A Publication of the Evelyn Lear and Thomas Stewart Emerging Singers Program (ESP)

Transcription

1 Volume II, No.1 October 2005 A Publication of the Evelyn Lear and Thomas Stewart Emerging Singers Program (ESP) A Partnership with the Wagner Society of Washington, DC We are delighted to be sending you this second issue of The Wagner Singer, the annual newsletter of the Evelyn Lear and Thomas Stewart Emerging Singers Program (ESP). The ESP, a five-year-old partnership with the Wagner Society of Washington, DC, is dedicated to the development of American singers with the potential for careers singing the works of Wagner. Inside This Issue German Government Award to Lear and Stewart (p.2) Over the past five years, we have provided musical guidance for more than 70 aspiring Wagner singers through critiques of their recorded performances or live auditions with us. More than 30 of these singers have had the opportunity to sing in the twice-yearly concerts after extensive rehearsals with us. The results are now being enjoyed on opera stages around the world. ESP singers have performed with success in roles in Der Ring des Nibelungen such as Brünnhilde, Wotan, Fricka, Siegmund, Gutrune and Froh, as well as the title roles in Tristan and Isolde and roles in Lohengrin. We are both very grateful for the support of the many people who value the operas of Richard Wagner and appreciate the beauty of his art. We are pleased that we have the chance to help ESP singers develop their careers. We invite singers aspiring to sing the Wagner Fach to apply for the Program. Washington Post review of 10th ESP concert (p.2) Evelyn Lear Thomas Stewart 18 Emerging Wagner Singers Developing Their Careers (pp. 3-6) Support the Emerging Singers Program! (p. 7) Aspiring Wagner Signers Invited to Apply (p.7) Thomas Stewart Presents Wagner Society Award to James Morris (p.8) Bass-Baritone Charles Robert Austin, Thomas Stewart, Soprano Rebecca Teem, Soprano Dianne Barton, Baritone Nathan Bahny, Evelyn Lear, Bass Pavel Izbedski, Tenor Joshua Saxon and Baritone Daniel Brenna. (See our website for the concert program.) The 10th Emerging Singers Concert The milestone 10th Concert of the Evelyn Lear and Thomas Stewart Emerging Singers Program (ESP) was presented at the German Embassy in Washington, DC on May 27 for a full-capacity audience. To date, 34 aspiring Wagner singers have performed in the now twice-yearly concerts. The seven talented performers of the 10th Concert took part in a lively reception with the audience after the program. Prior to the concert, the German (Government) Friendship Award was presented to Evelyn Lear and Thomas Stewart. (see page 2) The Evelyn Lear and Thomas Stewart Emerging Singers Program The Wagner Society of Washington, DC P.O. Box Washington, DC Phone Fax

2 Evelyn Lear and Thomas Stewart receive German Friendship Award Evelyn Lear and Thomas Stewart are two of the most distinguished singers of our time. From the 1960s into the 1980s they sang leading roles in every major opera house in the world. Ms. Lear is renowned for her roles in Strauss, Mozart and Berg. Mr. Stewart is especially revered as the leading Wotan and Hans Sachs of the post-war era. He is the only bass-baritone to sing all four operas of The Ring in one week at the Bayreuth Festival, and the only American to sing major roles at Bayreuth for fourteen consecutive years. (left to right) German Embassy Cultural Officer Trautlieb Hülz, Thomas Stewart, Evelyn Lear (holding award) and Deputy Chief of Mission Peter Gottwald. On the occasion of the 10th Evelyn Lear and Thomas Stewart Emerging Singers Concert at the German Embassy on May 27, 2005, Ms. Lear and Mr. Stewart were honored with the Federal Republic of Germany Friendship Award. The award was presented by Deputy Chief of Mission Peter Gottwald. We highly appreciate what you have done and are very much looking forward to continuing our cooperation, Deputy Chief of Mission Gottwald said in presenting the award. This will drive us even more to help supporting the young singers here in Washington D.C., Thomas Stewart said on receiving the award. Both Ms. Lear and Mr. Stewart have left us extensive award-winning discographies. In addition to Lulu, Ms. Lear is particularly noted for her portrait of Pamina in Die Zauberflöte with Karl Böhm, and the Marschallin in Der Rosenkavalier with Carlos Kleiber. Mr. Stewart s performances as Hans Sachs with Rafael Kubelik, and as Wotan in the historic von Karajan Ring recording, are a permanent record of Wagner singing at the highest level. Since their retirement from the stage, they have continued to make major contributions to the world of opera as teachers. They are in constant demand to give master classes. They have established the highest level of artistic integrity in their own careers. It is these very standards that they require of their students in musicianship, in dramatic intelligence, and in total dedication to the realization of the composer s art. Music Critic s Review of the 10 th Emerging Singers Concert The Washington Post Wagnerian Voices at the German Embassy The Emerging Singers Program has made a noticeable mark in Washington s expanding Opera scene. Led by star opera veterans Evelyn Lear and her husband Thomas Stewart, the project seeks out young American singers to mentor and promote toward careers as the next Wagnerian vanguard -- a tall order, since Wagner s operas, earth-moving forces in the cosmic reordering of the operatic world, make extraordinary and singular demands on the human voice. Seven singers proved themselves right on track at the German Embassy Friday. In a concert sponsored by the Wagner Society of Washington, DC, the performers offered excerpts from eight Wagner operas, three from his seminal Ring cycle. Not least, the superb pianist Betty Bullock transformed the embassy s Bluethner instrument into a virtual opera orchestra. Soprano Diane Barton greeted the Wartburg s hall (Dich, teure Halle from Tannhäuser) with seemingly effortless movement between her vibrant mezzo range and her topmost notes. An ardent 2 Senta (Der fliegende Holländer), she was also a sonorously ecstatic Sieglinde (Die Walküre). In the title role of Lohengrin, tenor Joshua Saxon tended toward a sturdy if strained quality with noticeable breaks between vocal registers; as Lohengrin s father (Parsifal), he took on greater lyricism. A steely baritone, Nathan Bahny made a stolidly lecherous Alberich (Das Rheingold) and (Siegfried). Daniel Brenna set his tenor on a blissful course lightly trod in Erik s dream (Holländer) and rapturously proclaimed by Siegmund in his duet with Sieglinde (Walküre). Attired in an imposing long, dark coat, Charles Robert Austin employed his vibrant baritone to portray a Wotan of commanding presence rent with despair (Siegfried and Walküre). Bass Pawel Izdebski was a basso profundo both as a booming Fafner (Siegfried) and an anguished King Marke (Tristan und Isolde); while soprano Rebecca Teem, the newest of the group, ended the exciting evening with a rousing Hojotoho, Brünnhilde s belligerent call to arms (Walküre). By Cecelia Porter May 30, 2005

3 18 Selected Wagner Singers Evelyn Lear & Thomas Stewart Emerging Singers Program (EPS) WAGNER ROLES: Hunding, Wotan and King Marke Bass-baritone Charles Robert Austin appeared in the 6th, 7th and 10th ESP Concerts. He has appeared with the Arizona Opera and Michigan Opera Theatre, the University of Nebraska Symphony and the Madison, Wisconsin, Symphony. His Wagnerian roles include Hunding in 2003 and King Marke with the Virginia Opera in February 2005 when he also sang King Marke with Opera Puerto Rico. He appeared with Virginia Opera as Rocco in the 2004 production of Fidelio. In 2005 he was Wotan in Die Walküre with the Pittsburgh Opera Theater s Ring Saga and covered the role of Wotan at the Metropolitan Opera. He will appear in an all-wagner concert with the Canton Ohio Symphony and will sing the role of Bluebeard in Bartok s Bluebeard s Castle with the Seattle Symphony. singchrlyaustin@earthlink.net Charles Robert Austin WAGNER ROLES: Alberich Nathan Bahny sang in the 4th, 5th & 10th Emerging Singers Concerts. His major Wagner role is Alberich in Das Rheingold. Mr. Bahny was a member of the cast for the Broadway Bohème in His other roles include Dulcamara in Donizetti s L Elisir d amore. He has also appeared on several concerts with the Liederkranz Society. Mr. Bahny recently sang the role of Alberich with Pittsburgh Opera Theater and will sing Alberich as part of the Ring Saga in California. He is a native of and resides in New York City. natebahny@yahoo.com Nathan Bahny WAGNER ROLES: Rossweisse Soprano Dianne Barton, has performed throughout Europe and the U.S. Her roles include Adina in L Elisir d amore, Mimi in La Bohème and Rossweisse in Die Walküre. She currently is a member of the Virginia Opera s Spectrum Artists Program. She sang in the 10th ESP Concert and continues to work with Evelyn Lear and Thomas Stewart. WAGNER ROLES: Siegmund Tenor Brian Carter sang Siegmund in the 9th ESP Concert in October He has performed with Opera North and the Greensboro Opera. He has performed the role of Max in Der Freischütz, Turiddu in Cavalleria Rusticana and Boris in Katia Kabanová. He will be singing the role of Lennie in Of Mice and Men in He is a student of soprano Jane Eaglen. He presently resides in Seattle. jennyrose@aormanagementuk.com Diane Barton WAGNER ROLES: Siegmund and Erik Michael Hayes first sang with the 6th Emerging Singers Concert the spring of His recent engagements include Calaf in Puccini s Turandot with Knoxville Opera, Edmington Opera and most recently with Virginia Opera. In the summer of 2004 he sang Otello with Catholic University Summer Opera. His Wagnerian roles include Siegmund (Die Walküre) and Erik (Der Fliegende Holländer). He has also appeared in major roles with Cleveland Opera, Opera Dayton and Kentucky Opera (Louisville, KY). Mr. Hayes resides in Hyattsville, MD. Hayes10or@aol.com Brian Carter Micheal Hayes 3

4 WAGNER ROLES: A Bayreuth Ortlinde and Eva Soprano Amanda Mace sang in the 2nd ESP Concert. Since then she has gone on to a very active career in Germany. Her 2002 engagements included Leonore in Fidelio with the Europäisches Musikfest. In 2003 she sang Gerhilde with the Bamberg Sinfoniker and Ah, Perfido with the Rotterdam Philharmonic under Edo de Waart. In March of 2003, she sang Beethoven s Christus am Ölberge at the Krakow Easter Festival. In January 2004, she sang Gerhilde in Die Walküre with the Bamberger Sinfoniker, Jonathan Nott conducting. She will make her Bayreuth debut in 2006 as Ortlinde in the new Ring production to be conducted by Christian Thielemann and is also engaged at Bayreuth to sing Eva in Die Meistersinger in She presently resides in Germany. vatosga@yahoo.com Amanda Mace WAGNER ROLES: Steurermann and Tristan Tenor Paul Mow sang in the 2nd (May 2001) Concert and 4th Annual Wagner Society of Washington, DC, banquet in June He sang Bacchus in Ariade auf Naxos at the Catholic University Summer Opera Theatre in He added two Wagner roles to his rapidly expanding repertoire in early 2005, singing the Steuermann in Der Fliegender Holländer with the Anchorage Opera in January, and Tristan in February in the Rostock Operntheater. He returns to New York for performances of the Beethoven 9th, then goes on the perform Lennie in the Toledo Opera s Of Mice and Men, which he has also performed with the New York City Opera. He appeared in NYCO production of Il Ritorno d Ulisse in Patria and Sousa s The Glass Blowers with the Glimmerglass Opera. pmtenor@aol.com Paul Mow WAGNER ROLES: Siegfried and Tannhaüser Tenor Christopher Owens is a recent addition to the ESP roster. Although a baritone for many years, he has recently moved into the tenor repertoire. To that end, he has discovered the wonderful combination of baritonal weight and tenor brilliance. He is starting on a demanding and exciting career as a Wagner tenor. He will perform excepts from Siegfried and Tannhäuser in our 11th ESP Concert. christopherowens@hotmail.com Christopher Owens WAGNER ROLES: Ortrud Mezzo-soprano Jennifer Roderer sang in the 6th (May 2003) and 8th (May 2004) Concerts. Her repertory extends from works by Baroque to 21st century composers. Since her 1999 debut at New York City Opera as Third Lady in Die Zauberflöte, she has sung in The Ring at the Seattle Opera and in Lyric Opera of Chicago production of Die Walküre. She made her European debut at Opern Air Gars as Amneris in Aida and appeared in Les Noces with the Los Angeles Master Chorale. In February 2005 she sang Santuzza for the Sarasota Opera, and also sang Fricka in Buenos Aires. jenrozzy1@aol.com Jennifer Roderer WAGNER ROLES: Fricka and Waltraute Mezzo-soprano Roxanne Rowedder was recently honored by the George London Foundation with the George London/Kirsten Flagstad Award. The Flint Journal Review has praised her strong singing and powerful voice in a performance of Bernstein s Jeremiah Symphony. Ms. Rowedder began her season with her second concert with The Wagner Society of Washington at the German Embassy in Washington, D.C. The season also includes her return to the Carnegie Hall stage as soloist in Mendelssohn s Elijah. In the spring of 2004, she appeared at Weill Recital Hall in New York at a gala concert. roxanne_row@msn.com Roxanne Rowedder 4

5 WAGNER ROLE: Siegmund Tenor Joshua Saxon is a resident of the Washington metropolitan area. He has sung with many of local opera companies as a baritone and is now developing the Wagner tenor Fach with success. He performed in the 10 ESP Concert in 2005 and will sing again in the 11th Concert in October joshua@joshuasaxon.com WAGNER ROLES: Siegmund and Tannhäuser Tenor David Smith, a native of Baltimore, Maryland, is on the faculty of University Maryland Baltimore County. He has performed opera across the United States and around the world, with Kentucky Opera, Cincinnati Opera, Opera Theater of St. Louis and Des Moines Metro Opera. His international credits include performances with Opera Aegean and the Israeli Vocal Arts Institute. He has performed principal roles in Pagliacci, Cavalleria Rusticana, Tosca, Madama Butterfly, Faust, La Forza del Destino, Wozzeck and others. He recently performed in Rossini s Ermione in Katowice, Poland, with the Silesian Philharmonia. He is also an oratorio performer with the Louisville Orchestra, Baltimore Symphony and Concert Artists of Baltimore. He has been the featured tenor in concerts at Carnegie Hall. He sang Winterstürme accompanied by Betty Bullock at the Wagner Society Third Gala in June dalch39@comcast.net Joshua Saxon David Smith WAGNER ROLES: Dutchman and Wotan Bass-baritone Jason Stearns has had a very active vocal career. He appeared in the ESP for the first time in the 11th Concert on October 14, 2005, singing excerpts from the Wotan and Dutchman roles. He has sung with Opera Mississippi, DaCapo Opera (New York City), Summer Opera (DC), Washington National Opera, Opera Theatre of Northern Virginia and the Metropolitan Opera. He has recently expanded his repertoire with the music of Richard Wagner. jsasterns1@aol. com WAGNER ROLES: Wotan Baritone Jason Switzer sang in the 9th (October 2004) Conert. He graduated from the University of Southern California at Long Beach. He is presently studying at the Philadelphia Academy of Music. He performed the three Villains in Offenbach s The Tales of Hoffmann at Central City, Colorado, in He has also performed the role of Orest in Strauss Elektra, the Count in Mozart s Le Nozze di Figaro and Dulcamara in L Elisir d amore of Donizetti. He was a Metropolitan Opera semi-finalist in He has performed with Opera North and at the Tanglewood Festival. bariclaw@hotmail.com Jason Sterns WAGNER ROLE: Brünnhilde Soprano Rebecca Teem, a native of Atlanta, Georgia, now lives in New York City. She graduated from Kennesaw State College in 1989 and was a Metropolitan Opera Regional Finalist in Her engagements in 2004 included Eboli in Don Carlo with the Opera Dramatic New York City and Tosca with the New York Opera Forum. She lives in New York City and studies with Judith Matalucci. She has recently added the role of Brünnhilde to her repertoire and performed selections from Götterdämmerung on the 11th ESP Concert in May beckeeree@msn.com Jason Switzer Rebecca Teem 5

6 WAGNER ROLES: Parsifal, Siegmund and Froh Thomas Rolf Truhitte career highlights have included the title role in Parsifal with Genoa Opera, conducted by Lorin Maazel, and Tristan with the Virginia Opera in Previously he had sang Don José in Carmen with Seattle Opera, Opera San Jose, Longview Opera, Sacramento Opera and Dayton Opera; the title role in Lohengrin in Italy s Spoleto Festival; Max in Der Freischütz with Opéra-Théâtre de Metz, and Erik in Der Fliegende Holländer with Minnesota Opera. His Heldentenor debut was as Siegmund in Die Walküre with Virginia Opera; he returned to Virginia Opera as Florestan in Fidelio. He sang Froh in the Seattle Opera Ring (2005) and will sing Froh again in the 2006 Toronto Ring. His other roles include Tom Rakewell, Lensky, Pinkerton and Alfredo. Vaelsung@aol.com Thomas Rolf Truhitte WAGNER ROLES: Senta, Elizabeth and Isolde Caroline Whisnant is now on the roster of the Mannheim Opera in Germany where she has sung the roles of Senta, Elizabeth and Leonore. Before beginning her engagement, Caroline made her European debut in the title role of Elektra with the Badisches Staatstheater Karlsruhe; She has sung the title role Norma in Bogotá and the Des Moines Metro Opera as well as the title role in Turandot Santiago Chile, Bogotá, Portland, Des Moines, in Dallas Opera (student matinees), and the Kentucky and Pensacola Operas. Also she has sung the title role in Ariadne auf Naxos with England s Broomhill Festival, Arizona Opera, and Lyric Opera of Kansas City. Her other roles include Tosca and Mimi in La Bohème with Opera Memphis as well as the title role in Suor Angelica. She had a major triumph as Isolde in Tristan und Isolde in Mannheim. cwhisnant@aol. com18. Caroline Whisnant WAGNER ROLES: Helmwige, Gutrune, Brünnhilde Soprano Jennifer Wilson sang in the 3rd and 8th ESP Concerts as well as the September 2002 Gala Benefit. She also appeared as a panelist with Thomas Stewart and critic Tim Page in the Wagner Society of Washington D.C, seminar at the Smithsonian Institution in September She made her operatic debut in the role in Turandot with the Connecticut Opera in October 2002, a role she repeated with the Houston Grand Opera in Her debut role for the lyric Opera of Chicago was Helmwige. As cover for Jane Eaglen at the 2005 Chicago Ring, she went on as Brünnhilde at the last minute in Götterdämmerung. She recently finished a triumphant run as Turandot at Santa Fe Opera and is going to Paris to sing Helmwige in the Ring at the Théâtre du Châtelet. www. Funkhouserartists.com Jennifer Wilson Pianist Betty Bullock is a favorite of the singers at the German Embassy concerts where she has sensitively accompanied them as an experienced Wagner performer. She has been a member of the music staff at the Washington National Opera since She holds degrees from Oberlin Conservatory and UNC-Chapel Hill. She studied at the Mozarteum in Salzburg, Austria, and at the Hochschule für Musik, in Munich on a German Government grant. She is a former faculty member of Duke University and Oberlin Conservatory, and won the Franz Schubert Prize for Accompanists, Baden bei Wien, Austria. She is a faculty member at American Institute of Musical Studies in Graz, Austria, and since 1997 has been a faculty member of the University of Miami Summer Vocal Institute in Salzburg, Austria. Betty Bullock 6

7 Help Develop the Emerging Singers Program by Your Membership (You may also help develop the Program though your separate contribution.) The Membership Year runs from January 1 through December 31, 2006, regardless of the time of year you join. To become a member, please complete this form and alternatively (1) mail it with your check or credit card authorization to WSWDC, P.O. Box 33051, Washington, DC 20033, or (2) fax it to or (3) become a member on our website: NEW MEMBER RENEWAL GIFT MEMBERSHIP NAME(S) DUAL MEMBER (if applicable) ADDRESS CITY STATE ZIP HOME TELEPHONE OFFICE TELEPHONE FAX ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP CATEGORY (check only one category) (NOTE: Membership dues are tax-deductible.) $50 regular $75 Dual $40 Senior/Non-Resident $150 Patron $250 Donor $500 Sponsor $1000 Golden Ring $10 Student Employer Matching Grant Form Enclosed $ dditional Contribution GOLDEN RING, SPONSORS, DONORS AND PATRONS: As an expression of our appreciation, we would like to send you a copy of Thomas May: Decoding Wagner: An Invitation to His World of Music Drama. YES NO GOLDEN RING AND SPONSORS ONLY: We are pleased to offer a copy of the complete EMI Placido Domingo recording of Tristan and Isolde. YES NO FORM OF PAYMENT: (do not send cash) Check Enclosed Visa Mastercard NAME ON CARD NUMBER EXPIRATION DATEAMOUNT TO BE CHARGED $ SIGNATURE PLEASE REVIEW LEGIBILITY OF NUMBERS AND LETTERS ENTERED ABOVE. John Edward Niles Program Director John Edward Niles has held the position since the creation of the ESP. He is also the Artistic Director/Conductor of Opera Theatre of Northern Virginia and the Musical Director of COLVA Productions, Fairfax, Va. He has also worked with European American Productions, Hannover, ScanMus in Helsinki, Finland and WorldMusic, INC, in Linz, Austria. He has conducted at the Euro-Fest in Prague and the European Union Music Festival. He is also Co-President of the Board of the John Jacob Niles Center for the Study of American Music. He is a graduate of Carnegie Mellon University and has studied at the Cincinnati College Conservatory of Music. He was a recipient of a Rockefeller Grant in conducting and has studied with Richard Lert, Haig Yaghjian, and John Nelson. Invitation to Aspiring Wagner Singers To apply for the Program, see and submit to the return address of this publication a recorded sample of your singing, a photo and a brief biography. Questions: call

8 Evelyn Lear & Thomas Stewart Artistic Directors John Edward Niles Program Director The Wagner Society of Washington, DC James K. Holman, Chairman Aurelius Fernandez, President Editor: Aurelius Fernandez Designer: Tina Cheng The Evelyn & Thomas Stewart Emerging Singers Program P.O. Box Washington, DC Tel Fax wagner-dc.org Thomas Stewart Presents Wagner Society Award to James Morris In the festive atmosphere of the Wagner Society Gala in June 2005, James Morris, the world s leading Wotan and Hans Sachs of this generation, received the Award from Thomas Stewart the world leader in these roles in the previous generation. Distinguished recipients of this Award include Thomas Stewart, Evelyn Lear, Placido Domingo, Fr. M. Owen Lee, Heinz Fricke, Martin Feinstein and Saul Lilienstein. Jim Holman Spearheads Emerging Singers Program Since its inception, WSWDC Chairman Jim Holman has spearheaded the ESP through constant efforts with the cooperation and dedication of Thomas Stewart and Evelyn Lear. Jim Holman and Evelyn Lear at the Wagner Society Gala in June The Wagner Society of Washington, DC P.O. Box Washington, DC www: wagner-dc.org NON-PROFIT U.S. POSTAGE PAID WASHINGTON, DC PERMIT NO OCTOBER 2005 UPDATE The Thomas Stewart and Evelyn Lear Emerging Singers Program