La Traviata Program - Opera Naples Under the Stars

LA TRAVIATA (1852)

Music by Giuseppe Verdi Italian Libretto by Francesco Maria Piave PERFORMED IN ITALIAN WITH ENGLISH SUBTITLES

Ramón Tebar, Conductor Naples Festival Orchestra Thursday, March 11th, 2021 Saturday March 13th, 2021 7:00 pm at Baker Park

Sondra Quinn Executive Director

Ramón Tebar Artistic Director

Since 2006, Opera Naples brings internationally acclaimed artists to perform in some of the most beloved operas and world-class performances, earning significant praise from both critics and patrons. Just two years after its inception, Opera Naples was named Best Performing Arts Group by Gulfshore Life magazine!

A community-based, nonprofit arts organization rooted in volunteerism, education and audience engagement, Opera Naples conducts an educational outreach program in local schools and an artist-in-residence program for emerging opera singers and the Opera Naples Academy, a 10-day intensive for exceptional professional opera singers to train with such opera luminaries as Sherrill Milnes, Veronica Villaroel, Manny Perez, and Maestro Ramón Tebar. Opera Naples produces a full season of opera and concerts in its permanent home, the Wang Opera Center, and main stage operas in Hayes Hall at Artis-Naples.

Mission Statement: To be a professional opera company known for excellence and innovation by presenting quality opera, musical performances, education, and community engagement programs.

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CAST

Violetta Valéry Leah Partridge Alfredo Germont Dimitri Pittas Giorgio Germont Trevor Scheunemann Flora Bervoix Cara Collins Annina Mer Wohlgemuth Gastone de Letorières Bradley Bickhardt Barone Douphol Darren Drone Dottore Grenvil Andrew Hiers Marchese d’Obigny Eric Viñas Giuseppe Eleomar Cuello Commissioner Johnathan McCann Flora’s servant Salomon Cardenas

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ARTISTIC STAFF

Jeffrey Buchman Stage Director Michael Baumgarten Lighting & Video Designer David Bullard Sound Designer Glenn Avery Breed Costume Designer Brittany Rappise Wig, Hair and Make-up Designer Robert Signom III Director of Production Robin Frank Chorus Master Tonight’s performance will last approximately 2 hours and 30 minutes (including one 15-minute intermission)

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Please be sure that your cell phones and electronic devices have been silenced. The videotaping or other video or audio recording of this production is strictly prohibited

SYNOPSIS ACT I VIOLETTA’S PARISIAN APARTMENT Violetta Valéry, a young courtesan, famous in the Parisian high society, throws a party in her home. Here, Gaston, Viscount of Letorières, introduces a new admirer to her, Alfredo Germont. He confesses that the moment he saw her, he was fascinated by her beauty and intelligence, though he has never had the courage to tell her. He toasts in her honor before the whole crowd.

Suddenly, she almost faints and everyone jumps in to help, but she asks them to go away. However, Alfredo remains and sincerely declares his love for her. At first she treats him with indifference, trying to reject him, but then realizes that she has never known true love and wonders whether this provincial, honest young man will be able to convince her to love him.

He whispers words of love, warning her that her adventurous life will ruin her health. Violetta knows this, because she is suffering from tuberculosis, but she does not accept the truth and prefers to continue living in luxury and endless parties.

To have the chance to talk to him again, she gives him a flower telling him to return it when it has faded, in hope that they will meet soon.

ACT 2/SCENE 1 – VIOLETTA’S COUNTRY HOME Violetta and Alfredo have been together for three months and have withdrawn to a country house to escape their previous life. Alfredo discovers, however, that Violetta is selling all her belongings to secure their livelihood. Upset that he had not

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SYNOPSIS C O N T I N U E D

thought of this aspect of their relationship, he decides to go to Paris to raise money.

Meanwhile, Violetta receives an invitation to a ball organized by her friend Flora. But she has abandoned that lifestyle, gave up all parties for Alfredo’s sake, and no longer wishes to assume the role of a courtesan. While Alfredo is away, his father, Giorgio Germont, arrives at the house. Alfredo had hoped that Violetta’s promise to give up her life as a courtesan would persuade Germont to bless their relationship. Even though he discovers that Violetta is a kind and selfless woman, Germont asks her the impossible: to break up with his son. At first, Violetta refuses, but then she finds out that Alfredo has a sister who is getting married and her fiancé would never accept to form an alliance with a family in disgrace. Violetta understands that her status as a courtesan and her relationship with Alfredo could compromise the young girl’s future. Grieved, she decides to give up Alfredo and asks Germont to promise her that after she dies, he will explain to his son the reason why she leaves him now.

Alfredo returns and receives a letter of separation from Violetta.

Then, Germont reappears to speak privately with his son. He pleads with him to return home. Unmoved by his father’s request, Alfredo sees Flora’s invitation to the ball and angrily decides to go there to ask her for some explanations.

INTERMISSION

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SYNOPSIS C O N T I N U E D

ACT 2/SCENE 2 – FLORA’S PARISIAN APARTMENT At Flora’s ball, people are talking about Violetta’s break up with Alfredo. Violetta arrives accompanied by Baron Douphol. Blinded by jealousy, Alfredo appears. Thinking that the Baron is Violetta’s new lover, Alfredo challenges him to play and rebukes him repeatedly.

Alfredo is followed by his father, who tries to temper him. Extremely troubled by the encounter with Alfredo, Violetta asks to speak to him privately.

When everyone else retires, Alfredo secretly asks Violetta to run away with him. She refuses, hiding the promise she had made to his father. She lies to him that her new lover is Baron Douphol. In anger, Alfredo publicly humiliates Violetta, throwing money at her feet and saying he has repaid her. Giorgio Germont, who witnessed the scene, along with everyone else, violently rebukes him and the Baron challenges him to a duel.

ACT 3 – VIOLETTA’S PARISIAN APARTMENT Violetta, having spent all of her money, lives her last moments in a modest Paris apartment. The only ones who stay by her side are Annina and Dr. Grenvil, who tells Annina that Violetta has merely a few hours to live. The carnival is underway in the streets of Paris and the cheers of the masqueraders can be heard. Violetta sends Annina to give the last bit of money she has to the poor, so that she may be alone to read a letter from Giorgio Germont.

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SYNOPSIS C O N T I N U E D

Full of remorse, he confesses that he had written to his son about her sacrifice and that they will soon come to visit her. Their return occurs too late, because Violetta is going through the final stages of her illness. Alfredo confesses once more his love for Violetta, who dies comforted by the thought that she has received the forgiveness of the man she loved.

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CAST AND CREATIVE TEAM RAMÓN TEBAR C O N D U C T O R

Artistic Director Ramon Tebar is considered one of the leading Spanish conductors of his generation. Recently appointed new Artistic Director and Chief Conductor of Valencia Symphony Orchestra in Spain for a first period of four years, he holds other notable positions in both America and Europe.

Acclaimed for his musical versatility, compelling interpretations and orchestra building skills, conductor Ramón Tebar’s international reputation in both the opera and orchestral arenas continues to expand.

Ramón Tebar has been recognized with various honors and awards, including the Henry C. Clark Conductor of the Year Award by Florida Grand Opera in 2010 and 2013, The Miami Herald as “Top 20 under 40” and “100 españoles by Marca España”. In 2014, he was bestowed the Cross of Officer of the Order of Mérito Civil in recognition of his cultural accomplishments by His Majesty, the King of Spain Felipe VI. Tebar has recorded for UNIVERSAL MUSIC, UNITEL CLASSICA and DECCA.

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CAST AND CREATIVE TEAM

JEFFREY BUCHMAN S T A G E

D I R E C T O R

Opera News calls Director Jeffrey Buchman “a formidable talent.”

This season, Mr. Buchman directs Three Decembers (Heggie), New York Stories (Hagen), Trouble in Tahiti and Signor Deluso (Pasatieri) all for Florida Grand Opera, where he previously directed La bohème, Die Zauberflöte, Rigoletto and Eugene Onegin. In recent seasons, he directed Carmen for Atlanta Opera, Opera Carolina and Toledo Opera; Roméo et Juliette, La Traviata, Don Giovanni and Die Zauberflöte for The Academy of Vocal Arts (AVA); As One for Hawaii Opera Theater and Opera Colorado; Ricky Ian Gordon’s 27 for Michigan Opera Theatre; Il barbiere di Siviglia for Baltimore Opera; Tosca for Opera Tampa, and at Opera Naples he has created productions of Le nozze di Figaro, Carmen, Madama Butterfly, Faust, Die Zauberflöte, Turandot, Don Pasquale, and Il trovatore. Previous engagements also include La tragédie de Carmen and Il barbiere di Siviglia for Syracuse Opera; Turandot and Manon Lescaut for Mobile Opera; Così fan tutte and Die Zauberflöte at Brevard Music Center; South Pacific and Rigoletto for Anchorage Opera and Hänsel und Gretel for Sarasota Opera.

He continues in his post as Stage Director for the Frost School of Music at the University of Miami Frost School of Music.

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CAST AND CREATIVE TEAM

LEAH PARTRIDGE V I O L E T T A

VA L É R Y

Soprano, Leah Partridge has performed world-wide to great acclaim in some of opera’s greatest roles. After her recent dazzling performances of Diana in the Mozart like comedy L’Arbore di Diana in 2017, The Minneapolis Star Tribune declared, “Leah Partridge actually stopped the show!” Most recently, she has performed Helena in Britten’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream with the Teatro Massimo in Palermo, Italy, Ellen Orford in Peter Grimes at the Palau de les Arts in Valencia, Spain, Musetta in La bohème with the Atlanta Opera and Washington National Opera, Mimi in La bohème and Nedda in Pagliacci with Opera Omaha, and the four heroines in Les Contes d’Hoffman with Seattle Opera. Highlights of her career include performances of Violetta in La Traviata with Semper Oper Dresden, Lucia in Lucia di Lammermoor with Teatro Colòn in Buenos Aires and her Metropolitan Opera debut in 2008 in Peter Grimes as the First Niece followed by several return engagements and live in HD broadcasts.

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CAST AND CREATIVE TEAM

DIMITRI PITTAS A L F R E D O

G E R M O N T

Dimitri Pittas has performed on leading opera stages throughout North America and Europe, including the Bavarian State Opera, the Vienna State Opera, the Royal Opera at Covent Garden, and the Canadian Opera Company. He is a graduate of the Metropolitan Opera’s Lindemann Young Artist Development Program and has been heard on the Met stage as Rodolfo in La bohème, Macduff in Macbeth, Nemorino in L’elisir d’amore, and Tamino in Die Zauberflöte. For his debut with Canadian Opera Company as the Duke in Rigoletto, the Toronto Star said, “Dimitri Pittas comes off the best as the Duke of Mantua, with a flexible voice that can express real love and shallow desire with equal conviction.” Recent engagements include his role debut as Don José in Carmen at Welsh National Opera directed by Jo Davies and conducted by Tomáš Hanus and he was heard as Pinkerton in Anthony Minghella’s iconic production of Madama Butterfly for his house debut at English National Opera conducted by Martyn Brabbins.

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CAST AND CREATIVE TEAM

TREVOR SCHEUNEMANN G I O R G I O

G E R M O N T

Praised by Opera News for his “lovely timbre”, and “dramatic timing”, and by the Washington Post for his “rich and gleaming” voice, Trevor Scheunemann quickly established himself as one of opera’s leading baritones. Recent performances include Marcello in Florida Grand Opera’s production of La bohème, Handel’s Messiah with the National Philharmonic and Faure’s Requiem with The Choral Arts Society of Washington, both at the Kennedy Center. Scheunemann is in demand at revered houses around the world for his thoughtful, original portrayals. Highlights of his career include performances as Sharpless in Madama Butterfly with Théâtre du Capitol de Toulouse, Washington National Opera, and Teatro Municipal Santiago; Count Almaviva in Le nozze di Figaro with San Francisco Opera, The Metropolitan Opera, Washington National Opera, and Opéra National de Bordeaux; Guglielmo in Cosí fan tutte with Oper Frankfurt and Washington National Opera; and the title role in Don Giovanni with Washington National Opera and L’Opéra de Monte Carlo.

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CAST AND CREATIVE TEAM

CARA COLLINS F L O R A

B E R V O I X

Praised for the “sweet and seductive” tones of her voice, mezzosoprano Cara Collins is establishing herself through rich singing and dynamic acting. Collins most recently performed Mother and Witch in Hänsel und Gretel at Palm Beach Opera, where she was a Benenson Young Artist last season. A lover of new opera, Collins performed the title role of Brittomara in Jake Heggie and Gene Scheer’s World Premiere of If I Were You at the Merola Opera Program. Other notable roles include Prince Orlofsky in Die Fledermaus at Amarillo Opera, Third Lady in The Magic Flute at Sarasota Opera, Dinah in Trouble in Tahiti at Opera on the James, and Berta in Il barbiere di Siviglia at Opera North. Collins’ training includes young artist residencies with Palm Beach Opera, Merola, Sarasota Opera, Opera on the James, Opera North and holds a BM from SUNY Purchase Conservatory of Music.

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CAST AND CREATIVE TEAM

MER WOHLGEMUTH A N N I N A

Mer Wohlgemuth, soprano, is from Winter Haven, FL, and just completed her Master of Music in Vocal Arts at The Juilliard School where she continues to study with Marlena Malas. Last fall, Mer sang Despina in Juilliard’s new production of Così fan tutte. Last season, Mrs. Wohlgemuth sang the role of Tytania in Britten’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream at The Chautauqua Institution, Belinda in Purcell’s Dido and Aeneas with Juilliard 415, and Tirsi in Handel’s Clori Tirsi e Fileno in Alice Tully Hall. Other past productions include Nerone in Monteverdi’s L’incoronazione di Poppea and various productions of Die Zauberflöte in both America and Germany. She won the Encouragement Award at both the 2019 and 2020 Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions (New York Region). Mer is a recipient of the Novick Career Advancement Grant.

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CAST AND CREATIVE TEAM

BRADLEY BICKHARDT G A S T O N E

D E

L E T O R I È R E S

Tenor Brad Bickhardt, from Columbia, New Jersey is a recent graduate of Indiana University with a Master’s in Vocal Performance, where he also completed his undergraduate degree under the tutelage of Professor Emeritus Andreas Poulimenos. He worked for the previous two years as an Associate Instructor of Voice at IU and maintains a private voice studio. He has previously been on the rosters of The Glimmerglass Festival, Wolf Trap Opera, Opera Saratoga, and Charlottesville Opera. Favorite role portrayals have included Alfredo (La traviata), Harlekin (Der Kaiser von Atlantis), Nemorino (L’elisir d’amore), and Tony (West Side Story) which garnered praise for his “soaring voice” (The Herald Times). Mr. Bickhardt has been named an Encouragement Award winner of the Central Region for the Metropolitan Opera National Council, and this previous November, was named a Winner of the Wisconsin District. He is a student of Heidi and Kevin Murphy.

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CAST AND CREATIVE TEAM

DARREN DRONE B A R O N E

D O U P H O L

Darren Drone’s 2020-21 season began with his second year of residency with Michigan Opera Theatre. During his first year with the company, roles included covering Leporello in Don Giovanni, covering the title role of Sweeney Todd, performing both the title role of Gianni Schicchi as well as Buoso’s Ghost, covering Tonio in Pagliacci, and preparing the role of Young Man/Man in Bar in Champion (canceled due to COVID-19). In the spring of 2020, Mr. Drone was awarded as a semifinalist in the Lotte Lenya Competition, and was scheduled to make his company debut with Opera Maine as William in The Fall of the House of Usher (canceled due to COVID-19). In 2021, Mr. Drone looks forward to making his company debut with Opera Naples as Riff in West Side Story and singing Baron Douphol while covering Germont in La traviata, as well as making a role debut as the title role in Le nozze di Figaro with Opera in the Heights. In the summer of 2021, Mr. Drone will join the Santa Fe Opera, covering the roles of the Count in Le nozze di Figaro, Starveling in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and the Captain in Eugene Onegin.

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CAST AND CREATIVE TEAM

ANDREW HIERS D O T T O R E

G R E N V I L

Bass-baritone Andrew Allan Hiers is grateful for the opportunity to perform again. During the industry-wide shutdown Mr. Hiers participated in several online opportunities benefitting young artists affected by the pandemic. His YouTube recording of “Little Priest” from Sweeney Todd featured by the Merola Opera Program’s fundraiser was a particular highlight as it was his first time editing and directing.

His experience on national stages is highlighted by performing Don Magnifico in La Cenerentola with Merola and a year-long residency with Opera Colorado which culminated in a student matinee performance as the title character in Falstaff. A native Floridian, Mr. Hiers is proud to work both nationally and regionally having performed with Sarasota Opera, Gulfshore Opera, Gulfcoast Symphony Orchestra, Miami Classical Music Festival, Opera Fusion in addition to Opera Naples where he started as a participant in the Opera Academy. He is originally from West Palm Beach and a graduate of Florida State University. Follow along Andrew Allan Hiers’ musical journey by visiting www.andrewallanhiers.com.

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CAST AND CREATIVE TEAM

ERIC VIÑAS

M A R C H E S E

D ’ O B I G N Y

Both at the Miami Music Festival in Miami, Viñas’ performing has been noted for “movie star charisma” by the South Florida Classical Review on his debut operatic role as Sid in Benjamin Britten’s ​Albert Herring​. Other comments include, from his 2017 performance of Jake Heggie’s Dead Man Walking​, from Carly Gordon of Schmopera “Viñas’ crooning, cocky De Rocher stole the show, at once raw, frightened, and menacing. Viñas captured De Rocher’s anger and desperation with languid, smoky finesse.” Other roles include a debut as Marcello in Puccini’s ​La bohème​; Harlekin in A ​ riadne auf Naxos​; Don Giovanni in D ​on Giovanni​; ​​In Los Angeles, participation of a world premiere of LA composer Michael Webster’s operatic adaptation of famous Samuel Beckett radio play ​All That Fall entitled ​Nice day for the Races​; At USC, Melisso in ​Alcina​; and in spring of 2019, role debut as Conte Almaviva in an updated production of timeless​ Le nozze di Figaro​.

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PRODUCTION PERSONNEL (IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER)

MICHAEL BAUMGARTEN LIGHTING & VIDEO DESIGNER Mr. Baumgarten makes his debut with Opera Naples designing both lighting and video for the Festival. Mr. Baumgarten has designed lighting, scenery and video for over 450 productions at regional and international opera companies, including New York City Opera, Opera Carolina, Florida Grand Opera, Opera Lyra Ottawa, Manitoba Opera, Arizona Opera, Santa Fe Opera, Lyric Opera Kansas City, Palm Beach Opera, Toledo Opera, Opera Grand Rapids, Michigan Opera Theater and Opera Columbus during his thirty-plus year design career. A graduate of the Yale School of Drama and member of United Scenic Artists-Local 829, he assisted on Broadway during the 1980’s, working with such designers as Craig Miller, Tom Skelton, Beverly Emmons, Jim Ingalls, and Richard Nelson. Mr. Baumgarten has been the Director of Production and Resident Lighting/Video Designer for Opera Carolina in Charlotte since 2005, and for Chautauqua Opera since 1999.

GLENN AVERY BREED

COSTUME DESIGNER MFA – University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, Cincinnati, Ohio. BA- St. Edwards University, Austin, Texas. Glenn is currently a Full Professor of Costume Design and Technology at the University of West Florida in Pensacola, FL. Having taught and designed at UWF for 15 years. He is also the Owner/Designer

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PRODUCTION PERSONNEL

of Wardrobe Witchery Opera and Theatrical Costumes a rental house that produces and rents 40-60 productions a year. His most recent designs include: Carmen at Pensacola Opera, Cosi Fan Tutte at Opera Grand Rapids, Something Rotten! For Le Petit Theatre in New Orleans, LA, Pagliacci at North Carolina Opera, Rigoletto at St. Petersburg Opera, La bohème at Toledo Opera and Naples Opera, The Man of La Mancha at Shreveport Opera, Die Fledermaus at Amarillo Opera and La bohème at Cleveland Opera Theatre.

DAVID BULLARD

SOUND DESIGNER Sound Design: A Light in the Piazza and Ainadamar with Jeffrey Buchman (Frost School of music), War of the Worlds (LA Philharmonic/The Industry), Savage Winter (BAM), Noon to Midnight (LA Philharmonic), The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (Cleveland Playhouse), The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time (St Louis Rep – Theatre Circle Award nomination, Cincinnati Playhouse), The Secret Garden (Cincinnati Playhouse, Baltimore Center Stage), Three Tales (LA Philharmonic, Carnegie Hall), NETworks presents: Anything Goes (National Tour), Men’s Lives (Bay Street Theatre), Ninth and Joanie (LABrynth Theatre), Amadeus (Old Globe Theatre – Critics Circle Nomination), One Night Only: A Night with Al Pacino (International Tour), On Golden Pond (National Tour), The Unexpected Man (New York & LA, Drama Desk and Lortel Nomination) Concert work for Steve Reich, New York Philharmonic, The Metropolitan Opera, and Donny & Marie Osmond. Associate designer for over 20 Broadway shows and tours.

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PRODUCTION PERSONNEL

MONICA COOK

A S S I S TA N T S TAG E M A N AG E R Monica Cook is thrilled to be working on her first production with Opera Naples. Other credits include Rocking Horse Winner/ Vinkensport, Fille du Regiment, and Il Postino (Opera Saratoga); Tosca (Tri-Cities Opera); Scalia Ginsburg/Trial by Jury and Suor Angelica/Il Tabarro (Opera Delaware); Lookingglass Alice (Baltimore Center Stage); Mary Poppins and The Snowy Day (Adventure Theater MTC); and Internships at Actor’s Express (Atlanta) and Baltimore Center Stage respectively.

MARCIE FRIEDMAN

P R O D U C T I O N S TAG E M A N AG E R Recent/favorite opera credits: New York City Opera, Sarasota Opera, Dayton Opera, Knoxville Opera, Central City Opera, Tulsa Opera and Opera Saratoga. National Tours: Flamenco Vivo Carlotta Santana, The Acting Company and the Kennedy Center’s Nobody’s Perfect, a musical for children in American Sign Language. New York/Regional: Baltimore CenterStage, Westport Country Playhouse, Manhattan Theatre Club, Soho Rep, The Lake Theatre, Adirondack Theatre Festival, The Philadelphia Orchestra and Lincoln Center Out of Doors/Midsummer Night Swing. Marcie also works as an event production manager and is an Associate Production Manager for New Year’s Eve in Times Square.

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PRODUCTION PERSONNEL

MATTHEW IMHOFF

TECHNICAL DIRECTION, SCENIC SUPERVISION Matthew Imhoff is an award winning scenic and lighting designer.

His work has been described by the New York Times as “beautifully designed [and] dreamily evocative” and has been featured in the New Yorker Magazine. Matthew has collaborated with such notable institutions as Signature Theatre, Cherry Lane, Carnegie Hall, Gershwin Entertainment, and the Manhattan School of Music. Previously for Opera Naples: Carmen and Aida (Technical Director). Scenic Supervision for A Charlie Brown Christmas Live national tours. Selected Off-Broadway: A Modest Proposal (world premiere, Cherry Lane Theatre); soot and spit (New York Times Critics’ Pick); Love and Yogurt; Game of Thrones: The Rock Musical; A Little Princess: A New Musical (Signature Theatre, U.S. premiere); Disney’s High School Musical; Frankenstein (now in its fourth year). Additional NYC: Proof; Rabbit Hole; Hamlet; Anna in the Tropics. MFA: Michigan State University. BA: Luther College.

ROBERT KLEIN

S TAG E M A N AG E R Selected Opera Credits – Sarasota Opera; La serva padrona, Romeo et Juliete, Brundibar Rita, Il segretto di Susannah; Opera Saratoga; Hansel and Gretel, The Consul; Opera Delaware; Suor Angelica, Il tabarro; Opera Naples; La bohème: Eugene Opera; As One, HMS Pinafore. Robert also works as an Assistant Production Manager for Opera Saratoga.

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PRODUCTION PERSONNEL

ROBIN SHUFORD FRANK CHORUS MASTER

Robin Shuford Frank is Chorus Master, Music Administrator, and Director of Education & Community Outreach for Opera Naples.

She has prepared the chorus and served as a rehearsal pianist on over 40 of Opera Naples’ mainstage productions and has musically directed over 20 youth and outreach productions.

Ms. Frank is an adjunct professor in the Bower School of Music at Florida Gulf Coast University, the accompanist for The Festival Singers of Florida, and performs as a freelance pianist. She has degrees from Westminster Choir College and Florida State University.

ROBERT SIGNOM III

DIRECTOR OF PRODUCTION Rob returns to Opera Naples for his fifth opera. As Production Manager, he has worked for The American Opera Project, TriCities Opera, LaGuardia High School, Opera Saratoga, Gotham Chamber Opera, The Ensemble Studio Theatre, HERE Arts Center, Ideal Glass Gallery, and NJPAC, as well as The Civilians and Waterwell. Rob has worked on over 85 productions, concerts and industrials in New York and regionally with Frankie Valli, Jackie Mason, Susan Sarandon, Bruce Springsteen, Jack Nicholson, Toni Morrison, Yogi Berra, Buzz Aldrin, They Might Be Giants, and many others. Rob is the Curator of The Citizens’ Motorcar Company, America’s Packard Museum, as well as a member of Packard Automobile Classics, the Classic Car Club of America, First Presbyterian Church, and The Players’. He is also an Eagle Scout and a graduate of NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts.

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NAPLES FESTIVAL ORCHESTRA Violin I

Violin II

Mei Mei Luo (Concert Mistress) Monica Cheverson Erika Venable Michael O’Gieblyn Ian Jesse Liz Kitts

Charles Hardt (Principal) Janie Spangler Tony Seepersad Roberto Enriqes Georgeta Miller

Viola

Cello

Bass

Carl Larson Hilary Gamble Nelson Armitano Angela Kratchmer

Shea Kole Angela Maleh Jared Cooper Suzie Kelly

Hideki Sunaga (Principal) Douglas Ferreira

Flute

Trumpet

Oboe

Jennifer Grim (Principal)

Jeffery Kaye

Erin Gittelsohn (Principal)

Clarinet

Bassoon

French Horn

Julian Santacoloma (Principal) Orlando Scalia

Carlos Felipe Viña

Christopher Komer (Principal) Stan Spinola

Trombone

Timpani

Percussion

Jose Leonardo Leon

Mark Schubert

Gary Mayone

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CHORUS

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SOPRANO

ALTO

Paula Alva Valeria Estrada Heloise Hoffman Kendall Hughes Danielle Krause Jade Rojas

Arienne Fort Diane Hackem Evelyn Kasper Patricia Sampson AnaMaria Weinmuller

TENOR

BASS

David Scott Brown Salomon Cardenas Johnathan McCann Trenton Philips Javier Rosado-Millan

Eleomar Cuello Louis Dall’Ava Charley Nevaril Frans Ronsholt

DONORS

With heartfelt thanks, Opera Naples acknowledges our generous sponsors who make the grandest of art forms thrive in Southwest Florida.

CLICK HERE TO SEE OUR DONORS

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PRODUCTION STAFF

Marcie Friedman Production Stage Manager Robert Klein Stage Manager Monica Cook Assistant Stage Manager Matthew Imhoff Technical Director

Kathleen Kolacz Mary Anne McKerrow Costume Coordinators John McKerrow, Victor Miller Wardrobe Assistants Gina Weiner Hair and Makeup Assistant Julia McCracken Props Master

Intuitive Production Management Production Management

Kate Lundell Props Coordinator

Rome Brown Master Electrician

Jonathan Kelly Prompter and Rehearsal Pianist

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CREDITS Supertitles Chadwick Creative Arts Public Relations, Marketing and Design B3 Marketing Gravina, Smith, Matte & Arnold Staging TechTronics Productions Lighting, Audio and Video Harmon’s Audio Visual Props Propstar Sarasota Opera The Asolo Repertory Theatre Costumes Courtesy of Wardrobe Witchery Wigs Courtesy of The Makeup Wigstress.

Special Thanks: City of Naples Parks Department, Collier County Commission, The Revs Institute, United Arts Council, The Naples Players, TheatreZone, Crave Catering, Jake Maciosek of Business Attraction Media.

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OPERA NAPLES STAFF

Leah Summers Artistic Coordinator Robin Shuford Frank Director of Education and Community Outreach Patricia Chibende Finance and Operations Director Carri Kreisman Business Development and Events Manager Rita Albaugh Box Office Manager

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A SPECIAL THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS

Cassiopeia Sponsors First Florida Integrity Bank Sally and Thomas Gleason Nicoletta and John Pepe Sandi and Tom Moran

Special Thanks The French Restaurant

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