Cincinnati Opera 2022 Summer Festival Program Book

CINCINNATI OPERA 2022

Season Presenting Sponsor

TABLE OF CONTENTS

LA BOHÈME FIERCE CASTOR AND PATIENCE AIDA

THE PIRATES OF PENZANCE

12 18 24 30 36

Board of Trustees 10 Season Artists 42 Orchestra and Chorus 66 Donors 68

Opera Fusion: New Works 78 Society of Angels 86 Long-Term Subscribers 88

Cincinnati Opera Guild 91 In Memoriam 92

Remembrances 93

Celebrations and Honorariums 95 Repertoire 96 Staff 102 General Information 104

PROGRAM CREDITS

Editor-in-Chief Katie Syroney

Art Direction & Design Aimee Sposito Martini Design Assistance Doug Klocke Illustrations La Bohème, The Pirates of Penzance, Castor and Patience, Aida: David de las Heras; Fierce: Aimee Sposito Martini

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n 2005, Cincinnati Opera presented the brand-new opera Margaret Garner. We recall Toni Morrison’s words, Richard Danielpour’s music, and Denyce Graves’s powerful and heart rending performance in the title role.

One moment in the opera has become something of an anthem for us over the past two years of lockdown and strife. It’s an aria for Margaret titled “A Quality Love.” Note these lyrics: “Only unhar nessed hearts can survive a locked-down life.” And this: “No pretty words can ease or cure what heavy hands can do.”

Listening to these lyrics again is a reminder that an opera can speak to us in fresh and unexpected ways each time we return to it. Like all great art, opera engenders compassion and gratitude in proportion to what we invest. Give more to opera, and you’ll get more from it in return.

So, whether you’re attending a Cincinnati Opera performance for the first time or the 100th, we invite you to enjoy, reflect, and listen. And if you’re moved to do so, feel free to yell, “Bravo!”

Finally, a few words of appreciation. First, to Liz Grubow, president of the Opera Board since September 2019—thank you for consistently providing inspiration and vision. Next, to our sing ers, instrumentalists, dancers, actors, and stage professionals who devote their lives to the creation of beautiful, soul-stirring art—we celebrate your perseverance and your gifts. To our staff and to the volunteer leaders of the Opera Board and Guild—you work tirelessly year-round to prepare for the summer festival and to nurture the long-term health of this company. And, finally, to you, our audience of fans and supporters—your enthusiasm and generosity make this work possible and worthwhile.

We are—all of us—part of an extraordinary legacy that has en dured for more than a century. Together, we are creating something remarkable for our community, for our world, for years to come. Thank you.

Christopher Milligan

The Harry Fath General Director & CEO

Evans Mirageas

The Harry T. Wilks Artistic Director

FROM THE BOARD PRESIDENT

elcome! For nearly three years, we’ve been looking forward to this—our return to Music Hall and SCPA, and a full opera season in front of a live audience. It gives me great joy to share this occasion with you, and we’re thrilled that you’ve chosen to be here.

I’ll admit it’s also bittersweet for me, as this is my final summer as president of the Cincinnati Opera Board. Over my three-year term, this company has been on an incredible ride. When I assumed the role in 2019, we were making plans for a spectacular centennial celebration in 2020. After the pandemic pushed those plans aside, the company did what it does best—it focused on finding new ways to connect people through art, and it made magic happen through innovative online and outdoor programs. Our plans took another surprise turn in 2021, resulting in our amazing Summer at Summit season at Blue Ash’s Summit Park.

Through all of these unexpected twists, so many of you logged on, tuned in, showed up (even when the skies over Summit Park started to swirl mightily!), and cheered us on. Through the support of our community coupled with the creativity of our staff, Cincinnati Opera is poised to welcome this extraordinary moment—our very own “tri umphal march” back to our home stages. We can’t wait to share with you the experiences we have in store.

This September, it will be my privilege to pass the baton to President-Elect Melanie Chavez, whose passion for the company is evidenced by her previous service as a trustee and as chair of some of the Opera’s most memorable special events. Melanie will be an enthusiastic and devoted leader, and the perfect person to help guide the company into its exciting future.

I’m grateful to Chris Milligan, Evans Mirageas, and Patty Beggs for their partnership. Serving alongside them and the most dedi cated and passionate staff has been a true honor.

And to each of you, I offer my thanks for continuing to show up in support of Cincinnati Opera. We hope you enjoy the show!

Kathman Grubow President

Liz

10

BOARD OF TRUSTEES

Officers

President Liz Kathman Grubow

Chairman

Gary T. “Doc” Huffman

Treasurer Otto M. Budig, Jr.

Secretary Alva Jean Crawford

President-Elect Melanie M. Chavez

Vice Presidents

Boris Auerbach

Ronald T. Bates

Robert Bitter

Dorothy Anne Blatt

Michael L. Cioffi

James T. Fitzgerald

Barbara Hahn

Donald E. Hoffman Kevin C. Jones

Judith Colemon Kinebrew Michael Marrero

David Motch

Robert W. Olson

Edward B. Silberstein, M.D. Murray Sinclaire, Jr. James Stapleton

John M. Tew, Jr., M.D. Angela Powell Walker Ronna K. Willis

Jeannine Winkelmann Anne M. Zaring

Regular Members

Flávia Bastos, Ph.D. Patricia K. Beggs

Ryan Bergstrom

Elaine Billmire, M.D.

Thomas F. Boat, M.D. Walter Bruyninckx

Vivienne Carlson

Candace Cioffi

Sheila Cole

Peter G. Courlas

Eric Dauer

Alexander Donath, M.D.

Ralph A. Giannella, M.D.

Suzanne Hasl

Julie Grady Heard

Doug Ignatius

Jason Jackman

Anne Jaroszewicz

Mona Kerstine

Sid Khosla, M.D.

Amber Kincaid

Renu Kotwal, M.D.

Maya LaLonde

Katie Lanni

Nanci Wilks Lanni

Lynn Larson

Julia B. Meister

Christine E. Neyer

Regina Carswell Russo G. James

Sammarco, M.D. Ruthann Sammarco Harry H. Santen

Bradbury Skidmore, M.D.

Douglas Skidmore

Susan R. Strick, M.D.

Mary Ann Taylor

Brian Tiffany

Catharina Toltzis, Ph.D.

Sheila Williams

Stanford T. Williams, Jr.

Peg Wyant

Mario Zuccarello, M.D.

Advisory Members

Vicki Alpaugh

Christopher Baucom

Robert W. Boden

Christopher J. Canarie

Arthur B. Casper

Cathy Crain Daniel B. Cunningham

John G. Earls

Harry Fath Peter Graham

Theresa Henderson

Barbara

Hummel, M.Ed.

Margaret LeMasters, M.D. Jenny Magro Sherie Marek Peggy Ann Markstein Donald S. Mendelsohn Ryan L. Messer

Beatriz Porras, M.D. Melody Sawyer Richardson

Brett Stover Nydia C. Tranter Ray van der Horst Jane Votel Carla D. Walker

Shelby O. Wood

Presidents Council

Boris Auerbach

Cathy Crain

Harry Fath Kingston Fletcher Liz Kathman Grubow Donald E. Hoffman Gary T. “Doc” Huffman

Lawrence H. Kyte Robert W. Olson Harry H. Santen Murray Sinclaire, Jr. Ellen van der Horst

Ex-Officio Members

Kelly Adamson, Executive Director, Over-the-Rhine Chamber of Commerce Kristy Davis, Chair, Center Stage Board Associates

Peter Koenig, Board President, Friends of Music Hall

Christopher Milligan, The Harry Fath General Director & CEO

The Honorable Aftab Pureval, Mayor of Cincinnati

Stanley E. Romanstein, Ph.D., Dean, UC CollegeConservatory of Music Richard Zincola, President, Cincinnati Opera Guild

Honorary Members

Charlin Briggs

Nicholas P. Ciafardini

Vivian A. Dobur

Courtis Fuller Patrick Korb Joanie Lotts Sue Alexander Mouch Nancy Rosenthal Zell Schulman Paul A. “Gus” Stuhlreyer III

Center Stage

Board Associates

Katherine Anderson Clark Becker Amber David Kristy Davis Michael T. Dean Jack Fisher Renée L. Gustin Ammon Hollister Sebastien Hue Shannon Lawson

Janice S. Liebenberg Alex Lohmann Christian A. Lucke Jacob R. Morvay Jenna K. Morvay

Aliya Riddle Will Selnick Brett Willson Christina P. Yardley Candice Young

Opening

Performance Sponsors

Production Underwriter

Michael L. Cioffi and Rachael A. Rowe

Weekend Sponsor The Chavez Family, in memory of Geraldine V. Chavez

Johnson Investment Counsel Susan and Joe Pichler

Season Presenting Sponsor Huntington

LA BOHÈME

Music by Giacomo Puccini Libretto by Giuseppe Giacosa and Luigi Illica

Sung in the original Italian Based on the 1851 novel Scènes de la vie de bohème by Henri Murger World premiere: February 1, 1896, at Teatro Regio in Turin, Italy Cincinnati Opera premiere: July 6, 1924, at Cincinnati Zoo Pavilion

June 18, 23, and 25, 2022, at Cincinnati Music Hall 102nd, 103rd, and 104th company performances of La Bohème

Conductor Mark Gibson Stage Director Alain Gauthier Scenic Designer Olivier Landreville Costume Design Opéra de Montréal Lighting Designer Thomas C. Hase Wig & Makeup Designer James Geier Chorus Master Henri Venanzi Production Stage Manager Hannah Holthaus Assistant Stage Director Kathleen Stakenas*

Cast in order of vocal appearance

Marcello, a painter Rodion Pogossov Rodolfo, a poet Ji-Min Park Colline, a philosopher André Courville Schaunard, a musician Ethan Vincent* Benoit, their landlord Thomas Dreeze Mimì, a seamstress Talise Trevigne Parpignol, a toy vendor Houston Tyrrell* Musetta, a singer Raven McMillon Alcindoro, Musetta’s paramour Thomas Dreeze Custom-House Officer Dicky Dutton* Sergeant Randell McGee* Prune Seller Mitchell Sturges*

* Cincinnati Opera debut

Scenery, costumes, and props created by Opéra de Montréal. Scenery provided by San Diego Opera.

THE STORY

1830s Paris. The artist Marcello and poet Rodolfo try to keep warm on Christmas Eve in their Latin Quarter garret. They are joined by their room mates—Colline, a philosopher, and Schaunard, a musician. Their landlord, Benoit, comes to col lect the rent. After getting the older man drunk, the friends throw him out. They soon depart for the Café Momus, though Rodolfo remains behind. There is another knock at the door—it’s Mimì, a pretty neighbor, whose candle has gone out. Ro dolfo helps her to the door and relights her candle. Mimì realizes that she lost her key, and as they search, both candles go out. Rodolfo finds the key and slips it into his pocket. In the moonlight, he takes her hand and tells her about his dreams. Happy to have found each other, Mimì and Ro dolfo leave together to join the others.

At the Café Momus, Rodolfo introduces Mimì to his friends. Marcello’s former sweetheart Mu setta makes a noisy entrance on the arm of the wealthy Alcindoro. Trying to gain Marcello’s at tention, Musetta sings of her own popularity. Send ing Alcindoro away, Musetta falls into Marcello’s arms. Soldiers march by and the bohemians fall in behind, leaving Alcindoro to settle the check.

Later, on the edge of Paris, guests are heard within a tavern. Mimì arrives, searching for the

place where Marcello and Musetta now live. When Marcello appears, she tells him of her distress over Rodolfo’s jealousy. Rodolfo emerges from the tav ern, and Mimì hides. Rodolfo tells Marcello that he wants to separate from Mimì, blaming her flir tatiousness. But then he breaks down, saying that her illness can only grow worse amid their poverty. Mimì comes forward to say goodbye to her lover. They recall their past happiness and decide to re main together until springtime.

Months later in the garret, Rodolfo and Mar cello, now single, reflect on their loneliness. To lighten their spirits, their friends stage a mock duel. Musetta bursts in with news that Mimì is outside, too weak to come upstairs. As Rodolfo runs to her, Musetta relates how Mimì begged to be taken to Rodolfo to die. Mimì is made comfortable, while Musetta asks Marcello to sell her earrings for med icine and Colline goes off to pawn his overcoat. Left alone, Mimì and Rodolfo recall their first hap py days, but she is seized with violent coughing. When the others return, Mimì slowly drifts into unconsciousness. Musetta prays for her, but it is too late. The friends realize that she is dead, and Rodolfo collapses in despair.

Courtesy of The Metropolitan Opera

IN PERFORMANCE

La Bohème is full of memorable arias, duets, and ensembles—and Puccini makes sure you re member them! By skillfully recalling motives and fragments throughout the opera, he wrings the utmost pathos from the situation. In Act I, the back-to-back arias of Rodolfo and Mimì as they meet are marvels in contrasting character studies. Musetta’s aria in Act II begins as a lyri cal “tease” that builds to an exhilarating climax of high spirits and romantic reconciliation. In Act III, the famous quartet of parting lovers neatly encapsulates Henri Murger’s description of bohemian life as “a gay life, yet a terrible one.” In Act IV, Colline’s touching farewell to his coat as he leaves for the pawnbroker’s is understated and grave, as the young philosopher faces the end of his own carefree existence. The last scene shared by Rodolfo and Mimì, in which they recall their meeting and happy days together, rarely fails to elicit tears.

Martinucci

The performance will last approximately 2 hours and 35 minutes

There will be two intermissions.

Suzanne

LA VIE BOHÈME

BY SUZANNE MARTINUCCI

TENOR ANTOINE BÉLANGER AS RODOLFO and soprano Miriam Khalil as Mimì in Calgary Opera’s La Bohème. Photo by Harder Lee Photography.

Consistently near the top of any list of mostperformed operas in the world, La Bohème is the work that made Giacomo Puccini immortal. After a somewhat mixed reception at its premiere in 1896—the public loved it, the critics didn’t—the op era has, for 126 years, maintained an enduring ap peal, occasionally crossing the line between operalovers and general audiences, such as in Norman Jewison’s film Moonstruck.

I love the way the opera begins. We know that the opening music comes from the Capriccio Sin fonico, a piece Puccini composed years earlier while he was a student. Here it brings to mind someone energetically and determinedly—perhaps stamping the cold out of his feet—marching up all those stairs to the garret where Rodolfo and Mar cello are working, sweeping all of us along.

In 1893, when he began work on La Bohème, Puccini was 35 years old. Fresh off his break through success with Manon Lescaut, he was Ital ian opera’s new star composer. Manon Lescaut fairly gushes with melodic inspiration, a pent-up passion released in an extravagance of tunes that fall all over each other trying to be heard. With his next opera, La Bohème, the melodic inspiration is just as strong, but distilled. It’s as if all of Puc cini’s strengths had found their perfect vehicle: Henri Murger’s novel, Scènes de la vie de bohème In his fourth opera, the composer found a subject that married his personal experience and gifts of melody to his innate theatricality.

I think Puccini tapped into a universal feeling, a nostalgia perhaps, about youth—its energy, pas sions, humor, and optimism, as well as the heart break of first love—that so many of us identify with when we remember our own young years. It is per haps this bittersweet quality that, more than any other, accounts for La Bohème’s evergreen popularity.

From the very first note, Bohème exudes a vital ity and lyric inspiration that is almost irresistible. There is nothing in the opera that doesn’t seem organic; every note adds a bit of atmosphere, rein

forces a story element, or illuminates a character. As tenor Luciano Pavarotti once said, “Bohème is like a wound-up spring: Once it starts unwinding, nothing can stop it.”

Much of Bohème’s effectiveness must be cred ited to the superb libretto by Giuseppe Giacosa and Luigi Illica. Together with Puccini, they de veloped a conversational musico-dramatic lan guage that moves fluently from “dialogue” to set pieces. It’s a style particularly suited to this group of friends, people so familiar and intimate with each other that they literally complete each oth er’s (musical) sentences.

I can’t think of another opera dear to me where I’m consistently moved by, of all things, the final curtain call. Something about seeing those bo hemians, sometimes visibly affected by the tale they’ve told, gets to me. In addition to the beautiful melodies and touching love story, Bohème gives us a simple story about human beings and their rela tionships. Of being a friend in need—even when ev

eryone’s in need. The love of pleasure and having a good time. Of loyalty. Of illness and the cruelty of fate. Of life’s fragility and of taking joy in little things. Of living in the moment.

Suzanne Martinucci is a New York-based writer and lecturer on opera.

She is a regu lar panelist on the Metropolitan Opera Quiz during the Toll Brothers Saturday afternoon radio broadcasts.

IN ADDITION TO THE BEAUTIFUL MELODIES and touching love story, Bohème gives us a simple story about human beings and their relationships.

PUCCINI’S BOHEMIAN FRIENDS in Cincinnati Opera’s 2017 production included: (left to right) Rodion Pogossov (Marcello), Sean Panikkar (Rodolfo), Nicole Cabell (Mimì), and Nathan Stark (Colline).

Photo by Philip Groshong.

Production Underwriters

National Endowment for the Arts OPERA America

Additional Support PNC

Robert H. Reakirt Foundation (PNC Charitable Trusts) Wohlgemuth Herschede Foundation

Performance Sponsors

Cincinnati Opera Guild

Patricia A. Corbett Estate and Trust The Fullgraf Foundation

Season Presenting Sponsor Huntington

FIERCE

Music by William Menefield Libretto by Sheila Williams

Sung in English A Cincinnati Opera

World Premiere

July 6, 9, and 10, 2022, at Corbett Theater, School for Creative and Performing Arts

Conductor Joseph Young* Stage Director D. Lynn Meyers* Production Designer Samantha Reno* Lighting Designer Thomas C. Hase

Projection Designer Jessica Drayton* Wig & Makeup Designer James Geier Stage Manager Gina Hays Assistant Stage Director Alexandra Schoeny

Cast in order of vocal appearance

Ms. Lee-Adler/Troll 4/Mary Wendy Hill Rumer Megan Graves* Nyomi Victoria Ellington* Vesta Lauren McAllister* Morgan Alicia Russell Tagert*

Troll 1/John M. Andrew Jones Troll 2/Jim Antonio Cruz* Troll 3/Jackie/Margaret Indra Thomas

* Cincinnati Opera debut

A new opera commissioned by Cincinnati Opera. Production constructed by Cincinnati Opera.

Created in partnership with WordPlay Cincy, Music Resource Center—Cincinnati, and i.imagine.

THE STORY

Four teenage girls meet in an essay-writing class at their high school. While Rumer, Morgan, Nyomi, and Vesta are strangers to each other, they are also strangers to themselves. Their teacher is support ive and somewhat clueless. But that doesn’t stop her from asking a provocative question: “Tell me who you are.” This question sends the girls on a journey of discovery. As they traverse the moun tains and valleys of their experiences, personal lives, and inner fears, they are taunted by a ridicu lous posse of trolls who represent threats, both real and imagined.

Rumer explores loss and love as she mourns the death of a special friend who took their own life. Morgan is caught between her dreams of becom

ing an artist and those of her parents who expect their brilliant daughter to be the first in the family to go to college. Nyomi is the “it” girl of her school but her vivacity is a mask for self-doubt and fear. And Vesta, the youngest and most vulnerable of the group, arms herself against the ugly instability of her troubled home life by disappearing into a fantasy world.

Together, Rumer, Morgan, Nyomi, and Vesta maneuver through the obstacle course of their lives with focus, determination, and tenacity. By supporting each other, they confront their fears, drown out the trolls, and illuminate a bold path for those who follow them.

IN PERFORMANCE

During a team meeting at the first workshop, I spontaneously described the music of Fierce as “genre salad.” A beautifully constructed salad has many elements, each of which is easy to identify. The greens, tomatoes, cucumbers, and onions are artfully layered on the plate. You can eat them one at a time, or stack two, three, or four to create new flavors with each bite. The music of Fierce is the same. There are many styles represented in this opera: classical, jazz, R&B, Afro-Cuban, to name a few. At times, each genre will be readily identifiable. There are also moments when multiple styles are blended together to create new sounds. Toss in a few melodies for the audience to hum on their way home, and you have a genre salad that aims to please your musical taste buds.

William Menefield

The performance will last approximately 1 hour and 20 minutes There will be no intermission

FEELING FIERCE

BY SHEILA J. WILLIAMS

FIERCE PRODUCTION DESIGN by Samantha Reno.

FFierce is about . . . growing up, facing fears, taking responsibility, being compassionate, enjoying time spent with loved ones, standing up for oneself, and gathering courage to tackle the difficult moments. Fierce is about life. The story is told through the eyes of four teenage girls living in contemporary society. For source material, the creative team co ordinated a series of conversations with ten young women who were—and some of whom still are— participants with community-based organizations Music Resource Center (“MRC”) and WordPlay Cincinnati. They are known as the “Muses”: tal ented musicians, composers, journalists, and poets. Later in the process, a trio of young women from i.imagine, a Northern Kentucky-based organiza tion, merged their talents for photography with this core group, documenting inspiration-gather ing sessions on film.

The conversations with the “Muses,” held over a period of a year, were richly layered, consisting of exchanges running the gamut from parental expectations and college admissions anxiety to spirited debates on lipstick color choices! They included passionate exchanges about ethnic iden tity and discussions on dating behavior. And the conversations concluded with a renaissance of ideas about what it means to be a woman in this world—as it is now. The deep dives of conversation I had with the “Muses” were held in a conclave of all-female participants.

From these conversations emerged a story sup ported by four leads—Rumer, Morgan, Nyomi, Vesta—and a focus on issues that were of keen in terest and relevance not only to the young women but also to the female members of the creative team, including stage director D. Lynn Meyers and me. The geography of the life of a young wom

an encompasses many layers, and the excavation is not always easy or straightforward. There was as much laughter about the pizza served as there were silences once confidences had been revealed. The encroachment of technology into the lives of 21st-century people has meant not only increased access to news, information, and entertainment, but also the erosion of privacy and exposure to a higher level of cruelty and abuse. The chorus— known as “Trolls”—arose from these discussions.

The names of the lead characters are also linked to the strengths of women throughout the centu ries. We think of “Vesta” as a domestic Roman god dess of the hearth. But some archaeologists have posited that this incarnation is built on an earlier deity, a goddess of fire. “Nyomi” is a derivative of names from several cultures including Japanese, as well as “Naomi” from the Old Testament who may appear to be a follower but, in fact, may repre sent strength and resolve. “Morgan” is a derivative of the powerful Celtic goddess known by many names including the “Morrigan.” She is a shapeshifter and, from the stories told in Irish lore, she is not to be trifled with! “Rumer” is a name with mys terious and conflicting origins (English, German, Welsh) and vague meaning. Rumer, the character, is mysterious and full of conflicting desires. But she can focus on what’s important—when she wants to! These women are warriors, and it is their spirit that embodies the best definitions of the word “fierce”: determined, tenacious, strong. They will remake the world.

Sheila J. Williams is a novelist who lives in Northern Kentucky, and her most recent novel, Things Past Telling, was released in March. Fierce is her first opera libretto

TEEN ARTISTS from WordPlay Cincy, Music Resource Center—Cincinnati, and i.imagine shared original music, poetry, and photography at the I Am Fierce Partner Showcase in April 2022. Photo by Philip Groshong.

Production Underwriter Ginger and David Warner

Performance Sponsors 1919 Investment Counsel Anonymous Chavez Properties

Season Presenting Sponsor Huntington

THE PIRATES OF PENZANCE

Music by Arthur Sullivan Libretto by W.S. Gilbert

Sung in English

World premiere: December 31, 1879, at Fifth Avenue Theater, New York City Cincinnati Opera premiere: August 6, 1933, at Cincinnati Zoo Pavilion

July 7, 8, and 10, 2022, at Cincinnati Music Hall 11th, 12th, and 13th company performances of The Pirates of Penzance

Conductor David Agler* Stage Director & Choreographer Seán Curran* Scenic & Costume Designer James Schuette Lighting Designer Thomas C. Hase Wig & Makeup Designer James Geier Chorus Master Henri Venanzi Fight Director Gina Cerimele-Mechley Stage Manager Peter Nictakis* Assistant Stage Director Michael Scarola

Cast in order of vocal appearance

Samuel, the Pirate King’s lieutenant Mark Diamond* The Pirate King Zachary James* Frederic, a pirate apprentice Matthew White Ruth, Frederic’s nurse Amber Wagner* Edith, daughter of Major-General Stanley Marlen Nahhas* Kate, daughter of Major-General Stanley Jasmin White* Isabel, daughter of Major-General Stanley Christina Hazen* Mabel, daughter of Major-General Stanley Lauren Snouffer* Major-General Stanley Patrick Carfizzi* Sergeant of Police Samuel Smith Queen Victoria Betsi Brockmeier

* Cincinnati Opera debut

Production originally created for Opera Theatre of Saint Louis. Scenery owned by The Atlanta Opera and Palm Beach Opera. Costumes are the property of Opera Theatre of Saint Louis.

THE STORY

Off the coast of England, Frederic, a young man of 21, celebrates the end of his apprenticeship to a band of pirates. He believes the pirate way of life is wicked, and that the crew should consider a respectable lifestyle. The Pirate King claims that, compared to a respectable lifestyle, piracy is honest.

Frederic prepares to leave the pirate ship with his nursemaid Ruth in tow. On the beach, they stumble upon a group of beautiful young women. Frederic asks them to help him reform from his pirate life. All reject him except Mabel, and the two quickly fall in love.

The pirates return to storm the beach and cap ture the young women, intending to marry them. The women’s father, the Major-General, arrives and objects to his daughters being married against their will. To save them, he claims to be an orphan. As orphans themselves, the pirates are sympathetic and agree to release their captives.

Later at home, the Major-General laments his lie, and his daughters try to comfort him. The police sergeant arrives and tells them that with Frederic’s help, he is prepared to arrest the pirates. Frederic considers this an opportunity to atone for

a life of piracy. The Pirate King and Ruth arrive and inform him that he was to be apprenticed un til his 21st birthday and, as he was born in a leap year on February 29, he is actually only 5 years old. The Pirate King insists that Frederic honor his sense of duty and return to the pirates. Upon realizing this, Frederic tells the Pirate King of the impending attack.

Before leaving, Frederic meets with Mabel to tell her of his plight, and they agree to be faith ful to each other until his return. Mabel tells the police that they will have to face the pirates alone, not knowing the pirates are planning an attack of their own.

The pirates attack the Major-General’s house and easily subdue the police. The sergeant begs for mercy in the name of Queen Victoria. Ruth reveals that the pirates are in fact nobility, and the pirates free the Major-General out of their sense of loy alty to the Queen. The Major-General, happy to have his daughters wed noblemen, offers the pi rates their hands in marriage as thanks. All join in celebration of the approaching weddings.

Courtesy of Lyric Opera of Kansas City

IN PERFORMANCE

The Pirates of Penzance’s most famous music is an ironic example of the piracy Gilbert and Sul livan despised. The second-act chorus “Come Friends Who Plow the Seas” became “Hail! Hail! The Gang’s All Here!” in the U.S. as early as 1898. In 1915, it found its way into The Ohio State University’s fight song “Across the Field.”

“I Am the Very Model of a Modern Major-General” is Gilbert and Sullivan’s best-known patter song, a dizzying sequence of ingenious rhymes sung at breathtaking speed. The song is a proving ground for contemporary lyricists who take on everything from biblical philology, the Periodic Table, Animaniacs, and of course, politics.

The heroine Mabel gets a star turn with “Poor Wandering One,” a coloratura aria featuring plenty of passages ascending into the stratosphere and a final high C that dazzles as much as anything Rossini or Donizetti penned.

Anne Arenstein

The performance will last approximately 2 hours and 25 minutes.

There will be one intermission

HIJINKS ON THE HIGH SEAS

BY ANNE ARENSTEIN

BASS KEVIN BURDETTE AS THE PIRATE KING in The Atlanta Opera’s production of The Pirates of Penzance. Photo by Jeff Roffman.

The Pirates of Penzance, Gilbert and Sullivan’s fifth collaboration, premiered in 1879 and has outlasted their other 13 operettas, for good reasons. William S. Gilbert’s satiric pen took aim at less-than-deserv ing military appointees (this time, a modern majorgeneral), politicians, and human foibles, while his partner, composer Sir Arthur Sullivan, satirized Italian opera. Joseph Papp’s wildly successful 1980 production for New York’s Public Theater revi talized Pirates with updated orchestrations and a star-studded cast including Linda Ronstadt, Kevin Kline, and Rex Smith. Highlights from the live per formance and the film adaptation are worth seek ing out on YouTube.

Papp didn’t need to update anything in the script; the stage and screen versions demonstrate that the humor remains timely and classic.

But Gilbert and Sullivan were targeting actual pirates who made the most of limited copyright laws. Back in the 19th century, British copyrights did not extend to the U.S., and American impre sarios were only too happy to present the duo’s hugely popular H.M.S. Pinafore without having to pay royalties. Gilbert and Sullivan retaliated with The Pirates of Penzance, staging a makeshift produc tion in New York to secure a U.S. copyright, the only work of theirs to have its world premiere out side of London.

To no avail. Although the copyright laws failed to prevent unlicensed stagings, Gilbert and Sulli van did quite well with officially authorized pro ductions that outdrew the competition, just as they had with H.M.S. Pinafore

And Gilbert was much kinder to his own pirates than he was to the British military and constabu lary. In his topsy-turvy world, the pirates are ten derhearted and “comparatively honest,” the police run from confrontation, and the military is clueless. Gilbert’s targets included British devotion to rec titude and personal duty. Frederic, who has been apprenticed to the pirates until his 21st birthday, wails that he is “the slave of duty” when his birth day turns out to be February 29. Get it?

Sir Arthur set his sights on grand opera, sending up bel canto coloratura with Mabel’s bravura aria “Poor Wandering One.” Verdi’s “Anvil Chorus” is lampooned in Gilbert and Sullivan’s most famous chorus, “With Cat-Like Tread.”

Even Schubert comes in for parody as the Ma jor-General sings “Sighing Softly to the River,” accompanied by “water-rippling” phrases from the strings. There’s disagreement on whether the grand chorale in the Act I finale (“Hail, Poetry”) is another Verdi sendup or a Mozart string quartet parody. Whoever the target, Sullivan’s musical set tings have their own sly brilliance that are the perfect match for Gilbert’s equally brilliant wordplay.

It’s been 42 years since The Pirates of Penzance dropped anchor in Music Hall. A pick-up orchestra accompanied the cast, most of whom were mem bers of the young artists program.

This time around, Pirates makes a triumphant return with the CSO in the pit and a cast of worldclass professionals, some of whom have performed, staged, or conducted Gilbert and Sullivan as well as Verdi, Donizetti, and Mozart.

Welcome back, friends who plow the seas! We’ve missed ye.

Anne Arenstein is a freelance writer whose work appears in City Beat, Parterre, and Cincinnati Fanfare. She wrote a chap ter on new works for Cincinnati Opera: A Centennial Celebration.

A PROMOTIONAL POSTER from a 1937 production of The Pirates of Penzance by the Cincinnati Federal Theatre. Poster design by James H. Murphy (Work Projects Administration Poster Collection, Library of Congress).

Performance

CO2 Underwriter

Additional

Sponsors Thomas W. Busse Trust Center Stage Board Associates Flow by ArtsWave Keller Williams Seven Hills The Stephen H. Wilder Foundation

Production Underwriter David C. Herriman Fund of GCF

Carol Ann and Ralph V. Haile, Jr. Foundation

Support National Endowment for the Arts Josephine Schell Russell Charitable Trust (PNC Charitable Trusts)

Season Presenting Sponsor Huntington

CASTOR AND PATIENCE

Music by Gregory Spears Libretto by Tracy K. Smith

Sung in English A Cincinnati Opera

World Premiere

July 21, 23, 24, 28, and 30, 2022, at Corbett Theater, School for Creative and Performing Arts

Conductor Kazem Abdullah Stage Director Kevin Newbury Scenic Designer Vita Tzykun Costume Designer Jessica Jahn* Image Designer Rachel Eliza Griffiths* Projection Designer S. Katy Tucker Lighting Designer Thomas C. Hase Wig & Makeup Designer James Geier Production Stage Manager Hannah Holthaus Assistant Stage Director Eboni Adams

Cast

Reginald Smith Jr. Celeste, Castor’s wife Jennifer Johnson Cano Ruthie, Castor and Celeste’s daughter Raven McMillon Judah, Castor and Celeste’s son Frederick Ballentine Patience, Castor’s first cousin Talise Trevigne West, Patience’s son Benjamin Taylor* Wilhelmina, Patience’s daughter Victoria Okafor Clarissa/Ensemble Amber Monroe*

Castor, a family man in his 40s

Jane/Watch Night Leader/Woman/Ensemble Zoie Reams* Cato/Watchman/First Man/Man 1/Ensemble Phillip Bullock Nestor/Third Man/Man 3/Ensemble Victor Ryan Robertson Second Man/Man 2/Ensemble Earl Hazell*

* Cincinnati Opera debut

A new opera commissioned by Cincinnati Opera. Production constructed by Cincinnati Opera.

Used by arrangement with European American Music Distributors company, sole U.S. and Canadian agent for Schott Helicon Music Corporation, New York, publisher and copyright owner.

December 31, 1862. On the eve of the Emancipa tion Proclamation in a praise house on the coast in the American South, a Watch Night celebration is taking place.

Act I 2008. Castor and his family have driven from Buffalo, New York, to his birthplace in a ru ral community in the American South. This is the same location where the Watch Night celebration took place. Castor knows what is at stake on this trip, and his wife Celeste does too, but to a lesser degree. The children, Ruthie and Judah, are oblivi ous. They stand with him at a ferry landing, await ing the boat that will take them to where Castor’s cousin Patience lives with her two adult children, West and Wilhelmina.

Patience and West discuss his upcoming depar ture from the island for work. They both wait for the arrival of Castor’s family.

Castor and his family arrive at Patience’s house. In a private conversation with Celeste, Castor ex plains that they are financially desperate, and he hopes to negotiate his stake in the family property with Patience.

Later, Judah and Ruthie get to know West.

After dinner, Patience reminisces with Castor. Time flashes back to 1966 when Cato and Cla rissa, Castor’s parents, decide to leave the island and move north. While Castor and Patience get reacquainted, West and Wilhelmina take Celeste, Judah, and Ruthie to the Whistle, a spot where lo cals congregate.

Act II 1870, in the same location. A group of three men and one woman, members of the newly es tablished autonomous freedmen’s community, are gathered on a house porch to swap stories about the many ways whites and the banks have tricked and cheated Black people out of their land deeds.

2008. On the second day of Castor’s family’s visit, West leads them to an unmarked cemetery where some of Castor’s ancestors are buried. Judah and Ruthie learn about the history of their fam

ily’s relationship to the land. Castor describes his parents’ experience with redlining in Buffalo in the 1960s. He reveals that a ballooning mortgage underlies his financial struggles. Castor receives a call informing him that he’s defaulted on his loan payments; the bank explains that someone will be repossessing the family car.

Later that same day. Patience’s daughter Wil helmina comforts the kids. Celeste asks Patience for her blessing in allowing them to sell a few acres. But Patience isn’t convinced that she holds the so lution to their problems.

That night. Judah runs outside during a rain storm and blows off a little steam. At the same time, in one of the guest bedrooms, Castor wakes from a feverish sleep and tries to have it out with his demons.

The following morning . The family all discuss the crisis in the open. Judah, who has been pull ing away from his father, informs his parents that he wants to stay on the island rather than return to Buffalo.

The next day. Castor and Celeste’s car has been repossessed. Judah is even more adamant that he wants to stay with Patience’s family. To break the tension, Patience drives everyone to a plot of land and house that once belonged to Castor’s parents. At the house, another flashback to 1966 reveals that Cato was having an affair with Patience’s mother, Jane. This family secret instigated Cas tor’s parents’ reluctant departure from the island to seek a new life up north. Castor and his family are deeply moved by seeing his childhood home, which Patience has preserved. Celeste tells Castor that this is what they have come there to find.

Late in the day. Cato and Clarissa, as well as Castor, Celeste, and Ruthie, board the ferry for the mainland. Others from both time periods do the same. It remains unknown whether Castor decides to sell the plot of land Patience has saved for him.

The performance will last approximately 2 hours and 40 minutes

There will be one intermission

LAND ACKNOWLEDGMENT

BY TRACY K. SMITH AND GREGORY SPEARS

THE LANDSCAPE OF THE AMERICAN SOUTH inspired the setting of Castor and Patience

Photo by Rachel Eliza Griffiths.

The creators of Castor and Patience would like to acknowledge that this work is being performed upon the unceded traditional territory of the Dela ware, Miami, and Shawnee tribal nations. We pay our respects to elders, past, present, and future.

This work of fiction is invested in the joys and complexities of home and family, and it asks us to ponder certain questions: What and who is home? What can we ask of the people we love? What do we owe them? Are the things we inherit meant to set us free, or bind us more tightly to one another? For the Black family at the heart of this story, these ques tions inevitably lead forward into possibility and back toward a many-layered history.

The ancestral home of Castor and Patience is rooted in the American South where Black citizens’ claim to property has historically been fraught. In 1865, the U.S. government initiated an effort to allocate Confederate land to formerly enslaved Blacks. Months later, following Abraham Lincoln’s assassination, one of Andrew Johnson’s first acts as president was to undo this ground breaking “40 Acres and a Mule” initiative and redistribute nearly all of the land in question to whites. A great many Black families were pushed into sharecropping or tenant-farming arrange ments, and thereby wedged in the rungs of the racial caste system known as Jim Crow.

However, some newly emancipated Blacks in coastal Georgia and South Carolina managed to purchase land from the U.S. government during Reconstruction. What was once a site of their en slavement became home to a host of autonomous Black communities—some of which exist still de spite more than a century’s worth of threats from erratic tax practices, eminent domain, the complex legal issues surrounding heirs’ property, and other means both legal and nefarious. Although, as the value of property along the Southern coast soars, zealous developers contribute to the rate at which Black farming communities are being replaced with golf resorts and luxury enclaves.

It is this legacy that provides the backdrop for the original libretto for the opera Castor and Pa tience, which takes place at the beginning of the 2008 financial disaster, a moment of economic crisis with its own links to land and real estate speculation. In the opera, the character Patience is committed to hanging onto the land her fam ily has owned since Reconstruction. But she is an heir-in-common with Castor, whose parents left the South for Buffalo during a late wave of the Great Migration. In building a life of opportunity and even thriving for their children in the North, Castor’s parents swapped Jim Crow for policies of redlining, housing segregation, gentrification, predatory lending, and displacement through eminent domain.

What and who is home? What can we ask of the people we love? What do we owe them? Are the things we inherit meant to set us free, or bind us more tightly to one another?

If we were to regard this story from an even fur ther vantage point, we might see that Castor and Patience are contending with an even older lega cy: that of land theft, displacement, and genocide which can be traced to the first days of European settlement on these shores. Or, to put it differently, we might be nudged to admit that, no matter who we are or where we call Home, History is always here with us, pushing up from the ground beneath our feet.

Tracy K. Smith is a two-term U.S. poet laureate (2017-2019), author of five col lections of poetry, and recipient of the 2012 Pulitzer Prize for her collection Life on Mars

Gregory Spears is a New York-based com poser. His opera, Fellow Travelers, with li bretto by Greg Pierce, received its world premiere at Cincinnati Opera in 2016.

JESSICA JAHN’S COSTUME SKETCHES for Castor and Patience portray a family across three time periods: 1870, 1966, and 2008.

ENJOY “CASTOR AND PATIENCE”

The world premiere of Cincinnati Opera’s “Castor and Patience,” is finally here. After a two-year wait, Flow, An African American Arts Experience, powered by ArtsWave, is proud to help bring it to life as part of its series of quarterly performances by renowned Black artists.

The arts help us to build an inclusive, more equitable community. Elevating African American artistry through your support of Flow is one way to make a difference locally. We hope you will join us for more Flow events. Please scan the QR code to join our mailing list of culturally adventurous supporters of African American artists and artistry.

If you haven’t given to ArtsWave this year, please consider a donation to the annual ArtsWave Campaign, the primary way the region funds its arts. ArtsWave is working with arts organizations to make inclusion a hallmark of the region’s arts through “Lifting As We Learn,” our Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Access (DEIA) commitment and plan. The plan includes investing in organizations that share a commitment to DEIA; increasing resources for organizations of color; promoting the voices of all artists in our community; building audiences that reflect the region; and other efforts to deepen roots and bridge cultural divides across our community. We hope you will consider supporting ArtsWave, and we hope to see you at our upcoming Flow events.

Sincerely,

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Mel Gravely TriVersity Construction CEO Flow co-chair

Mary Stagaman ArtsWave Impact Executive in Residence Flow co-chair

Performance Sponsors

Production Underwriter Larry and Beth Uhlenbrock

Thomas W. Busse Trust Mrs. Beryl Merritt, in memory of Beryl Merritt Edward B. Silberstein, M.D., and Jacqueline M. Mack Society of Angels

Season Presenting Sponsor

Huntington

Music by Giuseppe Verdi Libretto by Antonio Ghislanzoni

Sung in the original Italian World premiere: December 24, 1871, at the Cairo Opera House Cincinnati Opera premiere: July 17, 1921, at Cincinnati Zoo Pavilion

July 22, 26, 29, and 31, 2022, at Cincinnati Music Hall 134th, 135th, 136th, and 137th company performances of Aida

Conductor Christopher Allen Stage Director Crystal Manich* Scenic Designers Claude Girard and Bernard Uzan Costume Designer Claude Girard Lighting Designer Thomas C. Hase Lighting Co-Designer Joe Beumer* Wig & Makeup Designer James Geier Chorus Master Henri Venanzi Choreographer Michael Pappalardo* Stage Manager Megan Bennett Assistant Stage Director Haley Stamats*

Cast in order of vocal appearance

Ramfis, high priest of Isis Morris Robinson Radamès, Egyptian army captain Gregory Kunde Amneris, Egyptian princess Tichina Vaughn* Aida, Ethiopian princess enslaved in Egypt Mary Elizabeth Williams* King of Egypt, Amneris’s father Peixin Chen* Messenger Houston Tyrrell High Priestess Jennifer Cherest Amonasro, Ethiopian king, Aida’s father Gordon Hawkins

* Cincinnati Opera debut

A co-production of Pittsburgh Opera, Opéra de Montréal, and Utah Opera. Scenery provided by Pittsburgh Opera. Costumes created for Opéra de Montréal.

THE STORY

Ancient Egypt, during the reign of the pharaohs. The high priest Ramfis tells the warrior Radamès that Ethiopia is preparing another attack against Egypt. Radamès hopes to command the Egyptian army. He is in love with Aida, an enslaved Ethiopian woman, and he believes that victory would enable them to marry. But Princess Amneris loves Rad amès, and she senses his feelings for Aida. The king names Radamès to lead the army. Left alone, Aida is torn between her love for Radamès and loyalty to her country, where her father, Amonasro, is king. In the temple, the priests consecrate Radamès, and Ramfis orders him to protect the homeland.

Ethiopia has been defeated, and Amneris awaits Radamès’s return. When Aida approaches, Am neris attempts to learn her feelings. Aida’s reac tions leave no doubt that she loves Radamès. Am neris, certain she will be victorious, leaves for the triumphal procession.

The king and Amneris crown Radamès with a victor’s wreath. Captured Ethiopians are led in. Among them is Amonasro, who signals his daughter not to reveal his identity. Radamès asks for the prisoners to be freed. The king grants his request but keeps Amonasro in custody. The king

declares that Radamès will have Amneris’s hand in marriage.

On the eve of the wedding, Ramfis and Am neris enter a temple on the banks of the Nile to pray. Aida, who is waiting for Radamès, is lost in thoughts of her homeland. Amonasro appears and coerces Aida to find out the Egyptian army’s plans from Radamès. Amonasro hides as Radamès ar rives and assures Aida of his love. Aida asks him about his army’s plans, and just as he reveals the secret, Amonasro emerges. When he realizes Amonasro’s identity, Radamès is horrified by what he has done. Ramfis and Amneris step out of the temple. Amonasro and Aida are able to escape, but Radamès surrenders.

Radamès awaits trial. Amneris offers to save him if he renounces Aida, but he refuses. When he is brought before the priests, he is condemned to be buried alive. Amneris begs for mercy, but the judges are unwavering.

Aida has hidden in the vault to share Radamès’s fate. They express their love for the last time while Amneris prays in the temple above.

Courtesy of The Metropolitan Opera

IN PERFORMANCE

Verdi’s innate sense of drama and the exactitude with which he achieved it can be thought of as a range of orchestral colors that tell stories extending far beyond the words. This can be found in huge set pieces—such as the Triumphal March in the second act. But pay attention to small details most people overlook. Listen to the urgency and mounting alarm in Act I as the Messenger tells of the Ethiopian invasion of Egyptian soil. Or, in the first scene of Act II, how Amneris deceives Aida by telling her Radamès is dead in a way that both princesses (the latter enslaved) reveal their true feelings to each other and to us. Notice, in the first music of Act III, how Verdi creates a sense of the stirrings of dawn along the Nile. In the last act, before the sensational Judgment Scene and beautiful finale, there is the thrilling argument between Radamès and Amneris that sets up all that follows.

Fred Plotkin

The performance will last approximately 3 hours and 20 minutes.

There will be two intermissions

MAKE LOVE, NOT WAR

BY FRED PLOTKIN

SOPRANO LISA DALTIRUS AS AIDA AND BARITONE GORDON HAWKINS as Amonasro (foreground) in the Triumphal March scene of Cincinnati Opera’s 2007 Aida. Photo by Philip Groshong.

Mention Giuseppe Verdi’s Aida to someone not deeply acquainted with it and the response might be, “That’s the grand opera with the elephants!” In fact, apart from some outdoor performances done in the past for tourists at Rome’s Baths of Cara calla, the presence of pachyderms in Aida produc tions is rare indeed.

This opera is much more than grand spectacle, thrilling though that can be. Ismail Pasha, the Khe dive of Egypt, wanted Verdi to write an ode to in augurate the Khedivial Opera House in Cairo coin ciding with the opening of the Suez Canal in 1869. Verdi was offended, replying that he would not cre ate music for “an occasion.” The theater ultimately opened with Rigoletto on November 1, 1869.

Aida only came later, in part because Verdi was intrigued by some of the elements of the story and its dramatic potential. It did not hurt that he was offered the stupendous fee of 150,000 French francs (four times what he got in Paris to compose Don Carlos in 1867).

Like all of Verdi’s masterpieces, Aida is suffused with the composer’s concerns about political free dom, justice, questions of public responsibility ver sus private desires, and the inevitable disaster that is the legacy of those who would make war rather than love.

Verdi had used his early operas—including Nabucco, Attila, and Macbeth—to foster Il Risorgi mento (the Resurgence) that led to the formation of the Italian Republic in 1861. The struggling new nation was showing signs of discord. When Verdi began work on Aida, conflicts (including the Fran co-Prussian War and Siege of Paris in 1870) had been raging in Europe for decades.

The composer was a senatore a vita (a permanent senator) in the new government, whose first capital was Turin, seat of the House of Savoy, Italy’s royal family. They had a passion for ancient Egypt and, in 1832, opened the world’s first museum devoted to the subject. Verdi spent considerable time there, drawing inspiration to create Aida.

Typically, Verdi took part in rehearsals of his new operas to elaborate or fine-tune his orchestra tions and make changes if he felt something in the dramaturgy could be improved.

Verdi did not go to Cairo to participate in the inaugural production. This meant that he did the orchestration ahead of time. Given Verdi’s tal ents and those of his librettist Ghislanzoni, and the importance of the occasion, it was not a sur prise that the opera enjoyed a huge success on December 24, 1871.

When Aida came to Italy (La Scala on Febru ary 8, 1872), Verdi tinkered with it somewhat. He composed an overture but eventually abandoned it during the rehearsal period. He also focused more on the final moments of the opera, when Aida and Radamès sing a love duet in the chamber that will become their tomb.

The last lines of the opera are given to Amneris, Aida’s Egyptian rival for the love of Radamès: “Pace t’imploro, pace, pace, pace.” After all the death and bloodshed—in the opera and in real life—the com poser (through Amneris) makes a plea for peace to his own fellow citizens and to all Europeans. How sadly fitting his message still is today.

Fred Plotkin is author of Opera 101: A Complete Guide to Learning and Loving Op era. He writes for WQXR’s Operavore, lec tures for major opera companies, and hosts “Fred Plotkin on Fridays” on Idagio.com.

AMNERIS (MEZZO-SOPRANO MICHELLE DEYOUNG) prays while Aida (soprano Latonia Moore) and Radamès (tenor Antonello Palombi) embrace in Cincinnati Opera’s 2013 production of Aida. Photo by Philip Groshong.

SEASON ARTISTS CINCINNATI OPERA

2022

* Cincinnati Opera debut

KAZEM ABDULLAH

Conductor (Indianapolis, Indiana) Castor and Patience

Cincinnati: Opera in the Park (2021) Elsewhere: Fire Shut Up in My Bones (The Metropolitan Opera); The Central Park Five (Portland Opera); X: The Life and Times of Malcolm X (Detroit Opera) Upcoming: Proximity (Lyric Opera of Chicago); Omar (LA Opera); Concert engagements (Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, Seattle Symphony)

DAVID AGLER Conductor (Vancouver, British Columbia)

The Pirates of Penzance*

Elsewhere: Artistic Director (Wexford Festival Opera); Music Director (Vancouver Opera); Principal Conductor (Australian Opera)

CHRISTOPHER ALLEN Conductor (New York, New York) Aida

Cincinnati: The Magic Flute (2017); Tosca (2016); Morning Star (2015) Elsewhere: The Magic Flute (Opéra de Montréal); Carmen (Arizona Opera); The Marriage of Figaro (Opera Theatre of Saint Louis) Upcoming: La Traviata (Lyric Opera of Kansas City); Handel’s Messiah (Kansas City Symphony)

FREDERICK BALLENTINE Tenor (Norfolk, Virginia)

Judah, Castor and Patience

Cincinnati: Steersman, The Flying Dutchman (2018); Sportin’ Life, Porgy and Bess (2019) Elsewhere: Sportin’ Life, Porgy and Bess (The Metropolitan Opera); Charlie Parker, Charlie Parker’s Yardbird (Seattle Opera); Nick, The Handmaid’s Tale (English National Opera) Upcoming: George, It’s a Wonderful Life & Loge, Das Rheingold (English National Opera)

JOE

Aida*

BEUMER

Lighting Co-Designer (New York, New York)

Elsewhere: The Barber of Seville (Opera Colorado); Tosca (Utah Opera); Charlie Parker’s Yardbird (Atlanta Opera) Upcoming: Cavalleria Rusticana & Rigoletto (Opera Colorado); Thumbprint (Portland Opera)

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PHILLIP BULLOCK Baritone (Berea, Kentucky) Cato/Watchman/First Man/Man 1/Ensemble, Castor and Patience

Cincinnati: Angelotti, Tosca (2021); Gregorio, Romeo and Juliet (2019); Jim, Porgy and Bess (2019) Elsewhere: Jim, Porgy and Bess (Royal Danish Opera); Gregorio, Romeo and Juliet (Maryland Lyric Opera); Moralès, Carmen (Richmond Symphony Orchestra); Antonio, The Marriage of Figaro (Kentucky Opera)

JENNIFER JOHNSON CANO

Mezzo-soprano (St. Louis, Missouri) Celeste,

Castor and Patience

Cincinnati: Diana, La Calisto (2014) Elsewhere: Virginia Woolf, The Hours (Philadelphia Orchestra Association); Emilia, Otello & Hansel, Hansel and Gretel (The Metropolitan Opera); Offred, The Handmaid’s Tale (Boston Lyric Opera) Upcoming: Meg Page, Falstaff (The Metropolitan Opera)

PATRICK CARFIZZI Bass-baritone (Newburgh, New York) Major-General Stanley, The Pirates of Penzance*

Elsewhere: Lakai, Ariadne auf Naxos (The Metropolitan Opera); Leporello, Don Giovanni (Hessisches Staatstheater Wiesbaden); Starveling, A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Santa Fe Opera) Upcoming: The Bailli, Werther & Bartolo, The Marriage of Figaro (Houston Grand Opera); Sacristan, Tosca (The Metropolitan Opera)

GINA CERIMELE-MECHLEY

Fight & Intimacy Director (Cincinnati, Ohio)

La Bohème; Fierce; The Pirates of Penzance; Castor and Patience; Aida

Cincinnati: Romeo and Juliet, Porgy and Bess (2019); The Flying Dutchman, Another Brick in the Wall (2018); Fidelio, Tosca (2016); Silent Night (2014) Elsewhere: Romeo and Juliet (Cincinnati Shakespeare Company); Two Trains Running (Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park) Upcoming: Cabaret (Cincinnati Actor’s Studio & Academy)

PEIXIN CHEN Bass (Houston, Texas) King, Aida*

Elsewhere: Timur, Turandot (Houston Grand Opera); Don Basilio, The Barber of Seville (San Diego Opera); Sarastro, The Magic Flute (The Metropolitan Opera) Upcoming: Fasolt, Das Rheingold (The Dallas Opera); Attila, Attila (Florida Grand Opera); Colline, La Bohème (Washington National Opera)

JENNIFER CHEREST Soprano (LaPlata, Maryland) High Priestess, Aida

Cincinnati: Cristina Kahlo, Frida (2017) Elsewhere: Gilda, Rigoletto (Dayton Opera); Susanna, The Marriage of Figaro (North Carolina Opera); Gretel, Hansel and Gretel (Washington National Opera) Upcoming: Soloist (Hilton Head Symphony Orchestra); Suor Genovieffa, Suor Angelica (Opera Omaha)

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ANDRÉ COURVILLE Bass-baritone (Breaux Bridge, Louisiana) Colline, La Bohème

Cincinnati: Zuniga, Carmen (2021) Elsewhere: Clistene, L’Olimpiade (Moscow Philharmonic Society); Prince Yamadori, Madame Butterfly (Opera di Firenze); Pietro, Simon Boccanegra (Opéra de Rouen Normandie) Upcoming: Don Giovanni, Don Giovanni (Berkshire Opera Festival); Titurel, Parsifal (Houston Grand Opera)

ANTONIO CRUZ Baritone (Tucson, Arizona)

Troll 2/Jim, Fierce*

Elsewhere: L’horloge comtoise and Le chat, L’enfant et les sortilèges (Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra); Yeletsky cover, The Queen of Spades (Des Moines Metro Opera); Papageno, The Magic Flute (UC College-Conservatory of Music)

SEÁN CURRAN Stage Director & Choreographer (New York, New York) The Pirates of Penzance*

Elsewhere: Romeo and Juliet (The Metropolitan Opera); Gianni Schicchi (Opera Theatre of Saint Louis); Salome (San Francisco Opera) Upcoming: M. Butterfly (Santa Fe Opera); Seán Curran Company in “Ceili” (Irish Arts Center, New York)

MARK DIAMOND Baritone (Waco, Texas)

Samuel, The Pirates of Penzance*

Elsewhere: Aeneas, Dido and Aeneas (Ars Lyrica Houston); Marcello, La Bohème (Houston Grand Opera); Figaro, The Barber of Seville (Opéra de Reims, Théâtre de Caen, Opéra de Limoges); Soloist, Handel’s Messiah (Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra) Upcoming: Anthony Hope, Sweeney Todd (Austin Opera)

JESSICA DRAYTON Projection Designer (Powder Springs, Georgia) Fierce*

Elsewhere: Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom (Cincinnati Shakespeare Company); Viva Diva! (Dallas Opera); Eugene Onegin (Dallas Symphony Orchestra) Upcoming: Lighting designer, Broadway Dallas High School Musical Theatre Awards; Lighting designer, Young Frankenstein (Circle Theater)

THOMAS DREEZE Baritone (Toledo, Ohio) Benoit/Alcindoro, La Bohème

Cincinnati: El Dancaïro, Carmen (2021); Count Capulet, Romeo and Juliet (2019); Frank, Die Fledermaus (2016) Elsewhere: Soloist, Brahms’s Ein Deutsches Requiem (Hilton Head Symphony); Doctor, Pelléas et Mélisande (Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra) Upcoming: Soloist, Stanbery’s The Golden Door (Carnegie Hall)

DICKY DUTTON Baritone (Wellsville, New York) Custom-House Officer, La Bohème*

Elsewhere: JJ, A Halloween Tree workshop (American Lyric Theater); Composer and performance artist, Vexations in Time (The Why Collective, Nancy Manocherian’s the cell theatre); Performance artist, Before Body Meets Earth (Aural Compass Projects) Upcoming: Soloist, Bach’s Easter Oratorio (Philadelphia Choral Arts Society)

VICTORIA ELLINGTON Soprano (Washington, D.C.) Nyomi, Fierce*

Cincinnati: Soloist, Opera in the Park (2021) Elsewhere: Leontine, L’Amant Anonyme (UC College-Conservatory of Music); Rachel, Harriet Tubman (Cleveland Opera Theatre) Upcoming: Pamina, The Magic Flute (Cincinnati Opera and Madcap Puppets)

ALAIN GAUTHIER

La Bohème

Stage Director (Montreal, Quebec)

Cincinnati: Pagliacci (2012); Gianni Schicchi (2012); Così Fan Tutte (2007); L’Étoile (2006) Elsewhere: La Traviata (Calgary Opera); The Elixir of Love (Opéra de Québec); Written on Skin (Opéra de Montréal) Upcoming: La veuve joyeuse (Festival d’Opéra de Québec); L’Étoile (Jacobs School of Music, Indiana University)

JAMES GEIER Wig & Makeup Designer (Cincinnati, Ohio) Resident Wig & Makeup Designer

Cincinnati: 2004–2021 seasons Elsewhere: Pittsburgh Opera, 2003–2021 seasons; The Nutcracker (Cincinnati Ballet) Upcoming: Pittsburgh Opera, 2022–2023 season; The Nutcracker (Cincinnati Ballet)

MARK GIBSON Conductor (Cincinnati,

La Bohème

Ohio)

Cincinnati: Fellow Travelers (2016) Elsewhere: West Side Story (China National Opera); A New Yorker’s Broadway Valentine (Guangzhou Symphony Orchestra); Salome (UC College-Conservatory of Music) Upcoming: Carmen (Miami Music Festival), Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 & Das Lied von der Erde (UC College-Conservatory of Music)

MEGAN GRAVES Mezzo-soprano (Fort Worth, Texas) Rumer, Fierce*

Elsewhere: Second Witch, Dido and Aeneas (Palm Beach Opera); Chorus (Den Norske Opera & Ballet)

RACHEL ELIZA GRIFFITHS Image Designer (New York, New York) Castor and Patience*

Recent Work: Seeing the Body (W.W. Norton & Company; Winner, 2021 Hurston/Wright Foundation Legacy Award in Poetry, 2021 Paterson Poetry Prize; Nominee, 2020 NAACP Image Award) Upcoming: Promise (Random House)

THOMAS C. HASE Lighting Designer (Madison,

Resident Lighting Designer & Lighting Director

Wisconsin)

Cincinnati: 1997–2021 seasons Elsewhere: The Demon (Opéra National de Bordeaux, Gran Teatre de Liceu); Ariadne auf Naxos (Santa Fe Opera); Romeo and Juliet (Houston Grand Opera); Alcina (Opera North) Upcoming: The Elixir of Love (Seattle Opera); Suor Angelica/Gianni Schicchi (San Diego Opera)

GORDON HAWKINS Baritone (Washington, D.C.)

Amonasro, Aida

Cincinnati: Scarpia, Tosca (2016); Amonasro, Aida (2013); Crown, Porgy and Bess (2012) Elsewhere: Rigoletto, Rigoletto (Deutsche Oper am Rhein); Alberich, Götterdämmerung (Washington National Opera); Nabucco, Nabucco (Seattle Opera) Upcoming: Featured artist, Proximity (Lyric Opera of Chicago)

EARL HAZELL Bass (New York, New York)

Second Man/Man 2/Ensemble, Castor and Patience*

Elsewhere: Nelson, Porgy and Bess (Lyric Opera of Chicago); Speaker, The Magic Flute (Tulsa Opera); Talpa, Il Tabarro (Utah Festival Opera); Old Gypsy, Il Trovatore (Arizona Opera); Jim, Porgy and Bess (San Francisco Opera) Upcoming: Bartolo, The Marriage of Figaro (Birmingham Opera)

CHRISTINA HAZEN Mezzo-soprano (Cincinnati, Ohio)

Isabel, The Pirates of Penzance*

Elsewhere: Cherubino, The Marriage of Figaro (UC College-Conservatory of Music); Soloist, Handel’s Messiah (Dayton Opera); Flora Bervoix, La Traviata (Dayton Opera) Upcoming: Goffredo, Rinaldo & Zerlina cover, Don Giovanni (Minnesota Opera)

WENDY HILL Soprano (Racine, Wisconsin)

Ms. Lee-Adler/Troll 4/Mary, Fierce

Cincinnati: Berta, The Barber of Seville (2021); Marcellina, The Marriage of Figaro (2019) Elsewhere: Woglinde, Götterdämmerung & Waldvogel, Siegfried (Seattle Opera); Constance Fletcher, The Mother of Us All (San Francisco Opera)

JESSICA JAHN Costume Designer (New York, New York) Castor and Patience*

Elsewhere: Fidelio (San Francisco Opera); Blue (Glimmerglass Festival); The Snowy Day (Houston Grand Opera) Upcoming: Orpheus and Eurydice (San Francisco Opera); West Side Story (Lyric Opera of Chicago)

ZACHARY JAMES Bass (Spring Hill, Florida) Pirate King, The Pirates of Penzance*

Elsewhere: Amenhotep, Akhnaten (The Metropolitan Opera); Sweeney Todd, Sweeney Todd (Opera Omaha); Don Quixote, Man of La Mancha (Opera Saratoga) Upcoming: Sciarrone, Tosca (LA Opera); Lucius, Edward Tulane (Minnesota Opera); Amenhotep, Akhnaten (English National Opera)

M. ANDREW JONES Tenor (Moline, Illinois)

Troll 1/John, Fierce

Cincinnati: Messenger, Aida (2013); Innkeeper, Der Rosenkavalier (2013) Elsewhere: Mime, Siegfried; Max, Der Freischütz; Jaquino, Fidelio (Queen City Opera); Don José, Carmen (UC College-Conservatory of Music)

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GREGORY KUNDE Tenor (Kankakee, Illinois) Radamès, Aida

Cincinnati: Alfredo, La Traviata (1989) Elsewhere: Otello, Otello (Teatro Comunale di Bologna, Bayerische Staatsoper); Calàf, Turandot (Staatsoper Hamburg); Manrico, Il Trovatore (Glimmerglass Festival) Upcoming: Calàf, Turandot (Arena di Verona); Don Alvaro, La Forza del Destino (Teatro Regio di Parma); Cavaradossi, Tosca (LA Opera)

OLIVIER LANDREVILLE Scenic & Costume Designer (Montreal, Quebec) La Bohème

Cincinnati: Pagliacci/Gianni Schicchi (2012) Elsewhere: Gianni Schicchi & Faust (Opéra de Montréal) Upcoming: Carmen (Pacific Opera Victoria)

CRYSTAL MANICH

Aida*

Stage Director (Boquerón, Puerto Rico)

Elsewhere: The Copper Queen film (Arizona Opera); West Side Story (Opera San José); Southern Crossings (Barnard College)

TH ER.

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LAUREN MCALLISTER Mezzo-soprano (Cincinnati, Ohio) Vesta, Fierce*

Elsewhere: Lazuli, L’Étoile (Sin City Opera); Melanto, Il Ritorno d’Ulisse in Patria (Opéra Louisiane); Cherubino, The Marriage of Figaro (Opera Saratoga) Upcoming: Performances with Avivimus Vocal Duo and Seven Hills Baroque

RANDELL MCGEE Baritone (St. Louis, Missouri) Sergeant, La Bohème*

Elsewhere: Colline, La Bohème (Winter Opera Saint Louis); Sergeant, La Bohème (Union Avenue Opera); Adult James, Fire Shut Up in My Bones & Usher, Rigoletto (Opera Theatre of Saint Louis)

RAVEN MCMILLON Soprano (Baltimore, Maryland) Musetta, La Bohème & Ruthie, Castor and Patience

Cincinnati: Frasquita, Carmen (2021) Elsewhere: Gilda, Rigoletto (Opera Philadelphia); Pamina, The Magic Flute (Des Moines Metro Opera); Peter, The Snowy Day & Gretel, Hansel and Gretel (Houston Grand Opera) Upcoming: Johanna, Sweeney Todd (Austin Opera)

WILLIAM MENEFIELD Composer (Iowa City, Iowa) Fierce*

Elsewhere: Prism (Carnegie Hall); A Joyful Noise (University of Iowa School of Music); Feelin’ Good (Seasongood Pavilion) Upcoming: Pianist, Mark Lomax Quartet (National Underground Railroad Freedom Center, Taft Museum of Art)

D. LYNN

Fierce*

MEYERS

Stage Director (Cincinnati, Ohio)

Elsewhere: Producing Artistic Director, Tiny Beautiful Things, Cinderella (Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati); Playwright, Keeper of the Realm (The Carnegie); Casting director, Carol, Miles Ahead, Shirley, Bones and All

AMBER R. MONROE Soprano (Youngstown, Ohio)

Clarissa/Ensemble, Castor and Patience*

Elsewhere: Donna Elvira, Don Giovanni (Opera Columbus); Countess Almaviva (Kentucky Opera); Nedda, Pagliacci (El Paso Opera); Rooster/Jay, The Cunning Little Vixen (Glimmerglass Festival) Upcoming: Inez, Il Trovatore; Isabel, The Passion of Mary Cardwell Dawson; Mimì cover, La Bohème (Washington National Opera)

MARLEN NAHHAS Soprano (Houston, Texas) Edith, The Pirates of Penzance*

Elsewhere: Mimì, La Bohème & Cristina Kahlo, Frida (Detroit Opera); Musetta, La Bohème: Rodolfo Remembers (Virginia Opera); Gretel, Hansel and Gretel (Opera Ithaca)

KEVIN NEWBURY Stage Director (Auburn, Maine) Castor and Patience

Cincinnati: Fellow Travelers (2016) Elsewhere: La Favorite (Houston Grand Opera); Faust (Lyric Opera of Chicago); The (R)evolution of Steve Jobs (Santa Fe Opera, Seattle Opera) Upcoming: The Fall of the House of Usher (OrpheusPDX)

VICTORIA OKAFOR Soprano (Hyattsville , Maryland) Wilhelmina, Castor and Patience

Cincinnati: Barbarina, The Marriage of Figaro & Alesha, Blind Injustice (2019) Elsewhere: Miss Lightfoot, Fellow Travelers & Flora, La Traviata (Opera Columbus); Laura Brown cover, The Hours (Philadelphia Orchestra) Upcoming: Mahler’s Symphony No. 4 (Cincinnati Chamber Orchestra)

MICHAEL PAPPALARDO Choreographer (Melbourne, Victoria, Australia) Aida*

Elsewhere: West Side Story & Dido and Aeneas (Opera San José); Carmen & Romeo and Juliet (Melbourne City Ballet) Upcoming: 1984 & The Wonderful Wizard of Oz (Canyon Concert Ballet)

JI-MIN PARK Tenor (Seoul, South Korea) Rodolfo, La Bohème

Cincinnati: Alfredo, La Traviata (2019); Ernesto, Don Pasquale (2015) Elsewhere: Rodolfo, La Bohème (Opera Australia); Alfredo, La Traviata (Teatro La Fenice); Nemorino, The Elixir of Love (Atlanta Opera) Upcoming: Alfredo, La Traviata (Opera Australia)

RODION POGOSSOV Baritone (Cincinnati, Ohio) Marcello, La Bohème

Cincinnati: Papageno, The Magic Flute & Marcello, La Bohème (2017) Elsewhere: Dandini, La Cenerentola (LA Opera); Papageno, The Magic Flute (The Metropolitan Opera)

Upcoming: Jaroslav Prus, The Makropulos Case (Malmö Opera); Belcore, The Elixir of Love (Seattle Opera); Melitone, La Forza del Destino (Royal Opera House)

ZOIE REAMS Mezzo-soprano (Chicago, Illinois) Jane/Watch Night Leader/Woman/Ensemble, Castor and Patience*

Elsewhere: Carmen, Carmen (Minnesota Opera); Lily, Porgy and Bess (The Metropolitan Opera) Upcoming: Ragonde, Le Comte Ory & Featured artist, Proximity (Lyric Opera of Chicago); Beggar Woman, Sweeney Todd (Austin Opera)

SAMANTHA RENO Production Designer

Fierce*

(Cincinnati, Ohio)

Elsewhere: Resident Scenic Designer (Cincinnati Shakespeare Company, B Street Theatre); Guest artist and lecturer, Peter and the Starcatcher & Flora the Red Menace (University of California, Davis) Upcoming: Twelfth Night; The Living Dead; The Rewards of Being Frank (Cincinnati Shakespeare Company)

VICTOR RYAN

ROBERTSON Tenor (Atlanta, Georgia) Nestor/Third Man/Man 3/Ensemble, Castor and Patience

Cincinnati: El Remendado, Carmen (2021) Elsewhere: Elijah & Street, X: The Life and Times of Malcolm X (Detroit Opera); Raymond Santana, The Central Park Five (Portland Opera); Alfredo, La Traviata (Opera Orlando) Upcoming: Elijah & Street, X: The Life and Times of Malcolm X (Opera Omaha); Sportin’ Life, Porgy and Bess (Opera Carolina)

MORRIS ROBINSON Bass (Atlanta, Georgia)

Ramfis, Aida

Cincinnati: Porgy, Porgy and Bess (2019); Ferrando, Il Trovatore (2015) Elsewhere: Sarastro, The Magic Flute (The Metropolitan Opera); Ramfis, Aida (LA Opera); Hagen, Twilight: Gods (Lyric Opera of Chicago, Detroit Opera) Upcoming: Lodovico, Otello (LA Opera); König Marke, Tristan und Isolde (Seattle Opera)

JAMES SCHUETTE Scenic & Costume Designer

(Manitowoc, Wisconsin) The Pirates of Penzance

Cincinnati: Nixon in China (2007); Carmen (2004) Elsewhere: Harvey Milk (Opera Theatre of Saint Louis); Tristan und Isolde (Croatian National Opera); Alcina (Washington National Opera) Upcoming: M. Butterfly (Santa Fe Opera)

REGINALD SMITH JR. Baritone (Atlanta, Georgia)

Castor, Castor and Patience

Cincinnati: Bartolo, The Barber of Seville (2021); Jake, Porgy and Bess (2019); Lawyer Frazier, Porgy and Bess (2012) Elsewhere: Uncle Paul, Fire Shut Up in My Bones (Lyric Opera of Chicago); Don Alfonso, Così Fan Tutte (San Diego Opera) Upcoming: Pascoe, The Wreckers (Houston Grand Opera); The Reverend, Blue (Washington National Opera)

SAMUEL SMITH Bass (Cincinnati, Ohio) Sergeant of Police, The Pirates of Penzance

Cincinnati: Sacristan, Tosca (2021); Antonio, The Marriage of Figaro (2019); Giuseppe, La Traviata (2018); Sciarrone, Tosca (2017) Elsewhere: Don Pasquale, Don Pasquale (Anchorage Opera); Don Basilio, The Barber of Seville (Lake George Opera); Leporello, Don Giovanni (Metro Lyric Opera); King, Aida (Palm Beach Opera)

TRACY K. SMITH Librettist (Boston, Massachusetts) Castor and Patience*

Recent Work: Such Color: New and Selected Poems (Graywolf Press); Wade in the Water (Graywolf Press; Anisfield Wolf Book Award); Life on Mars (Graywolf Press; Pulitzer Prize in Poetry)

LAUREN SNOUFFER Soprano (Austin, Texas) Mabel, The Pirates of Penzance*

Elsewhere: Gerda, The Snow Queen (Opéra National du Rhin); Griet, Girl with a Pearl Earring (Opernhaus Zürich); Sister Constance, Dialogues of the Carmelites (Houston Grand Opera) Upcoming: Rosina, The Barber of Seville (Austin Opera); Romilda, Xerxes (Detroit Opera); Pamina, The Magic Flute (Opernhaus Zürich)

GREGORY SPEARS Composer (New York, New York) Castor and Patience

Cincinnati: Fellow Travelers (2016) Elsewhere: Paul’s Case (UrbanArias, Prototype Festival, Pittsburgh Opera); Jason and the Argonauts (Lyric Opera of Chicago); The Tower and the Garden (The Crossing); Love Story (New York Philharmonic) Upcoming: Fellow Travelers (Virginia Opera, Seagle Festival)

MITCHELL STURGES Tenor (Salt Lake City, Utah) Prune Seller, La Bohème*

Elsewhere: Parpignol, La Bohème (Arizona Opera); Soloist, Carmina Burana (Salt Lake Symphonic Choir) Upcoming: Soloist, Bach’s Coffee Cantata (Seven Hills Baroque); Recital, Artist in Residence (Ascension & Holy Trinity Churches)

ALICIA RUSSELL TAGERT

Soprano (Charlotte, North Carolina) Morgan, Fierce*

Elsewhere: Berta, The Barber of Seville (Fargo-Moorhead Opera); Musetta, La Bohème (Toledo Opera); Frasquita, Carmen (Opera Carolina) Upcoming: Susanna, The Marriage of Figaro (Fargo-Moorhead Opera)

MORRIS AND FRIENDS

Wednesday, July 27 • 7:30 p.m. MUSIC HALL

soprano

World-renowned bass and Cincinnati Opera Artistic Advisor Morris Robinson hosts and curates a special, one-night-only concert of opera, gospel, and musical theater. Featuring outstanding soloists, an HBCU Alumni Choir, and the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra.

Will Liverman baritone

Vaughn mezzo-soprano

BENJAMIN TAYLOR Baritone (Baltimore, Maryland) West, Castor and Patience*

Elsewhere: Chester, Fire Shut Up in My Bones (The Metropolitan Opera); Papageno, The Magic Flute (Pittsburgh Opera); Schaunard, La Bohème (Detroit Opera) Upcoming: Schaunard, La Bohème (Opera Philadelphia); Bello, La Fanciulla del West (Bayerische Staatsoper); Thierry, Dialogues of the Carmelites (The Metropolitan Opera)

INDRA THOMAS Soprano (Atlanta, Georgia) Troll 3/Jackie/Margaret, Fierce

Cincinnati: Serena, Porgy and Bess (2019) Elsewhere: Aida, Aida (Staatsoper Hamburg); Serena, Porgy and Bess (Atlanta Opera); Amelia, Un Ballo in Maschera (Wiener Staatsoper); Mrs. Dickson/Ensemble, Intimate Apparel (Lincoln Center Theater) Upcoming: Soloist, Verdi’s Requiem (Jakarta Simfonia Orchestra)

TALISE TREVIGNE

Soprano (Atlanta, Georgia) Mimì, La Bohème & Patience, Castor and

Patience

Cincinnati: Bess, Porgy and Bess (2019) Elsewhere: Cio-Cio-San, Madame Butterfly (North Carolina Opera, Theater Basel); Violetta, La Traviata (Calgary Opera); Nedda, Pagliacci (Atlanta Opera) Upcoming: Marguerite, Faust (Detroit Opera); Featured artist, Proximity (Lyric Opera of Chicago)

S. KATY TUCKER Projection Designer (New York, New York) Castor and Patience

Cincinnati: The Flying Dutchman (2018) Elsewhere: Eurydice (The Metropolitan Opera); Florencia en el Amazonas (Lyric Opera of Chicago); Orpheus and Eurydice (Seattle Opera) Upcoming: Medea (The Metropolitan Opera); Elektra (Washington National Opera)

HOUSTON TYRRELL Tenor (Louisville, Kentucky) Parpignol, La Bohème* & Messenger, Aida

Elsewhere: Rodolfo, La Bohème; Judge Danforth, The Crucible; Rinuccio, Gianni Schicchi (University of Kentucky Opera Theatre) Upcoming: Tamino, The Magic Flute (University of Kentucky Opera Theatre)

VITA TZYKUN Scenic Designer (Odessa, Ukraine) Castor and Patience

Cincinnati: Fellow Travelers (2016) Elsewhere: La Favorite (Houston Grand Opera); The Passenger (Bolshoi Theater); Faust (Lyric Opera of Chicago) Upcoming: Edward Tulane (Minnesota Opera); The (R)evolution of Steve Jobs (San Francisco Opera)

TICHINA VAUGHN Mezzo-soprano (Winston-Salem, North Carolina) Amneris, Aida*

Elsewhere: Emelda, Champion (Boston Lyric Opera); Maria, Porgy and Bess (The Metropolitan Opera, Theater an der Wien); Fortune Teller, The Fiery Angel (Theater an der Wien) Upcoming: Mary, The Flying Dutchman (Utah Opera); Maria, Porgy and Bess (NDR Elbphilharmonie); Amneris, Aida (Fort Worth Opera)

HENRI VENANZI Chorus Master

(Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania) Resident Chorus Master

Cincinnati: Assistant Chorus Master, 1980–1986 seasons; Chorus Master, 1994–2021 seasons Elsewhere: Recital accompanist for Martina Arroyo, Kathleen Battle, Sondra Radvanovsky, Jerry Hadley; U.S. Artist in Residence (Xi’an, China); Guest opera conductor (University of Alabama Opera Theatre)

ETHAN VINCENT Baritone (Kansas City, Missouri) Schaunard, La Bohème*

Elsewhere: Riolobo, Florencia en el Amazonas (Lyric Opera of Chicago); Captain, Eugene Onegin (Santa Fe Opera); Jauno, West Side Story (Philadelphia Orchestra) Upcoming: Billy Bigelow, Carousel (Indianapolis Opera); Soloist, Carmina Burana (Opera Philadelphia); Soloist, The Bells & Duke, The Miserly Knight (Bard SummerScape)

AMBER WAGNER Soprano (Santa Barbara, California) Ruth, The Pirates of Penzance*

Elsewhere: Turandot, Turandot (Deutsche Oper Berlin, Opera Australia, Lyric Opera of Chicago); Senta, The Flying Dutchman & Giorgetta, Il Tabarro (The Metropolitan Opera); Sieglinde, Die Walküre (Edinburgh International Festival)

JASMIN WHITE Mezzo-soprano (Grand Ronde, Oregon) Kate, The Pirates of Penzance*

Elsewhere: Frau Reich, The Merry Wives of Windsor; Disinganno, Il Trionfo del Tempo e del Disinganno; Soloist, Pulcinella (The Juilliard School) Upcoming: Dryade, Ariadne auf Naxos (Lake Area Music Festival)

MARY ELIZABETH WILLIAMS Soprano (Milan, Italy) Aida, Aida*

Elsewhere: Amelia, Un Ballo in Maschera (Welsh National Opera); Judith, Bluebeard’s Castle (Teatro Pergolesi Jesi, Teatro Coccia Novara ); Elisabetta, Don Carlos (Opera Ballet Vlaanderen) Upcoming: Serena, Porgy and Bess (NDR Elbphilharmonie); Isolde, Tristan und Isolde (Seattle Opera, Opéra National de Paris)

SHEILA WILLIAMS Librettist (Newport, Kentucky) Fierce*

Recent Work: Things Past Telling & The Secret Women (Amistad/HarperCollins), Dancing on the Edge of the Roof (Ballantine/OneWorld—Random House)

JOSEPH YOUNG Conductor (Baltimore, Maryland) Fierce*

Elsewhere: Music Director (Berkeley Symphony); Artistic Director of Ensembles (Peabody Conservatory); Resident Conductor (National Youth Orchestra–USA at Carnegie Hall); Pride and Prejudice & Il Trittico (Peabody Opera Theatre)

CINCINNATI SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA

Violins I

Stefani Matsuo Charles Morey Philip Marten Eric Bates

Kathryn Woolley Anna Reider Mauricio Aguiar Minyoung Baik James Braid Michelle Edgar Dugan Rebecca Kruger Fryxell Gerald Itzkoff Lois Reid Johnson Sylvia Mitchell Luo-Jia Wu

Violins II

Gabriel Pegis Yang Liu Scott Mozlin Kun Dong Cheryl Benedict Evin Blomberg Rachel Charbel Elizabeth Furuta Chika Kinderman Hyesun Park Paul Patterson Stacey Woolley

Violas Christian Colberg Paul Frankenfeld Julian Wilkison Rebecca Barnes Christopher Fischer Stephen Fryxell Caterina Longhi Denisse Rodriguez-Rivera Joanne Wojtowicz

Cellos Ilya Finkelshteyn Daniel Culnan Norman Johns Matthew Lad Susan MarshallPetersen Hiro Matsuo Theodore Nelson Alan Rafferty

Basses Owen Lee James Lambert Matthew Zory Jr. Boris Astafiev Ronald Bozicevich Rick Vizachero

Harp Gillian Benet Sella

Flutes Randolph Bowman Henrik Heide Haley Bangs

Oboes Dwight Parry Lon Bussell Emily Beare

English Horn Christopher Philpotts

Clarinets Christopher Pell Joseph Morris Ixi Chen

Bass Clarinet Ronald Aufmann

Bassoons Christopher Sales Martin Garcia Hugh Michie

Contrabassoon Jennifer Monroe

French Horns

Elizabeth Freimuth Molly Norcross Lisa Conway Duane Dugger Charles Bell

Trumpets Robert Sullivan Douglas Lindsay Steven Pride Christopher Kiradjieff Trombones Cristian Ganicenco Joseph Rodriguez

Bass Trombone Peter Norton Tuba Christopher Olka Timpani Patrick Schleker Michael Culligan Percussion David Fishlock Michael Culligan Marc Wolfley

Keyboards Michael Chertock Julie Spangler

CSO/CCM

Diversity Fellows Maalik Glover, violin Mwakudua waNgure, violin Tyler McKisson, viola Javier Otalora, viola Max OppeltzCarroz, cello Luis Parra, cello Samantha Powell, cello

Luis Celis Avila, bass Amy Nickler, bass

Librarians Christina Eaton Elizabeth Dunning Adam Paxson

Stage Managers

Brian P. Schott Phillip T. Sheridan Daniel Schultz Andrew Sheridan

CINCINNATI OPERA CHORUS

Erin Alcorn

Tyler Alessi

Manfred Anaya

Avery Bargasse

James Henry Benson Joy Burdette

Tony Burdette

Jaeyoon Choi

Antonio Cruz Alexis Davis Hazell

Dicky Dutton

Victoria Ellington

Zach Fitzgerald

Erica Gabriel Emily Garcia

Megan Graves Stephen Hanna Christina Hazen Zane Hill

Mark Hockenberry Hyein Hong

Audra House

Mackenzie Jacquemin

Cameron Johnson

M. Andrew Jones

Christina Kerstan Jaclyn Kleier

Tess Klibanoff Rachel Kobernick Jordan Krack

Kayla Kramer Isabel Lee Claire Lopatka John Mburu Randell McGee Kenna McWilliams Stephanie Mikuzis Heidi Miller Erik Nordstrom John Overholt Su Hyeon Park Wagner Pastor Christian Patterson Travis Pearce Atticus Rego

Irene Reising Ashlyn Rock Stacey Sands John Siarris Sam Smith Madeline Stern Mitchell Sturges Pauline Tan Debra Templeman Nathaniel Thompson Houston Tyrrell Schyler Vargas Jacob Zhou Talia Zoll

CINCINNATI YOUTH CHORUS IN LA BOHÈME

Macey Adams

Shika Annamaneni

Margaux Flaig

Mikaela Harris

Molly Harris Malini Hayes

Ella Kim

Victoria Louis

CINCINNATI BALLET DANCERS IN AIDA

Taylor Carrasco

Anderson Dasilva Matthew Griffin

Julia Gundzik

Catherine Lasak Jhaelin McQuay

SUPERNUMERARIES IN LA BOHÈME

Nicholas Belperio Danny Duncan Jay T. Fry

Scott Lincoln Marc Padros Casas

Christopher Martin Carla Pacheco Mabel Smith

Director Cheryl Kim

Katherine Ochoa Samantha Riester Marcus Romeo

Bella Ureta Maizyalet Velazquez Daniel Wagner

David Poling Dave Senske

Spenser Smith Stephen West

MAJOR SEASON SUPPORT

SEASON SUPPORT

SEASON PRESENTING SPONSOR

SEASON SPONSORS

Christopher Milligan, The Harry Fath General Director & CEO Harry Fath

Evans Mirageas, The Harry T. Wilks Artistic Director

The Harry T. Wilks Family Foundation

CO2 Underwriter

Carol Ann and Ralph V. Haile, Jr. Foundation

Opera Fusion: New Works Sponsor Mellon Foundation

Preferred Healthcare Provider University of Cincinnati Medical Center/UC Health

Opening Weekend Sponsor

The Chavez Family, in memory of Geraldine V. Chavez

Opera for All Sponsors

ARP funds from the City of Cincinnati through ArtsWave

Patricia A. Corbett Estate and Trust

Opera in the Park Concert Sponsors

ARP funds from the City of Cincinnati through ArtsWave

Western & Southern Financial Group

Opera Goes to Church Sponsor

Josephine Schell Russell Charitable Trust (PNC Charitable Trusts)

Student Access Sponsor Patricia A. Corbett Estate and Trust

Pride Night Sponsors 1919 Investment Counsel ArtsWave Pride

Cabaret of Hope: Warsaw 1941 Sponsors Eric and Jennifer Dauer

Jewish Federation of Cincinnati Jewish Foundation of Cincinnati Mona and Richard Kerstine, M.D., in memory of Mona’s grandparents

Resident Conductor Stephen Mulligan The John L. Magro Resident Conductor

EDUCATION AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT SPONSORS

ArtsWave

Patricia A. Corbett Estate and Trust

The Charles H. Dater Foundation

David C. Herriman Fund of GCF

Keller Williams Seven Hills

OPERA America

The P&G Fund of GCF PNC

Robert H. Reakirt Foundation (PNC Charitable Trusts) Josephine Schell Russell Charitable Trust (PNC Charitable Trusts) Wohlgemuth Herschede Foundation

ARTISTIC SPONSORS

FIERCE LA BOHÈME

Production Underwriter

Michael L. Cioffi and Rachael A. Rowe

Opening Weekend Sponsor

The Chavez Family, in memory of Geraldine V. Chavez

Performance Sponsors

Johnson Investment Counsel Susan and Joe Pichler

Support for Maestro Mark Gibson Nydia Tranter

Support for Alain Gauthier, Stage Director Jeannine Winkelmann and John Winkelmann, M.D.

The Appearance of Talise Trevigne Mr. and Mrs. Gary T. “Doc” Huffman

The Appearance of Ji-Min Park Irv and Selma Harris

The Appearance of Raven McMillon Dr. Alvin H. and Alva Jean Crawford

The Appearance of Rodion Pogossov In loving memory of Richard Lauf

The Appearance of Ethan Vincent Kathleen Laurin-Martin and Joseph C. Martin

The Appearance of André Courville James Rubenstein and Bernadette Unger

The Appearance of Thomas Dreeze Dr. Walter Bruyninckx and Dr. Anne-Marie B. Blancquaert

The Appearance of Houston Tyrrell Donald E. Hoffman

Production Underwriters

National Endowment for the Arts OPERA America

Additional Support PNC

Robert H. Reakirt Foundation (PNC Charitable Trusts) Wohlgemuth Herschede Foundation

Performance Sponsors

Cincinnati Opera Guild

Patricia A. Corbett Estate and Trust The Fullgraf Foundation

Support for William Menefield, Composer Liz Kathman Grubow and Jerry Kathman

Support for Sheila Williams, Librettist Harry and Ann Santen

Support for D. Lynn Meyers, Stage Director OPERA America

The Appearance of Megan Graves Dr. Jack and Barbara Hahn

The Appearance of Alicia Russell Tagert Dr. Susan R. Strick

The Appearance of Indra Thomas Julie Grady Heard and Benjamin D. Heard

ARTISTIC SPONSORS

THE PIRATES OF PENZANCE

Production Underwriter Ginger and David Warner

Performance Sponsors 1919 Investment Counsel Anonymous Chavez Properties

Support for Maestro David Agler In loving memory of Richard Lauf

Support for Seán Curran, Stage Director & Choreographer Ronna and Dr. James Willis

The Appearance of Patrick Carfizzi Mr. Allen Bernard

The Appearance of Matthew White Sheila and Christopher Cole

The Appearance of Lauren Snouffer Mr. and Mrs. W.M. James

The Appearance of Amber Wagner Linda Siekman

The Appearance of Mark Diamond Ms. Spencer Ingerson

The Appearance of Marlen Nahhas James Stapleton and Dr. Elizabeth Shaughnessy

The Appearance of Jasmin White Dr. and Mrs. William J. Faulkner

CASTOR AND PATIENCE

Production Underwriter David C. Herriman Fund of GCF

CO2 Underwriter Carol Ann and Ralph V. Haile, Jr. Foundation

Additional Support

National Endowment for the Arts Josephine Schell Russell Charitable Trust (PNC Charitable Trusts)

Performance Sponsors

Thomas W. Busse Trust Center Stage Board Associates Flow, an African American Arts Experience presented by ArtsWave Keller Williams Seven Hills The Stephen H. Wilder Foundation

Support for Gregory Spears, Composer National Endowment for the Arts

Support for Tracy K. Smith, Librettist National Endowment for the Arts

Support for Vita Tzykun, Scenic Designer

The Patricia K. Beggs Fund: Championing Women’s Voices

Support for Jessica Jahn, Costume Designer

The Patricia K. Beggs Fund: Championing Women’s Voices

Support for Rachel Eliza Griffiths, Image Designer

The Patricia K. Beggs Fund: Championing Women’s Voices

Support for S. Katy Tucker, Projection Designer

The Patricia K. Beggs Fund: Championing Women’s Voices

Support for Maestro Kazem Abdullah

The John L. Magro Artist Development Fund

Support for Kevin Newbury, Stage Director Anne and Allen Zaring III

ARTISTIC SPONSORS

CASTOR AND PATIENCE

The Appearance of Talise Trevigne Mr. and Mrs. Gary T. “Doc” Huffman

The Appearance of Reginald Smith Jr. Liz Kathman Grubow and Jerry Kathman

The Appearance of Victoria Okafor With gratitude for a beautiful, forever connection— In loving memory of Judith “Gooch” Hiltenbeitel

The Appearance of Frederick Ballentine Dr. Walter Bruyninckx and Dr. Anne-Marie B. Blancquaert

The Appearance of Raven McMillon Dr. Alvin H. and Alva Jean Crawford

The Appearance of Amber Monroe Mrs. Clarissa Rentz

The Appearance of Zoie Reams Melinda and Irwin Simon

The Appearance of Phillip Bullock David L. Martin

The Appearance of Earl Hazell Ms. Lisa Allgood

MORRIS AND FRIENDS

Performance Sponsor

Josephine Schell Russell Charitable Trust (PNC Charitable Trusts)

AIDA

Production Underwriter Larry and Beth Uhlenbrock

Performance Sponsors

Thomas W. Busse Trust Mrs. Beryl Merritt, in memory of Beryl Merritt Edward B. Silberstein, M.D., and Jacqueline M. Mack Society of Angels

Support for Crystal Manich, Stage Director Melanie M. Chavez

The Appearance of Mary Elizabeth Williams Robert and Carol Olson

The Appearance of Tichina Vaughn Dr. and Mrs. Ralph A. Giannella

The Appearance of Gregory Kunde Mr. and Mrs. Robert Bitter

The Appearance of Morris Robinson Dr. James D. Faulkner

The Appearance of Peixin Chen Dr. Stewart and Ellen Dunsker

The Appearance of Houston Tyrrell Donald E. Hoffman

Support for Maestro Kazem Abdullah The John L. Magro Artist Development Fund

The Appearance of Morris Robinson Dr. James D. Faulkner

Sponsoring a season artist provides the opportunity to form a real connection with our artists, beyond seeing them perform onstage. Support from our artist sponsors allows Cincinnati Opera to continue bringing world-class talent to Cincinnati.

If you are interested in sponsoring one of our season artists, please contact Joe Peacock at 513-7685565 or jpeacock@cincinnatiopera.org.

CORPORATE, GOVERNMENT, AND FOUNDATION CONTRIBUTIONS

EXECUTIVE

$50,000+

PRINCIPAL

$25,000+

The Alpaugh Foundation Thomas W. Busse Trust

The Robert H. Reakirt Foundation (PNC Charitable Trusts)

DIRECTOR $12,000+

David C. Herriman Fund of GCF

The Corbett Foundation

The Josephine Schell Russell Charitable Trust (PNC Charitable Trusts)

The Stephen H. Wilder Foundation

AMBASSADOR

$6,000+

The Fullgraf Foundation

OFFICER

$3,500+

Mueller Family Foundation Wohlgemuth Herschede Foundation

SPECIAL PANDEMIC RELIEF FUNDING

ArtsWave

City of Cincinnati

Hamilton County, OH

National Endowment for the Arts

GIFTS-IN-KIND

Aglamesis Bros.

Big Ice

B&A Street Kitchen

Drs. David and Elaine Billmire Brown Bear Bakery

A Catered Affair eat well celebrations and feasts, LLC

FILLO Greek Bake Shop

Karlee Hilliard Kendrick & O’Dell

The Kroger Company LouVino

LPK

ARTSWAVE PARTNERS

Ohio Arts Council

Ohio Department of Development

U.S. Small Business Administration

Passion Growers

Paycor

Richter & Phillips Jewelers

Joe Rigotti/Accent on Cincinnati

Taft’s Ale House

Taste of Belgium

Thunderdome Restaurant Group

The Travel Byrds

University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music Viking Cruises Woodburn Brewing

Cincinnati Opera acknowledges the following Partner Companies, Foundations, and their employees who gen erously participate in the Annual ArtsWave Community Campaign at the $100,000+ level. Your support helps make our community vibrant and connects people across our region through the arts. Thank you!

P&G

Fifth Third Bank and the Fifth Third Foundation

GE Aviation

Cincinnati Bell

Western & Southern Financial Group

Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center

The Cincinnati Insurance Companies

City of Cincinnati

Enquirer Media

Great American Insurance Group

Ohio National Financial Services

U.S. Bank

The H.B., E.W. and F.R. Luther Charitable Foundation, Fifth Third Bank and Narley L. Haley, Co-Trustees Macy’s

Cincinnati Business Courier

The Kroger Co. PNC

The E.W. Scripps Company and Scripps Howard Foundation

Duke Energy HORAN

Cincinnati Reds

NEW CENTURY CAMPAIGN DONORS

The New Century Campaign was launched in order to build capacity for Cincinnati Opera and fund significant projects in four key areas: The Great Works, continuing Cincinnati Opera’s commitment to the masterworks of the operatic canon; The New Works, expanding the canon by creating and presenting new American opera; The Convener in the Community, broadening the company’s reach within the community; and The Beyond, explor ing innovative ways of connecting audiences with opera. We are grateful to these generous donors for their support of this special fundraising effort.

Anonymous

Julie and Khosrow Alamin, M.D. Vicki and Peter Alpaugh Dr. Richard S. Sarason and Anne S. Arenstein

ArtsWave

Boris Auerbach and Kathy Patchel

Ronald T. Bates and Randy Lasley

Christopher and Annie Baucom

Patricia K. and James D. Beggs Drs. Elaine and David Billmire

Dorothy Anne Blatt Drs. Thomas and Barbara Boat

John and Mary Ann Boorn Mary and Joseph Brinkmeyer Dr. Walter Bruyninckx and Dr. Anne-Marie B. Blancquaert Mr. and Mrs. Frederick E. Bryan III

Mr. Otto M. Budig, Jr. A.K. Carey

Chris and Vivienne Carlson

Arthur B. Casper Mr. Andres M. Chavez

Ms. Lydia Chavez Manuel and Cynthia Chavez Manuel Chavez III and MacKenzie Chavez Martin and Kimberly Chavez Melanie M. Chavez

Robert and Debra Chavez Stefanie K. Chavez Ms. Susana Chavez

Jackson Chavez-Campbell

Jefferson Chavez-Campbell

Natalie Chavez-Campbell

Andrea Chavez-Dietz

Salvador Chavez-Holzman

Cincinnati Stage Employees Local No. 5

Cincinnati Theatrical Wardrobe Union Local No. 864

Michael L. Cioffi and Rachael A. Rowe Sheila and Christopher Cole Sally and Michael Connelly

The Corbett Foundation Dr. Peter G. Courlas

Mr. and Mrs. John P. Cover Cathy and Tom Crain Dr. Alvin H. and Alva Jean Crawford Bev and Bob Croskery

Mr. Daniel B. and Dr. Margaret G. Cunningham Ms. Alegra Dauwalter Mrs. Albert C. Dierckes, Jr. Thomas Dreeze and Evans Mirageas Dr. Jocelyn Dunphy Leslie R. Dye, M.D.

The Thomas J. Emery Memorial Jim Evans

Harry and Linda Fath Mrs. William A. Friedlander Estate of Kenneth J. Furrier Lissa Urriquia and Dante Gapultos III Kay and Jack Geiger Dr. and Mrs. Ralph A. Giannella Liz Kathman Grubow and Jerry Kathman Dr. Jack and Barbara Hahn

The Carol Ann and Ralph V. Haile, Jr. Foundation Mrs. Robert J. Hasl Julie Grady Heard and Benjamin D. Heard Karlee L. Hilliard

Ms. Lori Hiltenbeitel

Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Hiltz Mr. Donald E. Hoffman Mr. and Mrs. Gary T. “Doc” Huffman Mr. and Mrs. John G. Humphrey Ms. Susan M. Ingmire and Ms. Lynn Hailey Mr. and Mrs. Thaddeus Jaroszewicz

The John A. Schroth Family Charitable Trust, PNC Bank, Trustee John Stearns Thayer Trust Mona and Richard Kerstine, M.D. Marilyn and Charles Kuntz, M.D. Evelyn and Fred Lang Maestro and Mrs. Louis Langrée Lynn and Don Larson Susan Lauf Margaret LeMasters, M.D. Mr. and Mrs. Rob Levey Adele Lippert Whitney and Phillip Long Joanie Lotts LPK

Macy’s, Inc. Sherie Marek Ms. Aimee Sposito Martini Drs. Neal and Donna Mayerson Kathy and Jon McCann Mrs. William McKim Ms. Julia B. Meister and Michael Schroeder Mellon Foundation Don and Marji Mendelsohn Estate of Mary and William Meyer Jim and Linda Miller Chris and Molly Milligan

Mr. Steven I. Monder

The Music Minions

Mrs. Thomas L. Neyer, Sr. The Louise Dieterle Nippert Trust Robert and Carol Olson Margaret and Tom Osterman Marilyn Z. Ott

Dr. and Mrs. John A. Parlin III Mr. Joe Peacock Rev. Susan Pfeil Joseph A. and Susan Pichler PNC

Beatriz Porras, M.D., and Alvaro Ryes, M.D. Carter F. Randolph, Ph.D. Pamela Spangler Reis and Richard Reis

Dianne and J. David Rosenberg Edward and Nancy Rosenthal Mr. and Mrs. Richard Rosenthal

Moe and Jack Rouse

Mr. and Mrs. Eugene L. Saenger, Jr. Dr. and Mrs. Burton Saidel Harry and Ann Santen Estate of Emalee Schavel

Deborah Schultz

The Louise Taft Semple Foundation

Mr. and Mrs. Steven Shifman Mr. and Mrs. Paul Shortt Cynthia Starr

Dr. Susan R. Strick Mr. and Mrs. William Strubbe Mr. and Mrs. Paul A. Stuhlreyer III Katie and Jeff Syroney Mr. and Mrs. William Taylor Susan and John M. Tew, Jr., M.D. The L&L Nippert Charitable Foundation Janet G. Todd

Catharina Toltzis, Ph.D., and Robert Toltzis, M.D. Sneja H. and Raffi Tomassian Nydia C. Tranter Carol Turni and Stephan Weigle Bobbie Unnewehr

Ellen and Ray van der Horst Sara M. and Michelle Vance Waddell Mr. and Mrs. Jon H. Votel Ginger and David Warner

The Harry T. Wilks Family Foundation Ronna and Dr. James Willis Anne Warrington Wilson Jeannine Winkelmann and John Winkelmann, M.D.

Photo by Philip Groshong

Opera All Around

Throughout the year, Cincinnati Opera might pop up in the most unexpected places--in your neighborhood park, at your church or temple, and even on your street, singing from the back of a pickup truck. We love finding inventive ways to celebrate the diversity of our community while building connections through music. Keep an eye out for a future performance near you! Visit cincinnatiopera.org for a schedule of upcoming community events.

Some

Summer at Summit Cincinnati Opera presented a sold-out, all-outdoor 2021 season at Summit Park in Blue Ash.

Fresh arias Students enjoyed a performance from the Share the Love Truck Tour, featuring soprano Christina Kerstan and pianist Matthew Umphreys.

Fierce voices Young poets, musicians, and photographers who inspired the opera Fierce shared original creations at the I Am Fierce Partner Showcase.

strings attached Cincinnati Opera partnered with Madcap Puppets for a delightful reinvention of The Magic Flute, available for viewing on cincinnatiopera.org.

Photos by Philip Groshong and Spotted Yeti.

Shonita Joshi & Saiyam Kumar in Queen. Photo by Mikki Schaffner.

A Bright Future for New Opera

As opera houses come back to life, the art form is now more vibrant than ever, with an exhilarating variety of new operas making their way to stages across the country.

Many of these projects can trace their journeys back to Cincinnati and the groundbreaking Opera Fusion: New Works program. Founded in 2011 through a generous grant from the Mellon Foun dation, Opera Fusion: New Works is a nationally unique partnership between Cincinnati Opera and the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music (CCM) designed to support the develop ment of new American operas.

Co-directed by Evans Mirageas and CCM Pro fessor Robin Guarino, Opera Fusion: New Works brings composers and librettists together with Cin cinnati Opera and CCM artists and administrators to workshop their operas-in-progress and prepare them for the stage. Along the way, CCM students have the opportunity to be part of the creative pro cess, giving them valuable insight into each opera’s genesis and evolution.

To date, the program has produced workshops for 20 operas, including five that have gone on to premiere at Cincinnati Opera: Morning Star (2015),

Fellow Travelers (2016), Blind Injustice (2019), and this summer’s Fierce and Castor and Patience. Others have been produced at prominent opera compa nies across the country, including Opera Theatre of Saint Louis, Minnesota Opera, Houston Grand Opera, and The Metropolitan Opera, to name just a few.

The program’s success shows no signs of slowing. Earlier this year, the Mellon Foundation awarded Cincinnati Opera a $1.3 million grant, a portion of which will support the continuation of Opera Fusion: New Works for an additional three years.

The gift will also support a new artistic initia tive by Cincinnati Opera to commission three new operas by composers and librettists of color, with a primary focus on celebrating Black stories. The first of these is scheduled to premiere during the company’s 2025 Summer Festival and will re ceive a workshop through the Opera Fusion: New Works program. (Details to come soon.)

The takeaway? The future of opera is bright in deed. We invite you to watch this space for more exciting creative developments ahead.

CORBETT OPERA FUSION AND OPERA FUSION: NEW WORKS PARTICIPANTS

Kendra

Beasley

Victoria Ellington

Lucy Evans

Tanya Harris

Tyler Johnson

Nicholas Kelliher

William R. Langley

Jordan Loyd

Emma Marhefka

Ariana Maubach

John Mburu

Erik Nordstrom

Victoria Okafor

Atticus Rego

Ashlyn Rock

Jaime Sharp

Madison Stone

Logan Wagner

IN 2019, ARTISTS GATHERED AT MUSIC HALL’S WILKS STUDIO to workshop the opera-in-progress Castor and Patience as part of the Opera Fusion: New Works program. Photo by Philip Groshong.

Arieh Sacke

These outstanding young artists from the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music participated in Cincinnati Opera and CCM’s Corbett Opera Fusion and Opera Fusion: New Works projects during 2021–2022.

INDIVIDUAL AND FOUNDATION CONTRIBUTIONS

Anonymous (7)

Marina Abanto

Mrs. Christine O. Adams

Julie and Khosrow Alamin, M.D. Ms. Raye Allen

Ms. Lisa Allgood

The Alpaugh Foundation, Vicki and Peter Alpaugh

Katherine and Christopher Anderson Frank and Janet Andress

Family Fund

Mr. and Mrs. Louis A. Andrews, Jr. Vic and Dolores Angel

Mr. Gary J. Anglin

Dr. Richard S. Sarason and Anne S. Arenstein

Dr. and Mrs. William Aronstein

Boris Auerbach and Kathy Patchel

Ms. Patricia Baas Lorraine Bachand

Mr. and Mrs. Allan J. Bailey

Mr. and Mrs. Todd Bailey Gay Bain

Frances and Tom Bankston Katherine L. Baquerizo Nole Barbara and Dale Bardes D’Ellen Bardes

Ms. Henrietta Barlag Mrs. Mary Baskett

Flávia Bastos, Ph.D., and Larry Huston

Ronald T. Bates and Randy Lasley Blair Battistini

Christopher and Annie Baucom

Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Baumann Mr. Donald Beck and Lawrence E. Eynon, M.D. Clark Becker

Ms. Lorraine Becker

Patricia K. and James D. Beggs

Jennifer and Adam Bellin

Benevity Community Impact Fund

Mr. Ryan Bergstrom

Mr. Allen Bernard

Glenda and Malcolm Bernstein

Drs. Elaine and David Billmire

Mr. and Mrs. Robert Bitter

Dorothy Anne Blatt

Drs. Thomas and Barbara Boat

Marlene and Robert Boden

Sandra C. Bolek

Mr. Stephen Bondurant

John and Mary Ann Boorn

Mr. Gary Booth Mr. Neil Bortz

Mr. David Brashear Lois and Joseph Brenner Charlin and Peter Briggs Mary and Joseph Brinkmeyer Ms. Betsi Brockmeier

Ms. Kate Brockmeier and Mr. Steve Schofield

Mark Haggard and Daniel Brown

Mr. and Mrs. Douglas J. Bruestle Dr. Walter Bruyninckx and Dr. Anne-Marie B. Blancquaert Mr. Otto M. Budig, Jr. Mr. and Mrs. John Buescher Building Healthy Lives Foundation Business Information Solutions, Inc. Ms. Angie Butterbaugh Ms. Deborah Campbell Mr. and Mrs. Christopher J. Canarie Doreen Canton

Chris and Vivienne Carlson Shannon and Lee Carter Arthur B. Casper

Ms. Miriam Charles Mrs. Carole Charleville Martin and Kimberly Chavez Melanie M. Chavez Mr. and Mrs. Paul Chellgren

Candace Cioffi Michael L. Cioffi and Rachael A. Rowe Susan and A. Burton Closson, Jr. Penny P. Cobey Carol Cole Sheila and Christopher Cole Dr. George I. Colombel Sally and Michael Connelly Mr. and Mrs. David W. Cook Mr. Randy Cook Dr. Thomas Cook Dr. Peter G. Courlas Mr. and Mrs. John P. Cover Cathy and Tom Crain Dr. Alvin H. and Alva Jean Crawford Mr. Daniel B. and Dr. Margaret G. Cunningham

The Charles H. Dater Foundation Eric and Jennifer Dauer Mr. Louis M. Dauner

Amber David Mrs. Thomas E. Davidson Kristy Davis and Mitchell Mustain Michael and Leah Dean Dr. George S. Deepe

Contributions from May 1, 2021 to April 18, 2022

Stephen and Cynthia DeHoff Dr. and Mrs. J. Randall Dennison Ms. Jill Dew Mrs. Albert C. Dierckes, Jr. Mrs. Vivian Dobur Ms. Joanna Doerner Dr. and Mrs. Alexander Donath Mr. and Mrs. Thomas F. Donohue Dr. Samuel N. Dorf and Dr. Maria Kisel

Ms. Sharon Downing Mr. Thaddeus and Dr. Kate Driscoll Olga Duarte, M.D., and Garth Stevens, Jr., M.D. Ms. Lisa Dunlap Dr. Stewart and Ellen Dunsker Mr. and Mrs. Richard Dyson John G. Earls Mr. Robert G. Edmiston Mr. and Mrs. Alan Eichner Ann Ellison Harry and Linda Fath Dr. James D. Faulkner Ms. Alice Fegelman and Dr. Leo H. Munick Mr. Carl R. Fiora

Mr. and Mrs. James T. Fitzgerald Allyson Fleischer Mr. and Mrs. Ashley L. Ford Lyla Forlani Mr. Charles Frank Dr. and Mrs. Harry F. Fry The Fullgraf Foundation Mrs. Janelle Gelfand Dr. Sheila C. Gelman and Dr. David Greenblatt Dr. and Mrs. Ralph A. Giannella Dr. and Mrs. Richard W. Goetz Judge Robert H. Gorman Mr. and Mrs. Karl Graham Mary Ellen and Peter Graham Liz Kathman Grubow and Jerry Kathman

The Gumbleton Family Renée Gustin

Mr. John A. Hadley Ms. Lisa Haglund Mr. and Mrs. Philip H. Hagner Dr. Jack and Barbara Hahn Selma and Irving Harris Mr. Jeff Harris Chuck and Mary Harris Mrs. Barbara Harshman Emma Hartkemeier Dr. and Mrs. Martin W. Haskell Mrs. Robert J. Hasl

Cincinnati Opera acknowledges with deep appreciation the leadership and generosity of the many individuals and family foundations who have supported the company with contributions to the 2022 Annual Fund.

INDIVIDUAL AND FOUNDATION CONTRIBUTIONS

Julie Grady Heard and Benjamin D. Heard

Mrs. Anne P. Heldman

Ms. Catherine Herring

David C. Herriman Fund of GCF

Mr. Roger D. Hickman

Karlee L. Hilliard Ms. Lori Hiltenbeitel

Hixson Architecture Engineering Interiors

Ms. Emily M. Hodges and Mr. Charles H. Spencer Mr. Donald E. Hoffman

Ammon Hollister

Linda Holthaus and Richard Zinicola

Mr. Paul Horn

Mr. and Mrs. Gary T. “Doc” Huffman

Mr. and Mrs. Matthew W. Hughes

Barbara Hummel, M.Ed.

Drs. Lesley Gilbertson and William Hurford

Doug Ignatius and Bruce Preston Ms. Spencer Ingerson Amy and Jason Jackman Mrs. Doris Jackson

Mr. and Mrs. Thaddeus Jaroszewicz Jewish Federation of Cincinnati Jewish Foundation of Cincinnati

Mr. and Mrs. Randy Johnson Ms. Brenda Jones Kevin Jones

Mr. K. S. Kant

Rabbi Kenneth A. Kanter

Drs. Marcia Kaplan and Michael Privitera

Dr. James Kaya and Ms. Debra Gräuel

Ms. Misty Keeton

Mr. and Mrs. Lorrence T. Kellar

Ms. Arleene Keller

Hans and Susanne Keller

Ms. Melinda Kelley

Mr. Arthur Kerr, Jr. Mona and Richard Kerstine, M.D.

Mr. and Mrs. Timothy Kessler Sid Khosla, M.D. Mr. Ingo Kiesewetter

Pamela and Timothy Kimmel Mr. and Mrs. Brian Kincaid

Judith Colemon Kinebrew Bo-Kyung and Kevin Kirby

Ms. Julie M. Kline

Lucy Hodgson and Peter Koenig Sandra Kohn

Renu Kotwal, M.D., and Rajbir Minhas, M.D. Mel and John Kuempel Anne Kunkel

Mr. Bruce A. Lafferre Mr. and Mrs. Greg LaLonde Betsy and John LaMacchia LaMacchia Family Foundation

Jeff Landen and Family Evelyn and Fred Lang Katie and Joseph Lanni Nanci Wilks Lanni and Nick Lanni

Patricia Larsen Lynn and Don Larson Jim and Julie Laskey

Susan Lauf

Kathleen Laurin-Martin and Joseph C. Martin

Takeitha and Shannon Lawson Ms. Sooncha Lee Ms. Kristan Lenning Mr. and Mrs. Rob Levey Beth and Peter Levin Maxine F. Lewis

Ms. Sarah C. Leyshock

Janice Liebenberg and Andy Holzhauser

Elizabeth Lilly Dr. and Dr. Lynn Lin Carol and Mitchel Livingston, Ph.D. Whitney and Phillip Long Al and Mary J. López Ms. Lupe Lopez Ms. Diana Lovelace Alek Lucke

Mr. and Mrs. David C. Lundgren Rev. and Mrs. Damon Lynch, Jr. Rick Maddux

Jenny Magro

Mandare Foundation Dr. Linn Mangano Ms. Kathy Mank Sherie Marek

Alan L. Margulies and Gale D. Snoddy Peggy Ann Markstein

Candyse L. Jeffries, D.M.D., and Michael A. Marrero

David L. Martin

Raymond and Madelynn Matlock Ms. Keva Matovina Mr. Karl Mattox Ms. Taylor McCallum Ms. Lindsay McCarren Dr. Janet P. McDaniel

Michael L. McKay Ms. Melinda McKee Mrs. William McKim

Contributions from May 1, 2021 to April 18, 2022

Mr. and Mrs. Kyle McLaughlin Ms. Julia B. Meister and Michael Schroeder Don and Marji Mendelsohn Mr. H. Gregory Mermel Mrs. Beryl Merritt Ryan L. Messer and James A. Musuraca-Messer Dr. Robert Miday and Dr. Karen Miday Mr. Ronald L. Miller Chris and Molly Milligan Dr. Stanley Milstein Mr. Steven I. Monder Ms. Janet Moore and Mr. Neil W. Tollas Ms. Melissa Moore Ms. Lorena A. Mora-Mowry Dr. and Mrs. Joseph J. Moravec Jacob Morvay and Jenna Kamrass Morvay Mr. and Mrs. David W. Motch Mary Lou Motl Mueller Family Foundation

The Music Minions

Norbert and Linnea Nadel Ms. Jacqueline C. Neumann Mr. Gerald L. Newman Mrs. Thomas L. Neyer, Sr. Mr. James Nicholson and Ms. Patricia Callis Louise Dieterle Nippert Musical Arts Fund Mrs. Hiroshi Nishiyama Dr. Peter J. Nord Ms. Kathleen O’Connell and Dr. H. Kenneth Peterson Mr. and Mrs. Neil O’Connor Dr. Cora Ogle Robert and Carol Olson Mr. and Mrs. Tom Osha Margaret and Tom Osterman Marilyn Z. Ott Ms. Stephanie Panarelli Mr. and Mrs. Don Paulsen Mr. Joe Peacock Jo Anne and Poul Pedersen Mr. Raymond Peterson Rev. Susan Pfeil Mr. and Mrs. Ken Phelps Mr. Michael E. Phillips Joseph A. and Susan E. Pichler Ms. Tera L. Pierce

Marta Pisarka, M.D., and Michael Maloney, M.D. Cassandra and Glenn Plott

Sandra and Michael Porada Beatriz Porras, M.D., and Alvaro Ryes, M.D.

INDIVIDUAL AND FOUNDATION CONTRIBUTIONS

Mr. Nicholas W. Puncer

Mr. and Mrs. Stephen Rabinowitz Ms. Barbara N. Ramusack

Mr. and Mrs. Daniel P. Randolph Chris and Mary Ray Mary and Andrew Redington

Pamela Spangler Reis and Richard Reis

Mrs. Clarissa Rentz Mr. William Renwick and Ms. Debra Bowles Ms. Betsy Resler Mrs. Melody Sawyer Richardson Aliya Riddle Ellen Rieveschl

Charles Scott Riley III Foundation Ms. Gale Z. Roberts

Edward and Nancy Rosenthal Mr. and Mrs. Louis Ross James Rubenstein and Bernadette Unger

Josephine Schell Russell Charitable Trust

(PNC Charitable Trusts)

Regina Carswell Russo Dr. James and Ms. Maris Ryan Mr. and Mrs. Eugene L. Saenger, Jr. Saenger Family Foundation Dr. G. James and Ruthann Sammarco

Harry and Ann Santen Tom and Carol Schaber Mr. and Mrs. Lee Schimberg Mr. Michael J. Schmitt George Palmer Schober Ms. Carol Schroeder Mr. James Schroer

Mark Schroer, M.D. Mr. and Mrs. Henry L. Schulhoff Ms. Janet R. Schultz Rabbi Julie S. Schwartz

Jeffrey Seaman Mrs. Barbara Seiver

Mr. and Mrs. Blake Selnick Mr. Steven Selss

The Louise Taft Semple Foundation

Jane and Mark Serrianne Mrs. Donald C. Siekmann Mr. Brett Siereveld

Edward B. Silberstein, M.D., and Jacqueline M. Mack Mr. and Mrs. Irwin B. Simon Murray and Robin Sinclaire Mr. and Mrs. Matt Singleton Laura and Douglas Skidmore Terri and Bradbury Skidmore, M.D. Gerald and Sarah Skidmore Roger and Margaret Smith Matthew J. and Cynthia L. Smith Sandra and Henry Spitz Mr. Jay Edward Springer Ms. Kathy Standley

James Stapleton and Dr. Elizabeth Shaughnessy Ms. Marian Stapleton Mr. and Mrs. William Steenken Mr. and Mrs. Thomas E. Stegman Mr. Brett Stover Dr. Susan R. Strick Mrs. Theodore W. Striker Mr. and Mrs. William Strubbe Frances L.P. Ricketts Sullivan Memorial Fund Mr. and Mrs. Stuart Susskind Miss Janis A. Sutton Katie and Jeff Syroney Dr. Alan and Shelley Tarshis Mr. and Mrs. William Taylor Mr. and Mrs. Carlos R. Teran Mr. Garry Terrell and Ms. Rebecca Terrell Susan and John M. Tew, Jr., M.D. Miss Arlene A. Thorwarth and Linda Tong

Brian L. Tiffany and Jerome Ewers

Mr. and Mrs. David J. Tobergte Catharina Toltzis, Ph.D., and Robert Toltzis, M.D. Mr. and Mrs. Thomas E. Torre Nydia C. Tranter

Larry and Beth Uhlenbrock Mrs. E. Dieter van der Bent Ellen and Ray van der Horst Mr. Wayne Villanueva Christopher and Nancy Virgulak

The Voice of Your Customer Mr. Jason Vogel Ms. Mary Vondrak and Dr. Patrick G. Kirk Mr. and Mrs. Jon H. Votel Ms. Angela Powell Walker Mr. and Mrs. John C. Wallhausser Ginger and David Warner Miriam Warshauer-Cohen Jonathan and Janet Weaver Barbara and Irwin Weinberg Fund Mr. and Mrs. Richard Westheimer Barbara M. Weyand Dr. and Mrs. Stephen P. Whitlatch

The Stephen H. Wilder Foundation Mr. Charles L. Wilhelm Barbara Wilks

The Harry T. Wilks Family Foundation Ms. Sheila Williams Mr. Stanford T. Williams, Jr. Ronna and Dr. James Willis Brett Willson Anne Warrington Wilson Susan and Dean Windgassen Fr. Barry Windholtz

Jeannine Winkelmann and John Winkelmann, M.D. Wohlgemuth Herschede Foundation

Shelby O. Wood Peg and Jack Wyant Wyant Family Foundation John M. Yacher Ms. Jody Yetzer Mr. Scott Youger and Mrs. Andrea Shell Anne and Allen Zaring III Zaring Family Foundation Dr. Nancy L. Zimpher Dr. and Mrs. Mario Zuccarello

Contributions from May 1, 2021 to April 18, 2022

We have made every effort to be as accurate as possible in compiling our list of donors. If your name has been incorrectly listed or omitted, please contact the Philanthropy Department at 513-768-5561. Please accept our apologies for any errors.

CINCINNATI OPERA

Cincinnati Opera Center Stage events are designed to engage young professionals who seek to meet fellow arts lovers, learn more about opera, network, and celebrate the arts in our city.

Signature Center Stage events include:

Singers & Spirits Pair your favorite drink with opera at local bars and restaurants. Coming Fall 2022! Opera is a Drag

HONOREES DOUG IGNATIUS & BRUCE PRESTON

EVENT CHAIR BRIAN L. TIFFANY

Return. Reunite. Reimagine.

On June 25, Cincinnati Opera celebrates its much-anticipated return to Music Hall with the glit, a black-tie dinner and party inspired by the season-opening production

As part of this celebration, we honor Cincinnati Opera’s past presidents and gala chairs. Through their efforts, these individuals have helped to secure the funds needed for Cincinnati Opera to not only survive, but thrive as one of the cultural jewels in Cincinnati’s crown. We offer our deep-

HONOREES

Jennifer Allen

Vicki Alpaugh

Boris Auerbach

Eileen Barrett

Flávia Bastos, Ph.D.

Mary Ann Boorn

Melanie M. Chavez

Candace Cioffi

Cathy Crain

Alva Jean Crawford

Olga Duarte

Harry Fath

Kingston Fletcher

Madeleine H. Gordon

Barbara Gould

Liz Kathman Grubow

Barbara S. Hahn

Suzanne Hasl

Theresa Henderson

Donald E. Hoffman

Gary T. “Doc”

Huffman

William T. Kelleher

Mona Kerstine

Judy Kincaid

Bo-Kyung Kirby

Peter Koenig

Patrick Korb

Lawrence H. Kyte

Joanie Lotts

Jacqueline M. Mack

Sherie Marek

Ryan Messer

Carol Olson

Robert W. Olson

Jacqueline Rabinowitz

Melody Sawyer Richardson

Ruthann Sammarco

Harry H. Santen

Rhonda Sheakley

Murray Sinclaire, Jr.

Pamela Spangler Reis

James D. Stapleton

Catharina Toltzis, Ph.D. Ellen van der Horst

Jane Votel

Ronna K. Willis

Jeannine Winkelmann

Anne Zaring

Past and Current Gala Chair Melanie M. Chavez; Past and Current Gala Chair Jeannine Winkelmann; Past Gala Chair Patrick Korb

Past Gala Chairs Jennifer Allen, Bo-Kyung Kirby, Mary Ann Boorn, and Ronna Willis

Past Gala Chairs Joanie Lotts and Barbara S. Hahn

Past Gala Chairs Anne Zaring, Alva Jean Crawford, and Catharina Toltzis, Ph.D.

Past President Robert W. Olson and Carol Olson; Millie Huffman and Past President Gary T. “Doc” Huffman

Current President and Past Gala Chair Liz Grubow; Past President Murray Sinclaire, Jr.; and Past President and Past Gala Chair Cathy Crain

SOCIETY OF ANGELS

Cincinnati Opera acknowledges with deep gratitude the generosity of the following donors who have notified the company of their planned gifts. These legacy gifts ensure Cincinnati Opera’s future excellence and are a lasting tribute to the foresight of the distinguished members of Cincinnati Opera’s Society of Angels.

Members

Anonymous

Katherine and Christopher Anderson Frank* and Janet Andress

Boris Auerbach and Kathy Patchel

Dr. Diane Babcock

Dr. and Mrs. Jeffrey T. Baker Ms. Henrietta Barlag

Mr. Albert M. Bary

Christopher Baucom Mr. and Mrs.* Edward C. Bavaria

Patricia K. and James D. Beggs

Adam and Jennifer Bellin

Elaine Billmire, M.D., and David Billmire, M.D.

Dorothy Anne Blatt

Marlene and Robert Boden

Lois and Joseph Brenner

Charlin and Peter Briggs Mrs. Cherylann D. Brinkman Mary and Joe Brinkmeyer Dr. Walter Bruyninckx and Dr. Anne-Marie B. Blancquaert

Arthur B. Casper

Mrs. Jackson L. Clagett III Dr. Peter G. Courlas

Virginia K. Cover Cathy and Tom Crain

Dr. Alvin H. and Alva Jean Crawford

Mr. Daniel B. and Dr. Margaret G. Cunningham

Mr. Harrison R.T. Davis

Mrs. Albert C. Dierckes, Jr. Thomas Dreeze and Evans Mirageas Scott Atkinson* and Christopher D. Edwards Harry and Linda Fath Ms. Gael T. Fischer

Mr. Kingston Fletcher Dr. Donald W. Good Valeria and Frederick R. Good Madeleine H. Gordon

Barbara Gould

Marlesa A. Gray

Dr. Jack and Barbara Hahn Dr. Morton L.* and Mrs. Barbara Harshman

Suzanne and Robert* Hasl, M.D. Janet and Cornelius Hauck Hon. Dennis* and Berti Helmick

Karlee L. Hilliard

Ms. Emily M. Hodges and Mr. Charles H. Spencer Don and Donna* Hoffman Doug Ignatius and Bruce Preston

Julia M.F.B. Jackson

Dr. and Mrs. Richard Kerstine Sarajane and Richard King

Patrick M. Korb

Roberta and Jeffrey P. Kuhn Elizabeth and Ken Kuresman Marjorie and Lawrence H. Kyte, Jr. Mr. Barry Lapidus Richard* and Susan Lauf Kathleen Laurin-Martin and Joseph C. Martin Gail Lennig and Gene Santoro* Adele and Thomas* Lippert Joanie D. and William H.* Lotts

Mr. and Mrs. William F. Lyon Susan Sterrit Meyer

Chris and Molly Milligan Dr. Stanley Milstein

Eleanor and Sam* Minkarah David and Vicky Motch Norbert and Linnea Nadel Robert and Carol Olson Marge and Tom Osterman

Marilyn Z. Ott

Dr. and Mrs. John A. Parlin III Nicholas Payne and Cynthia Heinrich Joseph and Susan Pichler Ellen and George* Rieveschl Edward and Nancy Rosenthal Dr. G. James and Ruthann Sammarco Zell Schulman

Kenneth C. Schonberg* and Deborah Schultz

Edward B. Silberstein, M.D., and Jacqueline M. Mack Thomas S. Smith Cynthia and William* Starr Brett Stover

Mr. and Mrs. Paul A. Stuhlreyer III Nydia C. Tranter Dick and Jane Tuten Barbara and Irwin Weinberg Anne M. Werner Ronna K. Willis

Jeannine Winkelmann and John Winkelmann, M.D. Dr. Atsuko Yatani Anne and Allen Zaring III

Estates

Estate of Mary Elizabeth Andrews Trust

Estate of Thomas F. Buck

Estate of Ellen K. Burroughs

Estate of Thomas W. Busse

Estate of Wm. Rowell Chase

Estate of Mrs. Marno Christensen

Estate of Norma Clark

Estate of Herbert and Betty Colker Estate of Patricia A. Corbett Estate of Wilma B. Cowley

Estate of Miss Emilie T. Curry Estate of Virginia Curry Estate of Mary E. Day Estate of Luba Matiuk Dorman Estate of Ed P. Dundon Estate of Helen T. Ehlers Estate of Miss Natalie Feld Estate of Kenneth J. Furrier Estate of Katherine H. Groll Estate of Mrs. Eleanor Hazelton Estate of Mrs. Jean L. Hermann Estate of Anita Mae Imholt Estate of Dr. Stanley Kaplan Estate of Tailitha P. Kluver Estate of Ruth Koehl Estate of Linda and Samuel Kramer, M.D. Estate of Maria Krocker-Tuskan Estate of Elizabeth W. Kyte Estate of Elma Lapp Estate of Anne and John Lawrence Estate of Rosemary R. Longano Estate of Mrs. Richardson McKinney Estate of Mary and William Meyer Estate of Arnold and Gloria Morelli Estate of Norbert A. Nadel Estate of Bill Nimmo

The Louise Dieterle Nippert Trust Estate of Margaret Ohanian Estate of Maurice E. Oshry Estate of Charles Parsons The Pearlman Charitable Remainder Unitrust Estate of James T. Peeler Estate of David and Marilyn Reichert Estate of Mr. and Mrs. Frank Roder Estate of Solveiga Rush Estate of Marilyn A. Russley Estate of Joanne T. Santangelo Estate of Emalee Schavel Estate of Anna Jo and William Selnick

Estate of Miss Charlotte L. Shockley Estate of Charlotte E. Smith Estate Miss. Genevieve H. Smith Estate of Lois Staubitz Estate of Cynthia and Frank Stewart Estate of Carolyn and Fred Strebel Estate of Mrs. Italo Tajo Estate of Carol S. Thaman Estate of Phyllis Weston Estate of Dr. and Mrs. Kenneth Wilson Estate of Lura Carnes Wine Estate of Harris W. Wright

A Lifetime of Loving Opera MEET

A CINCINNATI OPERA ANGEL

Every opera fan has their operagoing origin story. For Society of Angels member Dr. Stanley Milstein, his began while growing up in New York City.

“I give much credit to a wonderful junior high music appreciation teacher, Mr. Alfred Berger,” said Milstein. “Aside from having a wonderful bari tone voice, he introduced me to Wagner and the Ring Cycle through recordings of ‘Ride of the Valkyries.’”

From there, Milstein began to explore a person al passion for singing.

“My love of cho ral music increased throughout high school and college through singing in mixed chorus and touring glee clubs,” said Milstein. “I con fess that my embrace of the full operatic repertoire beyond Wagner did not oc cur until many years later—after I had more life experience!”

Milstein also be gan attending Metro politan Opera perfor mances in the 1950s at the pre-Lincoln Center “Old Met,” which is where he fell fully in love with the art form.

Said Milstein, “So moved was I by the weekly vocal and visual spectacles onstage that I experi enced through radio and live performances, that it seemed natural for me—even as a young person— to join the Metropolitan Opera Guild. I began to make annual membership donations, which grew modestly over time.”

Milstein left Manhattan for the Queen City in the 1980s to study medicinal chemistry and, later, cosmetic science at the University of Cincinnati College of Pharmacy. His professor and mentor, Dr. J. Leon Lichtin, was also a violinist and com poser of chamber music, and he introduced his stu dent to the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra and Cincinnati Opera.

“During the stewardship of former Opera Gen eral Director James de Blasis,” he said, “I not only attended many performances at Music Hall, but I also engaged more directly as a super numerary, appearing in three Cincinnati Opera productions: Don Carlo, Tosca, and Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg.”

After 20 years in Cincinnati, profes sional opportunities took Milstein to ac cept a position at the U.S. FDA in Wash ington, D.C., where he began attending performances at Washington Nation al Opera. But his love of Cincinnati Opera brings him back every summer.

Said Milstein, “As soprano Renée Fleming once famously observed, ‘The voice must be heard.’ I be lieve it! Opera has enriched my life so substantially that I can do no less than all that my means per mit to ensure that future generations have the op portunity to experience this same excitement and gateway to world-class opera and classical music.”

CREATE YOUR OWN LEGACY BY BRINGING OPERA TO THE NEXT GENERATION.

For more than a century, Cincinnati Opera has been one of the nation’s leading opera companies. We invite you to play a role in Cincinnati Opera’s exciting future. Call Raye Needham Allen at 513-768-5527 or visit coa.planningyourlegacy.org.

JUDIT AND STANLEY MILSTEIN visited Houston Grand Opera in May 2022. Photo by Kara Milstein.

Proud Sponsor of Cincinnati Opera’s Planned Giving Program INVES TMENT COUNSEL

LONG-TERM SUBSCRIBERS

Cincinnati Opera is thrilled to recognize the following individuals who have been subscribers for many years.

Did we miss you? Please let us know! Contact us at subscribers@cincinnatiopera.org or 513-768-5520.

Mr. and Mrs. James R. Adams Mr. Michael A. Battersby Glenda and Malcolm Bernstein Mrs. Cherylann D. Brinkman Donald L. and Kathleen F. Burns

The Corbett Foundation Peter G. Courlas Mrs. Albert C. Dierckes, Jr. Mr. and Mrs. David Donnett Mr. and Mrs. Edwin L. Drill Mrs. Vivian A. Dobur Ms. Gael T. Fischer Mr. and Mrs. James T. Fitzgerald

Anonymous

Ms. Henrietta Barlag Dorothy Anne Blatt Mr. David Brashear Dr. George I. Colombel Ann Ellison

Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence H. Kyte, Jr. Mr. Barry Lapidus Eleanor Minkarah

Mr. and Mrs. Ashley L. Ford Mr. and Mrs. Ronald Goodman Ms. Lois Ann Gribler Mrs. Robert J. Hasl Mr. and Mrs. Cornelius W. Hauck Mr. and Mrs. Douglas Kennedy Mel and John Kuempel Mr. and Mrs. David C. Lundgren Mr. Carl G. Marquette, Jr. Ms. Julia B. Meister and Michael Schroeder Mr. J. Michael Meretta Mr. and Mrs. David W. Motch

Mr. Michael Porte

Mr. and Mrs. Daniel P. Randolph Sandra L. Riegler, M.D. Mrs. Lois P. Rust Mrs. William R. Seaman Mrs. James A. Sexton Edward B. Silberstein, M.D., and Jacqueline M. Mack Mr. Robert Patton Swaim Susan and John M. Tew, Jr., M.D. Mrs. E. Dieter van der Bent

Anonymous

Ms. Mary Auer Boris Auerbach and Kathy Patchel Mr. Michael R. Bachmann and Ms. Mary Combs Mr. Donald Beck and Lawrence E. Eynon, M.D. Drs. David and Elaine Billmire Mr. Neil Bortz

A.K. Carey Arthur B. Casper Mr. and Mrs. William Chang Mr. and Mrs. John P. Cover Mr. and Mrs. Richard Dyson Dr. and Mrs. Paul Esposito

Mrs. Thomas L. Neyer, Sr. Mrs. Hiroshi Nishiyama Marilyn Z. Ott Mr. Charles Perin Ellen Rieveschl Dr. G. James and Ruthann Sammarco Harry and Ann Santen Zell Schulman

Dr. and Mrs. William J. Faulkner Ms. Dorothy Ann Feldis and Mr. William Klykylo Mr. Kingston Fletcher Dr. and Mrs. Harry F. Fry Mr. and Mrs. Robert F. Fudge Dr. and Mrs. Ralph A. Giannella Mr. and Mrs. Howard E. Hamilton Mr. William Kredentser Mr. and Mrs. Gary P. Kreider Marilyn and Charles Kuntz, M.D. Dr. and Mrs. Joseph J. Moravec Ms. Rosemary Novelli Dr. and Mrs. John A. Parlin III Ms. Janet W. Prewitt

Dr. Janet Schultz Jeffrey Seaman Mr. and Mrs. Phillip A. Stephenson Mr. and Mrs. Richard F. Stradling, Jr. Mr. and Mrs. Stuart Susskind Mr. Michael L. Walton Mr. and Mrs. Frank Ward

Edward and Nancy Rosenthal James Rubenstein and Bernadette Unger

Mr. Richard M. Sacksteder and Mr. Victor J. Canfield Ellen and Gene Saenger

Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth Segal Mr. and Mrs. William Strubbe Nydia C. Tranter Miss Arlene A. Thorwarth and Linda Tong

Ms. Karen Webb Mr. Charles L. Wilhelm Mr. and Mrs. John M. Zoller

Mr. and Mrs. Edward C. Bavaria

Patricia K. and James D. Beggs

Lois and Joseph Brenner

Mr. J. Robert Chambers Mrs. Carole Charleville

Cincinnati Financial Corp. Nancy R. Clagett Mr. Marshall Garrison Shelly Gerson

Ms. Deborah R. Grayson

Emma Hartkemeier

Irmgard and Horst Hehmann Bob Roesbery and Nancy Helwig Mr. Isaiah Hyman, Jr. Little Britain House Tea Room Ms. Vicky Mary

Dr. and Mrs. James J. Nordlund Mrs. Lilián Estévez de Pagani

Dr. Elaine Y. Rosin

Mr. and Mrs. Michael C. Schwartz

Mr. and Mrs. Stanley A. Shulman Sandra and Henry Spitz Ellen and Ray van der Horst Mr. Arnold Wasserman Mr. Edward Jay Wohlgemuth Ms. Susan Wulsin

Anonymous

Barbara Aberlin

Ms. Sandy Adams

Mr. and Mrs. Louis A. Andrews, Jr. Mr. Gary J. Anglin

Gay Bain

Dr. and Mrs. Jeffrey T. Baker Dr. Alfred J. Berger

Marlene and Robert Boden Charlin and Peter Briggs Mrs. Rebecca S. Brown

Nicholas P. Ciafardini Sheila and Christopher Cole Dr. Alvin H. and Alva Jean Crawford Mr. Daniel B. and Dr. Margaret G. Cunningham Mrs. Jack Edelman

Harry and Linda Fath Dr. James D. Faulkner Mr. Carl R. Fiora

Mr. and Mrs. Michael F. Gehrig Dr. Sheila C. Gelman and Dr. David Greenblatt Mrs. Elizabeth Gendreau-Maxwell and Mr. Don Maxwell Valeria and Frederick R. Good

Mr. Gerald S. Greenberg and Ms. Pamela Meyers Dr. Ralph A. Gruppo Dr. Jack and Barbara Hahn Ms. Kathleen M. Hammons Mrs. Barbara Harshman Mr. Roger D. Hickman Mr. Donald E. Hoffman Mr. and Mrs. Henry N. Horne Mrs. James Hsu Mr. and Mrs. W.M. James Dr. and Mrs. Timothy E. Johnson Ms. Brenda Jones Mr. and Mrs. Roger Keller Mr. and Mrs. Alex Keller

Patrick M. Korb

Susan Lauf Mrs. Linda Linker Adele Lippert Ms. Kathryn Maier Mr. Brent Manley Mr. and Mrs. Lon Mendelsohn Mr. George E. Menges Mr. and Mrs. R. William Mischler Sue Alexander Mouch Mr. and Mrs. Christopher Mystkowski

Valerie Newell and Timothy Smith

Robert and Carol Olson Marge and Tom Osterman

Dr. and Mrs. Alter G. Peerless Joseph and Susan Pichler Mrs. Clarissa Rentz Mr. William Renwick and Ms. Debra Bowles

Reverend David Robisch Mr. Joseph Schoettmer Mr. and Mrs. Henry L. Schulhoff Mrs. David Schwieterman Murray Sinclaire, Jr., and RSA Gerald and Sarah Skidmore Brett Stover Dr. and Mrs. Theodore W. Striker Ms. Bernadette Tallarico Mr. Garry Terrell and Ms. Rebecca Terrell Beverly Tonkens-VanGrov Larry and Beth Uhlenbrock Ginger and David Warner Dr. and Mrs. Stephen P. Whitlatch Fr. Barry Windholtz John M. Yacher

Anonymous

Julie and Khosrow Alamin, M.D. William and Eve Appleton

Reverend Christopher R. Armstrong Frances and Tom Bankston

Barbara and Dale Bardes

Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Baumann

Drs. Thomas and Barbara Boat Dr. Walter Bruyninckx and Dr. Anne-Marie B. Blancquaert

Mr. James D. Carr and Ms. Jane Wakerman Cathy and Tom Crain

Mrs. Jodelle S. Crosset Dr. Stewart and Ellen Dunsker Leslie R. Dye, M.D.

Mr. Richard Freudenberger Mrs. Janelle Gelfand

Don Gray

Mr. and Mrs. Carl Harcourt Julie Grady Heard and Benjamin D. Heard Ms. Marlene Kessler Lucy Hodgson and Peter Koenig Joanie Lotts

Al and Mary J. López Luke and Neta Lovell

Mr. and Mrs. Edward G. Marks Raymond and Madelynn Matlock Mrs. Ivan S. Misrach

Mr. and Mrs. Fred Norton Mr. and Mrs. Neil O’Connor Ms. Maria Ransdell

Mrs. Melody Sawyer Richardson

Mr. and Mrs. Larry A. Sheakley

Ann Gallagher Schoen and Jerry Schoen Mr. John T. Schreiber and Ms. Claire E. Fessler

Deborah Schultz Dr. and Mrs. Stuart Silverman Roger and Margaret Smith James Stapleton and Dr. Elizabeth Shaughnessy Mr. and Mrs. William Steenken Anne M. Werner Ronna and Dr. James Willis Shelby O. Wood Dr. Richard Young and Mr. Timothy Butz

90

Mrs. Christine O. Adams

Ms. Jane Anderson

Janet Andress

Dr. and Mrs. William Aronstein Mr. Drew Asimus and Ms. Carolyn Royalty Ms. Patricia Baas Ron Bates and Randy Lasley Dr. Rolando Berger Mr. Thomas Berger Ms. Debbie Bogenschutz John and Mary Ann Boorn Mr. and Mrs. Lyman Bradshaw Diann Bridenbaugh, M.D. Mary and Joseph Brinkmeyer Ms. Karen Bruin

Mr. and Mrs. Fred Burnett Mr. Robert Burroughs Dr. and Mrs. Lanthan Camblin

Ms. Patricia M. Carey

Terry Bazeley and John Castaldi

Mr. David Charpentier

Melanie M. Chavez

Ms. Melissa Cox

Ms. Mary Diersing Ms. Marsha Drucker

Shannon and Paul Duffy Mrs. Melodie Dunn John G. Earls

Mr. Frank E. Espohl Mr. Joseph H. Feldhaus Ms. Amy Fuson

Mr. Ted Gentry and Ms. Amy Dougherty Mr. and Mrs. Edward J. Givens

Dr. and Mrs. Richard W. Goetz Mr. and Mrs. Richard Graeter Philip and Mattie Groshong Liz Kathman Grubow and Jerry Kathman Ms. Melissa Haas Ms. Emily M. Hodges and Mr. Charles H. Spencer Mrs. Harry M. Hoffheimer Mr. Martin Hogan Mr. and Mrs. Tom Horwitz Mr. and Mrs. Matthew W. Hughes Ms. Marjorie Hull

Doug Ignatius and Bruce Preston Mr. Ralph Isaacs Mr. and Mrs. Michael R. Janson Ms. Amy S. Katzman, Esq. Mona and Richard Kerstine, M.D. Sarajane and Richard King Elizabeth and Ken Kuresman Mr. Jon P. Longtin Mrs. Judy Lucas Mr. Alex J. Lukondi Mr. and Mrs. John-Peter Lund Ms. Sally A. Lund Ms. Kathy Mank Sherie Marek

Mr. Miguel Martinez and Mr. David Grome

Drs. Neal and Donna Mayerson Kathy and Jon McCann Dr. Janet P. McDaniel Ms. Mary Anne McMillan Don and Marji Mendelsohn

Mr. and Mrs. Jan Methlie Mr. Ronald L. Miller Chris and Molly Milligan Mr. Charles J. Moomaw Mary Lou Motl

Janet Muvich and Lisa Muvich

Ms. Kathleen O’Connell and Dr. H. Kenneth Peterson Mr. and Mrs. R. Joseph Parker Mr. Anthony Paternoster Carol and Edwin Pfetzing Mr. Floyd Reed

Pamela Spangler Reis and Richard Reis Ms. Mary Rich Moe and Jack Rouse Dr. Constance Sanders, D.M.E. Ms. Carol Schroeder Mr. Steven Selss Mr. Brett Siereveld Mr. and Mrs. Irwin B. Simon Ms. Carol E. Singer Amy Stier and Jef Brown Mr. and Mrs. Carlos R. Teran Catharina Toltzis, Ph.D., and Robert Toltzis, M.D. Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Tomsick Mr. and Mrs. Thomas E. Torre Mr. Timothy E. Troendle Susan and Dean Windgassen Jeannine Winkelmann and John Winkelmann, M.D. Mr. Jan K. Wolf Anne and Allen Zaring III

CINCINNATI OPERA GUILD BOARD

The Cincinnati Opera Guild is an organization of committed volunteers who are dedicated to supporting Cincinnati Opera through volunteerism, social events, and financial giving. For more than six decades, Guild members have served as advocates for the organization, promoting awareness, generating public interest, and deepening under standing of the art form in our community. Members bring many forms of expertise, especially for our education and community engagement programs. Their support is essential to a vast array of ongoing activities and events, and they are among the Opera’s most enthusiastic ambassadors in Greater Cincinnati. We hope you will consider joining in the fun by becoming a Cincinnati Opera Guild Ambassador!

Executive Committee

President Richard Zinicola

Immediate Past President

Karlee L. Hilliard

Membership Chairs

Marina Abanto Sandy Porada

Meet and Greet Chairs Ellen Saenger Shelby O. Wood

Promotions Chair Robert von Gerds

Members At-Large

Julie Alamin

Suzanne Hasl Sarajane King Patrick Korb Alex Lukondi

New Members

Raye Allen

Penny P. Cobey

Jeff Landen Ellen Ross Louis Ross

Members

Marina Abanto

Julie Alamin

Jennifer M. Allen *

Anne S. Arenstein

Paule S. Asch, Ph.D. Barbara Bardes

Patricia K. Beggs (H)

Alfred J. Berger °

Lois Brenner

Cherylann D. Brinkman ° Betsi Brockmeier

Nichola P. Ciafardini (H) Virginia K. Cover (H) * James de Blasis °

Emily M. Hodges

Linda Holthaus

Marlene Johnson

Sarajane King * Jennifer Kinnen (H) Bo-Kyung Kirby

Patrick M. Korb ° (H) * Mel E. Kuempel (H) * Elizabeth Kuresman (H) Bruce A. Lafferre Sooncha Lee Adele Lippert Joanie Lotts (H) Diana Lovelace Alex J. Lukondi Janet P. McDaniel Ruth McDevitt (H) * Eleanor C. Minkarah (H) * Lawrence Mouch (H) Sue A. Mouch (H) Christine Neyer (H) + * Tom Osterman

Lois P. Rust

Ellen Saenger

Ruthann

Sammarco ° (H) * G. James Sammarco ° Mr. and Mrs. Robert F. Schmidt °

Norma Schoenberger ° Charles R. Schuler ° Martha S. Seaman (H) * Joseph B. Shirley °

Nancy Dierckes

Joanna Doerner

Jocelyn Dunphy (H) *

Christopher D. Edwards (H)

Marlesa A. Gray (H) * Barbara Hahn (H)

Barbara Harshman

Suzanne Hasl ° (H) * Julie G. Heard (H) * Karlee L. Hilliard*

Marilyn Z. Ott Marchelle Owens ° O’Dell M. Owens ° Lilián E. Pagani ° Isabelle Paul ° (H) Sandra Porada Daniel C. Rebhun (H) * Aileen B. Reinstatler (H) * Gale Z. Roberts Carol A. Rogers (H)

Jeffrey Stambough ° Nancy Stambough ° Barbara Stegmaier ° Joseph Stegmaier ° Kim Strubbe Janet V. Stuhlreyer ° Paul A. Stuhlreyer III ° Beverly Tonkens-VanGrov Nydia C. Tranter Janet Todd ° Nancy Virgulak Robert Von Gerds

91 (H) Honorary Member *Former Guild Board President °Lifetime member

Jeannine Winkelmann (H) * Andrea K. Wiot EJ Wohlgemuth ° Shelby O. Wood Sylvia Yorke Richard Zinicola

IN MEMORIAM

During the last year, these individuals have made contributions to Cincinnati Opera in memory of friends and family members. Cincinnati Opera is grateful for these thoughtful gifts.

In memory of Albert C. Dierckes, Jr. Mrs. Robert Allen

Patricia K. and James D. Beggs Mr.. and Mrs. John P. Cover Mr. Robert G. Edmiston Mr. and Mrs. Allen Elliot Mr. and Mrs. Hendy Mr. and Mrs. Peter Ludwig Michael L. McKay

Mr. James Murphy, Jr. Mrs. Thomas L. Neyer, Sr. Newman Foundation

Robert Ott

Mr. and Mrs. J. James Pearce Ms. Carol Schroeder Marianne Schwab Ms. Sherri G. Slovin Rosemary Welsh

In memory of J. Howard “Bumpy” Fraser Patricia K. and James D. Beggs

In memory of Charles M. Fullgraf and Charlotte S. Fullgraf The Fullgraf Foundation

In memory of Bill Hahn Ronna and Dr. James Willis

In memory of Dr. Morton Harshman John F. Barrett Mr. and Mrs. George J. Beddie, Jr. Patricia K. and James D. Beggs Mr. and Mrs. Collins Dr. David Harshman Margo Itkoff Mona and Richard Kerstine, M.D. Karel and Jerry Kroos Adele Lippert Mrs. Thomas L. Neyer, Sr.

In memory of Judith “Gooch” Hiltenbeitel Patricia K. and James D. Beggs

In memory of Mona Kerstine’s grandparents Mona and Richard Kerstine, M.D.

In memory of Fred Klein Thomas Dreeze and Evans Mirageas

In memory of Dr. Charles Kuntz Patricia K. and James D. Beggs

In memory of Rich Lauf Patricia K. and James D. Beggs Lois and Joseph Brenner

Dorothy Anne Blatt Dr. Jack and Barbara Hahn Karlee L. Hilliard

Christopher Milligan Ellen and Gene Saenger

Suzanne Schweller

Edward B. Silberstein, M.D., and Jacqueline M. Mack

Richard Sternberg

Mr. and Mrs. James E. Wesner Jeannine Winkelmann and John Winkelmann, M.D.

In memory of Tom Lippert Patricia K. and James D. Beggs Thomas Dreeze and Evans Mirageas

In memory of Susie Louiso Patricia K. and James. D. Beggs

In memory of John “Jocko” Magro Thomas Dreeze and Evans Mirageas

In memory of William M. McKim, Ph.D. Patricia K. and James D. Beggs

In memory of John “Mike” Meretta Anonymous D’Ellen Bardes

Lorraine Bachand Alice Berger Cookie Devine

The Florian Family Judith Judelsohn Hans and Susanne Keller Anne Kunkel

The Manley Family Ms. Keva Matovina Anne M. Tillinghast Ann C. Overbeck

In memory of Mary “Winnie” Meister Ms. Maria Aselage Patricia K. and James D. Beggs Doreen Canton

Katrina Trimble Jeannine Winkelmann and John Winkelmann, M.D.

In memory of Dr. Issam Minkarah Anonymous

Patricia K. and James D. Beggs Thomas Dreeze and Evans Mirageas Christopher Milligan

In memory of Marco Panuccio Dr. Jack and Barbara Hahn Ms. Emily M. Hodges and Mr. Charles H. Spencer Susan Lauf Mr. and Mrs. O’Connell

In memory of Sheila Plott Patricia K. and James D. Beggs

In memory of Pamela Reis’s mother Jeannine Winkelmann and John Winkelmann, M.D.

In memory of Paul Stanbery Thomas Dreeze and Evans Mirageas

In memory of Geraldine Stegner Patricia K. and James D. Beggs

In memory of Judy Thompson Patricia K. and James D. Beggs

Contributions from May 1, 2021 to April 18, 2022

REMEMBRANCES

Wherever there’s an opera company, there’s an opera family. It’s a family of supporters, volunteers, singers, stage professionals, staff members, and fans. Each member does their part to sustain the company and animate its mission. Since the summer of 2019, we have lost a number of dear members of the Cincinnati Opera family. This list is incomplete, but it’s our attempt at recognizing and remembering some who have left us. If we have missed someone, please let us know. Also, the asterisk (*) at the end of the entry indicates membership in the Society of Angels, a giving legacy program that supports Cincinnati Opera’s endowment. See page 86 for more information.

Albert Dierckes (1938–2021) was a chemical en gineer and spent most of his career at P&G. He en joyed attending performances with his wife, Nancy. Albert was a member of the Cincinnati Opera Guild. In fact, his late first wife, Claire, served as president of the Guild in its early days.

Marianne Doll (1957–2020) was a lifelong Cincin nati resident. As a member of the Cincinnati Opera Guild, she served on its executive committee. She first experienced opera as a teenager and shared her love of opera with her many friends.

Marcello Giordani (1963–2019) made a single but spectacular appearance on the Cincinnati Opera stage in 2016 as Cavaradossi in Tosca. Born in Sic ily, the acclaimed tenor delighted audiences in more than 240 performances at the Metropolitan Opera.

Tom Hammons (1951–2020) sang 12 roles on the Cincinnati Opera stage across nearly four decades. He was beloved for his comic roles, including the Sacristan in Tosca and Dr. Bartolo in The Barber of Seville. In 2007, he appeared in Nixon in China as Henry Kissinger, a role he created for the opera’s world premiere in 1987 and for which he won a Grammy Award in 1988. Tom was also a regular at the Met, appearing in more than 200 performances.

Mort Harshman (1932–2021) was a devoted family physician and served on the Cincinnati Opera Board for several years. He and wife, Barbara, were advo cates, fans, and supporters of the company.

Maria Krocker-Tuskan (1926–2020) worked as a child psychiatrist for many years in Cincinnati. She and her husband, Ivan, enjoyed opera immensely and made a generous bequest to Cincinnati Opera in their estate plan.

Lorrie Laskey (1934–2020) was a member of the Cincinnati Opera Guild Board who also volunteered with numerous other civic and charitable organi zations. Among her professional endeavors, she worked as an interior designer, a public relations ex ecutive, and writer of the “Around Town” column for the Cincinnati Enquirer.

Richard Lauf (1949–2022) served as president of the Opera Guild and as a trustee and vice president of the Cincinnati Opera Board. A gifted raconteur, writer, and former P&G strategist, Rich and his wife, Susan, traveled frequently for opera performances. In 2020, Rich contributed a chapter to the book Cincinnati Opera: A Centennial Celebration. *

Tom Lippert (1932–2021) was a generous Cincin nati Opera contributor and volunteer. He and his wife, Adele, attended many Cincinnati Opera fund raising events, including a donor trip to Los Angeles. Together, they devoted their lives to family and com munity service.

Susie Louiso (1942–2022) was a frequent collabora tor with Cincinnati Opera in her role as executive di rector of the Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati, where she worked alongside her husband, Jack. A lifelong Cincinnatian, Susie was passionate about providing opportunities to young people.

William “Bill” McKim (1940–2022) was an English literature professor at Northern Kentucky University. A lover of fine arts, Bill was a welcome guest at hun dreds of Cincinnati Opera events over the years with his wife, Karen.

Issam “Sam” Minkarah (1931–2021) was a regular participant in Opera Guild events alongside his wife, former Guild President Ellie Minkarah. Born in Bei rut, Lebanon, Sam was known to introduce himself with a wry smile as “Sam Minkarah, Guild spouse.”

Herta Moore (1920–2021) was a centenarian and a dedicated Cincinnati Opera subscriber for more than 50 years. In September 2020, we brought a sociallydistanced opera celebration to her in honor of her 100th birthday.

Gloria Morelli (1930–2019) and Arnold Morelli (1928–2020) were avid volunteers and patrons of the Cincinnati arts community. They attended many Cincinnati Opera performances, and they seldom missed the latest at the Cincinnati Symphony Or chestra and Cincinnati Ballet. *

Mark “Marco” Panuccio (1973–2021) made many appearances with Cincinnati Opera, including lead ing roles in Nixon in China (Chairman Mao) and Lucia di Lammermoor (Edgardo). A graduate of CCM, Marco created and produced “O Holy Night,” which became a Cincinnati holiday tradition. Pops con ductor John Morris Russell called him “the people’s tenor,” and his fan club called themselves “Fanucci.”

Solveiga Rush (1930–2020) was a professor of art history at the University of Cincinnati. She was a member of the Cincinnati Opera Guild. A lifelong patron of the arts, Solveiga made a generous contri bution to Cincinnati Opera in her estate plan. *

REMEMBRANCES

Frank Stewart (1931–2020) was an attorney and leader in the arts community. His estate plan includ ed a bequest to Cincinnati Opera in memory of his late wife, Cynthia, a great fan of the company.

Mary “Carol” Thaman (1928–2020) was a devoted patron of the arts and supporter of Cincinnati Op era. A lover of classical music, opera, and theatre, Carol was also an advocate for Catholic education throughout her life. *

Judith Thompson (1938–2021) was a member of the Cincinnati Opera Guild. An adventurer and avid traveler, Judy particularly loved France, and “La vie en rose” was sung at her memorial service in honor of her favorite destination.

Tony Totten (1956–2020) was the owner and op erator of Tony Express Trucking. For more than 30 years, he hauled goods for all of Cincinnati’s leading arts organizations, including the Opera. He served 20 years as Cincinnati Opera’s freight coordinator.

Marcella Trice (1930–2021) was the first African American teacher at Cincinnati Country Day School. In her 27 years with CCDS, she also served as inter im head of the Lower School. She was widely recog nized for lifelong volunteerism and civic engagement.

Marcella served several terms on the Cincinnati Opera Board.

Clayton “Clay” Wagenlander (1954–2021) was the founder of Pebble Creek Group, an audiovisual company and a regular producing partner for Cincin nati Opera events and productions. We are pleased to continue partnering with Clay’s son, Matty, for audiovisual needs.

Carl Westmoreland (1937–2022) was a founding member of the National Underground Railroad Free dom Center. An inspiring orator, Carl was passionate about Black history and served as a consultant for our 2005 production of Margaret Garner

Catherine Wolters (1934–2021) was a longtime member of the Cincinnati Opera Guild. She was an avid supporter of Cincinnati’s arts community, a de voted educator, and a champion of civil rights and access to adult basic education.

Arthur Woodley (1949–2020) was a gifted bass who sang traditional and new operas, including The Shining and Champion. His last Cincinnati Opera ap pearance was as Daland in the 2018 production of The Flying Dutchman.

Proud to support Cincinnati Opera

CELEBRATIONS AND HONORARIUMS

During the last year, these individuals have made contributions to Cincinnati Opera in honor or in celebration of friends and family members. Cincinnati Opera is grateful for these thoughtful gifts.

In honor of Patty Beggs being inducted in the Opera Hall of Fame Dr. Jack and Barbara Hahn Ronna and Dr. James Willis

In honor of Vivian Dobur Ms. Beatrice Lampkin

In honor of Ellen Graham and Thomas Hase Patricia K. and James D. Beggs

In honor of Don Hoffman Mr. and Mrs. Tom Osha

Contributions from May 1, 2021 to April 18, 2022

In honor of Ammon Hollister Saul Schottenstein Foundation B

In honor of Chris Milligan Mr. Daniel B. and Dr. Margaret G. Cunningham Susan Zando

In honor of Ted Silberstein Beth and Peter Levin

In honor of Mike Veroni’s retirement Ms. Raye Allen Catharina Toltzis, Ph.D., and Robert Toltzis, M.D.

The Cincinnati Opera Guild is celebrating nearly 65 years as opera ambassadors to our community. Members enjoy monthly guest speakers, volunteer at events throughout the year, and host get-togethers to support Cincinnati Opera. Join fellow opera lovers in the community for behind-thescenes access to the art form and company we all love!

CINCINNATI OPERA REPERTOIRE 1920–2022

John Adams

Nixon in China–2007 A Flowering Tree–2011

Franco Alfano Resurrection–1983

Daniel François Espirit Auber Fra Diavolo–1927

Michael William Balfe

The Bohemian Girl–1927, 1928, 1936

Béla Bartók

Bluebeard’s Castle–2001

Ludwig van Beethoven Fidelio–1931, 1932, 1980, 2016

Peter Bengtson

The Maids–2004

Vincenzo Bellini

Norma–1932, 1935, 1938, 1977, 1984, 2003

Il Pirata–1969

La Sonnambula–1960

Georges Bizet

Carmen–1921-24, 1926-33, 193560, 1962-1971, 1976, 1980, 1985, 1988, 1991, 1997, 2004, 2009, 2014, 2021

Arrigo Boito

Mefistofele–1922, 1924, 1930, 1931, 1939, 1972

William Bolcom Medusa–2003

Benjamin Britten Peter Grimes–1960 The Turn of the Screw–1999

Daniel Catán Florencia en el Amazonas–2008

Francesco Cavalli La Calisto–2014

Francesco Cilèa Adriana Lecouvreur–1979

Emmanuel Chabrier L’Étoile–2006

Richard Danielpour Margaret Garner–2005

Henry Louis Reginald de Koven Robin Hood–1929

Claude Debussy

Pelléas

et Mélisande–2000

Léo Delibes

Lakmé–1922, 1924, 1929, 1930, 1955

Gaetano Donizetti

The Daughter of the Regiment (La Fille du Régiment)–1973, 2004

Don Pasquale–1920, 1921, 1945, 1956, 1966, 1968, 1981, 1996, 2015

The Elixir of Love (L’Elisir d’Amore)–1924, 1926, 1942, 1946, 1948, 1951, 1954, 1958, 1968, 1969, 1983

Lucia di Lammermoor–1921, 1922, 1924, 1926, 1928, 1937, 1939-43, 1952-54, 1957, 1958, 1968, 1971, 1978, 1985, 1990, 1997, 2008

Roberto Devereux–1974

Friedrich von Flotow

Martha–1920, 1924, 1926, 192830, 1932, 1935, 1936, 1943-45, 1947, 1948, 1955, 1956

Carlisle Floyd

Of Mice and Men–1971 Susannah–1959, 1964, 1979, 1988

Charles Rudolph Friml

The Firefly–1930, 1931

George Gershwin Porgy and Bess–2012, 2019

Umberto Giordano

Andrea Chénier–1929, 1930, 1949, 1954, 1959, 1963, 1967, 1995 Fedora–1923

Philip Glass Galileo Galilei–2013

Osvaldo Golijov Ainadamar–2009

Ricky Ian Gordon Morning Star–2015

Charles Gounod

Faust–1921-23, 1926, 1927, 1929, 1932, 1935-51, 1953-58, 1966, 1967, 1969, 1975, 1981, 1985, 1990, 1999, 2007

Romeo and Juliet–1922, 1923, 1933, 1945, 1971, 1982, 1989, 1994, 2002, 2019

Aldolphus Hailstork Rise for Freedom: The John P. Parker Story–2007

Fromental Halévy La Juive–1927, 1928

Jake Heggie Dead Man Walking–2002

Victor Herbert Naughty Marietta–1929

Engelbert Humperdinck

Hansel and Gretel–1920, 1921, 1923, 1927, 1938, 1939, 1942-44, 1973

Leos Janácek Jenufa–1998

Sidney Jones The Geisha–1932

Laura Kaminsky As One–2018

Jerome Kern

Roberta–1985 Show Boat–1976

Franz Lehár

The Merry Widow–1951-53, 1975, 1982

Ruggero Leoncavallo

Pagliacci–1920, 1927, 1933-39, 1941-46, 1950, 1963, 1964, 1966, 1970, 1978, 1982, 1993, 2012 Zazà–1985, 1987

Frank Leoni L’Oracolo–1928, 1931

Frank Loesser

The Most Happy Fella–1977

98

Pietro Mascagni

Cavalleria Rusticana–1921, 1922, 1926, 1928, 1933-37, 1941, 194446, 1963, 1964, 1966, 1970, 1978, 1982, 1993

Iris–1930, 1931

Jules Massenet

Manon–1922, 1924, 1939-42, 1952, 1955, 1961, 1965, 1968, 1980

La Navarraise–1931 Thaïs–1933, 1938 Werther–1993

Missy Mazzoli

Song from the Uproar–2017

William Menefield

Fierce–2022

Gian Carlo Menotti

The Medium–1967

Giacomo Meyerbeer

L’Africaine–1936 Dinorah–1929, 1930

Italo Montemezzi

The Love of Three Kings (L’Amore dei Tre Re)–1926, 1929, 1946, 1947, 1949

Claudio Monteverdi

The Coronation of Poppea (L’Incoronazione di Poppea)–2018

Douglas Moore

The Ballad of Baby Doe–1976

Wolfgang

Amadeus Mozart

The Abduction from the Seraglio (Die Entführung aus dem Serail)–1992

Così Fan Tutte–1963, 1966, 1976, 1983, 1989, 2007

Don Giovanni–1930, 1931, 1936, 1949, 1951, 1961, 1977, 1990, 1999, 2004, 2013

The Magic Flute (Die Zauberflöte)–1932, 1986, 1993, 2001, 2011, 2017

The Marriage of Figaro (Le Nozze di Figaro)–1956, 1957, 1972, 1979, 1988, 1995, 2002, 2009, 2019

Modest Mussorgsky

Boris Godunov–1948, 1958, 1974

Jacques Offenbach

La Périchole–1974

The Tales of Hoffmann–1921, 1923, 1965, 1966, 1968, 1973, 1978, 1987, 1992, 2006

Ástor Piazzolla

María de Buenos Aires–2012

Robert Planquette

The Chimes of Normandy (Les Cloches de Corneville)–1930

Amilcare Ponchielli

La Gioconda–1923, 1924, 1928, 1935, 1936, 1942

Francis Poulenc

La

Voix Humaine

Giacomo Puccini

Robert Xavier Rodríguez

Frida–2017

Sigmund Romberg

The

Student Prince–1978

Gioachino Rossini

The Barber of Seville–1920, 1921, 1924, 1927, 1937-45, 1948, 1951, 1952, 1954, 1957, 1959, 1961, 1965, 1967, 1971, 1977, 1987, 1991, 1997, 2005, 2021

La Cenerentola–1966, 2000

Camille Saint-Saëns

–2003

La Bohème–1924, 1932, 1936-63, 1965, 1966, 1969, 1971, 1974, 1978, 1981, 1988, 1994, 1999, 2005, 2010, 2017, 2022

Gianni Schicchi–1975, 1982, 2012

Girl of the Golden West (La Fanciulla del West)–1933, 1938, 1986

Madame Butterfly–1924, 192833, 1936-41, 1946-60, 1962-64, 1966, 1968, 1970, 1972, 1977, 1983, 1987, 1992, 1996, 2001, 2008, 2014

Manon Lescaut–1959, 1964, 1974, 1983, 1991

La Rondine–1973, 1984 Suor Angelica–1975, 1982 Il Tabarro–1975, 1982

Tosca–1923, 1927, 1931, 1937, 1938, 1940, 1941, 1943-45, 1947, 1948, 1950, 1952, 1954, 1955, 1957, 1959, 1962, 1963, 1965, 1967, 1970, 1976, 1981, 1986, 1993, 1998, 2006, 2016, 2021

Turandot–1955, 1956, 1972, 1975, 1980, 1987, 1995, 2003, 2015

Kevin Puts Silent Night–2014

Scott Davenport Richards Blind Injustice–2019

Richard Rodgers

Carousel–1983

Oklahoma–1984

The Sound of Music–1982 South Pacific–1981

Samson and Delilah–1922, 1923, 1930, 1931, 1935, 1936, 1940-47, 1949, 1950, 1953, 1964, 1970, 1998

Arnold Schoenberg Erwartung–2001

Bedrich Smetana

The Bartered Bride–1931, 1954

Gregory Spears

Castor and Patience–2022 Fellow Travelers–2016

Johann Strauss

Die Fledermaus–1928, 1950, 1951, 1963, 1964, 1967, 1972, 1980, 2016

The Gypsy Baron (Der Zigeunerbaron)–1932

Richard Strauss

Ariadne auf Naxos–1961, 2019 Elektra–2002

Der Rosenkavalier–1948, 1950, 1957, 1958, 1967, 1986, 1994, 2013

Salome–1948, 1949, 1953, 1960, 1962, 1968, 1982, 2000

Arthur Sullivan

The Gondoliers–1985

H.M.S. Pinafore–1932, 1933, 1981

The Mikado–1928, 1979

The Pirates of Penzance–1933, 1980, 2022

Trial by Jury–1933

Joseph Surdo

Enter Pauline–1929

Deems Taylor

The King’s Henchmen–1936

Piotr IIyich Tchaikovsky

Eugene Onegin–1984, 2011

Charles Louis Ambroise Thomas

Mignon–1927, 1928, 1931, 1932, 1936, 1937, 1939, 1941-43, 1945, 1946

Viktor Ullmann

Der Kaiser von Atlantis–2004

Isaac Van Grove

The Music Robber–1926, 1927

Giuseppe Verdi

Aida–1921-24, 1926, 1927, 1929-33, 1935-1956, 1959-62, 1964, 1965, 1973, 1976, 1981, 1985, 1990, 1995, 2000, 2007, 2013, 2022

Attila–1979, 1984

Don Carlo–1961, 1984, 1989, 2009

Falstaff–1926, 1930, 1997

La Forza del Destino–1932, 1965, 1969

Macbeth–1960, 1961, 1978

A Masked Ball (Un Ballo in Maschera)–1931, 1939, 1949, 1954, 1955, 1974, 1991, 2006

Nabucco–2001

Otello–1921, 1929, 1936, 1938, 1940, 1941, 1945, 1946, 1970, 1982, 1996, 2010

Rigoletto–1920-22, 1924, 1926, 1928-32, 1935-56, 1961-63, 1965, 1967, 1969, 1971, 1973, 1979, 1982, 1992, 2005, 2011

La Traviata–1923, 1924, 1926, 1931, 1935, 1938-58, 1960, 196264, 1966-68, 1970, 1972, 1977, 1980, 1984, 1989, 1998, 2003, 2008, 2012, 2018

Il Trovatore–1921, 1922, 1926-33, 1937-49, 1951, 1952, 1957, 1958, 1964, 1965, 1968, 1970, 1975, 1980, 1986, 1994, 2015

Richard Wagner

The Flying Dutchman (Der Fliegende Holländer)–1975, 1996, 2018

Lohengrin–1921, 1922, 1924, 1926-28, 1931, 1933, 1935-37, 1947-49

Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg–1928, 1929, 1983, 2010

Parsifal–1929, 1930

Das Rheingold–1961, 1981

Tannhäuser–1926-30, 1932, 1935, 1937-40, 1945-48

Tristan und Isolde–1949

Die Walküre–1927, 1928, 1978

Roger Waters/Julien Bilodeau

Another Brick in the Wall–2018

Carl Maria von Weber

Der Freischütz–1933

Kurt Weill

Seven Deadly Sins–2003

Jaromír Weinberger

Schwanda the Bagpiper–1986

Meredith Willson

The Music Man–1983

Ermanno Wolf-Ferrari

Jewels of the Madonna (I Gioielli della Madonna)–1927

The Secret of Susanne–1920, 1922, 1928, 1937, 1948, 1953

The best investment advice should provide confidence in the future for you, your family, and the organizations you care about. At Johnson Investment Counsel, we are independent and employee-owned, and our experienced wealth advisors provide fee-only advice. This means we answer to no one but you, so you can get the most of the wealth you’ve worked so hard to build.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Artists’ Coffee Service: Refreshments donated by Sheila and Christopher Cole

Artist Housing: AHI Corporate Housing (Lauryn Zanone)

Banking Services: PNC Bank; Huntington Bank

Education Partners: Opera Goes to Church Sunday Series: Allen Temple A.M.E, College Hill Presbyterian Church; The Magic Flute Adaptation: Madcap Puppets—Dylan Shelton, Paul Strickland, Carol Walker, Melissa Bennett, Victoria Elling ton, Heidi Miller, Avery Bargasse, Jacob Zhou, Karie Gipson; International Freedom Conductor Awards: National Underground Freedom Center, Steve Milloy, Jillian Harrison-Jones, Cindy Cande laria, Ciara Harper, Kyndra Dyanne Jefferies, Vic toria Okafor, Hira Adhami, Molly Brown, Marci Hedges, Marcellene Winfrey, Avery Bargasse, Mark Johnson, Sandra Thornton, Robert Web ster, Jason Alexander-Holmes, Ruben Candelaria, Deondra Means, Daniel Parsley, Eunhwa Lee; Watch Night: Juneteenth Cincinnati, Inc., Lydia Morgan, Deondra Kamau Means, Piper N. Davis; Share the Love Truck Tour: Academy of World Languages, Boone County Public Library, Camp bell County Public Library, College Hill Urban Re development Corporation, Corryville Recreation Center, John P. Parker School, Lincoln Recreation Center, Madison Elementary, Mason Elementary School, Mason Intermediate School, Stephanie O’Rear, Roselawn Community Urban Redevel opment Corporation, St. Lawrence School, Sum mit View Academy, Taylor Mill Elementary, The Villages of Roll Hill, TreeHouse Cincinnati, Inc.; Opera Storybook Hour: ABC After School, Boone County Public Library, Campbell County Pub lic Library–Cold Springs Branch, Cincinnati Art Museum, St. Lawrence Elementary, TreeHouse Cincinnati, Inc.; Behind the Voice: Carol Walker, Alexandra Schoeny, Jacob Zhou; Music in Mo tion: The Giving Voice Foundation, Stacy Shirley, Anna Bonham-White, Carol Walker; I Am Fierce Partner Showcase: i.imagine, Music Resource Center—Cincinnati, WordPlay Cincy; Fierce Pod cast: Sheila Williams, William Menefield; Activi ties Beyond the Classroom: Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra; College Hill Recreation Center, Da vid Daniel, Marjorie P. Lee Retirement Commu nity, Mindful Music Moments, OPERA America,

Rothenburg Preparatory Academy, Danielle Co zart Steele, Krista Cornish Scott, William Mene field, The Giving Voice Foundation, UC Health, University of Cincinnati

Event Hosts and Partners: Flávia Bastos, Ph.D., and Larry Huston; Melanie M. Chavez; Michael L. Cioffi and Rachael A. Rowe; Esoteric Brew ing; Ryan L. Messer and James Musuraca-Messer; Pursuit; Revel OTR Urban Winery; Richter & Phillips Jewelers; Sloane; Brett Stover; Woodburn Brewing; Anne and Allen Zaring III

Gifts-In-Kind: Aglamesis Bros.; Big Ice; B&A Street Kitchen; Drs. David and Elaine Billmire; Brown Bear Bakery; A Catered Affaire; eat well celebrations and easts, LLC; FILLO Greek Bake Shop; Karlee Hilliard; Kendrick & O’Dell; The Kroger Company; LouVino; LPK; Passion Growers; Paycor; Richter & Phillips Jewelers; Joe Rigotti/Accent on Cincinnati; Taft’s Ale House; Taste of Belgium; Thunderdome Restaurant Group; The Travel Byrds; University of Cin cinnati College-Conservatory of Music; Viking Cruises; Woodburn Brewing

Green Room Hospitality: Nick Ciafardini

Investment Managers: PNC Institutional In vestments; Johnson Investment Counsel; 1919 Investment Counsel; Fort Washington Capital Partners Group; Huntington Bank

Legal Assistance: Boris Auerbach; Robert W. Olson, Charles E. Baverman III, Jason Hilliard, Hayley Geiler, Dinsmore & Shohl LLP; Sarah Clay Leyshock, Julia B. Meister, Taft Stettinius & Hol lister LLP; Ann Schoen, Frost Brown Todd LLP

Matching Gift Companies: Bank of America Charitable Foundation; The Benevity Commu nity Impact Fund; GE Foundation; Johnson & Johnson Family of Companies; Messer Construc tion; PNC Bank; U.S. Bank

Medical Advisor: Jennifer Wall Forrester, M.D., University of Cincinnati Medical Center

Media Partners: Cincinnati Public Radio, 90.9 WGUC and 91.7 WVXU

Official Piano Technician: Russell McNamara, Piano Perfect

Preferred Hotel Partners: Hilton Cincinnati Netherland Plaza; The Kinley Cincinnati Downtown

Production Partners & In-Kind: AJG Risk Management; Cincinnati Arts Association; Cin cinnati Ballet; Cincinnati Music Hall; Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park; Cincinnati Stage Employ ees Local 5 IATSE; Cincinnati Wardrobe Union Local 864 IATSE; Cincinnati Symphony Orches tra; Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden; Hase & Associates, Ltd.; Paul H. Lippe, Inc.; Punky’s Pixels; School for Creative and Performing Arts; SEKO Logistics CVG; Spotted Yeti; University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music Pro duction Departments; Vincent Lighting

Program Book: Produced by Cincinnati Maga zine: Publisher Ivy Bayer; Director of Editorial Operations Amanda Boyd Walters; Senior Art Director Emi Villavicencio. Opera Editorial As sistance by Karen Krumpak and Amanda Jackson.

Strategic Partners: ROKCincy; Young Profes sionals Choral Collective (YPCC)

Cincinnati Opera extends special thanks to the staff and faculty at the School for Creative and Performing Arts: Brad Gerard; James Jones; Kathy Magistrelli; Jeff New; Michael Owens; Angela Powell Walker; George Smith; Theresa Summe-Haas

Underwriters of the School for Creative and Performing Arts Professional Trainee Program:

Cincinnati Opera is a proud member of: ArtsWave; Cincinnati USA Convention & Visi tors Bureau; Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber; First World War Centenary Partnership, Imperial War Museum, London; Friends of Music Hall; Greater Cincinnati Alliance for Arts Education; Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky Afri can American Chamber of Commerce; Hispanic Chamber Cincinnati USA; Ohio Alliance for Arts Education; Ohio Citizens for the Arts; Opera Vol unteers International; Over-the-Rhine Chamber of Commerce.

Cincinnati Opera is a proud partner of:

OUR VISION

A community that is transformed and inspired by the power and beauty of opera.

OUR MISSION

To enrich and connect our community through diverse opera experiences.

CINCINNATI OPERA STAFF

Christopher Milligan

The Harry Fath General Director & CEO

Patricia K. Beggs General Director Emerita

Administration & Finance

Jason Terwilliger Chief Financial Officer

Julie Grady Heard Director of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

Matt Singleton Director of Technology

Sandra Levey Human Resources Manager

Cecilia Spencer Controller

Kelly Holterhoff Board Relations & Administration; Director, ROKCincy

Max Shichtman Accountant

Elizabeth Reyna COVID Safety Officer

Marissa Boitnott Administrative Intern

Philanthropy Joe Peacock Chief Philanthropy Officer

Raye Allen Director of Leadership Giving

Tera Pierce Director of Institutional Giving

Carlos García León Individual Giving Manager

Nicolette Rader Events Manager

Marley Runk

Patron Associate, Data Management

Maria Seffrin Philanthropy Intern

Education & Community Relations

Tracy L. Wilson Director of Community Engagement & Education

Jemannie Severson Luong Education Manager

Marketing & Communications

Todd Bezold Director of Marketing

Katie Syroney Director of Communications

Lori L. Hiltenbeitel Director of Ticketing & Patron Strategy

Scott Youger

Director of Database Systems

Aimee Sposito Martini Senior Graphic Designer & Illustrator

Melina Cicigline Marketing Intern

DiDi Turley Public Relations Intern

Philip J. Groshong Company Photographer

Emma Browning

Rory Hefner-Templar

Rebekah Lorenz Jennifer Radisch Matthew Ramler Customer Service Representatives

Mark DeWitt Gordon Graham

Mike Snyder Audio Description

Artistic Evans Mirageas

The Harry T. Wilks Artistic Director

Morris Robinson Artistic Advisor

Jane Hulburt Artistic Administrator

Cayla Burton Artistic Coordinator

Marjoram J E Lynn Artistic Coordinator, New Works Development

Peggy Monastra New Works Consultant

Henri Venanzi Chorus Master

James Maverick Assistant Chorus Master

Carol Walker Principal Coach

Stephen Mulligan John L. Magro Resident Conductor

Cory Battey Jason Holmes Elena Kholodova Marie-France Lefebvre Michael Lewis James Maverick Valerie Pool Matthew Umphreys Pianists

Eboni Adams Michael Scarola Alexandra Schoeny Kathleen Stakenas Haley Stamats Assistant Directors

Ellie Brown Abbey Harris Nor White Directing Interns

Kimberly Sabio Supertitles Coordinator

Anna Hlinomaz Company Management Intern

Rehearsal Coltan Foster Rehearsal Administrator

Cole Rodgers Rehearsal Assistant

Production Lyla Forlani Director of Production

Krista Billings Stage Operations Manager

Zach Quortrup Production Administrator Thomas C. Hase Lighting Director

Alex Mason Associate Lighting Director

Rebecca Senske Costume Director

Chad Phillips Costume Manager

James Geier Wig & Makeup Designer

Amy Whitaker Wig & Makeup Design Assistant

Hannah Holthaus Production Stage Manager

Megan Bennett Gina Hays Peter Nictakis Stage Managers

Megan Coutts

Tracy Hoffman

Jennelle John-Lewis

Brooke Redler

Jennifer Shaw Margot Whitney Assistant Stage Managers

Ruth Wartman Scenic & Prop Coordinator

Gina Cerimele-Mechley Fight & Intimacy Director

Katie Anthony Madison Stone Stage Management Interns

Izzy Flores Natalia Carlson Lighting Interns

Maria Barnes Wig & Makeup Intern

Anna Vidergar Scenic Artist Intern

Audrey Tieman Properties Intern

Technical

Gary Kidney Technical Director

Jon Chevalier Master Carpenter

Leah Busse Construction Carpenter

David Hall

Brad Kidney Carpenter Second Hands

Todd Cummins Flyman

Kevin Eviston Master Electrician

John Parr Board Operator

Kevin Barth Master of Properties

Tim Fowler Property Second Hand

Cedric Collier Head Sound Technician

Liz Vourlas Title Operator

Cherl Beyersdoerfer Costumer

Pat Hanlon Assistant Costumer

Iris Harmon Elizabeth Kline Kendall Owings Wardrobe Technicians

House Staff

Gary Kidney Technical Director

Kevin Eviston Master Electrician

Paul Stafford Master Carpenter

Terri Kidney Angela Sandmann Event Managers

Molly McGraw House Manager

GENERAL INFORMATION

Please Note...

• L atecomers will be admitted to the auditorium at the discretion of management.

• Please do not place coats or other objects on the balcony railings.

• Please turn off all mobile devices and signal watches during performances.

• Please refrain from talking or using a mobile phone during performances.

• Music Hall and S CPA are smoke-free buildings.

• Eating and drinking are strictly forbidden inside the auditorium with the exception of bottled water.

• Due to the adult subject matter and in consider ation for all patrons, we encourage that children be at least 7 years of age to be admitted to main stage productions. Visit our website for informa tion on community engagement and education programming for all ages.

Opera Insights A free overview of each opera is presented one hour prior to curtain, in Corbett Tower for Music Hall performances and in the Corbett Theater for SCPA performances.

Meet the Artists For Music Hall performances, pa trons may meet performers outside the stage door on Central Parkway.

Assistive Listening System An infrared wireless re ceiver for the hearing impaired is available upon request from event personnel for Springer Audito rium performances.

Audio Description Live descriptions of stage action for the visually impaired are presented by trained describers for Springer Auditorium performances. Please inquire with event personnel.

Accessible Seating Wheelchair access and as sistance with other mobility issues are available. Please request locations or assistance when order ing tickets, and please reserve early.

Elevators Elevators in Music Hall are located in both the South Hall and North Hall. At SCPA, an

elevator is located near the east entrance to the Corbett Theater.

Restrooms All restrooms in Music Hall are acces sible to people with disabilities and are located on all levels. Accessible restrooms are located on the first floor of SCPA.

ATM An ATM is available in the Western & South ern Lobby, near the Music Hall box office in the South Hall.

Broadcasts Cincinnati Opera’s 2022 season will be aired on 90.9 WGUC.

Supporting the Opera Contributions of all sizes are welcome and important to Cincinnati Opera. To make a donation or to inquire about donor bene fits, honor or memorial gifts, or acknowledgments, please contact Carlos García León, Individual Giv ing Manager, at 513-768-5561 or cgarcialeon@cin cinnatiopera.org.

Merchandise To purchase merchandise, visit cin cinnatiopera.org/bravo-shop.

Program Advertising Cincinnati Opera does not necessarily endorse the views, products, or services presented by program advertisers. For information about program advertising, contact Katie Syroney at 513-768-5526 or ksyroney@cincinnatiopera.org.

Box Office Hours Monday through Friday 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. Hours vary on weekends and perfor mance days; please visit cincinnatiopera.org for more information.

CONTACT INFORMATION

Email: feedback@cincinnatiopera.org

Website: www.cincinnatiopera.org

Main Phone: 513-768-5500

Box Office: 513-241-2742

Comment Line: 513-768-5576

U.S. Mail: Cincinnati Opera 12 43 Elm Street Cincinnati, O H 45202

Art illuminates the human experience. It connects us to each other, brings us closer, and reminds us of the incredible heights we’re capable of reaching. So from all of us at Huntington, a big thank you to the Cincinnati Opera for reminding us how brightly we all can shine.

Member FDIC. ®, Huntington® and Huntington. Welcome.® are federally registered service marks of Huntington Bancshares Incorporated. ©2022 Huntington Bancshares Incorporated.

A round of applause for the Cincinnati Opera. And everyone in your audience.