Avanti - Fall Edition - Cavalleria Rusticana & Pagliacci

OCT 2023 / ISSUE 04 • operacarolina.org

SEASON PREMIERE LEONCAVALLO

PAGLIACCI MASCAGNI

CAVALLERIA RUSTICANA

TWO TRAGIC TALES OF LOVE, INFIDELITY, AND BETRAYAL JUXTAPOSING IN THE LIVES OF ORDINARY PEOPLE

PREPARING STUDENTS FOR ALL OF LIFE’S STAGES

EDUCATION • YOUTH ACADEMY

WHERE WE’VE BEEN

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

SCAN ME TO SUPPORT OPERA CAROLINA

2023•24 SEASON 2023/24 OPERA CAROLINA

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PROGRAMS

pany of Artists

Art • Poetry • Music • Concerts Family Opera Series • Musical Storytime Music Under the Stars and Pop-Up Concerts The Patricia and Marcelle Gorelick My Mentor and Me Program Voices Engaged Dialogues LEARNING PROGRAMS Opera Xpress Educational Touring Company pARTnership Residencies The Stephanie and Howard Bissell Student Night at the Opera Program Youth Academy ARTIST ADVANCEMENT PROGRAMS Community Engagement Artists International Lyric Academy (Collaboration) Resident Company CHARLOTTE PREMIERE Carlos Simon and Sandra Seaton THE PASSION OF MARY CARDWELL DAWSON starring Denyce Graves February 15, 16, 17, 2024 (Parr Center Theater) CLASSIC GRAND OPERA PRODUCTIONS* Pietro Mascagni - Ruggero Leoncavallo CAVALLERIA RUSTICANA with PAGLIACCI October 28, 29 & November 2, 2023 (Belk Theater) Giacomo Puccini MADAME BUTTERFLY January 25, 27 & 28, 2024 (Belk Theater) Camille Saint-Saëns SAMSON AND DELILAH April 18, 20 & 21, 2024 (Belk Theater) INTERNATIONAL LYRIC ACADEMY FESTIVAL 2024

* Season subject to change

Giacomo Puccini SUOR ANGELICA and GIANNI SCHICCHI Charlotte (Halton Theater) and Vicenza, Italy (Teatro Comunale) June to July 2024

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BOARD OF DIRECTORS

OUR TEAM

OFFICERS

JAMES MEENA General Director & Principal Conductor james@operacarolina.org 980.771.1072

2023/24 SEASON

CAROL Y. KENDRICK Board Chair. Arts Advocate ARLENE FEREBEE Vice-Chair. Novant Health

CHRISTOPHER T. MARDANY Vice-Chair. Hearst

DARYL HOLLNAGEL Secretary. Shumaker Loop and Kendrick FRANK BONCIMINO Treasurer. Gaming Intelligence PHYLLIS ZANGHI Assistant Tresurer.

JULIE BERNARD Immediate Past Chair. Deloitte MEMBERS ROB BOISVERT I-77 Mobility Partners, LLC NATALIE BROWN Ally Financial

CRAIG SELIMOTIC DANFORTH Bernstein Private Wealth Mng. JOHN HARMELING Grant Thornton

ROBERT HARRINGTON Robinson Bradshaw

SHARON HARRINGTON Novant Health Foundation BARBARA HOLT Arts Advocate CACI JAEGER Arts Advocate

PAUL KARDOUS Row Architecture JODY KOONCE TIAA

JENNIFER MARTIN Arts Advocate MARCUS MARTIN U.S. Bancorp

CHRISTOPHER MAURER Wells Fargo, retired MATTHEW MOORE JP Morgan Chase JIM POWELL Trane Technologies ANN REED Arts Advocate

JORDAN STERN U.S. Bancorp JOE TESSMER Truist

ELIZABETH TRENARY Parker Poe Adams & Bernstein

CURTIS WALLS Become. Inspire. Empower, You vs. Yourself DR. SHANTÉ WILLIAMS Black Pearl Global Investments AUNDREA WILSON Arts Advocate LIFE MEMBERS DR. KI-HYUN CHUN CPA, Ph.D., LL.D, The Chun Group

LESLIE PALIYENKO Metropolitan Opera National Council CHARLOTTE D. PAYNE Arts Advocate PEG POVINELLI Arts Advocate EMILY SMITH Arts Advocate

OC2020 CAMPAIGN CHAIRS ROB ENGEL Wells Fargo

MARY TABOR ENGEL Queens University WWW.OPERACAROLINA.ORG

SARAH WATSON Executive Assistant to the General Director sarah@operacarolina.org 980.771.1026 Development CLAUDIO FERRI Senior Director for Institutional Advancement claudio@operacarolina.org 323.594.0890 ALINA MACNICHOL Senior Director for Development alina@operacarolina.org 980.771.1024 KIMBERLY MIZE Development Consultant kimberly@operacarolina.org 573.268.4214 PHIL VOLPONI Government and Affairs phil@operacarolina.org 704.574.0439 Education & Community ASHLEY JOHNSON LAM Senior Director for Learning ashley@operacarolina.org 980.771.1038 TEIL TALIESIN Learning Programs Manager teil@operacarolina.org 980.771.1036 Marketing GAIL GARVIN Community Programs & Patron Services Manager gail@operacarolina.org 980.771.1042 LOGAN WEBBER Social Media & Website Manager logan@operacarolina.org

Production MICHAEL BAUMGARTEN Director of Production, Resident Lighting & Video Designer michael@operacarolina.org 980.771.1032 VALERIE WHEELER Production Stage Manager & Assistant to Director of Production valerie@operacarolina.org

EMILY JARRELL URBANEK Director of Music Preparation emily@operacarolina.org 704.604.4079 WILBERT FERGUSON Technical Director

JAY GRAVES Assistant TD and Properties Manager Finance TINA KATIS Accounting Manager tina@operacarolina.org 980.771.1036

CAROL Y. KENDRICK ELCOME W I BOARD CHAIR

t is with warmth and open hearts that we welcome you to the 74th season at Opera Carolina. We are delighted to share with you this dual production of two classic Italian works: Pagliacci with Cavalleria Rusticana.

Pagliacci is centered on the Commedia dell’Arte tradition, while Cavalleria Rusticana is one of the first verismo operas - categorized by its use of ordinary people often with tragic plots.

For many of my generation and those after, Bugs Bunny and Looney Tunes were our first introduction to grand opera. With organizations like Opera Carolina, we have the ability to relive some of those formative memories while seeing this beautiful art form in the medium for which it was originally intended.

A few weeks ago, I was asked that, with all that is new in media and art come why continue to pursue grand opera? Opera at its core allows artists to educate and explore. Through the combined experience of listening to the music and watching the performances together, we are able to connect more deeply with one another.

Opera has the ability to teach values, teach morals, and even to teach language; it can inspire people to pursue cultural literacy. And while we learn, we laugh, we cry, and we do so as a community, all together, outside of color or creed.

Further, opera allows for exploration, from innovative new works from across the world, to the pop-up performances in local backyards. It gives us the opportunity to grow.

In that vein, we as an organization are incredibly proud of our community education programs. This includes our children’s operas in the CMS schools and several neighboring communities which reached over 20,000 students in the past year alone. As an explorative company, we continue to expand our repertoire with recent productions of The Falling and the Rising in our 2021/2022 season. This opera, composed by Zach Redler, told the story of a US veteran injured in Afghanistan and celebrates the indomitable spirit of the American military. More recently, Opera Carolina previewed a new opera by Nmon Ford titled House of Orfeus, which combines house music with opera expression to create an innovative performative work that can’t be missed. These pieces, along with others, showcase not only the beauty but also the diversity of opera as it evolves.

Opera Carolina strives to continue to bring music and community to the people of Charlotte. As we enter our 75th year, we recall all those who have supported us, and we look to the future as we plan for the next 75 years. This lofty goal is something we can only accomplish with your help. Spread the word about the opera and invite people to experience this magical community. If you are so inclined, feel free to donate towards our mission. While the pandemic took a heavy toll, we still need your help to rebuild stronger than we were before. Finally, we ask that if nothing else, you enjoy the performance!

Board Chair

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THANK YOU Opera Carolina Corporate & Foundation Major Sponsors

The George W. Bauer Family Foundation

Cavalleria Rusticana Opera in one act

Music by PIETRO MASCAGNI (1863-1945) Libretto by Giovanni Targioni-Tozzetti and Guido Menasci Based on the novella of the same name by Giovanni Verga First performance: May 17, 1890. Teatro Costanzi, Rome

Pagliacci

Opera in two acts with prologue Music and Libretto by RUGGERO LEONCAVALLO (1857-1919) First performance: May 21, 1892. Teatro Dal Verme, Milan

OCTOBER 28, 29 & NOVEMBER 2, 2023 Belk Theater, Charlotte, North Carolina These productions are made possible by

THE CAST OF CAVALLERIA RUSTICANA Barbara Frittoli* Yunah Lee (10/29) Jonathan Kaufman^ Leo An* Julia Woodward^ Kate Jackson*

Santuzza Santuzza Turiddu Alfio Lola, his wife Mamma Lucia THE CAST OF PAGLIACCI Nedda Canio Tonio Silvio Peppe

Barbara Frittoli Carl Tanner Leo An Nmon Ford Johnathan White^

CREATIVE TEAM Conductor Director Lighting and Original Video Design Scenic Design Costumes Design Wig and Make-up Design Technical Director

James Meena Garnett Bruce Michael Baumgarten John Farrell & Michael Baumgarten Allison Collins Martha Rusaki Wilbert Ferguson

* Opera Carolina debut ^Member of the Resident Company

The Opera Carolina Chorus and Academy Chorus • The Charlotte Symphony Orchestra Opera Carolina dedicates these performances of Pagliacci and Cavalleria Rusticana to the following Gold Circle members of the Verdi Society for their philanthropic support.

Betty and Thad Adams, Daniele Donahoe and Eric Rosenwood, Pasquale and Alessandra de Martino Mrs. Roddey Dowd, Sr., Lane and Liz Faison, Peter Guild, Janet Haack, Paul E. Kardous, Callie and Win Kelly Dennis and Kaye McGarry, Fred T. Lowrance and Alice McKay, Laura and Stephen Philipson Ann M. Reed, Terry and Barbara Scott, Liz and Dave Shuford, Dr. and Mrs. T.C. Price Zimmermann

Pietro MASCAGNI was born in Livorno in 1863. Although his parents had conceived for their son a career in law, Mascagni did receive some private training and he began to study with the director of the newly formed Istituto Musicale Livornese and then he moved to the Milan Conservatory. To a competition mounted by the music publisher Sonzogno, Mascagni submitted his third opera, Cavalleria Rusticana, in February 1890. At its Roman premiere on May 17, an unprecedented success propelled the composer from provincial hopeful to newly minted maestro.

The following year, Mascagni enjoyed a more muted achievement with L’Amico Fritz. Silvano brought a return to verismo in 1895, although its reception was less positive than that accorded Iris, a substantial success in 1899 with a hyper-intense Oriental theme. Mascagni continued to compose in the new century, completing Isabeau in 1911, Parisina in 1913, Lodoletta in 1917, and Il piccolo Marat in 1921.

In 1929, Mascagni succeeded Arturo Toscanini as musical director of La Scala, Milan.

Ruggero LEONCAVALLO

was an Italian opera composer best known for composing the opera titled Pagliacci. Born into an affluent Italian family, Ruggero was always interested in becoming a pianist and opera composer. He learned the basics of composing at the Naples Conservatory and later moved to Cairo, Egypt to teach music. He lived and taught in Paris for a few years as well.

After his return to Italy, Ruggero became busy composing operas and after failing initially, he went on to achieve international fame with the release of his opera titled Pagliacci. It became one of the most popular operas of its time and catapulted Ruggero into international stardom.

It also remains his only opera that is still performed to this date. Ruggero also composed several successful operas such as La bohème, Chatterton, I Medici and Zazà etc. Along with composing the operas, Ruggero also wrote librettos for his operas.

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Synopsis CAVALLERIA RUSTICANA A small town in Sicily A story deeply rooted in love, betrayal, and a couple love triangles, Cavalleria Rusticana (English: Rustic Chivalry) follows Turiddu and his discarded lover, Santuzza. Turiddu had returned home from military service to find that his fiancée, Lola, had married another man. In his revenge, he seduces Santuzza to make Lola jealous.

Discarded, Santuzza is sorrowful and devastated as she sees Turiddu and Lola begin an affair. It’s Easter day. After the Sacred celebration, in a moment of jealousy, Santuzza tells Lola’s husband, Alfio, about the infidelity, but immediately regrets her actions. Alfio and Turiddu agree to a formal duel while Santuzza remains behind with Turiddu’s mother for the results. Shouts are heard, and Turiddu is announced as being killed.

PAGLIACCI A small town in Calabria A dramatic tale of love and betrayal, Pagliacci revolves around a commedia dell’arte troupe. Canio and Nedda are married, and the leads in the troupe along with Tonio and Beppe, however Nedda is secretly having an affair with Silvio.

Fearing Canio’s anger, Nedda continues to hide the affair, and even goes as far as to attempt to break it off with Silvio.

Silvio and Nedda’s love is strong, however, and they plan to run away together. Tonio, also in love with Nedda, confesses his love for her, but she turns him away, shaming him. In an act of revenge, Tonio tells Canio that Nedda is having an affair like he suspected.

During a performance, Canio confronts Nedda, and stabs her.

Silvio attempts to save Nedda, running up on stage, but gets stabbed by Canio as well. The audience, not realizing it was real, claps until Canio screams at them, “the comedy is ended.

MULTI-MILLION DOLLAR COMMITMENT CITY OF CHARLOTTE $1.5 MILLION AND ABOVE Bank of America C.D. Spangler Foundation / National Gypsum Company John S. and James L. Knight Foundation Trane Technologies $600,000 - $1 MILLION Albemarle Foundation Atrium Health Barings Duke Energy Honeywell JELD-WEN, Inc. LendingTree Foundation Lowe’s Companies, Inc. Novant Health Red Ventures Truist $300,000-$600,000 Ally Financial The Centene Charitable Foundation Childress Klein Properties Coca-Cola Consolidated Deloitte EY The Gambrell Foundation Moore & Van Allen PwC Robinson, Bradshaw & Hinson, P.A. Rodgers Builders Wells Fargo UP TO $300,000 Fifth Third Bank Foundation For The Carolinas Deidre and Clay Grubb Leslie and Michael Marsicano Jane and Hugh McColl Nucor Corporation PNC Bank

INSIDE OPERA MEET THE RTISTS A CAVALLERIA RUSTICANA/PAGLIACCI

JAMES MEENA, Conductor

James Meena consistently earns critical acclaim for his artistic vision and dynamic presence on the podium in concert, opera and ballet.

Maestro Meena has held principal and resident conducting posts with the Cleveland Ballet, Toledo Symphony, and Opera Carolina, Opera Grand Rapids and Toledo Opera, in addition to guest conducting appearances that include a nationally televised Thanksgiving concert for the Korean Broadcasting System Symphony; performances of Stravinsky’s tour de force La Sacre du Printemps with the National Symphony Orchestra, Taiwan; concerts with the Cairo Symphony Orchestra in the new Cairo Opera House; and symphony concerts with the orchestras of the Teatro Massimo Bellini in Catania, the Orchestra Regionale Toscana in Italy, the Grand Rapids Symphony, the Memphis Symphony, the Mexico City Philharmonic, the Orlando Symphony, the National Symphony R.O.C (Taiwan), the Pittsburgh Symphony, the KBS Symphony (Seoul) and the Toledo Symphony.

In the field of grand opera, he has been engaged as guest conductor with Arizona Opera, Edmonton Opera, the National Arts Center Ottawa, Manitoba Opera, NYCity Opera, Opera Pacific, l’Opera de Montreal, Pittsburgh Opera, Portland Opera, Opera Pacific, Sarasota Opera, Utah Opera, the Washington Opera and his home companies in Charlotte and Grand Rapids.

On the opera stage, he has conducted legendary singers including Renée Fleming, Denyce Graves, James McCracken, Mignon Dunn, Marilyn Horne, Jerome Hines, Diana Soviero, Jerry Hadley, Mark Delavan and Marcello Giordani.

Recent engagements include the new production of The Magic Flute for which he serves as co-producer and conductor with the theaters in Lake Como, Brescia, Pavia and Cremona Italy, performances of Turandot in the Teatro Antiche Taormina and Teatro Greco Siracusa, Tosca at the Luglio Musicale Trapanese in Sicilia, a double-bill of Rachmaninoff’s rarely-performed Aleko paired with Pagliacci as well as La fanciulla del West, both with New York City Opera; Le nozze di Figaro for Teatro Sociale Rovigo Italy, La Fanciulla del West for five prestigious Italian theaters: Teatro del Giglio, Lucca Italy, Teatro Verdi in Pisa, Teatro Alighieri di Ravenna, Teatro Pavarotti di Modena and Teatro Goldoni di Livorno, plus a Gala concert with Renee Fleming and the Toledo Symphony Orchestra; Porgy & Bess with Margaret Island Open-Air Theatre in Budapest for their Summer Festival, and La bohème with the prestigious Puccini Festival in Torre del Lago, La bohème with Opéra de Montréal, and Masterworks Concerts with the Memphis Symphony Orchestra. For Manitoba Opera, he conducted the world première of Transit of Venus by the Canadian team of composer Victor Davies and librettist Maureen Hunter, which was recorded for national broadcast on the CBC. His Opera Carolina performances of Faust, Eugene Onegin, and Il trovatore are captured on recording for NPR World of Opera.

James Meena is a graduate of Carnegie Mellon University and Baldwin Wallace College Conservatory of Music. His principal conducting teachers include Thomas Michalak (New Jersey Symphony), Robert Page (Cleveland Orchestra), Rudolph Fellner (Pittsburgh Opera), and Boris Halip (Bolshoi Ballet), with whom he also studied violin. He has served as Assistant Conductor to Andre Previn, Gunther Schuller, Michael Tilson Thomas, Anton Guadagno, and Anton Coppola. For several seasons, he was Associate Conductor of the Pittsburgh Opera, where he made his operatic début conducting Die Zauberflöte.

He made his professional début with the Pittsburgh Symphony conducting Haydn’s monumental oratorio The Creation. Mo. Meena was awarded the Distinguished Alumni Award by his undergraduate alma mater in 1997 for his commitment to visionary excellence and growth of cultural institutions.

GARNETT BRUCE, Director

Garnett Bruce’s body of work includes directing at the Lyric Opera of Chicago, San Francisco Opera, Houston Grand Opera, Washington National Opera, Dallas Opera and his European opera debut staging Turandot for the Teatro di San Carlo in Naples among many others.

From 2008 to 2011 he was the artistic adviser and principal stage director for Opera Omaha, where he led a cycle of the Mozart-Da Ponte operas. He began directing for the Peabody Conservatory of Johns Hopkins University in 2004, receiving a faculty appointment in 2006. He was on staff at the Aspen Music Festival and School from 1993 and joined the faculty from 1997 until 2019. In 2022 he joined the faculty of University of Texas at Austin’s Butler School of Music as Lecturer in Opera Studies and Stage Director.

Born in Washington, D.C., Bruce was a choirboy at Washington National Cathedral and holds degrees in English and drama from Tufts University. After internships with Hal Prince and Leonard Bernstein in the early 1990’s, he joined the staffs of The Santa Fe Opera, Washington National Opera, The Dallas Opera, and Opera Colorado. His award-winning production of La Cenerentola for Kansas City has traveled to Austin, Orlando, and Madison. Known especially for his large-scale work of the standard repertoire, he has created stagings of Turandot, Carmen, Tosca, Aida, Pagliacci, and La bohème that have been seen coast to coast.

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INSIDE OPERA BARBARA FRITTOLI, Nedda, Santuzza

Barbara Frittoli established a major international operatic career in the 1990s and is rated as one of the leading lirico-spinto sopranos of her generation. The native of Milan studied at that city’s Giuseppe Verdi Conservatory of Music, graduating with honors. Barbara began her operatic career in 1989 at the Teatro Comunale in Florence in Bucchi’s Il Giuoco del Barone.

She soon appeared at the Festival Donizetti in Bergamo and at the Carlo Felice Theater in Geneva. Major debuts followed, including, Carmen in Philadelphia, La Bohème in Naples, at La Scala in Beatrice di Tenda, at Santa Cecilia in Rome in a rare production of Schubert’s Rosamunde, Micaëla in Carmen, and Mimi in La Bohème at the Vienna State Opera as well as Pergolesi’s Flaminio at the Teatro San Carlo in Naples.

Mimì and Micaëla were her roles in her first season with the Metropolitan Opera, and she was Micaëla when she sang at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden. She has also appeared in Ferrara, La Monnaie in Brussels, the Opéra Bastille in Paris, the Teatro Comunale of Florence, and the Regio of Turin. She toured in China with the Maggio Musicale of Florence as Liù in Puccini’s Turandot which included the famous performance known as ‘Turandot in the Forbidden City,’ which has been recorded under Zubin Mehta’s direction on the RCA label. Other recordings include Puccini’s Il Trittico on Decca, Il Barbiere di Siviglia on Teldec, Il Viaggio a Reims on Sony, Pergolesi’s Stabat Mater on EMI, and Rossini’s Stabat Mater on Decca.

Other leading roles in her repertory to name a few, include, Fiordiligi, Vitellia, Desdemona, Leonora, Amelia, Marguerite, and Alice Ford. Conductors with whom she has worked with include Claudio Abbado, Lorin Maazel, Sir Charles Mackerras, Riccardo Muti, Georges Prêtre, Daniele Gatti, Antonio Pappano, Sir Colin Davis, Sir Andrew Davis, Semyon Bychkov, Riccardo Chailly and Daniel Barenboim.

CARL TANNER, Canio

Carl Tanner has established an international career performing in the world’s most prestigious opera houses including the Metropolitan Opera, Opera National de Paris, Washington National Opera, Royal Opera House Covent Garden, Deutsche Oper Berlin, Teatro alla Scala, Teatro Real Madrid, New National Theatre of Tokyo and the Gran Teatre del Liceu de Barcelona, among others.

His most recent engagements include the title role in Othello with the Pacific Symphony Orchestra, Florestan in Fidelio with Opera North Carolina, Tucha in Ivan the Terrible with Grange Park, and Manrico in Il Trovatore with the Toledo Opera. Last season he joined the Metropolitan Opera for Tosca (cover), and performed Radames in Aida with Opera Grand Rapids. This coming season he joins The Dallas Symphony as a tenor soloist in Franz Liszt’s Faust Symphony and performs Canio in I Pagliacci with Opera Carolina. In the 2018 – 2019 season Mr. Tanner performed the title role of Verdi’s Otello at the Metropolitan Opera to great acclaim. The occasion also marked Gustavo Dudamel’s house debut. Immediately prior to this, he performed Otello at the Bolshoi Opera and Savonlinna Opera Festival. Recent engagements at the Metropolitan Opera have included Radames in Aida, Turiddu in Cavalleria Rusticana, Canio in I Pagliacci, Florestan in Beethoven’s Fidelio (canceled due to COVID), Luigi in Il Tabarro (cover), Manrico (cover) in Il Trovatore, and the title role in Samson (cover).

Other notable performances include Luigi in Il Tabarro for the Royal Opera House with Maestro Pappano, Radames with the Washington National Opera, Opera Colorado, San Diego Opera, Opera de Massy, Deutsche Oper Berlin, and the Gran Teatre del Liceu, Canio in I Pagliacci with the Korean National Opera, Opera North Carolina, Otello with the Gran Teatre del Liceu, Opera Hong Kong and with the Royal Opera House (cover), and Calaf in Puccini’s Turandot with San Diego Opera.

Past performances include Tosca at Deutsche Oper Berlin, La Fanciulla del West at the Opéra Royal de Wallonie de Liège, Madama Butterfly at the Opéra National de Paris, Il Trovatore at the Semperoper in Dresden and at the Staatsoper in Hamburg, Turandot in Hamburg, Carmen at the Maggio Musicale Fiorentino under the baton of Zubin Mehta, at the Teatro alla Scala and at the Teatro San Carlo, La Gioconda in Berlin and the Teatro Real de Madrid.

His Royal Opera House debut was as Cavaradossi in Tosca.

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Since 1999, the Hearst corporate office

in Charlotte and the Hearst Foundations in New York have provided a reliable, firm foundation for Opera Carolina’s philanthropic campaigns.

Hearst corporate has been the Title Sponsor of the Season-Opening opera production in each year from the 2001/02 season to the 2023/24 season-opening production of Pagliacci and Cavalleria Rusticana.

This amazing support is made more significant by the investment the Hearst Foundations have made in Opera Carolina:

THANK YOU TO THE MEN AND WOMEN WHO MAKE HEARST A SPECIAL CORPORATE PARTNER.

PAGLIACCI / CAVALLERIA RUSTICANA

MEET THE

A RTISTS

INSIDE OPERA

JONATHAN KAUFMAN, Turiddu

Tenor Jonathan Kaufman possesses a voice of entrancing power, beauty, and finesse, which he employs with considerable technique and musicianship. Hailed for his portrayal of Pinkerton in Winter Opera St. Louis’ production of Puccini’s Madama Butterfly, “Tenor Jonathan Kaufman, as Pinkerton, has a voice so grand--even heroic--that there are many times when, lost in the glory of that voice, we quite forget what a cad the Lieutenant is. Superb!” Steve Callahan of Broadway World makes it clear why Kaufman is quickly ascending the ranks as one of the greatest tenors of his generation.

This season, Kaufman rejoins Opera Carolina for their productions of Cavalleria rusticana and Madama Butterfly as Turiddu and Pinkerton, respectively. Further lead roles include Don Jose in Opera Western Reserve’s Carmen and Rodolfo in La bohème with Opera Grand Rapids. Future seasons will see Kaufman’s role débuts as the title role in Les contes d’Hoffmann and Canio in Pagliacci.

Last season, Kaufman made house débuts at New Orleans Opera and Opera Western Reserve, both in the role of Rodolfo for their productions of La bohème and returned to Opera Carolina for their production of Tosca, covering Cavaradossi, and Winter Opera St. Louis as Macduff in Macbeth, and Rodolfo in La bohème. Other débuts included Western Piedmont Symphony in their Foothills Pops! holiday concert, and Aiken Symphony Orchestra for their Home for the Holidays concert.

More recently, Kaufman returned to Opera Wilmington as part of their summer concert series Under the Stars in Viva Italia!, joined the company of I Dream (Tappin), a new co-production between Opera Carolina and Charlottesville Opera, and also returned to Opera Carolina for their Bella Notte and Opera Hits concerts. He made débuts with Winter Opera St. Louis in both their Fall Gala and as Pinkerton in Madama Butterfly, with the Aiken Symphony Orchestra in their romantic concert Amore! Famous Love Songs from the World of Opera, in concert with River City Opera, and with Charlotte Symphony Orchestra as part of their Opera Masterpieces concert.

Kaufman was a finalist in both the Giulio Gari and The Jensen Foundation competitions, named the Winner of the Jennifer White Memorial Award in Shreveport Opera’s Mary Jacobs Smith Singer of the Year competition, Winner of the 2nd Place prize in the SAS Performing Arts Company Vocal competition, winner in NYIOP’s first-ever Anonymous Audition Project, and a finalist in the NOA Carolyn Bailey & Dominick Argento Vocal Competition.

LEO AN, Tonio, Alfio

Born in Seoul, he graduated in singing at the National University of Korea in his city in 2001 and then at the G. Verdi Conservatory of Milan. After moving to Italy he studied singing with Maestro Pier Miranda Ferraro. He is the winner of prestigious opera competitions, including the “Francisco Viñas” in Barcelona, the “Belvedere” in Wien and the “Voci Verdiane” in Busseto. He is currently Professor at the “Anyang” University in South Korea.

He is distinguished in Verdi’s repertoire by interpreting the protagonist role of Rigoletto in Verona’s Theaters, Comunale di Firenze, Bellini of Catania, São Carlos of Lisbon, Lirico of Cagliari, Vittoriale of Gardone Riviera, Landestheater in Bregenz, Slowak National Theatre of Bratislava, State Opera in Prague , G. Verdi Auditorium of Milan.

He was Nabucco at the Washington Opera, at the Petruzzelli of Bari and at the Lirico of Cagliari where he was also Gerard in Andrea Chenier, Tonio in Pagliacci, Lescaut in Manon Lescaut, Simone in Simon Boccanegra conducted by Maestro Chung, Escamillo in Carmen, Rigoletto, Scarpia in Tosca and Germont in La Traviata. He sang title role of Falstaff and Germont in La Traviata at the National Opera House in Seoul and Germont in Seoul Arts Center and for Slovak National Theatre. He is an applauded Sharpless in Madama Butterfly at Daegu Opera House (South Korea) and Ping in Turandot in the Great Theaters of Brescia, Donizetti of Bergamo, Ponchielli of Cremona, Fraschini of Pavia and Sociale of Como (2016/2017). He performed Scarpia in Tosca at the Teatro Verdi of Sassari, at the Lirico of Cagliari, at the Verdi of Trieste; Ping in Turandot at the Royal Opera House of Muscat (Oman), at the Puccini’s Festival of Torre del Lago, at Teatro del Giglio of Lucca, at Teatro Sociale of Mantua and Coccia di Novara; Marcello in La Bohème at the Bassano del Grappa Opera Festival; title role of Torquato Tasso at the Donizetti Theater of Bergamo; Il Conte di Luna in Il Trovatore at the Teatro delle Muse in Ancona, at the Luglio Musicale Trapanese, at the Coccia of Novara and at the Teatro Vanemuine in Tartu (Estonia); Ezio in Attila at the Verona Philharmonic Theater and in St Gallen Theatre; Renato in Un Ballo in Maschera at the Teatro Comunale of Florence; Amonasro in Aida at Luglio Musicale Trapanese; the Marquis de Bois Doré in Lauriane at the São Carlos Theater in Lisbon; Valentine in Faust at the Teatro Coccia of Novara; William in William Tell at the Comunale of Bologna; Tonio in Pagliacci and Alfio in Cavalleria Rusticana in the Verdi Theater of Pisa, Giglio di Lucca and Goldoni of Livorno.

He recently was Rigoletto at the Daegu Opera, at the Lyric Opera of Kansas City, at Slovak National Theatre, Gerard in Andrea Chenier and Scarpia in Tosca at Petruzzelli Theatre of Bari, Giorgio Germont in La traviata for Gloria Opera at Seoul Arts Center, Scarpia in Tosca at Teatro del Giglio of Lucca and Theatres of Tuscany of Livorno and Pisa, Rigoletto at Politeama Greco of Lecce. Among his engagements in 2021 and 2022 seasons: Gerard in Andrea Chenier at Teatro Sociale of Rovigo, Ping in Turandot for Oper Im Steinbruch - Austria, Amonasro in Aida al Seoul Arts Center, Nabucco for Oper Im Steinbruch - Austria, Nabucco and Scarpia in Tosca at the Petruzzelli Theatre of Bari, Giorgio Germont in La traviata in the Theatres of Rovigo and Lucca, Scarpia in Tosca at the Bellini Theatre of Catania and at the Politeama Greco of Lecce, Ping in Turandot and Scarpia in Tosca at Daegu Opera.

Among his future engagements Amonasro in Aida for Oper Im Steinbruch, Giorgio Germont in La traviata at the Politeama Greco of Lecce.

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PAGLIACCI / CAVALLERIA RUSTICANA

MEET THE

INSIDE OPERA

A RTISTS

NMON FORD, Silvio

Panamanian American baritone Nmon Ford’s recent highlights include his appearances as Escamillo Carmen at Opera Colorado, English National Opera and Calgary Opera. He joined Atlanta Symphony Orchestra for St Matthew Passion and with Fort Worth Symphony he performed a staged version of The Creation. Contracted for the role of Sharpless Madama Butterfly during the summer at Cincinnati Opera, this season he sings the role again at Detroit Opera, and travels to Opera Carolina for Silvio I Pagliacci before joining Cincinnati Symphony for concert performances of Hamlet as The Spectre. Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony takes him to the Pomona Orchestra, and he returns to Opera Colorado for High Priest Samson et Dalilah.

A feature of past seasons includes his exceptionally reviewed performances as Crown in the new Metropolitan Opera production of Porgy and Bess at English National Opera; and also for the title role Don Giovanni in the UK’s Dorset Opera Festival. He sang A Sea Symphony under the baton of Robert Spano with Dallas Symphony Orchestra, and his own composition, The House of Orpheus, slated for a premiere run in March 2020 at London’s Young Vic Theatre directed by Charles Randolph-Wright, has been rescheduled for a world premiere in a major US opera theatre in season 2024-25.

Other successes include Jochanaan in Salome with Patricia Racette at Pittsburgh Opera, Don Pizzaro in Fidelio with Christine Goerke at Cincinnati Opera, and in concert with Atlanta Symphony Iago in Otello with Russell Thomas in the title role.

Earlier in his career Mr Ford sang often at Hamburg State Opera in Germany and appeared as Scarpia in Tosca, Il Conte di Luna in Il Trovatore, title role Billy Budd, The Traveler in Death in Venice, and Thoas in Iphigenie et Tauride under the baton of Simone Young.

YUNAH LEE, Santuzza

Yunah Lee has thrilled audiences with her “handsomely colored full lyric sound” (Opera News). She has performed Cio-Cio-San with The Dallas Opera, Minnesota Opera, Washington National Opera, Glimmerglass Festival, Boston Lyric Opera, Opera Carolina, Central City Opera, Opera Memphis, Kentucky Opera, New York City Opera, Utah Opera, Opera Austin, Boheme Opera, Dayton Opera, Opera Roanoke, Virginia Opera, Lyric Opera of San Antonio, Kentucky Opera. Opera de Quebec and the Pacific Symphony.

Elsewhere, she has performed this role in Europe with De Vlaamse Opera in Belgium, Theater St. Gallen in Switzerland, Stadttheater Bern in Switzerland, in Braunschweig, Germany, and Opera Ireland.

Other notable roles include Mimì in La Bohème (New York City Opera, Aspen Music Festival, Sao Paolo, Brazil and Korea National Opera), Micaela in Carmen (New York City Opera, Fort Worth Opera, and Tokyo, Japan) Liu in Turandot (Minnesota Opera ), Marguerite in Faust (Minnesota Opera, Toledo Opera), Adina in L’Elisir d’Amore (Virginia Opera), and Elvira in Don Giovanni (Palm Beach Opera). Countess in Le Nozze di Figaro (Kentucky Opera), Leonora in Il Trovatore and Donna Anna in Don Giovanni in Korea.

AVANTI • OCT 2024 / ISSUE 04 • operacarolina.org Publisher OPERA CAROLINA Editor in Chief JAMES MEENA Co-Editor ASHLEY JOHNSON LAM Art Creator & Designer STEFANO VIGNATI

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Contributors ALINA MACNICHOL GAIL GARVIN SARAH WATSON Pictures courtesy OPERA CAROLINA JERRY TALIAFERRO FINE ART PHOTOGRAPHER

PAGLIACCI / CAVALLERIA RUSTICANA

MEET THE

A RTISTS

JOHNATHAN WHITE, Beppe

Tenor, Johnathan Stanford White began his Operatic studies at the College of Charleston in 2004 while working on his BA in Vocal Performance. In 2011, he was selected to sing at the Jussi Bjorling Centennial Celebration at Gustavus College at the Jussi Bjorling Concert Hall. Since moving to Charlotte and joining Opera Carolina as a Resident Company Member in 2013, Johnathan has become a staple in the classical music scene.

After making his Opera Carolina debut in Turandot as the Emperor in 2015, Johnathan has performed numerous roles during his tenure with Opera Carolina, Toledo Opera, and Opera Grand Rapids. Apart from his Operatic pursuits, Johnathan is also an accomplished Symphonic soloist performing throughout the East Coast. Most recently, Johnathan was selected as a part of the ILA production of Tales of Hoffman in Vicenza, Italy. This is Johnathan’s 10th anniversary with Opera Carolina and he is honored to be considered a Principal Artist with the company. He can also be seen in Opera Carolina’s upcoming production of Madama Butterfly, as Goro.

JULIA WOODWARD, Lola

Praised for her warm, rich tone and honest storytelling, soprano Julia Rose Woodward, brings a fresh and authentic voice to each project.

She joined the Opera Carolina chorus in 2019 and became Principal Resident Artist with the company in 2022.

She made her stage debut in 2022 as Doctor 2 in Redler’s The Falling and the Rising and sang and toured with the Opera Xpress Educational Outreach program in 2019-2020.

Ms. Woodward’s previous credits include soprano soloist with the Charlotte Symphony Orchestra and Western Piedmont Symphony, Laetitia (cover) in Menotti’s The Old Maid and the Thief, Musetta (cover) in Puccini’s La Bohème, Frasquita (cover) in Bizet’s Carmen, Zerlina in Mozart’s Don Giovanni, Die Zweite Dame in Mozart’s Die Zauberflöte, Street Singer in Bernstein’s Mass. Ms. Woodward attended Charleston County School of the Arts and Brevard Music Center in her formative years. She holds her M.M. from the University of South Carolina and her B.M. from Furman University.

She resides in Charlotte, NC and is a student of Victoria Livengood.

KATE JACKSON, Mamma Lucia

Mezzo-soprano, Kate Jackson, has established herself as a versatile performer who excels in a myriad of musical expressions.

Her operatic roles include several new works with Urban Arias, The Figaro Project, and the Decameron Opera Project. Additionally, she has been praised for her performances as Bradamante in Alcina with Fargo-Moorhead Opera, the title role in Carmen with Maryland Concert Opera, and Bloody Mary in South Pacific with Annapolis Opera, among others. Her lead role in Oliver Knussen’s Higglety Pigglety Pop! at the Tanglewood Festival of Contemporary Music was particularly noteworthy, earning her high praise from critics who commended her for being “…winningly wily and dauntless, and in good voice” (David Write, Boston Classical Review).

Kate has also been a highly sought-after concert performer. She has performed solos from Handel’s Messiah at The Kennedy Center and with the Helena Symphony, and has been featured on internationally televised programming with The Basilica of the National Shrine in Washington, D.C.

Kate’s dedication to her craft is evident in her ongoing performances and appearances. This season, she is thrilled to make her company debut in Opera Carolina’s Cavalleria Rusticana and Pagliacci double bill. She will also make her Washington Concert Opera debut, singing the role of Cefisa in Ermione. For more information about upcoming events, visit www.katejackman.com.

MICHAEL BAUMGARTEN, Director of Production/ Resident Lighting and Video Designer

Opera Carolina’s Director of Production and Lighting Designer since 2005, Michael Baumgarten has designed lighting for more than 400 opera productions at regional and international opera companies, including New York City Opera, Florida Grand Opera, Opera Lyra Ottawa, Manitoba Opera, Santa Fe Opera, Austin Opera, Arizona Opera, Lyric Opera Kansas City, Palm Beach Opera, Toledo Opera, Opera Grand Rapids, Michigan Opera Theater and Virginia Opera. A graduate of the Yale School of Drama and member of United Scenic Artists-Local 829, Mr. Baumgarten has served as Director of Production and Resident Lighting Designer for Chautauqua Opera since 1999. Equally at home with digital design and innovative technologies, he has designed and created new digital imagery for over fifteen Opera Carolina productions including Turandot, Les pêcheurs de perles, Nabucco, Macbeth, Roméo et Juliette, La fanciulla del West, and I Dream.

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DONOR SPOTLIGHT HONORING

MARY TABOR AND ROB ENGEL Each issue, Opera Carolina highlights a patron whose philanthropic work has transformed our company and the community.

By James Meena

M

ary and Rob have been a major force in the life of Opera Carolina for more than twenty years. They have provided the type of leadership as members of the Board of Directors, Board Chairs and Chairs for the highly successful OC2020 Campaign that sets the highest standards for commitment and devotion to an organization in which they believe.

Mary is a native of Memphis, Tennessee. An accomplished journalist, whose career has included reporting and editing positions at The Christian Science Monitor, The Boston Globe, NPR, and The New York Times, she was a member of the metropolitan staff that won a Pulitzer for its coverage of the 1993 World Trade Center bombing. Mary graduated from Princeton University and lived and worked in Boston, Washington, DC, New York City, London, and Montclair, NJ, before she and Rob moved to Charlotte with their four children.

Rob is a Managing Director and head of Investment Banking and Capital Markets at Wells Fargo Securities. With more than thirty years of investment banking experience, he retains active involvement in executing important transactions for clients and Boards of Directors worldwide.

Rob and Mary’s professional accomplishments impressively speak for themselves. What is missing from their CV’s is the unimpeachable character which they bring to their volunteer work. They are valued across the community for their forthright and passionately enthusiastic pursuit of excellence for the organizations with which they are associated; equally so for their commitment to making Charlotte a better community.

Their love for music, literature and opera has been imbued in their children, who they regularly brought with them to the Pre-Curtain Dinners and Grand Opera performances. When talking about opera, Rob recalls his morning trips to hockey practice with his father, who, as an opera fan, would play the great operas in the car. Mary’s father is a talented pianist, and the Tabor household was been filled with the joy of music.

Opera Carolina, and our entire community, have been enriched by Mary and Rob.

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EDUCATION YOUTH ACADEMY

Preparing Students for All of Life’s Stages Preparing PreparingStudents Studentsfor forAll Allof ofLife’s Life’sStages Stages

ON STAGE NOW: Opera Carolina Youth Academy Chorus ON ONSTAGE STAGENOW: NOW:Opera OperaCarolina CarolinaYouth YouthAcademy AcademyChorus Chorus Our youngest musical family, the Academy Chorus creates rd-7th graders can laugh, learn, and make aOur place wheremusical 3musical family, Ouryoungest youngest family,the theAcademy AcademyChorus Choruscreates creates beautiful music that empowers students to: th rd-7 th a aplace 3rd3-7 graders learn, placewhere where graderscan canlaugh, laugh, learn,and andmake make beautiful beautifulmusic musicthat thatempowers empowersstudents studentsto: to: • learn fundamental singing skills & find their own voice ••develop pitch, rhythm, confidence, diligence, singing skills their •learn learnfundamental fundamental singing skills&&find find theirown ownvoice voice & dedication • •develop developpitch, pitch,rhythm, rhythm,confidence, confidence,diligence, diligence, • explore foreign languages & diverse cultures & &dedication dedication ••make new friends & lasting bonds languages &&diverse •explore exploreforeign foreign languages diversecultures cultures ••share the grand opera stagebonds with amazing stars •make makenew newfriends friends&&lasting lasting bonds • •share sharethe thegrand grandopera operastage stagewith withamazing amazingstars stars

JOIN THE FUN! JOIN THE JOIN THE FUN! Enrollment is always open and FUN! our ensemble won’t be

complete without your Enrollment isisalways our ensemble Enrollment alwaysopen openand and ourfamily! ensemblewon’t won’tbebe complete without your complete without yourfamily!

Drop into a rehearsal or request anfamily! admission fororyour child:ananadmission Drop Dropinto intoamee2ng arehearsal rehearsal orrequest request admission mee2ng for your child: mee2ng for your child: Educa2on@operacarolina.org Educa2on@operacarolina.org Educa2on@operacarolina.org Operacarolina.org/academy-chorus Operacarolina.org/academy-chorus Operacarolina.org/academy-chorus

COMING UP: Weekend Workshops COMING COMINGUP: UP:Weekend WeekendWorkshops Workshops

Weekends are for adventures… in singing! A new addition to the Youth Academy, our in Weekend series Weekends are Weekends arefor foradventures… adventures… insinging! singing!AWorkshop Anew newaddition addition provides an exploration of all facets of being a performing totothe theYouth YouthAcademy, Academy,our ourWeekend WeekendWorkshop Workshopseries series artist.

Workshops throughout the year will feature: provides an ofofall ofofbeing provides anexploration exploration allfacets facets beinga aperforming performing artist. artist.Workshops Workshopsthroughout throughoutthe theyear yearwill willfeature: feature: • Masterclasses ••Stage combat •Masterclasses Masterclasses ••College prep •Stage Stagecombat combat ••Mental health College • Collegeprep prepfor young performers ••more!

•Mental Mentalhealth healthfor foryoung youngperformers performers • •more! more!

UP NEXT: Auditions UP UPNEXT: NEXT:Auditions Auditions

Auditioning for College + Music Major Life (November 18, 10am-12:30pm) Auditioning for + +Music Auditioning forCollege College MusicMajor MajorLife Life

(November (November18, 18,10am-12:30pm) 10am-12:30pm)

Reserve your seat for this session and more!

Reserve Reserveyour yourseat seatfor forthis thissession sessionand andmore! more! operacarolina.org/weekendworkshop

operacarolina.org/weekendworkshop operacarolina.org/weekendworkshop

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OPERA CAROLINA MEMBERS OF THE CHORUS

EMILY JARRELL URBANEK , Chorus Master DARIA RUZHYNSKA , Pianist SOPRANOS PEG BROUGHTON LAUREN CABLE BETHANY GILMORE HANNAH HOYT COREY LOVELACE KATHERINE OWENS STEPHANIE PATTERSON MADELINE SECONI AMANDA SESLER CAM SNOUSE TATYANA THULIEN JULIA WOODWARD FAN YANG MEZZOS MADELINE BEITEL MCKENZIE COLEMAN ELI HALSO (YA) LAUREL JAMESON AINSLEY LEDERFIND ALINA MACNICHOL MARIE POWELL RACHEL TURNER

JENNIFER WIGGINS PAISLEY WILLIAMS TENORS ELLIOTT BROWN GERRY CLONARIS HARRELL CORNELL HAEGON KIM MICHAEL OWENS NOAH RICE NICKOLUS STEWART DAMON STINSON CALEB WILSON BARITONES/BASSES SEAN BUGGS HARRISON BUMGARDNER DRIZZIE BURSTON ZACH HUGO BRIAN JENSEN CHARLIE LANG JARVIS MILLER MICHAEL STROMAR LARRY TOPPMAN

OPERA XPRESS THE EDUCATIONAL TOURING COMPANY OF OPERA CAROLINA

ZAIBA SHEIKH, MUSIC, Director & pianist NICHOLAS ANDRUZZ i, tenor DRIZZIE BURSTON , baritone NATHANIEL CORNER , baritone CHLOE COX , mezzosoprano LAUREL JAMESON , mezzosoprano BRADY MILLER , piano MCKEILA ORTIZ , soprano CHRISTIAN SOUZA , tenor DELENN RUMBOLO , soprano

YOUTH ACADEMY WILLIAM CLONARIS LONDYN DIXON JONATHAN HUSSELS ZOË IRELAND EVA JANE ISKANDARANI MAELLE KUZIN ANGELA MAJOR REMMY PAPA LYDIAN RICE AGNEYA ROY ANA RUSSELL CHRISTIAN WONG SUPERNUMERARIES GEORGE COX (LITTLE) GEORGE COX, VII CHANCELOR FORMAN SCOT GARRIS GARRETT MCCLUGGAGE LARRY MOSLEY

STAFF JAMES MEENAGeneral Director & Principal Conductor GARNETT BRUCE, Stage Director

MICHAEL BAUMGARTEN, Lighting and Video Designer

EMILY JARRELL URBANEK, Director of Music Preparation DARIA RUZHYNSKA, Coach/Pianist JENNIFER GOSSELIN, Pianist

WILBERT FERGUSON, Technical Director

JAY GRAVES, Property Master and Assistant TD

VALERIE WHEELER, Production Stage Manager HANNA ATKINSON, Assistant Stage Manager

NATHAN HAMILTON, Assistant Stage Manager ALLISON COLLINS, Costume Coordinator LANE MORRIS, Costume Assistant

MARTHA RUSKAI, Wig and Make-up Designer MARK BOLEY, Wig and Make-up Artist

STEPHEN FIELD, English Titles Manager

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COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT WHERE WE’RE GOING: – Musical Storytime at a library near you Literacy is key to successful learning and living and it’s never too early to foster a love of reading. In partnership with our regional libraries and our amazing volunteer corps of Reading Rockstars, Opera Carolina is helping bring literacy to life through song-infused storybook readings.

Join us at your local library’s Storytime to experience a classic story in a new musical way!

Find a Musical Storytime near you: operacarolina.org/family/

JOIN US AS A READING ROCKSTAR! We invite you to dive into a good book with us by volunteering an hour of your time as a reader. Learn more or volunteer: Education@operacarolina.org

WHERE WE’VE BEEN - Opera Carolina in the Community WHERE WE’VE BEEN – Opera Carolina in the Community

Opera at the Market

OC Resident Company at Ciao Italia Festival

Charlotte Shout collaboration

Ciao Italia Festival in Matthews

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ENDOWMENT DONORS OPERA CAROLINA ENDOWMENT Named Funds

We proudly recognize these major donors who have invested in Opera Carolina’s future by establishing a directed Endowment gift.

The Carol and Irwin Belk Excellence Fund Established in 1997 by Carol and Irwin Belk The Stephanie and Howard Bissell Student Night Fund Established in 2019 The Hearst Education Fund Established in 2001 by the Hearst Foundations The Patricia and Marcelle Gorelick Ma Mere et Moi Fund Established in 2018 The Sally Ann Hall Fund Established in 2010 by the Hall family The Marjorie McDorman Fund Established in 2006 by Robert McDorman The Principal Conductor Innovation Fund Established in 2017 by The Robert Haywood Morrison Foundation The Marie and Oliver Rowe Opera Tribute and Conductors Fund Established in 1996 by Marie Rowe The James E. Walker Fund Established in 1996 to support the Opera Carolina Chorus

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OC2020 DONORS OPERA CAROLINA 2020

The OC 2020 Campaign closed in December 2020, raising more than five million dollars.

The Board of Directors continues to express their gratitude to Mary Tabor and Rob Engel, Campaign Co-Chairs, and the following donors who supported the Innovation and Creativity Fund of the Campaign.

Albemarle Foundation Anonymous Betty Garriss and W. Thad Adams, III Bank of America Natasha Bechtler Julie and Joel Bernard Stephanie and Howard Bissell Blue Cross Blue Shield of NC Frank Boncimino Joan and Jim Carroll Pauline and William Chinnis Hillary and Fairfax Cooper Donna and Alvaro de Molina Preeti and Vinay Deshmukh Roslyn Pitts and Eric Dickerson Sarah and Nick Dockery Mary Tabor and Rob Engel Arlene Ferebee Joanne and Alfredo Gatto Elizabeth and Scott Gore The Gorelick Family Foundation Sheldon and M. Berry Grant, Jr. Laura and Charlie Greer Isabelle and William Griesmyer Deidre and Clay Grubb Joseph K. Hall, III Katherine G. Hall Beth and Dr. Richard-James M. Hansen Jill Hazel Tina Bonner and Kevin Henry Radmila and Daryl Hollnagel Nora and Tom Hughes Marie-Claire Marroum and Kal E. Kardous Paul E. Kardous Callie and Win Kelly Lynette A. Lewis The Leon Levine Foundation

The Lichtin Family Foundation Mr. and Mrs. Fred T. Lowrance Ashley and Scott Mattei The Maurer Family Foundation The Mealy Family Kaye and Dennis McGarry Mary and James Meena Anke and Casey Mermans Cortney and Frederic E. Nauck Novant Health NUCOR Corporation Richard J. Osborne Alexandra Paliyenko Parker Poe Adams & Bernstein Karen and Brandon Perry Philip L. Van Every Foundation Laura and Stephen L. Philipson Laura and Perry Poole Peg and George Povinelli Dr. Gwendolyn Reichbach and Mr. Michael Fonzo Sally and Russell Robinson Mary Shelton and Christopher Rose Sherry and Charles Rumbough Barbara and Terry L. Scott Steven Preston Shaw Virginia and Harry A. Shaw Shumaker, Loop & Kendrick, LLP C. D. Spangler Foundation Ann and Wellford Tabor Stephanie and Mark Timperman Triad Foundation Dorthy and William H. Trotter U.S. Bank Laura Meyer and Ward Wellman Robert C. Zabel Dr. and Mrs. T. C. Price Zimmermann

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BLAKE AWARD

THE HELEN & STEWART P. BLAKE PHILANTHROPY AWARD

Philanthropy is the “love of man” in the sense of caring for, nourishing, improving, and enhancing the quality of life for human kind.

The Helen & Stewart P. Blake Philanthropy Award, formerly the Award of Merit, recognizes the exceptional philanthropy of members of the Opera family, whose devotion has enhanced Opera Carolina’s commitment to improvingthe quality of life for the citizens of Greater Charlotte through the beauty of opera.

Leslie Paliyenko Awarded on May 28, 1980

Gaetano Staffa Awarded on June 20, 1991

Fred T. Lowrance Awarded on June 19, 2007

Hooper Alexander, III Awarded on May 20, 1981

Mildred Templeton Awarded on June 16, 1992

Oliver R. Rowe Awarded on May 19, 1982

Marie Rowe Awarded on June 6, 1995

Margaret and Dr. T. C. Price Zimmermann Awarded on January 29, 2015

Hon. Sydnor Thompson Awarded on May 25, 1983

Patricia Viles Awarded on June 18, 1996

Heinz Jaffe Awarded on May 30, 1984 Lynnette Lewis Awarded on June 4, 1986 Charles Rosekrans Awarded on May 17, 1988 Clifford E. Bair Awarded on June 20, 1989 The Opera Carolina Chorus Awarded on June 15, 1990 Gaetano Staffa Awarded on June 20, 1991 Mildred Templeton Awarded on June 16, 1992

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Jeanette N. Lee Awarded on June 10, 1997 Emily P. Smith Awarded on Sept. 23, 1998 Marjorie and Bob McDorman on June 18, 2002 Sally Ann Hall Awarded on May 26, 2004 Dede Reid Blackburn Awarded on May 13, 2005

Pepper & Roddey Dowd Awarded on April 16, 2016 Drs. Ki-Hyun and Sun Shin Chun Awarded on January 28, 2017 Mary Tabor and Rob Engel Awarded on April 18, 2018 Peg & George Povinelli Awarded May 11, 2019 Arlene Ferebee Awarded on September 16, 2021 Dr. Michael Marsicano Awarded on January 26, 2023

DONORS

ANNUAL FUND FOR EXCELLENCE

We gratefully recognize the following donors who share Opera Carolina’s commitment to excellence on stage, in schools and throughout the community. The listing reflects donations received between July 1, 2022 and September 30, 2023.

The Verdi Society DIAMOND CIRCLE (Gifts from $25,000 and above) Betty Garriss and W. Thad Adams III BlackPearl Global Investments Charlotte Business Journal Hearst The Hearst Foundations Infusion Fund Dr. Marie-Claire Marroum and Paul E. Kardous Estate of Marie Mitchell North Carolina Arts Council Novant Health The Opera Guild of Charlotte The Philip L. Van Every Foundation Wells Fargo Private Bank

PLATINUM CIRCLE (Gifts from $10,000 to $25,000) The George W. Baurer Family Foundation Mary Margaret and Josh Beaver Julie and Joel Bernard Closets by Design Kathy and Frank Bragg Bragg Financial Brighthouse Financial Capitol Charlotte Eye Ear Nose & Throat Associates, P.A. Chun University Pasquale and Alessandra de Martino Daniele Donahoe and Erik Rosenwood Fairfield Inn William & Patricia Gorelick Family Foundation Hendrick Automotive Group Fred T. Lowrance and Alice McKay Maurer Family Foundation Holly and Christopher Maurer McShane Partners Mary and James Meena Karen and Brandon Perry Laura and Stephen L. Philipson Mary Margaret and Fritz Porter Ann M. Reed

Dr. Gwendolyn Reichbach and Michael Fonzo Elise L. Sherrill Liz and Dave Shuford Ms. Laura Van Sickle Herb M. Verbesey in memory of Tess Verbesey WDAV

GOLD CIRCLE (Gifts from $5,000 to $10,000) Arts & Science Council Audi of Charlotte Barringer Construction Blue Cross Blue Shield Frank Boncimino Joan and Jim Carroll Kelly and Brian Chambers Pauline and William Chinnis Beth and Michael Clifton Jane Conlan Dena Diorio and Phil Volponi Donald Haack Diamonds and Fine Gems Mrs. Roddey Dowd, Sr. Mary Tabor and Rob Engel Liz and Lane Faison Arlene Ferebee Lisa Lust and Dean M. Fischbeck Denise and Patrick Folmar Dr. Robert A. Gaines Julie Haack and David Murray Janet Haack Katherine Hall Sian Hughes Harris and Robert I. Harris III Liz Hilliard and Lee Kennelly Nora and Thomas J. Hughes Blynn Field and Chris Jensen Paul E. Kardous Callie and Win Kelly Jessie J. Knight, Jr. and Joye D. Blount Katherine and Mark Love John Lupton Designs Elizabeth and Christopher Mardany

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DONORS

ANNUAL FUND FOR EXCELLENCE

Kaye and Dennis McGarry Amy and Matt Moore Robert Norville, Jr. Emily and William Oliver Richard J. Osborne Laura Vinroot and Perry Poole Sara Garcés and Daniel Roselli Barbara and Terry Lee Scott Dr. Thea Moore and Mark Self Shumaker Loop & Kendrick, LLC Kati and Chris Small Anne Carter and W. Dean Smith So-Chung Shinn Steinway Pianos of the Carolinas Catherine C. and Jordan Stern TowneBank Audrey Truman and Rob Boisvert Charlotte and John Wickham Aundrea and Stephen Wilson Margaret and Dr. T.C. Price Zimmermann

SILVER CIRCLE (Gifts from $2,500) Accenture Natascha A. Bechtler Sherri and Jon Bennett Lakana Bikhazi Candy and Darren E. Bing Dr. Shanté Williams Mary and Charles Bowman Margaret and Waldo Bradley Heather and Ben Braun Jan and Robert Q. Busch Charlotte International Rotary CIGNA Keri and Nicholas Clavin Gina and John Damon Trey Davis Peggy and Charles Dickerson Pontea and Jonathan Dixon DLR Group Sarah Elizabeth and Nick Dockery Peggy and Richard Dreher Element Financial Corporation FTI Consulting Pattie and George Fulford Isabelle and William Griesmyer Susan and David Harker

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Jennifer and John Harmeling Sharon and Rob Harrington Elizabeth and Mark Hindal Radmila and Daryl Hollnagel Barbara Holt Dr. and Mrs. Rogers G. Howell, III Wizzie and Dan Irvin Caci and Max Jaeger Michael Kemper Carol Y. Kendrick and John DeMicco Lynette A. Lewis Dr. Davis Ligon Charlotte Harris Lucas Marand Builders, Inc. Jennifer and William Martin Susan and Alasdair McBarnet Mecklenburg Radiology Meduit Group, LLC Kimberly and Geoffrey Mize Robert Haywood Morrison Foundation Karen L. Oldham Omni Funding Corp. of America Alexandra Paliyenko Peg and George Povinelli Erica and James E. Powell Marshelette and Milton Prime Kathleen D. Prokay Agnes and Thomas Ragsdale Robert M. Ranson Irena and Lee Rimler Rotary Club of Ballantyne Amanda and August Roth Sherry and Charles Rumbough Kim and Matt Salsbury Dr. Mahesh Sardesai and Varsha Mathur Joe Schilleci Molly and David Shaw-Webb Marsha and John Small Emily and Zach Smith Mr. and Mrs. Joe Tessmer Rev. and Mrs. Sydnor Thompson, III Irina Toshkova and Noi Vong TRUIST Mindy and George Webster Nazy and Durham Weeks Allison and Alan Welch Rad and Odon von Werssowetz Phyllis Zanghi and Scott Hulse

DONORS

ANNUAL FUND FOR EXCELLENCE The Encore! Society

BENEFACTORS (Gifts from $1,000)

Paige and Erik Johnson Skyler Walker Antoinette and Paul Johnson Jenny and Henry Ward A Big Hearst Foundation Catherine Ruth and Alex Kelly Rebecca and James Watson Evelyn and Tom Adelman Amy and Evan Kerr Lauren and Elliott Weeks Hugh and Natalie Allen Mr. and Mrs. Dovy Klarberg Laura Meyer and Ward Wellman Meg and Shoff Allison Anna Blair and Jamie Kneisel Dr. Barbara Weschke Anonymous Athena and Bill Kortesis Joy and Hunter Widener Catherine and Andrew Atkins Layla R. Kushner Carolina and Trey Winslett Midge and Jerry Barron Peter and Ashley Larkin Gia and Kevin Wright Helen and Lincoln Baxter John and Hope Leak Dr. Gaurav Bharti and Dr. Sarah Edwards Allie Lin Mary Bobis PATRONS Corrie and Zach Manis Katrice and Steve Boland (Gifts from $500) Zsofia and Srinizas Mannava Crandall Close Bowles and Erskine Bowles Emerson Bell Leslie and Michael Marsicano BRK Global Marketing Drs. Liya Beyderman and Emmanuel J. Betsy and Jason Mayer Mary and Frank Brown Botzolakis Samantha and Mark McCall Natalie J. and Rudolph Brown Kimberly Borans Lindsay and Stanton McCullough Sara and Brandon Brown Gay Boswell Victoria and Ian McDade Sheryl Bucci Joy Bowling Rob Roy McGregor Christina and Stephen Burgess Peggy and Steven C. Burke Stephanie and Sam Muhs Suzanne and Thomas Cambern Dr. Ildiko Csiki Meghan and Ben Murphy Elizabeth Lucina and James Stephen Carr Cheryl DeMaio Christie and Conor Murphy Chamber Music for All Sarah Dembowski Janie and Gavin Myers Andrea and Eric Chaniot Lacy Woods Dick Courtney and Frederic E. Nauck Hayley and John Cheek Gail and Tom Fennimore Michelle* and Greg Neun Laura and Joseph C. Clark, Jr. Myron Gray Helen and Dr. Arvind Patil Nathalie and Gregory Clark Michael Griffin Drs. Melissa and Andrew Pavelyev Mr. and Mrs. Matt Cochrane Steven Hall Mr. Joe Pelligrini and Ms. Valerie Mitchener Brian Crutchfield and Ken Davis Dr. and Mrs. Norman Kramer Brittani and Brian Phillips Andrew Dana and Angelique Morabito Constance Lacy Kate and Ben Phillips Craig Selimotic Danforth Mr. and Mrs. Raki McGregor Mr. and Mrs. Rodney C. Pitts Amy and Alfred Dawson Larry Mosley Lucy A. Quintiliano The Dickson Foundation Meg and Ty Peebles Ruth and Trevor Runberg Amanda and Grady Frank Lily and Victor M. Pineiro-Carrero Pat and Paul Scheible Laurie and Ned Durden Susan Pollan Anthony Smith Elizabeth and John Fagg Jeannie and John Presto Todd Smith Kristin and Joe Foster Jennifer and Manley Roberts SPS North America Anna and Kenneth Gacevich Alice R. Schulte Maxine and Robert M. Stein Carrie and Jay Galloway Virginia Secor Shaw Ben Stewart Renata Gasparian and Caio Lima Michael Silverman Pam and Harding Stowe Mignonne Gavigan Rosalie S. Spaniel Robert Tallman Courtney and Richard Goettke Mary and William Staton Liz and Jeff Tarumianz Cynthia R. Greenlee Graham and JoAnne Stewart John Templeton Karen Gunther Brenda Gail Summers Mark Tofano Murielle and Ziad Hage Bobby Thompson Meredith and Jeff Tomascak Katie and Rashid Hallaway Paul Vadnais Jill and Chris Trainor Heather and Roman Harper Jay Vandura Sarah S. Tull Michlene and Stephen Healy Nancy Williams and Roger Dahnert Margaret and Chris Ullrich Jon-David and Brie Hoppenfeld Jessica and Brandon Valentine The Howe Foundation Karen Hite and John B. Jacob Neely and Mark Verano

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DONORS

ANNUAL FUND FOR EXCELLENCE

SUSTAINING MEMBERS (Gifts from $300)

Nancy Arnold Shirley and Ronald Coffman David Delventhal Carol and Stephen Dixon Extreme Clean of North Carolina Gerald G. Fox Sarah and Frank Gentry Walter H. Goodwin Lucy and Hooper Hardison Mary Napier and Steven Kesselman Eleanor Lieberman Sabine and Haywood Rankin Kendra Scott Mary Stokes Karen and Cornelius Tate Nancy S. and Richard Thigpen

SUPPORTING MEMBERS (Gifts from $100)

Wade and Patrice Alley Amazon Smile Kathryn and Kenneth Amos Anthony Arroyo Dr. and Mrs. Charles Baker Mary and David Ball Christopher Barton Mike and Karen Bearss Larry Bennett Deborah and Glenn P. Berry Alan C. Black Anita and Richard Blumenthal Gretchen and Mark Bottrill Mary E. Bruno Charles & Laura Budd Janice Chalaron Linda Chirico Debra Corbett Marion and Norman Cowell Wesley Dangerfield Juliana DeMicco Robert Eagle Gayle and Hal Eason Jane and James Ericksen Sean Gautam and Dr. Magali Van Belle Elizabeth Geers Dr. and Mrs. Richard Gellar

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Benjamin Goebel Soraya Gonzalez Gordon and Priscilla Greene Laura Harris Corrine and Matthew Hassey Katherine Jakubowski Mrs. Mary Sluder Jennings Amy Johnson Margot Kaiser Anne Dowd Kennedy Jane Orcutt Kinney Bruce Kovacs David Kral James M. Laney Elissa Levine Mrs. Jungyeon A. Liu Robert and Patricia Lorentzen Gregory Lowrey Stuart and Linda Lynn Mr. Basil Manly Bonnie and Gregg Marland Kendra May Eugenia May Leone McLamb Patty and J. Jerome Miller Mr. and Mrs. Harold Mouzon Michael Parello Mr. Bradley Patterson Barbara Pierce Kathleen Poon Derrick Ramos Nancy Rider William Schrader Robert Shaw Viki Singleton Addie Smith Patricia and Morris Spearman Meghan Stewart Tracy Strickler Alice and Al Sudduth Liz and Wilson Sullivan Teil Taliesin Dr. and Mrs. H. Grant Taylor Barbara Vey Brian Walger Sarah Watson Hilary and Wilt Wilks Clara and Allen Wolfe

Christopher Warren-Green

conductor laureate & music adviser

Christopher James Lees resident conductor

2O23 | 2O24 MUSICIAN ROSTER FIRST VIOLINS

DOUBLE BASSES

HORNS

Calin Ovidiu Lupanu

Kurt Riecken,* Principal Jason McNeel, Acting Principal Judson Baines*

Byron Johns

Concertmaster The Catherine & Wilton Connor Chair

Joseph Meyer

Assistant Principal

Associate Concertmaster

Justin Cheesman†

Kari Giles

Acting Assistant Principal

Assistant Concertmaster

Susan Blumberg°° Jane Hart Brendle Cynthia Burton Emily Chatham°° Ayako Gamo Lenora Leggatt Jenny Topilow Dustin Wilkes-Kim Hanna Zhdan

Principal The Blumenthal Foundation Chair

Amy Orsinger Whitehead Erinn Frechette

Assistant Principal The Pepsi-Cola Foundation of Charlotte Chair

Carlos Tarazona° Monica Boboc Martha Geissler Sakira Harley Tatiana Karpova Ellyn Stuart

Ellen Ferdon Cynthia Frank Wenlong Huang Viara Stefanova Ning Zhao

Samuel Sparrow

BASS CLARINET

Principal The Kate Whitner McKay Principal Cello Chair

Alan Black* Principal Emeritus

Marlene Ballena Jeremy Lamb Amy Sunyoung Lee Sarah Markle Oksana McCarthy †

Scott Hartman Principal

TUBA

Colin Benton

TIMPANI

Terry Maskin

E ♭ CLARINET

Jonathan Lewis

Principal

ENGLISH HORN

Samuel Sparrow Allan Rosenfeld

CELLOS

John Bartlett

Principal The Governor James G. Martin Chair

Principal The Gary H. & Carolyn M. Bechtel Chair

Acting Assistant Principal

TROMBONES

Terry Maskin

Taylor Marino

Chihiro Tanaka

Associate Principal The Marcus T. Hickman Chair

BASS TROMBONE

CLARINETS

Assistant Principal

Jonathan Kaplan Gabriel Slesinger

Thomas Burge

Acting Principal The Leo B. Driehuys Chair‡ Teil Taliesin†

Alaina Rea*

Principal The Betty J. Livingstone Chair

Erinn Frechette Erica Cice

Benjamin Geller, Principal The Zoe Bunten Merrillt Principal Viola Chair

Alex Wilborn

PICCOLO OBOES

VIOLAS

Acting Assistant Principal

TRUMPETS

Victor Wang

Kathleen Jarrell

Allison Drenkow

HARP

FLUTES

The Wolfgang Roth Chair

The Robert E. Rydel, Jr. Third Horn Chair

Jeffrey Ferdon Luis Primera†

Principal The Dr. Billy Graham Chair

Oliver Kot, Principal

Andrew Fierova Philip Brindise † Richard Goldfaden Andrew Merideth†

Andrea Mumm Trammell

SECOND VIOLINS

Principal The Mr. & Mrs. William H. Van Every Chair

Allan Rosenfeld

Jacob Lipham Principal The Robert Haywood Morrison Chair

PERCUSSION Brice Burton Principal ° Non-revolving position °° Alternates between first and second violins † Acting member of the Charlotte Symphony ‡ Funded by The Symphony Guild of Charlotte, Inc. * On leave

BASSOONS Joseph Merchant Principal

Joshua Hood Nicholas Ritter

The Charlotte Symphony Orchestra is a proud member of the League of American Orchestras.

CONTRABASSOON Nicholas Ritter

This roster lists the full-time members of the Charlotte Symphony.

The number and seating of musicians on stage varies depending on the piece being performed.

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• Mailing Address The Elizabeth Roddey Dowd Opera Center 1600 Elizabeth Avenue, Charlotte, North Carolina 28204

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• Phone: (704) 332.7177 ext.100 • Fax: (704) 332.6448

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