Opera Stars Concert: Joseph Calleja

Jeanette Vecchione-Donatti soprano Ramón Tebar piano

Cambier Park Friday, March 11th, 2022, 7:00 pm

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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PERFORMANCES

La mattinata (1904)

Ruggero Leoncavallo (1857-1919)

‘A vucchella (D’Annunzio, 1907)

Francesco Paolo Tosti (1846-1916)

Rondine al nido (Sica, 1926)

Vincenzo de Crescenzo (1875-1964)

Charles Gounod from Roméo et Juliette (Barbier & Carré, 1867) “Ange adorable …”

(1818-1893) (“Adorable angel – Romeo and Juliet’s Duet from Act I) from Roméo et Juliette (Barbier & Carré, 1867) “Je veux vivre” (Juliet’s Waltz) (“I want to live”” – Juliet’s Aria from Act I) from L’elisir d’amore (Romani, 1832)

Charles Gounod

Gaetano Donizetti

“Caro elisir! Sei mio! … Esulti pur la barbara” (“Dear elixir! You’re mine! – Even a barbarian exults” – Nemorino’s and Adina’s Duet from Act I)

(1797-1848)

Intermission

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PERFORMANCES C O N T I N U E D

The Magic of Mantovani

Charmaine Edelweiss

Ernö Rapée and Lew Pollack (1891-1945 & 1895-1946) Richard Rodgers (1902-1979)

Moon River

Henry Mancini (1924-1994)

I feel pretty Maria Tonight

Leonard Bernstein (1918-1990)

!

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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

JOSEPH CALLEJA T E N O R

Blessed with a golden-age voice that routinely inspires comparisons to “legendary singers from earlier eras: Jussi Björling, Beniamino Gigli, even Enrico Caruso” (Associated Press), Maltese-born Joseph Calleja has quickly become one of the most acclaimed and sought-after tenors today. His expansive discography and frequent appearances on the world’s leading opera and concert stages prompted NPR to hail him as “arguably today’s finest lyric tenor,” and led to his being voted Gramophone magazine’s 2012 Artist of the Year. A Grammynominated recording artist for Decca Classics, he has released five solo albums for the label.

Calleja was only 19 when he made his operatic debut as Macduff in Verdi’s Macbeth at the Astra Theatre in Malta, shortly before winning an award in the Hans Gabor Belvedere Competition that launched his international career. He went on to win the 1998 Caruso Competition in Milan and was a prize winner in Plácido Domingo’s Operalia in 1999, the year of his U.S. debut at the Spoleto Festival. Since then Calleja has gone on to appear with the world’s great opera companies.

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The 2021/22 season marks appearances in signature roles and exciting role debuts for Joseph Calleja. He kicks off the season with performing his signature rule Mario Cavaradossi (Tosca) at Zurich Opera. At Paris Opera Joseph Calleja celebrates his house debut performing the role of Duca (Rigoletto) before returning to the Metropolitan Opera as Mario Cavaradossi. At Deutsche Oper Berlin the tenor presents another acclaimed signature role of his - Rudolfo (La Bohéme) and sings Rodolfo at Hamburg State Opera for the revival of Luisa Miller. At Grange Park Opera Joseph Calleja stars in a new production of La Gioconda (Enzo) and finishes the season at Royal Opera House London with concert performances of Atilla (Foresto).

A sought-after concert soloist, Joseph Calleja can be heard on the best stages worldwide with his very broad repertoire. The tenor stars at the Festival Andorra before performing with the Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra at the InClassica Festival in Israel. As an acclaimed guest of Opera Naples in Florida, Joseph Calleja will return to perform at the houses gala concert after singing at the winter festival in Ljubljana. Invited as a special guest, the tenor will perform alongside Anna Netrebko at the 175th Anniversary concert at the Gran Teatre del Liceu in Barcelona presenting many of both of their acclaimed signature roles.

Highlights of the 20-21 season were Joseph Calleja’s return to the Deutsche Oper Berlin as Enzo Grimaldo in concert performances of La Gioconda. He starred in the Metropolitan Opera’s new series of Met Stars Live in Concert together with Diana Damrau, performing at the at the Royal Palace of Caserta, Italy. The program featured popular arias and duets by Verdi, Bizet, Rossini. At the Teatro Real Madrid, the tenor had his house debut performing his signature role Mario Cavaradossi in performances of Tosca. An acclaimed concert soloist, Calleja

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presented his well-loved Lanza program with the WDR Radio Orchestra at the Konzerthaus Dortmund after performing at the Opera Naples/Festival under the Stars in Florida. Further, he stared in the renowned Open-Air Gala in from of the Hermitage in St. Petersburg. Scheduled performances as Mario Cavardossi (Tosca) in Berlin and Chicago, as Duca (Rigoletto) and Riccardo (Un Ballo in Maschera) at the Bavarian State Opera in Munich, Rodolfo (La Bohéme) at the Metropolitan Opera and Alfredo (La Traviata) in Toronto in 2020/21 were cancelled due to pandemic.

Highlights from recent operatic seasons include the title characters in new productions of Faust and Les Contes d’Hoffmann at the Metropolitan Opera; Alfredo in La Traviata opposite Renée Fleming, Adorno in Simone Boccanegra alongside Plácido Domingo, and another turn in the title role of Faust at Covent Garden; new productions of La Bohème, opposite Anna Netrebko, and La Traviata at the Lyric Opera of Chicago; Maria Stuarda alongside Joyce DiDonato in concerts with the Deutsche Oper Berlin; and a new staging of Rigoletto at the Bavarian State Opera. He made his role debut as Riccardo in a new treatment of Verdi’s Un Ballo in Maschera at the Royal Opera House Covent Garden in London, as Don José in Carmen at Oper Frankfurt in a staging of Barrie Kosky, as Cavaradossi in Tosca at Grange Park Opera and portrayed Ruggero in Rolando Villazón’s staging of Puccini’s La Rondine at Deutsche Oper Berlin. Calleja appears extensively in concert throughout the world, singing with leading orchestras at summer festivals, including Salzburg, and in outdoor concerts in front of tens of thousands of people in Malta, Paris, and Munich. He was the featured soloist at the 2011 Nobel Prize Concert in Stockholm, was selected by the Maltese president to perform a private concert for Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, and toured Germany with soprano Anna Netrebko.

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As an exclusive Decca Classics recording artist since 2003, the tenor boasts an extensive discography that includes complete operas and concert repertoire, as well as six solo albums: The Golden Voice, Tenor Arias, The Maltese Tenor, Be My Love: A Tribute to Mario Lanza, Amore and The Magic of Mantovani.

His rendition of the Verdi aria “La donna è mobile” is featured on the soundtrack of No Reservations, a 2007 motion picture starring Catherine Zeta-Jones and Aaron Eckhart. He made his Hollywood debut in 2014’s The Immigrant, in which he portrays the legendary tenor Enrico Caruso in a cast with Marion Cotillard, Joaquin Phoenix, and Jeremy Renner.

Born in Malta in 1978, Joseph Calleja began singing at the age of 16, first in his church choir and then in formal training with Maltese tenor Paul Asciak. One of his native land’s biggest celebrities, Calleja was selected to serve as Malta’s first cultural ambassador in 2012, and he was named a brand ambassador for Air Malta. Calleja recently teamed up with Malta’s Bank of Valletta to form the BOV Joseph Calleja Foundation, which will serve to help children and families in need. Calleja is the recipient of the 2014 International Opera Awards’ Readers’ Award.

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JEANETTE VECCHIONE-DONATTI S O P R A N O

Internationally acclaimed soprano Jeanette VecchioneDonatti is a thrill to audiences both in the opera house and on the concert stage. In repertoire that spans from Handel to Bernstein, she has graced the stages of the Vienna State Opera, Paris Opera, Theatre des Champs Elysees, Oper Köln, Teatro del Opera di Trieste, Teatro Massimo di Catania, Teatro Mario del Monaco, Teatro Comunale di Ferrara, Teatro Auditorio Escorial, Quincena Musical de San Sebastian, Opera Toulon, Buenas Aires Lirica, Florida Grand Opera, Opera Grand Rapids, Teatro del Lago de Frutillar, Opera Theatre of Saint Louis as Lucia in Lucia di Lammermoor, Amina in La Sonnambula, both Konstanze and Blondchen in Die Entführung aus dem Serail, Olympia in Les Contes d’Hoffmann, Flaminia in Il Mondo della Luna, Clorinda in Il Combattimento di Tancredi e Clorinda, Florestine in Ghosts of Versailles, Madam Herz in Der Schauspieldirektor and most notably as the Queen of the Night in Die Zauberflöte. She has appeared as a soloist in a variety of opera, ensemble and

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song repertoire including new composers at Carnegie Hall, Philharmoniker Hamburg, NDR Radiophilharmonie Hannover, Musica Riva Festival, Ann Arbor Symphony, Santa Barbara Symphony, Southwest Florida Symphony, Albany Symphony, Norwalk Symphony and the Juilliard Orchestra. She has won numerous awards in many competitions nationally and internationally such as the Licia Albanese Puccini Foundation, Concorso Riccardo Zandonai, Renata Tebaldi Competition, Sullivan Award, Mario Lanza Competition of Philadelphia, Concorso Mario Lanza di Filignano, Giulio Gari Foundation, Bel Canto Competition, National Opera Association, Opera Pienza, Concorso Internazionale di Maria Caniglia, Concorso Lirica di Toti dal Monte among several others. Ms. Donatti attended The Juilliard School and graduated with both a Bachelors and Masters in Music.

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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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TRANSLATIONS “La mattinata” The dawn, wearing a white dress, is already allowing the sun to cross the threshold.

It’s already caressing with her pink fingers, the crowd of flowers!

The Creation all around seems moved by an arcane shiver, and you are not getting up, and I’m singing painfully in vain.

Put your white gown on and let your cantor cross the threshold!

Light lacks where you are missing, and love is born where you are.

“A vuccella” You are like a small flower, and you have a small mouthjust a little, a little faded.

Oh, give it, give it to me, It’s like a small rose!

Give me a kiss, give it to me Candida!

Give it to me and take it, a small kiss, like your small mouththat looks like a small rose, just a little, a little faded.

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“Rondine al nido” Under the eaves of the old tower, as the almond tree blossoms, a friendly swallow has returned.

Every year she returns, always in the same day.

She crosses mountains and sea to get back here.

Only love flees and does not return.

It makes you hope in vain, but it does not return.

It makes you hope in vain, but it does not return.

In the soft twilight of evening springtime is passing.

The swallows chatter in their flight — they are drunk with light and air.

But I am sad and lonely.

You do not cross mountains and sea to come back to me.

My little one, You were my whole life, but you ran away, never to return.

“Ange adorable ...” from Roméo et Juliette ROMEO Adorable angel, my guilty hand profane, daring to touch him, the divine hand which I imagine no one has a right to approach!

That, I think, Penance. that it is necessary to impose I’m erasing the unworthy trace from my hand by a kiss!

JULIETTE Calm your fears! To these hugs of the prostrate pilgrim Even the saints as long as he likes, have forgiven beforehand.

But at his mouth the hand he touches prudently must refuse this caress enchantress Let him implore in a kiss!

ROMEO The saints, however, have a mouth ruddy

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JULIETTE To pray only!

ROMEO Do not they hear the voice, who advises them A more lenient stop?

JULIETTE At the prayers of love their heart remains insensitive, Even by giving them!

ROMEO So hear my vows and keep impassive Your forehead blushing!

JULIETTE Ah! I could not defend myself! I took sin for myself!

ROMEO To calm your excitement! Do you like to return it to me?

JULIETTE No! I took it! let me!

ROMEO You took it, give it to me!

Laugh at the pain which is poisoning your heart.

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“Je veux vivre” (Juliet’s Waltz) from Roméo et Juliette I want to live in the dream that thrills me more of this day!

Sweet flame I’m guarding you in my soul like a treasure!

This thrill of youthfulness doesn’t last, alas, but a day Then comes the hour when we cry the heart yields to love and happiness flees without ever coming back!

Let me stay asleep away from the dreary winter and savor the rose’s scent before it withers.

“Caro elisir! Sei mio ... Esulti pur la barbara” from L’elisir d’amore NEMORINO Dear Elixir! you are mine!

And all mine ... - As it is mighty dee Your virtue, if not drunk again, You already fill my chest with so much joy!

But why the effect never, I cannot see it!

Oh! good! - Oh! expensive! - another sip.

Oh! what a vein in the vein Sweet warmth flows me! ... Ah! maybe it too ...

Perhaps the flame exists … She starts to feel ...

Sure, she feels it ...Joy and appetite announce it to me Which in me suddenly awoke ...

ADINA Who is that? Is it Nemorino?

So cheerful! And why?

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NEMORINO But no ... Do not appeal to us ...

Do not get tired for now. So much ... tomorrow Adore me that ruthless heart ADINA He does not look at me yet!

I do not know if it’s fake or true His playfulness!

NEMORINO So far, love does not hear!

ADINA He wants to be indifferent!

NEMORINO Exults even the barbarian for a little to my pains!

Tomorrow will have an end, tomorrow he will love me.

ADINA The stolid wants to throw his chains!

But more serious than usual he will hear them.

Very good! The lesson benefits you.

NEMORINO It is true, I put it in place So, for a trial.

ADINA So, the suffering first?

NEMORINO Forget it, I hope.

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ADINA So, the ancient fire?

NEMORINO It will quench soon.

One more day, And the heart will heal!

ADINA That consoles me ...

But, we’ll see.

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PRODUCTION STAFF

Tony Johnson Director of Production Dara Swisher Production Stage Manager Hannah Delmore Stage Manager Dan Jobbins Technical Director

Credits: Staging by Limitless Productions Lighting, Audio and Video by Sovereign Candle Collective

Special Thanks: City of Naples Parks Department Collier County Commission Crave Catering Three60 Market and Wine Shop

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BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Sondra Quinn Executive Director Ramon Tebar Artistic Director Gerald Goldberg Chairman Emeritus Larry Ost Chairman Emeritus John Pepe Vice Chairman/Treasurer Linda Kehoe Secretary Jan Burrus Sally Gleason Wendy Needham Dr. Krzysztof Biernacki DMA Moira Fennessey Livio Ferrari Patrick Moran Brian R. Dorn Ph.D. Carl Sceusa Susan Mullin Scott

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DONORS

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OPERA NAPLES STAFF

Leah Summers Artistic Coordinator Robin Shuford Frank Director of Education and Community Outreach Carla Calavitta Director of Development Kent Kyle Development Associate Rita Albaugh Box Office Manager

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A SPECIAL THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS

Nicky & John Pepe Louise & Larry Ost Lois & Bruce Selfon Susan Mullin Wendy Needham FineMark PNC Private Bank Winfield Coffee

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