Edmonton Opera magazine - Don Giovanni

DON GIOVANNI contents

Spring 2018

4 Message from the Director

20 Program Notes

6 Partners and Sponsors

23 Community Arts Events Listings

9 Sustainability Fund

27 Artists’ Profiles

11 Director’s Circle

35 Edmonton Opera Chorus and

12 Friends of Edmonton Opera

15 Endowment Fund

37 Opera al Fresco

17 Composer Bio

40 Edmonton Opera 2018/19 Season

45 Edmonton Opera Board and Staff

18 Synopsis

46 Upcoming Events

Cast and Production Credits

15230-128 Ave., Edmonton, AB T5V 1A8 Ph: 780-424-4040 Fax: 780-429-0600 Email: info@edmontonopera.com www.edmontonopera.com

Edmonton Symphony Orchestra

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GOVERNMENT & FOUNDATION SUPPORT

Edmonton Opera wishes to acknowledge that the land on which we gather today is Treaty 6 territory and a traditional meeting ground and home for many Indigenous Peoples, including Cree, Saulteaux, Blackfoot, Métis, and Nakota Sioux.

Message from the director Despite the repressive Catholicism of 17th-century inquisitorial Spain, members of the nobility felt free to commit any number of crimes, believing that their status granted them total impunity. One priest, Tirso de Molina, took it upon himself to educate these ‘sinners’ by writing The Libertine of Seville. In the original Don Giovanni, the story’s protagonist is condemned to eternal damnation by the divine order. Obviously, society has evolved over the past 300 years. So why mount Don Giovanni today?

In this production, I have tried to inject the character of Don Giovanni with a slightly different identity, one that goes beyond his status as a nobleman. Don Giovanni is a man who has achieved a level of popularity such that nothing is forbidden to him. In this sense, I see Don Giovanni as a matador.

Matadors are bona fide celebrities — they regularly make headlines and are applauded and adored by fans. Their prideful attitude is reflective of Don Giovanni’s hubris: matadors defy death, Don Giovanni defies God. Both put their narcissism on

full display and it becomes an integral part of their “performance.”

One can easily find parallels between the drama of the bullring and Da Ponte’s storyline. In the corrida, the matador’s colourful costume and cape are an unabashed celebration of light, in stark contrast to the black body of his bovine nemesis. In Don Giovanni, the main character burns brightly in a truthful orgy of earthly pleasures, only to be brought down by hellfire and damnation in accordance with JudeoChristian tradition.

But what is the message? No matter what our faults are, if we repent, and above all, if we recognize the supremacy of God, they will be forgiven. It is permissible to question: born in our time, would Don Giovanni have been condemned in the same way? Nevertheless, the concept of the struggle between good and evil is still valid. Lies, deceit, the frantic search for selfish pleasure and above all the abuse of power of the megalomaniacs of this world, whatever they may be, remain.

– Oriol Tomas

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PARTNERS

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SPONSORS

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The Rob Hood Fund Production Sponsors PRODUCTION sponsor DON GIOVANNI

DON GIOVANNI opening night sponsor

DON GIOVANNI TUESDAY night sponsor

FRIDAY night season sponsor

Francis Price & Marguerite Trussler Sponsor of the Edmonton Opera Chorus

OPERA BRUNCH Sponsor

Education Partner

Emerging Artist Sponsor

Gold Partners

SPONSORS

media Supporters

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STUDENT Dress Rehearsal Sponsor

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Official Supporters

780.439.6060

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Photographs of Edmonton Opera’s production of Don Giovanni provided by Nanc Price Photography.

Edmonton Opera gratefully acknowledges the Kucey Dental Group, who offers complimentary emergency dental services for EO artists, and Dr. Mat Rose, who offers medical services for EO artists.

Edmonton Opera is grateful for the support of these sponsors, suppliers and media partners.

For more information about supporting Edmonton Opera, please call 780.288.2510 or email development@edmontonopera.com.

DON GIOVANNI 7

We wish to thank the following Sustainability Fund individuals, corporations and foundations who have committed to Edmonton Opera’s sustainability.

Each of the following contributors to the Sustainability Fund have committed a minimum of $50,000 over five years.

Individuals

Jim & Monica Allen Bruce & Carol Bentley Robert & Michelle Bessette Kevin & Penny Birkholz Jim & Sharon Brown John Cameron Carol & David Cass Richard S. Cook John & Judy Cosco Darren & Laurel Durstling Bruce Hagstrom Mark & Nancy Heule Laurence Jewell Dianne Kipnes Irving Kipnes

Ashif & Zainul Mawji Phil Milroy & Jane Russell Dr. Thomas & Melanie Nakatsui Jack & Esther Ondrack Sir Francis Price Hon. Marguerite Trussler Maureen & Randall Purvis Bernie Robitaille Arnold & Grace Rumbold Angus & Heather Watt Ed Wiebe & Marcia Johnson Bill Winter Paulette Winter Glenn & Sandra Woolsey

Corporations & Foundations

Al-terra Engineering Ltd. Clark Builders Dentons Canada LLP Kasian Architects Dianne & Irving Kipnes Foundation Ledcor Group of Companies

PCL Constructors Inc. Qualico Shelley & Guy Scott Family Foundation Sorrell Financial Standard General Inc Wheaton Family Foundation

Shared Commitments

James Archibald & Heidi Christoph, Jennifer Brown, Hans & Susanne Forbrich, Melcor Developments Ltd., Eira Spaner, and James & Sheila Wheatley.

The first stage of the Sustainability Fund, to obtain 50 gifts, has been achieved.

The second stage, to reach 100 gifts, is now in progress.

For more information on the Sustainability Fund, please contact the Program Concierge, Gwen Horvath, at gwen.horvath@edmontonopera.com or at 780.288.2510.

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Edmonton Opera director’s circle The Director’s Circle recognizes those patrons whose significant financial support and ongoing commitment enable Edmonton Opera to continue to produce award-winning and compelling art in our community.

Bravo and thank you!

For more information about the Director’s Circle or to become a member, please call Gordana Bosiocic at 780.996.2744.

Season SponsorS Dianne & Irving Kipnes Foundation Creekwood Rob Hood Fund DON GIOVANNI Production Sponsors Francis Price & Marguerite Trussler MaestroS $10,000+ Allard Foundation The Highbury Foundation The Summit Foundation

LEADERS $5,000-$9,999 F. Calder Larry Eberlein Dr. Frederic & Alma Gojmerac Marjorie Purdy Chris & Vivian Varvis PATRONS $3,000-$4,999 Tricia Abbott Fath Group/O’Hanlon Paving Ltd. Jeffrey Jansen Dr. Christine Kyriakides Steven & Day LePoole Joan Lopatka & Bill Rutledge Judy & Stuart Mackay Stephen & Lynn Mandel Rod & Heleen McLeod Hugh McPhail & Yolanda Van Wachem Arliss Miller Alan Rose Dr. P.J. White & Patty Whiting

BenefactorS $1,750-$2,999 Darlene Acton Pauline Alakija Anonymous (2) Bennett Jones Douglas K. Bingham & Sheila Janki-Bingham David & Patricia Cassie City Lumber Corporation Marian Clarke Elaine Coachman Sandi Ann Darrell Michael Day Robert Edmunds Heinz & Donna Feldberg Joseph & Pat Fernando Peter & Astrid Griep Gabor Gyenes & Erika Mullner Brian Kucey & Elena Hernandez-Kucey Ken & Gerda Miller Risha Milo Dr. Kyle & Colleen Murray Eleanor Olszewski Dr. Leonard Ratzlaff James E. & Vivian Redmond Dave & Michele Rumbold Dr. Sudhakar Sivapalan David Steer Joyce Walton Ralph James Wood

friends SustainerS

($1,000-$1,749) Alberta Measurement Services Angela Armstrong Arrow Engineering Diane Buchanan Compass Group Canada John & Ann Dea A. R. Grynoch & P. V. Sing Alice Harrison Donald & Susan Hickey Caroline Howarth & John Adria Brenda Inglis Jill Konkin Brandon Kot Hilliard Macbeth Rod MacLean Peggy Marko Alan Mather Denis & Ruth McGettigan Graham McLennan Carman & Averie McNary Grace Megli-Turner Janine Odishaw Pratch Family Foundation Marshall & Lisa Sadd Aroon Sequeira Patrick Spiers Team TELUS Cares William Timbers & Mary O’Connell Unified Energy 8760 Ltd. Ralph & Gay Young Family Fund Vonnie Zupan

of

Edmonton Opera

Dr. Zaheerali Lakhani Marhea Liboiron Neil & Jean Lund Kelly MacFarlane & Christopher Mackay Devon J. Mark & Allen Vander Well Les Moss Keith Mould John Oberg Wade O’Neill & Marcela Svobodova Dr. Hanne Ostergaard Fred & Helen Otto Edward & Geri Papp Wesley M. Pedruski Mary Phillips-Rickey Fay Plomp Dr. Clarence Preitz Dr. Nancy Price Tom Redl Daniel Rojek Dr. Dean Rokosh & Family Matthew Rose Edmond & Orla Ryan Naomi Schmold & Craig Corbett Doug & Devika Short Nance & Michael Smith David Stults Rosalind Sydie Darcy Trufyn Frank Van Veen Barry Zalmanowitz

GUARDIANS

($250-$499) Lynn Adams Diana M. Bacon SUPPORTERS Carolyn Baergen ($500-$999) Dr. Vivien Bosley Brent Agerbak Thomas Bradley Cory Almquist Judah Busheikin Carl Amrhein Joanne Burek & Lee Stickles Andree Aston Darren Currie Garner Beggs Brenda Dale Loreen Belovich Pat DeGrace Ryan Brown Tony de Jong Mark A. Dashkewytch Dr. Jerrold & Lisa Diamond Professional Corp.

Monique Draudson Ivan & Ksenia Fedyna Mark England Krista Ference Karin Fodor David Finlay Robert & Janet Fraser Lorna Gawlinski Walter Goetz Rich T. Groom Douglas & Dorothy Hollands Dr. Tatsuyuki Hayashi Kenneth & Jean Heavenor Barry James Brian & Jeanne Hetherington Pavel & Sylva Jelen Jill Hoogewoonink David & Sandra Kraatz

12 EDMONTON OPERA 2017/18 SEASON

William Kenny Andrew Kowalchyk Dr. Elizabeth Krause Cal Lange Franklin C. Loehde Brenda MacDonald Campbell MacKenzie Greg & Patrece Maluzynsky Linda Medland-Davis Zoltan & Brigitte Meszoly Terry Moroz Alfred Nikolai Dr. George & Teresa Pemberton Joan Pitfield Barbara Prodor Clayton Rodney & Raymond Cameron Carolynne E. Ross Dr. E. J. Rudnisky Dorothy Scott-Stoutjesdyk Sheelagh & Andrew Semper SFZ Teleservices Julie Sinclair Jamey Singh Gerry & Barbara Sinn Nicholas Smith Dr. Thomas Snyder St. David’s Welsh Society of Edmonton George & Susan Sterling Don Strang James Strong Robert Swart Dennis Todoruk & Susan Stauffer William Tonn Jackson von der Ohe Ian Wachowicz Jo-Anne Watt Joan Welch Mike & Mary Wood Tim Yakimec

MEMBERS

($100-$249) Jenny Adams Carl Amrhein Bradley Armstrong Anonymous (3) Nancy Aust Vicki Barrow Alan & Alice Bell William Bellamy Laszlo Beothy Julia Boberg Dr. Grace Bokenfohr Marion Boyd

Ria Busink Kelly Carter & Adriana Koziak Carter Rick Charley Elisebeth Checkel Nancy Cheng Donald Chisholm Desmond Chow Janet M. Clark Mary Clonfero Roger & Carol Cohen Joseph & Marta Collier Mary Cousineau Tim Crisall & Stefanie Ivan Laurel Deedrick-Mayne James & Gail DeFelice Roger Delbaere Dan & Lorna Dennis R.J. & Janet Dmytruk Wendy Doughty Lloyd Dumonceaux Frank & Muriel Dunnigan Martin & Jacqueline Elton Tom & Heather Etsell Steven Ewaskiw Alfred & Coleen Falk Greg & Cathy Farnell Luba Feduschak Werner Fenske Lois A. Field Deanna Finnman Will Forrest Marilyn Foy Jules Germain Keith Gilroyed Gerda Goetz Charles & Ann Grant Darren Gray June Greig Brenda Gross Douglas Haines Marylee Hansen Bohdan Harasymiw Zenia Hawrysh Judy Heilman R & Barbara Henderson Cathryn Heslep Jennifer Hinnell Warner & Keith Warner Kristina Hoffman Donna Holowaychuk Gwen Horvath Stuart Houston Mike Hruska Bonny & Earl Hubert Dr. Sheila L. Hughes Erik & Franziska Jacobsen Kevin Jerebic

Alan Jones Ken Keenleyside HaNeul Kim & Dr. John Yun Debra King Shirley Kirkpatrick Gloria Kushnir Libuse Kuzel Kathryn Laurie Kaylee Laventure Victor Di Lillo Tamara Linklater Doug & Joan Longley Richard & Jean Lyne Beth MacIntosh Arlene MacLowick Cameron MacRae Steve & Kate Madsen John Mahon Joan H. Marshall John & Cathleen Matthews Joseph A. Matties Colleen McKenna Joseph McPherson Ronald & Carole Middleton Janet Millar Gail Moores Maurizio Naccarato Julianna Nagy Lise Nicholson Iris Perry Carlos Raposo & Judy Strachan Eugene & Jeanne Ratsoy Sharla & Dorian Rauschning Yvonne Rekken Constantino Renzi & Kimberly Dary Jason James Richardson Jordan Rice Corrina Rokosh Hilary Rose Lesly Round Katrina Rowe Kathleen Ryks Jelena & Dusan Savic Tom & Bev Sawyer Evelyn Schwabe Shauna Scott Allison Seymour Brian Simpson Edward & Eluned Smith Ian & Irene Sneddon Sheri Somerville Mark Spector Nicholas & Charlotte Spillios Nicole Stabile Meghan Stanbridge Alison & Richard Starke

Lorenz & Theodora Stenger Monelle Sturko Leslianne Sugiura Sarah Taylor

Louis Te Trisha Thurner Karen Marie Trace Jenny Van Nistelrooy

Dennis Vance Trudy Velichka Hon. Allan Wachowich John Wanchulak

Lorrill Waschuk Cristina Weiheimer David Weir Serene Yau

David M. Yee Jason Yohemas Gerhard & Inge Zmatlo

In Memory of Aline Pratch Pratch Family Foundation

Armand Baril Arnold & Grace Rumbold

Maggie Dower Dr. Vivien Bosley Gerry & Barbara Sinn Michael & Nance Smith St. David’s Welsh Society of Edmonton

Chris Hoogewoonink Arlene MacLowick Jacqueline Sugiura Leslianne Sugiura Natascha van Woudenberg

Mark Taylor Mark A. Dashkewytch Professional Corp.

Jean Hinko Lamb Ford Sales Ltd. Catherine Muster Meghan Stanbridge Video Tax News

Sincere thanks go to those individuals who, through their gifts, have demonstrated their belief in making opera a vital part of our cultural community. To donate or for additional information, please call Gordana Bosiocic at 780.996.2744 or email gordana.bosiocic@edmontonopera.com.

Only 2017/18 season donations and/or pledges processed up to March 5, 2018, are listed. Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of our donor information.

If we have made an error or omission, please call Gordana Bosiocic at 780.996.2744. We apologize for any inconvenience.

Although space limitations allow us to list only charitable contributions of $100 or more, we gratefully acknowledge all donations. Each gift, regardless of size, helps to make Edmonton Opera performances possible. Thank you!

FRIENDS OF THE OPERA

benefits

MEMBER

guardian

SUPPORTER

SUSTAINER

BENEFACTOR

PATRON

LEADER

$100+

$250+

$500+

$1,000+

$1,750+

$3,000+

$5,000-$10,000

Tax receipt Acknowledgment in Intermezzo magazine Poster from our current season (upon request)

• •

CD of a classic opera recording (upon request) Exclusive VIP event (per season) Invitation for two to each dress rehearsal and VIP reception Two tickets at 30% off for each mainstage production Two invitations to the exclusive VIP Lounge VIP courtesy Jubilee parking during performances Tour of the Opera Centre Two complimentary Opera Brunch tickets Exclusive invitation to rehearsals

DIRECTOR’S CIRCLE

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Edmonton Opera’s Director’s Circle (donations of $1,750 or more) is our way of providing special recognition to our generous individual donors for their outstanding and sustained annual support. Director’s Circle members enjoy a number of exclusive opportunities throughout the season, to enhance their overall operatic experience. Please contact Gordana Bosiocic, Events Coordinator and Donor Relations, at gordana.bosiocic@edmontonopera.com or 780.996.2744 for more information about becoming a DC member.

The Sustainability Fund is comprised of dedicated individuals, corporations and foundations who have committed to a five-year, $10,000-per-year contribution, ensuring the sustainable future of Edmonton Opera. For more information about Sustainability Fund experiences and commitments, please contact Gwen Horvath, Director of Fund Development, at gwen.horvath@edmontonopera.com or 780.288.2510.

DON GIOVANNI 13

Music brings us together.

Music moves us.

Soothes us.

It excites our senses.

And centres our souls.

Music takes us back to moments in time.

And creates tomorrow’s memories.

It uplifts our mood and changes our outlook.

All we have to do is listen.

We hear you at atb.com/listens

Aria Legacy

Help Edmonton Opera Sing Forever Edmonton Opera creates award-winning and compelling art, and strives to keep that art accessible for the Edmonton community. Aria Legacy is your opportunity to share that dream in a focused and personal way, with a gift to our endowment program that will last into perpetuity. Endowment gifts of any size are appreciated.

For more information on how you can help sustain Edmonton Opera for generations to come, please call the donor services line at 780.996.2744.

Edmonton Opera

endowment funds

Edmonton Opera applauds the following visionaries for contributing to or establishing a legacy of support for the future of opera in our community. Many of these contributions have been matched by the Canada Cultural Investment Fund.

Edmonton Opera’s Endowment Funds Sam & Sonia Azer Family Fund Canada Cultural Investment Fund Dr. David Cook Fund for Edmonton Opera Edmonton Opera Endowment Trust Fund Edmonton Opera Staff Contributions Fund

Andy & Marianne Elder Fund Filipkowski Fund Frederic & Alma Gojmerac Family Fund Irving Guttman Opera Endowment Fund Tom Hall Opera Chorus Fund The Dianne and Irving Kipnes Opera Fund

Oline & Roderick Markine Family Fund John & Barbara Poole Family Fund Francis Price & Marguerite Trussler Family Fund Russell & Dwight Purdy Memorial Fund Arnold & Grace Rumbold Fund

In Memory of Howard Irving: J.E. Cote Richard Fraser Larry Judge John Karvellas Alec & Irene Murray Francis Price & Marguerite Trussler In Memory of Oline Markine: Francis Price & Marguerite Trussler

Endowment Donors & Aria Legacy Members Kris Aasen Tricia Abbott Darlene Acton Peter & Barbara Allen Anonymous (2) Rebecca Anderson Bill & Dorothy Astle Sam & Sonia Azer Joanne Beaton Garner Beggs Alan & Alice Bell Bennett Jones Robert Bessette Danisha Bhaloo Douglas & Sheila Bingham Larrie & Eleanor Boddy Jelena Bojic Dr. Grace Bokenfohr Gordana Bosiocic Katherine Braun Greg Brown Jennifer Brown Joyce Buchwald F. Calder John Cameron David & Carol Cass Marian W. Clarke Mary Teresa Clonfero Erin Clyde Richard S. Cook John & Ann Dea Brian Deedrick Laurel Deedrick-Mayne Glenda Dennis

Betty Lou Docherty Maggie Dower Marianne & Andy Elder June Emery Russell Farmer Ivan & Ksenia Fedyna Deanna Finnman Laura Fitzgerald Karin Fodor Hans & Susanne Forbrich Richard Gain Sandra Gajic Katie Gallin Barbara Gitzel Fred & Alma Gojmerac Karen Good Mikael Gustafsson Gabor Gyenes & Erika Mullner Phillip & Virginia Halloran Alex J. Hamilton Mary-Lou Hamilton Alison Hardy PenĂŠlope Haro-Aranda Louise Hayes Brian & Jeanne Hetherington Mark & Nancy Heule Jennifer Hinnell Warner & Keith Warner Andrew Hladyshevsky Karen & Pam Hofmann John & Susan Hokanson Douglas & Dorothy Hollands

Jill Hoogewoonink Nick Horobec Caroline Howarth & John Adria Gwen Horvath W.H. Hurlburt Lauren Hyatt Brenda Inglis Jeffrey Jansen Laurence Jewell Bill Johnston Robert & Erika Juthner-Krtschan Ken Keenleyside Madison Kerr Daniel & Millie Kim HaNeul Kim & John Yun Debra King The Dianne & Irving Kipnes Foundation Donna Kittle Betty Kolodziej Juri & Helle Kraav Rohan Kulkarni Megan Kumpula Libuse Kuzel Christine Kyriakides Shelagh Lam Tara-Lee LaRose Florence Lede Mary LeMessurier Stephen & Day LePoole Franklin C. Loehde Constantino & Barbara Loutas

Brenda MacDonald Judy & Stuart MacKay Amanda MacRae Cameron MacRae Joanne Madeley Bertrand Malo Greg & Patrece Maluzynsky Stephen & Lynn Mandel Andrae Marchak Devon J. Mark & Allen Vander Well Roderick & Oline Markine Peggy & John Marko Alan Mather Julian Mayne Jeff McAlpine Jeff McCune Rod & Heleen McLeod Bob & Bev McNally Hugh McPhail & Yolanda Van Wachem Grace Megli-Turner Axel Meisen Mickey Melnyk Laurie Mereu Arliss Miller Valorie Morgan Kevin & Robyn Mott Kyle & Colleen Murray Julianna Nagy Dr. Thomas & Melanie Nakatsui John Neilson Jack & Esther Ondrack

Dr. Edward & Geri Papp Keir Pearson Wesley M. Pedruski Mary Phillips-Rickey Patti Pon Barbara Poole Dr. Clarence H. Preitz Francis Price Protostatix Engineering Consultants Leonard Ratzlaff David Rayner Ingrid Raypold Reynolds Mirth Richards & Farmer LLP Clayton Rodney & Raymond Cameron Daniel Rojek Analee Roman Hilary & Robert Rose Arnold & Grace Rumbold Celyne Runzer Barry Schloss & Maureen Hemingway-Schloss Naomi Schmold & Craig Corbett Richard Schulz Don Scott Kelly Sheard Gabe & Connie Shelley Richard Sims Michael & Nance Smith Katie Soles Elaine Solez

Sheri Somerville Michael Spassov Darren Staten Ivan Steiner Catherine Szabo Team TELUS Cares Lauren Tenney Michael & Elizabeth Thain Karen Trace Hon. Marguerite Trussler David Lorne Tyrell Chris & Vivian Varvis Stella Varvis The Watson Family Fund Leslie Watson Angus Watt Cristina Weiheimer Joan Welch Brianna Wells Ed Wiebe & Marcia Johnson William F. Lede Family Foundation Robert A. Wilson Adrienne E. Wong Noel Xavier Tim Yakimec Serene Yau Laura Young Stacy Young Gerhard & Inge Zmatlo Vonnie Zupan

DON GIOVANNI 15

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Edmonton Opera presents

DON GIOVANNI April 14, 17 & 20, 2018

Born on Jan. 27, 1756 in Salzburg, Austria, the composer Mozart was baptized as Johannes Chrysostomus Wolfgangus Theophilus Mozart.

He learned to play the piano by watching his older sister receive lessons from their father, who was a court musician and composer. By the age of five, he was composing and could also play the clarinet and violin. Starting in 1762, Mozart’s father took the two siblings on the first of several European tours, where the children performed in various courts.

At the age of 17, Mozart was appointed assistant concertmaster for the Royal Court of Salzburg, but later fell out of favour with the Archbishop von Colloredo when he wanted to find more prosperous employment.

This resulted in Mozart relocating to Vienna, where he composed as a freelance musician. He had become accustomed to a lavish lifestyle, however, and coupled with the Austro-Hungarian war, often struggled to pay the bills.

He married Constanze Weber in 1782, against the wishes of his father, who felt the marriage would cause an interruption in Mozart’s career. Constanze’s mother strongly encouraged the marriage, however, and the couple wed on Aug. 4, 1782.

They had six children, although only two survived infancy.

In December 1787, Emperor Joseph II appointed Mozart as his chamber composer — a position that was not only an honour, but intended as incentive to keep Mozart in Vienna.

Mozart still travelled, trying to stabilize his finances and popularity, but was unsuccessful. Historians believe that his periods of hysteria, coupled with spells of hectic creativity, may be evidence that he had some form of bipolar disorder.

He was quite productive between 1790 and 1791, however, producing works that revived much of his public notoriety.

Mozart died of illness on Dec. 4, 1791, in Vienna. Despite the speculation surrounding his death, including poisoning by the Italian composer Salieri, historians suggest there is little evidence to prove that Mozart and Salieri’s relationship was anything more than a professional rivalry. Mozart was buried in a common grave, which was standard at the time for most Viennese, and the exact location remains unknown.

Even by 16th-century standards, Mozart died at a young age.

And yet, in half a lifetime, he composed over 600 pieces of music, including operas, symphonies, concertos and single pieces for the piano — there were few branches of music he did not touch.

Music by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Libretto by Lorenzo da Ponte Premiere: October 29, 1787, Prague

Conductor Director Set Designer Costume Designer Lighting Designer Assistant Director Fight Director Repetiteur/Chorusmaster

Christopher Larkin Oriol Tomas Bretta Gerecke Deanna Finnman Barry Steele Farren Timoteo Jean-Pierre Fournier Peter Dala

The Cast

Don Giovanni Leporello Donna Anna Don Ottavio Donna Elvira Zerlina Masetto Commendatore

Donna Anna Donna Elvira Don Giovanni Don Ottavio Understudy Coach

Phillip Addis Erik Anstine Michele Capalbo John Tessier Miriam Khalil Whitney-Leigh Sloan Tyler Fitzgerald Kirk Eichelberger

Understudies Whitney-Leigh Sloan Cara McLeod Tyler Fitzgerald Kevin Myers Leanne Regehr

with members of the Edmonton Opera Chorus & Supers and The Edmonton Symphony Orchestra

Stage Manager Assistant Stage Manager Assistant Stage Managers Apprentice Stage Manager Apprentice Stage Manager

Ha Neul Kim Gina Moe Betty Hushlak/Erin Valentine Jake Blakely Kaylie Rennebohm

There will be a 20-minute intermission after Act 1.

The performance is approximately 3 hours in duration, including intermission.

The opening night performance of Don Giovanni is in memory of Mary LeMessurier, former Board Chair and longtime supporter of Edmonton Opera and the Edmonton arts community.

Edmonton Opera is a professional company operating within the jurisdiction of the Canadian Actors’ Equity Association.

Edmonton Opera is a member of the Professional Opera Companies of Canada and Opera America.

DON GIOVANNI 17

SYNOPSIS

Act One

Act Two

Outside the Commendatore’s house at night, Leporello grumbles about his duties as servant to Don Giovanni, a nobleman. Soon Don Giovanni appears from the house, being chased by Donna Anna, the soon-to-be-married woman he has tried to force himself on. The Commendatore (Anna’s father) enters and challenges Giovanni to a duel. Giovanni kills the old man and runs away.

Outside Elvira’s house, Don Giovanni and Leporello

Anna enters with fiancé Don Ottavio and discovers the Commendatore’s dead body. Beside herself with grief, she makes Ottavio swear vengeance on the mysterious man who killed her father.

Giovanni meets a beautiful woman on the street and begins to flirt with her. She turns out to be Donna Elvira, a woman he had previously seduced and who was now following him around trying to find out why he had left her. Leporello creates a distraction by talking to Elvira about the thousands of women his boss had ‘conquered’ while Giovanni makes a prompt escape.

Giovanni arrives at a party where people are celebrating the wedding of Zerlina and Masetto, a young working-class couple. Giovanni flirts with the bride and angers Masetto, who is quickly taken away by Leporello. Now alone with Zerlina, Giovanni turns on the charm. Elvira, however, charges into the scene and exposes his lying ways to Zerlina.

Anna and Ottavio have a chance encounter with Giovanni, who predictably begins to flirt with Anna. Elvira returns and denounces Giovanni as a cheat once again, but Giovanni declares her a madwoman and leads her away. As he is leaving, Anna recognizes Giovanni’s voice — this was the man who assaulted her and then killed her father.

Don Giovanni throws a party for Zerlina and Masetto and gets copiously drunk.

Zerlina apologizes to her husband for being drawn to Giovanni. Anna, Ottavio, and Elvira arrive at the party as Giovanni manages to isolate Zerlina. Her cries for help bring everyone to the scene and Ottavio confronts Giovanni. Though he tries to blame Leporello, Giovanni convinces no one and is forced to make a run for it.

exchange clothes and Leporello woos Elvira. Giovanni is now free to charm Elvira’s maid. But an angry mob led

by Masetto soon arrives looking for the villain. Giovanni, dressed as Leporello, points them in the wrong direction. He then isolates Masetto and beats him up. Zerlina arrives and comforts her distressed husband.

Leporello (dressed as Giovanni) and Elvira are alone together when Anna, Ottavio, Zerlina, and Masetto show up and threaten Leporello, thinking he is Giovanni. Leporello flees, leaving Elvira feeling betrayed again.

Don Giovanni is at a cemetery. Leporello rushes in and they change back to their own clothes. Suddenly, a ghost of the Commendatore at the cemetery begins to talk: it warns Giovanni of his impending doom. Giovanni brushes it off and even invites the ghostly figure to dinner at his house.

The ghost accepts.

Anna is still mourning her father’s death. She wants to delay her marriage to Ottavio until Giovanni is brought to justice.

At Giovanni’s house, dinnertime is interrupted by Elvira coming in and trying to convince him to change for the better. Giovanni dismisses her. As Elvira exits, her screams are heard, announcing the arrival of the Commendatore’s ghost.

The ghost orders Don Giovanni to repent, but he defies the supernatural force. As a result, the entire house is set ablaze and the gates to hell open up, sending Giovanni into a pit of eternal suffering and damnation.

50/50 tickets can be purchased in the main lobby and on the first balcony prior to the performance and during intermission.

The winning ticket will be displayed at the end of the performance at the Jubilee exit doors. Thank you for your support of the arts in Edmonton!

Those attending the Friday night performance are invited to take home one of the floral arrangements courtesy of Hole’s Greenhouses, in exchange for a donation to the Edmonton Opera. Please visit the main lobby on Friday if interested.

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S H O W E R S

by stephan bonfield In an age of righteous indignation and hostility toward those men in powerful positions who have used their influence to get whatever they want, it should hardly seem improbable that an opera has already been written about just that topic, long foreshadowing the #MeToo and Times Up movements.

In some ways, Mozart and Da Ponte’s Don Giovanni based on a long-worn hackneyed theme (indeed, it was already so by Mozart’s time) has perhaps predicted our social movements today. Mozart’s enduring musical masterpiece and character study of the Don provides remarkable historical commentary about the conduct of such men. Indeed, the roots toward understanding the libretto’s salty depictions of a man’s unstoppable depravity, and the opera’s splendid musical text painting are to be found in the genre’s history itself and how the opera came to be.

Don Giovanni is a dramma giocoso, literally a comedy-drama, somewhat different in sensibility from the buffo antics of its groundbreaking forerunner Marriage of Figaro. Dramma giocoso carefully overlaid both genres and was frequently the norm in Italian opera of the time. Composer and librettist relished the chance to mix dramatically difficult with comically improbable situations, such as juxtaposing Leporello’s Catalogue aria with Donna Elvira’s disconsolate feelings at being rejected by the Don, who had promised to marry her.

Yet, the Don is not just hurtful and harmful, he is the archetypical cad of the worst sort, so how can someone who so licentiously contributes to the destruction of women’s lives be even remotely comical? To answer that question we need to examine the circumstances under which the opera was composed.

After the immense success of Marriage of Figaro in 1786, Pasquale Bondini, impresario of the Prague Opera, commissioned Mozart for a new opera in 1787 to celebrate the marriage of the Emperor’s niece, the Archduchess Maria Teresa. Da Ponte, who had seen Gazzaniga’s Don Giovanni on Bertati’s one-act libretto, apparently told Mozart he thought the composer could do a better job and that he (Da Ponte) would write a better libretto (Da Ponte apparently disliked his rival Bertati intensely). Da Ponte expanded Bertati’s libretto, itself based on Molière’s study of the Don, into two acts adding greater psychological depth to the characterizations. Da Ponte further supplied Mozart with his favourite dramatic devices for the composer to work with — intrigue and social commentary.

Moreover, he made the women more bold and clearly defined:

Donna Anna was the parta seria, Zerlina the comic servant-class buffa, and the most complex was the mezzo carettere Donna Elvira, a blend of comic and tragic elements.

Da Ponte’s literary expansion of the libretto, while keeping the most basic elements of Bertati’s original and borrowing lines from both Bertati and Molière, allowed Mozart to write arias in three different linguistic types. Most remarkable of all was how Mozart would blend all three character genres together in the astonishing Act I finale when three separate dance types are heard simultaneously, evocative of three different social classes and their musical-dramatic languages. Throughout Act I, sashaying and dancing meanderingly amid them all defying social conventions of all the classes, would be the the at-once charming, but all-too deplorable Don Giovanni himself, set musically and dramatically in dramatic counterpoint to stunning music.

Today we would simply call the Don a sociopath and diagnose him with a variety of psychological disorders, chief among them, narcissism. In Mozart and Da Ponte’s vision, The Don would be a controlling figure who ruins the lives of all he encounters, providing the opera with multiple opportunities for musical and literary commentary not only on human nature but how far society is prepared to tolerate such destructive narcissism. It is precisely such inherent tensions in the opera that fascinated the nineteenth century, making Don Giovanni the most popular opera of the Romantic Era. The essential conflicts of the Don’s compulsive libertine nature, for which he defiantly will not apologize, and for which he will ultimately be condemned, are key elements that still fascinate us today. For Edmonton Opera, Director Oriol Tomas has placed a new spin on the Don with an interesting contemporary twist that aligns well with the legend of the Don as compulsive abuser. In his version, Don Giovanni is not a nobleman rather he is a celebrity with popularity-conferred status, in this case a matador in Seville.

He ultimately is a man who believes he can do whatever he wishes and use whomever he wishes in any manner he chooses, the true definition of a libertine. Moreover, Tomas makes the women not merely the Don’s victims, but instead chillingly and effectively, the Don’s judges of his actions. And as the Me Too and Time’s Up movements gather steam, one wonders if and when the same fate will befall men of similar celebrity status today.

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Artists’

PROFILES Christopher Larkin Conductor

Christopher Larkin has appeared as guest conductor at many major opera companies in North America, including Santa Fe Opera, Washington Opera, Boston Lyric Opera and Houston Grand Opera, where he conducted the world premiere of Mark Adamo’s Little Women. As Music Director of the New York City Opera National Company, he led national tours of Madama Butterfly and Il Barbiere di Siviglia. In his early career as an Assistant Conductor and vocal coach, he worked at the Metropolitan Opera, San Francisco Opera, and Canadian Opera Company. His appearances in Europe include Carlisle Floyd’s Susannah at the Wexford Festival and gala concerts at the Alte Oper Frankfurt and in Wiesbaden.

Oriol Tomas Director

Oriol Tomas, recipient of the prize Claude Rostand for the better lyric show in France in 2015, directed Sauguet’s Les Caprices de Marianne at fifteen different opera houses in France, including Toulouse, Avignon, Bordeaux and Marseille. In 2019, he will direct Gordon’s 27 at l’Opéra de Montréal. During the last seasons, he directed Mozart’s Don Giovanni with Opéra de Tours, Opéra de Reims and for the Quebec Opera Festival. He also directed Gershwin’s Porgy and Bess with the Orchestre symphonique de Montréal, Mozart’s Die zauberflöte, Strauss’s Ariadne auf Naxos and Handel’s Rodelinda with Pacific Opera Victoria, Verdi’s Il Trovatore, Rossini’s Barber of Seville and Strauss’s Die Fledermaus for l’Opéra de Montréal and Gaveaux’s Leonore for Lafayette Opera.

Bretta Gerecke Set Designer

Bretta loves working with Edmonton Opera and is a set, lighting and costume designer who designs for theatre, circus, and opera. She is the resident designer at Catalyst Theatre (Canada) where she creates and tours new musicals across Canada, the US, the UK and Australia. Bretta also designs for companies such as Cirque du Soleil, The RSC, The Stratford Shakespeare Festival, Calgary Opera, Vancouver Opera and The National Arts Centre. She is the recipient of over 25 awards including a nomination for the Lucille Lortel Awards (Best Costume Design, Off Broadway) and three times shortlisted for the Siminovitch Prize. Last year she represented Canada in Prague at the Scenography Quadrennial and her costume designs were exhibited in Moscow, Beijing, and Taipei.

Deanna Finnman Costume Designer

Deanna’s 18-year association with Edmonton Opera as head of the wardrobe department and resident costume designer has included costume design credits for Elektra, Cinderella, Carmen, The Magic Flute, Lakmé, Pirates of Penzance and Fidelio. Her designs for Edmonton Opera’s South Pacific, The Emperor of Atlantis and The Mikado have earned Sterling Awards for best costume design.

Most recently she designed costumes for Edmonton Opera’s production of HMS Pinafore.

Barry Steele Lighting Designer

For two decades Barry Steele has created video and lighting designs for opera, dance, and music productions worldwide. Notable engagements include San Francisco Opera Center, Lucinda Childs Dance Company, Nantes Opera, and Carnegie Hall. New operas such as Vincent, Florencia en el Amazonas, and The Fall of the House of Usher complement his considerable list of standard opera repertory from designing many productions as Resident Lighting Designer for Sarasota Opera, Des Moines Metro Opera, and New Jersey Opera. Since 1989, Mr. Steele has lit dance in all styles for a diverse range of dance groups including ODC Dance Company and Battery Dance Company.

Farren Timoteo Assistant Director

Farren is an Edmonton-based awardwinning director, actor and writer. Most recently, he functioned as the Assistant Director on HMS Pinafore (Edmonton Opera) and Crazy for You (Citadel Theatre/Theatre Calgary). Other directing credits include Pippin (Citadel Theatre); The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (Mayfield Dinner Theatre); Everybody Goes to Mitzi’s, The Infinite Shiver (Teatro la Quindicina); Aladdin, Pinocchio, Hansel and Gretel, Sleeping Beauty (Alberta Opera Touring Association); and The Light in the Piazza (Grant MacEwan University). In 2015, Farren was included in Avenue Magazine’s list of Edmonton’s Top 40 Under 40, celebrating the city’s most promising young leaders.

DON GIOVANNI 27

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Artists’

PROFILES Phillip Addis

Michele Capalbo

Don Giovanni | baritone Established as a sensitive yet daring interpreter of opera, Phillip’s leading roles from recent years include Eugene Onegin (Calgary), Frère Léon in St. François d’Assise (Yomiuri Nippon Symphony), Pelléas (Cincinnati Symphony, Ruhrtriennale, Hamburg Opera, Dresden Semperoper, Opéra Comique, BBC Proms), Il Conte in Le Nozze di Figaro (Vancouver, Dresden, Victoria, Montréal, Green Mountain Festival, Florida Grand), Marcello in La Bohème (Montréal, Calgary, Canadian Opera Company, Québec), Billy Budd (Genoa), Figaro (Edmonton), Demetrius (Rome). Phillip also performs worldwide in concert, and in recital with pianist, Emily Hamper with whom he is also co-artistic director of the Stratford Summer Music Vocal Academy.

Donna Anna | soprano

Winner of the Liederkranz Competition in New York, Michele Capalbo has been featured by opera companies including Toulouse, Mexico City, San Francisco, Madrid, Seattle, Houston, Santiago, Parma and Geneva in such roles as Aida, Tosca, Butterfly, Manon Lescaut, Elisabetta (Don Carlo) and Leonora (Il Trovatore). Recent seasons include the title role in Turandot (Calgary Opera), Liù in Turandot (Edmonton Opera), the title role in Tosca (Vancouver Opera), Poulenc’s Stabat Mater (Edmonton Symphony), and Verdi’s Requiem (Nashville Symphony). Symphonic credits include performances in Florence, Vancouver, Bergen and Ottawa. Upcoming engagements include Donna Anna in Don Giovanni with the Edmonton Opera.

Miriam Khalil

Erik Anstine

Donna Elvira | soprano

Leporello | bass

Praised for the beauty of his voice and the vitality of his performances, American basso Erik Anstine is making a name for himself on opera and concert stages in North America and Europe.

In the current season, Mr. Anstine performs the role of Leporello in Don Giovanni with Edmonton Opera. He sang Leporello for his debut with San Francisco Opera earlier this year, a role he also has performed with Seattle Opera. He sang the Bonze in Madama Butterfly with Palm Beach Opera, as well as Antonio in Le nozze di Figaro and the Innkeeper and the Sergeant in Manon Lescaut, both with the Salzburger Festspiele.

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Praised for her stage presence and signature warm lyrical voice, Lebanese-Canadian soprano Miriam Khalil’s credits include Glyndebourne Festival Opera, Canadian Opera Company, Opera Tampa, Against the Grain Theatre, Edmonton Opera, Pacific Opera Victoria, and prominent orchestras across Canada. Recently: Mimi in La Bohème with Minnesota Opera, Mamah Cheney in Daron Hagen’s Shining Brow with UrbanArias in Washington DC and the title role of Alcina with Fargo Moorhead Opera. Upcoming: Mimi in La Bohème with the COC, Marzelline in Fidelio at POV, and Eurydice in Orphée+ at the Banff Centre. In July, she joins the Rockport Festival for Osvaldo Golijov’s acclaimed song cycle Ayre, a work she has performed in Buenos Aires, Banff, Ottawa, and Toronto.

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Artists’

PROFILES John Tessier

Don Ottavio | tenor Juno Award-winning tenor John Tessier has garnered international attention and praise for the beauty and honesty of his voice, for a refined style and artistic versatility, and for his handsome, youthful presence in the lyric tenor repertoire. He has worked with many of the most notable musicians of our day including Plácido Domingo, Lorin Maazel, and Deborah Voigt. Appearances of the recent past and near future include performances at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, Wiener Staatsoper, Carnegie Hall, Teatro Colon, Oper Frankfurt, Grand Théâtre de Genève, English National Opera, Washington National Opera, and Seattle Opera. Equally comfortable in the genres of opera, oratorio and recital, Mr. Tessier is also an award-winning professor at the University of Alberta.

Tyler Fitzgerald

Masetto/Don Giovanni Understudy baritone Thrilled to be joining Edmonton Opera for this production of Don Giovanni as Masetto, baritone Tyler Fitzgerald has performed with many of the major opera companies and symphonies across Canada, and in 2016 made his European debut as Count Ceprano in Rigoletto with the Staatstheater in Mainz. Recent performances include: Stevens in Rattenbury with Pacific Opera Victoria, and concerts with the Calgary Bach Society. Other roles: Prince Yamadori in Madama Butterfly. Other notable roles include: both Figaro and Count Almaviva (Le Nozze di Figaro), Dr. Falke in Die Fledermaus, Marquis d’Obigny (La Traviata), Papageno (Die Zauberflöte), Aeneas (Dido and Aeneas), Inigo (L’heure espagnole), and Tarquinius (The Rape of Lucretia).

Whitney-Leigh Sloan

Zerlina/Donna Anna Understudy soprano Based in Edmonton, Whitney-Leigh Sloan made her Edmonton Opera debut last season singing Second Maid in Strauss’ Elektra and was selected to cover the role of Liù in their production of Turandot.

Most recently Whitney performed Dvořák’s Song to the Moon with the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra and conductor Adam Johnson.

She has been fortunate to participate in feature performances with the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra, the WindRose Trio, Edmonton Youth Orchestra and Orchestra Borealis. Future Engagements will include the premiere of a new work by composer Michael Massey and performances with the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra and Edmonton Opera in their upcoming seasons.

Kirk Eichelberger

Commendatore | bass

Bass Kirk Eichelberger, praised for “commanding the stage at every turn” (San Francisco Chronicle), made his Metropolitan Opera debut in Prokofiev’s The Gambler. During the current season his engagements include Alidoro in La Cenerentola with Opéra de Montréal, Zuniga in Carmen for the Spokane Symphony and Opera Coeur d’Alene and Commendatore in Don Giovanni for the Edmonton Opera. Recent career highlights include The Emperor in Tan Dun’s Tea and Don Fernando in Fidelio with Opera Company of Philadelphia, Mephistopheles in Faust with Opera Grand Rapids, Sparafucile in Rigoletto with Vancouver Opera, and Ferrando in Il Trovatore with both Opera Manitoba and Lyric Opera of Kansas City.

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32 EDMONTON OPERA 2017/18 SEASON

Artists’

PROFILES Ha Neul Kim Stage Manager

As a graduate of the University of Alberta’s technical theatre production program with a specialization in stage management, Ha Neul has worked at theatres and major special events across Canada. She is delighted to mark the 2017/18 season as her 16th with Edmonton Opera, taking over as Stage Manager in 2007. These past 16 years have been an incredible experience, being involved in over 40 productions and in the company’s artistic operations. Ha Neul also enjoys the opportunity to mentor Assistant Stage Managers and Apprentice Assistant Stage Managers for each EO production, and teaches a class in opera stage management at the University of Alberta.

Gina Moe

Assistant Stage Manager Gina Moe’s recent Edmonton Opera assistant stage manager credits include HMS Pinafore, Cinderella, Mary Stuart, Lucia di Lammermoor, and The Magic Flute. Stage management credits include The Last Five Years and Little One (Theatre Network), Sleuth, The Euphorians, Angels on Horseback, Witness to a Conga and The Occultist’s Holiday (Teatro la Quindicina), Heroine and Victoria Martin: Math Team Queen (Northern Light Theatre), Craniatrium (Firefly Theatre), Enchanted April, The Retreat From Moscow and Trying (Theatre Calgary), Cooking at the Cookery, Trying, Einstein’s Gift, Wit and Skylight (Citadel Theatre). Gina is a two-time winner of the Elizabeth Sterling Haynes award for Outstanding Achievement in Production.

Betty Hushlak

Assistant Stage Manager Betty is pleased to be part of the Don Giovanni company. She just returned from Victoria where she was the stage manager for Workshop West Playwrights’ Theatre’s production of Café Daughter. She also stage managed this production at Canada Scene in Ottawa in 2017 and at NACC in Yellowknife. Betty works as a stage manager as well as in various production coordination roles. Recent credits include: technical producer with SkirtsAfire — a festival celebrating women artists in Edmonton, volunteer manager at Beakerhead — an arts and engineering festival in Calgary, stage manager with Alberta Ballet, and coordinator of the Coldsnap/Canada Winter Games Arts Festival in Prince George.

Peter Dala

Chorusmaster and Repetiteur Peter Dala began his conducting career 30 years ago with the Basel Ballet. He conducted for seven years at the Hungarian State Opera and the National Ballet of Hungary. As Edmonton Opera’s chorusmaster from 1996 to 2012 and resident conductor from 2001 to 2012, he prepared the chorus for roughly 40 operas, has played over 50 operas as repetiteur and has conducted over 30 operas. In 2001 he began his affiliation with Alberta Ballet and was named music director in 2005. He has conducted over 40 different productions for them.

Leanne Regehr Understudy Coach

Pianist Leanne Regehr earned a Doctor of Music degree in piano performance from Northwestern University and is currently based in Edmonton, where she serves on the faculties of the University of Alberta and the King’s University. Leanne has been engaged as a repetiteur with Shreveport Opera, Mercury Opera and Edmonton Opera. Her dedication to the development of young singers has been recognized through her work as a faculty member with Opera Nuova, as a staff pianist for Sherrill Milnes’ VOICExperience Program in Florida, and as a coaching fellow at the Aspen Music Festival. Leanne enjoys her freelance career as a soloist, vocal coach, recital partner and adjudicator.

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34 EDMONTON OPERA 2017/18 SEASON

Edmonton Opera chorus

and supers

Soprano

Mezzo-Soprano

Tenor

Bass/Baritone

Supernumeraries

Betty Kolodziej***** Lydia-Ann Levesque* Cristina Weiheimer* Isabel Davis Christina O’Dell* Kim Oviatt Alison Turk

Seang Youn Choi* Patrece Maluzynsky* Linda Farrah-Basford**** Karen Zabinski* Sable Chan*

Joseph Chambrinho* Mathew Glenn* Dan Rowley** Andrea Pinna Robert Rock***** Casper Seely

Nick Horobec*** John Yun** Teaan van Zijl Jason Somerville Greg Maluzynsky** Andrae Marchak**

Nicole Yakimec Natasha Gago Da Fonseca* Mikhajlena Fedyna Autumn Ballek Natelle Bonnick FengYi (Mona) Jiang

* Ten or more productions with EO ** Twenty-five or more productions *** Fifty or more productions **** Seventy-five or more productions ***** Hundred or more productions

Edmonton Symphony orchestra Chief Conductor: Alexander Prior Conductor: Christopher Larkin Violin 1

Viola

flute

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Robert Uchida Eric Buchmann Laura Veeze Anna Kozak Richard Caldwell Joanna Ciapka-Sangster Yue Deng Neda Yamach Broderyck Olson Aiyana Anderson-Howatt

Stefan Jungkind Clayton Leung Kerry Kavalo Rhonda Henshaw Martina Smazal Jeannette Comeau Sarah Woodman

Elizabeth Koch Elizabeth Faulkner

John McPherson Kathryn Macintosh

Oboe

Bass Trombone

Lidia Khaner Paul Schieman

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cello

Julianne Scott David Quinn

Violin 2 Dianne New Susan Flook Heather Bergen ZoĂŤ Sellers Robert Hryciw Tatiana Warszynski Murray Vaasjo Erin James Wong

Rafael Hoekman Ronda Metszies Gillian Caldwell Derek Gomez Victor Pipkin

bass Jan Urke Max Cardilli Andrew Lawrence Rob Aldridge

clarinet

bassoon Edith Stacey Matt Nickel

horn Megan Evans Donald Plumb

Trumpet Robin Doyon Frederic Payant

tIMPANI Barry Nemish

Orchestra Personnel Manager Eric Filpula

Orchestra Librarian Christopher Hawn

ESO Production Staff Jerrold Eilander Mike Patton

DON GIOVANNI 35

Wickedly

Expressive

Shakespeare in the Park Comedy of Errors Hamlet

RAISE YOUR VOICE

May 4th, 2018 | Winspear Centre

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36 EDMONTON OPERA 2017/18 SEASON

Donations and Sponsorships matched by The Dianne and Irving Kipnes Foundation

Presenting Sponsor

The Summit Foundation

Dinner Sponsor

Bruce Hagstrom in memory of Susan Wylie-Hagstrom

Champagne reception Sponsor The Allard Foundation

Dessert Sponsor

Dr. Thomas and Melanie Nakatsui

Draw Sponsors Birks Harry Rosen

Official Supporters

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HELPING OUR ARTS COMMUNITIES

Take Centre Stage

At MNP, we know that a thriving arts and cultural community can spur economic growth, inspire innovation and accelerate the creative vitality of the region. We like to believe we have earned a five-star reputation in strengthening our cultural communities and industries through our support for artists and arts organizations since 1945.

To find out how MNP can help your organization shine, contact Dustin Sundby at 780.451.4406 or dustin.sundby@mnp.ca

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44 EDMONTON OPERA 2017/18 SEASON

edmonton opera board of directors 2017-2018 season Craig D. Corbett, Chair Francis Price, Vice Chair Ken Keenleyside, Treasurer Richard Cook, Past Chair Irv Kipnes, Chair Emeritus

Enzo Barichello Garner Beggs Robert Bessette Jennifer Brown

Frank Calder Mary Clonfero Hans Forbrich Melanie Nakatsui

Bernie Robitaille Daniel Rojek Sheri Somerville

edmonton opera staff Executive

Cameron MacRae, Director of Marketing & Communications Joanne Madeley, Box Office Manager Rohan Kulkarni, Communications & Community Engagement Coordinator Madison Kerr, Marketing Assistant Katie Gallin, Box Office Clerk

Lela Stairs-Murphy, Cutter Judith Darough, Cutter Helen Flower, Milliner Kathleen Mulder, Dyer Kathryn Neuman, Stitcher Genevieve Savard, Stitcher Danine Regenwetter, Stitcher Michelle Warren, Stitcher Viola Peters, Stitcher Nicole Scherrer, Transportation Captain Kris Aasen, Production Assistant Mark MacVicar, Production Assistant Taralyn Bieganek, EO Facilities Jeff Yee, EO Facilities

Fund Development

Production and technical Stage Crew

Tim Yakimec, General Director*

Finance Debra King, CFO Serene Yau, Accountant

Community Relations

Gwen Horvath, Director of Fund Development Mary-Lou Hamilton, Director of Strategic Partnerships Jennifer Hinnell Warner, Grants Officer Gordana Bosiocic, Events Coordinator & Donor Relations Celyne Runzer, Fund Development Assistant

Artistic Administration Ha Neul Kim, Director of Artistic Operations, Resident Stage Manager* Peter Dala, Resident Conductor & Chorusmaster* Leanne Regehr, Understudy Coach Kendra Litwin, Arts Administration Assistant

Production and technical Clayton Rodney, Production & Technical Director* Alison Hardy, Assistant Production Manager Mikael Gustafsson, Head Scenic Carpenter & Shop Supervisor Ivan Siemens, Head Welder Vincent Meseck, Assistant Head Scenic Carpenter/Assistant Head Welder Jamie O’Dell, Scenic Carpenter Megan Kumpula, Head, Properties & Scenic Artist Connor MacDonald, Assistant Head Properties/Scenic Carpenter Cassidy Armstrong, Assistant Head Scenic Artist Deanna Finnman, Head, Wardrobe & Resident Wardrobe Designer* Brenda Inglis, First Assistant Wardrobe*

Geoff Bacchus, Head Stage Carpenter* Kathy Cooper, Assistant Head Stage Carpenter Mike Tomiuk, Stage Carpenter Al Kliss, Head Fly* Randy Tomiuk, Assistant Fly Joseph (Bud) Race, Head Electrics Chris Chelich, Assistant Head Electrics Alan Wightmore, Followspot Operator Mel Geary, Followspot Operator Gordon Armstrong, Followspot Operator Megan Kumpula, Head of Properties Connor MacDonald, Assistant Head Properties Danine Regenwetter, Head Wardrobe Dresser Kathryn Neuman, Assistant Head Wardrobe Dresser Cathy Nicoll, Head Make-up* Noreen Jani, Assistant Head Make-up* Leanne Scott, Make-up Osase Emokpae, Make-up Rebecca Klassen, Wigs & Hair Robyn Nicoll, Wigs & Hair Kasie Aasen, Supertitle Cuer

*10 years or more of service to Edmonton Opera DON GIOVANNI 45

�pcoming

events

Opera al Fresco | Friday, July 6, 2018 | 7 p.m.

The newly renovated University of Alberta Botanic Garden (formerly Devonian Garden) will come alive with charming music during our annual celebration of summer, Opera al Fresco!

Savour hors d’oeuvres and wine as you enjoy performances of opera and musical theatre favourites at four different locations in the Garden, including the prestigious new Aga Khan Garden. This event sells out every year, so purchase your tickets today!

Opera Camp | July 17-19, 2018 By popular demand, we are pleased to offer a three-day Opera Camp this summer!

Children in grades 4 to 6 will participate in exciting activities such as singing, acting, scenic painting, building props, and more. At the end of the week, students will present a short showcase of all they have learned at camp! Register today because spots are limited.

Opera 101 | October 2018 Join us for an evening of discussion surrounding our first opera of the season, La Traviata.

Grab a glass of wine and snack on complimentary cheese and crackers as our speakers share their thoughts on Verdi’s tale of passion and heartbreak. Opera 101 is a complimentary event, more details coming soon!

Opera Brunch | Sunday, September 30, 2018 | 11 a.m.

Enjoy an exquisite meal accompanied by your favourite arias during the Sunday Opera Brunch (11 a.m.) at the Royal Glenora Club. Admire the scenic fall colours of Edmonton’s river valley while the cast of La Traviata delivers special performances catered to please!

Student Dress Rehearsal | Thursday, October 18, 2018 | 7 p.m.

Bring your class to a special Student Dress Rehearsal of La Traviata and introduce them to the magic of opera! Verdi’s timeless masterpiece includes familiar tunes such as ‘Sempre libera’ and ‘Brindisi’ (the Drinking Song) and will be especially appreciated by students taking literature, music, theatre, gender and women’s studies, and film. Book your field trip by emailing education@edmontonopera.com today! We will also have an education guide available online to learn more about La Traviata before you attend the dress rehearsal.

la traviata

La Traviata | October 20, 23 & 26, 2018 In a historic first, Edmonton Opera presents a new production of Verdi’s La Traviata co-commissioned by five of Canada’s leading opera companies. Soprano Laquita Mitchell stars as Violetta, the iconic Parisian courtesan consumed at once by love and a life-threatening illness. You do not want to miss this lavish new production set in 1920s Paris! Tickets start at $50.

We have an exciting opera line-up in 2018/19!

Be sure to purchase your season tickets now — starting at just $75 for all three operas!

Now it’s a matter of style.

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