Cincinnati Opera 2023 Summer Festival Program Book

CINCINNATI OPERA

MONA Dermatology applauds

Cincinnati Opera on a fantastic 2023 season.

WELCOME

Whether you’re attending a Cincinnati Opera performance for the first time or the hundredth, we are glad you’re here, and we invite you to enjoy, reflect, and listen. And if you’re moved to do so, feel free to shout, “Bravo!”

In its essence, opera is the ultimate collaborative art form requiring the efforts of many people to realize its potential. We are grateful to the singers, instrumentalists, dancers, actors, artists, and stage professionals who devote their lives to the creation of beautiful, soul-stirring art—we celebrate your perseverance and your gifts. We are thankful to our colleagues on the staff and the members of the board of trustees, led with inspiring commitment by Board President Melanie Chavez. All of us work year-round to prepare for the Summer Festival and to nurture the long-term health of this company.

Most likely you’re here at Music Hall today because, at some point in your life, someone invited you to attend the opera. Perhaps it was your English teacher. Perhaps it was your grandmother. Perhaps it was a member of the chorus. This season, we encourage you to pass it along. Share your love of opera by asking someone in your life to join you. It’s one of the best gifts you can give. Here’s why: like all great art, opera engenders compassion, gratitude, and selfknowledge, and experiencing the thrill of live opera in person enhances social connection. We invite you to return again and again. If we’ve done our job, before you know it, you’ll be one among many fans for life.

Thank you for your support of Cincinnati Opera. We hope you enjoy the show!

Christopher Milligan

The Harry Fath General Director & CEO

Evans Mirageas

The Harry T. Wilks Artistic Director

All recitals at 3 PM

Including a rare performance by spouses Pene Pati and Amina Edris

Pene Pati & Amina Edris TENOR and

Sunday, April 21, 2024

“Pati surprises… the dazzling light of one of the most beautiful tenor voices of the moment...”

—Christophe Rizoud, Forum Opera

“Edris…A magnetic presence.” Opera News

Jasmine Choi FLUTE

ChangYong Shin PIANO

Sunday, November 19, 2023

“One of best flutists in the history of music”

Sinfini Magazine

Sunday, October 29, 2023

“Schwarz’s deep tone shoots straight to the heart of a listener.” Shepherd Express

Sunday, September 17, 2023

“She created transfixing poetry.”

—The Washington Post

US DEBUT

Yun Zeng FRENCH HORN

Donna Loewy

Sunday, March 3, 2024

Won First Prize in the Brass Category at the 2019 International Tchaikovsky Competition

Tickets: MemorialHallOTR.org or 513-977-8838 MatineeMusicaleCincinnati.org

Marika Bournaki PIANO

Julian Schwarz CELLO

CINCINNATI DEBUT

Robert Mollicone PIANO

SOPRANO

AMINA EDRIS CINCINNATI DEBUT

PIANO

GREETING FROM THE BOARD PRESIDENT

elcome to Cincinnati Opera’s 2023 Summer Festival! As the recently elected president of the board of trustees, I’m delighted that you’ve chosen to spend part of your summer with us here at Music Hall.

What is it about opera that makes it so special? For me, what lies at its heart is the power of voice. And I don’t mean just the voices of our featured artists … though they are truly incredible! I’m also referring to opera’s unique ability to stir our souls with extraordinary music and tell stories that resonate with people from all walks of life. Opera has the power to connect us with our shared humanity, to celebrate diverse cultures and experiences, and to inspire us to think deeply about the world around us.

Cincinnati Opera in particular has a rich history of championing stories that need to be told, and this summer is no exception. Through its productions of operas both historic and contemporary, it has given voice to important issues and highlighted the experiences of communities whose lives have not always been represented on the opera stage. The hope is to create a sense of belonging for all who set foot in the theater, including you.

By being here, you are not only saying yes to experiencing beautiful music and stunning performances. You are also helping to support an art form that has the power to challenge our assumptions, to enrich lives, and to make ours a more vibrant and connected community. For that, we thank you.

As we look ahead, I must thank outgoing Board President Liz Grubow for her guidance over the last three years. She is a compassionate leader who believes deeply in the power of opera to change lives, and I’m grateful for her mentorship. I’d also like to express my excitement for the opportunity to work alongside Chris Milligan, Evans Mirageas, and the entire opera board and staff. Together, we will continue to build an organization that is welcoming, inclusive, and dedicated to celebrating the power of voice.

Once again, thank you for joining us. Your presence matters, and we are grateful for your support.

Melanie M. Chavez President Board of Trustees

BOARD OF TRUSTEES

President

Melanie M. Chavez

Chair

Liz Kathman Grubow

Trustees

Boris Auerbach*

Flávia Bastos, Ph.D.

Ronald T. Bates*

Charles E. Baverman III

Patricia K. Beggs

Ryan Bergstrom

Elaine Billmire, M.D.

Robert Bitter*

Thomas F. Boat, M.D.

Walter Bruyninckx

Otto M. Budig, Jr.*

Vivienne Carlson

Michael L. Cioffi*

Sheila Cole

Peter G. Courlas

Alva Jean Crawford*

Eric Dauer

Alexander Donath, M.D.

James T. Fitzgerald*

Ralph A. Giannella, M.D.

Barbara Hahn*

Suzanne Hasl

Julie Grady Heard

Donald E. Hoffman*

Jason Jackman

Anne Jaroszewicz

Kevin C. Jones*

Mona Kerstine

Amber Kincaid

Judith Colemon

Kinebrew*

Maya LaLonde

Katie Lanni

Nanci Wilks Lanni

Lynn Larson

Ashleigh Marable

Michael Marrero*

Everett McCorvey

Julia B. Meister

David Motch*

Christine E. Neyer

Robert W. Olson*

Reena Dhanda Patil, M.D.

Nicholas W. Puncer

Regina Carswell Russo

G. James Sammarco, M.D.

Ruthann Sammarco

Harry H. Santen

Edward B. Silberstein, M.D.*

Murray Sinclaire, Jr.*

Bradbury Skidmore, M.D.

Douglas Skidmore

James Stapleton*

Susan R. Strick, M.D.

Mary Ann Taylor

John M. Tew, Jr., M.D.*

Brian Tiffany

Catharina Toltzis, Ph.D.

Angela Powell Walker*

Sheila Williams

Stanford T. Williams, Jr.

Ronna K. Willis*

Jeannine Winkelmann*

Peg Wyant

Anne M. Zaring*

Mario Zuccarello, M.D.

Advisory Members

Vicki Alpaugh

Christopher Baucom

Robert W. Boden

Christopher J. Canarie

Arthur B. Casper

Cathy Crain

Daniel B. Cunningham

John G. Earls

Harry Fath

Peter Graham

Theresa Henderson

Barbara Hummel, M.Ed.

Doug Ignatius

Margaret LeMasters, M.D.

Jenny Magro

Sherie Marek

Peggy Ann Markstein

Donald S. Mendelsohn

Beatriz Porras, M.D.

Melody Sawyer

Richardson

Nydia C. Tranter

Ray van der Horst

Carla D. Walker

Shelby O. Wood

Ex-Officio Members

Peter Koenig, Board President, Friends of Music Hall

Christopher Milligan, The Harry Fath General Director & CEO

The Honorable Aftab Pureval, Mayor of Cincinnati

Brett Willson, Chair, Board Associates

Honorary Members

Charlin Briggs

Nicholas P. Ciafardini

Vivian A. Dobur

Courtis Fuller

Patrick Korb

Joanie Lotts

Sue Alexander Mouch

Zell Schulman

Paul A. “Gus” Stuhlreyer III

Board Associates

Katherine Anderson

Kiley Beale

Brianna Bragg

Kristy Davis Mustain

Michael T. Dean

Katie E. Fisher

Jarvis T. Graham

Ammon Hollister

Sebastien Hue

Janice S. Liebenberg

Alex Lohmann

C. Alek Lucke

Jenna K. Morvay

Avery Ozimek

Aliya Riddle

Will Selnick

Nataly Wickham

Brett Willson

Christina P. Yardley

Candice Young

*Denotes officer

New Production

ORTH/MOSCOVITCH

10 Days in a Madhouse

World Premiere

An 11-day celebration of groundbreaking opera, featuring a star-studded new production of Verdi’s Simon Boccanegra, a world premiere about trailblazing journalist Nellie Bly, a powerful reframing of the Crusades, and more.

Ticket packages on sale now at operaphila.org

Tickets to individual shows on sale July 18

SULAYMAN

Unholy Wars

Philadelphia Premiere

Starring

Ana María Martínez

Quinn Kelsey

Christian Van Horn

Kiera Duffy

Raehann Bryce-Davis

Will Liverman

Karim Sulayman

VERDI Simon Boccanegra

emembering James de Blasis R

The opera world lost an icon when James de Blasis died peacefully at age 91 last fall. Mr. de Blasis spent a lifetime in opera as a director, impresario, administrator, and vocal coach, but was best known for his many roles with Cincinnati Opera. He joined the company in 1968, was named general director in 1973, and served as artistic director from 1987–1996.

He directed 100 productions for Cincinnati Opera and was celebrated for presenting unusual repertoire and innovative stagings. His “wild west” version of Donizetti’s The Elixir of Love was nationally broadcast on PBS in 1980. He also brought legendary voices to Cincinnati’s Music Hall stage during his tenure.

Perhaps his lasting legacy is the number of singers, directors, and opera administrators who credit him with launching their careers. He touched hearts, transformed lives, and left a lasting mark on the cultural landscape of our community and our nation.

Bravo, Jim, and thank you.

JAMES DE BLASIS. Portrait by Carl J. Samson.

by Heidi Schreck

SEPT 9 – OCT 1

FIONA:

by

FEB 17– MARCH 10

by Steven Strafford

APRIL 13 – MAY 5

Cast of Hands on a Hardbody (2014). Photo by Ryan Kurtz.

book by Zina Camblin | music & lyrics by David Kisor NOV 29 – DEC 29

August Wilson

book by Doug Wright | lyrics by Amanda Green music by Trey Anastasio and Amanda Green JUNE 8 – 30

Opening Weekend Sponsor

The Chavez Family, in memory of Geraldine V. Chavez

Performance Sponsors

Thomas W. Busse Trust

Mrs. Helen Merritt

LUCIA DI LAMMERMOOR

Music by Gaetano Donizetti

Libretto by Salvadore Cammarano

Sung in the original Italian

Based on The Bride of Lammermoor by Sir Walter Scott

World premiere: September 26, 1835, at the Teatro San Carlo, Naples, Italy

Cincinnati Opera premiere: June 27, 1921, at Cincinnati Zoo Pavilion

June 22 and 24, 2023, at Cincinnati Music Hall

53rd and 54th company performances of Lucia di Lammermoor

Conductor Renato Balsadonna

Stage Director Jose Maria Condemi

Scenic & Costume Designer Philip Witcomb*

Lighting Designer Thomas C. Hase

Wig & Makeup Designer James Geier

Chorus Master Henri Venanzi

Production Stage Manager Hannah Holthaus

Assistant Director Gregory Boyle

Cast in order of vocal appearance

Normanno, a huntsman Terrence Chin-Loy

Lord Enrico Ashton, brother of Lucia Anthony Clark Evans*

Raimondo Bidebent, a chaplain Griffen Hogan Tracy*

Lucia Ashton, sister of Enrico Raven McMillon

Alisa, Lucia’s handmaid Kayleigh Decker*

Sir Edgardo di Ravenswood Santiago Ballerini*

Lord Arturo Bucklaw Sahel Salam*

* Cincinnati Opera debut

Production originally designed for and created by the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music Opera and Ballet Theatre

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Lammermoor Castle, previously owned by the Ravenswoods, now belongs to the rival Ashton clan.

Lord Enrico Ashton tells Normanno that the overthrow has made an enemy out of Edgardo, the last surviving Ravenswood heir. To improve his status, Enrico has arranged a marriage between his sister, Lucia, and Lord Arturo Bucklaw. Raimondo, Lucia’s tutor, cautions that she is too distressed over the recent death of her mother to marry. Normanno contradicts him, revealing that Lucia is visited by a mysterious man daily who he suspects to be Edgardo. Enrico vows that his rival will pay for the insult in blood.

Lucia awaits the arrival of Edgardo with Alisa. Lucia relates that, at the fountain, she has seen the ghost of a girl who was stabbed by her jealous lover. Taking it as a bad omen, Alisa urges Lucia to forget Edgardo, but Lucia insists he is her only happiness. Edgardo arrives to tell Lucia that he must go to France on a political mission. But first, he wants to make peace with her brother. Lucia asks Edgardo to keep their love a secret, and they exchange vows.

Over the next months, Enrico intercepted correspondence between the lovers and procured a forged letter, allegedly from Edgardo, admitting to loving another. Enrico shows Lucia the forgery and she is heartbroken. Enrico insists that she marry Arturo to

save the family. Raimondo urges her to do a sister’s duty, and she reluctantly agrees.

As wedding guests gather, Enrico assures Arturo of Lucia’s willingness to marry him. Lucia enters and hesitantly signs the wedding contract. Edgardo bursts in, claiming his bride. Arturo and Enrico order Edgardo to leave, but he insists that he and Lucia are engaged. When Raimondo shows him the contract with Lucia’s signature, Edgardo curses her and leaves in despair.

A shaken Raimondo interrupts the wedding celebrations to announce that he found Arturo lying in a pool of blood after Lucia stabbed him to death. Lucia stumbles in, ramblingly looking for Edgardo. Shifting between tenderness, happiness, and terror, she recalls her love for Edgardo and dreams she is with him on their own wedding night. Enrico returns and is enraged at Lucia’s behavior, but soon realizes that she has lost her senses. After a chaotic and violent exchange with her brother, Lucia collapses.

At a cemetery, Edgardo laments his fate as he awaits to duel with Enrico. Guests returning from Lammermoor Castle tell him that the dying Lucia has called his name. As he is about to rush to her, Raimondo announces that she has died. Determined to join Lucia in heaven, Edgardo stabs himself.

IN PERFORMANCE

Lucia di Lammermoor has forever been correlated with the term “Mad Scene” and rightfully so: Donizetti wrote an impressive scene, in which the title character spends 15 minutes hallucinating, reenacting past trauma, and magic-thinking her way out of it. The fascination with this famous moment has led to speculation that the composer’s ability to know psychosis was due to his own experience with it, caused by the debilitating brain effects of syphilis that ultimately killed him. As a director, I can’t stage a nonspecific “madness.” My goal (and thrill!) is to poke and probe the material to find the individual way in which Lucia goes mad. How does a recently orphaned young woman, oppressed and bullied by her brother and trapped amid a brutal family feud in 17th-century Scotland, manage to survive? How do masculine and feminine psychological energies interact and entangle? Is going mad the only path out for poor Lucy? Who wins and who loses, and what do they have to do to get there? Lots to find out!

–Jose Maria Condemi, stage director

The performance will last approximately 3 hours and 5 minutes

There will be two intermissions.

BEAUTY IN THE MADNESS

BY EVERETT MCCORVEY

SOPRANO SARAH COBURN in Lucia’s devastating final moments. Photo by Karli Cadel, courtesy of Lyric Opera of Kansas City.

Between 1810 and 1848, a trio of composers dominated the Italian operatic scene: Gioachino Rossini, Vincenzo Bellini, and Gaetano Donizetti. Their operas were written in a style referred to as bel canto, which literally translates as “beautiful singing.” Bel canto operas are celebrations of the human voice, and performers in this style could typically sing long, slow, and beautiful phrases, then quickly execute fast, spirited melodies with lots of high (and low) notes. The style is also known for its striking ensembles, in which multiple characters sing together with long, exquisite interweaving melodies, commanding our attention with both their collective beauty and dynamic individuality.

The stories in the bel canto tradition are typically easy to follow, and the orchestra provides very light accompaniment, allowing the voice to be the featured instrument. Rossini, Bellini, and Donizetti understood very well what their audiences wanted and seized every opportunity to thrill them. Theirs were the people’s operas, and their works elevated the voice as the vehicle for transporting emotion and evoking musical frenzy.

One of the most famous operas in the bel canto repertoire is Donizetti’s Lucia di Lammermoor, which premiered in 1835 and has been a staple ever since. But what makes it so popular? For me, the most thrilling aspect of the opera is the role of Lucia herself, which is a soprano tour de force. So many great singers have taken it on, and when they’ve succeeded,

their reward has typically been a stellar career around the world recreating this desperate, unwilling bride. Lucia’s tragic ending is also the stuff of operatic legend, culminating in the “Mad Scene” (“Il dolce suono”). This is one of the most technically challenging soprano arias in the repertory—a true diva vehicle for any soprano who can conquer its perilous runs, leaps, vocal pyrotechnics, and high-octane vocal gymnastics.

When I was a young student, the reigning Lucia was Dame Joan Sutherland. She mastered every turn, every leap, and every virtuosic high note in the role, virtually owning it for more than 25 years. Before her, there was Maria Callas, Adelina Patti, Luisa Tetrazzini, Amelita Galli-Curci, and Lily Pons, whose voice was so high that she actually sang the

Mad Scene up a whole step! There have been other famous Lucias, including Gail Robinson, Nellie Melba, June Anderson, Mariella Devia, Sumi Jo, Natalie Dessay, Virginia Zeani, Mattiwilda Dobbs, Beverly Sills, Anna Moffo, and current singers like Anna Netrebko, Nadine Sierra, and South African soprano Pretty Yende, all of whom have mastered the role’s complex challenge. And with this production, we get to witness another dynamic soprano, Raven McMillon, taking on this singular role for the very first time.

Even if you are new to this opera, its beautiful melodies will have you glued to your seat, and it will reveal how riveting and enthralling an opera can be and how the power of the human voice can transport us all to a theatrical experience like no other. I hope you enjoy the ride!

Dr. Everett McCorvey is the OperaLex Endowed Chair of Opera at the University of Kentucky. He is also founder of the American Spiritual Ensemble and artistic director of the National Chorale in New York City.

LEGENDARY SOPRANO BEVERLY SILLS sang the title role in Cincinnati Opera’s Lucia di Lammermoor in 1968 and 1971.

EVEN IF YOU ARE NEW TO THIS OPERA, its beautiful melodies will have you glued to your seat, and it will reveal how riveting and enthralling an opera can be.

STRONGER ARTS FOR A STRONGER REGION

The growth of Cincinnati and its arts is inseparable. Creating a thriving region starts with each of us giving what we can to the arts. Help set the stage for the future of the region we all love.

Give today at artswave.org.

Lead Sponsor

Disabled American Veterans Charitable Service Trust

Production Sponsor

Harry and Ann Santen

Additional Support

Drs. Thomas and Barbara Boat

Ms. Joyce Elkus

Ginger and David Warner

Performance Sponsors

Cincinnati Opera Board Associates

Cincinnati Opera Guild

The Fullgraf Foundation

Johnson Investment Counsel

The Stephen H. Wilder Foundation

THE KNOCK

Music by Aleksandra Vrebalov

Libretto by Deborah Brevoort

Sung in English A Cincinnati Opera World Stage Premiere

June 23 and 27, July 2, 5, and 7, 2023, at Wilks Studio, Cincinnati Music Hall

Conductor Stephanie Rhodes Russell*

Stage Director Alison Moritz*

Scenic Designer James Rotondo*

Costume Designer Trevor Bowen*

Lighting Designer Thomas C. Hase

Wig & Makeup Designer James Geier

Stage Manager Gina Hays

Assistant Director Alison Pogorelc

Cast in order of vocal appearance

Soprano 1 Felicity Tomkins*

Soprano 2 Erin Keesy

Alto/Commanding Officer’s Wife Stephanie Sanchez*

Joella “Jo” Jenner Mary-Hollis Hundley*

Aishah McNair Briana Elyse Hunter*

Lt. Roberto Gonzalez Armando Contreras*

* Cincinnati Opera debut

A co-commission of Cincinnati Opera and the Glimmerglass Festival

A new production constructed by Cincinnati Opera

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Several military wives come home from work to empty houses while their husbands are deployed to Fallujah during the surge of Iraq. Aishah McNair prepares dinner and eats alone, before sitting at the window to look at the moon at the same time as Jarrett, her deployed husband. Jo Jenner compulsively channel surfs and talks to her newborn baby as she waits for a phone call from her husband, Kelsey. Army Lt. Gonzalez watches war movies on TV and frets over why he was assigned to stay on the home front; he would much prefer to be in battle.

Lt. Gonzalez receives a call from his commanding officer, giving him an assignment in Fort Carson, Colorado. He has two hours to get there. The Commanding Officer’s Wife (C.O.W.) calls Aishah to tell her that she just received word that the base in Iraq is on “black out” again. She is gathering the wives together at her home, which is Army protocol whenever communications are cut off from the war front.

Lt. Gonzalez begins his drive. Aishah, Jo, and the other wives gather at the C.O.W.’s home. They distract themselves, but no one knows what is going on. Jo, who is new to Army life, becomes increasingly anxious as the evening progresses. Lt. Gonzalez is anxious too. This is a new assignment for him, and he doesn’t feel prepared.

When Lt. Gonzalez reaches Fort Carson, he pulls

off the road to find a place where he can change into his officer’s uniform. The only place he can find is a McDonald’s. Meanwhile, Aishah tries to comfort Jo, who has become distraught over having picked a fight with her husband on the day he left for Iraq.

Lt. Gonzalez arrives at the C.O.W.’s house. He reviews the Army protocol for how to deliver a death notification. It is his first “knock,” and he struggles emotionally with what he has to do. He decides to wait until the last minute, then slowly approaches the door. When he steps into the house, the women immediately know why he is there. But which one of them will receive the knock?

Lt. Gonzalez slowly marches up to Aishah and gives her the ritual salute. And then, he asks if she is Jo Jenner. Aishah, who is doubled over in grief, is instantly transported to joy when she realizes that the knock is not for her. But her grief quickly returns when she realizes that Jo, the young Army wife with the newborn, is the one who has just lost her husband. As she comforts Jo, Lt. Gonzalez holds Jo’s baby, realizing that delivering the knock is harder than anything he would have to do in battle.

Jo runs out of the house with her baby. Surrounded by the wives, she watches the stars fall as the sun rises and morning comes.

The Knock explores the friction between patriotism and personal loss, highlighting the sacrifices made by military families and the cost of war—the loss of human life. The dramatic narrative of the opera allows for an extreme range of musical expression, from tender and lyrical to horrific and solemn. I use a full palette of sound and harmonic density to draw on the deeply felt emotions of the protagonists of the opera. As a composer, I’m sometimes asked who I write for, but I often do not have a specific audience in mind. However, while composing The Knock, I found myself thinking about military wives and families who might be in the audience. It was an honor to be their voice and to express the emotions of loss, strength, and resilience through music. My hope is that this music offers insights, healing, and a deeper connection to a reality that is both urgent and relevant, even if it’s a reality that is extremely difficult to face.

Aleksandra Vrebalov, composer

SONG FOR THE SOLDIER’S WIFE

BY DEBORAH BREVOORT

SOPRANO MARY-HOLLIS HUNDLEY as Jo Jenner in The Knock. Courtesy of the Glimmerglass Festival.

In 2010, I was commissioned to write The Comfort Team, a play about military spouses for the Virginia Stage Company in Norfolk, Virginia. At the time, the United States had been at war in Iraq and Afghanistan for nearly 10 years, and the Norfolk community—home to the world’s largest military installation—was filled with wives who were holding down the home front. Over a three-year period, I immersed myself in military life and conducted interviews with 43 spouses of all ages from every rank, culture, race, economic class, geographical region, and branch of the armed services.

Military culture, I quickly discovered, has a dizzying set of protocols and customs that are strictly observed. These protocols form the substance of military life and govern its rituals. It was important to honor them while writing The Knock; they form the structure for the libretto and score, and composer Aleksandra Vrebalov and I made every effort to ensure they were represented as accurately as possible.

The military is also a culture where gender roles fall along traditional lines, and we tried to represent that too. Wives are required to put the needs of the servicemen first and are expected to volunteer in activities to assist the smooth functioning of the military effort. One of those is the Spouse Club, which is how the Command Office communicates with wives during deployments. The gathering of wives in The Knock is a meeting of the Spouse Club.

During my time in Norfolk, I heard many stories about “the knock.” They were told to me in places like McDonald’s or Starbucks—everyday locations where we go about our everyday lives. As I sat listening to these stories, while watching other families

eat lunch or drink coffee, unaware of the nightmare taking place at my table, I was struck by the disconnect and how emblematic it was for our country, where most of us go through our lives unaware of the burdens being carried by the military families in our midst.

It was this disconnect that I tried to capture in the libretto when our young Army officer, who is given a gut-wrenching task, drives past box stores while others are shopping, and then has to change into his uniform in a McDonald’s men’s room while families are eating Happy Meals.

The military wives left behind on the home front is a story that continues to be overlooked in the flurry of operas and plays about soldiers coming home from the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. Thousands of women serve our country and make huge sacrifices for our war efforts—something most of us are not even aware of. These are characters we never get to see on the opera stage, and it is our hope that The Knock will bring their story to light.

A heartfelt thanks to all of the wives who opened their homes and hearts to me and who shared the struggles, rewards, pleasures, and travails of being married to the military. I dedicate The Knock to all of the wives I interviewed—and to military wives everywhere—who serve our country in the shadows. We owe you much.

Deborah Brevoort’s operas have been produced at Glimmerglass, Ft. Worth, Chicago Opera Theater, Opera Colorado, ALT, and NYC’s Metropolitan Museum of Art. She is the librettist mentor for Washington National Opera’s American Opera Initiative.

THE KNOCK PREMIERED in 2021 as a film produced by the Glimmerglass Festival. Here, baritone Armando Contreras appears as Lt. Gonzalez. Cincinnati Opera’s production of The Knock is the first time it will be presented live on stage. Image courtesy of the Glimmerglass Festival.

Production Sponsor

Larry and Beth Uhlenbrock

Performance Sponsors

1919 Investment Counsel

The Estate of Frank and Janet Andress

THE BARBER OF SEVILLE

(IL BARBIERE DI SIVIGLIA)

Music by Gioachino Rossini

Libretto by Cesare Sterbini

Sung in the original Italian

Based on the play The Barber of Seville by Pierre-Augustin Caron de Beaumarchais

World premiere: February 20, 1816, at the Teatro Argentina, Rome, Italy

Cincinnati Opera premiere: July 11, 1920, at Cincinnati Zoo Pavilion

July 6 and 8, 2023, at Cincinnati Music Hall

65th and 66th company performances of The Barber of Seville

Conductor Christopher Allen

Stage Director Christopher Mattaliano

Scenic Designer Allen Moyer

Costume Designer James Scott

Lighting Designer Thomas C. Hase

Wig & Makeup Designer James Geier

Chorus Master Henri Venanzi

Stage Manager Peter Nictakis

Assistant Director Seth Hoff

Cast in order of vocal appearance

Fiorello, a street musician Thomas Dreeze

Count Almaviva, a young nobleman

Alasdair Kent*

Figaro, a barber Rodion Pogossov

Rosina, a ward of Dr. Bartolo Emily Fons*

Dr. Bartolo, an elderly physician Peixin Chen

Don Basilio, a music teacher Nicholas Newton*

Berta, Rosina’s governess Kendra Beasley*

An Officer Samuel Smith

* Cincinnati Opera debut

Scenery and properties for this production are jointly owned by Minnesota Opera, Washington National Opera, and Opera Omaha and were constructed by Minnesota Opera Shops

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Count Almaviva (disguised as Lindoro, a student) arrives to serenade a young girl with whom he has become smitten. He runs into his former servant Figaro, the town barber, who identifies the girl as Rosina, the ward of Dr. Bartolo. Figaro offers to help him court Rosina. He suggests that Almaviva disguise himself as a drunken soldier and demand lodging with Bartolo.

At Bartolo’s house, Rosina resolves that Lindoro will be hers. Figaro comes to see her, but they are interrupted by Bartolo and Don Basilio, Rosina’s music teacher, who reports that Almaviva is in town. Feeling threatened, Bartolo decides to have a marriage contract quickly drawn up between himself and Rosina. Figaro, who has overheard their conversation, informs Rosina of the plot.

Rosina gives Figaro a note for Lindoro, but Bartolo catches sight of it, accusing her of writing to an admirer and threatening to lock her in. Almaviva, disguised as a drunken officer, arrives demanding lodging. While a frustrated Bartolo is distracted, Almaviva slips Rosina a note. Then, Almaviva threatens to fight Bartolo, while Figaro tries to intervene. The militia arrives to restore order, and Bartolo is left confused.

Bartolo sits alone when Almaviva enters disguised as Don Alonso, a music teacher sent to replace Don

Basilio. Bartolo is suspicious, but “Alonso” gives Bartolo the letter from Rosina to Lindoro. Assured, Bartolo fetches Rosina for her lesson and listens as she sings of love.

Figaro arrives to shave Bartolo. Meanwhile, Almaviva whispers the escape plan to Rosina, saying he and Figaro will come for her at midnight. Bartolo overhears them and accuses them all of scheming.

Don Basilio arrives and Bartolo soon discovers that Alonso was an imposter. He realizes the urgency of marrying Rosina, and Basilio hurries off in search of a notary. Meanwhile, Bartolo attempts to make Rosina doubt her lover by showing her the letter that she wrote to Lindoro, convincing her that Lindoro and Figaro are hirelings for Almaviva. Rosina agrees to give up Lindoro and marry Bartolo that night.

Figaro and Almaviva appear, ready to escape with Rosina. She is at first furious, but her anger turns to delight when she finds out that Almaviva and Lindoro are one and the same. Their escape is thwarted by Don Basilio, who enters with the notary. Threatened with a gun to his head, Don Basilio is persuaded to act as a witness as the notary marries Almaviva and Rosina. Bartolo arrives too late. Almaviva placates him by allowing him to keep Rosina’s dowry, and all express joy at the happy ending.

IN PERFORMANCE

Much of the music in The Barber of Seville is well known, even for those new to the opera. The overture, with its rollicking melody and fast-paced rhythms, and Figaro’s famous entrance aria, “Largo al factotum,” will both be immediately recognizable. In addition to these hits, the opera teems with magical musical moments. Toward the beginning of Act I, Almaviva sings a serenade to his lover that brims with longing (“Ecco ridente”), and a little later on, Rosina performs “Una voce poco fa,” an aria that conveys the sweet and devious sides of her personality. The opera is also filled with action-packed ensembles, the funniest of which is the Act II quintet where Figaro, Rosina, and Almaviva try to convince Don Basilio that he is sick. The action concludes joyfully with the main characters all praising the virtues of a happy ending.

–Hilary Poriss

The performance will last approximately 3 hours.

There will be one intermission

WHERE SILLINESS REIGNS SUPREME

BY HILARY PORISS

EMERGING FROM BARBER’S CHAOS is a happy ending for all. Photo by John Grigaitis, courtesy of Detroit Opera.

On February 20, 2016, Gioachino Rossini’s The Barber of Seville reached a significant milestone: it turned 200 years old. From its earliest days, this work has enjoyed an almost unprecedented level of popularity and has maintained a consistent foothold in the operatic repertory. Indeed, any attempt to provide a complete catalogue of performances, published scores, arrangements, and recordings of The Barber that have emerged over the past two centuries would represent a fool’s errand. So ubiquitous is this opera that it has been possible to witness multiple productions every single year, in numerous cities, ever since its premiere. Its omnipresence extends beyond the opera house, firmly ingrained in popular culture as well. A quick search through YouTube and TikTok uncovers references to Rossini’s music in some of the most unlikely and amusing places: the overture serves as background music for a Doritos commercial that first aired during the 2013 Super Bowl, and the same tune is woven throughout an episode of Seinfeld in which Jerry attempts to sever ties with his longtime hairdresser. Most memorably, The Barber of Seville was adapted by Warner Bros. for the Looney Tunes short, Rabbit of Seville (1950), thus ensuring a place in the consciousnesses of innumerable cartoon-watching youth from the past 73 years and counting. Why has Rossini’s opera maintained such consistent and widespread appeal?

In part, it’s because of its amusing story, which Rossini and his librettist, Cesare Sterbini, adapted from the 1773 play of the same name by Pierre Beaumarchais. The story of Rosina and Almaviva is timeless, two young lovers destined to end up together

but temporarily kept apart by a bumbling elder, the arrogant Dr. Bartolo. The help that Figaro extends to the young lovers adds interest and intrigue to the story, and the antics of all these characters keep audiences laughing from beginning to end.

Even more than the story, it is the music that has kept audiences coming back to The Barber for centuries. From the opening notes of the overture to the joyful finaletto, this opera is packed with some of Rossini’s most iconic melodies and hummable tunes. One of the most fascinating aspects of this opera’s history, however, is that 19th- and early 20thcentury singers sometimes chose to ignore Rossini’s score. For the Act II lesson scene, for instance, prima donnas rarely sang “Contro un cor,” the aria Rossini wrote for that moment. Instead, when Almaviva asked them, “What would you like to sing,” they performed whatever they wanted. Adelina Patti, one of the 19th century’s most famous sopranos, provides the most fascinating example. During this scene, she would perform two or three arias, none of which were composed by Rossini, and she almost always concluded with “Home, Sweet Home” by Sir Henry Rowley Bishop. Her audiences loved it and never complained that “Contro un cor” went missing!

Whether singers follow Rossini’s score faithfully or follow their own path by introducing arias of their choosing, The Barber of Seville never fails to delight. With this opera, Rossini and his librettist tapped into timeless sentiments and wove unforgettable melodies around the charming narrative. The result is an opera that has been performed for centuries and is destined to grace opera houses for many more to come.

CHRISTOPHER KENNEY in the title role of Cincinnati Opera’s 2021 Summer at Summit abbreviated production of The Barber of Seville. Photo by Philip Groshong.

IT IS THE MUSIC that has kept audiences coming back to The Barber for centuries.

Hilary Poriss is Professor of Music History at Northeastern University, Boston. She is a specialist in 19th-century Italian and French opera and is the author of Gioachino Rossini’s The Barber of Seville (2021).

Lead Sponsor

Sheila and Christopher Cole

Set Sponsor

The Estate of Dabby Blatt

Costume Sponsors

Michael L. Cioffi and Rachael A. Rowe

Susan and John M. Tew, Jr., M.D.

Performance Sponsors

Mr. and Mrs. Gary T. “Doc” Huffman

Edward B. Silberstein, M.D., and Jacqueline M. Mack

Society of Angels

MADAME BUTTERFLY

Music by Giacomo Puccini

Libretto by Giuseppe Giacosa and Luigi Illica

Sung in the original Italian

Based on David Belasco’s play Madame Butterfly, itself based on a short story by John Luther Long

World premiere: February 17, 1904, at the Teatro alla Scala, Milan, Italy

Cincinnati Opera premiere: June 29, 1924, at Cincinnati Zoo Pavilion

July 22, 27, and 29, 2023, at Cincinnati Music Hall 113th, 114th, and 115th company performances of Madame Butterfly

Conductor Keitaro Harada

Stage Director Matthew Ozawa

Scenic Designer dots*

Costume Designer Maiko Matsushima*

Lighting Designer Yuki Nakase Link*

Wig Master James Geier

Chorus Master Henri Venanzi

Production Stage Manager Hannah Holthaus

Assistant Director Melanie Bacaling

Cast in order of vocal appearance

B.F. Pinkerton Adam Smith*

Goro, a marriage broker Julius Ahn

Suzuki, Cio-Cio-San’s servant Nozomi Kato*

Sharpless, U.S. Consul at Nagasaki Nmon Ford

Cio-Cio-San, a geisha Karah Son*

Imperial Commissioner Randell McGee*

Official Registrar Joseph O’Shea*

The Bonze, Cio-Cio-San’s uncle Peixin Chen

Prince Yamadori Jacob Junbo Zhou*

Kate Pinkerton Kayleigh Decker

Yakusidé Jared V. Esguerra*

Trouble TBD

* Cincinnati Opera debut

A co-production of Cincinnati Opera, Detroit Opera, Pittsburgh Opera, and Utah Opera Scenery and properties constructed by Cincinnati Opera Costumes constructed by Cincinnati Opera, Costume Works Inc., and Utah Opera

We’d love to know about your experience. Scan to give us your feedback.

In the present day, B.F. Pinkerton enters his apartment and dons a VR headset to escape into a fantasy. Within moments, he rejoins a game which transports him to Nagasaki, where he embodies his avatar as a U.S. Navy lieutenant. He inspects a house that he will occupy with his young bride, Cio-CioSan (a.k.a. Madame Butterfly). Sharpless, the U.S. Consul, arrives, and Pinkerton shares his vision of a sailor in search of pleasure and the beautiful Japanese girl who has captivated him. Sharpless tries to warn him of this view, but Pinkerton laughs, toasting the American girl who will someday be his “real” wife.

Butterfly, her colleagues, and family arrive for the wedding. She tells Pinkerton that since her father’s death, she now earns her living as a geisha. She also has secretly converted to Christianity. The Imperial Commissioner performs the marriage ceremony. Then, Cio-Cio-San’s uncle, the Bonze, bursts in. He curses her, inciting the crowd. Protecting Butterfly, Pinkerton orders the guests away. Butterfly weeps and her new husband consoles her. As night falls in this pleasure fantasy, the lovers share a moonlit duet.

Three years later, modern-day Pinkerton and his American wife have grown distant. His only means of escape is through gaming, where he can manipulate his Japanese bride’s future. In the virtual world, Cio-Cio-San patiently waits for him. Her servant Suzuki implores the gods for aid, but Butterfly bids her to have faith—one day, Pinkerton will return and embrace his wife again.

Sharpless enters with a letter telling of Pinkerton’s marriage to an American. Before he can tell Butter-

fly, Goro interrupts along with a suitor, Prince Yamadori. Cio-Cio-San refuses his marriage proposal. She brings forth her young son, Trouble, and insists that as soon as Pinkerton knows of him, he will return. If not, she would rather die.

A cannon roars from the harbor, and Butterfly discovers Pinkerton’s ship coming into port. She and Suzuki strew the house with blossoms. As evening falls, she prepares to keep vigil through the night.

Modern-day Pinkerton turns off the game and goes to bed. In the middle of the night, the game turns on, luring him back to play the next level, where he chooses how he will impact Butterfly’s destiny. Pinkerton chooses an American wife avatar, Kate. As the level continues, Butterfly still waits, though Suzuki persuades her to rest. Soon, Sharpless, Pinkerton and Kate arrive. Suzuki realizes who the woman is and reluctantly agrees to inform Butterfly. Pinkerton, now aware of Butterfly’s devotion, bids an anguished farewell and rushes away. Cio-Cio-San hurries in expecting to find her husband, and instead finds Kate. She instantly guesses the truth and touchingly wishes Kate happiness. She says that Pinkerton may have his son if he will return for him.

Butterfly orders Suzuki and Trouble away. She has no choice but to escape this nightmare, and she pulls out the dagger with which her father committed suicide. As she raises the blade to her throat, Trouble appears. Cio-Cio-San drops the knife and embraces him. She then blindfolds him, takes the dagger, and stabs herself. As the fantasy dies, Pinkerton desperately tries to hold onto his creation, Butterfly.

IN PERFORMANCE

As envisioned by Puccini–who never set foot in Japan–Madame Butterfly is a fantastical depiction of Japanese people and culture, a fact that our new production strives to emphasize. We’ve imagined that the opera’s events are actually the invention of a modern-day Pinkerton, who uses virtual reality (conveyed theatrically through our staging and designs) to step into Butterfly’s world. In Pinkerton’s fantasy, everything, including Butterfly, is under his control. Despite this, Butterfly quietly resists and ultimately seeks agency over her own fate. With this fresh framing of the opera, our hope is to encourage us all to reconsider how we view Butterfly’s story.

The performance will last approximately 3 hours

There will be one intermission

–Matthew Ozawa, Kimie Nishikawa of dots, Maiko Matsushima, and Yuki Nakase Link

RELEASING BUTTERFLY

BY MATTHEW OZAWA

A COSTUME RENDERING for Cio-Cio-San by designer Maiko Matsushima.

As we allow ourselves to become immersed in the fantasy of Japan portrayed in Puccini’s Madame Butterfly, it’s illuminating to consider through whose lens we are viewing this opera. What experiences, perspectives, histories, and biases do we bring with us as we engage with Butterfly’s story?

When I investigate my own lens, I see that mine represents the East-West conflict that is core to Madame Butterfly. I am biracial–the son of a Caucasian mother and a Japanese father. I am an American whose family was interned during World War II. I grew up in Asia but spent holidays in California. I have spent most of my professional life devoted to the Western art form of opera, though I am often one of the only artists of color in the spaces where I work. I have loved Western classical music as much as I have loved Eastern art forms. Like Butterfly, I have yearned for acceptance but never felt truly at home in any single culture or place.

Butterfly has spent most of her existence seen through the lens of Western white men. Her story was first told by French novelist Pierre Loti, and it then passed successively to American writer John Luther Long, American playwright David Belasco, and Italian composer Giacomo Puccini. Likewise, so many of the Butterfly productions we have enjoyed throughout history have presented her story primarily through a white male lens. This fantasy of Japan has been created not by those whose culture is meant to be represented in the opera—namely, Japanese people and, in particular, Japanese women—but by

This new production of Madame Butterfly reclaims the opera’s narrative through the lens of an entirely Japanese and Japanese American creative team and amplifies the voices of an entirely female Japanese design collective. Together, we have grappled with the challenges of presenting this work for diverse American audiences. Just as Butterfly is trapped with little agency in the opera, we as Asian Americans have been trapped by many of the traditional depictions of Butterfly’s story. We seek now to release this opera’s wings for all to experience anew. To do this, we own that the fantasy of Butterfly that we have come to love is a Western fantasy. Instead of pretending that Butterfly is representative of our Japanese and Japanese American identity, our production aims to amplify that her story has been seen through the lens of a white man, Pinkerton.

For me, Madame Butterfly is an opera I have spent 20 years studying and directing. I have deep love for this work, but it has simultaneously made me, as an Asian American, feel ostracized, and I have felt a duty to reclaim its narrative. With this new production, we aim to acknowledge that there are many ways to view this opera. Our hope is that this journey enables our empathy to be open to the impact we have on each other, and the need for a more compassionate understanding of perspectives outside our own. May the voyage into this production’s fantasy capture your senses, sweep you up in the music’s emotional power, and awaken your own lens.

About Tom Tsuchiya

Tom Tsuchiya is best known for his public art, including the plaques for the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York, and the sculptures at Great American Ball Park. Because of his passion for our environment, Tsuchiya has been immersed in creating sustainability-themed sculptures, including Embrace No Evil. Tsuchiya is a Cincinnati native whose parents are from Japan. He is a Distinguished Alumnus of the University of Cincinnati and an apprentice of noted artist Carin Hebenstreit.

EMBRACE NO EVIL

2004 (receptacle version 2023)

Sculpture by Tom Tsuchiya

In collaboration with Glen Carley and John Tsuchiya

Throughout our production of Madame Butterfly, audiences are invited to interact with this special work by local sculptor Tom Tsuchiya in the Music Hall foyer.

Here’s a description of the work in Tsuchiya’s own words:

Japan popularized the proverb, “See no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil.” In Japanese, it reads, “Mizaru, kikazaru, iwazaru.” Because zaru is similar to saru, the word for monkey, the simian-themed pun was born.

To help prevent old CDs and DVDs from ending up in the landfill, this unique interpretation of the no evil pun doubles as a receptacle for collecting discs including their cases.

The collected discs will be donated to local schools for sustainable art projects.

Feed the monkeys!

Un Bel Di, Vedremo

Embrace No Evil fits perfectly with Madame Butterfly’s tragic theme of not seeing and not hearing by Cio-Cio-San and not speaking by Pinkerton. This opera’s most famous aria sums up Cio-Cio-San’s unwillingness to see the truth.

Featuring Emily Fons, Mezzo-Soprano , Piano

Wednesday, July 12, 2023 • 8:00 p.m. Wilks Studio at Cincinnati Music Hall

Program

“Love Is Here to Stay” .............................................................… George and Ira Gershwin

“Ah! Sweet Mystery of Life” from Naughty Marietta …...Victor Herbert and Rida Johnson Young

“The Lass from the Low Countree” .........................................................… John Jacob Niles

“Hello, Young Lovers” from The King and I …............. Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein

“Lascia Ch’io Pianga” from Rinaldo …....…...................................................... G.F. Handel

“Times Like This” from Lucky Stiff ....…............................ Stephen Flaherty and Lynn Ahrens

“Goodbye, Emil” from Romance/Romance ....…................... Barry Harman and Keith Herrmann

“My House” from Peter Pan ....…............................................................ Leonard Bernstein

“The Tale of the Oyster” from Fifty Million Frenchmen ....….................................. Cole Porter

“Ba, Be, Bi, Bo, Bu”/“Les Anges Musiciens” from La Courte Paille ................................................... Francis Poulenc and Maurice Carême

“Feldeinsamkeit” ....…......…..........................…........................................... Charles Ives

“Voi Che Sapete” from The Marriage of Figaro ....…....…....................................W.A. Mozart

“I Won’t Mind” ....…....................................... Jeff Blumenkrantz, Anne Kessler, Libby Saines

“Il Cielo in Una Stanza” ................................................................................. Gino Paoli

“Love Has No Pride” ...................................................................Erik Kaz and Libby Titus

“Miłość Ci Wszystko Wybaczy” ............................................ Henryk Wars and Julian Tuwim

“An die Musik” .........................................................................................Franz Schubert

“That’s All” ..........................................................................Bob Haymes and Alan Brandt

Read more about Emily Fons on page 46.

Wednesday, July 19, 2023 • 8:00 p.m. Wilks Studio at Cincinnati Music Hall

Baritone Nmon Ford presents excerpts from his house music opera, House of Orfeus, a compelling reimagining of the Orpheus and Eurydice myth.

Set in the near future, House of Orfeus blends music genres and performance to tell the story of Orfeus, who confronts his true nature to save the beautiful poet, Euridice, from his father, Pluto, the fascist ruler of a dystopian empire.

Blurring the lines of opera, house music, and theatre, House of Orfeus will receive its world premiere in 2024 as a co-production with Lincoln Center and Opera Carolina.

Read more about Nmon Ford on page 46.

Featuring Nmon Ford, Baritone

Evans Mirageas Narrator Mary-Hollis Hundley Soprano

with

SEASON ARTISTS

CINCINNATI OPERA 2023

JULIUS AHN Tenor (Seoul, South Korea)

Goro, Madame Butterfly

Cincinnati: Spoletta, Tosca (2021); Pang, Turandot (2015) Elsewhere: Goro, Madame Butterfly (San Francisco Opera); Mime, Das Rheingold (Atlanta Opera); Guang, Stuck Elevator (Nashville Opera) Upcoming: Goro, Madame Butterfly (Detroit Opera; Opera Philadelphia)

CHRISTOPHER ALLEN Conductor (New York, New York)

Conductor, The Barber of Seville

Cincinnati: Aida (2022); The Magic Flute (2017); Tosca (2016); Morning Star (2015)

Elsewhere: The Magic Flute (Opéra de Montréal); La Traviata (Lyric Opera of Kansas City); Beethoven Symphony No. 9 (Orquestra Sinfônica do Estado de São Paulo) Upcoming: Romeo and Juliet (Lyric Opera of Kansas City); Handel Messiah (Oregon Symphony)

SANTIAGO BALLERINI Tenor (Buenos Aires, Argentina)

Edgardo, Lucia di Lammermoor*

Elsewhere: Ernesto, Don Pasquale (Gran Teatre del Liceu); Count Almaviva, The Barber of Seville (Teatro Regio di Torino); Alfredo, La Traviata (Ópera Nacional de Chile); Duke, Rigoletto (Opera San Antonio); Romeo, Romeo and Juliet (Opera Naples) Upcoming: Poliuto, Poliuto (Teatro Nuovo)

RENATO BALSADONNA Conductor (Venice, Italy)

Conductor, Lucia di Lammermoor

Cincinnati: The Barber of Seville (2021); La Traviata (2018) Elsewhere: Nabucco; La Traviata (Royal Opera House, U.K.); Norma (Ópera de Oviedo); Opera gala concert (Trondheim Symphony Orchestra) Upcoming: Rigoletto (Royal Opera House, U.K.); Don Pasquale (New National Theatre, Tokyo)

KENDRA BEASLEY Mezzo-soprano (Madison, Georgia)

Berta, The Barber of Seville*

Elsewhere: Berta, The Barber of Seville (New Orleans Opera); Raksha, The Jungle Book (Glimmerglass Festival); Madame de Croissy, Dialogues of the Carmelites (UC CollegeConservatory of Music); Fatima cover; Katie Ellen cover, Omar (Boston Lyric Opera)

Upcoming: Girlfriend #3, Blue (New Orleans Opera)

* Cincinnati Opera debut

TREVOR BOWEN Costume Designer (Minneapolis, Minnesota)

Costume Designer, The Knock*

Elsewhere: Hamlet (Guthrie Theater); Bluebeard’s Castle/Four Songs (Boston Lyric Opera); The Color Purple (Denver Center for the Performing Arts); Taking Up Serpents; Holy Ground (Glimmerglass Festival) Upcoming: Shane (Guthrie Theater; Cincinnati Playhouse); Rocky Horror Show (Dallas Theater Center)

DEBORAH BREVOORT Librettist & Playwright (West Milford, New Jersey)

Librettist, The Knock*

Elsewhere: My Lord, What a Night (Ford’s Theatre); Murasaki’s Moon (Metropolitan Museum of Art/On Site Opera/American Lyric Theater); Steal a Pencil for Me (Opera Colorado) Upcoming: My Lord, What a Night (Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts); Blue Moon Over Memphis (Theatre Nohgaku, Tokyo & Kyoto)

GINA CERIMELE-MECHLEY Fight & Intimacy Director (Cincinnati, Ohio)

Lucia di Lammermoor; The Knock; The Barber of Seville; Madame Butterfly

Cincinnati: 2022 season; Romeo and Juliet (2019); Another Brick in the Wall (2018); Tosca (2016); Silent Night (2014) Elsewhere: Romeo and Juliet (Opera Theatre of Saint Louis); Wozzeck (Des Moines Metro Opera) Upcoming: Susan, [title of show] (Cincinnati Actor’s Studio & Academy); Egeus/Ensemble/Fight director, A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Cincinnati Shakespeare Company)

PEIXIN CHEN Bass (Hulunbeier, Inner Mongolia, China)

Dr. Bartolo, The Barber of Seville; The Bonze, Madame Butterfly

Cincinnati: King, Aida (2022) Elsewhere: Sarastro, The Magic Flute (Metropolitan Opera); Colline, La Bohème (Washington National Opera); Monk, Don Carlo (Lyric Opera of Chicago) Upcoming: Timur, Turandot (Metropolitan Opera); Fasolt, Das Rheingold (Seattle Opera); Commendatore, Don Giovanni (Los Angeles Opera)

TERRENCE CHIN-LOY Tenor (Coral Springs, Florida)

Normanno, Lucia di Lammermoor

Cincinnati: Laurese Glover, Blind Injustice (2019) Elsewhere: Tamino, The Magic Flute (Arizona Opera); Don José, Carmen (MasterVoices, New York); Charlie, The Factotum (Lyric Opera of Chicago); Acis, Acis and Galatea (Eugene Opera) Upcoming: Pang, Turandot (Los Angeles Opera); Wesley Harris, Sanctuary Road (Virginia Opera)

JOSE MARIA CONDEMI Stage Director (Oakland, California)

Stage Director, Lucia di Lammermoor

Cincinnati: Tosca (2021, 2016); Frida (2017); Il Trovatore (2015); La Traviata (2012); Ainadamar (2009); Don Giovanni (2004) Elsewhere: La Bohème (San Francisco Opera); Falstaff (Opera San José); Frida (Detroit Opera)

ARMANDO CONTRERAS Baritone (Phoenix, Arizona)

Lt. Roberto Gonzalez, The Knock*

Elsewhere: Dandini, La Cenerentola (Kentucky Opera; Tri-Cities Opera; Syracuse Opera); Papageno, The Magic Flute; Dandini, La Cenerentola (Salt Marsh Opera); Luca, Tenor Overboard (Glimmerglass Festival) Upcoming: Older Thompson, Glory Denied (Art Song Colorado); Guglielmo, Così Fan Tutte concert (Newport Classical)

KAYLEIGH DECKER Mezzo-soprano (Woodstock, Maryland)

Alisa, Lucia di Lammermoor*; Kate Pinkerton, Madame Butterfly

Elsewhere: Isolier, Le Comte Ory; Kate Pinkerton, Madame Butterfly; Second Cretan Woman, Idomeneo (Lyric Opera of Chicago); Dorabella, Così Fan Tutte (Dallas Opera); Ruggiero, Alcina concert (Les Violons du Roy, Québec City & Montréal) Upcoming: Dorabella, Così Fan Tutte (Welsh National Opera)

DOTS Design Collective (Japan, Columbia, South Africa)

Scenic Design, Madame Butterfly*

Elsewhere: The Sign in Sidney Brustein’s Window (Brooklyn Academy of Music); Thumbprint (Portland Opera); Rinaldo (Minnesota Opera) Upcoming: Infinite Life (Atlantic Theater Company; National Theatre, London); Pray (Ars Nova); The Christians (Broadway)

THOMAS DREEZE Baritone (Toledo, Ohio)

Fiorello, The Barber of Seville

Cincinnati: Benoit/Alcindoro, La Bohème (2022); Count Capulet, Romeo and Juliet (2019)

Elsewhere: Marullo, Rigoletto (Rochester Philharmonic); Brahms Ein Deutsches Requiem (Hilton Head Symphony); Soloist, Handel Messiah (Toledo Symphony) Upcoming: Handel Messiah (Collegium Cincinnati); Mahler Songs (The Hamptons Festival of Music)

JARED V. ESGUERRA Tenor (Chicago, Illinois)

Yakusidé, Madame Butterfly*

Elsewhere: Frank, Awakenings (Opera Theatre of Saint Louis); El Remendado, Carmen (Opera San José); Soloist, Beethoven Symphony No. 9 (Madison Symphony Orchestra); Bootleg Joe cover, The Factotum (Lyric Opera of Chicago)

ANTHONY CLARK EVANS Baritone (Owensboro, Kentucky)

Enrico, Lucia di Lammermoor*

Elsewhere: Rigoletto, Rigoletto (Opera Philadelphia); Germont, La Traviata (Houston Grand Opera); Third Noble, Lohengrin (Metropolitan Opera) Upcoming: Rigoletto, Rigoletto (Ópera Nacional de Chile); Riccardo, I Puritani (Dresden Philharmonic); Tonio, Pagliacci (Austin Opera); Sharpless, Madame Butterfly (Opera Philadelphia)

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We are here to help you navigate life’s changes, from the financial implications to the non-financial impact on your life and family. It’s why we work with our eyes focused squarely on your future, to help you see around corners and be prepared for what’s ahead.

EMILY FONS Mezzo-soprano (Milwaukee, Wisconsin)

Rosina, The Barber of Seville*; Studio Sessions

Elsewhere: Woman, Ghosts (San Diego Opera); Cherubino, The Marriage of Figaro (Canadian Opera Company); Hansel, Hansel and Gretel (New Orleans Opera); Rosina, The Barber of Seville (Santa Fe Opera); Prince Orlofsky, Die Fledermaus (Seiji Ozawa Music Academy, Japan) Upcoming: Hansel, Hansel and Gretel (Opera San Antonio)

NMON FORD Baritone (Pomona, California)

Sharpless, Madame Butterfly; Studio Sessions

Cincinnati: Crown, Porgy and Bess (2019); Don Pizarro, Fidelio (2016) Elsewhere: Escamillo, Carmen (English National Opera); Crown, Porgy and Bess (Dutch National Opera) Upcoming: Sharpless, Madame Butterfly (Detroit Opera); Orfeus, House of Orfeus (Opera Carolina); High Priest, Samson and Delilah (Opera Colorado)

JAMES GEIER Wig & Makeup Designer (Cincinnati, Ohio)

Resident Wig & Makeup Designer

Cincinnati: 2004–2022 seasons Elsewhere: Pittsburgh Opera, 2003–2022 seasons; The Nutcracker (Cincinnati Ballet) Upcoming: Pittsburgh Opera, 2023–2024 season; The Nutcracker (Cincinnati Ballet)

KEITARO HARADA Conductor (Tokyo, Japan)

Conductor, Madame Butterfly

Cincinnati: Song from the Uproar (2017) Elsewhere: Music & Artistic Director (Savannah Philharmonic); Conductor (Tokyo Symphony Orchestra); Orpheus in the Underworld (Tokyo Nikikai Opera Theatre); Carmen (Sofia National Opera) Upcoming: The Daughter of the Regiment (Nissay Opera, Tokyo); La Fanciulla del West (North Carolina Opera)

THOMAS C. HASE Lighting Designer (Madison, Wisconsin)

Resident Lighting Designer & Lighting Director

Cincinnati: 1997–2022 seasons Elsewhere: Der Freischütz (Vienna State Opera); Company (Broadway); Rise and Fall of the City of Mahagonny (Los Angeles Opera)

Upcoming: Powder Her Face (Nederlandse Reisopera); The Marriage of Figaro (Opéra de Montréal); Woman with Eyes Closed (Opera Philadelphia); Tosca (The Dallas Opera)

MARY-HOLLIS HUNDLEY Soprano (Louisville, Kentucky)

Joella “Jo” Jenner, The Knock*

Elsewhere: Joella “Jo” Jenner, The Knock (Glimmerglass Festival); Freia, Das Rheingold (Dayton Opera); Frau Schmidt, The Sound of Music (Arizona Opera); Overseer, Elektra (New York Dramatic Voices); Maryam, We, the Innumerable (National Sawdust); Alecta, House of Orfeus concert preview (Opera Carolina)

BRIANA ELYSE HUNTER Mezzo-soprano (Malvern, Pennsylvania)

Aishah McNair, The Knock*

Elsewhere: Dardano, Amadigi di Gaula (Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra, San Francisco); Ruby/Sinner, Fire Shut Up in My Bones (Metropolitan Opera); The Mother, Blue (Glimmerglass Festival; Seattle Opera) Upcoming: Jade Boucher, Dead Man Walking; Mercédès, Carmen; Kate Pinkerton, Madame Butterfly (Metropolitan Opera)

NOZOMI KATO Mezzo-soprano (Tokyo, Japan)

Suzuki, Madame Butterfly*

Elsewhere: Bersi, Andrea Chénier (Teatro Regio di Parma); Suzuki, Madame Butterfly (Teatro Comunale di Modena; Ópera de Oviedo); Carmen, Carmen (Tokyo Nikikai Opera Theatre); Enrichetta di Francia, I Puritani (Teatro Verdi di Trieste) Upcoming: Princess Eboli, Don Carlo (Tokyo Nikikai Opera Theatre)

ERIN KEESY Soprano (Lexington, Kentucky)

Soprano 2, The Knock

Cincinnati: Mrs. Ford/Natalia Trotsky, Frida (2017) Elsewhere: Marzelline, Fidelio; Agathe, Der Freischütz (Queen City Opera); Abrams Mammoth featuring Yo-Yo Ma (Louisville Orchestra)

ALASDAIR KENT Tenor (Subiaco, Perth, Australia)

Count Almaviva, The Barber of Seville*

Elsewhere: Belmonte, The Abduction from the Seraglio (Bayerische Staatsoper); Count Almaviva, The Barber of Seville (Vienna State Opera, Dallas Opera) Upcoming: Narciso, Il Turco in Italia (Zürich Opera House); Orlando, Orlando Paladino (Teatro Real; Gran Teatre del Liceu); Achilles, Iphigénie en Aulide (Aix-en-Provence Festival)

YUKI NAKASE LINK Lighting Designer (Hudson Valley, New York)

Lighting Designer, Madame Butterfly*

Elsewhere: Blood Moon (Baruch Performing Arts Center); In a Grove (Pittsburgh Opera); Orpheus and Eurydice (San Francisco Opera); Proving Up (Juilliard Opera) Upcoming: Orfeo (Santa Fe Opera); Angel Island (Brooklyn Academy of Music)

MAIKO MATSUSHIMA Costume Designer (Kobe, Japan)

Costume Designer, Madame Butterfly*

Elsewhere: The Path of Pins or the Path of Needles (Josephine Decker/Pig Iron Theatre Company); Fat Ham (The Wilma Theater); My General Tubman (Arden Theatre Company); 4000 Miles (Westport Country Playhouse) Upcoming: Assassins (Arden Theatre Company); Hilma af Klint (The Wilma Theater)

CHRISTOPHER MATTALIANO Stage Director (Portland, Oregon)

Stage Director, The Barber of Seville

Cincinnati: The Barber of Seville (1997) Elsewhere: The Magic Flute (Washington National Opera); The Barber of Seville (Michigan Opera Theatre; Portland Opera; The Florentine Opera); Rigoletto (Opera Colorado); La Calisto (Princeton University) Upcoming: Artistic Director/Producer, Il Re Pastore; Dark Sisters (OrpheusPDX)

RANDELL MCGEE Baritone (Saint Louis, Missouri)

Commissioner, Madame Butterfly*

Cincinnati: West cover, Castor and Patience (2022) Elsewhere: Jacob, The Righteous (Opera Fusion: New Works); Apprentice artist (Sarasota Opera)

RAVEN MCMILLON Soprano (Baltimore, Maryland)

Lucia, Lucia di Lammermoor

Cincinnati: Musetta, La Bohème; Ruthie, Castor and Patience (2022); Frasquita, Carmen (2021) Elsewhere: Pamina, The Magic Flute (Welsh National Opera); Gilda, Rigoletto (Opera Philadelphia); Johanna, Sweeney Todd (Austin Opera); Rosina, The Barber of Seville (New Orleans Opera); Peter, The Snowy Day (Houston Grand Opera)

ALISON MORITZ Stage Director (Saint Louis, Missouri)

Stage Director, The Knock*

Elsewhere: Bernstein Mass (Kennedy Center); Così Fan Tutte (Washington National Opera); Candide (Ravinia Festival; Atlanta Opera); The Abduction from the Seraglio (Lyric Opera of Kansas City) Upcoming: Faust (Wolf Trap Opera); Sir John in Love (Bard Music Festival)

ALLEN MOYER Scenic Designer (Schuylkill Haven, Pennsylvania)

Scenic Designer, The Barber of Seville

Cincinnati: Die Fledermaus (2016); Carmen (2004); The Barber of Seville (1997)

Elsewhere: Fire Shut Up in My Bones; Champion (Metropolitan Opera); Paradise Square (Broadway); Harvey Milk; Awakenings (Opera Theatre of Saint Louis)

Upcoming: Champion; The Flying Dutchman (Lyric Opera of Chicago)

NICHOLAS NEWTON Bass-baritone (San Diego, California)

Don Basilio, The Barber of Seville*

Elsewhere: Don Basilio, The Barber of Seville (Santa Fe Opera); Peter, Hansel and Gretel (Lyric Opera of Chicago); Monterone, Rigoletto (The Dallas Opera) Upcoming: Alidoro, La Cenerentola (Lyric Opera of Chicago); Henry, Intelligence (Houston Grand Opera); Leporello, Don Giovanni; Jacob, The Righteous (Santa Fe Opera)

Western & Southern is proud to support the Cincinnati Opera

Western & Southern is with you through it all. We help our customers and communities feel at ease knowing you’re financially prepared for whatever comes your way.

WesternSouthern.com/Community

JOSEPH O’SHEA Baritone (Mobile, Alabama)

Official Registrar, Madame Butterfly*

Elsewhere: Senator Potter, Fellow Travelers; Figaro, The Marriage of Figaro (UC CollegeConservatory of Music); Figaro, The Barber of Seville; Escamillo cover, Carmen (Janiec Opera Company—Brevard Music Center)

MATTHEW OZAWA Stage Director (Chicago, Illinois)

Stage Director, Madame Butterfly

Cincinnati: Romeo and Juliet (2019) Elsewhere: Chief Artistic Administration Officer (Lyric Opera of Chicago); Orfeo ed Euridice; Fidelio (San Francisco Opera) Upcoming: Fidelio (Canadian Opera Company); Madame Butterfly (Detroit Opera; San Diego Opera); Angel Island (Brooklyn Academy of Music/Beth Morrison Projects)

RODION POGOSSOV Baritone (Cincinnati, Ohio)

Figaro, The Barber of Seville

Cincinnati: Marcello, La Bohème (2022, 2017) Elsewhere: Jaroslav Prus, The Makropulos Case (Malmö Opera); Figaro, The Barber of Seville (Teatro Regio Torino); Belcore, The Elixir of Love (Seattle Opera); Prince Yeletsky, The Queen of Spades (Gran Teatre del Liceu) Upcoming: Fra Melitone, La Forza del Destino (Royal Opera House, U.K.); Schaunard, La Bohème (Metropolitan Opera)

STEPHANIE RHODES RUSSELL Conductor (American Fork, Utah)

Conductor, The Knock*

Elsewhere: The Barber of Seville (Austin Opera); The Daughter of the Regiment (Utah Opera); The Marriage of Figaro (Madison Opera); Susannah (Wolf Trap Opera)

Upcoming: Don Giovanni (Wolf Trap Opera); The Lion, the Unicorn, and Me (Washington National Opera); La Traviata (Tulsa Opera)

JAMES ROTONDO Scenic Designer (Boston, Massachusetts)

Scenic Designer, The Knock*

Elsewhere: Taking Up Serpents; Holy Ground; The Jungle Book (Glimmerglass Festival); Rigoletto (Intermountain Opera); The Passion of Mary Cardwell Dawson (Washington National Opera) Upcoming: Songbird (Washington National Opera); The Rip Van Winkles (Glimmerglass Festival)

SAHEL SALAM Tenor (Houston, Texas)

Arturo, Lucia di Lammermoor*

Elsewhere: Ernesto, Don Pasquale; Rodolfo, La Bohème; Fernand, La Favorite (Academy of Vocal Arts); Tamino, The Magic Flute (Merola Opera Program) Upcoming: Pang, Turandot; Panatellas, Songbird (Cafritz Young Artists, Washington National Opera)

STEPHANIE SANCHEZ Mezzo-soprano (Las Cruces, New Mexico) Alto/Commanding Officer’s Wife, The Knock*

Elsewhere: Passenger 3, Proximity (Lyric Opera of Chicago); Dryad, Ariadne auf Naxos (Arizona Opera); Maddalena, Rigoletto (Intermountain Opera); Carlotta, Zorro (Opera Southwest) Upcoming: Frida Kahlo, El Último Sueño de Frida y Diego (Opera Omaha); Witch, Hansel and Gretel (Kentucky Opera)

ADAM SMITH Tenor (Wythenshawe, England)

B.F. Pinkerton, Madame Butterfly*

Elsewhere: Hoffmann, The Tales of Hoffmann (Greek National Opera); Cavaradossi, Tosca (English National Opera); Rodolfo, La Bohème (Opera Carolina); Duke, Rigoletto (Scottish National Opera) Upcoming: Turiddu, Cavalleria Rusticana (Lyric Opera of Kansas City); Romeo, Romeo and Juliet (Washington National Opera)

SAMUEL SMITH Bass (Cincinnati, Ohio) Officer, The Barber of Seville

Cincinnati: Sergeant of Police, The Pirates of Penzance (2022); Sacristan, Tosca (2021); Antonio, The Marriage of Figaro (2019) Elsewhere: Don Pasquale, Don Pasquale (Anchorage Opera); Don Basilio, The Barber of Seville (Lake George Opera); Leporello, Don Giovanni (Metro Lyric Opera, New Jersey); King, Aida (Palm Beach Opera)

KARAH SON Soprano (Seoul, South Korea) Cio-Cio-San, Madame Butterfly*

Elsewhere: Mimì, La Bohème (Opera Australia); Cio-Cio-San, Madame Butterfly (San Francisco Opera; Opera Australia; Opéra National de Bordeaux) Upcoming: Cio-Cio-San, Madame Butterfly (Detroit Opera; Royal Danish Opera); Soloist, Abramović 7 Deaths of Maria Callas (English National Opera)

FELICITY TOMKINS Soprano (Te Puke, New Zealand)

Soprano 1, The Knock*

Elsewhere: Madame Lidoine, Dialogues of the Carmelites; Jeannette, L’Amant Anonyme (UC College-Conservatory of Music); Countess Almaviva cover, The Marriage of Figaro (New Zealand Opera); Nedda cover, Pagliacci (Festival Opera, New Zealand); Giulietta, The Tales of Hoffmann (University of Waikato Conservatorium of Music)

GRIFFEN HOGAN TRACY Bass (Golden, Colorado)

Raimondo, Lucia di Lammermoor*

Elsewhere: Sparafucile, Rigoletto (Amarillo Opera); Commendatore, Don Giovanni; Colline, La Bohème; Prince Gremin, Eugene Onegin (Academy of Vocal Arts) Upcoming: Victor Fyodorov, Bel Canto; Soloist, Bach Magnificat (Aspen Opera Theater); Soloist, Mozart Requiem (Law Arts Institute, Denver)

WE SUPPORT VICTORIES FOR VETERANS

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HENRI VENANZI Chorus Master (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania)

Resident Chorus Master

Cincinnati: Assistant Chorus Master, 1980–1986 seasons; Chorus Master, 1994–2022 seasons Elsewhere: Recital accompanist for Martina Arroyo, Kathleen Battle, Sondra Radvanovsky, Jerry Hadley; U.S. Artist in Residence (Xi’an, China); Guest opera conductor (University of Alabama Opera Theatre)

ALEKSANDRA VREBALOV Composer (New York, New York)

Composer, The Knock*

Elsewhere: “Chapel, Rainbows,” Kronos Quartet’s A Thousand Thoughts (Pierre Boulez Saal, Berlin); My Desert, My Rose (Muziekgebouw, Amsterdam) Upcoming: Simic Songs (The Village Trip Festival, New York); Gold Came From Space (Kronos Quartet, Sixth & I, Washington, D.C.); Antennae (Cappella Romana; Cleveland Museum of Art)

PHILIP WITCOMB Scenic & Costume Designer (Middlesbrough, England)

Scenic & Costume Designer, Lucia di Lammermoor*

Elsewhere: Bonnie and Clyde (The Garrick Theatre, London); Mame (U.K. tour); Carousel (Kilworth House, U.K.); Atlantis (Tivoli Concert Hall, Copenhagen) Upcoming: Shrek the Musical (U.K. tour); Treason (U.K. tour)

JACOB JUNBO ZHOU Baritone (Jinan, China)

Prince Yamadori, Madame Butterfly*

Elsewhere: Yakusidé, Madame Butterfly (Sarasota Opera); Don Basilio cover, The Barber of Seville (Opera San José); Bertrand, Iolanta; Ottokar cover, Der Freischütz (Queen City Opera); Badger, The Cunning Little Vixen (UC College-Conservatory of Music); John Brooke, Little Women (Georgia State University Opera Theater)

CINCINNATI SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA

Violins I

Stefani Matsuo

Felicity James

Philip Marten

Eric Bates

Kathryn Woolley

Anna Reider

Mauricio Aguiar

Minyoung Baik

James Braid

Michelle Edgar

Dugan

Rebecca Kruger

Fryxell

Gerald Itzkoff

Sylvia Mitchell

Charles Morey

Luo-Jia Wu

Violins II

Gabriel Pegis

Yang Liu

Scott Mozlin

Kun Dong

Cheryl Benedict

Evin Blomberg

Rachel Charbel

Chika Kinderman

Hyesun Park

Paul Patterson

Stacey Woolley

Violas

Christian Colberg

Christopher Fischer

Julian Wilkison

Rebecca Barnes

Emilio Carlo

Stephen Fryxell

Caterina Longhi

Gabriel Napoli

Denisse

Rodriguez-Rivera

Dan Wang

Joanne Wojtowicz

Cellos

Ilya Finkelshteyn

Daniel Culnan

Norman Johns

Daniel Kaler

Isabel Kwon

Hiro Matsuo

Theodore Nelson

Alan Rafferty

Basses

Owen Lee

James Lambert

Stephen Jones

Boris Astafiev

Luis Arturo Celis

Avila

Gerald Torres

Rick Vizachero

CINCINNATI OPERA CHORUS

Tyler Alessi

Ahhyun Baek

Avery Bargasse

Kendra Beasley

Malone Blaich

Joy Burdette

Tony Burdette

Jaeyoon Choi

Victoria Ellington

Harp

Gillian Benet Sella

Flutes

Randolph Bowman

Henrik Heide

Haley Bangs

Piccolo

Rebecca Pancner

Oboes

Dwight Parry

Lon Bussell

Emily Beare

English Horn

Christopher

Philpotts

Clarinets

Christopher Pell

Joseph Morris

Ixi Chen

Bass Clarinet

Ronald Aufmann

Bassoons

Christopher Sales

Martin Garcia

Hugh Michie

Contrabassoon

Jennifer Monroe

French Horns

Elizabeth Freimuth

Molly Norcross

Lisa Conway

Duane Dugger

Charles Bell

Trumpets

Robert Sullivan

Douglas Lindsay

Steven Pride

Christopher Kiradjieff

Trombones

Cristian Ganicenco

Joseph Rodriguez

Tuba

Christopher Olka

Timpani

Patrick Schleker

Joseph Bricker

Percussion

David Fishlock

Michael Culligan

Joseph Bricker

Marc Wolfley

Keyboards

Michael Chertock

Julie Spangler

CSO/CCM Diversity Fellows

Tyler McKisson, viola

Luis Parra, cello

Samantha Powell, cello

Librarians

Christina Eaton

Elizabeth Dunning

Cara Benner

Stage Managers

Brian P. Schott

Phillip T. Sheridan

Daniel Schultz

Andrew Sheridan

Emily Garcia

Reed Gnepper

Ellen Graham

Stephen Hanna

Earl Hazell

Christina Hazen

Mark Hockenberry

Madeline Jentsch

Cameron Johnson

Joshua Klein

Tess Klibanoff

Rachel Kobernick

Haksung Lee

Claire Lopatka

Lauren McAllister

Randell McGee

Joseph O’Shea

Will Reed

Arieh Sacke

Stacey Sands

Grant Shields

Samuel Smith

Mitchell Sturges

Candace Williams

Talia Zoll

SUPERNUMERARIES

Lucia di Lammermoor

Barry Clayton

Danny Duncan

Scott Lincoln

Marc Padros Cajas

Gary Paetzke

Charles Wilkinson

The Knock

Deena Nurredin

Rebecca Sartini

The Barber of Seville

Anjali Alm-Basu

Pia Alm-Basu

Sierra Briscoe

Jay Fry

Marshanna McClellan

Joseph Palascak

Michael Sanchez

Leah Yackanech

Madame Butterfly

Michael Sanchez

Brett Willson

Listing as of May 22, 2023. For an updated list of 2023 Summer Festival supernumeraries and stage volunteers, visit cincinnatiopera.org/supers.

CINCINNATI OPERA GUILD AMBASSADORS

The Cincinnati Opera Guild is a group of devoted opera lovers who strive to deepen their connection to the art form through educational, social, and volunteer events. Guild Ambassadors are invited to behind-the-scenes talks with opera professionals and meet-and-greets with mainstage artists, and they are encouraged to share their passion for opera with the community. We invite you to join in the fun by becoming a Guild Ambassador!

Marina Abanto

Julie Alamin

Jennifer M. Allen*

Raye N. Allen

Anne S. Arenstein

Paule S. Asch, Ph.D.

Barbara Bardes

Patricia K. Beggs (H)

Dr. Alfred J. Berger +

Lois Brenner

Cherylann D. Brinkman

Nicholas P. Ciafardini (H)

Penny P. Cobey

Virginia K. Cover (H) *

Nancy Dierckes

Joanna Doerner

Jocelyn Dunphy (H) *

Christopher D. Edwards (H)

Marlesa A. Gray (H) *

Barbara Hahn (H)

Suzanne Hasl (H) * +

Karlee L. Hilliard*

Emily M. Hodges

Linda Holthaus

Marlene Johnson

Sarajane King*

Jennifer Kinnen (H)

Bo-Kyung Kirby

Patrick Korb (H) * +

Mel E. Kuempel (H) *

Elizabeth Kuresman (H)

Mr. Bruce A. Lafferre

J. Jeff Landen

Richard Laskey *

Sooncha Lee

Adele Lippert

Joanie Lotts (H)

Alex J. Lukondi

Janet P. McDaniel

Ruth McDevitt (H)

Rod M. McFaull

Lawrence Mouch (H)

Sue A. Mouch (H)

Christine E. Neyer (H) * +

Tom Osterman

Marchelle Owens +

Lilián E. Pagani +

Isabelle Paul (H) +

Sandra Porada

Daniel C. Rebhun (H) *

Aileen B. Reinstatler (H) *

Carol A. Rogers (H)

Ellen J. Ross

Louis Ross

Mrs. Lois P. Rust

Ellen Saenger

G. James Sammarco +

Ruthann

Sammarco (H) * +

Robert Schmidt +

Charles R. Schuler +

Charles H. Spencer

Jeffrey Stambough +

Nancy Stambough +

Barbara Stegmaier +

Joseph Stegmaier +

Kim Strubbe

Janet V. Stuhlreyer +

Paul A. Stuhlreyer III +

Janet G. Todd +

Nydia C. Tranter

Carol Turni & Stephan Weigle

Nancy Virgulak

Robert Von Gerds

Jeannine

Winkelmann (H) *

Shelby O. Wood

Richard Zinicola

Julie G. Heard (H) *

EJ Wohlgemuth +

(H) Honorary member * Former president + Lifetime member

VOLUNTEER. ADVOCATE. CELEBRATE.

Share your love of opera, connect with other opera lovers, and dive deeper into the fascinating world behind the scenes of grand opera.

Become a Cincinnati Opera Guild Ambassador and enjoy:

• Invitations to behind-thescenes tours and events

• Social gatherings with other opera lovers and professionals

• Exclusive meet-and-greet opportunities with our opera stars

ALL ARE INVITED!

JOIN THE CINCINNATI OPERA GUILD TODAY.

Memberships are available to anyone donating $100 or more to Cincinnati Opera. For more information on becoming a Guild Ambassador, visit cincinnatiopera.org/opera-guild or call 513-768-5585.

Cincinnati Opera’s Young Professionals group creates fun, unique, and relatable opera experiences for the community, especially those between the ages of 21-40.

Singers & Spirits Enjoy a curated selection of operatic pieces paired with local drinks made by Cincinnati’s finest brewers, vintners, and mixologists.

Opera is a Drag A highbrow/lowbrow retelling of a classic opera featuring drag performers and Cincinnati Opera artists.

Opera & Wellness Explore the connection between opera, mindfulness, and movement.

Divas & Diamonds summer season surrounded by glitz and glam at Richter & Phillips!

INAUGURAL FUNDRAISING EVENT Bacchanal

Delight in a little decadence and debauchery while raising funds to support Cincinnati Opera’s 2024 Summer Festival. Drinks, dancing, and togas—oh my! Details coming soon for this raucous party with a purpose.

A group for young opera lovers

DR. STEPHEN A. FERGUSON & NICHOLAS W. PUNCER

MAJOR SEASON SUPPORT

SEASON SUPPORT

SEASON SPONSORS

Christopher Milligan, The Harry Fath General Director & CEO

Harry Fath

Evans Mirageas, The Harry T. Wilks Artistic Director

The Harry T. Wilks Family Foundation

Opera Fusion: New Works Sponsor Mellon Foundation

Opening Weekend Sponsor

The Chavez Family, in memory of Geraldine V. Chavez

Screen & Sky: Opera Returns to Summit Sponsor

Western & Southern Financial Group

Opera in the Park Sponsor

Western & Southern Financial Group

Opera Goes to Church Sponsor

Josephine Schell Russell Charitable Trust through the PNC Charitable Trusts Grant Review Committee

Opera Raps Sponsor

Evelo|Singer|Sullivan Group, Merrill Private Wealth Management

Pride Night Premier Sponsor

1919 Investment Counsel

Sensory-Friendly Sponsor

The William Plott Sensory Fund

Student Access Sponsor

Patricia A. Corbett Estate and Trust

The John L. Magro Resident Conductor, Stephen Mulligan

The John L. Magro Artist Development Fund/Rev.

Susan Pfeil

Society of Angels Sponsor

Johnson Investment Counsel

Cincinnati Opera Young Professionals Sponsors

ArtsWave

Hindman Auctions

Dr. Susan R. Strick

The Tiffany Collective

Veteran Community Outreach Partner

Disabled American Veterans

Media Sponsor

Classical 90.9 WGUC

EDUCATION AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT SPONSORS

ArtsWave

Patricia A. Corbett Estate and Trust

The Charles H. Dater Foundation

Disabled American Veterans

H.B., E.W., and F.R. Luther Charitable Foundation, Fifth Third Bank, Trustee

The P&G Fund of GCF

ARTISTIC SPONSORS

LUCIA DI LAMMERMOOR

Opening Weekend Sponsor

The Chavez Family, in memory of Geraldine V. Chavez

Performance Sponsors

Thomas W. Busse Trust

Mrs. Helen Merritt

Support for Jose Maria Condemi, Stage Director

Robert and Debra Chavez

Support for Renato Balsadonna, Conductor

Nydia Tranter

The Appearance of Raven McMillon

Dr. Alvin H. and Alva Jean Crawford

The Appearance of Santiago Ballerini

Mr. and Mrs. W.M. James

The Appearance of Terrence Chin-Loy

Dr. Walter Bruyninckx and Dr. Anne-Marie B. Blancquaert

The Appearance of Anthony Clark Evans

Catharina Toltzis, Ph.D., and Robert Toltzis, M.D.

The Appearance of Griffen Hogan Tracy

Alan L. Margulies and Gale D. Snoddy

The Appearance of Sahel Salam

Donald E. Hoffman

The Appearance of Kayleigh Decker

Nanci Wilks Lanni and Nick Lanni

THE KNOCK

Lead Sponsor

Disabled American Veterans Charitable Service Trust

Production Sponsor

Harry and Ann Santen

Additional Support

Drs. Thomas and Barbara Boat

Ms. Joyce Elkus

Ginger and David Warner

Performance Sponsors

Cincinnati Opera Board Associates

Cincinnati Opera Guild

The Fullgraf Foundation

Johnson Investment Counsel

The Stephen H. Wilder Foundation

Support for Aleksandra Vrebalov, Composer

In loving memory of Richard Lauf

Support for Deborah Brevoort, Librettist

In loving memory of Richard Lauf

Support for Alison Moritz, Stage Director

Dr. Susan R. Strick

Support for Stephanie Rhodes Russell, Conductor

The company debut of Stephanie Rhodes Russell was partially supported by OPERA America’s Opera Grants for Women Stage Directors and Conductors, generously funded by the Marineau Family Foundation

The Appearance of Armando Contreras

Kathleen Laurin-Martin and Joseph Martin

The Appearance of Mary-Hollis Hundley

Jo Anne and Poul Pedersen

The Appearance of Briana Elyse Hunter

Anonymous

The Appearance of Stephanie Sanchez

Ellen Rieveschl

ARTISTIC SPONSORS

THE BARBER OF SEVILLE

Production Sponsor

Larry and Beth Uhlenbrock

Performance Sponsors

1919 Investment Counsel

The Estate of Frank and Janet Andress

Support for Christopher Mattaliano, Stage Director

Melanie M. Chavez

Support for Christopher Allen, Conductor

Anonymous

The Appearance of Rodion Pogossov

Kathleen Laurin-Martin and Joseph Martin

The Appearance of Emily Fons

Arthur B. Casper

The Appearance of Alasdair Kent

Debra Edelman

The Appearance of Peixin Chen

Dr. and Mrs. Ralph A. Giannella

The Appearance of Nicolas Newton

James Stapleton and Dr. Elizabeth Shaughnessy

The Appearance of Kendra Beasley

Edward Rosenthal

The Appearance of Thomas Dreeze

Dr. Walter Bruyninckx and Dr. Anne-Marie B. Blancquaert

MADAME BUTTERFLY

Lead Sponsor

Sheila and Christopher Cole

Set Sponsor

The Estate of Dabby Blatt

Costume Sponsors

Michael L. Cioffi and Rachael A. Rowe

Susan and John M. Tew, Jr., M.D.

Performance Sponsors

Mr. and Mrs. Gary T. “Doc” Huffman

Edward B. Silberstein, M.D., and Jacqueline M. Mack Society of Angels

Support for Kimie Nishikawa of dots, Set Designer

The Patricia K. Beggs Fund: Championing Women’s Voices

Support for Maiko Matsushima, Costume Designer

The Patricia K. Beggs Fund: Championing Women’s Voices

Support for Yuki Nakase Link, Lighting Designer

The Patricia K. Beggs Fund: Championing Women’s Voices

Support for Matthew Ozawa, Stage Director

Liz Kathman Grubow and Jerry Kathman

Support for Keitaro Harada, Conductor

Joseph A. and Susan E. Pichler

The Appearance of Karah Son

In loving memory of Richard Lauf

The Appearance of Adam Smith

Sheila and Christopher Cole

The Appearance of Nozomi Kato

Anonymous

The Appearance of Nmon Ford

Dr. James D. Faulkner

The Appearance of Julius Ahn

Mr. and Mrs. Robert Bitter

ARTISTIC SPONSORS

MADAME BUTTERFLY

The Appearance of Jacob Junbo Zhou

Dr. John Tan

The Appearance of Kayleigh Decker

Nanci Wilks Lanni and Nick Lanni

The Appearance of Peixin Chen

Dr. and Mrs. Ralph Giannella

The Appearance of Trouble

Drs. Elaine and David Billmire

STUDIO SESSIONS

Sponsors

Arthur B. Casper

Dr. James D. Faulkner

Sponsoring a season artist provides the opportunity to form a real connection with our artists, beyond seeing them perform onstage. Support from our artist sponsors allows Cincinnati Opera to continue bringing world-class talent to Cincinnati.

If you are interested in sponsoring one of our season artists, please contact Joe Peacock at 513-768-5565 or jpeacock@cincinnatiopera.org.

Opera on a grand scale takes the work and support of hundreds, both on the stage and off! Cincinnati Opera thanks our many generous donors who have stepped up to do your part to bring the 2023 Summer Festival season to the stage.

If you would like to make a gift towards our 2023 season, please call 513-768-5585 or visit cincinnatiopera.org/support.

Lucia di Lammermoor: Photo by Karli Cadel / Lyric Opera of Kansas City

CORPORATE, GOVERNMENT, AND FOUNDATION CONTRIBUTORS

The Stephen H. Wilder Foundation

INVESTMENT COUNSEL

Mueller Family Foundation Wohlgemuth Herschede Foundation

The Alpaugh Foundation, Vicki and Peter Alpaugh

The Corbett Foundation

The Fullgraf Foundation

EVENT HOSTS AND GIFTS-IN-KIND

21c Museum Hotel Cincinnati

A Catered Affair

Aglamesis Brothers

Patricia K. and James D. Beggs

Drs. Thomas and Barbara Boat

Cherylann D. Brinkman

Brown Bear Bakery

Glen Carley

The Chavez Family

Melanie M. Chavez

The Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati

Churchill’s Fine Teas

Cincinnati Art Museum

Cincinnati Ballet

Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park

Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra

Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden

Sheila and Christopher Cole

The Columbus Koto Ensemble

Corkopolis

CycleBar: Hyde Park

DelightMore

Mrs. Vivian A. Dobur

Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati

Tina and Georges Feghali

FILLO Greek Bake Shop

Fort Thomas Armory

Funky’s Catering

Goose & Elder

Graeter’s Ice Cream Co.

Thomas C. Hase

Hilton Cincinnati Netherland Plaza

Hindman Auctions

IDLEWILD Woman

Jane’s Bar

Liz Kathman Grubow and Jerry Kathman

The Kinley Cincinnati Downtown

Krohn Conservatory

Alex Lohmann

Louvino OTR

LPK

Lyric Opera of Chicago

MadTree Alcove

MadTree Brewing Company

MadTree Oakley

The Mercantile Library

Mrs. Thomas L. Neyer, Sr.

Oakley Wines

The Party Source

Paycor

Pepp & Dolores

The Phelps: Top-of-the-Park

PIVOTstudio

Refresh Collective

Revel OTR Urban Winery

Rhinegeist Brewery

Richter & Phillips Jewelers

Salazar

Santa Fe Opera

The Santangelo Group

Skyline Chili

Sloane Boutique

James Stapleton and Dr. Elizabeth Shaughnessy

Brett Stover

Summit Park

Taft Museum of Art

Taft’s Brewing Co.

Thunderdome Restaurant Group

The Transept

John Tsuchiya

Tom Tsuchiya

Uncle Nearest Premium Whiskey

University of Cincinnati-DAAP

University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music

Brett Willson and John C. Fredeking II

Jeannine Winkelmann and John Winkelmann, M.D.

Peg and Jack Wyant

Yellow Canary Floral & Event Design

Anne and Allen Zaring III

ARTSWAVE PARTNERS

Cincinnati Opera acknowledges the following partner companies, foundations, and their employees who generously participate in the annual ArtsWave Campaign at the $100,000+ level. Thank you!

$2,000,000+

P&G

$1,000,000 to $1,999,999

Fifth Third Bank and the Fifth Third Foundation

$500,000 to $999,999

GE Aerospace

$300,000 to $499,999

altafiber

Western & Southern Financial Group

$100,000 to $299,999

Carol Ann and Ralph V. Haile, Jr. Foundation

Cincinnati Business Courier

Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center

The Cincinnati Insurance Companies

Cincinnati Reds

Duke Energy

The E.W. Scripps Company and Scripps Howard Foundation

The Enquirer│Cincinnati.com

Great American Insurance Group

Greater Cincinnati Foundation

The H.B., E.W. and F.R. Luther Charitable Foundation, Fifth Third Bank, N.A., Trustee

The Kroger Co.

Messer Construction Co.

PNC

U.S. Bank

INDIVIDUAL, FOUNDATION, AND CORPORATE CONTRIBUTIONS

Cincinnati Opera acknowledges with deep appreciation the leadership and generosity of the many individuals, foundations, and corporations who have supported the company with contributions to the 2023 Annual Fund.

Anonymous (15)

1919 Investment Counsel

Marina Abanto

Accent on Cincinnati

Mrs. Christine O. Adams

Virginia Wells Adams

Karla L. Addess

Julie and Khosrow Alamin, M.D.

Ms. Jo-Ann Huff Albers

Ms. Raye Allen

Ms. Lisa Allgood

Alpaugh Foundation, Vicki and Peter Alpaugh

Ms. Ruth Alpers

Mr. Jose Alvarez

Ms. Christiane Anderson

Katherine and Christopher Anderson

Ms. Maureen Andreadis

Mrs. Sofia Andreadis

Frank and Janet Andress

Family Fund

Vic and Dolores Angel

Mr. Gary J. Anglin

Mrs. Norita D. Aplin and Mr. Stanley H. Ragle

Dr. Richard S. Sarason and Anne S. Arenstein

Reverend Christopher R. Armstrong

Arthur J. Gallagher & Co.

Insurance

ArtsWave

At Your Service Cincinnati

Boris Auerbach and Kathy Patchel

Mr. Michael R. Bachmann and Ms. Mary Combs

Mr. and Mrs. Allan J. Bailey

Mr. and Mrs. Michael Bailey

Gay Bain

Miss Eleanor F. Banister

Frances and Tom Bankston

Barbara and Dale Bardes

Flávia Bastos, Ph.D., and Larry Huston

Ronald T. Bates and Randy Lasley

Christopher and Annie Baucom

Charles Baverman

Kiley M. Beale

Mr. Donald Beck and Lawrence E. Eynon, M.D.

Ms. Lorraine Becker

Dr. Stephen P. Becker

Melvin and Kathleen Bedree

Patricia K. and James D. Beggs

Mallory Behan

Jennifer and Adam Bellin

Benevity Community Impact Fund

Ms. Patricia Beresford

Dr. Alfred J. Berger

Mr. Ryan Bergstrom

Mr. Allen Bernard

Glenda and Malcolm Bernstein

Mr. Todd Bezold

Drs. Elaine and David Billmire

Garry N. Binegar, M.D.

Mr. and Mrs. Robert Bitter

Blackbaud Giving Fund

Blue Star Trading LLC

Drs. Thomas and Barbara Boat

Marlene and Robert Boden

Sandra Bolek

Mr. and Ms. Boone

Mr. Gary Booth

Mr. Neil Bortz

Ms. and Mr. Lauren Bosse

Mr. Steve Bowling

Brianna Bragg

Mr. David Brashear

Lois and Joseph Brenner

Mr. Hunter Bridewell

Charlin Briggs

Craig Brinkman and Jerod Stovern

Mary and Joseph Brinkmeyer

Kristin Brockett

Mark Haggard and Daniel Brown

Dr. Rachelle Bruno

Dr. Walter Bruyninckx and Dr. Anne-Marie B. Blancquaert

Mr. Otto M. Budig, Jr.

Mr. and Mrs. John Buescher

Mr. and Mrs. Calvin Buford

Donald L. and Kathleen F. Burns

Thomas W. Busse Trust

Ms. Angie Butterbaugh

Mr. and Mrs. David M. Callif

Dr. and Mrs. Lanthan Camblin

Ms. Deborah Campbell

Mr. and Mrs. Christopher J. Canarie

Dr. Onassis Caneris

Chris and Vivienne Carlson

Ms. Julie Carnes

Carol Ann and Ralph V. Haile, Jr. Foundation

Mr. Thomas Carothers

Dr. Arch Carson

Jane Casavant

Arthur B. Casper

Terry Bazeley and John Castaldi

Mr. Jeffrey Caywood and Dr. Robert Neel

Dr. and Mrs. Charles L. Cerny Chabris Group

Mr. and Mrs. William Chang

Chavez Properties

Elizabeth R. Chavez

Mr. and Mrs. Manuel Chavez

Melanie M. Chavez

Mr. and Mrs. Robert S. Chavez

Mr. Stanley M. Chesley and Judge Susan J. Dlott

Mr. Richard Chizmadia and Mr. Richard Hobson

Edmund Choi, Ph.D.

Mr. and Mrs. Christopher Cicchinelli

Cincinnati Stage Employees

Local No. 5

The Cincinnati Symphony Club

Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra

Candace Cioffi

Michael L. Cioffi and Rachael A. Rowe

Mr. and Mrs. Joseph F. Clark

Susan and A. Burton Closson, Jr.

Carol Cole

Sheila and Christopher Cole

Ms. Diane M. Collins

Dr. George I. Colombel

Mr. Randy Cook

Thomas and Sondra Copanas

Dr. Peter G. Courlas

Mr. and Mrs. John P. Cover

Cathy and Tom Crain

Dr. Alvin H. and Alva Jean Crawford

Mr. Daniel B. and Dr. Margaret G. Cunningham

The Charles H. Dater Foundation

Eric and Jennifer Dauer

Mr. Louis M. Dauner

Mrs. Thomas E. Davidson

Kristy Davis Mustain and Mitchell Mustain

Mr. and Mrs. Rafael de Acha

Ms. Judith de Luce

Michael and Leah Dean

Ms. Nancy DeCastro

Stephen and Cynthia DeHoff

Deloitte & Touche LLP

Dr. and Mrs. J. Randall Dennison

William DePeter

Mr. Frank J. DiCesare

Mrs. Albert C. Dierckes Jr.

Disabled American Veterans Charitable Service Trust

Mrs. Vivian A. Dobur

Ms. Joanna Doerner

Dr. and Mrs. Alexander Donath

Mr. and Mrs. David Donnett

INDIVIDUAL, FOUNDATION, AND CORPORATE CONTRIBUTIONS

Ms. Kathleen Dove

Ms. Sharon Downing

Mrs. Melodie Dunn

Dr. Stewart and Ellen Dunsker

Mrs. Anne K. Dusek

Mr. and Mrs. Richard Dyson

John G. Earls

Mrs. Jack Edelman

Ren and Cristina Egbert

Ms. Joyce Elkus

Ann Ellison

The Evelo|Singer|Sullivan Group, Merrill Private Wealth

Harry and Linda Fath

Dr. James D. Faulkner

Dr. and Mrs. William J. Faulkner

Ms. Susan Feder and Mr. Todd Gordon

Ms. Carol Fencl

Tina and Georges Feghali

David Fingerman

Jack Fisher

Mr. and Mrs. James T. Fitzgerald

Mr. and Mrs. Ashley L. Ford

Lyla Forlani

Mary Anne Foss

John and Julie Fox

Mr. Michael Frabetti

Brandon Fradd

Ms. Judith Francis

Mr. Ed Freeman

Mr. Richard Freudenberger

Yan Fridman

Dr. and Mrs. Harry F. Fry

The Fullgraf Foundation

Ms. Amy Fuson

Mr. Marshall Garrison

Anne Pinckney Gay

GE Foundation

James D. Geier and Greg A. Smith

Mrs. Janelle Gelfand

Dr. Sheila C. Gelman and Dr. David Greenblatt

Mrs. Elizabeth Gendreau-Maxwell and Mr. Don Maxwell

Shelly Gerson

Dr. and Mrs. Ralph A. Giannella

Mr. L. Timothy Giglio

Dr. and Mrs. Richard W. Goetz

Miss Anna Gomez

Judge Robert H. Gorman

Barbara Gould

Mr. and Mrs. Karl Graham

Mary Ellen and Peter Graham

Don Gray

Ms. Deborah R. Grayson

Mr. Joseph Greco

Bob and Chris Groenke

Ms. Molly Grogan

Philip and Mattie Groshong

Mr. Leo Grote

Liz Kathman Grubow and Jerry Kathman

Dr. and Mrs. Ralph A. Gruppo

The Gumbleton Family

Mr. John A. Hadley

Dr. Lisa Haglund

Mr. and Mrs. Philip H. Hagner

Dr. Jack and Barbara Hahn

Dr. and Mrs. Bruce Hamilton

Mr. and Mrs. Carl Harcourt

Linda Harpster

Mr. Jeff Harris

Chuck and Mary Harris

Reid A. Hartmann

Mrs. Robert J. Hasl

Mr. and Mrs. Cornelius W. Hauck

Louise and Joe Head

Julie Grady Heard and Benjamin D. Heard

Alice and John Hehman

Bob Roesbery and Nancy Helwig

Susan Hibbs

Mr. Roger D. Hickman

Mr. Mark Hill

Ms. Karlee L. Hilliard

Ms. Lori Hiltenbeitel

Hindman Auctions

Hixson Architecture Engineering Interiors

Ms. Emily M. Hodges and Mr. Charles H. Spencer

Mr. Daniel J. Hoffheimer

Don Hoffman

Ammon Hollister

Ms. Kelly Holterhoff

Linda Holterhoff

Linda Holthaus and Richard Zinicola

Mr. and Mrs. Robert F. Holzwarth

Mr. Paul Horn

Sebastien Hue

Mr. and Mrs. Gary T. “Doc” Huffman

Barbara Hummel, M.Ed.

David Hunter and Margaret Bowman

Doug Ignatius and Bruce Preston

Ms. Janet Ignatius

Ms. Judith Imhoff

Ms. Spencer Ingerson

IPA Source

Amy and Jason Jackman

Ms. Deb Jackson

Mrs. Doris Jackson

Mr. and Mrs. Howard Jackson

Julia and William Jackson

Mr. and Mrs. W.M. James

Mr. and Mrs. Thaddeus

Jaroszewicz

Johnson Controls

Johnson Investment Counsel

Johnson & Johnson Family of Companies

Jim Johnson and Coleen Quinn

Kay A. Johnson, M.D.

Mr. and Mrs. Randy Johnson

Ms. Brenda Jones

Kevin Jones

Mr. K.S. Kant

Rabbi Kenneth A. Kanter

Drs. Marcia Kaplan and Michael Privitera

Dr. Marguerite M. Katchen

Dr. James Kaya and Ms. Debra Gräuel

Ms. Holly Keeler

Ms. Misty Keeton

Mr. and Mrs. Lorrence T. Kellar

Keller Williams Seven Hills

Ms. Arleene Keller

Ms. Dara Kendall

The Voice of Your Customer

Douglas A. Kennedy

Mona and Richard Kerstine, M.D.

Mr. and Mrs. Timothy Kessler

Mr. and Mrs. Brian Kincaid

Judith Colemon Kinebrew

Sarajane and Richard King

Mrs. Marcene C. Kinney

Ms. Lori Klinedinst

Mr. Erik Koenig

Lucy Hodgson and Peter Koenig

Chase Kohn

Ms. Carol Kosarko

Doug Kridler

Mr. and Mrs. Michael C. Krug

Carol L. Kruse

Marilyn and Charles Kuntz, M.D.

Peter and Sonia Kwiatkowski

Natalie Ladd

Mr. Bruce A. Lafferre

Carol Edward Lahniers

Mr. and Mrs. Greg LaLonde

Ms. Margaret Landwehr

Evelyn and Fred Lang

Katie and Joseph Lanni

Nanci Wilks Lanni and Nick Lanni

Lynn and Don Larson

Jim and Julie Laskey

Susan Lauf

Kathleen Laurin-Martin and Joseph C. Martin

Ms. Sooncha Lee

Ms. Betsy Leigh

Margaret LeMasters, M.D.

Ms. Heidi Leugers

INDIVIDUAL, FOUNDATION, AND CORPORATE CONTRIBUTIONS

Ms. Kathy Leugers

Maxine F. Lewis

Janice Liebenberg and Andy Holzhauser

Dr. and Dr. Lynn Lin

Adele Lippert Fund

Carol and Mitchel

Livingston, Ph.D.

Alex Lohmann

Whitney and Phillip Long

Francisco J. Lopez

Ms. Lupe Lopez

Louise Dieterle Nippert

Musical Arts Fund

Mr. Jack C. Louiso

Ms. Diana Lovelace

Alek Lucke

Mr. Alex J. Lukondi

Mr. and Mrs. John-Peter Lund

Mr. and Mrs. David C. Lundgren

H.B., E.W. & F.R. Luther Charitable Foundation, Fifth Third Bank, Trustee

Rev. and Mrs. Damon Lynch, Jr.

Geoffrey Lyons

Mr. Scott E. MacEachen

Rick Maddux

Jenny Magro

James Mahon, Ph.D.

Linda Marchant

Alan L. Margulies and Gale D. Snoddy

Peggy Ann Markstein

Ms. Morita Marmo

Candyse L. Jeffries, D.M.D., and Michael A. Marrero

David L. Martin

Mr. and Mrs. Ken Martin

Ms. Aimee Sposito Martini and

Mr. Gregory Kinne

Mr. David Mason

Raymond and Madelynn Matlock

Mr. Karl Mattox

Ms. Lindsay McCarren

Ms. Nora McCormick

Dr. Everett McCorvey

Anne McCullough

Dr. Janet P. McDaniel

Mrs. Ruth McDevitt

Mr. Rod M. McFaull

Mr. Matthew McFee

Mrs. William McKim

Mr. and Mrs. James McLaughlin

Ms. Margie McWhorter

Ms. Julia B. Meister

Mr. William Mellinger and Ms. Janie Reynolds Mellon Foundation

Don and Marji Mendelsohn

Mr. H. Gregory Mermel

Mrs. Helen Merritt

Dr. Robert Miday and Dr. Karen Miday

Dr. Patricia Marie Miller

Martha and David Millett

Chris and Molly Milligan

Ms. Lois Milligan

Dr. Stanley Milstein

Miramar Charitable Foundation

Ms. Danute Miskinis

Mr. Larry A. Mizel

Mr. Steven I. Monder

Ms. Janet Moore and Mr. Neil W. Tollas

Ms. Lorena A. Mora-Mowry

Dr. and Mrs. Joseph J. Moravec

Sally A. More

Mr. and Ms. Carlos Moreno

Ms. Heather F. Morris

Mr. Jacob Morvay and Dr. Jenna Kamrass Morvay

Mr. and Mrs. David W. Motch

Mary Lou Motl

Mueller Family Foundation

Mr. and Mrs. David Muller

Therese Mulvaney Stetzer

Nations Reliable Lending LLC

Dr. Eljorn Nelson

Kevin Newbury

Mr. Gerald L. Newman

Mrs. Thomas L. Neyer, Sr.

Mr. James Nicholson and Ms. Patricia Callis

Mrs. Hiroshi Nishiyama

Ms. Dana C. Noeske

Mr. and Mrs. Fred Norton

Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth G. Oaks

Ms. Kathleen O’Connell and Dr. H. Kenneth Peterson

Mr. and Mrs. Neil O’Connor

Ohio Department of Development

Robert and Carol Olson

OPERA America

Mr. and Mrs. Tom Osha

Margaret and Tom Osterman

Avery Ozimek

The P&G Fund of the Greater Cincinnati Foundation

Mr. Eric S. Paternoster

Drs. Yash and Reena Patil

Mr. Joe Peacock

Ms. Mary Pearce

Jo Anne and Poul Pedersen

Dr. and Mrs. Alter G. Peerless

Pepsico

Ms. Helen Perkins

Rev. Susan Pfeil

Darren Phan

Mr. and Mrs. Ken Phelps

Mr. and Mrs. T. Stephen Phillips

Joseph A. and Susan E. Pichler

Ms. Tera L. Pierce

Marta Pisarska, M.D., and Michael Maloney, M.D.

Cassandra and Glenn Plott

Beatriz Porras, M.D., and Alvaro Ryes, M.D.

Mr. Michael Porte

Mr. Michael Powell

Ms. Nelia R. Pozzuoli

Mr. and Mrs. Stephen Pratt

Mrs. Loretta and Mr. Bill Puncer

Mr. Nicholas W. Puncer and Dr. Stephen A. Ferguson

Mr. Peter Quinnan and Mr. Mark Boire

Ms. and Mr. Leah Quortrup

Nicolette and Adam Rader

Ms. Jane G. Rainey

Ms. Barbara N. Ramusack

Mr. and Mrs. Daniel P. Randolph

Mary and Andrew Redington

Ms. Cheryl L. Reiman

Pamela Spangler Reis and Richard Reis

RELX

Lissa Renk

Mr. William Renwick and Ms. Debra Bowles

Ms. Misty Richmond

Richter & Phillips Jewelers

Aliya Riddle

Sandra L. Riegler, M.D.

Ellen Rieveschl

Dr. and Mrs. Eric D. Ringo

Mary C. Roberts-Williams

Ms. Elizabeth Rogers

Dianne and J. David Rosenberg

Edward Rosenthal

Mr. and Mrs. Louis Ross

Moe and Jack Rouse

James Rubenstein and Bernadette Unger

Ms. Lisa Ruff

Jim and Susan Russell

Regina Carswell Russo and Matthew J. Russo

Mrs. Lois P. Rust

Dr. James and Ms. Maris Ryan

Schott Music

Mr. Richard M. Sacksteder and Mr. Victor J. Canfield

Mr. and Mrs. Eugene L. Saenger, Jr.

Saenger Family Foundation

Dr. G. James and Ruthann

Sammarco

Mr. and Mrs. Clarence P. Sampson

Harry and Ann Santen

INDIVIDUAL, FOUNDATION, AND CORPORATE CONTRIBUTIONS

Saul Schottenstein Foundation B

Mr. and Mrs. Lee Schimberg

George Palmer Schober

Ms. Carol Schroeder

Mr. and Mrs. Henry L. Schulhoff

Ms. Janet R. Schultz

Chris Schuster

Rabbi Julie S. Schwartz

Mr. and Mrs. Michael C. Schwartz

Suzanne Schweller

Mr. James Michael Scott

Jeffrey Seaman

Maria Seffrin

Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth Segal

The Louise Taft Semple

Foundation

Mrs. Barbara Seiver

Mr. Will Selnick

Mr. Steven Selss

Jane and Mark Serrianne

Ms. Jemannie Severson Luong and Mr. Eric Severson

Ms. Diane Shank

Mr. Hugh Shipley

Jane Copper-Short and John Short

Mr. and Mrs. Paul Shortt

Ms. Maggie L. Shreve

Mr. Brett Siereveld

Edward B. Silberstein, M.D., and Jacqueline M. Mack

Mrs. Gerald T. Silvers

Melinda and Irwin Simon

Ms. Michelle Simon

Murray and Robin Sinclaire

Mr. and Mrs. Matt Singleton

Terri and Bradbury Skidmore, M.D.

Laura and Douglas Skidmore

Mr. Steven Slack

Lisa Sloane

Matthew J. and Cynthia L. Smith

Ms. Michelle Smith

Ms. Patricia Spalding

Ms. Carol Sparks

Cecilia Spencer

Mr. John Spencer

Mr. and Mrs. Andrew P. Speno

Sandra and Henry Spitz

James Stapleton and Dr. Elizabeth Shaughnessy

Cynthia Starr

Mr. and Mrs. William Steenken

Mr. and Mrs. Thomas E. Stegman

Dr. Jean Steichen

Amy Stier and Jef Brown

Mr. and Mrs. Richard F. Stradling, Jr.

Dr. Susan R. Strick

Victoria Strickland, M.D.

George and Linda Strietmann

Mrs. Theodore W. Striker

Mr. and Mrs. William Strubbe

Tricia Suit and Eric Appleby

Ms. Hemella L. Sweatt

Katie and Jeff Syroney

Carol Talbot

Dr. John Tan

Dr. Alan and Shelley Tarshis

Mr. and Mrs. William Taylor

Mr. and Mrs. Carlos R. Teran

Jason Terwilliger

Susan and John M. Tew, Jr., M.D.

Brian L. Tiffany and Jerome Ewers

The Tiffany Collective

Catharina Toltzis, Ph.D., and Robert Toltzis, M.D.

Mr. and Mrs. Thomas E. Torre

Nydia C. Tranter

Mr. Timothy E. Troendle

Ms. Amber L. Turner

U.S. Bank

Larry and Beth Uhlenbrock

Mrs. E. Dieter van der Bent

Ellen and Ray van der Horst

Mr. Wayne Villanueva

Christopher and Nancy Virgulak

Mr. Richard A. Vogel

Mr. Robert Von Gerds

Ms. Mary Vondrak and Dr. Patrick G. Kirk

Mr. James E. Waddle and Mr. Earl G. Rivers

Ms. Celeste M. Wall

Mr. and Mrs. Robert K. Wallace

Mr. Michael L. Walton

Mr. and Mrs. Frank Ward

Ginger and David Warner

Jonathan and Janet Weaver

Dr. Scottie Weiss

Mr. Mark Wert and Mr. Mark Johnson

Mr. and Mrs. James E. Wesner

Mr. and Mrs. Michael West

Contributions from April 19, 2022 to April 4, 2023

Western & Southern Financial Group

Mr. and Mrs. Richard Westheimer

Westland Investment

Bonnie White

Dr. and Mrs. Stephen P. Whitlatch

Nataly Wickham

Mr. Charles L. Wilhelm

Mrs. Curt Wilhelm

Mr. Charles A. Wilkinson

Mr. and Mrs. Lionel Williams

Ms. Mary Ann Williams

Ms. Sheila Williams

Mr. Stanford T. Williams, Jr.

Ronna and Dr. James Willis

The Harry T. Wilks Family Foundation

Brett Willson and John C. Fredeking II

The Stephen H. Wilder Foundation

Anne Warrington Wilson

Mr. and Mrs. Robert Wilson, Jr.

Miss Tracy L. Wilson

Susan and Dean Windgassen

Fr. Barry Windholtz

Jeannine Winkelmann and John Winkelmann, M.D.

Howard Winston

Mr. Lothar F. Witt, Jr.

Wohlgemuth Herschede Foundation

Dr. Randall K. Wolf

Shelby O. Wood

Wow Windowboxes

Ms. Susan Wulsin

Wyant Family Foundation

Peg and Jack Wyant

John M. Yacher

Mr. Scott Youger and Mrs. Andrea Shell

VanDyk Mortgage and The Legacy Team

Anne and Allen Zaring III

Zaring Family Foundation

Dr. Herbert D. Zeman

Ms. Irene Zigoris

Mr. and Mrs. John M. Zoller

Dr. and Mrs. Mario Zuccarello

We have made every effort to be as accurate as possible in compiling our list of donors. If your name has been incorrectly listed or omitted, please contact the Philanthropy Department at 513-768-5561. Please accept our apologies for any errors.

SOCIETY OF ANGELS

Cincinnati Opera acknowledges with deep gratitude the generosity of the following donors who have notified the company of their planned gifts. These legacy gifts ensure Cincinnati Opera’s future excellence and are a lasting tribute to the foresight of the distinguished members of Cincinnati Opera’s Society of Angels.

Members Anonymous

Katherine and Christopher Anderson

Mr. Boris Auerbach

Dr. Diane Babcock

Dr. and Mrs. Jeffrey T. Baker

Ms. Henrietta Barlag

Mr. Albert M. Bary

Christopher Baucom

Mr. and Mrs.* Edward C. Bavaria

Patricia K. and James D. Beggs

Jennifer and Adam Bellin

Elaine Billmire, M.D., and David Billmire, M.D.

Marlene and Robert Boden

Lois and Joseph Brenner

Charlin and Peter* Briggs

Mrs. Cherylann D. Brinkman

Mary and Joe Brinkmeyer

Dr. Walter Bruyninckx and Dr. Anne-Marie B. Blancquaert

Arthur B. Casper

Mrs. Jackson L. Clagett III

Dr. Peter G. Courlas

Virginia K. Cover

Cathy and Tom Crain

Alva Jean Crawford

Mr. Daniel B. and Dr. Margaret G. Cunningham

Mr. Harrison R.T. Davis

Mrs. Albert C. Dierckes Jr.

Thomas Dreeze and Evans Mirageas

Scott Atkinson* and Christopher D. Edwards

Harry and Linda Fath

Ms. Gael T. Fischer

Mr. Kingston Fletcher

Dr. Donald W. Good

Valeria and Frederick R. Good

Madeleine H. Gordon

Barbara Gould

Marlesa A. Gray

Dr. Jack and Barbara Hahn

Suzanne and Robert* Hasl, M.D.

Janet* and Cornelius Hauck

Hon. Dennis* and Berti Helmick

Karlee L. Hilliard

Ms. Emily M. Hodges and

Mr. Charles H. Spencer

Don and Donna* Hoffman

Doug Ignatius and Bruce Preston

Amy and Jason Jackman

Julia M.F.B. Jackson

Dr. and Mrs. Richard Kerstine

Sarajane and Richard King

Patrick M. Korb

Roberta and Jeffrey P. Kuhn

Elizabeth and Ken Kuresman

Marjorie and Lawrence H. Kyte, Jr.

Mr. Barry Lapidus

Richard* and Susan Lauf

Kathleen Laurin-Martin and Joseph C. Martin

Gail Lennig and Gene Santoro*

Adele and Thomas* Lippert

Joanie D. and William H.* Lotts

Mr. and Mrs. William F. Lyon

Susan Sterrit Meyer

Chris and Molly Milligan

Dr. Stanley Milstein

Eleanor and Sam* Minkarah

David and Vicky Motch

Norbert and Linnea Nadel

Robert and Carol Olson

Marge and Tom Osterman

Dr. and Mrs. John A. Parlin III

Nicholas Payne and Cynthia Heinrich

Mr. Joe Peacock

Joseph and Susan Pichler

Ellen and George* Rieveschl

Edward and Nancy* Rosenthal

Dr. G. James and Ruthann Sammarco

Zell Schulman

Kenneth C. Schonberg* and Deborah Schultz

Edward B. Silberstein, M.D., and Jacqueline M. Mack

Thomas S. Smith

Cynthia and William* Starr

Brett Stover

Mr. and Mrs. Paul A. Stuhlreyer III

John M. Tew, Jr., M.D.

Nydia C. Tranter

Dick and Jane Tuten

Barbara and Irwin Weinberg

Anne M. Werner

Ronna K. Willis

Jeannine Winkelmann and John Winkelmann, M.D.

Dr. Atsuko Yatani

Anne and Allen Zaring III

Estates

Estate of Frank and Janet Andress

Estate of Mary Elizabeth Andrews Trust

Estate of Dorothy Anne Blatt

Estate of Thomas F. Buck

Estate of Ellen K. Burroughs

Estate of Thomas W. Busse

Estate of Wm. Rowell Chase

Estate of Mrs. Marno Christensen

Estate of Norma L. Clark

Estate of Herbert and Betty Colker

Estate of Patricia A. Corbett

Estate of Wilma B. Cowley

Estate of Miss Emilie T. Curry

Estate of Virginia Curry

Estate of Mary E. Day

Estate of Luba Matiuk Dorman

Estate of Ed P. Dundon

Estate of Helen T. Ehlers

Estate of Miss Natalie Feld

Estate of Kenneth J. Furrier

Estate of Katherine H. Groll

Estate of Mrs. Eleanor Hazelton

Estate of Mrs. Jean L. Hermann

Estate of Anita Mae Imholt

Estate of Dr. Stanley Kaplan

Estate of Tailitha P. Kluver

Estate of Ruth Koehl

Estate of Linda and Samuel Kramer, M.D.

Estate of Maria Krocker-Tuskan

Estate of Elizabeth W. Kyte

Estate of Elma Lapp

Estate of Anne and John Lawrence, Jr.

Estate of Rosemary R. Longano

Estate of Mrs. Richardson

McKinney

Estate of Mary and William Meyer

Estate of Arnold and Gloria Morelli

Estate Of Norbert A. Nadel

Estate of Bill Nimmo

The Louise Dieterle Nippert Trust

Estate of Margaret Ohanian

Estate of Maurice E. Oshry

Estate of Marilyn Z. Ott

Estate of Charles Parsons

The Pearlman Charitable

Remainder Unitrust

Estate of James T. Peeler

Estate of David and Marilyn Reichert

Estate of Mr. and Mrs. Frank Roder

Estate of Solveiga Rush

Estate of Marilyn A. Russley

Estate of Joanne T. Santangelo

Estate of Emalee Schavel

Estate of Anna Jo and William Selnick

Estate of Miss Charlotte L. Shockley

Estate of Miss Genevieve H. Smith

Estate of Charlotte E. Smith

Estate of Lois Staubitz

Estate of Cynthia and Frank Stewart

Estate of Carolyn and Fred Strebel

Estate of Mrs. Italo Tajo

Estate of Carol S. Thaman

Estate of Phyllis Weston

Estate of Dr. and Mrs. Kenneth Wilson

Estate of Lura Carnes Wine

Estate of Harris W. Wright

A Life Transformed by Music

Music gives. It has given to me all my life,” says Brett Stover. An arts-and-culture omnivore and longtime member of Cincinnati Opera’s Society of Angels, Stover understands first-hand the importance of equitable access to arts experiences. His own life changed at age four while singing with the church choir in his hometown of Chillicothe, Ohio. The power and beauty of the music took hold and formed the roots of what would become his lifelong love affair with the arts.

A student ticket later enabled him to attend his first Cincinnati Opera performance—a transformational experience, by Stover’s account. He went on to volunteer as an usher, allowing him to see many extraordinary productions for free.

These experiences served as fuel for Stover’s passion for the arts and, in particular, all things musical. While carving out his impressive multi-decade marketing career, which included leadership roles at Procter & Gamble, Kantar Retail, and Saatchi & Saatchi, Stover simultaneously gave generously of his time and expertise in support of many local and national arts organizations.

Passionate about the intersection of human rights, education, performing arts, and visual arts, he served

on numerous arts boards—including Cincinnati Opera’s—and co-founded ArtsWave Pride, the first arts-centered, LGBTQ+ advocacy organization of its kind in the U.S.

Through his board service, Stover has grown to understand that patrons need artists as much as artists need patrons, and that sustained financial support for artists and organizations is key for an arts ecosystem like Greater Cincinnati’s to thrive. In addition to contributing his time to Cincinnati Opera as a board member, Stover has led by example by contributing financially to the organization through hosting fundraising events, donating to the annual campaign, and most importantly, including Cincinnati Opera in his estate plan. He does so to ensure a healthy future for Cincinnati Opera and to support a shared vision of driving broad-based arts access and inclusion, and, ultimately, to change people’s lives for the better.

Said Stover, “I was able to give through music, but what I received was far more profound and lifechanging. I hope you will join me in making the Opera part of your estate plans. We can ensure that our beloved art form will continue enriching and transforming lives for generations to come.”

CREATE YOUR OWN LEGACY BY BRINGING OPERA TO THE NEXT GENERATION.

For more than a century, Cincinnati Opera has been one of the nation’s leading opera companies. We invite you to play a role in Cincinnati Opera’s exciting future. Call Raye Needham Allen at 513-768-5527 or visit coa.planningyourlegacy.org.

BRETT STOVER at Music Hall. Photo by Ross Van Pelt.

Proud Sponsor of Cincinnati Opera’s Planned Giving Program INVESTMENT COUNSEL

HOW A LIFELONG LOVE OF THE ARTS FUELED BRETT STOVER’S LEGACY OF GIVING

IN MEMORIAM

During the last year, these individuals have made contributions to Cincinnati Opera in memory of friends and family members. Cincinnati Opera is grateful for these thoughtful gifts.

In memory of Dr. Emmit Ackdoe

Ms. Nelia R. Pozzuoli

In memory of Charles E. Baverman Jr.

Ronna and Dr. James Willis

In memory of Dabby Blatt

Julie and Khosrow Alamin, M.D.

Patricia K. and James D. Beggs

Laura S. Brzygot

Arthur B. Casper

Mr. and Mrs. John P. Cover

Dr. Alvin H. and Alva Jean

Crawford

Susan Beth Dickson

Thomas Dreeze and Evans

Mirageas

Pamela Greenberg

Dr. Jack and Barbara Hahn

Donald E. Hoffman

Chase Kohn

Michelle Kohn

Maxine F. Lewis

Geoffrey Lyons

Mrs. William McKim

Christopher Milligan

Mr. Larry A. Mizel

Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth G. Oaks

Edward Rosenthal

Mr. and Mrs. Michael West

Howard Winston

Peg and Jack Wyant

In memory of Henry Payson

“Peter” Briggs

Thomas Dreeze and Evans

Mirageas

Dr. Jack and Barbara Hahn

Peggy and William Jackson

Christopher Milligan

Jeannine Winkelmann and John Winkelmann, M.D.

In memory of Andres Miguel Chavez

Patricia K. and James D. Beggs

Cathy and Tom Crain

Thomas Dreeze and Evans

Mirageas

Dr. Jack and Barbara Hahn

Westland Investment Company, Ltd.

Ronna and James Willis, M.D.

Jeannine Winkelmann and John Winkelmann, M.D.

In memory of Thomas S. Cook

Mr. and Mrs. Gilbert

In memory of Janet Hauck

Patricia K. and James D. Beggs

In memory of Jonathan “Jacob” Magro

Jenny Lamson Magro

In memory of Robert J. McDevitt

Sr., M.D.

Mrs. Ruth McDevitt

CELEBRATIONS AND HONORARIUMS

In memory of Connie Mirageas

Ms. Raye Allen

Thomas Dreeze and Evans Mirageas

Ms. Susan Feder and Mr. Todd Gordon

Dr. Jack and Barbara Hahn

In memory of Danielle Nelloms

Patricia K. and James D. Beggs

In memory of Styrk Orwoll’s 100th birthday

Mr. Joseph Greco

In memory of Nancy Rosenthal

Julie and Khosrow Alamin, M.D.

Patricia K. and James D. Beggs

Thomas Dreeze and Evans

Mirageas

Dr. Jack and Barbara Hahn

Keith-Dusek Family

Christopher Milligan

Dianne and J. David Rosenberg

Dr. Richard S. Sarason and Anne S. Arenstein

Dr. and Mrs. Harold B. Spitz

In memory of Bruce Smith

Dr. Jack and Barbara Hahn

In memory of Dr. Helen “Scottie” Weiss Anonymous

During the last year, these individuals have made contributions to Cincinnati Opera in honor or in celebration of friends and family members. Cincinnati Opera is grateful for these thoughtful gifts.

In honor of the induction of Patty Beggs to the OPERA America Opera Hall of Fame

Thomas Dreeze and Evans Mirageas

Donald E. Hoffman

In honor of Cincinnati Opera’s staff for their incredible job during this season; they are our beloved opera cornerstone.

Anonymous

In honor of Mrs. Suzanne Hasl

Dr. and Mrs. Joseph J. Moravec

Contributions from April 19, 2022 to April 12, 2023

In honor of Ellen G. van der Horst, named one of the Cincinnati Enquirer’s Women of the Year

Patricia K. and James D. Beggs

Dianne and J. David Rosenberg

In honor of Sherie Marek

Ronna and James Willis, M.D.

In honor of Robert Olson’s birthday

Anonymous

In honor of Dr. Randall Wolf Anonymous

All Eyes on Opera Fusion: New Works

In a society that craves innovation, opera can sometimes seem like an anomaly. Popular sentiment has often deemed opera to be a throwback—an art form with rich history and traditions, but perhaps one that’s stuck in the past.

In fact, the evidence points to the opposite. A quick survey of opera houses across the country proves that new opera is springing up everywhere and that audiences’ appetite for new works is steadily growing.

Some credit for this shift can likely go to the success of Opera Fusion: New Works (or OF:NW, for short). Launched in 2011 with funding from the Mellon Foundation, OF:NW is a one-of-its-kind creative partnership between Cincinnati Opera and the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music (CCM) that serves as an incubator for new American opera.

Through the program, composers and librettists are invited to a 10-day workshop in Cincinnati to

take their operas-in-progress to the next stage. They’re able to tap into the combined resources of Cincinnati Opera and CCM—namely, performing artists, stage personnel, and administrative and creative support—to work out the kinks and refine their pieces in preparation for a fully-staged production.

OF:NW’s successful track record serves as a key indicator of its value. Last season alone included full productions of the following operas that were originally workshopped by OF:NW:

• Terence Blanchard’s Champion and Kevin Puts’s The Hours at the Metropolitan Opera

• Ricky Ian Gordon and Lynn Nottage’s Intimate Apparel at Lincoln Center Theater

• Tobias Picker and Aryeh Lev Stollman’s Awakenings at Opera Theatre of Saint Louis

• Castor and Patience by Gregory Spears and Tracy K. Smith, which premiered at Cincinnati Opera last summer and was dubbed a New York Times “Critic’s Pick”

What’s more, Spears and Smith’s most recent work, The Righteous, received an OF:NW workshop in May 2023 and is slated for its 2024 world premiere at Santa Fe Opera.

Looking ahead, OF:NW will host a workshop for Cincinnati Opera’s next, yet-to-be-announced world premiere opera, which will be part of the company’s 2025 Summer Festival.

Keep your eyes on this special program—it’s arguably where some of our nation’s most exciting new opera is born. For more information, visit ofnw.org.

THE UNIQUE PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN CINCINNATI OPERA AND UC’S COLLEGE-CONSERVATORY OF MUSIC PROVES TO BE A VITAL RESOURCE FOR THE CREATION OF NEW AMERICAN OPERA

A TALKBACK WITH THE CREATORS of the new opera Robeson after its OF:NW workshop: (L to R) conductor Kevin Miller, OF:NW co-artistic director Robin Guarino, composer and co-librettist Scott Davenport Richards, OF:NW co-artistic director Evans Mirageas, and co-librettist David Cote. Photo by Philip Groshong.

BASS-BARITONE JUSTIN HOPKINS sings the title role in the OF:NW workshop of Robeson

Opera Outside the Lines

CINCINNATI OPERA’S COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND EDUCATION PROGRAMS GET CREATIVE TO MAKE OPERA ACCESSIBLE TO ALL

Who should get the chance to experience opera? Everyone! Cincinnati Opera believes in providing equitable and inviting access to opera, and it’s this belief that has inspired our diverse roster of Community Engagement and Education programs. These fun and informative opera-centered experiences are designed with audiences of all ages and experience levels in mind. Don’t be surprised if you find us pop-

ping up to perform in your school, community center, house of worship, or other communal gathering space. We’re singing all around the Greater Cincinnati region, and you’re invited to join us!

To learn more about Cincinnati Opera’s education and community programs, visit cincinnatiopera.org.

IN SPRING 2023, Cincinnati Opera partnered with ROK (Roundabout Opera for Kids) Cincy to present the young people’s opera, Little Red Riding Hood, for students from Over-the-Rhine’s School for Creative and Performing Arts.

IN MARCH 2023, Newport High School in Northern Kentucky hosted a film screening of Cincinnati Opera’s original opera, Fierce, followed by a talkback and writing workshop with the opera’s librettist, Sheila Williams.

Photos: Philip Groshong, Jemannie Severson Luong, and Tracy L. Wilson

SOPRANO VICTORIA ELLINGTON performed as part of Music in Motion, a program for individuals with dementia and their caregivers to build connections through music and movement, presented in partnership with the Giving Voice Foundation.

CINCINNATI OPERA’S popular Opera Goes to Church series returned to Allen Temple A.M.E. Church in Bond Hill in November 2022 for a sold-out performance of opera, jazz, and sacred music.

WORLD-RENOWNED TENOR GEORGE SHIRLEY (second from right) visited Cincinnati and recorded a conversation with young singers about creating a career in opera: (L to R) Avery Bargasse, Randell McGee, Victoria Ellington, Mr. Shirley, and Sirgourney Cook.

REMEMBRANCES

Wherever there’s an opera company, there’s an opera family. It’s a family of supporters, volunteers, singers, stage professionals, staff members, and fans. Each member does their part to sustain the company and animate its mission. In the past year, we have lost a number of dear members of the Cincinnati Opera family. This list is incomplete, but it’s our attempt at recognizing and remembering some who have left us. If we have missed someone, please let us know.

Dorothy Anne (“Dabby”) Blatt (1935–2022) was a Cincinnati Opera trustee from 1993 to 2022. A well-traveled and devoted opera fan, she enjoyed 11 performances of Wagner’s Ring cycle from Chicago to San Francisco, New York to Vienna. While serving on key Opera board committees including executive and artistic planning, she championed innovative works and new productions.

Peter Briggs (1932–2022) was on staff at Cincinnati Opera from 1996 to 1999. This followed his distinguished career as an educator and school administrator, including serving as the headmaster of The Seven Hills School from 1976 to 1995. Peter and his wife, trustee Charlin, were longtime supporters of both the Opera and Playhouse in the Park.

Janice Callahan Cook (1946–2022) was a Cincinnati Opera trustee from 1997 to 2000. With a bachelor’s degree in music education, she was a knowl-

edgeable board member and enthusiastic subscriber. Although her primary instrument was piano, she was also a gifted soprano vocalist and participated in local choirs and choral groups.

Janet Hauck (1928–2022) was an active community volunteer, working tirelessly in a number of non-profit organizations including the John Hauck House, to make Cincinnati a better place for all. She and her husband of 72 years, former trustee Corny, were members of Cincinnati Opera’s Society of Angels and shared a keen love of opera and theatre.

Sid Khosla (1962–2022), trustee from 2011 to 2022, was a professor and vice chair for research at the University of Cincinnati’s College of Medicine Department of Otolaryngology. A renowned expert in vocal cord and airway reconstruction, Sid served as the company’s go-to physician to assist singers with vocal problems.

Allen Charles Klein (1938–2022) was a former employee of Cincinnati Opera and a prolific scenic and costume designer. He collaborated frequently with his husband, director Bliss Hebert, and their productions appeared often at Cincinnati Opera, the most recent being the company’s well-received 2017 production of La Traviata

Karen McKim (1941–2023) served as the executive director of The Corbett Foundation from 1989 to 2015. Founded by J. Ralph and Patricia Corbett, The Corbett Foundation offered transformative support to Cincinnati’s arts community under Karen’s leadership. She also had a deep personal love of the arts and was a regular attendee at Cincinnati Opera performances.

Marilyn Ott (1934–2023) was a longtime member of the Cincinnati Opera family, having been a subscriber, event sponsor, Guild member, and committee chair. In 2016, she was awarded the prestigious Partners in Excellence Award from the national organization Opera Volunteers International in recognition of her outstanding service to Cincinnati Opera.

Dr. O’dell Owens (1947–2022) was an esteemed local leader in public health and education. He was elected to two terms as Hamilton County Coroner and served as president of Cincinnati State Technical and Community College. He and his wife, Marchelle, were named lifetime members of the Cincinnati Opera Guild.

Julia Reichert (1946–2022) was an Academy Award–winning documentarian and professor of film. Along with her husband and filmmaking partner, Steve Bognar, Julia directed the documentary Making Morning Star, which followed the creative development of Cincinnati Opera’s world-premiere production of Morning Star by Ricky Ian Gordon and William M. Hoffman.

Nancy Rosenthal (1936–2022), trustee from 1992 to 2022, was a trained music educator and awardwinning gardener who devoted her life to supporting dozens of charitable causes. Nancy and her husband, Ed, traveled the world to see opera. They also acquired an extraordinary Chinese art collection, which the Taft Museum exhibited in 2008.

VOICES

& VISIONS: Expressions by Cincinnati Asian American Artists

Throughout Cincinnati Opera’s 2023 Summer Festival, you’re invited to stop by Music Hall’s P&G Founders Room to enjoy this special exhibition, which highlights the creativity and achievements of regional Asian American artists. The original exhibition, curated by artist Yu Ling Huang, took place at the Walnut Hills Branch of the Cincinnati & Hamilton County Public Library and the Contemporary Arts Center, and featured nine artists from six different cultural heritages. The exhibit has been made possible in part by Cincinnati & Hamilton County Public Library and the Greater Cincinnati Chinese Cultural Exchange Association, with support from the Asian American Cultural Association of Cincinnati.

CINCINNATI OPERA REPERTOIRE 1920–2023

John Adams Nixon in China–2007

A Flowering Tree–2011

Franco Alfano

Resurrection–1983

Daniel François Espirit Auber Fra Diavolo–1927

Michael William Balfe

The Bohemian Girl–1927, 1928, 1936

Béla Bartók Bluebeard’s Castle–2001

Ludwig van Beethoven

Fidelio–1931, 1932, 1980, 2016

Peter Bengtson

The Maids–2004

Vincenzo Bellini

Norma–1932, 1935, 1938, 1977, 1984, 2003

Il Pirata–1969

La Sonnambula–1960

Georges Bizet

Carmen–1921-24, 1926-33, 193560, 1962-1971, 1976, 1980, 1985, 1988, 1991, 1997, 2004, 2009, 2014, 2021

Arrigo Boito

Mefistofele–1922, 1924, 1930, 1931, 1939, 1972

William Bolcom Medusa–2003

Benjamin Britten

Peter Grimes–1960

The Turn of the Screw–1999

Daniel Catán

Florencia en el Amazonas–2008

Francesco Cavalli

La Calisto–2014

Francesco Cilèa

Adriana Lecouvreur–1979

Emmanuel Chabrier

L’Étoile–2006

Richard Danielpour

Margaret Garner–2005

Henry Louis Reginald de Koven

Robin Hood–1929

Claude Debussy

Pelléas et Mélisande–2000

Léo Delibes

Lakmé–1922, 1924, 1929, 1930, 1955

Gaetano Donizetti

The Daughter of the Regiment (La Fille du Régiment)–1973, 2004

Don Pasquale–1920, 1921, 1945, 1956, 1966, 1968, 1981, 1996, 2015

The Elixir of Love (L’Elisir d’Amore)–1924, 1926, 1942, 1946, 1948, 1951, 1954, 1958, 1968, 1969, 1983

Lucia di Lammermoor–1921, 1922, 1924, 1926, 1928, 1937, 1939-43, 1952-54, 1957, 1958, 1968, 1971, 1978, 1985, 1990, 1997, 2008, 2023

Roberto Devereux–1974

Friedrich von Flotow

Martha–1920, 1924, 1926, 192830, 1932, 1935, 1936, 1943-45, 1947, 1948, 1955, 1956

Carlisle Floyd

Of Mice and Men–1971 Susannah–1959, 1964, 1979, 1988

Charles Rudolph Friml

The Firefly–1930, 1931

George Gershwin Porgy and Bess–2012, 2019

Umberto Giordano

Andrea Chénier–1929, 1930, 1949, 1954, 1959, 1963, 1967, 1995 Fedora–1923

Philip Glass

Galileo Galilei–2013

Osvaldo Golijov

Ainadamar–2009

Ricky Ian Gordon Morning Star–2015

Charles Gounod

Faust–1921-23, 1926, 1927, 1929, 1932, 1935-51, 1953-58, 1966, 1967, 1969, 1975, 1981, 1985, 1990, 1999, 2007

Romeo and Juliet–1922, 1923, 1933, 1945, 1971, 1982, 1989, 1994, 2002, 2019

Aldolphus Hailstork

Rise for Freedom: The John P. Parker Story–2007

Fromental Halévy La Juive–1927, 1928

Jake Heggie

Dead Man Walking–2002

Victor Herbert Naughty Marietta–1929

Engelbert Humperdinck

Hansel and Gretel–1920, 1921, 1923, 1927, 1938, 1939, 1942-44, 1973

Leos Janácek

Jenufa–1998

Sidney Jones

The Geisha–1932

Laura Kaminsky As One–2018

Jerome Kern

Roberta–1985

Show Boat–1976

Franz Lehár

The Merry Widow–1951-53, 1975, 1982

Ruggero Leoncavallo

Pagliacci–1920, 1927, 1933-39, 1941-46, 1950, 1963, 1964, 1966, 1970, 1978, 1982, 1993, 2012

Zazà–1985, 1987

Frank Leoni

L’Oracolo–1928, 1931

Frank Loesser

The Most Happy Fella–1977

Pietro Mascagni

Cavalleria Rusticana–1921, 1922, 1926, 1928, 1933-37, 1941, 194446, 1963, 1964, 1966, 1970, 1978, 1982, 1993

Iris–1930, 1931

Jules Massenet

Manon–1922, 1924, 1939-42, 1952, 1955, 1961, 1965, 1968, 1980

La Navarraise–1931

Thaïs–1933, 1938

Werther–1993

Missy Mazzoli

Song from the Uproar–2017

William Menefield

Fierce–2022

Gian Carlo Menotti

The Medium–1967

Giacomo Meyerbeer

L’Africaine–1936

Dinorah–1929, 1930

Italo Montemezzi

The Love of Three Kings

(L’Amore dei Tre Re)–1926, 1929, 1946, 1947, 1949

Claudio Monteverdi

The Coronation of Poppea (L’Incoronazione di Poppea)–2018

Douglas Moore

The Ballad of Baby Doe–1976

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

The Abduction from the Seraglio (Die Entführung aus dem Serail)–1992

Così Fan Tutte–1963, 1966, 1976, 1983, 1989, 2007

Don Giovanni–1930, 1931, 1936, 1949, 1951, 1961, 1977, 1990, 1999, 2004, 2013

The Magic Flute (Die Zauberflöte)–1932, 1986, 1993, 2001, 2011, 2017

The Marriage of Figaro (Le Nozze di Figaro)–1956, 1957, 1972, 1979, 1988, 1995, 2002, 2009, 2019

Modest Mussorgsky

Boris Godunov–1948, 1958, 1974

Jacques Offenbach

La Périchole–1974

The Tales of Hoffmann–1921, 1923, 1965, 1966, 1968, 1973, 1978, 1987, 1992, 2006

Ástor Piazzolla

María de Buenos Aires–2012

Robert Planquette

The Chimes of Normandy (Les Cloches de Corneville)–1930

Amilcare Ponchielli

La Gioconda–1923, 1924, 1928, 1935, 1936, 1942

Francis Poulenc

La Voix Humaine–2003

Giacomo Puccini

La Bohème–1924, 1932, 1936-63, 1965, 1966, 1969, 1971, 1974, 1978, 1981, 1988, 1994, 1999, 2005, 2010, 2017, 2022

Gianni Schicchi–1975, 1982, 2012

Girl of the Golden West (La Fanciulla del West)–1933, 1938, 1986

Madame Butterfly–1924, 1928-33, 1936-41, 1946-60, 1962-64, 1966, 1968, 1970, 1972, 1977, 1983, 1987, 1992, 1996, 2001, 2008, 2014, 2023

Manon Lescaut–1959, 1964, 1974, 1983, 1991

La Rondine–1973, 1984

Suor Angelica–1975, 1982

Il Tabarro–1975, 1982

Tosca–1923, 1927, 1931, 1937, 1938, 1940, 1941, 1943-45, 1947, 1948, 1950, 1952, 1954, 1955, 1957, 1959, 1962, 1963, 1965, 1967, 1970, 1976, 1981, 1986, 1993, 1998, 2006, 2016, 2021

Turandot–1955, 1956, 1972, 1975, 1980, 1987, 1995, 2003, 2015

Kevin Puts Silent Night–2014

Scott Davenport Richards Blind Injustice–2019

Richard Rodgers

Carousel–1983

Oklahoma–1984

The Sound of Music–1982 South Pacific–1981

Robert Xavier Rodríguez Frida–2017

Sigmund Romberg

The Student Prince–1978

Gioachino Rossini

The Barber of Seville–1920, 1921, 1924, 1927, 1937-45, 1948, 1951, 1952, 1954, 1957, 1959, 1961, 1965, 1967, 1971, 1977, 1987, 1991, 1997, 2005, 2021, 2023

La Cenerentola–1966, 2000

Camille Saint-Saëns

Samson and Delilah–1922, 1923, 1930, 1931, 1935, 1936, 1940-47, 1949, 1950, 1953, 1964, 1970, 1998

Arnold Schoenberg Erwartung–2001

Bedrich Smetana

The Bartered Bride–1931, 1954

Gregory Spears

Castor and Patience–2022 Fellow Travelers–2016

CINCINNATI OPERA SUPERFANS

Johann Strauss

Die Fledermaus–1928, 1950, 1951, 1963, 1964, 1967, 1972, 1980, 2016

The Gypsy Baron (Der Zigeunerbaron)–1932

Richard Strauss

Ariadne auf Naxos–1961, 2019

Elektra–2002

Der Rosenkavalier–1948, 1950, 1957, 1958, 1967, 1986, 1994, 2013

Salome–1948, 1949, 1953, 1960, 1962, 1968, 1982, 2000

Arthur Sullivan

The Gondoliers–1985

H.M.S. Pinafore–1932, 1933, 1981

The Mikado–1928, 1979

The Pirates of Penzance–1933, 1980, 2022

Trial by Jury–1933

Joseph Surdo

Enter Pauline–1929

Deems Taylor

The King’s Henchmen–1936

Through generous donations made by their peers, the following individuals have been recognized as Cincinnati Opera SuperFans because of their love and support of Cincinnati Opera.

Boris Auerbach

Patty Beggs

Robert W. Boden

Betsi Brockmeier

Melanie M. Chavez

Michael L. Cioffi

Cathy Crain

Alva Jean Crawford

Dave Grome

Liz Kathman Grubow

Barbara S. Hahn

Susanne Hasl

Karlee L. Hilliard

Don Hoffman

Doc Huffman

Gary Kidney

Nancy Wilks Lanni

Nick Lanni

Jacqueline M. Mack

Miguel Martinez

Chris Milligan

Evans Mirageas

Carol Olson

Robert Olson

Rachel A. Rowe

Regina Carswell Russo

Edward B. Silberstein

Murray Sinclaire, Jr.

Brett Stover

James D. Stapleton

John M. Tew, Jr., M.D.

Susan Tew

Ilse van der Bent

Angela Powell Walker

Ronna K. Willis

Jeannine Winkelmann

Richard Zinicola

Recognize your favorite opera SuperFan with a donation of $50 or more to Cincinnati Opera. We’ll let them know of your gift and recognize them in the 2024 Summer Festival program. Email nrader@cincinnatiopera.org or scan this code with your mobile phone camera.

Piotr IIyich Tchaikovsky

Eugene Onegin–1984, 2011

Charles Louis Ambroise Thomas

Mignon–1927, 1928, 1931, 1932, 1936, 1937, 1939, 1941-43, 1945, 1946

Viktor Ullmann

Der Kaiser von Atlantis–2004

Isaac Van Grove

The Music Robber–1926, 1927

Giuseppe Verdi

Aida–1921-24, 1926, 1927, 1929-33, 1935-1956, 1959-62, 1964, 1965, 1973, 1976, 1981, 1985, 1990, 1995, 2000, 2007, 2013, 2022

Attila–1979, 1984

Don Carlo–1961, 1984, 1989, 2009

Falstaff–1926, 1930, 1997

La Forza del Destino–1932, 1965, 1969

Macbeth–1960, 1961, 1978

A Masked Ball (Un Ballo in Maschera)–1931, 1939, 1949, 1954, 1955, 1974, 1991, 2006 Nabucco–2001

Otello–1921, 1929, 1936, 1938, 1940, 1941, 1945, 1946, 1970, 1982, 1996, 2010

Rigoletto–1920-22, 1924, 1926, 1928-32, 1935-56, 1961-63, 1965, 1967, 1969, 1971, 1973, 1979, 1982, 1992, 2005, 2011

La Traviata–1923, 1924, 1926, 1931, 1935, 1938-58, 1960, 196264, 1966-68, 1970, 1972, 1977, 1980, 1984, 1989, 1998, 2003, 2008, 2012, 2018

Il Trovatore–1921, 1922, 1926-33, 1937-49, 1951, 1952, 1957, 1958, 1964, 1965, 1968, 1970, 1975, 1980, 1986, 1994, 2015

Aleksandra Vrebalov

The Knock–2023

Richard Wagner

The Flying Dutchman (Der Fliegende Holländer)–1975, 1996, 2018

Lohengrin–1921, 1922, 1924, 1926-28, 1931, 1933, 1935-37, 1947-49

Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg–1928, 1929, 1983, 2010

Parsifal–1929, 1930

Das Rheingold–1961, 1981

Tannhäuser–1926-30, 1932, 1935, 1937-40, 1945-48

Tristan und Isolde–1949

Die Walküre–1927, 1928, 1978

Roger Waters/Julien Bilodeau

Another Brick in the Wall–2018

Carl Maria von Weber

Der Freischütz–1933

Kurt Weill

Seven Deadly Sins–2003

Jaromír Weinberger

Schwanda the Bagpiper–1986

Meredith Willson

The Music Man–1983

Ermanno Wolf-Ferrari

Jewels of the Madonna (I Gioielli della Madonna)–1927

The Secret of Susanne–1920, 1922, 1928, 1937, 1948, 1953

definitive guide to living well in Greater Cincinnati

CINCINNATI OPERA STAFF

Christopher Milligan

The Harry Fath General Director & CEO

Patricia K. Beggs

General Director Emerita

Administration & Finance

Jen DuBois Chief Financial Officer

Julie Grady Heard Director of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

Matt Singleton Director of Technology

Cecilia Spencer Controller

Kelly Holterhoff Board Relations & Administration; Director, ROKCincy

Meg Booker Administrative Intern

Artistic Evans Mirageas

The Harry T. Wilks Artistic Director

Morris Robinson Artistic Advisor

Jane Hulburt

Director of Artistic Operations

Cayla Burton Artistic Coordinator

Peggy Monastra New Works Consultant

Henri Venanzi Chorus Master

James Maverick

Assistant Chorus Master

Andrew Crooks

Head of Music Staff

Stephen Mulligan

John L. Magro Resident Conductor

Cory Battey

Andrew Crooks

Michael Delfin

Elena Kholodova

James Maverick

Kevin Miller

Matthew Umphreys Pianists

Melanie Bacaling

Gregory Boyle

Seth Hoff

Alison Pogorelc Assistant Directors

Kyle Chassels

Justin Halle

Alexander Robinson Directing Interns

Eunjin Bang Artistic Assistant

Anna Hlinomaz Company Manager

Jeysla Rosario Santos Company Management Intern

Community Engagement & Education

Tracy L. Wilson Director of Community Engagement & Education

Jemannie Severson Luong Education Manager

Ian Wisecup Community Engagement Intern

Marketing & Communications

M.Todd Bezold

Director of Marketing

Katie Syroney

Director of Communications

Zach Quortrup Director of Patron Services & Insights

Colleen Ladrick Patron Services Manager

Aimee Sposito Martini

Senior Graphic Designer & Illustrator

Gillian Kokai Marketing Intern

Sol de Maria Rodriguez

Martel

Communications Intern

Philip J. Groshong Company Photographer

Laurel Ellis

Alison Hibschle

Rebecca McNay

Maggie Seibert

Customer Service Representatives

Philanthropy

Joe Peacock

Chief Philanthropy Officer

Raye Allen Director of Leadership Giving

Tera Pierce Director of Institutional Giving

Nicolette Rader Events Manager

Maria Seffrin

Individual Giving Manager

Andrea Davies Philanthropy Associate

Grace Mattina Philanthropy Intern Production

Lyla Forlani Director of Production

Krista Billings Stage Operations Manager

Olivia Cleri Interim Production Administrator

Thomas C. Hase

Lighting Director & Resident Lighting Designer

Alex Mason Associate Lighting Director

Chad Phillips Costume Director

James Geier Wig & Makeup Designer

Candace Leyland Wig & Makeup Design Assistant

Hannah Holthaus

Production Stage Manager

Gina Hays

Peter Nictakis

Stage Managers

Megan Coutts

Tracy Hofmann

Jennelle John-Lewis

Brooke Redler

Jennifer Shaw

Madison Stone

Assistant Stage Managers

Ruth Wartman

Scenic & Prop Coordinator

Gina Cerimele-Mechley Fight & Intimacy Director

Sarah Farwell

Production Management Intern

Grace Caccavari

Annalee Crosser

Rowan Rozzi

Lily Welsh Stage Management Interns

Kate Ingram

Charlie Raschke

Lighting Interns

Nick Rohr Wig & Makeup Intern

Ali Flanagan Scenic Artist Intern

Suzanne Barnes Properties Intern

Coltan Foster Rehearsal Administrator

Laura Reyes Rehearsal Assistant

Technical

Gary Kidney Technical Director

Leah Busse Master Carpenter

David Hall Construction Carpenter

Brad Kidney Carpenter Second Hand

Todd Cummins Flyman

Kevin Eviston Master Electrician

John Parr Board Operator

Kevin Barth Master of Properties

Tim Fowler Property Second Hand

Cedric Collier Head Sound Technician

Cherl Beyersdoerfer Costumer

Iris Harmon Assistant Costumer

Jackie Andrews

Theresa Kramer

Kendall Owings Noelle Wedig-Johnston Wardrobe Technicians

House Staff

Gary Kidney Technical Director

Kevin Eviston Master Electrician

Paul Stafford Master Carpenter

Terri Kidney

Senior Event Manager

Angie Sandmann Event Manager

Kaitlyne Jones House Manager

Hope Holman Volunteer Manager

Tony Dees Custodial Services Manager

Jeff Enderle Chief Engineer

Ray Teopfert Paul Sweet Engineers

Chris Jackson Concessions Manager

Charita Schiele Safety & Security Coordinator

Angela Felts

Jans Tuada

Security Associates

Beth Troendly Rentals Manager

Alynn Rousselle Operations Administrative Assistant

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Artists’ Coffee Service: Refreshments donated by Sheila and Christopher Cole

Banking Services: PNC Bank; Huntington Bank

DEIA Partner: Dr. Yasue Kawahara

Education Partners: Opera Goes to Church: Allen Temple A.M.E. Church; Music in Motion: Episcopal Retirement Services; The Giving Voice Foundation; Stacy Shirley, yoga instructor; Fierce Residency: City of Newport; Newport High School; Sheila Williams, librettist; SensoryFriendly Rehearsal: Cincinnati Children’s Hospital; Jennifer D. Smith, PsyD, BCBA-D, Division of Developmental & Behavioral Pediatrics (DDBP); Archdiocese of Cincinnati; Asian Food Fest, Asian American Cultural Association of Cincinnati, Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber, Leadership CincinnatiUSA; Blue Ash Parks and Recreation; Chamber Music Cincinnati; Cincinnati Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired; Cincinnati Public Schools; Cincinnati Public Library; CincItalia Festival; College Hill Community Urban Redevelopment Corporation; Eye of the Artists; First United Methodist Church; I Hear Music, Inc.; Osher Lifelong Learning Institute; Princeton City Schools; ROK Cincy; Rockwern Academy; Roselawn Community Urban Redevelopment Corporation; The Carnegie Center of ColumbiaTusculum; University of Cincinnati/UC Classics Department; Voices and Visions: Expressions by Greater Cincinnati AAPI Artists; Franciscan Ministries, Inc. Cincinnati, Haircuts from the Heart

Investment Managers: PNC Institutional Investments; Johnson Investment Counsel; 1919 Investment Counsel; Fort Washington Capital Partners Group; Huntington Bank

Legal Assistance: Boris Auerbach; Robert W. Olson; Charles E. Baverman III, Jason Hilliard, Dinsmore & Shohl LLP; Sarah Clay Leyshock, Julia B. Meister, Taft Stettinius & Hollister LLP

Matching Gift Companies: Bank of America

Charitable Foundation; The Benevity Community Impact Fund; GE Foundation; Johnson & Johnson Family of Companies; Messer Construction; PNC Bank; U.S. Bank

Medical Advisor: Jennifer Wall Forrester, M.D., University of Cincinnati Medical Center

Media Partner: Classical 90.9 WGUC

Official Piano Technician: Russell McNamara, Piano Perfect

Preferred Hotel Partners: 21c Museum Hotel Cincinnati; Hilton Cincinnati Netherland Plaza; The Kinley Cincinnati Downtown

Production Partners & In-Kind: AJG Risk Management; Cincinnati Arts Association; Cincinnati Ballet; Cincinnati Music Hall; Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park; Cincinnati Stage Employees Local 5 IATSE; Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra; Cincinnati Wardrobe Union Local 864 IATSE; Hase & Associates, Ltd.; Punky’s Pixels; School for Creative and Performing Arts; Spotted Yeti; Vincent Lighting

Program Book: Produced by Cincinnati Magazine : Publisher Ivy Bayer; Director of Editorial Operations Amanda Boyd Walters; Senior Art Director Emi Villavicencio. Opera Editorial Assistance by Ashley Tongret.

Strategic Partners: ROKCincy; Young Professionals Choral Collective (YPCC)

Underwriters of the School for Creative and Performing Arts Professional Trainee Program: Cincinnati Opera is a proud member of: ArtsWave; Cincinnati USA Convention & Visitors Bureau; Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber; First World War Centenary Partnership, Imperial War Museum, London; Friends of Music Hall; Greater Cincinnati Alliance for Arts Education; Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky African American Chamber of Commerce; Hispanic Chamber Cincinnati USA; Ohio Alliance for Arts Education; Ohio Citizens for the Arts; Opera Volunteers International; Over-the-Rhine Chamber of Commerce.

Cincinnati Opera is a proud partner of:

Gala

GENERAL INFORMATION

Please Note...

• So as not to disturb audiences and performers, latecomers and those who exit during the performance will be admitted at the discretion of management.

• Please do not place coats or other objects on the Balcony or Gallery railings.

• Please turn off all mobile devices and signal watches during performances.

• Please refrain from talking or texting using a mo bile phone during performances.

• Music Hall is a smoke-free building.

• With the exception of bottled water, drinking and eating inside the performance space is pro hibited.

• Due to some subject matter and in consideration for all patrons, we strongly encourage that chil dren be at least 7 years of age to be admitted to performances. Visit our website for information on Community Engagement & Education pro gramming suitable for all ages.

Opera Insights An overview of each opera is presented one hour prior to curtain in Music Hall’s Corbett Tower. Free to all ticket holders.

Meet the Artists Patrons may meet performers outside the stage door on Central Parkway.

Assistive Listening System An infrared wireless receiver for the hearing impaired is available upon request at Guest Services in the foyer for all Springer Auditorium performances.

Audio Description Live descriptions of stage action for the visually impaired are presented by trained describers for select performances. Please inquire with event personnel.

Accessible Seating Wheelchair access and assistance with other mobility issues are available. Please request locations or assistance when ordering tickets, and please reserve early.

Elevators Elevators in Music Hall are located near the Music Hall box office in the South Hall, and in the North Hall.

SURGERY,

cincinnatiopera.org.

Box Office Hours to 5 p.m., and Saturdays and Sundays on which there are performances from 12 noon through the first intermission.

CONTACT INFORMATION