presents The Abduction from the Seraglio (Die Entführung aus dem Serail) Comic Opera in Three Acts Music by W.A. Mozart Libretto by Christoph Friedrich Bretzner Gerard Floriano Artistic Director & Conductor Stephen Carr Stage Director Scenery designed by Kirk Domer Lighting designed by Gordon J. Estey There will be two intermissions.
Scene A port in the Eastern Mediterranean, 1920 s Synopsis Act I: Konstanze and Blonde, two wealthy young Americans, have become lost while taking a cruise vacation on the Mediterranean with their chaperone, Pedrillo. The three of them have fallen into the hands of the Pasha Selim, the owner of a nightclub which employs young women. The Pasha has fallen in love with Konstanze and insists on keeping both women, along with Blonde s beloved Pedrillo, against their will. As Act I begins, Konstanze s beloved Belmonte arrives on the scene after having searched for the lost trio in vain. Osmin, the Pasha s right-hand man, is cleaning up for the evening and completely ignores Belmonte s questions. Belmonte insistently tries to obtain news of his friend, Pedrillo. Osmin is angry at the lazy Americans and shoos Belmonte away. Nevertheless, after Osmin leaves, Belmonte meets Pedrillo and they resolve to abduct the girls that very evening. Accompanied by a chorus of nightclub patrons, locals and club employees, Selim returns from a boating trip with Konstanze, for whose love he strives in vain. Pedrillo convinces the Pasha that Belmonte is an architect. The Pasha enlists Belmonte s services, but Osmin refuses to let him into the private living area of the club. Eventually, however, the two men manage to enter the Seraglio. 10 Minute Intermission Act II: Blonde haughtily rejects the rough lovemaking attempts of Osmin, and after she threatens to claw his eyes out, Osmin departs. Konstanze greets Blonde in distress, informing her that Selim demands her love and threatens to use force. When she has gone, Pedrillo steals a moment with his sweetheart Blonde and informs her that Belmonte has arrived and that all is ready for their escape. Blonde is unable to contain her joy. Pedrillo invites Osmin to drink, and after slipping a sleeping pill into Osmin s cocktail, he watches with amusement as the blustering Osmin becomes completely intoxicated. With Osmin passed out at their feet, the four lovers are at last reunited and they sing of the power of love and the hope of escape. 15 Minute Intermission Act III: Belmonte and Pedrillo meet outside the Seraglio as planned. Just as the ladies arrive, the four are discovered by Osmin. Osmin is elated - at last he will see the Americans get the punishment they deserve. Pasha Selim is disturbed by Osmin s gloating and comes outside to see what the noise is about. He soon recognizes in Belmonte the son of a long time business enemy, but he grants Konstanze and Belmonte a few moments together while he decides their punishment. Belmonte and Konstanze agree that they will welcome death if it means that they will be reunited in freedom. Realizing that he will never possess Konstanze s heart, the Pasha gives them their freedom. Osmin s fury is matched only by the gratitude of the four Americans.
CAST Pasha Selim, owner of The Seraglio (spoken role)... Michael Ciulla Konstanze, a young American aristocrat... Amy Cochrane Blonde, her friend and travel companion... Gwendolyn Coleman Detwiler Belmonte, wealthy young American... Virgil Hartinger Pedrillo, his friend and beloved of Blonde...Robert Strauss Osmin, doorman of The Seraglio...Won Cho Quartet of staff in The Seraglio Madeline Miskie, Julia Teitel, Joseph Wilgenbusch, Colin Porter Patrons and additional wait staff Becki Boyanski, Sheila Sullivan Buck, Pat Fussell, Jennifer Groves, Bill Hearne, Bob Holmes, Lindsay Holmes, Craig Larson, Mary Menzie, Nathan Oakes, Lisa Rosenbauer, Dennis Rosenbaum, Laura Szymanowicz, Andrew White. Production staff Artistic Director & Conductor... Gerard Floriano Stage Director... Stephen Carr Assistant Stage Director... Gillian Bell Stage Manager...Daniel Swartout Scenery Design... Kirk Domer Lighting Design... Gordon J. Estey Chorus Master... Nathaniel Motta Principal Coach/Accompanist... Arthur Williford Chorus Coach/Accompanist & Asst. Chorusmaster... Christopher Mokrzewski Wardrobe Designer & Coordinator...Nellica Rave Technical Director...Matt Scheidt Scenery Construction...Joe Kendrick & Josh Kendrick Scenery Painting...Shelley Helene Barish & Mark Weaver Projected English Language Translation...Michael McConnell Supertitle Operation...Galina Fesyuk RPO Box Office Operations... Kate Wahl
ORCHESTRA Violin I Lee Wilkins, concertmaster Geoffrey Jones Alex Tatarinov Nari Hong Eui Young Chung Amber Selzler Violin II Sherry McCarthy Matthew Zerweck Peggy Bray Warren Sarah Camesano Viola Janeen Wilkins Joanne Lowe Shana Hobin Stewart Jacinda Dudley Cello James Kirkwood Janneke Hoogland Andrew Barnhart Meredith Blecha Bass Timothy Blinkhorn Flute Glennda Dove Pellito Diane Peters Oboe Emily Agnew Anna Petersen Clarinet Margaret Quackenbush Jun Qian Bassoon Kirsta Rodean Poyao Richard Chen Horn Casey Springstead Erin Simpson Trumpet Barbara Hull Percussion Matthew Teodori Geoffrey Anikienko Timpani Jim Tiller
Corporate Donors Constellation Brands EBS Benefit Solutions Carol Sue Hai Interiors Mytee UnderCar(e) Specialists RBC Dain Rauscher Gold $10,000 and above Suzanne & Gerard Gouvernet The Guild of Mercury Opera Rochester The Rainbow Fund Silver $5,000 to $9,999 Vito & Marge D Ambruso Ron & Jane Fondiller The Rochester Fund for Opera Rose-Marie B. Klipstein Mary K. Menzie New York State Council on the Arts New York State Legislature Senator Jim Alesi Maestro $2,500 to $4,999 Agneta D. Borgstedt, MD Sarah H. Collins James & Jane Littwitz Rochester Area Community Foundation Prima Voce $1,000 to $2,499 Anonymous James & Catherine Aquavella Arthur & Jeanette Axelrod Nancy & Alan Cameros Margaret J. Carnall Peter & Suzanne Durant David & Linda Friedman Benton Hess Craig & Susan Larson Judith & Ramon Ricker Haskell* & Sunny Rosenberg John L. & Katherine T. Schumacher Joel & Friederike Felber Seligman Helga & Alexander Strasser Wende W. Young Impressario $500 to $999 Cortland & Ella Brovitz Allen Cohen John & Carol Condemi Robert & Ellen Croog Mary Alice Fournier CONTRIBUTionS through September 15, 2006 Gerard & Joan Floriano Rob W. Goodling William & Deven Hearne Kristen Kessler & Michael Williams Mary E. McNamara Mr. & Mrs. Lee Charles Moss Susan Mou & Frank Slovick Janet Patlow Barbara Reifler & Charles Unison Gavin & Mary Lee Strakosh Tessie Taylor* George & Marsha Tillson James & Wendy Undercofler Comprimario $250 to $499 Anonymous Mort & Maxine Bittker William & Marcia Casey Tony & Gill Dechario Harry & Marion Fulbright Jack Hicks Mary Ann Hrankowski Chuck Lundeen & John Williams Martin & Phyllis Korn Paulina & Laurence Kovalsky Barbara McIver & Robert Wason Tom & Esther Paul Stephen & Elise Rosenfeld Coro $100 to $249 Warren & Mary Elaine Aldoretta Susan Barocas Ruth & George Beede Don & Joyce Bogdanski Angela Bonazinga & Catherine Lewis Walter & Abbie Boston Beverly T. Bowen Anne & Robert Brickell William & Anne Buckingham John & Anna Bundschuh Rosalie Cavallaro June M. Clase Ronald & Jacqueline Cohen Christopher C. Dahl Dr. & Mrs. Eric M. Dreyfuss Peter & Margaret Dundas Edward & Linda Dunn Maria Dunphrey Mr. & Mrs. Bruno Fallone Joseph & Maria Finetti Susan Fischer Rosemary & Thomas Folino Margaret Freeman Joanne & Steve French Deborah Friedman & Scott Mackler Ann & Tim Fulreader Johanna M. Gambino Teresa Giuliani-Imburgia Coral T. Glassman Pam Good & Bob Weeks Susan & Stanley Gordon Marie Graham Marjorie & Donald Grinols Robert & Muriel Haggerty Karen Harkenrider & John Herring Warren & Joyce Heilbronner Warren & Barbara Heiligman Gloria Horwitz Dr. & Mrs. Daniel B. Hovey Ernest & Roberta Ierardi Bejan & Sharon Iranpour Earl W. Kage John & Janet Kucaba Jack & Gail Langerak John & Alice Leddy Annette D. Lee Werner & Sandra Lemke Joyce H. Lindley Gerald & Eileen Marsh Thomas & Dale McMeekin Katharine M. McNally Harry & Linda Messina Sanford & Jill Miller Rosemarie Molser Ilene Montana Jim & Suzanne Mueller John & Annabel Muenter Frederick Nuernberg Mrs. Lee Olson Donald & Andrea Pedersen David & Marjorie Perlman Dr. Jack & Dorothy Pitlick William & Elizabeth Powell George & Rosa Rich Dr. Suzanne H. Rodgers Philip & Ettie Rubenstein Pearl W. Rubin Justin & Kelly Runke Werner & Janet Schenk Ruth Schnabel Eugene Schneider, MD & Gloria Baciewicz, MD Arthur & Kathryn Schuster Hon. Anthony & Gloria Sciolino Paul & Jean Seidel Mark & Holley Shafer Simi & Leonard Singer Charles H. Speirs Louise M. Spivack June M. Stornelli
Paul & Karin Stuart Lisle Thaler Kathleen Toole Bill & Mary Anna Towler Gary & Marie Van Graafeiland Margaret Vanas Mr. & Mrs. Stephen F. Venuti Judit S. Wagner, MD Margaret Webber Robin & Michael Weintraub Anne & Robert Wells Pamela S. Wilkens White Jean Grant Whitney Christine Wickert Hans P. Witte Robert & Mary Alice Wolf Jesse P. Woodward Robert & Louise Young Jay & Hanna Zukoski Supernumerary $50 to $99 James & Jacquie Adams Isaac Ahitow & Athena Booth Norman Allentoff Betty Jane Altier Jennifer Altier Michael John Amorese Dorothy Ange William & Margaret Arduser Etta Atkin John Bickmore Earla Black Lynette & James Blake David O. Boehm Lillian Bonanni Judith V. Boyd Robert & Linda Bretz Helen D. Brooks Marylee Cannon Paul & Mary Capacci John P. Casella John & Diane Caselli Mary Jo Chiesa Norinne Cole Margaret Page Colucci Sylvia Commins Lillian Courtheoux Warren Crandall William & Carol Crocca Salvatore & Joan Dalberth Linda Wells Davey Margaret A. Davis Valera D Esopo Rosalie DiPasquale Marcia L. Elwitt Giuseppe Erba & Mark Pierzynski Irving & Mildred Fierman Anita Joseph Fiordeliso Joann & James Fleming Cathy L. Flowers Ervin A. Fox Amy Fujimura Philip & Millie Furnari Patricia & E. Robert Fussell Evelyn & Wesley Ghyzel Dr. & Mrs. Charles J. Gibson Donald & Harriette Ginsberg Leo & Leona Ginsberg Anne Gitlin Connie Glover Jeanette L. Goldstein Beverly & Bernard Gordon Helen & George Greer James Haefner & Marcia McDowell Sally A. Harper Phyllis Harris McRea Hazlett Joseph R. Heintzman Shari M. Holzer Gunhild Horne Cynthia Howk Robert & Maria Isgro James & Mary Keefe Nancie & Duncan Kennedy Henry & Marjorie Kirch Robert F. Klein Sheryl Kovel Herbert & Frances Kramer Warren & Hillary Krutchik Ronald Kwasman Leo & Charlotte Landhuis John F. & Margaret Pace Lausin Edith Lehr David & Dorothy Leidig Dorothy Leschander Arlean Levinson Nicholas & Carol Love David & Rose Mancini Sylvia & Glenn Marshall Rita Martin Margaret & Arnold Matlin Mona Miller Sylvia Moukous Sheila & Otto Muller-Girard Shirley L. Munson Rosemary Murell Hon. John. C. Ninfo, II Mildred Ortbach & Linda Clark Mary Lou Pabrinkis Bernard & Molly Panner Salvatore & Dolores Parlato Jane Pauly George J. Pearson Arlene M. Phillips Linda Pike Rosalba & John Pisaturo Peter Plummer Frank & Mary Posato Carolee & Robert Powers Joanne Prives David Rakov Betty Rapoport Calvin & Beverly Reynolds Louise Wallace Reynolds Carmine Rosebrough Judge & Mrs. Richard D. Rosenbloom Bruce R. Rychwalski Martin & Margie Sabath Alice Salzberg Marilyn Sands Bertha M. Santirocco Eleanor L. Santo Peggy W. Savlov Joan M. Schultz David J. Sharkey Joseph & Mary Ellen Slisz H. Allen & Suzanne M. Spencer Nancy L. Spezio Muriel D. Steinberg James & Natalie Stewart Donald Sun Carl A. Talbot Robert & Doris Teamerson David & Ellen Thurber Margaret Tonkinson Douglas & Celia Topping Shirley VanZandvoord Rev. Joseph V. Versage Ingeborg Vogelstein Mr. & Mrs. Pierce Webb Stephen C. Weber William & Marcia Weinert Wilma & Ed Wierenga Lois E. Williams Lee & Leonore Wiltse Bernard Winterman Carolyn Sibley Wolfe Roger Zaenglein Melvin & Ruth Zax Bill & Joan Zell Leonard & Shelley Zwas * indicates deceased Tributes Tribute gifts are a special way to remember loved ones or commemorate special occasions such as birthdays, anniversaries, weddings, births, or graduations. In Memory of 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 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 Peggy Curlin Agneta D. Borgstedt, MD Rose-Marie B. Klipstein Belle Y. Lovenheim Lisa & Rudolf Rubiner Tessie Taylor Agneta D. Borgstedt, MD Peter Plummer 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 Gifts In Kind Mark IV Enterprises Parachute Graphics Strathallan Hotel Additional Special Thanks To: Eastman School of Music Hochstein School of Music & Dance Bethlehem Lutheran Church Penfield Central School District 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. In addition, Mercury Opera Rochester is accepting donations of costume-worthy clothing to add to our collection. If you have a lovely hat, gown or suit that isn t any use to you anymore, please consider donating it to our cause. We are also accepting sewing supplies, such as machines, dressmakers dummys, assorted sewing baskets, etc. If you have a stash that isn t being put to good use, let us make beautiful costumes from your generous donation. For more information, or to volunteer in the costume shop, call Nellica Rave at 469-6542. This production is funded in part by a grant from the Arts and Cultural Council for Greater Rochester, the New York State Council on the Arts, and the New York State Legislature. Every attempt is made to insure the accuracy of these listings, received through September 15, 2006. If your name has been listed incorrectly or inadvertently omitted, please accept our apologies and contact Mercury Opera at (585) 473-6567.
PROGRAM NOTES In 1781, the twenty five year old Mozart had been living in Vienna for less than a year. He was anxious to shed the label of child prodigy, and while his previous attempt to write an opera buffa in Vienna (La Finta Semplice) had failed, he was eager to compose a successful opera and establish himself as a mature musician. Earlier in the century, 1001 Arabian Nights had swept across Europe, igniting a fascination with all things Turkish. When approached with a libretto of an already produced singspiel by Friedrich Bretzner entitled Belmont und Constanze, oder Die Entführung aus dem Serail, the thematic material of adventure and rescue, and the forbidden, frightening setting of a Turkish harem seemed to Mozart to be the makings of a sure success. On a personal level, he had recently begun a flirtation with his own Constanze, Constanze Weber, his landlady s daughter. The premiere of the work was originally to occur in conjunction with the visit to Vienna of the Grand Duke Paul Petrovich of Russia, who would be discussing with Emperor Joseph II how they might divide the Ottoman Empire. From a political perspective, some historians have suggested that the story would serve well the emperor s propagandist campaign against the Turks. Indeed, there is a not-so-subtle element of anti-islamic sentiment in the original setting. While the Pasha Selim is, in the end, the moral compass of the piece, what passed for comedy in 1781 is in many ways offensive to a modern audience. In today s global political climate, it is difficult to find humor in the conflict between Christianity and Islam, between Western and Middle-Eastern cultures, and Die Entführung aus dem Serail is, despite its dramatic story line, a comedy. Mozart was never one to shy away from controversy, and he was keenly aware of his audience. Entführung s premiere was greeted with both enthusiastic praise and harsh criticism. In a letter to his father after the second performance Mozart wrote, The whole first act was accompanied by hissing! I was in such a rage that I was simply beside myself. Audiences, however, packed the theater, and Entführung was soon an enormous success, translated into Dutch, Polish, and Russian within a few decades. What a shame then, that Entführung has been nervously pulled from the recent programming of many of our nation s opera houses, for while some scholars may debate the strengths of its libretto, there is no question that the piece contains some of Mozart s most enchanting operatic music. Our production has been set in the 1920 s in a small port city in the eastern Mediterranean. The black-and-white movies that began coming out of Hollywood during this period reflected an American fascination with Middle-Eastern cultures (The Thief of Baghdad, The Sheik) much like the European glorification of all things Turkish at the time of the original production. My hope is that in breathing new life into the work in order to make it as accessible as possible to a modern American audience, Die Entführung aus dem Serail can be fully appreciated for what it is: a masterpiece. Stephen Carr, September 2006
BIOGRAPHIES Gerard Floriano, Artistic Director/Conductor Emerging American Conductor Gerard Floriano is equally accomplished in both the operatic and orchestral arenas. As Artistic Director of Rochester Opera Factory, he led the rise of this ambitious company, conducting full-scale critically acclaimed performances of Mascagni s Cavalleria Rusticana, Leoncavallo s I Pagliacci, Die Fledermaus by Johann Strauss, and Puccini s Suor Angelica. The 2005/06 season was an exciting one for Dr. Floriano who, after having been named co-artistic Director of Mercury Opera Rochester, led Mascagni s L Amico Fritz and Donizetti s Elixir of Love. Writing about L Amico Fritz, D&C music critic John Pitcher wrote Floriano proved to be nothing les than a virtuoso conductor He led his fine orchestra with color, precision and a welcome degree of sweep... ushering in a New age of Good Opera in western New York. In December of 2005, Dr. Floriano led the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra in a series of five holiday concerts throughout the Rochester region, and in March 2006, he made his Carnegie Hall conducting debut with the Greater Buffalo Youth Orchestra. A regular guest conductor in Europe, Dr. Floriano has led performances in Krakow, Warsaw, Prague, Barcelona, Florence and Leipzig. He recently conducted the Orchestra di Vicenza and opera chorus and soloists of the Venice Opera in a spectacular performance of Mozart s Requiem. Dr. Floriano is acclaimed as an innovative programmer and dedicated educational conductor. Under his leadership, the Greater Buffalo Youth Orchestra has become a premiere training orchestra for the most talented young musicians in western NY. Dr. Floriano is Director of Choral Activities at the State University of New York at Geneseo and Resident Conductor at the Brevard Summer Music Festival, where in the summer of 2007, he will conduct opera productions of the Janiec Opera Company. He is a graduate of the Eastman School of Music with Doctor of Musical Arts and Master of Music degrees in Conducting. Stephen Carr, Stage Director Stephen Carr makes his professional directing debut with Abduction from the Seraglio. He was last involved with Mercury Opera as Assistant Director for Madama Butterfly and L Elisir d Amore. A student of Steven Daigle, he is currently completing the Master of Music degree 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 masterclasses 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 next summer.
Won Cho, Osmin Korean-Canadian Bass-Baritone Won Cho has performed in numerous operas, oratorios, concerts, and recitals throughout the US, Canada, Europe, the Middle East, and his native Korea, with such companies as Opera Memphis, East Slovak State Opera, Mississippi Opera, Operafest! of New Hampshire, Dicapo Opera of NYC, Opera Theater of Connecticut, Ocean State Opera, New Jersey Verismo Opera, Longwood Opera, Washington Concert Opera, and Utah Festival Opera. His operatic roles include Figaro in Le Nozze di Figaro, Leporello in Don Giovanni, Colline in La Bohème, Sarastro in The Magic Flute, Don Alfonso in Cosi Fan Tutte, Don Basilio in Il Barbiere di Siviglia, Sparafucile in Rigoletto, and Raimondo in Lucia di Lammermoor. Mr. Cho received his BM in Voice from Manhattan School of Music, MM in Voice from Boston University, and he is currently a DMA voice candidate at The University of Memphis, as well as Assistant Professor of Voice and Opera at SUNY Fredonia. Michael Ciulla, Pasha Selim Michael Ciulla is excited to be making his opera debut in Mercury Opera Rochester s production of Mozart s Abduction from the Seraglio. His previous credits include the role of Gaston in Rochester Children Theater s Beauty and the Beast and the role of Miles in SUNY Geneseo s A Funny Thing Happened on the way to the Forum. He is currently a senior at SUNY Geneseo studying elementary and special education and vocal performance. Mike would like to thank his wonderful family for all of their love and support. Amy Cochrane, Konstanze Amy Cochrane has established herself as an important singer in the worlds of opera, light opera, and oratorio. Critically acclaimed performances with the Madison Opera and Symphony Orchestra include Gilda in Rigoletto and Mendelssohn s Symphony No. 2, Lobesang, both conducted by Maestro John DeMain, as well as Adina in The Elixir of Love. Ms. Cochrane received rave reviews in the Chicago Tribune for her Mabel in The Pirates of Penzance with the Grant Park Symphony and Chorus, delivering Mabel s difficult passages with effortless aplomb. In 1998 Ms. Cochrane made her Carnegie Hall debut singing Gabriel and Eve for Haydn s Creation under the direction of John Rutter, and has since returned to Carnegie Hall to sing Creation again with Maestro Rutter. She was soloist for the New York premiere of The World of the Spirit, by Benjamin Britten, also in Carnegie Hall. Ms. Cochrane has appeared frequently with Chicago s prestigious Music of the Baroque, the Rembrandt Chamber Players, and the Virginia Consort. She has appeared with Cincinnati Opera, Opera Idaho, Oswego Opera, Light Opera Works of Chicago, Washington Concert Opera, Lake George Opera, Opera New England, Opera Company of Boston, Sarasota Opera, Natchez Opera Festival and the Ash Lawn-Highland Summer Festival, and is a frequent soloist with the Rochester Oratorio Society. She is a graduate of Oberlin College and the New England Conservatory of Music, and currently teaches voice privately and at Nazareth College. Gwendolyn Coleman Detwiler, Blonde Soprano Gwendolyn Coleman Detwiler has been praised by music critics as possessing a voice of divine beauty with sparkling coloratura and impressive high-flying
top notes. She has sung principal roles on the stages of the San Francisco Opera Merola, San Francisco Western Opera Theatre, Central City Opera, and the Kentucky Opera. Her opera role repertoire includes Gilda in Rigoletto, Adele in Die Fledermaus, the Governess in Turn of the Screw, Monica in The Medium, and the title role in Cendrillon. Ms. Detwiler can be heard on the Newport Classic s CD recording of Moore s The Ballad of Baby Doe and is the lead role, Suleika, on Centaur Record s world-premier recording of Schubert s Der Graf von Gleichen. Ms. Detwiler s solo concert work includes appearances with the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, San Antonio Symphony Orchestra, Louisville Orchestra, Colorado Symphony Orchestra, San Francisco Opera Orchestra, Bangor Symphony Orchestra, and the Western New York Chamber Orchestra. Ms. Detwiler received her vocal and opera training at Northwestern University, the Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, the San Francisco Opera Center s Merola Young Artist Program, and the Central City Opera s Young Artist Program. Ms. Detwiler is currently an Assistant Professor at the State University of New York at Fredonia. Virgil Hartinger, Belmonte Virgil Hartinger, native of Salzburg, Austria, is very active in the professional concert scene. He recently performed as the tenor soloist in Bach s Saint John s Passion and as the Evangelist in Bach s Christmas Oratorio, both in Salzburg, Austria, Beethoven s oratorio Christus am Ölberge and the C-major Mass in Nantes, France and Lisbon, Portugal, and both the Mozart and Michael Haydn Requiems in Milan, Italy. He has performed in many prestigious festivals and concert halls in Europe and the United States including the Salzburg Festival, Beethoven Festival in Bonn (Germany), the festival La Folle Journée in France and Portugal, Carnegie Hall, Concertgebouw Hall in Amsterdam, Netherlands, and the Marlboro Music Festival in Vermont. This is Mr. Hartinger s first principal role in a fully staged opera production, although he has performed many operatic roles in concert including Pinkerton in Madama Butterfly, Tamino in The Magic Flute, Rodolfo in La Bohéme, Aminta in Caldara s Daphne, and additional concert performances in Idomeneo, Susanna, and A Midsummer Night s Dream. Mr. Hartinger received his Bachelor s degree in Vocal Performance from the Hochschule Mozarteum, Salzburg, and has continued his studies at the Eastman School of Music and Oberlin Conservatory. His performances have been recorded by Radio France, Portuguese Radio, Austrian Public Radio, German Public Radio, Lithuanian Public Radio and the BBC. Robert Strauss, Pedrillo Tenor Robert Strauss has sung Tamino in Die Zauberflöte, Don Ottavio in Don Giovanni, Nemorino in L Elisir d Amore, Mayor Upfold in Albert Herring, Alfred in Die Fledermaus, Tony in West Side Story, Anthony Hope in Sweeney Todd, and Archibald Craven in The Secret Garden, among others. He has toured Italy with the Centro Studi Italiani Opera Festival. Concert performances include Mozart and Pinkham Requiems, Messiah, Saint-Saens Christmas Oratorio, The Christmas Story by Schütz, and Bending Towards The Light: A Jazz Nativity by Anne Phillips. Mr. Strauss recently directed the New York State premiere of Felice by Benton Hess. He teaches voice at Nazareth College and the Eastman Community Music School. A graduate of SUNY Fredonia and the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, he has a Doctor of Musical Arts degree from West Virginia University.
Gillian Bell, Assistant Stage Director Gillian Bell is currently pursuing her Master s Degree at the Eastman School of Music in Vocal Performance. In spring 2006, she worked with Prof. Steven Daigle in his stage directing seminar and is very excited to be working on this production. Performance credits include Dorothee in Cendrillon, Bianca in Puccini s La Rondine and Marta in Sondheim s Company. In November she will appear as Serpetta in Mozart s La Finta Giardiniera. Kirk Domer, Set Design Scene Designer Kirk Domer is the Head of Design and Assistant Professor of Production Design for Scenery at Michigan State University. He received his BA from Ashland University and MFA in Scene Design from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. As the Resident Scene Designer for the Ohio Light Opera, Kirk has designed the World Premieres of A Friend of Napoleon by James Stuart and Robert Ward, and Amanda Jacobs and Lindsay Baker s Jane Austen s Pride and Prejudice, and the North American Premieres of Emmerich Kálmán s A Soldier s Promise, The Violet of Montmartre and Autumn Maneuvers. He has designed for The BoarsHead Theater, Eastman Opera Theatre, The Madison Repertory Theatre, University Theatre, Summer Circle Theatre, Riverwalk Theatre, Ashland Summer Theatre Festiva. Design credits include L Etoile, Man of La Mancha, Proof, The Rake s Progress, A Midsummer Night s Dream, La Bohème, The Tempest, The Mikado and The Importance of Being Earnest. Gordon J. Estey, Lighting Design Mr. Estey is Theatre Operations Manager for the Academy Theatre in Canandaigua. With a background in Broadway Summer Stock, he has worked with Maureen O Sullivan, Cyril Ritchard, Vivian Vance, Dody Goodman, Mickey Rooney, Leonard Nimoy, Elaine Stritch, William Windom and Angela Landsbury. He has been a lighting designer for over 30 years and has designed more than 300 productions. Mr. Estey is resident lighting designer and technical director for the Rochester City Ballet, and has received critical acclaim for his lighting of Nutcracker and Cinderella. His work has been seen at the Auditorium and Eastman Theatres, Nazareth College, and the Gould Theatre in NYC. He has studied with lighting designers Jules Fisher, Peggy Eisenhauer, Mike Baldassari, Wendell Harrington, Beverly Emmons and Richard Pilbrow. Mr. Estey is Technical Director for the Rochester Broadway Theatre League and was Technical Director for Mercury Opera s Madama Butterfly. Nathaniel Motta, Chorusmaster 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. Nathaniel 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 has also acted as Assistant Conductor, vocal coach and ensemble conductor at the Civic Light Opera in Pittsburgh and Mercury Opera Rochester. Mr. Motta has a Master s degree in conducting from the
Eastman School of Music and a Bachelor s degree in vocal performance from Carnegie Mellon University. Currently he is the Upper School Music Director at Laurel School in Cleveland, OH. Christopher Mokrzewski, Coach/Accompanist & Asst. 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 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. Nellica Rave, Wardrobe Coordinator Nellica Rave is pleased to be working with Mercury Opera Rochester again. Nellica has been designing costumes all over the country for ten years. She has her MFA in Costume Design from the University of Massachussetts, Amherst. Nellica is originally from a Christmas tree farm in Washington State. Her favorite projects include designing West Side Story for New World Theater, Blithe Spirit for Pioneer Valley Summer Theater, and costume shop managing the Paralympics Opening Ceremonies in Salt Lake 2002. She designs wedding dresses and mascots in her spare time. She has worked locally for the JCC, Eastman Opera, RIT, Irondequoit Theatre Guild and TYKES. She and her husband are expecting their first child in February. Daniel Swartout, Stage Manager Mr. Swartout is a graduate of Ithaca College with a BFA in Theatrical Production Arts with an emphasis on technology. His past credits include Noises Off, The Boyfriend, Witness for the Prosecution and Titanic as stage manager for the Academy Players in Canandaigua. While at Ithaca he was sound designer for The Shape of Things and Burn This, sound engineer for Violet, and assistant stage manager for Pericles. Mr. Swartout has also been stage manager for Rochester City Ballet s production of The Nutcracker and Rochester Broadway Theatre League s Stars of Tomorrow. Arthur Williford, Principal Accompanist Arthur Williford is a composer and pianist from Houston, Texas. For the last four years, he has been studying composition at the Eastman School of Music, but has always remained an active pianist, accompanist, and chamber musician. He is the recipient of several prizes from the Eastman School s composition department, and was recently nominated for Eastman s schoolwide Accompanist Prize. He is planning on pursuing a career in collaborative piano.
Embarking on its second glorious season, Mercury Opera Rochester is the newest addition to this area s rich musical community. Uniting all of the previously independent opera-related organization, the first season, consisting of all Italian love stories (Mascagni s L Amico Fritz in October, Puccini s Madama Butterfly in January, and Donizetti s L Elisir d Amore in May) was very popular with the audience and critics alike. 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 585-473-6567 or check our newly updated website at www.mercuryoperarochester.org. We keep patrons informed of our projects via mail & email. 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 Executive Director: Kristen Kessler 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 Robert Croog 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
The future of Mercury Opera Rochester Your response to our inaugural season, 2005-2006, far exceeded our expectations, as we brought more people in to see live professional opera than there have been in a long time. We were also able to accomplish our goals of high artistic standards and fiscal responsibility. We ve proven to ourselves and the community that there can be a future for professional opera in Rochester, and we ve already started to talk about our 2007-2008 season and beyond! But we need your help to continue to make the vision of Mercury Opera Rochester a reality. If you like our performance and our philosophy, please support our future. Consider a donation to continue professional opera performances in Rochester and to help more people understand and enjoy opera. Tax-deductible donations are gratefully accepted by Mercury Opera Rochester, 300 Winton Road South, Rochester, NY, 14610, and on our website at www. mercuryoperarochester.org. Future Events The Guild of Mercury Opera Rochester presents: Lecture on Puccini, the Bohemian Composer Thursday, October 12, 7 PM, Casa Italiana Lecture on the Operas of Verci Thursday, October 19, 7 PM, Casa Italiana Thursday, October 26, 7 PM, Fairport Library Lecture on Rossini & Italian Opera Buffa Thursday, November 2, 7 PM, Fairport Library Lecture on Belcanto, Bellini & Norma Thursday, November 9, 7 PM, Casa Italiana Bus Tour to Syracuse Opera Bizet s Carmen Sunday, October 29, 586-2274 for information The Mercury Opera Rochester 2006-2007 Season continues: Beloved Italian Opera Choruses Sunday, November 5 at 8 PM, Saint Mary s Church in downtown Rochester Tickets are $15 and $5 for students, available from the RPO Box Office, 454-2100, online at www.rpo.org, and at all Wegman s video locations Bellini s Norma Friday January 26 at 8 PM and Sunday January 28 at 2 PM, Eastman Theatre Sunday, November 5 at 8 PM, Saint Mary s Church in downtown Rochester Tickets are $60, $50, $40, $25 and $15 for students, available from the RPO Box Office, 454-2100, online at www.rpo.org, and at all Wegman s video locations. 300 Winton Road South Rochester, NY 14610 www.mercuryoperarochester.org 585-473-6567