mercury Opera Rochester Season continues: Show Boat by Jerome Kern and Oscar Hammerstein II Friday, June 1 and Saturday, June 2 at 8:00 PM, Eastman Theatre The great American stage work of the twentieth century, with treasurable songs, heartbreaking even at their most seemingly carefree, one of the few musicals that never cheats on the theater of real life. Conducted by Gerard Floriano, directed by Barbara Montgomery, starring Derrick Smith as Joe and Karen Holvik as Julie. Tickets are $25-$60 and $15 for students, available from the RPO Box Office at 108 East Ave, by phone at (585) , online at and at all Wegman s video locations. (Some convenience fees may apply.) 26 Gibbs Street Rochester, NY