LLO Playbill 2024 - The Magic Flute

The Magic Flute The Magic Flute

Landsdowne Woods of Virginia

19375 Magnolia Grove Square

Leesburg, VA

May 4 - 7:00 PM

May 5 - 4:00 PM

St. James’ Episcopal Church 14 Cornwall St NW

Leesburg, VA

May 11 - 7:00 PM

May 12 - 7:00 PM

Music by W. A. Mozart | Libretto by Emanuel Schikaneder

Stage Direction by Erica Ferguson | Music Direction by Mark Irchai

This production is supported in part by:

The Virginia Commission of the Arts

The National Endowment for the Arts

The Town of Leesburg

The Purcellville Arts Council

The Clarence L. Robey Charitable Trust

From the Artistic Director

Welcome! I’m so grateful to all of you for joining Loudoun Lyric Opera, your resident opera company of Loudoun County. This production has been a monumental expansion of our endeavors since the pandemic, and there are many, many people to thank. First, not enough gratitude could be offered to our production team, which has worked tirelessly to make things happen. In particular, a large thank you goes to Erica Ferguson, who has not only been an indefatigable stage director, but also instrumental in her assistance in tapping into the indelible talent of Northern Virginia. I also want to thank our co-producers, Shelby Milgram and Tracy Buracker, who have spent countless hours moving mountains to coordinate many, many moving pieces. A huge thank you to our diction coach and mentor to our spirits, Amanda Zoe Vest Wyand, who helped us to experience the thrill of childlike wonder in this production. And, a tremendous thanks to our Board of Directors, a brilliantly collaborative team of like-minded individuals that continue to inspire me every time we meet.

I’d also love to extend an incredible thank you to the folks at Landsdowne Woods of Virginia, who’ve helped enable us to rehearse this most precious art form for weeks! They’ve made indelible sacrifice in allowing us to use their space, and we hope you appreciate just as much as we do how incredible this gift has been to us. Additionally, many thanks to the institutions that have helped make this production possible, including Shakespeare Theatre Co, Signature Theatre, the UMD Costume Shop, and Victorian Lyric Opera Company.

The Magic Flute is one of those operas that most people seem to know – or, at least, have heard of. It’s up there with Carmen, or La Boheme, in how deeply it has figured into the modern cultural landscape. Amusingly, though, The Magic Flute has also one of the most admittedly absurd plots out of any opera. But, this may have been on purpose. Mozart wrote this opera in the last year of his life, and he likely had much to consider, as he continued to fall into greater and greater debt, despite how prolific he’d been as a composer. Importantly, Mozart was also a Freemason, along with his friend Schikaneder, the librettist, at a time when being one was quite frowned upon. (Not that it has ever been particularly ‘vogue’ to an ostensible degree.) It is no wonder that the “good” people of this show are,

in fact, part of some strange, mysterious brotherhood, connected to the Sun. Symbolism abounds, rampantly so, and, when done right, is more than enough to create a sense of magic and wonderment.

At its heart, this opera is a quest for love, and one’s place in the world. The characters of this show form a terrible binary – either they are for love, or they are against love. Monostatos, as a character, goes even further, to be a character that is impossible to love. (We’ve removed in this production the racist allegories used to present this character, but I encourage you to read more about his character, and his history.)

Mozart portrays stunning resolution in their stances The Queen’s famous Act II Aria is an aria of violence and fury – Sarastro’s opposing aria (sung in the relative major key), is that of long line and relative simple peace. But neither of them seem to have the endearing quality of truly opening themselves to love in the way that Pamina does in “Ach ich fuhls”. Three differing stances – an iconic tool of Mozart’s, where so many, many things are presented with the rule of ‘threes’.

I’m also particularly excited by this production because of the unique incorporation of the piano into the set and life of this show. Often, smaller budget opera companies will utilize the piano instead of an orchestra, much as we currently do (though we’d love your help to make orchestral accompaniment a greater reality!). But there is often an acknowledgment of this state of being resulting simply from budget constraints. As a concert pianist myself, I always found the idea of apologizing for the piano a little bit humorous. So, I’m grateful to my colleagues for indulging me in the idea of instead making the incorporation of the piano an artistic choice. I hope you will find that it adds to the magic of this story, and that it helps to add to the life of this magical place where one can find love –with just a little help from the spirits, and from music.

Please feel free to chat afterwards – I’d love to know what you think! And please stay in touch with us for future productions.

Yours,

Mark Irchai

Artistic Director, Loudoun Lyric Opera

Synopsis

Act I

We begin in a mythical land somewhere between the sun and the moon. Three ladies in the service of the Queen of the Night save Prince Tamino from a serpent. When they leave to tell the queen, the bird-catcher Papageno appears. He boasts to Tamino that it was he who killed the creature. The ladies return to give Tamino a portrait of the queen’s daughter, Pamina, who they say has been captured by the evil Sarastro. Tamino immediately falls in love with the girl’s picture. The queen, appearing in a burst of thunder, tells Tamino about the loss of her daughter and commands him to rescue her. The ladies give a magic flute to Tamino and silver bells to Papageno to ensure their safety on the journey and appoint three spirits to guide them.

Sarastro’s servant Monostatos pursues Pamina but is frightened away by Papageno. The bird-catcher tells Pamina that Tamino loves her and is on his way to save her. Led by the three spirits to the temple of Sarastro, Tamino learns from a high priest that it is the Queen, not Sarastro, who is evil. Hearing that Pamina is safe, Tamino charms the wild animals with his flute, then rushes off to follow the sound of Papageno’s pipes. Monostatos and his men chase Papageno and Pamina but are left helpless when Papageno plays his magic bells. Sarastro enters in great ceremony. He punishes Monostatos and promises Pamina that he will eventually set her free. Pamina catches a glimpse of Tamino, who is led into the temple with Papageno.

Act II

Sarastro tells the priests that Tamino will undergo initiation rites. Monostatos tries to kiss the sleeping Pamina but is surprised by the appearance of the Queen of the Night. The Queen gives her daughter a dagger and orders her to murder Sarastro.

Sarastro finds the desperate Pamina and consoles her, explaining that he is not interested in vengeance. Tamino and Papageno are told by a priest that they must remain silent and are not allowed to eat, a vow that Papageno immediately breaks when he takes a glass of water from a flirtatious old lady. When he asks her name, the old lady vanishes. The three spirits appear to guide Tamino through the rest of his journey and to tell Papageno to be quiet. Tamino remains silent even when Pamina appears. Misunderstanding his vow for coldness, she is heartbroken.

The priests inform Tamino that he has only two more trials to complete his initiation. Papageno, who has given up on entering the brotherhood, longs for a wife instead. He eventually settles for the old lady. When he promises to be faithful she turns into a beautiful young Papagena but immediately disappears.

Pamina and Tamino are reunited and face the ordeals of water and fire together, protected by the magic flute.

Papageno tries to hang himself on a tree but is saved by the three spirits, who remind him that if he uses his magic bells he will find true happiness. When he plays the bells, Papagena appears and the two start making family plans. The Queen of the Night, her three ladies, and Monostatos attack the temple but are defeated. Sarastro blesses Pamina and Tamino, and offers a hand of reconciliation to the Queen and her three ladies as all join in hailing the triumph of courage, virtue, and wisdom.

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Cast

In

order of appearance

Prince Tamino

1st Lady

2nd Lady

3rd Lady

Papageno

The Queen of the Night

Monostatos, servant of the Queen

Pamina, daughter of the Queen

The Three Spirits

Speaker of the Temple

Sarastro

Two Priests/Armored Men

Papagena

* May 4-5

Jietong Fu

Jennifer Simone Smith

Elizebeth Barnes

Madeline Manaker

Chris Fotis

Hayley Abramowitz

Andy Boggs

Rachel Sitomer

Gigi Ruse, Deven Nath, Adelyn Begg

Kerry Wilkerson * Henrique Carvalho †

Albert Niedel

Daniel Fleming

Joshua Slutsky

Christina Krawec

† May 11-12

Production Team with thanks

Stage Director

Co-producer

Co-producer

Music Director

Stage Manager and Technical Director

Costume Designer

Set and Prop Designer

Choreographer

Diction Coach

Erica Ferguson

Tracy Buracker

Shelby Milgram

Mark Irchai

James Campanella

Tessa Grippaudo

Ksenya Litvak

Tracy Buracker

Amanda Zoe Vest Wyand

Thanks to our donors!

Diva ($1500 -3499)

Benjamin & Jane Banner

Bravo Backer ($250 -1499)

David & Pamela Butler

Lillian & Michael Rohrer

Joaquin Goquiolay

Michael & Tanya Langlois

Tracy Buracker

Mark Irchai

Gregory Stuart

Dona Wolf

The Town of Purcellville Arts Council Grant

The Town of Leesburg Creative Communities Partnership Grant

The Clarence L. Robey Charitable Trust

Friends of LLO (Up to $249)

Ruth Hillock

Arnold Irchai

Kathy Jacobson Marich

Kathryn E. Jones-Smith

Kimberly Nguyen

Betty Festa

Piotr Gajewski

Nancy Dutton Potter

Nick Thompson

Aleese Maj

Gabriela Bohnett

Suzae Johnson

Maureen Walker Basta Miller

Bios

Tamino - Dr. Jietong Fu is a lyric tenor from Xiamen, China. He came to the United States in 2019 and earned his D.M.A degree at Texas Tech University in 2022. As a performer, Dr. Fu has performed operas and cantatas in many theaters including National Center for Performing arts (China), Banlam Grand Theater (China), Fujian Grand Theater (China), Petronas Phiharmonic Hall (Malaysia), Esplanade - Theatres on the Bay (Singapore), Kennedy Center (US), Lubbock Civic Center (US). He has performed opera roles such as Tamino in The Magic Flute, Ernesto in Don Pasquale, and Alfred in Die Fledermaus. As a teacher, Dr. Fu has offered voice lessons for undergraduate students at Xiamen University and Texas Tech University, and has directed several Mozart operas. Dr. Fu currently live in Baltimore with his wife, pianist Dr. Xin Wu, they study at Peabody Institute in GPD program, where they continues to focus on music performance.

1st Lady - Soprano Jennifer Simone Smith recently made her LA Opera choral debut in the Pulitzer Prize winning opera Omar, a new composition by Rhiannon Giddens. Jennifer performed with the Sunday Service collective, Kanye West’s choir and appeared on the Amazon Prime live concert at The Coliseum in LA featuring Drake. Other appearances include Bronx Opera covering the role of Alice in Verdi’s Falstaff. She has also performed at Symphony Space and Scorca Hall as Poppea in L’incoronazione di Poppea and at Carnegie Hall as Violetta in La traviata with the New York Lyric Opera Theatre. Originally from Baltimore, MD, Jennifer’s local venues include The Hippodrome, The Kennedy Center, Basilica of the Assumption, and with The Baltimore Symphony Orchestra at the Meyerhoff. Jennifer resides in Baltimore, Maryland with her two sons.

2nd Lady - Praised for “singing and acting with assurance, liveliness and wit,” mezzo-soprano Elizebeth Barnes is a commanding performer who is passionate about opera, new music, and making those genres available to diverse audiences. Ms. Barnes is thrilled to reprise the beloved role of Zweite Dame in Loudoun Lyric's Production of Die Zauberflöte. Ms. Barnes started this season singing Sandman in Hansel and Gretel with Shakespeare Opera Theater, and looks forward to returning to New Mexico this summer to present a solo recital entitled, "Why Fades a Dream?" Last season, Mrs. Barnes made her role debut as Tisbe in La Cenerentola with Bel Cantanti Opera, and returned as a rostered member of Baltimore Musicales to perform in two recital series, “Love’s Messengers,” and “Phenomenal Women: Spring’s Renewal.” Ms. Barnes has previously covered Countess Charlotte Malcolm in A Little Night Music with The Aspen Opera Center. Ms. Barnes was featured in Fort Worth Opera’s Frontiers: New Work Showcase, where she sang the title role in a selection from Albert Nobbs. She was also an Apprentice Artist with Sarasota Opera, covering the role of Zweite Dame in Die Zauberflöte. She appeared with The Hawaii Performing Arts Festival as Jo March in Little Women.

Ms. Barnes’ roles include: Cherubino in Le nozze di Figaro, Dorabella in Così fan tutte, Suor Zelatrice in Suor Angelica, Dido in Dido and Aeneas, Prince Charmant in Cendrillon, Edith in Pirates of Penzance, and Peep-Bo in The Mikado. An alumna of The Hartt School of Music, Ms. Barnes received her Masters of Music from The Eastman School of Music.

3rd Lady - Madeline Manaker is an American mezzo-soprano based in Washington, DC. Recent performance highlights include Prince Orlofsky in Johann Strauss II’s Die Fledermaus, Mother in Menotti's Amahl and the Night Visitors, Armelinde in Pauline Viardot’s Cendrillon, and in scenes from Bizet’s Carmen as Carmen and Mozart’s Die Zauberflöte as Dritte Dame all with Mason Opera and the title role in Rossini’s La Cenerentola with Mason Opera (2022) and La Musica Lirica (2021). Madeline completed a Master's of Music in Vocal Performance at George Mason University this past spring. In 2022, Madeline performed with the Mason Symphony Orchestra as a winner of George Mason University's annual Concerto Competition. Madeline frequently performs in the DC with Maryland Lyric Opera as a member of their chorus, and as the alto section leader of First Baptist Church of the City of Washington DC.

Papageno - Christopher Fotis has established himself as a multi-faceted teaching-artist with a career spanning over 10 years. Known for his vibrant and lyrical voice, he has performed across the East Coast, from New York to Maryland to North Carolina. In a Mozartean rule-of-three, this production of Die Zauberflöte will be his third time portraying Papageno! Christopher has recently performed in two world premieres, most notably Grounded with Washington National Opera. Since moving back to the DMV, Christopher has already performed the role of King Melchior from Menotti’s Amahl and the Night Visitors, and performed in Loudoun Lyric Opera’s double bill of Trouble in Tahiti and Gallantry. He has also performed the titular role in Don Giovanni with the Button-Down Opera Project. When he isn’t performing, Christopher is also an accomplished and passionate voice teacher and budding pedagogue. To learn about his performing and teachings, please visit: www.christopherfotis.com

Queen of the Night - Soprano Hayley Abramowitz (they/them/theirs) is based in Washington, DC. This season, they will appear in Opera Western Reserve’s Carmen as both Micaela and Frasquita. As a 2022-23 Jan Miller Studio Artist at Pensacola Opera, Hayley performed the role of Carrie Pipperidge (Carousel) and covered Musetta (La Bohème) and Julie Jordan (Carousel). They also appeared in a scenes concert as Manon (Manon), Norina (Don Pasquale), and Sophie (Werther). Other recent roles include First Handmaiden (Turandot, Houston Grand Opera), Romilda (Serse, IU Opera Theater), and Nella (Gianni Schicchi, IU Opera Theater). Hayley holds degrees from the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music (MM '20, PD '21) and from the University of Maryland School of Music (BM '18), where they studied with Carol Vaness and Delores Ziegler, respectively.

Monostatos - Tenor Andy Boggs is making his debut with Loudoun Lyric Opera Company singing the role of Monostatos in Mozart’s Die Zauberflöte. This summer he will perform with Lyric Opera Studio Weimar singing the role of Tamino in Mozart’s Die Zauberflöte. He has performed with Victorian Lyric Opera Company singing the role of Alexis in Gilbert & Sullivan’s The Sorcerer and Ralph Rackstraw in Gilbert & Sullivan’s H.M.S. Pinafore. Because of his performances in H.M.S. Pinafore, he was honored with a nomination for Best Performer In A Musical (NonProfessional) in the BroadwayWorld Washington, DC Awards. Other past roles that he’s enjoyed are Brack Weaver in Down in the Valley, Vincent Jones in Street Scene, and Gomez Addams in The Addams Family. He holds a Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance from the University of Maryland School of Music and he will be heading to Bloomington, Indiana in the Fall of 2024 to pursue a Masters of Music at Indiana University’s Jacobs School of Music. Throughout his time at UMD, he sang as the tenor soloist in Purcell’s Welcome to All the Pleasures with the University Chorale. Other concert highlights include performing as the tenor soloist in both Es reißet euch ein schrecklich Ende, BWV 90 and Du Friedefürst, Herr Jesu Christ, BWV 116 in UMD’s Bach Cantata Series. Recently, he sang as the tenor soloist in Handel’s Messiah with the Frederick Children’s Chorus.

Pamina - Soprano Rachel Sitomer is thrilled to make her Loudon Lyric Opera debut as Pamina! A winner of the Mixtape Recital Competition, Rachel recently curated and presented a recital entitled “Motherhood (Instructions Not Included)” which she has now performed for multiple audiences in a variety of venues. Included on this recital was the world premiere of “What’s For Dinner: A Guide to Managing Expectations” by Sean Pfluger and Laura Fuentes. On the operatic stage, she has earned acclaim for roles as diverse as Monica (The Medium), Papagena, Pamina, Queen of the Night, and First Spirit (Die Zauberflote), and Gilda (Rigoletto). She was also selected perform in a masterclass with internationally acclaimed soprano Lisette Oropesa in which she sang Ophelia’s iconic mad scene from Ambrose Thomas’ Hamlet. A passionate ambassador for the operatic art form, Rachel serves as a Teaching Artist and Education Coordinator with Opera Baltimore, presenting a show entitled “What is Opera?” to school students. She is also heavily involved in their newest program, “Voice Your Story” which encourages self-expression through the creation of mini-operas. When not on stage, Rachel serves as music director at St. Andrew by the Bay. At home, her role is “mom”….with mixed reviews. Her renditions of You Are My Sunshine and Baby Beluga have garnered much praise, but her vegetarian cooking experiments are met with harsh criticism, the harshest of which was “Ugh! Not this thing again!” Although her family may not always be the biggest fan of her cooking, she would like to thank them for their unwavering support and love.

1st Spirit - Gianna-Marie Ruse (Gigi) is a freshman at the Oakcrest School in Vienna, Virginia, where she sings in the Concert Chorus and the Liturgical Choir. Gigi studies voice with Amanda Wyand and enjoys playing guitar and ukulele. Beyond music, Gigi runs track and plays volleyball and basketball. She would like you to know that she does not speak a word of German.

2nd Spirit - Deven Nath appreciates the opportunity to return to opera with this production of the Magic Flute! He previously played Amahl in a production of Amahl and the Night Visitors through Frostburg State University under director Gregory Stuart; this was Deven’s first foray into opera, having focused mainly on musicals and showtunes in his prior performances. He played Nate Gray in a production of Camp Rock Jr., was Nigel in an Imagination Stage production of Matilda Jr., and has performed twice at American University’s Katzen Arts Center through the International School of Music. He currently is a member of the Musical Theater Conservatory and has completed a number of singing and acting courses through Imagination Stage, including programs on Hamilton, Wicked, Harry Potter, Charlie Brown and Star Wars. In the few minutes per day when he is not singing, he enjoys playing piano and tennis, and building innovative things with common household items. He is grateful to his parents and sister for supporting his burgeoning theater career.

3rd Spirit - Adelyn Begg has been performing in shows since her debut as Amanda in Matilda the Musical in 2019. Her favorite roles have been Vi Moore in Footloose and Tamatoa in Moana, Jr. She is a 9th grader at Holy Family Academy, where her favorite classes are Latin and Euclid. She is teaching herself German and piano. She takes ballet and recently went on pointe. Her greatest love is classical singing, which she studies under Amanda Wyand. Her dream is to perform in an opera at the Kennedy Center.

Speaker - A resonant singer with unique evenness in the register, bassbaritone Kerry Wilkerson has been described by the Washington Post as an ‘exuberant’ performer having the “amber tone of a lyric baritone with the imposing weight demanded by Handel’s low-lying writing”. He made his Carnegie Hall debut in June 2017 to rave reviews as a baritone soloist in Vaughan Williams’ Sancta Civitas. The 2023/2024 season includes return recitals to Lewes DE and with the Washington Chamber Ensemble in addition to his role debut as Der Sprecher in Die Zauberflöte with Loudoun Lyric Opera. He will also return as a featured soloist with the Washington Master Chorale in Rossini's Petite Messe Solennelle.

The 2022/2023 season was filled with recitals in Lewes DE, Greenville SC, Washington DC and Sarasota FL, as well as featured soloist in the world premiere of Henry Dehlinger’s Requiem with Choralis, a role debut with the Washington Concert Opera as Raleigh in Roberto Devereux, a debut in Handel’s Messiah with the Reston Chorale and also the featured bassbaritone soloist in Gerald Finzi’s In Terra Pax with the Choral Artists of Sarasota and Verdi’s Requiem with the North Carolina Master Chorale.

The 2021/2022 season included his role premiere as Germont in La Traviata with Bel Cantanti Opera, recitals at St. John’s Episcopal Church in Roanoke VA, and Saint Andrews-Covenant Presbyterian Church in Wilmington NC, the Herald in Otello with the Pacific Symphony, Benoit/Alcindoro in La Bohème with the Jacksonville Symphony, featured soloist in two premieres of Henry Dehlinger’s Kohelet on the west coast with the Santa Clara Chorale and the east coast with the Washington Master Chorale, Beethoven’s Missa Solemnis with the National Philharmonic, and Ralph Vaughan Williams’ Dona Nobis Pacem with the Washington Chorus at the Kennedy Center in Washington DC.

Prior to the Great Pause, Mr. Wilkerson performed as a bass-baritone soloist in Opera Roanoke’s gala concert, Handel’s Messiah with the National Symphony Orchestra, National Philharmonic, and La Jolla Symphony, Vaughan Williams’ Five Mystical Songs with American University, Rachmaninoff’s The Bells with Spokane Symphony, Kodály’s Te Deum with Oregon Music Festival, Bach’s Mass in B minor with The City Choir of Washington; Faure’s Requiem with Eugene Concert Choir, Mendelssohn’s Elijah with Choralis, Duruflé’s Requiem and

Mozart’s Requiem with The Washington Chorus; as well as Einhorn’s Voices of Light with the National Philharmonic, Dvorak’s Stabat Mater with the North Carolina Master Chorale and Vaughan Williams’ Dona Nobis Pacem with the Air Force Symphony Orchestra at the acclaimed Kennedy Center.

Speaker - Henrique Carvalho (São Paulo, Brazil) is a BrazilianAmerican baritone living outside of Washington, D.C. His most recent roles include Mr. Bluff in Opera Baltimore's production of Mozart's The Impresario, Marco in Bel Cananti Opera’s production of Gianni Schicchi, Baritone in The Promised End with IN Series, Marullo in OperaDelaware and Opera Baltimore’s co-production of Rigoletto, Don Giovanni in Mozart’s opera of the same name with the Maryland Opera Studio, Pa in Missy Mazzoli's Proving Up with the Maryland Opera Studio, Marcello in Giacomo Puccini’s La bohème with the Maryland Opera Studio, Il Sargente in Giacomo Puccini’s La bohème with Annapolis Opera, Gianni Schicchi in Puccini’s opera of the same name with the Montefeltro Festival, and The Speaker in Mozart’s Die Zauberflöte with the Maryland Opera Studio. He is continuing his studies at the University of Maryland pursuing a Doctor of Musical Arts in Solo Voice Performance. Carvalho is a graduate of University of Maryland, College Park School of Music and the Maryland Opera Studio, where he began his study under Kevin Short.

2nd Priest/1st Armored Man - Daniel Fleming, Tenor, is very excited to make his debut with Loudoun Lyric Opera. Fleming is a DC native. He completed his Bachelors in Music from Shenandoah Conservatory and his Masters in Music from Northwestern University, Bienen School of Music where he studied with Nancy Gustafson and Steve Smith. Outside of school, Fleming has performed with the Florentine Opera Company, L'Opéra Comique de Washington, the Bethesda Summer Music Festival, and the Russian Opera Workshop. His roles performed include: Don Florito/El Saboyano in Federico Moreno Torroba’s Luisa Fernanda, Solo Animal in Ravel’s L'enfant et les sortilèges, Eisenstein in Johann Strauss’s Die Fledermaus, Pat in David T. Little’s Dog Days, Ferrando in Mozart’s Così fan Tutte, Tamino in Die Zauberflöte, Camille in Franz Lehár’s The Merry Widow, and the Mayor in Benjamin Britten’s Albert Herring. He has also performed in the Chorus for Verdi’s Rigoletto. In addition to Opera, Fleming also performs musical theater. He has performed the roles of Charley in Merrily we Roll Along, Sir Marmaduke in The Sorcerer, Action in West Side Story, and Mr. Erlanson in A Little Night Music.

1st Priest/2nd Armored Man - Josh Slutsky is a young bass from the Washington Metropolitan Area. He’s sung in the choir of the Maryland Lyric Opera’s productions of Verdi’s Don Carlo, Macbeth, and Falstaff. He has also sung in the choir for MDLO’s production of Mozart’s Le Nozze di Fiagro. At George Mason University, he’s sung the role of Beethoven in Steven Stucky’s opera The Classical Style.

Papagena - Soprano Christina Krawec is from Farmington Hills, Michigan, and has competed and performed worldwide in the UK, US, Austria, Spain, and China. Christina's repertoire focuses extensively on comic opera and operetta. She has played leading ladies in six Gilbert & Sullivan operettas with troupes around the globe, winning Best Female Voice at the 2017 International Gilbert & Sullivan Festival in Harrogate, UK. Other notable roles include Johanna (Sweeney Todd), Adele (Die Fledermaus), and Sesto (Giulio Cesare). Christina was also the Opening Ceremony solo soprano for the 2020 International Atomic Energy Agency Ball held at the

Hofburg Imperial Palace in Vienna, Austria, and was chosen to be a Performer/Debutante for the Opening Ceremony of the Vienna State Opera's 2020 Opera Ball. Recently, Christina performed the roles of Gianetta (The Gondoliers) and Lisa (The Grand Duke) at the 2022 International Gilbert & Sullivan Festival. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in Vocal Performance with Honors from Stanford University.

Sarastro – Albert Niedel is delighted to make his debut with the Loudoun Lyric Opera Company. Mr. Niedel is an American citizen who specializes in the great lyric-dramatic roles of Verdi and many other composers. Born in Budapest, Hungary recently became a Carnegie Hall Laurete, Second prize winner of the American Prize 2021 for the best live operatic recordings and Second Prize Winner of the 2018 Inese Galante

International Voice Competition in Latvia, Mr. Niedel also received top honors in the National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS) Advanced College Division (which consisted of participants from Maryland, Washington, DC, Virginia and Pennsylvania) as well as the Baltimore Music Club, in the Professional Vocal category. Right before Covid he performed as guest soloist with the January Music Nights Festival presidential state Orchestra in Brest, Belarus. In addition Mr. Niedel sang the role of Maciej in Moniuszko’s The Haunted Manor with The Cleveland Opera, and was selected as a finalist in both Opera Ithaca’s Edward M. Murray Vocal Competition in New York and the Anton Rubinstein International Vocal Competition in Dusseldorf, Germany.

Stage Director – Erica Ferguson (she/her) is a stage director and choreographer based in the DC Metro Area. In her 2023-2024 season, Erica directs Gilbert & Sullivan’s The Sorcerer with Victorian Lyric Opera Company, Mozart’s Die Zauberflöte with Loudoun Lyric Opera, Offenbach’s La Vie Parisienne with L’Opera Comique de Washington at the Embassy of France, and Gilbert & Sullivan’s The Gondoliers at Duke Ellington School of the Arts. Her stage direction credits include Carmen, Gallantry, and Trouble in Tahiti with Loudoun Lyric Opera, Down in the Valley and Signor Deluso with University of Maryland’s OperaTerps, and co-directing the Opera Workshop at Duke Ellington School of the Arts. This summer, Erica will be assistant director for David Toulson's production of Dead Man Walking at Miami Music Festival and Mark Ross Clark's production of Albert Herring at Chicago Summer Opera.

Co-Producer - Soprano, Shelby Claire Milgram is an Alabama native who holds a Master’s degree in Music with a concentration in vocal performance from Peabody Conservatory, where she was named “Outstanding Voice Student” in 2011. While earning her Bachelor’s degree in Vocal Performance from Birmingham Southern College, she was recognized as the top vocalist from 2007 to 2009. Shelby has studied with many distinguished professionals, including Jennifer Casey Cabot, Steven Rainbolt, Eileen Cornett and Jerome Shannon.F ollowing recent performances, Stephanie McGill of DC Theatre Scene writes, “[Shelby] Claire sings in a refined tone which compliments her diminutive figure.” Additionally, Shelby “demonstrates astounding technical vocal ability,” writes Jennifer Perry of DC Metro Theater Arts. Shelby is “most successful in combining sound vocals with solid song interpretation, acting, and stage presence.” She has performed throughout the U.S. and Europe in such roles as Mozart’s Queen of the Night, Offenbach’s Olympia (The Doll), Sousa’s Annabelle from The American Maid, Menotti’s Lucy from The Telephone, Verdi’s Sister Genovieffa from Sour Angelica, and as a soloist with various orchestras. Among other prestigious awards, she placed first in the Virginia Auditions Plus Competition, Maryland/D.C. National Association of Teachers of Singing Competition, Frances & Dorsey Whittington Competition, Alabama National

Association of Teachers of Singing Competition and Music Teachers National Association Young Artist Competition.

Costume Designer – Tessa Grippaudo is excited to return for her 3rd show as Costume Designer with Loudoun Lyric Opera Company. Previous design credits include: Trouble in Tahiti/Gallantry and Carmen, as well as costume designs for various productions at GALA Hispanic Theatre and Bel Cantanti Opera. Tessa would like to thank her family for their support.

Co-Producer/Choreographer – Tracy Buracker is an award-winning dancer and choreographer who has performed since she was six years old. Hailing from Leesburg, Virginia, Tracy studied ballet, jazz, contemporary dance, theater and vocal performance and won multiple scholarships and awards for her performances and choreography. Tracy attended Radford University, where she received a BA in Dance. She has appeared in numerous ballet productions, and has taught ballet and Martha Graham technique. She has performed at the White House, the Lyceum in Alexandria, and at various exhibitions and competitions around the country. She has choreographed multiple musical theater productions, including ‘My Fair Lady’, ‘Guys and Dolls’, and ‘Fiddler on the Roof’. She also choreographed and composed music for a local production of ‘Macbeth’.

Tracy has worked as a performing arts critic for Digital Cities. In 2007, Tracy transitioned to studying and competing around the nation as an amateur in open Latin Ballroom, winning multiple awards and scholarships. In recent years she has performed and choreographed for private events. She has been a member of the Loudoun County Lyric Opera since 2022. Tracy lives in Springfield, Virgina with her husband and two dogs.

Set and Prop Designer - Ksenya Litvak is delighted to join the production of Magic Flute. She has designed puppets, masks, costumes, and sets for many theaters in the DC area, including the Kirov Ballet Academy, Inseries Opera, Bel Cantanti Opera Company, Woolly Mammoth Theater, Theater J, the National Theatre, Adventure Theater, Round House Theater, and Classika Theatre. She holds a Doctor of Fine Art degree in Puppet Theater from The State Academy of Theatrical Arts, in St. Petersburg, Russia. She is the founder and artistic director of the Artichoke Art Studio in Gaithersburg, MD.

Diction Coach - Mezzo-soprano Amanda Zoe Vest (Wyand) has a sound that is “nuanced, rich, and creamy, with superb diction and wonderful dynamic control (Wednesday Music Club).” Her 2023-24 season includes the Witch (Hansel and Gretel), Marcellina (Le nozze di Figaro), mezzo soloist in Mozart’s Requiem and Saint-Saens’ Christmas Oratorio, a feature on the WQXR (NYC) Young Artist Showcase, and a solo recital program of Schubert, Medtner, and Prokofiev songs (May 25). Her credits include Dinah (Trouble in Tahiti), Zita (Gianni Schicci), Zia Principessa (Suor Angelica), Praskowia (Merry Widow), Mercedes (Carmen), and Zemfira (Aleko). Her training includes Pepperdine University (2013), Westminster Choir College (2015), Opera Roanoke (Apprentice Artist-2019), Charlottesville Opera (Ader Emerging Artist-2022, Education Initiative Artist-2023, 2024). Ms. Vest sang with LLO as Dinah in last seasons’s production of Trouble in Tahiti and is delighted to return as diction coach for the Three Spirits for this year’s production. www.amandawyand.com

Stage Manager/Technical Director - James Campanella loves working with LLO and is backstage for this production. He's previously been onstage playing Frosch in Die Fledermaus. More recently he was in front of stage as a director for Hansel and Gretel, Pirates of Penzance, and Ruddigore. And he wrote and directed a one-act Gift of the Magi for LLO's Christmas performance.

Artistic/Music Director – Mark Irchai (b. 1996), is an American concert pianist and conductor. Hailed as a “masterful musical partner” and “virtuoso… who perform[s] with gorgeous balance” (Laurie Shulman, WMC), his concertizing has taken him across the United States and Europe, where he has become known for his diverse musical programming and multi-colored sound. He’s already received numerous awards, including 1st prizes at the XIV International Orfeo Music Competition, the George Mason University Concerto Competition, and the Golden Classical Awards International Music Competition. Most recently, he was awarded the Newton Swift Award in Collaborative Piano by the Mannes School of Music. Mark is a finalist for the position of Music Director with the Reston Community Orchestra, which he led in January 2024 in a program celebrating the life of Martin Luther King Jr. In addition, he looks forward to his upcoming piano solo album “Scenes from Childhood”, a narrative arc of music from Chick Corea to Schumann that spans the breadth of a child’s world and their reflection on their youth. Mark studied piano with Simone Dinnerstein at the Mannes School of Music, and with Anna Balakerskaia at George Mason University. He currently maintains a private studio at home in Alexandria, VA, and is faculty at the Levine School of Music in Washington, D.C. For more information, please visit https://markirchai.com

Thanks to our board!

Board of Directors (as of 04/01/2024)

Shelby Milgram – President

Gregory Scott Stuart – Vice-President

Tanya Langlois – Treasurer

Joaquin Goquiolay – Director of Development

Tracy Buracker – Member At-Large

Mark Irchai – General & Artistic Director

Advisory Board (as of 04/01/2024)

Pamela Butler – Founder and President Emeritus

Interested in joining us? Here at Loudoun Lyric Opera, being a part of our board means being part of a great impact on multiple avenues. On the arts, on our local Loudoun County community, and on the future of arts making. For many DMV-based artists, LLO is one of their first professional opera experiences. And for many opera goers, it’s the best way to experience opera without making the trek to Washington DC. When you invest your time in building up Loudoun Lyric Opera, you invest your time in building up the rich community that is Loudoun County. So, join us – we’d love to have you!

Visit https://loudounlyricopera.org/join-the-board/ for more information!

See you again soon!

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