Opera Colorado -- La Traviata, November 1-9, 2025 by The Publishing House

NOVEMBER 1, 4, 7, 9 | 2025

ELLIE CAULKINS OPERA HOUSE

Anne von Freyburg

A LETTER FROM RICHARD KOSEFF

Dear Friends,

On behalf of the Opera Colorado Board of Directors, it is my great pleasure to welcome you to the Ellie Caulkins Opera House for La traviata This production opens a season of beloved operas that remind us why opera continues to inspire and move us.

We’re especially delighted to welcome Barbara Lynne Jamison as Opera Colorado’s new Ellie Caulkins General Director & CEO. Barbara brings a wealth of experience, a deep commitment to community, and an inspiring artistic vision. We are confident she will lead the company into a vibrant new chapter while building on Opera Colorado’s strong foundation.

As we begin the season together, I want to thank you—our patrons, donors, and community partners—for your enduring belief in the power of opera. With your support, Opera Colorado will continue to flourish, ensuring that future generations will experience power the of this art form.

Enjoy the performance and thank you for being part of our Opera Colorado family.

Sincerely,

Richard Koseff Board Chair

A LETTER FROM BARBARA LYNNE JAMISON

Dear Friends,

It is an honor to welcome you to La traviata and to open my first season with Opera Colorado as the Ellie Caulkins General Director & CEO. Since arriving in Denver over the summer, I have felt inspired and embraced by this community, and I’m thrilled to embark on this journey with you.

This season offers an extraordinary array of experiences. In May, we close our mainstage season with Puccini’s Madama Butterfly, one of opera’s most moving and enduring works. In February, we will gather for our annual gala, an evening celebrating the 20th anniversary of our beloved Ellie Caulkins Opera House. Across Colorado, our touring productions of The Pirates of Penzance and Romeo & Juliet will bring opera to schools, community venues, and audiences of all ages. There will be much more to come as we continue to highlight our nationally recognized Artist in Residence program and build our education initiatives for school children around the region.

I am eager to get to know you and to listen to the voices of this community as we shape Opera Colorado’s future together. Behind the scenes, we are working hard on the 2026-27 Season—my first to plan as the company’s artistic leader—and I can’t wait to share it with you. What do you want to see on stage? Scan the QR code on this page and let us know!

Thank you for joining us today and for your belief in Opera Colorado. Whether this is your first opera or one of many, I hope you feel the connection and joy that only live performances can offer.

Sincerely,

Tell us what you want to see at Opera Colorado!

Barbara Lynne Jamison

Ellie Caulkins General Director & CEO Opera Colorado

UPCOMING EVENTS

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 27 | 5:00 P.M.

Grand Gala, Celebrating 20 Years of the Ellie Caulkins Opera House

Honorary Chair: Ellie Caulkins

Spend the evening with us at this glittering black-tie event. With the purchase of a gala ticket, you will receive a premium seat at the concert portion and the entire evening experience, which also includes a cocktail reception, live auction, and multi-course dinner with wine pairings, plus a vibrant afterparty. In addition, enjoy a special tribute to the 20th Anniversary of the Ellie Caulkins Opera House. Proceeds from the night support Opera Colorado’s extensive Education & Community Engagement programs.

Individual tickets start at $400, and tables and sponsorship packages are also available.

For gala tickets, contact Sara Buhr at sbuhr@operacolorado.org or 303.468.2027.

Concert-only tickets are available for opera fans who wish to enjoy the evening’s performance.

SATURDAY, MAY 2 | 5:00 P.M.

Madama Butterfly Opening Night Dinner

Kevin Taylor’s at the Opera House

Make your opening night experience even more special and join us before the performance for dinner at Kevin Taylor’s at the Opera House. These events include prosecco and mingling, an elegant threecourse meal with wine pairings, and intermission receptions with complimentary prosecco.

$175 per seat

Ticket includes Opening Night Dinner only. Performance tickets are sold separately.

MAY 2, 5, 7, 8 | 7:30 P.M. AND MAY 10 | 2:00 P.M.

Madama Butterfly

Ellie Caulkins Opera House

Madama Butterfly makes its highly anticipated return to Opera Colorado, bringing Puccini’s emotionally charged masterpiece to the stage. This iconic opera follows Cio-Cio-San, a young Japanese geisha whose strength and unwavering hope carry her through betrayal, loss, and the struggle to survive in the face of devastating choices. With its lush, soaring melodies and striking themes of honor and survival, Madama Butterfly remains one of opera’s most moving works.

SAVE THE DATE

On Sale Soon

TUESDAY, MARCH 10 AND WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11 | 6:00 P.M.

Sip & Sing

Nocturne Jazz & Supper Club

Our patron-favorite event is back for another season. Join Opera Colorado as we take over Nocturne Jazz & Supper Club, the beloved Denver hotspot, for an evening featuring an exquisite multi-course dinner with wine pairings and a lively performance of cabaret and more by the Opera Colorado Artists in Residence.

SATURDAY, MARCH 21 | 10:00 A.M. & 1:30 P.M.

Family Day

Ellie Caulkins Opera House

We welcome our community to the opera house for a day of family-friendly events, including performances of the touring production of Romeo & Juliet by our Artists in Residence. This event is free to attend with reservations. OPERACOLORADO.ORG 303.468.2030

WITH YOU, WE CAN REACH THOUSANDS OF CHILDREN, STUDENTS, AND LIFELONG LEARNERS WITH MUSIC THAT INSPIRES. Give today or mark your calendars to donate on December 9. Scan the QR code or visit coloradogives.org/operacolorado. The platform for giving is open now!

SEE OPERA THROUGH NEW EYES

When you give to Opera Colorado on Colorado Gives Day, you create a first-time journey that a child will never forget.

The power of sharing in live art should be accessible to all—and that is just what happens when you make a gift on the biggest day of giving.

Without your support, these opportunities vanish, and so does our chance to keep the magic of opera alive for the next generation.

Learn how Opera Colorado engages our community through educational programming by visiting operacolorado.org/education

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 9

Photos: Opera Colorado/Jamie Kraus

Q&A WITH SARA GARTLAND

Sara Gartland makes her return to Opera Colorado to perform as Violetta Valéry, the powerful heroine of La traviata. Praised for her “gleaming column of sound” by Opera News, Sara dazzles in her performances of roles like Rusalka, Micaëla, and more. Keep reading to learn about Sara’s perspective on Violetta, what she enjoys about rehearsing, and the challenges she overcame during Opera Colorado’s 2023 production of Die tote Stadt.

While this isn’t your Opera Colorado debut, since you performed in our 2023 production of Die tote Stadt, this will be your first time singing in an Opera Colorado production. Tell us about that, and how are you feeling leading up to this performance?

I am so excited to return and share both my voice and my acting with Opera Colorado’s audiences on the beautiful stage of the Ellie Caulkins Opera House. When I was here in 2023 for Die tote Stadt and was unable to sing due to a superior laryngeal nerve injury, it was devastating—for me and for everyone involved. That experience, however, led me to my extraordinary care team here in Denver: my voice pathologist and teacher, Kate Emerich, and my ENT, Dr. David Opperman. They put me back together better than ever, and I truly believe that if I hadn’t been in Denver when it happened, I wouldn’t have had such a successful outcome. Only being able to act on stage during that time taught me so much—it forced me to listen more deeply to my colleagues, to stay completely present, and to communicate without relying on sound. That experience ultimately made me a stronger singer, actor, and musician. With Kate and Dr. Opperman’s help, I was singing again by the summer of 2023, and now to be back in Denver opening Opera Colorado’s forty-third season feels like the greatest privilege.

Violetta is a tremendous role, both musically and dramatically. How do you approach this role, and how does she resonate with you?

In 2023, I adopted the mantra “Choose Your Joy.” I think Violetta lives with that same spirit. She knows her time is limited—she has seen what this illness does to others— and yet she continues to live in the moment, making choices based on what brings her happiness. She never truly believes love is meant for her, but when she meets Alfredo,

she throws caution to the wind and chooses her joy. Violetta is fiery, independent, and loyal—qualities I also recognize in myself—so I feel very close to her.

The role is both vocally and physically demanding, and what I love is how Verdi makes her voice evolve through the opera. In act one, she sparkles with coloratura and airiness; in act two, after leaving her life as a courtesan for the countryside, her music becomes deeper and more grounded; and in act three, on her deathbed, her lines are fragile and sorrowful. As an actress, it’s a gift to move through all those emotional landscapes and sing in so many different colors while telling her story.

You’ve participated in many operas that are less mainstream, such as Bluebeard’s Castle, Wozzeck, and more. How do those experiences compare to performing in La traviata, one of the most popular operas?

I love being able to revisit Violetta and sing something more mainstream—musically and vocally it feels easier, almost like balm for my soul and my throat. It’s also rare that I get to repeat a role, so returning to La traviata is a gift. The more life I live, the more depth I can bring to her story. In the end, characters like Judith in Bluebeard’s Castle, Marie in Wozzeck, and Violetta in La traviata all share a similar temperament: they are highly intelligent women navigating survival in a world that offers them limited opportunities outside of societal expectations. They are brave, clever, and vulnerable. Exploring those qualities through the distinct musical languages of each composer is always a thrill.

What is your favorite part of the rehearsal process?

There are so many moments in the rehearsal process that I love. That very first day, when we all meet and sing through the score as a team, is always exhilarating. Then come the conversations with the director and Maestro

about our characters’ motivations and how to bring them to life physically and vocally. The first orchestra rehearsal is always a thrill, and the first dress rehearsal feels like stepping into another world. Watching a production grow from start to finish is incredible. I often tell people: come on opening night, but then come back again. You’ll see and hear new things the second time, and the experience will feel different because opera is alive—the singers continue to evolve too.

You recently moved to Denver! What are you most excited about now that you’re here?

I have such a special relationship with the Denver Metro area. I earned my Master’s in Vocal Performance at CU Boulder in 2004, then stayed to complete my Artist Diploma in 2006. Even as a student, I felt I would one day make Colorado my home—and now I have. I just relocated to Littleton with my son and bought my first house here, which feels like the perfect place to put down roots while continuing to travel and perform. I’m excited to settle in, go hiking, take a trip to Estes Park, and of course, stop by Laura’s Candies in Estes, which has always been a favorite of mine.

Sara as Marie/Marietta in Opera Colorado’s 2023 production of Die tote Stadt. Opera Colorado / Matthew Staver

NOVEMBER

1, 4, 7, 9 I 2025

ELLIE CAULKINS OPERA HOUSE

AN OPERA IN THREE ACTS BY GIUSEPPE VERDI

There will be a twenty-five minute intermission after act one; a brief pause between act two, scene one and act two, scene two; and a twenty minute intermission between act two, scene two and act three.

CAST IN ORDER OF VOCAL APPEARANCE

Sara Gartland Violetta Valéry

Jordan McCready*^ Flora Bervoix

Oliver Poveda Zavala^ Doctor Grenvil

Kevin Spooner*^ Marquis d’Obigny

Mason O’Brien^ Baron Douphol

Daniel Miller^ Gastone de Letorières

Ben Reisinger* Alfredo Germont

Bridget Ravenscraft*^ Annina

Luke Thatcher Giuseppe

Weston Hurt* Giorgio Germont

James Rootring* A Messenger Puting Liu* Flora’s servant

Ari Pelto Conductor

Sahar Nouri Chorus Master

Marco Nisticò Stage Director

Rachael Harding Choreographer

Lindsay Woodward Répétiteur

Joe Beumer Lighting Designer

Ronell Oliveri Wig & Make-Up Designer

Opera Colorado Chorus

Opera Colorado Orchestra

*Opera Colorado debut ^2025-26 Artist in Residence

An original co-production of Opera Colorado and Boston Lyric Opera

Original set and costume designs by Bruno Schwengl

Scenery, Props, and Costumes provided by Nashville Opera

United Scenic Artists, Local USA 829 of the IATSE is the union representing Scenic, Costume, Lighting, Sound, and Projection designers in Live Performance

CHARACTERS

Violetta Valéry (soprano): a beloved Parisian courtesan and socialite who is ill.

Alfredo Germont (tenor): an admirer of Violetta from a middle-class family.

Giorgio Germont (baritone): Alfredo’s father.

Flora Bervoix (mezzo-soprano): Violetta’s friend, another Parisian socialite.

Annina (soprano): Violetta’s maid.

Gastone de Letorières (tenor): an aristocrat and friend of Violetta.

Baron Douphol (baritone): a wealthy patron of Violetta’s.

Marquis d’Obigny (bass): an aristocrat and friend of Violetta and Flora.

Doctor Grenvil (bass): a doctor treating Violetta, who is also her friend.

ACT ONE | Paris in the mid-1800s, Violetta’s salon.

Violetta’s friends gather at a party, where she is introduced by Gastone to Alfredo Germont. Violetta learns that Alfredo has been visiting her while she was ill, which she finds touching, since no one else had done the same. She and Alfredo lead the party in a toast, the famous Brindisi, “Libiamo ne’ lieti calici.” As the party continues, everyone begins to dance, but Violetta falters, reflecting the limitations of her condition. The guests leave, but Alfredo stays behind to express his feelings for her. She initially dismisses him, but after he leaves, she ponders what life would be like if she chose love in her dazzling arias that end the first act.

ACT

TWO, SCENE ONE | Months later, in a country house outside of Paris.

Violetta and Alfredo have moved in with each other in the countryside and spend each day in bliss. Given Alfredo’s modest means, however, Violetta has had to sell her belongings to support their lifestyle. Alfredo learns this from Annina, and vows to fix the situation himself. After Alfredo departs for Paris, Violetta returns to the house and finds an invitation to one of Flora’s parties. Then, Alfredo’s father arrives with difficult news. His daughter is engaged, and Germont is afraid that Alfredo’s relationship will threaten the arrangement, given that Violetta is a courtesan and has not married Alfredo. He asks Violetta to end the relationship for the sake of his family. Violetta pleads with Germont, saying her illness is quite serious and

leaving Alfredo would be devastating. Germont won’t give in and tells Violetta that she’ll find someone else to love. Violetta eventually relents, asking Germont to tell his daughter about her sacrifice, as well as making sure that she’ll be the one to break things off with Alfredo. She also asks Germont to only tell Alfredo the reason she left him after she passes away. As Violetta prepares to depart for Paris, Alfredo returns, and the two share a tearful moment. After she leaves, Alfredo finds the invitation from Flora and—not knowing the reason why she left—angrily resolves to confront her at the party.

ACT TWO, SCENE TWO | Paris, in Flora’s

salon. Alfredo arrives at Flora’s party and soon after, so does Violetta, on the arm of Baron Douphol. After a lucky streak gambling at the party, Alfredo obnoxiously bets against the Baron, saying if he wins, he’d be able to take Violetta home. Afraid that the Baron might challenge Alfredo to a duel for his behavior, Violetta urges him to stop provoking her patron. He refuses, not realizing that she is trying to protect him. Alfredo then calls the guests over to see him embarrass Violetta, throwing his winnings at her feet, signifying payment for her “services” while they were together. Everyone is upset, as Violetta faints, and the Baron challenges Alfredo to a duel.

ACT THREE

| Paris, in Violetta’s bedroom. Doctor Grenvil visits Violetta, whose condition has deteriorated drastically in the month since Flora’s party. He lets Annina know that Violetta only has a few hours left to live. Violetta reads a letter from Germont, which recounts how Alfredo won his duel against the Baron and is now abroad. As promised, Germont revealed Violetta’s sacrifice to Alfredo, and now Alfredo is on his way to Violetta to hopefully see her before she passes. Alfredo miraculously arrives, and the two embrace once more. They sing “Parigi, o cara,” where they imagine their future life together away from Paris. Violetta is as happy as she is inconsolable, because her true love returned, but almost too late. Alfredo tries to comfort her, and suddenly, Germont appears. He has come to apologize to Violetta and tell her that he considers her like a daughter of his own. Violetta collapses in Alfredo’s arms. The Doctor checks her pulse and confirms that Violetta is dead.

PROGRAM & DIRECTOR’S NOTES

PROGRAM NOTES

Marie Duplessis (1824–1847) was the most beautiful, most desirable, and most notorious professional courtesan in all of Paris. The city’s wealthiest men sought to win a place as one of her clients. Those who couldn’t get close to Marie were at least able to applaud her at the theater. One of her closest admirers was novelist/playwright Alexandre Dumas fils (1824–1895), who had a romance with Marie until conservative bourgeois society drove them apart. His novel La Dame aux Camélias (1848) was a work of fiction inspired by Marie, its title reflecting her fondness for using the camellia flower for communicating with her clients. The novel (which became a play) muses upon the tragedy of a famed beauty dying all too young.

Having seen the play in Paris, master Italian opera composer Giuseppe Verdi (1813–1901) was convinced that it contained the makings of an opera. In addition to the strong, sympathetic female lead, there was also a love interest who has his doubts about her, and the father of that love interest who struggles to protect his family’s reputation.

Knowing that the story derived from actual events of quite recent times, Verdi desired a contemporary setting for the opera, which he had titled La traviata (The Fallen Woman). Unfortunately, managers at Venice’s La Fenice Opera House (where the opera was set to premiere), refused that notion. La Fenice demanded an early 18th century setting, which would distance the audience from the issues portrayed in the opera, and Verdi relented. It would not be until after Verdi’s death that opera houses set La traviata in the 19th century, but at that point, it was already the distant past. La traviata premiered March 6, 1853.

Verdi gives a moment for each of the main characters to shine, but some of the most passionate moments are the ones where more than one person is on stage. The opera begins with its most memorable tune, a toast initiated by Alfredo (“Libiamo ne’ lieti calici”) which Violetta and her friends join. Then, Alfredo’s heartfelt confession and Violetta’s apprehension in “Un dì, felice, eterea” sets the romantic mood of the opera in act one. Soon after, Violetta’s incredible coloratura showcase appears at the end of act one with “Ah fors’è lui…Sempre libera,” as she debates choosing true love and being free. We see and hear this mental turmoil, as Alfredo interrupts Violetta’s aria singing “Un dì, felice, eterea” from outside. Act three brings Violetta’s heartbreaking “Addio del passato,” where our heroine laments over her impending death, emphasized by her narrowed vocal range and echoed by an oboe solo. Finally, the bittersweet duet with Alfredo, “Parigi, o cara” gives the lovers a chance to dream about what life could have been like, set to a simple waltz, reminiscent of the music in the happier act one. Violetta’s range, again, is narrower, and restricted from embellishing like Alfredo does. This all works to convey Violetta’s condition in drastic contrast to her soprano acrobatics in act one.

On the surface, it’s a simple tale: lovers driven apart by family and misunderstandings, reunited barely in time to share one final kiss. In the hands of a master composer such as Verdi, it becomes far more than that. Into our ears and hearts pour the evolving sensibilities of both Violetta

and Alfredo, from tenderness and devotion to anger and despair—sometimes changing from one feeling to another in a moment. Verdi set out to achieve a connection with his audience, and unquestionably he succeeded. It isn’t just pretty: it is powerful and passionate. Well-cast and welldirected, La traviata is one of the most compelling and convincing of all operas.

Program notes © Betsy Schwarm, author of the Classical Music Insights series

DIRECTOR’S NOTES

When Giuseppe Verdi composed La traviata in 1853, he was not only telling the story of Violetta Valéry, a Parisian courtesan who sacrifices everything for love, he was also defending his own life choices. Verdi was an unconventional man, unconcerned with society’s restrictive rules about affection and love. At the time, the unmarried Verdi lived openly with the soprano Giuseppina Strepponi, admired for her artistry but condemned for her past (she had children out of wedlock). Their relationship scandalized his neighbors in the small-minded world of provincial Busseto, who gossiped about the couple, just as the Parisian world of La traviata does about Violetta and Alfredo, her young lover. Verdi’s feelings appear vividly in a letter to his father-in-law and benefactor, Antonio Barezzi, who had echoed the town’s disapproval. Verdi replied:

“In my house, a woman lives freely, independently, and like me she loves a solitary life…To you I will say that in my house she is to be shown the same respect as myself— perhaps even more so…I insist on my freedom of action, because every man has the right to it.”

That cry for freedom, for the right to live honestly, without hypocrisy, and to respect the dignity of another human being, is at the very heart of La traviata. Violetta, like Strepponi, is a woman that society has passed judgment over, because of her past. She finds true love, only to be rejected by Alfredo’s family and, ultimately, by society itself. In her music, Verdi gives her not only glamour, but also profound humanity, dignity, and spiritual courage. He respects her and demands that the audience does so as well, by the way he depicts her in his opera, as strong, openhearted, even heroic.

Verdi knew suffering. Before 30, he lost his wife and both of their children, tragedies that marked him deeply. Even after success arrived, he remained a reserved man, tied more to his land in Sant’Agata than to the salons of Paris or Milan. Perhaps that is why the emotions in La traviata feel so true: they are stripped of artifice. Verdi shows us life, raw and unvarnished, in music that goes straight to the heart. This is why I feel so attached to La traviata. It is a profoundly human story, close to all of us. In this production, we strive to tell it through honest, human performances, and with special care for the special relationship between Piave’s text, Verdi’s music, and the power and colors of the human voice. I am especially grateful to share this journey with Ari Pelto, Opera Colorado’s Music Director, with whom I have years of friendship and collaboration.

Director’s Notes by Marco Nisticò

ARTISTS

JOE BEUMER | LIGHTING DESIGNER

Joe Beumer designs for opera, theatre, and dance both nationally and internationally. Recent designs include the world premiere of State of the Jews (AOP NYC), La traviata (Palm Beach Opera), Cavalleria rusticana (Sacramento Philharmonic & Opera), Thumbprint (Portland Opera), Aida (Cincinnati Opera), Tosca (Palm Beach Opera, Utah Opera, Dayton Opera), and two large scale productions for Virgin Voyages’ Brilliant Lady. Previous designs for Opera Colorado include The Daughter of the Regiment, Il trovatore, Don Giovanni, Rigoletto, Cavalleria rusticana, and The Barber of Seville. As associate - Der Schauspieldirektor and Iolanta (Göteborg Opera), The Demon (Opéra National Bordeaux), The Old Vic’s A Christmas Carol (Los Angeles, New York City), the current national tour of The Book of Mormon, and the upcoming tour of Fellow Travelers (Seattle Opera, Portland Opera, etc.). Additional credits and companies: Harmony (Broadway), Days of Wine and Roses (World Premiere), Prototype Festival, The Public, Geva Theatre Center, Syracuse Stage, BC/EFA’s Broadway Bares, New York Musical Festival (NYMF), Great Lakes Theater, Summer Repertory Theatre, Norwegian Cruise Lines, Cincinnati Shakespeare, Kansas City Ballet, Dayton Ballet, Atlanta Opera, Long Island Lyric Opera, Detroit Opera, Chicago Lyric Opera, Houston Grand Opera, Opéra de Montréal, and Pacific Symphony. Joe calls Brooklyn home, and he is a proud member of United Scenic Artists, Local USA 829.

SARA GARTLAND | VIOLETTA VALÉRY

A passionate interpreter of opera, concert repertoire, and song, soprano Sara Gartland has firmly established herself as an artist to watch, displaying a talent for dramatic storytelling and comedy. In the 2025-26 Season, Sara will debut with Lyric Opera of Kansas City for Of Mice and Men (Curley’s Wife) and will return to Opera Colorado for La traviata (Violetta), Opera Theatre of Saint Louis for A Streetcar Named Desire (Blanche), and the Jacksonville Symphony as the title role in a fully staged production of Tosca. Last season, Sara returned to Atlanta Opera for Macbeth (Lady Macbeth) and The Dallas Opera for La traviata (Violetta), and she debuted at Opera Theatre of Saint Louis for Die Fledermaus (Rosalinde) and Calgary Opera for a double bill of Gianni Schicchi and Bluebeard’s Castle (Nella and Judith).

In the 2023-24 Season, Sara made her European debuts with Semperoper Dresden and Oldenburgisches Staatstheater in Die tote Stadt (Marie/Marietta). She debuted with Sacramento Philharmonic & Opera in Don Giovanni (Donna Elvira) and returned to Des Moines Metro Opera for her first performances of the titular role in Strauss’ iconic Salome in a new production conducted by David Neely and directed by Nathan Troupe. In the 2022-23 Season, Sara saw debuts at Pittsburgh Opera in Rusalka (title role), Opera San Antonio in Pagliacci (Nedda), Minnesota Opera in Don Giovanni (Donna Elvira), and a return to DMMO for Bluebeard’s Castle (Judith). Additional career highlights include creating the role of Rose in the world premiere production of A Thousand Acres with libretto by Kristin Kuster and Mark Campbell for the 50th Anniversary season at the Des Moines Metro Opera, where she has also performed the title roles of Rusalka and Jenůfa, Wozzeck

(Marie), The Queen of Spades (Liza), Roméo et Juliette (Juliette), and Regina (Alexandra).

Ms. Gartland is a graduate of the prestigious Adler Fellowship Program at San Francisco Opera, where she performed in numerous productions, including Carmen (Micaëla), the world premiere of Christopher Theofanidis’ Heart of a Soldier (Pat/Ann), Die Walküre (Gerhilde), Madama Butterfly (Kate Pinkerton), and Le nozze di Figaro (Barbarina), which was her San Francisco Opera main stage debut. Prior to becoming an Adler, Sara participated in the Merola Opera Program and performed in L’amico Fritz (Suzel).

RACHAEL HARDING | CHOREOGRAPHER

With nearly 25 years of experience, Rachael Harding has built a dynamic career as a professional dancer, teacher, and choreographer. She holds a B.F.A. in Dance and a B.S. in Business Management from the University of Arizona, as well as an M.F.A. in Dance from the University of Colorado Boulder.

Rachael began her professional journey with Denver’s Cleo Parker Robinson Dance Ensemble and has been a company dancer with Moraporvida Contemporary Dance, Interweave Dance Theatre, Kim Robards Dance, New Breed Dance Company, JK-Co, Boulder Jazz Dance Collective and Nu-World Contemporary Danse Theatre. She currently serves as resident choreographer for Davis Contemporary Dance Company, coowner and director of the Boulder Jazz Dance Workshop, and owner/director of Miss Rachael’s Dance in Denver, where she is passionate about nurturing young dancers—helping them grow both as artists and individuals.

She regularly collaborates with the Lamont School of Music, choreographing opera and musical theatre productions, and serves on the board of The Dance Archive.

Rachael’s work spans notable productions with Opera Colorado, including Nixon in China, The Pearl Fishers, Rusalka, Josephine and Il trovatore as well as choreography for Aida, Rusalka, The Barber of Seville, The Shining, Die tote Stadt, and Samson and Delilah

WESTON HURT | GIORGIO GERMONT

Having appeared at many of North America’s most significant houses, baritone Weston Hurt made his critically acclaimed UK debut last season as the titular Rigoletto with English National Opera. In the 2025-2026 Season, Mr. Hurt returns to two favorite roles: he brings his interpretation of Germont in La traviata to Utah Opera and Opera Colorado and sings Sharpless in Madama Butterfly with Fort Worth Opera. On the concert stage, he makes debuts with the Reno Philharmonic for Orff’s Carmina Burana, and the North Carolina Symphony for Handel’s Messiah.

In addition to Rigoletto at ENO, the 2024-25 Season brought the baritone’s house and role debut as Tonio in Pagliacci with Pensacola Opera, as well as performances of Germont in La traviata with the Berkshire Opera Festival. Mr. Hurt joined the roster of The Metropolitan Opera in the 20232024 Season, covering Alvaro in Catán’s Florencia en el Amazonas. Additionally, he returned to Houston Grand Opera as Sharpless in their Miller Outdoor Theatre performances of Madama Butterfly and bowed with Madison Opera for their annual Opera in the Park concert.

During the 2022-23 Season, Mr. Hurt made several returns to signature roles, including Germont with Lyric Opera of Kansas City in La traviata, Scarpia with Arizona Opera in Tosca, and Sharpless in Madama Butterfly with New Orleans Opera. On the concert stage, he joined Opera Roanoke for Britten’s War Requiem and the Boston Youth Symphony Orchestra for Verdi’s Requiem. He has sung Schaunard in La bohème at the Dallas Opera, Peter in Hansel and Gretel at the Portland Opera; Enrico in Lucia di Lammermoor at Portland Opera, the Arizona Opera and Austin Lyric Opera; the Count in Le nozze di Figaro at Michigan Opera Theater, Frank in Die tote Stadt at the Dallas Opera and the New York City Opera, and a performance of Der ferne Klang with the American Symphony Orchestra in Avery Fisher Hall.

A graduate of the Juilliard Opera Center, Mr. Hurt has received many notable vocal awards, including 1st place and the People’s Choice Award from the Dallas Opera Guild Vocal Competition, the Vienna Prize from the George London Foundation, and 1st Place in the Oratorio Society of New York Competition, as well as various awards from the Liederkranz Foundation, Metropolitan Opera National Council, and Palm Beach Opera Competition, and two career grants from The Santa Fe Opera.

JORDAN MCCREADY | FLORA BERVOIX

Jordan McCready is a mezzo-soprano originally from Anchorage, AK. She completed her master’s degree in voice at San Francisco Conservatory of Music, studying with Catherine Cook. There, she performed in Riders to the Sea (Maurya), Così fan tutte (Dorabella), Serse (Serse), Zanetto (Zanetto), The Marriage of Figaro (Cherubino), and Hansel and Gretel (Hansel). She has performed chorus and cover roles at companies such as Des Moines Metro Opera (The Magic Flute chorus), Opera Parallèle (Harvey Milk Reimagined chorus), Anchorage Opera (chorus 2016-2018), and Pocket Opera (Fox cover in The Cunning Little Vixen). Jordan received a Metropolitan Opera Laffont Encouragement Award in 2024, was the winner of the Shirley Rabb Winston Scholarship through the National Society of Arts and Letters, received second place in the James Toland Young Artist Competition, and was the winner of the Anchorage Festival of Music Young Artist award in 2023. During the 2025-26 Season, Jordan is thrilled to be joining Opera Colorado as one of their Artists in Residence. She will sing in the touring productions of Romeo & Juliet (Stephano) and The Pirates of Penzance (Ruth). On the Ellie Caulkins mainstage, she will perform in La traviata (Flora) and Madama Butterfly (Kate Pinkerton). When Jordan is not performing, you can find her hiking, trail running, mountain biking, skiing, or doing anything that gets her outside.

DANIEL MILLER | GASTONE DE LETORIÈRES

Tenor Daniel Miller, a native of Arvada, CO, is thrilled to return to Opera Colorado’s roster of talented Artists in Residence for the 2025-26 Season. Daniel holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Northern Colorado and a master’s degree from Carnegie Mellon University. This season, he will perform in La traviata (Gastone) on the Ellie Caulkins mainstage, as well as in Opera

Colorado’s touring productions of Romeo & Juliet (Romeo) and The Pirates of Penzance (Frederic). In 2025, he was an Apprentice Artist with Central City Opera’s Bonfils-Stanton Foundation Artists, where he covered the role of Count Almaviva in The Barber of Seville. He has previously appeared in a wide range of opera and musical theater productions, including Les Misérables (Jean Valjean), The Magic Flute (Tamino), Albert Herring (The Mayor), and Little Women (Laurie).

MARCO NISTICÒ | STAGE DIRECTOR

Marco Nisticò is an accomplished stage director and arts professional, born in Italy, whose work is driven by a deep commitment to the emotional truth of operatic storytelling. Known for his actor-centered approach and ability to draw out nuanced, human performances, Marco brings clarity, theatrical instinct, and musical integrity to every production he directs. His recent work reflects a passion for uncovering the essential connections between characters and audience, stripping away convention to reveal the raw power of opera.

Before turning his full focus to directing and producing, Marco enjoyed a vibrant international career as a baritone, performing for over twenty-five years on major stages including the Metropolitan Opera, Teatro di San Carlo, West Australian Opera, Sarasota Opera, and Opera Colorado. With a repertoire spanning from Mozart and Rossini to Verdi and contemporary works, he was praised for his expressive singing, comic flair, and dramatic depth. His experience as a performer continues to inform his directing, allowing him to collaborate with singers from a place of understanding and trust.

Marco is currently beginning a new chapter as Opera Producer at the Fisher Center at Bard, where he is excited to join a forward-thinking artistic team and help shape the future of opera through bold programming and creative leadership. He recently directed Julietta by Bohuslav Martinů with the Bard Music Festival in summer 2025 and looks forward to directing Verdi’s Il trovatore with Sarasota Opera in 2026. These productions reflect his continued dedication to both classic and lesser-known repertoire, brought to life with insight and theatrical sensitivity.

SAHAR NOURI | CHORUS MASTER

Iranian conductor and pianist Sahar Nouri has been Music Director of Lamont Opera Theater at University of Denver since 2019. She has also served at Opera Colorado as Chorus Master & Assistant Conductor since 2016. Ms. Nouri is the founder/director of Dandelion Opera Institute.

At the University of Denver, Ms. Nouri has conducted productions of Gianni Schicchi, Suor Angelica, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, The Magic Flute, Alcina, Cabildo, Les mamelles de Tirésias, and The Little Prince. Her work with Opera Colorado has included productions of Il trovatore, La fille du régiment, Samson and Delilah, The Flying Dutchman, Don Giovanni, Turandot, Die tote Stadt, Rigoletto, Carmen, The Shining, Tosca, Cavalleria rusticana, Pagliacci, The Marriage of Figaro, La traviata, Falstaff, The Barber of Seville, La bohème, La fanciulla del West, April in Paris, and the world premiere of Steal a Pencil for Me by Gerald Cohen.

As a guest conductor, Ms. Nouri’s 2025-26 Season includes La traviata at Sacramento Philharmonic and Opera, Die Zauberflöte at Prague Summer Nights Festival, and Le nozze di Figaro at the University of Michigan. Previously, Ms. Nouri has been part of the music staff at San Francisco Opera, Houston Grand Opera, Dallas Opera, Philadelphia Orchestra at Bravo! Vail, Opera Parallèle, North Carolina Opera, Glimmerglass Festival, Utah Opera, Aspen Opera Theatre, Opera Steamboat, Merola Opera, Boston Conservatory of Music, and San Francisco Conservatory of Music. An active performer, she has given numerous recitals around the US including those alongside international stars Mane Galoyan, Heidi Melton, and Matthew Polenzani. A multi-lingual coach, she has studied in Czechia, Italy, and Austria and is frequently in demand as a language coach. Ms. Nouri is a former violinist who has performed with the Tehran Philharmonic Orchestra and has won several prizes, for both violin and piano, in national music festivals and competitions in Iran.

MASON O’BRIEN | BARON DOUPHOL

Mason Fontanilla O’Brien is a baritone from Memphis, Tennessee, and is thrilled to join Opera Colorado’s Artist in Residence program for the 2025-26 Season. This year, he will appear on the Ellie Caulkins mainstage in La traviata (Baron Douphol) and Madama Butterfly (Prince Yamadori) and will perform in the touring productions of Romeo & Juliet (Mercutio) and The Pirates of Penzance (Major General). Mason holds a master’s degree from the University of Denver’s Lamont School of Music and a bachelor’s degree from the University of Kentucky. Favorite past performances include Don Giovanni (Leporello) at Prague Summer Nights, A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Bottom) and Gianni Schicchi (Gianni Schicchi) at Lamont Opera, and Madama Butterfly (Imperial Commissioner) with the Colorado Springs Philharmonic.

RONELL OLIVERI | WIG & MAKE-UP DESIGNER

Ronell Oliveri has been designing wigs and makeup for opera, theatre, ballet, and film for the past twenty-five years for such companies as Minnesota Opera, Boston Lyric Opera, Central City Opera, Opera Columbus, Pacific Symphony, and The American Repertory Theater at Harvard University. Currently she is the resident wig and makeup designer for Opera Colorado and Opera Omaha. As a wig and makeup artist her professional credits include engagements with Lyric Opera of Chicago, LA Opera, Santa Fe Opera, Opera Theatre of Saint Louis, and Boston Ballet. She was a PrimeTime Emmy nominee as key makeup artist for her work in television. Her work can also be seen in several Broadway shows including Wicked, All The Way, and Waitress. Recent engagements include Boston Lyric Opera’s Mitridate, Opera Omaha’s Fantastic Mr. Fox, and Central City Opera’s 2024 summer festival. Upcoming engagements include Opera Omaha’s Susanna, Pacific Symphony’s Turandot, Opera Columbus’ Anonymous Lover, and Opera Colorado’s Madama Butterfly.

ARI PELTO | CONDUCTOR, MUSIC DIRECTOR

Appointed Music Director at Opera Colorado in 2015, Ari Pelto has conducted acclaimed performances of La traviata, Don Giovanni, Madama Butterfly, Aida, La bohème, Falstaff, La fanciulla del West, Le nozze di Figaro and Lucia di Lammermoor, Il barbiere di Siviglia, Pagliacci, Otello, Carmen, Rigoletto, Der fliegende Holländer, Samson et Dalilah, Die tote Stadt, Turandot, Tosca, La fille du régiment, Cavalleria rusticana, and Il trovatore for the company to date. Maestro Pelto also conducted contemporary titles at Opera Colorado, including The Shining; the worldpremiere of Lori Laitman’s long-awaited work, The Scarlet Letter (also recorded for the Naxos label); and the world premiere of Gerald Cohen’s new opera, Steal a Pencil for Me, based on a true love story set in a concentration camp during WWII, also recorded.

Guest engagements include Eugene Onegin at Staatsoper Hamburg and The Nutcracker and Coppélia at The Atlanta Ballet. At Sacramento Philharmonic and Opera where he is Principal Conductor and Artistic Advisor, he conducts Catán’s Florencia Suite, Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 4, Montgomery’s Rounds, Brahms’ Violin Concerto in D Major, Op. 77; Beethoven’s Symphony No. 7; and Mahler’s Symphony No. 1. Appointed to Sacramento Philharmonic and Opera in 2023, Maestro Pelto’s recent symphonic concerts include Brahms’s Symphony No. 4, the Suite from Prokofiev’s Lieutenant Kijé, Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 2 with Michelle Cann, Sibelius’ Symphony No. 3, and Mussorgsky’s Pictures at an Exhibition. Maestro Pelto joined the Colorado Springs Philharmonic for a program including Bruch’s Violin Concerto No. 1 and Brahms’ Symphony No. 2. After earning his Bachelor of Music in Violin Performance at Oberlin Conservatory, Ari Pelto studied conducting at the Sibelius Academy in Helsinki, the Rubin Academy in Jerusalem, and with Imre Pallo at Indiana University. At the age of twenty-four, he was appointed Assistant Conductor at the Spoleto Festival—a position he held from 1994 to 1998—and from 2000-2002 he was Associate Conductor of Sarasota Symphony, then known as Florida West Coast Symphony. In addition to conducting over thirty concerts in Sarasota, Maestro Pelto was a frequent guest with The Florida Orchestra and with Toledo Symphony. In the 2009-10 Season, he held the position of Artistic Advisor at Boston Lyric Opera, and from 2014-17 he was Principal Guest Conductor at Opera Memphis.

OLIVER POVEDA ZAVALA | DOCTOR GRENVIL

Bass-baritone Oliver Poveda Zavala, originally from the highland country of Ecuador, is a graduate of the Lamont School of Music at the University of Denver. Oliver is a returning Artist in Residence for Opera Colorado’s 2025-26 Season. Last season, Oliver sang in the touring productions of The Barber of Seville (Bartolo) and Hansel and Gretel (Father) and appeared in the mainstage production of La bohème (Benoit). This season, Oliver will perform in the touring productions of The Pirates of Penzance (Samuel and Sergeant of Police) and Romeo & Juliet (Friar Lawrence) and will make a role debut in La traviata (Dr. Grenvil). Oliver made his debut in La fanciulla del West (José Castro) as an Apprentice Artist with Central City Opera for their 2024 summer festival season, where he also covered the role of Ashby in La fanciulla del West and Mr. Olsen in Street Scene. In 2023, Oliver appeared in Opera Colorado’s Student Matinee performance of Don Giovanni (Masetto), sang in

Die Fledermaus (Dr. Falke) with Opera in Williamsburg, and participated in Central City Opera’s apprenticeship program, where he sang in the Emerging Artists Matinee of Romeo and Juliet (Frère Laurent) and in Otello (Elmiro cover). Oliver has worked with multiple companies in Colorado, including Opera Steamboat, Boulder Opera, and Denver Immersive Opera, where he performed in La bohème (Colline), the abridged version of Lori Laitman’s The Three Feathers (Frog King), Xavier Montsalvatge’s El gato con botas (El ogro), and Bluebeard’s Castle (Duke Bluebeard). In November 2022, he sang in Don Giovanni (Leporello) with the Vincerò Academy in Mazatlán, Mexico, and in 2021, he made his company debut with Opera in Williamsburg in The Elixir of Love (Dr. Dulcamara). In August 2021, he performed in ISOFOM’s production of The Marriage of Figaro (Bartolo and Antonio) in Morelia, Mexico. Other recent roles include Les mamelles de Tirésias (Monsieur Presto), L’enfant et les sortilèges (Le Fauteuil and L’Arbre), Cabildo (Gaoler), The Magic Flute (Sarastro), Gianni Schicchi (Simone), and Il tabarro (Talpa) with the Lamont Opera Theatre during his studies at the University of Denver. Oliver is the 2021 and 2022 winner of the Ann Logan Craft Vocal Competition, a 2021 finalist at the Denver Lyric Opera Guild Competition, and a recipient of the Sherry Shepherd Sargent Memorial Award.

BRIDGET RAVENSCRAFT | ANNINA

Bridget Ravenscraft, soprano, is thrilled to join the Artists in Residence at Opera Colorado for the 2025-26 Season. Recently, she was an apprentice artist with Des Moines Metro Opera, where she sang in Sweeney Todd and Pique Dame (chorus). She spent two summers as a conservatory artist at the Bay View Music Festival, singing in Fiddler on the Roof (Hodel), La Cenerentola (Clorinda), and Carmen (Micaëla). In May 2025, Bridget graduated with her Artist Diploma from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. During her two years at UIUC with Lyric Theatre @ Illinois, she performed in Oklahoma! (Aunt Eller), Monteverdi’s Orfeo (La Musica), and was awarded second prize in the Krannert Debut Artist Competition. During her residency at Opera Colorado, Bridget will sing in the touring productions of Romeo & Juliet (Juliet) and The Pirates of Penzance (Mabel). On the Ellie Caulkins mainstage, she will perform in La traviata (Annina, Violetta study cover).

BEN REISINGER | ALFREDO GERMONT

Ben Reisinger is a tenor from Rochester, New York, currently in his second year in the Lindemann Young Artist Development Program. Ben has recently made the journey from baritone to tenor and finds himself happily at home vocally as a lyric tenor.

In the 2025-26 Season, Ben makes two role and house debuts, singing Roméo in Roméo et Juliette with Opera Nacional de Chile and Alfredo in La traviata with Opera Colorado. He will also cover the Duke in Rigoletto at San Francisco Opera. At the Metropolitan Opera, he will sing Gastone in La traviata, the First armoured man in Die Zauberflöte, and the Sailor in Tristan und Isolde. Future engagements include a return as a guest artist at the Metropolitan Opera as well as house debuts at Opéra national de Paris and Dresden Semperoper. He was recently awarded the 2025 Sara Tucker Study Grant, the 2024 Career Grant from the Sullivan Foundation, the 2024 Athena Music Foundation prize from the Premiere Opera Foundation Vocal Competition, 1st prize at the Partners for

the Arts Competition and Florentine Opera Competition, and 2nd place at the 2025 Loren L. Zachary National Vocal Competition. In 2020 and 2021, he was the winner of the Michigan District and recipient of the Great Lakes Region Encouragement Award in the Met’s Laffont Competition. He is an alumnus of the Martina Arroyo Foundation’s Prelude to Performance program and Detroit Opera’s Resident Artist Program. He holds degrees in voice from Nazareth College and Michigan State University. In his spare time, Ben enjoys spending time with his Labrador Retriever, Hank, and is an avid golfer.

KEVIN SPOONER | MARQUIS D’OBIGNY

Hailing from Oneida, NY, bass-baritone Kevin Spooner has performed on stages throughout the United States. During the 2025-26 Season, Kevin will be an Artist in Residence with Opera Colorado, where he will perform in La traviata (Marquis d’Obigny) on the Ellie Caulkins mainstage and in the touring productions of Romeo & Juliet (Lord Capulet) and The Pirates of Penzance (The Pirate King). This season, Kevin will make his debut with the Charlottesville Symphony in Dvořák’s Mass in D Major (bass soloist) and perform at the Savannah VOICE Festival (guest recitalist).

Recent performances include Die Fledermaus (Dr. Falke) and Ballymore (The Ballad Singer, Andy Tracey) with the A.J. Fletcher Opera Institute; Joan of Arc: The Trial at Rouen (The Jailor) with Piedmont Opera; Macbeth (Medico; Banco cover) with Teatro Nuovo at New York City Center; The Music Man (Mayor Shinn) and The Elixir of Love (Dr. Dulcamara cover) with Charlottesville Opera; La bohème (Schaunard) and The Marriage of Figaro (Figaro cover, Antonio) with Opera Steamboat; and concert appearances as bass soloist in Messiah, Five Mystical Songs, and several Bach cantatas with the Choral Society of Greensboro and the Salem Bach Festival. Kevin received a 2024 Metropolitan Opera Laffont Competition Encouragement Award in the New York City District. Kevin completed his Professional Artist Certificate at the UNCSA A.J. Fletcher Opera Institute, where he also received his Master of Music degree, and holds a Bachelor of Music degree from the Eastman School of Music.

ACCESS ENGLISH OR SPANISH SUBTITLES AT YOUR SEAT

Follow these easy steps:

Prior to the performance, the screen will automatically display a sponsored message. When singing begins, briefly press the red button to activate subtitles.

• Press once for English.

• Press twice for Spanish.

• Press three times to turn titles off.

Then, simply repeat these steps after intermission. Pressing the red button too many times or holding the button down may result in a system failure. If you experience difficulty with the system, please contact an usher for assistance. Opera Colorado does not offer refunds or exchanges in the event of a subtitle system failure.

Please Note: All Sunday matinee performances offer audio description for the visually impaired. Headsets are available at Coat Check. English subtitles are written by Jeremy Sortore.

ORCHESTRA, CHORUS, & PRODUCTION STAFF

OPERA COLORADO ORCHESTRA

VIOLIN

Takanori Sugishita, concertmaster

Zachary Ragent, principal second violin

Jackson Bailey

Michelle Davis

Angela Dombrowski

Margaret Soper Gutierrez

Regan Kane

Isaac Kay

Yon Joo Lee

Christine Menter

Leah Mohling

Ava Pacheco

Felix Petit

Veronica Sawarynski

Robyn Sosa

Benjamin Tomkins

Leena Waite

Tori Woodrow

VIOLA

Matthew Dane, principal

Michael Brook

Kostadin Dyulgerski

Mary Harrison

Sarah Richardson

Lora Stevens

CELLO

Andrew Kolb, principal

Charles Lee

David Short

Jeff Watson

Eleanor Wells

Carole Whitney

BASS

David Crowe, principal

Jeremy Nicholas

John St. Cyr

Yu-Chen Yang

FLUTE & PICCOLO

Susan Kerbs Townsend, principal

Elizabeth Sadilek

OBOE

Sarah Bierhaus, principal

Max Soto

CLARINET

Michelle Joseph Orman, principal

Heidi Mendenhall

BASSOON

Martin Kuuskmann, principal

Christopher Pawlowski

HORN

Michael Yopp, principal

Lauren Varley

Devon Park

Daniel Skib

TRUMPET

Colin Oldberg, principal

Derek McDonald

TROMBONE

Bron Wright, principal

Ryan Van Gilder

Jeremy Van Hoy

TUBA

Steven Vaughn, principal

HARP

Janet Harriman, principal

TIMPANI

Carl Dixon, principal

PERCUSSION

Mark Foster, principal

Paul Finckel

Nena Lorenz Wright

OPERA COLORADO

CHORUS

SOPRANO

Casey Hennigan

Kayla Kramer

Regan Lewis

Anna McMahon

Stephanie Medema

Savannah Scott

MEZZO-SOPRANO

Jennifer Coffman

Mia Elisa Kopera

Bella Mallow

Maya Munoz

Rachel Newson

Jill Skinner

TENOR

Terrence McKenzie

Jack Richard

Norman Spivy

Luke Thatcher

Keith Williamson

Junze Zhang

BARITONE

Shane Delavan

Michele Di Nuovo

Puting Liu

James Rootring

Maotong Yu

Yang Zhang

SUPERNUMERARIES

Peter Dearth, server

Troy Krumland, server

Dave Lewis, server

Danielle Reubenstein, partygoer

Karilyn Schaffer, partygoer

PRODUCTION

PRODUCTION STAFF

Kendra Green, Production Stage Manager

Madeleine Snow, Assistant Director

Olivia Darling, Assistant Stage Manager

Colleen Kane, Assistant Stage Manager

MUSIC STAFF

Beth Nielsen, Chorus Music Reh Accompanist

John Morefield, Resident Collaborative Pianist

Angela Dombrowski, Orchestra Manager

Elle Wells, Orchestra Librarian

DESIGN STAFF

Jon Dunkle, Assistant Lighting Designer

TITLES SYSTEM STAFF

Beth Nielsen, Titles Operator: In-Seat

Brooklyn Becker, Titles Operator: Over-Stage

Jeremy Sortore, English Subtitles

TECHNICAL STAFF

Michael Boswell, Head Carpenter

Dave Youngs, Shop/Production Carpenter

Greg Killpack, Assistant Carpenter

Rita Richardson, Head Electrician

Kristian Sigloch, Assistant Electrician

Ashley Burns, Lighting Console Programmer

Hillary Clark, Head Property Master

Keven Soll, Assistant Properties Master

Thomas Berning, Head Audio Engineer

John Adams, Production Purchasing Agent

COSTUMES

Alison Milan, Costume Director

Madison Booth, Costume Coordinator

Sarah Zinn, Draper/Tailor

Celeste Fenton, First Hand

Elizabeth Woods, First Hand

Domino Douglas, Craftsperson/Stitcher

Amanda Bouza, Stitcher

WARDROBE

Carolyn Miller, Wardrobe Supervisor

Elizabeth Woods, Assistant Wardrobe Supervisor

Amanda Bouza, Dresser

Domino Douglas, Dresser

Madelyn Goldberg, Dresser

Kasper Kupsc, Dresser

Ann Piano, Dresser

Alie Troy, Dresser

Valerie Amburn, Volunteer Dresser

Leslie Cady, Volunteer Dresser

Kathy Heider, Volunteer Dresser

Jan Heimer, Volunteer Dresser

Vicky Gits, Volunteer Dresser

WIGS AND MAKEUP

Lisa Pedraza, Assistant Wigs and Makeup Coordinator

Shallah Perlman, Wigs and Makeup Assistant

Whitney Wolanin, Wigs and Makeup Assistant

ELLIE CAULKINS OPERA HOUSE CREW

Derek Tovar, Props Head

Amanda Short, Electrics Head

Allen Olmstead, Head Carpenter

Francisco Mara, Sound Head

ARTIST HOSTS/ VOLUNTEERS

Thomas Gaffney

Kip Kolkmeier

SHARE OPERA WITH YOUR COMMUNITY THIS SEASON

2025-26 OPERA ON TOUR

Opera Colorado travels across the state to schools and community spaces to present fully-staged and costumed opera, performed by our Artists in Residence with live piano accompaniment.

JAN - MAY | 2026

The Pirates of Penzance

Full of sentimental pirates, blundering policemen, absurd adventures, and improbable paradoxes, experience Gilbert and Sullivan’s hilarious farce!

Set sail with this classic comedy that boasts some of the most memorable tunes in operetta. For schools and community groups.

FEB - MAY | 2026

Romeo & Juliet

Experience the timeless story of Shakespeare’s classic!

Sung primarily in English, with portions in French, Gounod’s opera and the original Shakespeare play weave together in a seamless adaptation. This performance is a great way to connect audiences to opera with a timeless plot. For community groups.

Opera on Tour is generously sponsored by Genesee Mountain Foundation.

OUR IMPACT

Opera Colorado’s education programs provide communities throughout the state with access to the arts, bringing the magic of opera to schools and communities across Colorado.

Our education programs serve thousands of students and life-long learners. The 2024-25 Season included over thirty opera education performances and workshops for mountain and plains communities, libraries, senior groups, and schools serving children and adults with disabilities.

“The production quality of Opera Colorado, including the performers, are top notch. Opera Colorado is also extremely easy to work with and a great partner.”

–Teacher feedback after their students saw a touring production in the 2024-25 Season

FOR MORE INFORMATION

Learn more about Opera Colorado’s work in arts education at operacolorado.org/education.

Opera Colorado/Jamie Kraus

MEET THE ARTISTS IN RESIDENCE

Opera Colorado/Matthew Staver

Every year, Opera Colorado auditions hundreds of emerging artists from the nation’s top graduate schools for its Artist in Residence Program. During their eight-month residency, the selected artists bring opera to schools across the Rocky Mountain region, giving Colorado students a chance to meet opera’s future stars!

The 2025-26 Season’s talented group will perform in touring productions of The Pirates of Penzance and Romeo & Juliet. In addition to these performances, they will also feature in our mainstage productions.

The Opera Colorado Artist in Residence Program is supported by Patrick Spieles and Susan Rae Jensen, MD & Tom A. Trainer.

Bridget Ravenscraft, soprano

Hometown:

Hoffman Estates, IL

Dream Role:

Lucia in Donizetti’s Lucia di Lammermoor

OPERA COLORADO

CELEBRATING 20 YEARS OF THE OPERA HOUSE

Grand

CAULKINS Gala Grand Gala

5:00 PM Welcome Cocktails at the Seawell Ballroom

5:45 PM Multi-course Dinner

7:00 PM Live Auction & Video Tribute to the Ellie

FRIDAY • F EBRUARY 27 • 2026 HONORARY CHAIR | ELLIE CAULKINS

8:00 PM Grand Concert at the Ellie Caulkins Opera House

9:45 PM Afterparty in the Studio Loft TICKETS ON SALE NOW at operacolorado.org/gala

Imagine experiencing only a fraction of what you see tonight...

Singers but no orchestra. Costumes but no grand sets.

Ticket sales cover just a small portion of the cost of producing opera. Everything else — the soaring voices, the phenomenal orchestra, the moving lighting design, and the breathtaking sets — comes to life because of our generous family of donors.

Every donor level builds on the next, with benefits designed to bring you closer to the art you love. No matter what level you choose, there is a special experience waiting for you.

These highlights are just a glimpse of the benefits you will enjoy as a donor. To explore the full range of giving opportunities, visit operacolorado.org/individual-giving/ or call 303.468.2060.

ANNUAL CONTRIBUTORS

The Board of Directors of Opera Colorado and the staff express their deepest appreciation to the individuals, corporations, and foundations who have contributed to the Annual Fund. This listing is current as of September 2, 2025. Although space limitations only allow us to list donors whose gifts were $150 and above, we are deeply grateful for the support of all our dedicated contributors.

PRODUCER CIRCLE

VISIONARY $50,000+

Linda Bjelland

Mike and Julie Bock

Dave and Pam Duke

Jeanie and Randal Martines

Patrick Spieles

BENEFACTOR $25,000 - $49,999

Don and Maron Hindman

Dr. Jan Kennaugh and Chip Horne

Marcia and Dick Robinson

Merrill Shields and M. Ray Thomasson

AMBASSADOR $12,000 - $24,999

Emily and Mark Bussey

Ellie Caulkins

Drs. Laurence and Cynthia Chan

Joy & Chris Dinsdale

Edie and Joe Fogliano

Richard Garvin

Mr. and Mrs. Jeremy F. Kinney

Richard Koseff

The Honorable and Mrs. Kenneth Laff

Gayle Landis

Judy La Spada

Jim and Patience Linfield

Dr. Bill and BK Maniatis

Maj. Dino Maniatis and Dr. Kristin Freestone-Maniatis

Muffy Moore

Lynnette Morrison

Kevin O’Connor and Janet Ellen Raasch

Prem and Stephanie Subramanian

Charles I. Thompson

Valerie Wassill and Kevin Rudolph

Dan and Marie Welch

Ann Wise

Robin and Eric Yaeger

ARTISTS CIRCLE

CONDUCTOR $7,000 - $11,999

Anonymous

B. Edward Balkin

Ken and Donna Barrow

Mr. Charles E. Berry and Mrs. Maria Garcia Berry

Jane and Bart Burnett

Mary and Tom Conroy

Dr. Susan Rae Jensen and Mr. Tom Trainer

Gary and Judith Judd

John W. Kure and Cheryl L. Solich

Penny Lewis

Robert R. Montgomery and Nancy Hawkins

Alice Perlmutter

The Ponzio Family

Ayliffe and Fred Ris

Martha and Will Tracey

Dan and Marie Welch

Carole Yaley

COMPOSER $3,500 - $6,999

Robin E. Black

Donald K. Braden

Richard Cohn and Susan Cooper

Drs. Stacy and Henry Fischer

Sally Haas

Carl F. Heller and Maureen F. Hallacy

Ms. Judy Johnston

James Monroe, III and Marie Shannon Monroe

Ralph & Trish Nagel

Dr. Harold S. Nelson

Nancy & Paul Oberman

Bonnie Perkins

Christine and Harry Phillips

Zondra Rae Pluss

Bruce Polkowsky and Bill Powell

Nijole and Walter Rasmussen

Cynthia and Alexander Read

Myra and Robert Rich

Helen Scott Santilli

Fern B. Seltzer and Andrew Heymsfield

Jeremy and Susan Shamos

Susan and Harold Skramstad

Jack Trigg

William Vaniman and Frances G. Matthews

Mr. Byron S. Watson

Nancy and William Wehner

Erin Wenzel

LIBRETTIST $1,500 - $3,499

Anonymous

Brian Bennett and Bev Daniels

Sheila Bisenius

Nancy and Roger Celius

Barbara and Roger Chamberlain

Kathleen Clifton

Alexander J. Conley and Alysia D. Marino

Susan Cotter

James and Kathleen Crapo

Dr. Cynthia K. Crews and Mr. Charles W. Henry

Nancy Crow and Mark Skrotzki

Ms. Cheryl M. Cruickshank

Roger Day and Evelyn Wolf

Nicole De Naray

Arline Echandia

Cathy Foster

Jan Friedlander and Dr. Cynthia Kristensen

Karen Fukutaki, M.D.

Diane and John Gallagher

Gary and Rebecca Gantner

Hugh A. Grant

Mark Groshek MD and Carl Clark MD

The Grynberg Family

Ms. Lynn E. Harrington

Thomas Healy

Beverlee Henry Fullerton

Bernice Hernandez

Ginny Hersch

Mr. William T. Hoffman

Christine Hollander and Michael McGee

Dr. Lawrence Kim and Nhung Van

Tom Kirkpatrick and Djuana Strauch

Marvin Madorsky CPA and Maria Coquillard

Veronica McCaffrey and Barbara Frank

V.W. McKnab and Margaret Jurado

Henry B. Mohr

Mike and Lisa Morgan

Jack Finlaw and Gregory Movesian

Dr. and Mrs. Calvern E. Narcisi

Rick and Gail Nordheim

The Honorable Jon J. Olafson and Jerry Brindisi

Ari Pelto & Wendy Fisher

Debra J. Perry

Rick Poppe & Jana Edwards

Christina Radichel Caulkins

T. R. Reid

Deborah Rohan

Charley and Amanda Samson

Grover Sardeson

John Shott and Heidi Munzinger

Ms. Nancy J. Siegel

Frank Spaid

Judith Steinberg

The Stowe-Daniel Family

Francis and Sylvia Sullivan

John and Carson Taylor

Richard Tisinai

Dr. Peter and Mrs. Kathy Van Arsdale

Mary and Ken Willis

Brigitte Bastian Zimmer

PATRON CIRCLE

ASSOCIATE $700 - $1,499

Anonymous (3)

Mr. and Mrs. Mitchell Benedict III

Sam and Matt Bergen

Lawrence Berliner and Barbara Anderson

Ms. Sandra D. Besseghini

John and Anne Blair

Bliss Family Foundation

Brewster and Helen Boyd

Alan Boyer and Trudy Bortz

Elise Brenninkmeyer

Leslie Coover Cady

Ian Caiozzi and Neha Patel

Carol G. Canon

George Caulkins and C. Radichel Caulkins

Samuel Chan

Bob and Georgi Contiguglia

Tom & Cheryl Cox

Diana Degette and Lino Lipinsky

Marian Dines

Timothy James Donahue

Tracey Dunlap

Margaret and Peter Dzwilewski

Helene Eckstein

Reine and Matthew Erzinger

Jennifer Filipowski

Elizabeth Fischer and Don Elliott

Carolyn P. Francis

Frances and Richard Frey

Dr. and Mrs. Burton Golub

Natalie Greene

Russell Hedman and Juwon Bahn

Erin Hittle

Ruth Hopfenbeck

Rachelle and William Horton

Karen Howland and Gregory Mudge

Mr. Dennis R. Hurt

Michael and Betsy Huseby

Steve and Chryse Hutchins

Ann Atkinson & Daniel Isaman

Jeremy Johnson

John N. Kabalin, MD.

Anna Belle and Robert Kapelke

Diana and Mike Kinsey

Dianna Kunz

Robin Lander

D Langdon

Frieda Sanidas Leason

Terry Leech

Victoria Levine

Chris and Kris Lilley

Thomas Long

Evan and Evi Makovsky

Jim and Carole McCotter

James P. McElhinney

Joan V. Messick

Jerri Lynn Modrall and Eric E. Doering

William and Bonnie Moninger

The Morss Dehncke Family

Mary Moser

Margaret and John Moyer

Dr. Mary Kenny Moynihan and Dr. Michael Moynihan

Paul Edwin Noronha

Thomas and Diane O’Connor

Sheila Pack

Theresa and Norman Parker

Carol L. Rust

Dr. Douglas and Mrs. Antoinette Shaller

Donise Silverstone

Dr. and Mrs. Edwin R. Smith

Vicki Sterling

Laimute Stewart

Mrs. Marcia D. Strickland

Carol Timblin

Sharon and John Trefny

Keith Ward and Barbara Roidl

Michael Weeda and Joanne Michalski

Pati and Mark Wilkins

Mark Wiltermuth

Robert and Jacklyn Writz

SUPPORTER $400 – $699

Anonymous (2)

Barbara A. Allen M. D.

Brian Thomas Beagle

Richard Bottjer and Sara Peyton

Chris & Jennifer Bradley

Ms. Jay Breen

Jennifer Calderone

Bonnie Camp

Horner Chen

Mr. David Clark

Christina Clayton

Jennifer Colgan

Jim and Sara Culhane

Ronald L. Deal

Laurie and Ben Duke III

Benjamin and Gloria Eastman

Beverly and Bruce Fest

Julie Gail

Randy Ganter

Katy and David Garon

Alan G. Gass

Dr. and Mrs. Daniel J. Greenholz

Mrs. Carol & Dr. Fred Grover

Steven and Patricia Gulevich

The Honorable Alfred and Dori Harrell

Shad Harsh

Catherine and Graham Hollis

Sarah Hopfenbeck and Susan Corle

Michael E. Huotari and Jill R. Stewart

Ken Rose and Nancy Hurwitz

James Ingram

James and Christine Jorgensen

Kemp Family Fund

Rex Kramer and Cindy Crater

Richard Leaman

Nancy A. Leonard

Ellen Martin

John Masserini and Abraham Kelley

Stephen McGavran

Mrs. Hannelore McKinnon

Lawrence Moskow

Dr. and Mrs. David A. Norris

Kelli O’Brien & Michael Kolotylo

Roxane Pecchio

Robert and Mary Quillin

Karyn K. Rieb

Billy Seiber

Bob and Barbara Shaklee

David Stauffer

Pete Stein

Gordon Stenger

Sylvia Sullivan

Prof. and Mrs. Joseph S. Szyliowicz

Judith Taubman

Dr. and Mrs. Frederik P. Tolin

Jill and Tim Wayne

David and Margaret Wolf

Scott and Karen Yarberry

Martin and Pamela Zadigian

Mark and Sondra Zardus

Charlotte Ziebarth

MEMBER $150 - $399

Anonymous (10)

Erika Altneu

Danica Anderson

Alice and Lee Anneberg

Emily Barber

Diane Barrett

Cathy and John Bartle

Peter Batty and Paula Kechichian

Brian and Jenny Baxter

Mariette Bell

C. F. Benoit

Claire Benson

Richard Bernum

Fran Berry

Dori Biester

David and Shannon Bird

Marie and Howard Blaney

Michael and Donna Boender

Sue Bonsor

Libby Bortz

Brock Bose

Thomas Brady

Raphael Broh

Janet Bruchmann

Susan Brushaber

Linda Buss

Francine Butler

Gordon & Ron Butz

Seth Cagin

Michael Canges and Nina Iwashko

Clare Cavanaugh

Joseph and Elizabeth Cirelli

Edward and Anne Close

Ethel Clow

Gerald Cohen

Sue Cole

Tom and Paula Cole

Bonita and Michael Collins

Alan and In Hye Como

Aubrey Copeland, MD

Jane Costain and Gary Moore

John Danio

Judith Denton

Connie Dines

Mr. and Mrs. Wayne D. Eckerling

Evan Ela

Ted and Vivian Sheldon Epstein

Douglas and Cynthia Evans

Judith Fahrenkrog

Amy Feaster

Shirley Feldkamp

Jeanine Figur

Larry and Joanne Fisher

Ruth Fleming

Matt Florian

Jaquel and Solly Fobbs

Robert Fullerton

Dr. and Mrs. Arthur Garfein

Tim Gensler

Jennifer Ruth Gentry

Richard D & Julia Parrino George

Trisha Godard Shepherd

Kazuo and Drusilla Gotow

Ralph Graham

William and Phyllis Hale

Fredrick Hammond

Nicole Hand

Mr. Timothy Harris

Jordan Harrison

Sarah Branton

Richard Haynes

Knut Heim

Lizz Helmsen

Marilyn Hitchens

Sarah C. Hite

Mary Hoadley

Graham and Sonia Hoffman

Saul Hoffman and Susan Parker

Diane Hogue

Mary Holmes

Megan Immerfall

Terri and James Ingram

Nancy Jackson

Christine and Michael Janeczko

Catherine and Brian Janonis

Eric and Christy Johnson

James Johnson

Bruce Katchen and Florrie Katchen

Jhon and Jennifer Kehmeier

Thomas and Gabriella Kelley

Patricia Kelly and Thomas Dufficy

Mishele Kieffer

Bonnie Kipple

Craig Kirkwood

Scott Kleger

Ugur Kocataskin

Barbara and Kiplund Kolkmeier

Mrs. and Mr. Svetlana Komisarchik

Rob Krueger

Paul and Nancy Levitt

David Lichtenstein and Donna Shmalberger

Lester and Nancy Lockspeiser

John Lockwood

Karen and Alan Loeb

Cecelia Lutz

James MacDonald

Janet G. MacFarlane

Jason Marquez

Gregg Marshall

Carmen Martin

William and Joy Mathews

Anna McClatchy

Margaret McDermott

William McMechen and Brad Case

Ernie McWilliams

Betty Miller

Rose and John Miller

Richard Minot

Robbie Monsma

James and Angela Moon

Mr. William Moore

Douglas Moran

Hans and Margaret Neville

Michael Ogborn

Richard Opler

Paul Osborne

Sonya Palmer

David and Renee Parkhurst

Lisa Parrinello

Margaret Peck

Jill Pedicord

Kathy McMahon Peeters

Kathy Peeters

Dennis G. Peterson

David Pinto

Andrew R. Pleszkun

Peter and Brenda Plowshay

Michael Puente

Kate Raabe

Jennie Ridgley

Steven and Joan Ringel

Richard Roman

Patricia Romero

Linda Rosales

Louise Lavender Rouse

Monica and Richard Rubel

Paul Ruotolo

Jon Rupp

Karen Sandstead

Sandy and Frank Sargent

Mr. Bryan Penny and Mr. Matt Savoie

Mary Scarpino

John and Patricia Schmitter

Harry and Ada Segan

David and Patty Shelton

Bryan Sillery

Ryan Smieja

Sarah Galloway

David Sprunger

Kay Stevenson

Elizabeth and Brent Strausbaugh

Drs. Morris and Ellen Susman

Chris and Geri Swahn

Gary Tate

Roger Tate

Yvonne Telep

Armando and Beatriz Telles

Jerry and Debi Tepper

Greg Thielen and Jaclyn Yelich

Chris Tremaroli

Alan Turner

Charles and Deborah Turner

Dr. Adriana Weinberg

Lois K Williams

Vincent Wincelowicz

Constance and Lawrence Wood

William and Allison Woolston

Kelly Yousem

Kathleen and John Zaffore

The Zevallos Family

Deborah Zippel

CHAIRMAN’S CAMPAIGN DONORS

Anonymous (4)

Mrs. Susan Adams

Mr. William E. Arndt

Ms. Helena Bagdasarova

Mrs. Diane Barrett

Ken and Donna Barrow

Ms. Anne Bartuszevige

Ms. Shirley Beaupre

Brian Bennett and Bev Daniels

Lawrence Berliner and Barbara Anderson

Mr. Patrick Bertch

Ms. Sarah Bierhaus

Linda Bjelland

Mike and Julie Bock

Brewster and Helen Boyd

Donald K. Braden

Chris and Jennifer Bradley

Priscilla and Bruce Brookens

Sara and John Buhr

Mr. and Mrs. Carl Bunderson

Linda Buss

Mr. Ian T. Caiozzi and Mrs. Neha Patel

Rebecca and Tom Carroll

Drs. Laurence and Cynthia Chan

Ms. Nancy Chase

Mrs. Robin Chotin

Katherine Coerver

Maria Coquillard

Vicki Cowart and Chris Hayes

Tom & Cheryl Cox

Nancy Crow and Mark Skrotzki

Ms. Cheryl M. Cruickshank

Matthew Dane

Roger Day and Evelyn Wolf

Kate de La Cruz

Mrs. Joyce de Roos

Mr. and Mrs. Sanford W. Dee

The Divine Family

Gregory and Susan Dorsey

Dave and Pam Duke

Tracey Dunlap

Elizabeth and Matthew Dyer

Margaret and Peter Dzwilewski

Mr. Ron Ermold

Reine and Matthew Erzinger

Mr. Howard M. Evans

Ms. Anna Ferrari

Dr. Stacy Fischer and Dr. Henry Fischer

Robert Flanagan

Edie and Joe Fogliano

Diane and John Gallagher

Dr. and Mrs. Arthur Garfein

Richard D & Julia Parrino George

Mr. Frank Goetz

Jim and Deb Golanty

Shannon Golden-Schubert

Stephen and Dorothy Gregory

Bronislawa Grob

Lilly Hamal

Alison and Mark Heiser

Beverlee Henry Fullerton

Owen Herman

Bernice Hernandez

Aaron S. Hockman

Mr. William T. Hoffman

Dr. Jan Kennaugh and Chip Horne

Russ and Jane Houssiere

Karen Howland and Gregory Mudge

Christine and Michael Janeczko

Ms. Judy Johnston

Ann and Doug Jones

Diana and Mike Kinsey

Tom Kirkpatrick and Djuana Strauch

Jess & Rose Kortz and Pearle Rae Levey Foundation

Richard Koseff

Ms. Susan O. Kullman

John W. Kure and Cheryl L. Solich

The Honorable and Mrs. Kenneth Laff

Gayle Landis

Tracey Landstrom

Deanna Rose Leino

Chris and Kris Lilley

Jim and Patience Linfield

Mr. Lester Lockspeiser

John A. Lockwood, Esq.

Mr. and Mrs. Harold R. Logan Jr.

Ms. Erin Madar, Esq.

Marvin Madorsky CPA and Maria Coquillard

Dr. Bill and BK Maniatis

Marianne Marvez

Tanya R. Matthews and Patrick Chambers

Daniel and Karen McAuliffe

Michael E. McGoldrick

Charitable Foundation

Mrs. Hannelore McKinnon

Mark and Kristin McKissick

Katy McQuaid

Robert R. Montgomery and Nancy Hawkins

Ms. Emily Morgan

Lynnette Morrison

Marilyn Munsterman

Mr. Paul Murrain

Ralph & Trish Nagel

Dr. and Mrs. David A. Norris

Nancy & Paul Oberman

Kevin O’Connor and Janet Ellen Raasch

Brian and Kathy O’Shaughnessy

Ronald Y. Otsuka

Theresa and Norman Parker

James and Patricia Paull

Leslie and Marc Percival

Debra J. Perry

Dennis G. Peterson

Carol M. Phelps

Mr. and Mrs. James H. Picklo

Ms. Carol Pike

Mr. and Mrs. Peter Plowshay

Bruce Polkowsky and Bill Powell

Amy Stifel Quinn

Nijole and Walter Rasmussen

Debra Ravenscraft

T. R. Reid

Fred and Ayliffe Ris

Andrew and Karen Ritz

Kim D. Salony

Helen Scott Santilli

Chris Schutzenberger

Julie and Saul Schwarz

Mrs. Nichole Sedar

Fern B. Seltzer and Andrew Heymsfield

David and Patty Shelton

Jennifer Sherman

Merrill Shields and M. Ray Thomasson

Ms. Gail Sindelar

Dr. Andrew Sirotnak and Mr. James White

Susan and Harold Skramstad

Donna E. Smith

Patrick Smith

Patricia Somerville

Mr. Marc Staats

Ms. Marjorie Stanford

Laimute Stewart

Juli Straehle

Brent and Lizzie Strausbaugh with Frankie

John Strauss

Prem and Stephanie Subramanian

Chris and Geri Swahn

Thomas and Diane Barrett Foundation

Charles I. Thompson

Mrs. Danielle M. Thompson

Ms. Lois Thornton

Mr. Richard J. Tisinai

Dr. and Mrs. James Todd

Martha and Will Tracey

Kathleen Trone

Mr. Arthur Turton

Ms. Sioux A. Wells

Mary and Ken Willis

Sheila Withey and James Withey

Daniel Wolf

Judy Lyons Wolf

William and Allison Woolston

Robin and Eric Yaeger

Scott and Karen Yarberry

GOVERNMENT AND FOUNDATIONS

Bucy Family Fund

Cactus Commmunications

Caulkins Family Foundation

Colorado Gives Foundation

Crawley Family Foundation

DAFgiving360

Denver Arts and Venues

Denver Foundation

Denver Lyric Opera Guild

Denver Post Community Foundation

Fidelity Brokerage Services LLC

Fidelity Investments

Charitable Gift Fund

Galen & Ada Belle Spencer Foundation

Genesee Mountain Foundation

Jeanne Land Foundation

Kemp Family Fund

Kenneth King Foundation

Landis Family Philanthropy

Leonard and Alice Perlmutter

Charitable Foundation

Melvin and Elaine Wolf Foundation

Merle Chambers Fund

Nagel Foundation

Opera America

P and J Trujillo LLLP

Pikes Peak Opera League

Read Foundation Inc.

Sidney E. Frank Foundation

The Anschutz Foundation

The Bagby Foundation for the Musical Arts

The Schramm Foundation

Tulsa Community Foundation

US Charitable Gift Trust

Vanguard Charitable

Virginia W. Hill Foundation

Visa

William D. Radichel Foundation

CORPORATE ALLIANCE

5280

CBS

Johnson Storage & Moving Company

Kaladi Coffee

Nocturne Jazz and Supper Club

Residence Inn by Marriott — Denver City Center

HONORARIUM/MEMORIAL

In honor of Michael Bock

Bonfils-Stanton Foundation

In honor of Elise Brenninkmeyer

Jenifer Freeman

In honor of Greg Carpenter

Vicki Cowart and Chris Hayes

Dave and Pam Duke

The Honorable and Mrs. Kenneth Laff

Ms. Veronica A. McCaffrey and Ms. Barbara Frank

Bruce Polkowsky and Bill Powell

Ms. Karen Ritz

Dr. Andrew Sirotnak and Mr. James White

Carole J. Yaley

Mr. and Mrs. Gregory L. Dorsey

In honor of Ellie Caulkins

Mrs. Marcia D. Strickland

Mr. David J. Chavolla

In honor of Dr. Larry Chan

Mrs. Robin Chotin

In honor of Joyce de Roos

Mr. Miles Smith

In honor of the Ferrari Family

Ms. Anna Ferrari

In honor of Ken and Barbara Laff

Anna Belle and Robert Kapelke

In honor of Rene & the late Donald Morgan

Suzanne D. Bucy

In honor of Debi and Jerry Tepper

Marilyn Mishkin

In honor of Martha Tracey

Mr. and Mrs. Gregory L. Dorsey

In memory of Bill Belew

Darrell and India Mount

Marie Belew Wheatley

Carol Pfeiffer

Troop 8 BSA

Barbara Davis

Helen Scott Santilli

In memory of Steve Dilts

Chris and Karen Mohr

In memory of Dr. Jacqueline Frischknecht

Mr. Chuck Lawhead and Mr. Ronald Broome

In memory of William Paul Hurlbut

Katherine Hurlbut

In memory of Janis Keske

Jane and Bart Burnett

In memory of Gary Landis

Gary and Rebecca Gantner

Deanna Rose Leino

In memory of Pearle Rae Levey

Marcia and Dick Robinson

In memory of Margaret M. McMahon

T. R. Reid

In memory of Nathaniel Merrill

Ms. Clemmie Parker Engle

In memory of Eugenia Meyer who taught me to love opera

Dr. Stacy Fischer and Dr. Henry Fischer

In memory of Leslie Miller

Drs. Laurence and Cynthia Chan

In memory of William A. Richey

Mary E. Moser

In memory of Alicia Rodriguez

Helen and Diego Rodriguez

In memory of William E. Russell

Jane Russell

In memory of Gene Young

Linda Young

CRESCENDO SOCIETY

The following people have made arrangements to include Opera Colorado in their Estate Plan.

Anthony V. Berkley and Amanda Gomez

Sheila Bisenius

Linda Bjelland

Barbara and Roger Chamberlain

Ellie Caulkins

Ms. Donna E. Hamilton

Ms. Lynn E. Harrington

Dr. Susan Rae Jensen Scholarship Award Fund to Artists in Residence

Dr. and Mrs. Charles B. Kafadar

Mr. and Mrs. Ron Kahn

Richard Koseff

Deanna Rose Leino

Jeanie and Randal Martines

Lynnette Morrison

Mrs. Lee Roberts

Mary Ann Rose

Mr. Stephen Seifert

Fern B. Seltzer

Merrill Shields and M. Ray Thomasson

Mrs. Jenene Stookesberry

Mr. Robert Van Buskirk

William and Nancy Wehner

Mrs. Carol C. Whitley

*Larry and Brigitte Zimmer

DENVER PERFORMING ARTS COMPLEX

The Denver Performing Arts Complex is owned and operated by Denver Arts & Venues for the City and County of Denver.

CITY AND COUNTY OF DENVER

Mike Johnston, Mayor

DENVER ARTS & VENUES

Gretchen Hollrah, Executive Director

Jen Morris, Deputy Director

Tariana Navas-Nieves, Deputy Director

DENVER ARTS & VENUES, ARTS COMPLEX OPERATIONS

Jody Grossman, Venue Director

Todd Medley, Facilities Superintendent

Kelly Graham, Safety, Security and Garage Operations Manager

Carol Krueger, Patron Services Manager artscomplex.com | 720.865.4220

For immediate assistance & security 720.865.4200

2025-26 SEASON ARTIST IN RESIDENCE PROGRAM

The Opera Colorado Artist in Residence Program is supported by Patrick Spieles and Susan Rae Jensen, MD & Tom A. Trainer.

Bridget Ravenscraft, soprano Sponsored by Joy & Chris Dinsdale

Jordan McCready, mezzo-soprano Sponsored by Rich Garvin and Ken & Barbara Laff

Daniel Miller, tenor Sponsored by Don Braden and Prem & Stephanie Subramanian

Mason O’Brien, baritone Sponsored by Arline Echandia, Lynn Harrington, and Larry & Cynthia Chan

Oliver Poveda Zavala, bass-baritone Sponsored by Gayle Landis

Kevin Spooner, bass-baritone Sponsored by Robin & Eric Yaeger

John Morefield, collaborative pianist

SUPPORTING ORGANIZATIONS

Opera Colorado recognizes the following organizations for their generous support:

Official Artist Housing Partner

SHOW YOUR SUPPORT FOR OPERA COLORADO

Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of our donor lists. However, if your name is incorrectly listed, please accept our sincere apologies and contact Sara Buhr at 303-468-2027.

YOU MAKE THE DIFFERENCE

As a non-profit organization, we rely on the generosity of donors in our community. With your support, we can fulfill our mission to connect our Colorado community to the emotions and stories of the world through traditional and innovative opera and educational programming that is accessible to all.

Your donation this season honors our legacy and builds a bright future for decades to come.

YOUR SUPPORT HELPS US...

PRESENT high-quality opera experiences that reflect the multicultural fabric of our community

SERVE over 45,000 patrons every year

DEVELOP audiences by introducing children (and adults!) to their first opera experience

TRAIN the next generation of opera performers through our Artist in Residence Program

HOW TO MAKE A GIFT

ONLINE: operacolorado.org/support BY PHONE: 303.468.2060

MAIL A CHECK TO:

Opera Colorado

4121 S Navajo St, Ste 100 Englewood, CO 80110

For questions, please contact Opera Colorado’s Development Team at development@operacolorado.org or 303.468.2060.

SCAN THE QR CODE:

donor has passed away

Denver

City Center

OPERA COLORADO STAFF

LEADERSHIP

Barbara Lynne Jamison, Ellie Caulkins General Director & CEO

Ari Pelto, Music Director

SENIOR TEAM

Clair Clauson, Associate Director of People & Culture

Jennifer Colgan, Director of Marketing & Communications

Ben Karasik, Director of Production

Tom Kirkpatrick, Chief Financial Officer

Sara Leitch, Director of Development

Dennis Robinson, Jr., Director of Programs & Partnerships

Jordanna Rose, Director of Artistic Operations

STAFF

Sara Buhr, Associate Director of Development

Samantha Cantu, Patron Services Manager

Kendra Green, Production Stage Manager

Robin Lander, Executive Assistant & Board Liaison

Juliet Levy, Marketing Manager

Alison Milan, Costume Director

Jocelyn Watson, Individual Giving & Donor Events Manager

MUSIC STAFF

Sahar Nouri, Chorus Master & Assistant Conductor

Nathan Salazar, Principal Repertoire Coach

Cody Guy Garrison, Chorus Repetiteur

Daniel Belcher, Artist in Residence Program Voice Teacher

2025-26 ARTISTS IN RESIDENCE

The Opera Colorado Artist in Residence Program is supported by Patrick Spieles and Susan Rae

Jensen, MD & Tom A. Trainer.

Bridget Ravenscraft, soprano

Jordan McCready, mezzo-soprano

Daniel Miller, tenor

Mason O’Brien, baritone

Oliver Poveda Zavala, bass-baritone

Kevin Spooner, bass-baritone

John Morefield, collaborative pianist

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

OFFICERS AND COMMITTEE CHAIRS

Richard Koseff, Chair

Chevis F. (Chip) Horne, President

Dr. Laurence K. Chan, Vice President

Judy La Spada, Vice President

Prem S. Subramanian, MD, PhD, Secretary

Mark Bussey, Treasurer

DIRECTORS

Edward Balkin

Eleanor N. Caulkins, Lifetime Honorary Chair

Congresswoman Diana DeGette, Ex-Officio

Maria Garcia Berry

Richard Garvin

Mark Heiser, Ex-Officio

Don Hindman

Kelly Ann Hodges

Dr. Susan Rae Jensen

Laurence D. Kaptain, Ex-Officio

Hon. Kenneth Laff

MAJ. Konstantinos (Dino) G. Maniatis

William N. Maniatis, MD

Kevin O’Connor

The Honorable Jon J. Olafson

Marcia Robinson, Lifetime Honorary President

Daniel G. Welch

Evelyn Wolf

Robin Kolsky Yaeger

HONORARY DIRECTORS

Michael Bock

Hugh Grant

Jeremy Kinney

Mary French Moore

Jeremy Shamos

Susan Shamos

Merrill Shields

Martha Tracey

VOLUNTEERS

Dragana Acimovic

Eric Bard

Jeff Brown

Kathy Clifton

Susan Cotter

Betsy Cotter

Martin Eisenberg

Howard Evans

Jennifer GaNun

Rachel Gates

Ruthie Gates

Dagmar Haberkorn

Jennifer Hale

Alicia Irigoyen

Robert Kahn

Kiplund Kolkmeier

Katy McQuaid

Meredith Milshtein

Andrea O’Kuinghttons

Becky Palsmeier

Ashley Payne

Lena Peschanskaia

Shaula Rhodes

Christina Richard

Sam Russell

Erika Russell

Kai Savi

Keith Fuchser

John Strauss

Michelle Terry

OPERA COLORADO’S PROGRAM BOOKS ARE PRODUCED BY THE PUBLISHING HOUSE

Angie Flachman Johnson, Publisher

Stacey Krull, Art Director

Wilbur E. Flachman, President Emeritus

FOR ADVERTISING INFORMATION

303.428.9529 or ColoradoArtsPub.com

CONTACT OPERA COLORADO

ADMINISTRATION

Monday–Friday, 9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.

Opera Colorado Opera Center 4121 S Navajo St, Ste 100 Englewood, CO 80110

303.778.1500 info@operacolorado.org

PATRON SERVICES

Monday–Friday, 10:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. 303.468.2030 customerservice@operacolorado.org operacolorado.org follow @operacolorado

Concierge Medicine

Our new Wellness and Prevention Clinics are home to an innovative Concierge Medicine program that brings our unique model of care into a membership-based primary care setting for adults.

Focused on keeping you healthy, the program is rooted in evidence-based medicine. Our goal is to provide personalized, precision medicine in a relationship characterized by trust, in a manner that exceeds expectations. Services are covered by an annual fee.

Opera Colorado -- La Traviata, November 1-9, 2025

Anne von Freyburg

A LETTER FROM RICHARD KOSEFF

A LETTER FROM BARBARA LYNNE JAMISON

UPCOMING EVENTS

SAVE THE DATE

SEE OPERA THROUGH NEW EYES

Q&A WITH SARA GARTLAND

NOVEMBER

ELLIE CAULKINS OPERA HOUSE

CAST IN ORDER OF VOCAL APPEARANCE

CHARACTERS

ACT

ACT TWO, SCENE TWO | Paris, in Flora’s

ACT THREE

PROGRAM & DIRECTOR’S NOTES

PROGRAM NOTES

DIRECTOR’S NOTES

ARTISTS

JOE BEUMER | LIGHTING DESIGNER

SARA GARTLAND | VIOLETTA VALÉRY

RACHAEL HARDING | CHOREOGRAPHER

WESTON HURT | GIORGIO GERMONT

JORDAN MCCREADY | FLORA BERVOIX

DANIEL MILLER | GASTONE DE LETORIÈRES

MARCO NISTICÒ | STAGE DIRECTOR

SAHAR NOURI | CHORUS MASTER

MASON O’BRIEN | BARON DOUPHOL

RONELL OLIVERI | WIG & MAKE-UP DESIGNER

ARI PELTO | CONDUCTOR, MUSIC DIRECTOR

OLIVER POVEDA ZAVALA | DOCTOR GRENVIL

BRIDGET RAVENSCRAFT | ANNINA

BEN REISINGER | ALFREDO GERMONT

KEVIN SPOONER | MARQUIS D’OBIGNY

ACCESS ENGLISH OR SPANISH SUBTITLES AT YOUR SEAT

ORCHESTRA, CHORUS, & PRODUCTION STAFF

SUPERNUMERARIES

PRODUCTION

SHARE OPERA WITH YOUR COMMUNITY THIS SEASON

2025-26 OPERA ON TOUR

OUR IMPACT

FOR MORE INFORMATION

MEET THE ARTISTS IN RESIDENCE

OPERA COLORADO

CELEBRATING 20 YEARS OF THE OPERA HOUSE

Grand

CAULKINS Gala Grand Gala

ANNUAL CONTRIBUTORS

PRODUCER CIRCLE

ARTISTS CIRCLE

PATRON CIRCLE

CHAIRMAN’S CAMPAIGN DONORS

GOVERNMENT AND FOUNDATIONS

CORPORATE ALLIANCE

HONORARIUM/MEMORIAL

CRESCENDO SOCIETY

DENVER PERFORMING ARTS COMPLEX

SPONSORS

2025-26 SEASON ARTIST IN RESIDENCE PROGRAM

SUPPORTING ORGANIZATIONS

SHOW YOUR SUPPORT FOR OPERA COLORADO

OPERA COLORADO STAFF

LEADERSHIP

SENIOR TEAM

STAFF

MUSIC STAFF

2025-26 ARTISTS IN RESIDENCE

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

FOR ADVERTISING INFORMATION

CONTACT OPERA COLORADO

Concierge Medicine