OPERA Your opera company, Your community, Your opportunity!
November 2012
As a leading arts organization in Delaware, this past season’s accomplishments demonstrate our continued value and contribution to this state. We are proud to share opera’s insights into humanity through music and song. Through opera, we provide rich experiences for learning about ourselves, for educating children and for training artists, as well as contributing significantly to the lives of the people who live in our community. In total, over the course of our 2011-12 season, OperaDelaware hired 386 local artists, musicians and designers, enriched the lives of 16,498 by hosting, performing and presenting 124 events throughout Delaware and the region. A pretty remarkable and successful season, considering the challenging landscape! As gratifying as it is to report growth, it is sobering to keep in mind that such relative success came within a context of a slow economy and high unemployment which continues to effect the way we do business. The challenges that lay ahead are counteracting what we call the “Groupon” mentality, the idea that if our subscribers/patrons wait long enough they will get a deal on tickets. We need to educate our audiences that subscriptions are an important part of the formula and enables OperaDelaware to plan responsibly for the coming season. Additionally, OperaDelaware needs to update methods in which we engage the public both as patrons and donors. The ability to communicate directly with patrons is more important than ever before and will enable the company to provide a high level of customer service and develop closer relationships with OperaDelaware’s community. For donors, we need to think beyond the old model of day-to-day fundraising and establish a multi-year giving campaign which will help OperaDelaware plan responsibly for future needs. “OperaDelaware stands at an exciting crossroads. Thanks to the wonderful support of our community, we have survived the most difficult economy in recent memory. The challenge now is to shift focus and realize that survival is no longer a lofty goal, and strive towards sustainability.” – Brendan Cooke. We are proud of this world-class company that brings incredible artists and performances to our community. We look forward to continuing our mission to serve as the region’s opera organization and to help Wilmington grow as a coveted destination.
“A must-see! Moving...poignant...slick... memorable!”
Gus Mercante,
Landscape Review - Issue One, Volume One The 2011-12 Main Stage Series at The Grand experienced sold-out Sunday performances, for our Fall Opera and our Spring Opera . With packed houses for the remaining performances, the past season shows just how deeply Wilmington has embraced the arts. Additionally, OperaDelaware continued its commitment to regional artists by offering exciting performing opportunities to veteran and emerging artists, musicians and designers. Great singing is at the core of producing opera at OperaDelaware. Through singing and music, the power of the story is heightened; emotions are more deeply felt which create lasting memories as noted by a patron. “Going to an OperaDelaware production is an overall experience. I feel like I’m a part of something. I always feel exhilarated and uplifted when I attend their operas and that feeling lasts for several days.” Elaine Smith The season began with the Fall Studio Series, “Belle nuit, o nuit d’ amour” at the OperaDelaware Studios. The opening line of the famous “Barcarolle” from the , “Beautiful night, o night of love,” set the stage for a “remarkable” and “unforgettable” evening of great music and song. Under the direction of Jeffrey Miller, OperaDelaware’s Music Director, soloists Michelle Johnson, an “audience favorite” [New York Times] and winner of the 2011 Metropolitan Opera National Council, Charlotte Paulsen, Alok Kumar and Jose Sacin delivered a spectacular evening of opera favorites. OperaDelaware then presented a new production - reflecting Delaware’s own creative community through the casting of artists, chorus, musicians, designers and production staff- of Mozart’s delightful comedy, in November at The Grand. Audiences of ALL ages remarked that this production of was “great fun for the whole family” and an “awesome” (comment from a 6 year-old boy whose parents purchased Family Friday Nights subscription) fairy tale sung by an amazing set of local and regional artists. The Spring saw the return of the ever-popular Studio Series, “ ” and the composers they inspired, sung by the region’s most gifted artists. Adrienne Danrich whose voice was described as “fresh liquid-silver” by Opera News and Delaware natives Margaret Thompson whose “heaven sent” voice has been heard in opera houses worldwide, including The Met, Gary Seydell whose voice “captivated” audiences in the US and Europe and Jeff Chapman, whose regional work includes AVA, Opera Company of Philadelphia and OperaDelaware, performed to great acclaim.
“Thank you for an outstanding afternoon last Sunday.... There is nothing better than the unamplified human voice at close range. NOTHING! At the Studio Concerts, we hear these fine voices from 30 feet away, and that is as good as it gets!” Roy Peters The season concluded with the much-anticipated production of Gershwin’s in May. Standing room only houses saw “stunning “ performances by an exceptional cast including Janinah Burnett as Bess who will be making her Metropolitan Opera debut this coming fall, Richard Hobson who reprised his role of Porgy, Larry Hylton as the Sportin’ Life straight from Broadway, twenty-three local chorus members plus ten children from our Youth Opera Productions - all under the artful baton of a Tony Award-winning conductor, Stuart Malina.
The unique blend of companies that rent our space, sets, props and costumes covers all aspects of the performing arts, and we are honored to have the following art organizations as a part of our family: The Academy of Vocal Arts, The Arden Singers, Brandywiners, Bootless Theatre, Cab Calloway, Center City Opera Theatre, City Theatre Company, Delaware Shakespeare Festival, Delaware Theatre Company, First State Ballet Theater, Temple University, University of Delaware , Wilmington Children’s Chorus and the Wilmington Fringe Festival. In total, OperaDelaware hosted 48 performances at the Center attracting 3,640 patrons to the Riverfront. OperaDelaware also partnered with several local arts organizations to ensure that arts and culture continue in Delaware. Through the , OperaDelaware began work on developing the largest interdisciplinary Shakespeare festival in the state of Delaware. It is designed to increase and grow our individual audiences, encourage crossover among our patrons and excite a new generation of patrons about Shakespeare through a statewide education program. Partners include: Delaware Art Museum, Delaware Shakespeare Festival, First State Ballet, The Grand, MasterSingers, SPARX, and InWilmington. OperaDelaware also continued its work with 7 arts organizations in the , an alliance that adopts grades at Warner school so that children learn and grow through the expressive arts. Partners include: Christina Cultural Arts Center, Delaware Art Museum, Delaware Symphony Orchestra, First State Ballet, The Grand, Music School of Delaware, and Osher Lifelong Learning Academy, Additionally, the staff and board of OperaDelaware participated in a Delaware Collation Against Violence fundraiser around our production of . This brought more attention to their organization, grew our audience and raised money for a worthy cause.
“OperaDelaware delivers with Oberto!... An afternoon of thrilling opera! So why was Oberto so successful? Wonderful performances... The cast, conductor, chorus and orchestra!” - Chuck Holderman, Delaware Arts Info
The company’s 2011-12 Youth Education Programs again offered a range of learning opportunities and experiences for youth across the region. But with our (WYOP) we did more than just introduce young students to opera – we made a lasting and positive difference in their lives, helped them discover new worlds of possibilities and put them on a positive track for future academic, professional and personal success. The overriding aim of our opera education programs is to use music and opera as a “hook” for learning. We used the arts of opera as a device to open up learning opportunities for youth ages 7-17, at all levels of experience. OD provided in-depth residencies in underserved schools in Wilmington and offered a first experience with classical music and drama for many elementary and middle school students through our Youth Opera Productions at our Studios and in local schools. We gave youth the chance to discover more about their own creativity by taking part in writing classes that got them excited about the power of their words, to dream about a future in music, to learn performance and technical skills in a nurturing environment and to perform classics on stages across Wilmington. All this was delivered through several key strains of OD’s Youth Education programs which reached 3,274 students, 44 schools and 87 teachers in 2011-12. (January - March, 2012) YOP was open to all students, ages 7-17, none of whom are required to have previous experience. It brought together students from diverse backgrounds, perspectives, educational and economic environments with professional artists to explore opera in a comprehensive and artistically rigorous program based on National Arts Standards. Students are taught by caring, experienced, professional teachers and each session culminates with a final performance, designed and performed by the students. In addition to voice, movement, acting training, students learned how to make and stay within a budget, how to bring basic concepts in set and costume design together. They learned how to share thoughts and ideas with others, how to trust and respect each other and then to accommodate others input and modify their performance to create something beautiful. This year, YOP brought together 41 students from 26 different schools to produce and perform . Four students from participating WYOP schools who showed an inclination to learn more about opera received scholarships to participate in our Youth Opera Programs. In addition to their touring productions, they performed to more than 430 student dominated audience in our Studios on the Riverfront. (November 2010 & May 2011) This 21-year-old program provides large-scale access to professional opera for middle and high school students from 35 schools within the entire state of Delaware and regional sections of Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Maryland. Funding from corporations, foundations, government agencies and individuals enable OperaDelaware to provide more than 750 students with free tickets annually. The Student Dress Rehearsal program created strong, long-term relationships between our company and the attending schools and introduced students of all academic levels to professional opera, often for the first time. The program also included additional opportunities to deepen the school’s curriculum through study guides that introduced students and teachers to the historical perspectives of the opera and through our pre-performance lecture series, .
“I enjoyed the music and the voices of the singers but most of all, I enjoyed watching Porgy showing everyone that he was no cripple. He proved that he was a man.” - Murad , Student Dress Rehearsal
Community Conversations , Delaware Art Museum , 2012 Speakeasy Fundraiser, 2012
Beyond our Main Stage and Studio Series, our Company presented a wide range of programs that the entire community enjoyed at OperaDelaware Studios, The Grand and venues throughout Delaware reaching 4,034 adult patrons and 3,274 youth. Providing an engaging array of educational and informative programming continues to be a major initiative of the Company. Aimed at enhancing the opera experience for patrons of all ages, a diverse selection of programs was presented throughout the Season. More than a dozen community engagement programs have been going strong for years - in some cases, decades. The first part of our mission statement demonstrates our commitment to offering a robust suite of programs that engage the entire community - not just the ticket buying community - in extraordinary learning experiences. In 2011-12 our patrons experienced a range of operatic experiences from a rarely performed Verdi opera, , with full orchestration to an intimate performance of American spirituals in . Additionally, the company presented a new Community Conversation series designed to bring people together from various neighborhoods to discuss great stories of opera and why it matters today. For the second consecutive year, we co-produced a new operatic work with Center City Opera Theatre, by Michael Ching and once again contributed to the field of American opera. The completed opera had its world premiere in Wilmington and was the opening production at the Opera America Conference, under the direction of Leland Kimball. The company also began and ended the season with performances at the Freeman Stage at Bayside in Selbyville to a combined audience of 464 new patrons.
Freeman Stage, 2011 & 2012
Landscape Review - Issue One, Volume One
It’s been a year of both excitement and challenge. In a very challenging financial climate which affected several opera companies around the nation, OperaDelaware posted a projected cash surplus, for the fourth year. In the fall of 2011, The Board of Directors completed a recapitalization from a variety of sources, including donations that reduced indebtedness from $960,000 to $369,000 and replaced a line of credit with fixed-rate long-term mortgage financing. Contributions from individuals and foundations increased and our audiences increased by 16% - all contributing to the net positive bottom-line. But the hard work is far from over!
Landscape Review - Issue One, Volume One
(September 2011-June 2012) OD exposed 3rd grade students of Warner ES, 2nd grade students at Stubbs ES and 5th grade students at Bancroft ES to the power of words through Residency. Guided by Cal Brackin, our In-School Director, students worked collaboratively to write, compose and perform their original operas based on various issues, topics and curricula that was being taught in their classrooms. During this year-round, intensive residency students learned about writing a libretto, music composition, singing technique, performance skills and the elements of production. They learned how to write a story using the four basic elements of Character, Conflict, Setting and Resolution and tied it back into vocabulary being taught in the classroom. Most importantly, it exposed students to language that went beyond the ordinary to extraordinary. Topics ranged from exploring science (global warming at Stubbs) to discovering history (Musical Codes in the Underground Railroad at Warner), from combining nursery rhymes and mythology (Jack and Jill at Warner) to learning to deal with real life situations (bullying at Bancroft). In total, over 250 3rd grade Warner students participated in two Residencies which concluded with final performances of their operas performed to more than 400 1st and 2nd grade students and 15 (1-3rd grade) teachers. Sixty 2nd grade students and 3 teachers at Stubbs and 42 students and 2 teachers at Bancroft School participated in our Residencies. Please visit http://www.operade.org/Education.htm to view a video about the process. Delaware Standards Addressed (ELA:1,2,3,4; M: 1,3,4,5,6,7,8,9; T: 1,2,3,4,5,6,7; D: 1,2,3,4,6) “ I love it when students make connections from the Residency and tie the experiences, knowledge and skills into our everyday curriculum.” Mrs Reynolds, 3rd Grade Warner Teacher (November-January 2012): Twenty-four 5th grade students expressed interest in auditioning for Wilmington’s Performing Arts School (Cab Calloway). They received specialized and intensive one-on-one vocal and acting training in preparation for the School’s Audition in January. They learned how to work independently, to plan and manage their time, to memorize a script, to perform and then receive input from adults and learn how to adapt and modify their performance. They built risk-taking abilities by listening to feedback, made mistakes and went beyond their safety zone. But most importantly, they discovered a strong sense of self and developed a secure sense of their own ability, to plan and work for a positive future. Fourteen students in January 2012 auditioned for Cab Calloway. Delaware Standards Addressed (M: 1,3,4,5,6,7,8,9; T: 1,2,3,4,5,6,7) “I watched children who normally didn’t want to do their homework, memorize entire songs and monologues in 1 week. They became responsible for their notebooks and enthusiastically brought them to class. (They remembered to bring their materialbecause they were so engaged in the process.) At the actual audition these children stood tall by the piano and sang their songs alone. They were focused, and engaged in the entire process. I witnessed strength, character and caring about one another and their own work. They supported one another while a classmate was working and applauded appreciatively for each other.” – Barb Winchester, Resident Teacher : (March 2012) The children of our Youth Program toured to select schools within Wilmington. In past years we’ve been able to work closely with music and art teachers at the schools. This past year we were unable to do so. At Warner, there were two new teachers who were overwhelmed by their current workload. At Mote, their state tests took precedence. We plan to reestablish this program in the coming academic year. Although, the students were not able to join us on stage they did thoroughly enjoy watching the performance and their peers onstage. In total, Youth Opera program performed to 1,064 students at Mote and Warner ES and 21 teachers were provided study guides for our productions. “ was awesome! I read the book, but the play is better - it was more fun!” Shandra, Mote ES during a talkback : (June 2012) This professional teacher development course was inspired by comments from the Warner teachers who noticed that during our Residencies students come alive, connect personally with the material and academically struggling kids become excited about learning. For a second year in a row, OD was able to offer this free workshop to the Red Clay teachers. This workshop focused on teaching methods that integrate music, drama, art and movement into their curriculum. Arts partners (DAM, Music School of Delaware and FSBT) joined us for a full-day workshop teaching the creative process to 26 teachers from The Red Clay School District. “I love this workshop! I signed up again because it was so inspirational” “What I learned last year, I used this year - and it was fun. I hope to find new ways to connect to my kids in the coming year.” WYOP was founded on the simple premise that the arts are an indispensable part of a complete education because quality education in the arts significantly adds to the learning potential of students. The world we inhabit is rapidly changing. As technologies evolve at an ever-increasing rate, learning how to learn may be more important than what we already know. When the arts are brought into the classroom skillfully and thoughtfully, students learn better and enjoy learning more. The arts provide students ways to make personal and immediate connections with a range of materials. The arts give students more tools for delving into course content and help inspire higher-level critical thinking. Moreover, research shows that music is deeply tied to brain structure and function, and that early exposure to music helps children succeed in school and life. Children participating in WYOP learned critical skills that met state academic standards while developing an understanding and love of music, opera and expressive arts. Each new school year brings renewed excitement, and unexpected challenges. One of the highlights this year was seeing the parents of our WYOP students watch with their kids. Too often, these families whose children are interested in music and drama are unable to attend performances because they cannot afford the tickets. Our allowed these families to connect over a “theatrical” experience that many said was the “best show they’ve ever seen.” Our challenge this year, was reestablishing our Summer Camp. It was our hope to partner with the Wilmington Children Chorus, but this did not come to fruition. We asked our older students and found that they would prefer a Fall program where the competition for their time was less demanding. In response, we created a Fall Teen Opera Lab that currently has 21 members enrolled. WYOP has made a difference in more lives that we could ever have imagined. It has laid a foundation that has inspired hundreds of underserved kids to dream about a future – showing them that the study of music and the arts is something that they can pursue in middle school, high school and beyond. Our collection of education programs is essential to OD’s strategic growth and you are an essential part of that equation.
OPERADELAWARE 4 South Poplar Street, Wilmington DE 19801 Ph: (302) 658-8063 www.operade.org