It is hard to believe, but this production of Siegfried marks my 100th production as a director (with 35 of these productions staged here in Atlanta). It cannot be a coincidence that Siegfried—an opera so close to my heart, marks this milestone. Staging the Ring Cycle has long been a dream for stage directors since its premiere, a 150 years ago. It is monumental in scope and profound in meaning. Wagner’s poetic libretti, philosophical depth, unforgettable characters, and breathtaking music makes it the ultimate Mount Everest for any director. For me, the Ring has also been a catalyst for building The Atlanta Opera into one of the nation’s leading companies.
I’m honored to work with Maestro Roberto Kalb, who conducted a brilliant Rigoletto for us and alongside an incredible creative team and cast of international superstars bringing this penultimate installment of the Ring, to life for you.
As we reach the midpoint of our 2024-25 season, I often reflect on the intense experiences we have brought to life so far: from the gritty innovation of Rent and La bohème at Pullman Yards to the brilliance of The Magic Flute, and the somewhat unexpected, recent triumph of Verdi’s Macbeth Looking ahead, in addition to the Ring, we’re thrilled to share the luminous production of Handel’s Semele with you and the buzz-worthy 96-Hour Opera Festival, with even more excitement coming in the 2025-26 season.
Drumroll please!
Here’s the big reveal: next season, we’ll open the season with a brand-new production of Fiddler on the Roof in collaboration with The Alliance Theatre. This visually stunning show will deliver the emotional depth and beauty that make it a timeless classic. Tickets are on sale now—don’t miss it!
And one more notice for you: for a limited time, singleevent tickets for next season’s Twilight of the Gods (Götterdämmerung) are available. If you’re not a season ticket holder, this is your chance to experience the final chapter of the Ring Cycle. Stop by our information table or call us to grab this exclusive offer.
Finally, we’re celebrating record-breaking achievements, from the success of the Bel Canto Gala to incredible progress on our Crescendo Comprehensive Campaign to build the first performing arts center on the Atlanta Beltline. Serving this community is the greatest honor of my career, and I wanted to thank you all, for supporting our vision to make The Atlanta Opera, a leading company in the nation. I am looking forward to the next 100 productions! Enjoy the opera!
COMPOSER & LIBRETTIST Richard Wagner FIRST PERFORMANCE August 16, 1876 at the Festspielhaus in Bayreuth, Germany
THIS PRODUCTION OF WAGNER’S SIEGFRIED IS SPONSORED BY *Mr. & Mrs. Carl W. Knobloch, Jr.
Thurmond Smithgall & the Lanie and Ethel Foundation Karina Miller Trust
Mr. Howard W. Hunter—Gramma Fisher Foundation
OPENING NIGHT SPONSORS
Mr. & Mrs. Paul Blackney
Alfredo & Beau Martin Disosway Foundation—Dudley & Carole Johnson
WITH ADDITIONAL SUPPORT FROM The Valhalla Society (see full listing on page 37)
VETERANS TICKET PROGRAM
DISCOVERIES SERIES
The Molly Blank Fund of the Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation
ADDITIONAL SUPPORT FROM The Livingston Foundation
The Atlanta Opera receives support from the City of Atlanta Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs and the Georgia Council for the Arts through the appropriations of the Georgia General Assembly. GCA also receives support from its partner agency—the National Endowment for the Arts. Funding for programming is provided by the Fulton County Board of Commissioners.
THE ATLANTA OPERA IS GRATEFUL FOR PUBLIC SUPPORT FROM *deceased
CONDUCTOR Roberto Kalb
STAGE DIRECTOR / PRODUCER Tomer Zvulun
SCENIC & PROJECTION DESIGNER Erhard Rom
COSTUME DESIGNER Mattie Ullrich
LIGHTING DESIGNER Robert Wierzel
PUPPET DESIGNER Jason Hines
WIG & MAKEUP DESIGNER Anne Nesmith
LIVE ACTION DIRECTOR Ran Arthur Braun
FILMED MEDIA Felipe Barral
CAST (IN ORDER OF VOCAL APPEARANCE)
MIME Rodell Rosel
SIEGFRIED Stefan Vinke
WANDERER (WOTAN) Greer Grimsley
ALBERICH Zachary Nelson
FAFNER Alexander Köpeczi
FOREST BIRD Amber Norelai
ERDA Lindsay Ammann
BRÜNNHILDE Lise Lindstrom
MOVEMENT SPECIALISTS Myric Andreasen, Bailey Jo Harbaugh, Brandon Nguyen-Hilton PUPPETEERS Jimez Alexander, Alexander Hudson
Scenery Constructed by Bay Productions Ltd., Dallas Stage Scenery, Inc., and The Atlanta Opera Productions Studios. Properties constructed by The Atlanta Opera Production Studios. Costume Construction by Minnesota Opera and The Atlanta Opera Costume Shop.
*Member of The Atlanta Opera Glynn Studio. Sponsored in name this season by a gift from Beth & Gary Glynn, The Glynn Studio Artists also receive significant support from the Donald & Marilyn Keough Foundation, John & Yee-Wan Stevens, and Jerry & Dulcy Rosenberg.
Richard Wagner SIEGFRIED
Reduced version by Gotthold Ephraim Lessing | Used by arrangement with European American Music Distributors Company, sole U.S. and Canadian agent for Schott Music GmbH & Co. KG, Mainz, Germany.
Director’s Note
WRITTEN BY Tomer Zvulun
Richard Wagner’s Ring cycle is the stage director’s Everest, a harrowing, all-consuming trek into a high-altitude miracle. It brings you face-to-face with a German Romantic’s take on Teutonic, Norse, and Greek mythology, a dash of Buddhism, the apex of 19th-century Western music, and state-of-the-art theater. It’s a colossal undertaking, a nextlevel, 15-hour binge of mind-blowing entertainment.
Storytelling undoubtedly helped ancient folk make sense of the natural world. But if you look closer at these tales, you’ll recognize the seeds of Harry Potter, Marvel Comics, and this morning’s news. Mythology renders the human psyche in living color. It comes to us energized with inherent truthiness and uncanny timeliness.
As a dramatist, Wagner knew he could work with the Ring characters because of their human qualities. They’re layered and imperfect. Even his gods and demigods have foibles and are defined not by their abilities (which are boring onstage) but by their vulnerabilities. To understand them, look at who or what they love.
Since the very first installment of the Ring, I frequently referred to the limitations of the word love in English. Simply put, it is not broad enough. The ancient Greeks got much more specific. They created a vocabulary to describe variations on love and set them as a window to the soul. Again, that delineation is (but not limited to):
Eros - Romantic or erotic love
Philia - Friendship
Storge - Love of family
Agape - Selflessness; love of humanity and the world
Philautia - Selfishness; love of self, money, and power
Most of us experience each of these forms of love at some point. The question is, which type defines a particular person? The opera Siegfried is like Judgement Day for the characters of the first two operas. They’ve aged, evolved, or, in some cases, devolved. We catch up with them as they loosen their grip on the world and yield to a new generation.
Siegfried is when the Ring LP turns, we are halfway through the story and are starting the second half. Musically Siegfried is often referred to as “The Ring’s Scherzo,” the “allegro” of the story. It is not only the third movement but also the most youthful and lightest with so much energy, young force and new momentum We are finally meeting the character who started the composer down this path in the first place.
PHOTO: THE SINTOSES
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Siegfried is human. He’s the grandson of Wotan, the king of the gods. And Grandpa has made an ungodly mess for him: Fafner, the dragon, holds the source of ultimate power—the Ring. Wotan and the odious Niebelung brothers (Alberich and Mime) all need Siegfried to get it back. And two of the three plan to kill him when he succeeds.
At the start of Siegfried, Wotan’s grandson is a handful, a reckless and ignorant force of nature—but we can hardly blame him. He’s been snatched at birth, lied to, and raised by Mime in the wilderness. Siegfried is a blank slate who’s never laid eyes on another human being.
In a stroke of genius, Wagner takes the epic battles of the first two operas and funnels all that unfinished business into Mime’s decaying hut in the forest. In the stillness of the nature, we can unpack the contrast between the old guard and the new. Siegfried is young, innocent, and virile. Wotan, Alberich, Mime, and Fafner grow feeble. Erda, the all-knowing mother of earth, is a fading shadow of herself. (This is where those Greek words come into play.)
Love of family and the world—storge and agape—give Wotan wisdom and gravitas. He lingers in the shadows like an old sage, rooting for his children to put things right.
Lust for power—philautia—acts like battery acid on the half-crazed souls of the others. Wagner used a device, “the Curse,” to illustrate the Ring’s power to corrupt and destroy. However, Buddhists would simply call it karma.
Each of the old timers started something they couldn’t finish. Only the guileless Siegfried can do it, but he knows nothing about their struggles. He boldly sets out, not to find valor but vulnerability—eros. His partner for this adventure, is the luminous Brünnhilde, who he meets toward the end of the opera. Together, they represent the new world, a fresh start. The corrosive nature of the previous generation is turning irrelevant. It is high time for a new beginning, rife with hope. Just like in life, the future of these youngsters can be bright, but also opens up darker paths. More about that in the next installment, Twilight of the Gods
Back to the quote of Richard Wagner: the mythic compression that Wagner talks about, is fundamental to our concept of the Ring. Our production does not reduce the Wagnerian world to a specific time and place, but rather creates a timeless, mythological world that highlights an alternative reality of fantasy and myth. In this production, we have avoided suggesting anecdotal connections to this story because we see the myths as so much bigger and more global than any one person’s “aha moments.” Wagner gave us the space to discover them for ourselves. That’s the beauty of mythology. And that’s the real magic of the Ring
“The incomparable thing about myth, is that it is true for all time. It’s content through utmost compression is inexhaustible for all time ...”
— Richard Wagner
SIEGFRIED COSTUME RENDERING BY
MATTIE ULLRICH
Passing A Splendid Torch
WRITTEN BY Julia Simmons
The playwright George Bernard Shaw once said, “Life is no ‘brief candle’ for me. It is a sort of splendid torch, which I have got hold of for the moment, and I want to make it burn as brightly as possible before handing it on to future generations.” Shaw’s perspective on life hits on ideas about generational cycles that are at the core of Siegfried, particularly when the opera is considered within the context of Richard Wagner’s full Ring Cycle
Siegfried is the heart of Wagner’s Ring In 1848, Wagner was working on a music drama tentatively titled Siegfried’s Death when he decided it needed a prefatory opera: Young Siegfried, which he wrote in 1851 After continuing to work on the project, he decided these operas needed more prefatory material, and he ultimately decided on a structure of three dramas and a prologue. Siegfried’s Death became Götterdämmerung, Young Siegfried became Siegfried, and he added Die Walküre as the first drama with Das Rheingold as the prologue.
Although Wagner wrote the libretti in reverse chronological order—adding more and more prefatory material to his initial idea for a project—he composed the music in the chronological order of the Ring, completing the score for Das Rheingold in 1854 and for Die Walküre in 1856. He began work on Siegfried that same year. He completed the first two acts by the end of 1857 and then set it aside until he seriously resumed work on it in 1869. The composition was finally complete by early 1871. In the twelve years between 1857 and 1869, Wagner did spend some time on Siegfried—making final copies of the first two acts and making
sketches for Act III—but he was largely on hiatus from the Ring. Instead, he wandered across Europe as a result of personal financial and marital struggles, during which time he composed Tristan und Isolde and Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg
Wagner kept his completion of Siegfried under wraps. Das Rheingold and Die Walküre had been premiered against his wishes, and he wanted to prevent the same from happening with Siegfried. Only after the completion of both Götterdämmerung and the Bayreuth Festival Theatre—Wagner’s own opera house—did he reveal that the opera was finished and scheduled its first performance. It was premiered as part of the full Ring Cycle in 1876.
Compared to the convoluted plots and complex relationships in the two preceding operas of the Ring Cycle, Siegfried’s storyline is relatively simple: Siegfried forges a sword, kills a giant and a dwarf, pushes aside the ruler of the gods, and rescues a Valkyrie. With such a straightforward narrative, it begs the question: is the opera focused on something besides plot?
After the initial two action-packed episodes of the Ring’s epic saga, Siegfried marks a transitional moment—a generational shift. The older generation that was introduced in Das Rheingold and Die Walküre is, in Siegfried, deteriorating. Sieglinde, Siegfried’s mother, dies even before the opera opens. The giant Fafner reveals his life regrets just before he dies. Mime, Siegfried’s foster parent, also dies, still consumed by the power of the ring. The dwarf Alberich, perhaps even more ring-obsessed than Mime, camps out by Fafner’s cave, homeless and friendless, with futile hopes of regaining the ring. Wotan, the ruler of the gods, wanders the earth speaking in riddles and ultimately gets pushed aside by Siegfried. Even Erda, the earth goddess, makes a confused appearance at the start of Act III: tired and disenchanted, she is unable to give any sage advice as she did in Das Rheingold
The transformation of the Ring’s older generation is most apparent when Siegfried is situated within the context of the whole Ring saga. In the context of the full cycle, these characters attain a depth absent from each opera in isolation. Only when considering the whole cycle can one know Wotan both at the height of his power and later as a wandering old man or know Alberich both at the peak
of greed and later in the pits of obsession. Without backstory, these characters might appear merely old or weak, but placed within the broader context of the Ring, they achieve greater humanity: it becomes impossible to see the fallen versions of these characters without remembering their larger-than-life personas from the earlier dramas.
Yet, it would be too simplistic to view this multi-generational narrative solely as the inevitable collapse of an old regime. That regime certainly is deteriorating, and The Atlanta Opera’s production highlights this disintegration through its staging of the production: the set is industrial, rusty, and crumbling, just like the dwindling power of the gods. But from this decay, a brighter future emerges, represented by Siegfried and Brünnhilde. The decline of the older generation allows space for a new generation at the end of the opera—a new era of love and hope.
This generational cycle in Siegfried takes place exactly as George Bernard Shaw describes it. Instead of individual lives—Fafner, Mime, Alberich, Wotan—being “brief candles” that simply go out, these lives create a light that passes to the next generation, a light that never goes out. Wotan not only comes to terms with this shift, but he even welcomes it. Through his earthly wandering and contemplations about life, he decides that he no longer fears the fall of the gods. He now sees that Siegfried and Brünnhilde, who are free from the corruption of the ring, will bring redemption to the world. Wotan willingly and happily passes the “splendid torch” to Siegfried, still burning brightly as the next generation lights its own path forward.
ERDA COSTUME RENDERING BY MATTIE ULLRICH
Synopsis
WRITTEN BY Michelle Winters
Siegfried is the third opera in Richard Wagner’s Der Ring des Nibelungen tetralogy following Das Rheingold and Die Walküre. It is the story of the fearless Siegfried as he comes to age and ultimately conquers the curse of the Ring. To reach manhood, he forges a sword, slays a giant dragon, and discovers the power of love.
Act I: The Forging of Nothung
Scene 1: Mime’s Cave in the Forest – The Nibelung Mime is in his cave, frustrated that he cannot forge a sword so strong that it cannot be broken by Siegfried, the orphaned son of Sieglinde and Siegmund, (primary characters from Die Walküre). Mime hopes his foster son Siegfried will kill the dragon Fafner, who guards the Nibelung treasure including the Ring of Power, that Mime desperately wants. However, Siegfried has broken every sword he has made. Mime recounts his life raising Siegfried in “Als zullendes Kind” (“As a Crying Child”). Siegfried enters with a wild bear as a captive and full of youthful arrogance. He demands to know about his parents. Mime reveals that Siegfried’s father died before he was born and gave him the broken sword Nothung, and his mother died giving birth to him. Mime admits that he cannot reforge the sword and Siegfried rushes out.
Scene 2: The Wanderer’s Riddle Contest – The Wanderer (really Wotan, the king of the gods) enters and challenges Mime to a riddle contest. If the Wanderer loses, he forfeits his life. Mime asks three questions about the Nibelungs, the Giants, and the Gods, which Wotan answers correctly. Mime is then challenged to answer questions that reveal Siegfried’s origins. Then the Wanderer asks who will forge Nothung. Mime cannot answer. The Wanderer declares that only someone who knows no fear can do it—and that person is Siegfried.
Scene 3: Siegfried Forges Nothung – Mime realizes he must teach Siegfried fear, or he will not control him. Siegfried, uninterested in Mime’s lessons, decides to forge Nothung himself. In an exuberant display of strength, he shatters the old pieces and reforges the sword. In “Nothung! Nothung! Neidliches Schwert!” (“Northung! Northung Conquering Sword!”) – Siegfried hammers the sword, rejoicing in its power.
Act II: Siegfried and the Dragon
Scene 1: In a Deep Forest Outside Fafner’s Cave – That same night, Alberich, Mime’s brother and former owner of the ring, watches over Fafner’s lair, hoping to reclaim the ring. The Wanderer appears and warns him that Siegfried is coming to kill the dragon. Alberich tries to warn Fafner, giving him one last chance to hand over the ring, but the lazy dragon refuses to listen.
Scene 2: Siegfried Slays the Dragon – Siegfried arrives, bored and longing to experience fear. He listens to forest sounds and mimics bird calls on his silver horn. This awakens Fafner, who emerges as a fearsome dragon. They fight, and Siegfried stabs Fafner in the heart with Nothung. As Fafner dies, he warns Siegfried about the curse of the Ring. Siegfried accidentally touches Fafner’s blood and gains the ability to understand the language of birds. A Forest Bird sings to him, telling him about the treasures in Fafner’s cave: the Ring and Tarnhelm (magic helmet).
Scene 3: Siegfried Learns Betrayal and Love – Mime and Alberich come out of hiding and argue as Siegfried explores the riches of the cave. Siegfried takes the Ring and Tarnhelm but does not understand their power. As Alberich hides again, Mime tries to poison Siegfried to steal the Ring, but Siegfried, now able to hear the deceit in Mime’s voice, kills him. Alberich, watching from afar, is
enraged. The Forest Bird sings of a sleeping woman on a fiery mountain—Brünnhilde, the Valkyrie. Siegfried decides to seek her out guided by the Forest Bird.
Act III: The Awakening of Brünnhilde
Scene 1: The Wanderer Confronts Erda – The Wanderer summons the earth goddess Erda, Brünnhilde’s mother, to ask for wisdom and learn the fate of the gods. Erda evades his questions, and Wotan realizes Siegfried will bring about the twilight of the gods.
Scene 2: Siegfried Breaks Wotan’s Spear – Siegfried arrives at Brünnhilde’s mountain, but the Wanderer blocks his path. When Wotan tries to stop him with his spear (the symbol of his rule), Siegfried shatters it with Nothung, signaling the end of the gods’ power. Wotan departs, defeated.
Scene 3: Siegfried Awakens Brünnhilde – Siegfried climbs the mountain, passes through the ring of fire, and finds Brünnhilde sleeping. At first, he mistakes her for a man, then realizes she is a beautiful woman. He is overwhelmed with emotion and fear, feeling something new for the first time. In the aria “Das ist kein Mann!” (“That is no Man!”) – Siegfried marvels at her beauty. As Brünnhilde awakens, she transforms from Valkyrie to mortal woman. She is torn between joy and sorrow, knowing her destiny is now tied to Siegfried. He declares his love for her, and she ultimately surrenders to human passion in “Ewig war ich” (“Forever I live”). As the opera ends, Siegfried and Brünnhilde sing of eternal love, foreshadowing the tragic events to come in Twilight of the Gods (“Götterdämmerung”)
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Siegfried Character Profiles
WRITTEN BY Michelle Winters
Wotan, king of the gods in the Ring Cycle, embodies authority, power, and the divine laws of the universe. However, he is deeply conflicted, torn between ambition for power and the recognition of its costs. His spear, inscribed with runes of universal law, is the source of his power. His missing eye was sacrificed in pursuit of wisdom. Wanting to control the future, his schemes to gain and then recover the Ring of Power propel
Mime, a dwarf from the underground realm of Nibelungen, is the brother of Alberich. A scheming, treacherous character, Mime rescued the orphaned Siegfried but hopes to raise a fearless but naïve stooge to do his bidding. Mime attempts to influence Siegfried to kill the dragon Fafner and capture the Ring of Power for his use, as well
Siegfried, a human, was destined to be the ultimate hero since before birth. His parents were the twins Sieglinde and Siegmund whose story is told is Die Walküre—the action-packed “prequel” opera. Orphaned after his father is killed by Wotan and his mother dies in childbirth, Siegfried matures unaware of his heritage. He is bold and independent with raw strength and untamed vitality; however, he is also naïve and innocent
FAFNER
Fafner, a giant, transforms himself into a dragon using the “tarnhelm”—the helmet made from the magical gold captured in the first of the Ring operas. As a dragon, he hoards the Nibelung treasure but mostly guards the ring of universal power, made
the plot of the Ring. His wife Fricka and his beloved daughter Brünnhilde play key roles in his life; however, Wotan’s infidelities beget many characters in the operas, including all the Valkyries (with Erda) and the tribe of the Walsüng including Siegmund and Sieglinde (from a human woman). Throughout the Ring operas, Wotan evolves from a proud, authoritative god to a wanderer who is resigned to a bitter fate.
as the massive Nibelung treasure the dragon hoards. Though a skilled blacksmith, Mime is unable to re-forge Nothung, the magic sword that is the weapon that will kill the dragon. The sword was originally wielded by Siegfried’s father Siegmund and created by Wotan. As the opera unfolds, Mime’s plots are revealed and Siegfried kills him.
of the complexities of the world. Fearless, he restlessly sets out to create his own life. Reforging Nothung, he sets out to slay the dragon and claim its treasures. Like all great heroes, Siegfried’s journey leads him to selfdiscovery and then to love. He transitions from an untamed warrior to a man capable of deep emotion. He represents a pure, unrestrained force of nature transcending the temptations of greed and power.
from the same stolen gold as the tarnhelm. Desperate to reclaim the ring and tarnhelm that he once possessed, Alberich hangs around the mouth of Fafner’s cave waiting for a chance to grab the treasures. Fafner is killed in an epic battle with Siegfried.
Alberich, the scheming Nibelung dwarf, is a central antagonist in Richard Wagner’s Ring Cycle and plays a critical role in Siegfried Though his presence is brief, his actions and ambition drive much of the overarching drama. Alberich is consumed by his desire to reclaim the Ring of the Nibelung, the source of ultimate power, which he forged in Das Rheingold and later lost to Wotan (who relinquished it to Fafner). Alberich appears
Brünnhilde is a Valkyrie semi-goddess and the beloved daughter of Wotan and Erda. She has lost her immortality and lies in an enchanted sleep on a mountaintop, surrounded by a ring of fire. This punishment was Wotan’s decree after she defied him in Die Walküre to protect Siegmund. Only a fearless hero can awaken her. Siegfried, having slain the dragon
Erda, the earth goddess, is a mysterious and prophetic figure in Wagner’s Siegfried and the broader Ring Cycle. She embodies wisdom, the primal forces of nature, and the inevitability of fate. As the mother of the Valkyries, including Brünnhilde, she plays a significant role in the cosmic drama of the operas. Wotan, now the Wanderer,
The Forest Bird is a magical figure that guides the hero on his journey. After Siegfried kills the dragon Fafner and tastes its blood, he gains the ability to understand the bird’s song. The Forest Bird reveals the location of the cursed Ring and Tarnhelm and warns Siegfried of Mime’s
near Fafner’s lair and confronts his brother Mime, who is also vying for the Ring, and the two engage in a tense exchange of insults and plotting. Although Alberich never interacts directly with Siegfried in this opera, his influence looms large. The curse he placed on the Ring sets the tragedy of the Ring Cycle in motion, and his manipulative nature underscores the contrast between his greed and Siegfried’s innocence.
Fafner and claimed his treasures, braves the flames and awakens Brünnhilde with a kiss. Though, initially overwhelmed by her loss of divine immortality, she eventually embraces human love and her new mortal existence. Brünnhilde’s awakening marks a transformative moment in the Ring Cycle, blending themes of heroism and deep emotional connection.
summons her from her eternal slumber to seek guidance. He questions her about the fate of the gods, but she provides little new insight, instead urging him to relinquish his hold on power and accept the inevitable end. Her dialogue reveals her disconnection from the mortal world and her growing detachment from the gods’ struggles.
treachery, enabling him to survive. Later, it leads Siegfried to Brünnhilde, guiding him through the fiery barrier that surrounds her. The bird symbolizes intuition and the harmony between nature and destiny, playing a crucial role in Siegfried’s path toward love and heroism.
ROBERTO KALB CONDUCTOR
ATLANTA OPERA DEBUT RIGOLETTO, 2023
Roberto Kalb, conductor, is the current music director of Detroit Opera. In the 2024-25 season, he will lead performances of West Side Story for his house debut with the Houston Grand Opera, La traviata and Rinaldo with the Detroit Opera. He will conduct the Orquesta Sinfónica de Minería in concerts alongside Sir Bryn Terfel in Mexico City. He will also debut with the Orquesta Sinfónica del Estado de Mexíco conducting Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 5. Recent highlights include debuts with the Santa Fe Opera where Kalb conducted L’elisir d’amore, his appearance here leading the The Atlanta Opera production of Rigoletto, as well as with the Civic Orchestra of Chicago. Kalb made his inaugural debut as Music Director of Detroit Opera conducting Yuval Sharon’s production of The Cunning Little Vixen. In Detroit, he also conducted an Arias and Overtures Gala, as well as launching the “Beyond the Pit” series featuring the Detroit Opera Orchestra. Kalb returned to Lyric Opera of Kansas City to conduct a double bill of Cavalleria Rusticana/Pagliacci. Kalb’s 2022-23 season included performances at the Lyric Opera of Chicago, Lyric Opera of Kansas City. San Diego Opera, and San Francisco Opera. In 2019, Kalb concluded his five-season tenure as resident conductor and head of music at Opera Theatre of St. Louis with a critically acclaimed run of Rigoletto in collaboration with the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra. He has an impressive repertoire of performances with various renowned opera companies and symphonies. These include the Opera Orchestra National Montpellier, Florida Grand Opera, Kentucky Opera, Opera Theatre of St. Louis, Michigan Opera Theatre, Wolf Trap Opera, Opera Maine, and Tulsa Opera. Additionally, he has conducted performances with Orquesta Carlos Chavez in Mexico City and the Orquesta Sinfonica da USP in São Paulo. He has collaborated with some of the leading orchestras in the United States, including the National Symphony Orchestra, St. Louis Symphony, San Diego Symphony, and the Louisville Orchestra. In 2021, Kalb was awarded the prestigious Solti Foundation U.S. Career Assistance Award. He holds degrees from the University of Michigan and the San Francisco Conservatory of Music. He is married to soprano, Mané Galoyan.
TOMER ZVULUN
PRODUCTION DIRECTOR
ATLANTA OPERA DEBUT
THE FLYING DUTCHMAN, 2009
General and Artistic Director of The Atlanta Opera since 2013, Israeli-born Tomer Zvulun is also one of opera’s most exciting stage directors, earning consistent praise for his creative vision, often described as cinematic and fresh with “a compelling dynamism” (Atlanta Journal-Constitution). His work has been presented by prestigious opera houses around the world, including The Metropolitan Opera, the opera companies of Israel, Buenos Aires, Wexford, Glimmerglass, Houston, Washington National Opera, Seattle, Detroit, San Diego, Minnesota, Boston, Cleveland, Dallas, Cincinnati, Pittsburgh, New Orleans, and Wolf Trap, as well as leading educational institutes and universities such as The Juilliard School, Indiana University, Boston University, and IVAI in Tel Aviv. Since becoming General and Artistic Director For the in Atlanta a decade ago, Zvulun has expanded the operations of the company from three to six productions per season, gained international notice for transformative artistic vision, while stabilizing the financials. Some of his noted achievements include launching the successful Discoveries series, creating the first young artist program, tripling the company’s annual fundraising, creating The Atlanta Opera Film Studio, launching a new-works competition and festival, developing The Veterans Program, and building a theatre in a circus tent where performances were conducted safely during the pandemic. His work has attracted international attention by earning numerous awards and prizes including nomination of The Atlanta Opera for the International Opera Awards in London and the selection of his production Silent Night as both the Irish Times and The Atlanta Journal-Constitution as production of the year. His focus on innovation led to an invitation to deliver a TED Talk as well as a case study being taught at Harvard Business School.
ERHARD ROM
SCENIC & PROJECTION DESIGNER
ATLANTA OPERA DEBUT
LUCIA DI LAMMERMOOR, 2011
Erhard Rom, set and projection designer, has designed settings for more than 200 productions around the globe. Most recently, he designed a new production of Don Giovanni for the Royal Swedish Opera in Stockholm. He has appeared frequently with the Atlanta Opera including the revival of La bohème in 2024. In 2015, he was named as a finalist in the designer of the year category for the International Opera Awards in London. Since then, his designs have frequently been featured in the Prague Quadrennial International Design exhibition. He has collaborated with many of the world’s leading directors, working for major companies including: San Francisco Opera (Marriage of Figaro, Susannah, Lucia di Lammermoor, Nixon in China), Seattle Opera (Semele, Eugene Onegin, La bohème), Washington National Opera (Don Giovanni, Samson and Delilah and Silent Night), Wexford Festival (Silent Night), Houston Grand Opera (Rigoletto), Vancouver Opera (Dead Man Walking, Otello), Glimmerglass Festival (A Blizzard on Marblehead Neck, Later the Same Evening, Silent Night), Opera Theatre of St. Louis (Faust, Jane Eyre, Carmen), Minnesota Opera (The Shining, Dead Man Walking, Rusalka, Romeo and Juliet), and Utah Opera (Moby Dick). Other companies include Boston Lyric Opera, Opéra de Montréal and Wolf Trap, among many others. His 2014 design of the European premiere of Silent Night for the Wexford Festival received two accolades from the 2015 Irish Times Theatre Awards including “audience choice” and “best opera production of 2014.” Future engagements include a new production of Fidelio and Macbeth for the Washington National Opera.
MATTIE ULLRICH COSTUME DESIGNER
ATLANTA OPERA DEBUT
SALOME, 2020
Mattie Ullrich has designed costumes for opera, theater, film, musicals, dance, and print. Recent opera productions include the world premiere of David T. Little and Royce Vavrek’s new work JFK at Fort Worth Opera; La clemenza di Tito at LA Opera; Satyagraha at the Ekaterinburg State Opera and Ballet (Russia); Don Giovanni at the Norwegian Opera and Ballet (Oslo, Norway); I due Foscari for Theater an der Wien (Vienna, Austria), Palau des Artes (Valencia, Spain) and LA Opera; Oresteia for Bard Summerscape Festival; Eliogabalo for Gotham Opera (performed at the NYC venue “The Box”); Nabucco productions at the Washington National Opera, Opéra de Montréal, Florida Grand Opera, and Opera Philadelphia; and Zaide for Wolf Trap Opera. She has designed many new Off-Broadway plays including The Starry Messenger with Mathew Broderick (The New Group), The Pride directed by Joe Mantello (Wicked), Fault Lines directed by David Schwimmer (“Friends”), Things We Want directed by Ethan Hawke (The New Group); and the popular one woman show Bad Dates directed by John Benjamin Hickey (Playwrights Horizons). Film projects include “Year of the Fish” (Sundance), “Sovereignty” (multi-festival, award-winning short) and “Shoplifting Chanel.”
ROBERT WIERZEL
LIGHTING DESIGNER
ATLANTA OPERA DEBUT
LUCIA DI LAMMERMOOR, 2011
Robert Wierzel has worked in opera, theater, dance, museums, and contemporary music. Opera credits include productions with the opera companies of Paris Garnier, Tokyo, Toronto, Bergen, Norway, Glimmerglass Festival, Seattle, Boston Lyric, Minnesota, San Francisco, Houston, Virginia, Chicago Lyric, Opera Theatre of Chicago, Montreal, Vancouver, Portland, Wolf Trap, NYCO, and San Diego. Wierzel’s work with dance includes the Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Company. Broadway credits include Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar & Grill starring Audra McDonald, Fela! (Tony Award nomination), and David Copperfield’s Broadway debut, Dreams and Nightmares. Off-Broadway credits include productions with the NYSF/ Public Theatre, The Signature Theatre, Roundabout Theatre Company, and Playwrights Horizons. Wierzel’s extensive regional theater work includes productions with the Alliance Theater (Atlanta), Goodman Theatre (Chicago), A.C.T. San Francisco, Arena Stage (Washington, D.C.), Hartford Stage, Long Wharf Theatre, The Guthrie, Mark Taper Forum, Actors Theatre Louisville, and The Old Globe. He is adjunct faculty at N.Y.U.’s Tisch School and is a Creative Partner at Spark Design.
JASON HINES
PUPPET DESIGNER
ATLANTA OPERA DEBUT THE THREPENNY OPERA, 2021
Jason Hines joined the Center for Puppetry Arts as the Resident Puppet Builder in 2002, and he is now the Artistic Director. Since joining the team Jason has designed and built puppets for many Center productions such as; Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, Dr. Seuss’s The Cat in the Hat, Stellaluna, Harold and the Purple Crayon, Pete the Cat, Click, Clack, Moo: Cows That Type, Charlotte’s Web, Peter Pan, Anne Frank: Within and Without, Ruth and the Green Book, Duke Ellington’s Cat, The Little Pirate Mermaid, Cinderella Della Circus, Old MacDonald’s Farm, The Tortoise and the Hare, The Ugly Duckling. Hines is also the co-developer and performer in the Center’s acclaimed productions The Ghastly Dreadfuls and Avanti, Da Vinci! The Secret Adventures of Leonardo da Vinci. Most recently, he wrote, designed, and directed the award-winning show Tesla vs. Edison. In addition to his work at the Center, Hines has worked on several TV shows and films. He was a puppet captain on the BBC’s puppet TV series Moon and Me. He had the opportunity to be a robot puppeteer in the motion picture Escape Plan 2: Hades. He has designed and built puppets for Alton Brown’s “Good Eats Reloaded” and Adult Swim. Around the Atlanta area, Jason recently designed and built puppets for The Atlanta Opera’s production of The Threepenny Opera. Regional theatres: Atlanta’s Alliance Theatre including The Wizard of Oz, Cinderella and Fella, Shrek the Musical, Tuck Everlasting, James and the Giant Peach, and Knuffle Bunny, a Cautionary Tale. Kentucky’s Actors Theater production of Louisville Shipwrecked! Jason directed Clash Titan Clash, Scarlet’s Web and created the Super Villain Monologues in conjunction with Atlanta’s Dad’s Garage Theatre Company.
ANNE NESMITH
WIG & MAKEUP DESIGNER
ATLANTA OPERA DEBUT
DIE WALKÜRE
, 2024
Anne Nesmith is a Washington, DC-based wig and makeup designer who has been working in opera and theatre for more than 20 years. She has designed nationally for the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, Opera Philadelphia, Arena Stage, Ford’s Theatre, Opera Boston, Shakespeare Theatre Company, Signature Theatre, Castleton Music Festival, Wolf Trap Opera, and Washington Ballet among others. Her work has been seen internationally at Seiji Ozawa’s Saito Kinen Festival in Matsumoto, Japan and Hyogo Performing Arts Center in Nishinomiya, Japan. Nesmith was the Resident Wig and Makeup Designer for the Baltimore Opera Company and has constructed wigs for the Metropolitan Opera, Wicked, the Scooby Doo, Live! tour and the Asian tour of 42nd Street. Her work has been seen in numerous Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery’s Cultures in Motion programs, Great Planes on the Military Channel, Ice Cold Killers for Investigation Discovery, MD Public Television and the U.S. Army’s tour Spirit of America
RAN ARTHUR BRAUN
LIVE ACTION DIRECTOR
ATLANTA OPERA DEBUT
DAS RHEINGOLD, 2023
Ran Arthur Braun is one of the world’s most sought-after stunt coordinators and action designers. He has worked on more than 350 live productions with most leading opera houses and festivals. Specializing in large-scale events led him to collaborate worldwide with major production companies, including venues in Asia and the Middle East. He also enjoys a long-standing collaboration with the Bregenz Festival, where he has worked for more than 20 seasons. Ran Arthur Braun has also made a name for himself as a director and set designer: he won the 2014 Music and Theatre Prize for Best Set Design and he was voted 2015 Director of the Year for his production of L’enfant et les sortilèges, both in Poland. He has been a member of Dmitri Tcherniakov’s production team since 2017. He teaches stage fighting at the Royal Opera House Covent Garden in London, the Centre de Perfeccionament Plácido Domingo in Valencia, Bolshoi in Moscow, Opera Studio Warsaw and the Opera Studio in Amsterdam. Braun also manages action actors for film, television, and stage projects, with recent work provided for Lucasfilm, Disney, Amazon Prime, PlayStation and Balich Wonder Studio. Winner of “Opernwelt” 2022 and 2023 award for production of the year, as a member of the artistic team of Christof Loy and Dmitri Tcherniakov. Known as the concierge of Action!, his network provides various services worldwide, including stunt gear, equipment and special effects.
JACOBSEN WOOLLEN ASSISTANT CONDUCTOR
ATLANTA OPERA DEBUT
Jacobsen Woollen is a conductor, cellist, and tenor and serves as Associate Conductor of the Illinois Symphony Orchestra, Conductor of the Illinois Symphony Youth Orchestra, Music Director of the Springfield Choral Society, and Music Director of the University of Illinois-Springfield Orchestra. An Indiana native, Woollen returns to the Midwest after he completed a Post-Graduate Diploma in orchestral conducting in Vienna at the Universität für Musik und Darstellende Kunst, conducted professional ensembles including the Polska Filharmonia Baltycka and Ensemble Ultreia, served as assistant conductor of the Vienna Opera Festival, and led the Schlosschor Hadersfeld. During his Vienna years, Jacobsen was frequently called back to the US to serve as assistant conductor at the Opera Theatre of St. Louis, where he led several workshops for new works, including Terence Blanchard’s Fire Shut Up In My Bones. Woollen earned a master’s degree in Orchestral Conducting and his bachelor’s degree from the University of Michigan and was active in the Ann Arbor musical community, serving as founder and director of Paradigm Shift Chamber Orchestra, music director of the Ann Arbor Camerata, and assistant conductor of the Michigan Life Sciences Orchestra.
GREGORY LUIS BOYLE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR
ATLANTA OPERA DEBUT THE PIRATES OF PENZANCE, 2016
Gregory Luis H. Boyle is grateful to have lived and traveled all around the United States to pursue his passion for opera. Boyle was the stage director of Tomer Zvulun’s production of Macbeth at the Atlanta Opera and for Zvulun’s production of La bohème as well as the associate director of Rigoletto. Boyle made his Atlanta Opera debut as the assistant director on Zvulun’s new production of Das Rheingold, which he helped originate at the Dallas Opera, and continued the journey on Die Walküre in the spring of 2024. Most recently, Boyle directed Don Pasquale for Inland Northwest Opera in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. Other credits include associate director at Lyric Opera of Kansas City, revival director for Michael Shell’s The Barber of Seville at Austin Opera, director for a semi-staged Tosca for Opera Philadelphia’s outdoor series at the Mann Center, director of a new production of La Favorite at the Academy of Vocal Arts in Philadelphia, and assistant director of Stephen Barlow’s new production of Don Giovanni at the Santa Fe Opera. Boyle has also worked with the Bonfils-Stanton Foundation Artists at Central City Opera as a director working with young students and with young professionals at programs including at the Academy of Vocal Arts in Philadelphia, the Santa Fe Opera, and the Herndon Foundation of Emerging Artists of Virginia Opera. Previously, Boyle has held associate and assistant director engagements at companies including Opera Philadelphia, the Santa Fe Opera, Cincinnati Opera Association, the Dallas Opera, Central City Opera and Virginia Opera among others.
ELIO BUCKY
SECOND ASSISTANT DIRECTOR
ATLANTA OPERA DEBUT
THE BOHÈME PROJECT, 2024
Elio Bucky is an opera stage director and projection designer whose work celebrates plurality, truth, and innovation in the creative process. This season, Bucky joins The Atlanta Opera as the 2024-25 Studio Artists Stage Director. In February, Bucky directed The Seven Deadly Sins with the Hilton Head Symphony Orchestra. Upcoming projects include serving as projection designer for Ana Maria Martinez’s Noche Española recital at Rice University and Die Fledermaus at Binghamton University. In the 2023-24 season, Bucky directed a new production of The Seven Deadly Sins at Wolf Trap Opera; and Puccini’s La bohème and Song Re-Imagined, a staged multimedia song recital at the Butler Opera Center. They designed projections for Puccini’s Suor Angelica and Gianni Schicchi at Binghamton University. As a champion for contemporary Opera, Bucky regularly collaborates with performers, composers, and librettists to present new work. Most recently, they served as the dramaturg for the piano-vocal workshop of The House of Yes, a new opera by Kamala Sankaram, Michael Kelly, and Kathleen Kelly (Wolf Trap Opera). Elio studied voice and opera performance at Northwestern University and opera directing at the Butler Opera Center. They have held prestigious directing fellowships at Wolf Trap Opera and the Music Academy of the West and trained as a singer at the Chautauqua Institution.
EMMA GRIMSLEY THIRD ASSISTANT DIRECTOR
ATLANTA
OPERA DEBUT
Emma Grimsley is a multidisciplinary artist based in New York City. Emma made her directorial debut in the Fall of 2024 with a production of Puccini’s Tosca at Shreveport Opera. As a writer, Emma’s nonfiction work has been published by DIAGRAM and Playbill. Her play Cassandra was featured by Maker’s Ensemble in January 2025. Her play Silver Paper received its initial reading in 2020, organized and moderated by director Stephen Wadsworth. Emma’s solo show Oftentimes Better has appeared in New York City at both Triad Theater and The Green Room 42. As a performer, Emma straddles the classical and musical theater worlds with regional, touring, and off-Broadway projects in both genres. She was part of the North American touring company of The Phantom of the Opera, playing Christine Daaé through the tour’s closing. Emma has appeared onstage as Kate in the world premiere of Grammy-winner Marcus Hummon’s Favorite Son at Nashville Opera, as Johanna in Sweeney Todd with New Orleans Opera, as Cunegonde in Candide with Charlottesville Opera, and as Younger Alyce in Glory Denied with Des Moines Metro Opera and Nashville Opera.
LINDSAY AMMANN
ERDA
ATLANTA OPERA DEBUT
Lindsay Ammann, mezzo-soprano, began the 2024-25 season with a role and house debut at San Francisco Opera for A Handmaid’s Tale (Serena Joy) followed by returns to Bayerische Staatsoper for Le Grand Macabre (Mescalina), and Deutsche Oper Berlin for Rigoletto (Maddalena)
Last season included a role and house debut at Opéra National de Lyon in Die Frau ohne Schatten (Die Amme) followed by returns to The Metropolitan Opera for The Magic Flute (Third Lady), Deutsche Opera Berlin for Der Ring des Nibelungen (Erda/Die erste Norn/Flosshilde), and Bayerische Staatsoper for Le Grand Macabre (Mescalina). Ammann made her debut at the Lyric Opera of Chicago in David Pountney’s 2020 production of Der Ring des Nibelungen (Flosshilde/Schwertleite). She made her debuts at Opera Omaha in Falstaff (Quickly), The Dallas Opera in Cuomo’s Arjuna’s Dilemma, Central City Opera in Il trovatore (Azucena), Washington National Opera in Der Ring des Nibelungen (Erda/Die erste Norn/Schwertleite) directed by Francesca Zambello. She made her debut at The Metropolitan Opera in the 2010 Lepage production of Der Ring des Nibelungen (Rossweiße). While a member of the Ensemble at Staatsoper Stuttgart, she performed in Falstaff (Dame Quickly), Eugene Onegin (Olga), the world premiere of Ayres’ Peter Pan (Tiger Lily), Der fliegende Holländer (Mary), Die Zauberflöte (Dritte Dame), and Götterdämmerung (Die erste Norn/Flosshilde). While a Resident Artist at Pittsburgh Opera, Ammann was seen in Lucia di Lammermoor (Alisa), Rinaldo (Goffredo), Eugene Onegin (Olga), Falstaff (Dame Quickly), and the title role in The Rape of Lucretia
GREER GRIMSLEY WOTAN
ATLANTA OPERA DEBUT
DAS RHEINGOLD, 2023
Greer Grimsley, a GRAMMY® Award nominee, is widely recognized as one of the foremost Wagnerian singers of today. Known for his portrayal of Wotan, he has performed in prestigious opera houses, including Deutsche Oper Berlin, Teatro Comunale di Bologna, Gran Teatre del Liceu, New National Theatre Tokyo, San Francisco Opera, and Seattle Opera. Recent highlights include his return to The Metropolitan Opera as The Captain in Florencia en el Amazonas, Scarpia in Tosca at Palm Beach Opera, and his acclaimed Wotan in Die Walküre with The Atlanta Opera. He also performed in the world premiere of The Righteous at Santa Fe Opera and sang Wotan at Aspen Music Festival. This season, Grimsley returns to the Met as the Commander in Grounded, sings Siegfried Wotan with The Atlanta Opera, and joins Fort Worth Symphony for Der fliegende Holländer. He will also be Artist in Residence at The Glimmerglass Festival, where he will perform Scarpia in Tosca. Grimsley’s acclaimed portrayals of Wagner’s characters include the title role of Der fliegende Holländer with Seattle Opera, Bayreuther Festspiele, and Ravinia Festival, Telramund in Lohengrin with The Metropolitan Opera and Lyric Opera of Chicago, and Kurwenal in Tristan und Isolde at Gran Teatre del Liceu and Prague National Theatre. His portrayal of Amfortas in Parsifal at The Metropolitan Opera, and Wotan in Das Rheingold at Teatro Real and Die Walküre with the Royal Swedish Opera, have earned him international acclaim.
ALEXANDER KÖPECZI
FAFNER
ATLANTA OPERA DEBUT
Alexander Köpeczi, bass, is a recipient of the Herbert von Karajan Prize and is currently an ensemble member of the Bayerische Staatsoper. He makes his U.S. debut in this production. His engagements include productions at the Royal Opera House, Metropolitan Opera, Gran Teatre del Liceu Barcelona, Dutch National Opera, Opéra de Paris, Teatro di San Carlo Naples and Salzburg Easter Festival. In recent seasons he was heard as Colline (La bohème) at Royal Opera House Covent Garden and Bayerische Staatsoper, Alvise (La Gioconda) at Teatro di San Carlo in Naples and Sparafucile (Rigoletto) with Royal Opera House on tour to Japan. Further productions in Munich include Madama Butterfly, Carmen, Parsifal, Idomeneo and Tannhäuser
Köpeczi made a highly acclaimed debut as Ramfis (Aida) at the Bayerische Staatsoper. He also made his company debuts with Komische Oper Berlin as Sarastro (Die Zauberflöte); Salzburg Easter Festival as Reinmar von Zweter (Tannhäuser); and returned to the Royal Opera House as Il Frate (Don Carlo). Further roles in Munich included: Il Frate, Moser I Masnadieri, Sarastro and Second Armed Man (Die Zauberflöte) and Tom (Un Ballo in Maschera). Recent highlights include the world premiere of Jenő Hubay’s Le luthier de Crémone; Il frate (Don Carlo), Lodovico (Otello), Il Re (Aida), Jose Castro (La fanciulla del West) and Colline (La bohème) at the Hungarian State Opera House in Budapest; Brander (La damnation de Faust) with the Transylvania State Philharmonic in Cluj-Napoca, Colline (La bohème), Lodovico (Otello) and Zuniga (Carmen) at the Hungarian State Opera House in his native Cluj, Romania where he was a member of the ensemble. Köpeczi began his musical training in Cluj, Romania as a pianist and accompanist. He then moved onto studying voice and made his professional stage debut in 2014. He can be heard as Jose Castro and Billy Jackrabbit on the PENTATONE recording of La fanciulla del West; and as Doctor Grenville (La Traviata) on the same label.
LISE LINDSTROM BRÜNNHILDE
ATLANTA OPERA DEBUT
Lise Lindstrom, soprano, performs in roles that range from Turandot to Senta, Elektra and Brünnhilde. Lindstrom’s distinguished career has taken her to the world’s leading opera houses including The Metropolitan Opera, San Francisco Opera, Vienna State Opera, Royal Opera House Covent Garden, La Scala Milan, Bavarian State Opera Munich, Deutsche Oper Berlin, Semperoper Dresden, Hamburg State Opera, San Diego Opera, Seoul Arts Centre, Palau de les Arts Valencia, Teatro di Palermo, Arena di Verona, Opera Australia and Teatro San Carlo in Naples, among others. In 2016 Lindstrom performed Brünnhilde in her first-ever full Ring Cycle for Opera Australia. A leading interpreter of Wagner’s heroines, Lindstrom has also portrayed Senta (Der fliegende Holländer) with San Francisco Opera, Polish National Opera and New Orleans Opera, both Elisabeth and Venus (Tannhäuser) with Greek National Opera, and Brünnhilde (Die Walküre). Lindstrom’s performances of the title role of Salome have taken her to the stages of the Wiener Staatsoper, San Diego Opera, Dallas Opera, Teatro Regio di Torino and Teatro Carlo Felice Genova. Projects in the current season include Färberin (Die Frau ohne Schatten) at the Oper Köln, Brünnhilde in the brand new Ring Cycle at the Opera Australia in Brisbane, Elektra at the Semperoper Dresden and Tosca with the Greek National Opera. She studied at San Francisco State University and the San Francisco Conservatory of Music.
ATLANTA OPERA DEBUT
DAS RHEINGOLD, 2023
Zachary Nelson, baritone, was featured on the Atlanta Opera stage in his role debut of Alberich (Das Rheingold) in the 2022-23 season. His 2024-25 season features a mix of roles and favorites for Nelson as he returns to Lyric Opera of Chicago in Missy Mazzoli & Royce Vavrek’s The Listeners (Paul) and makes his role debut in Bluebeard’s Castle (Bluebeard) with Opera San Jose. He returns to one of his signature roles as Leporello (Don Giovanni) with Opera Omaha and performed Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony in concert with the Joe Illick New Year’s Orchestra. Previously he made a role debut with the Palm Beach Opera as the Four Villains (Les contes d’Hoffmann). Other appearances included the Florentine Opera as Dulcamara (L’elisir d’amore) and Arizona Opera as Leporello (Don Giovanni). In concert he joined the Utah Symphony for Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9, and Act 3 of Berg’s Wozzeck, and appeared with the Sag Harbor Song Festival in recital. During the summer of 2024 he debuted the role of Faninal (Der Rosenkavalier) with Santa Fe Opera. Career highlights include Marcello (La bohème) with New Orleans Opera and the Jacksonville Symphony, Escamillo (Carmen) and Ping (Turandot) with Palm Beach Opera, the title role in Sweeney Todd with Des Moines Metro Opera, and Doug (Everest) with Chicago Opera Theater. Other notable US appearances include Arizona Opera, San Francisco Opera, Pittsburgh Opera, and Opera Orchestra of New York. He has appeared in concert with Leah Crocetto at New York City’s Morgan Library under the auspices of the George London Foundation, essayed Bloch’s Sacred Service with Voices of Ascension in New York City and joined Steven Blier’s “Killer B’s” with the New York Festival of Song.
AMBER NORELAI FOREST BIRD
ATLANTA OPERA DEBUT
Amber Norelai, soprano, appears this season as Madama Cortese in Rossini’s Il viaggio a Reims with the Salzburger Landestheater, as Amore in Orfeo ed Euridice with The Dallas Opera, and Forest Bird in Siegfried with Atlanta Opera. Highlights of recent seasons include Dayton Opera’s season-opening gala and New Year’s concerts in Wroclaw, Poland, as well as a return to Sante Fe Opera as Euridice (L’Orfeo). She was a 2023 Benenson Young Artist with the Palm Beach Opera, covering Despina (Così fan tutte) and Nannetta (Falstaff), a role she also covered in David MacVicar’s production at the Santa Fe Opera in summer 2022. Norelai has appeared in concert in Vienna’s prestigious Musikverein singing Das himmlische Leben from Gustav Mahler’s Symphony No. 4 with the Wiener Akademische Philharmonie; and as the soprano soloist in Pergolesi’s Stabat Mater under the baton of Erwin Schrott with the Webern Kammerphilharmonie in Schlosstheater Schönbrunn. She made her European debut in 2020 singing Anna Reich (Die lustigen Weiber von Windsor) in the Wilhelma Theater in Stuttgart, Germany, and returned the next season as Zerlina (Don Giovanni). Norelai earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Music Education from the University of Oklahoma and her Master of Music from the Staatliche Hochschule für Musik und Darstellende Kunst in Stuttgart. She has received awards from the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions as a 2023 District Winner and was the winner of the 14th International Vocal Competition “Giovani Musicisti.”
ZACHARY NELSON ALBERICH
RODELL ROSEL
MIME
ATLANTA OPERA DEBUT
Rodell Rosel, Grammy-nominated tenor is a sought-after interpreter of character roles, appearing regularly at major opera houses, including the Metropolitan Opera, Lyric Opera of Chicago, Los Angeles Opera, Houston Grand Opera, and the Royal Opera House. His repertoire includes Monostatos, Goro, Mime, Loge, Basilio, Tanzmeister, Spoletta, and the Four Servants (Les Contes d’Hoffmann). In the 2024-25 season, he returns to the Metropolitan Opera, Seattle Opera (Die Zauberflöte), Los Angeles Opera (Madama Butterfly), and the Edinburgh International Festival (Capriccio). Recent highlights include Pagliacci (Beppe) with Austin Opera and Das Rheingold (Loge) with Calgary Opera. Rosel made his Metropolitan Opera debut as Valzacchi (Der Rosenkavalier) alongside Renée Fleming, Susan Graham, and Sir Thomas Allen. He created Ong Chi Seng in Paul Moravec’s The Letter (Santa Fe Opera) and Anthony Candolino in Great Scott by Jake Heggie and Terrence McNally (Dallas Opera). He has sung in productions by leading directors, including Michael Grandage, John Caird, Bartlett Sher, and David McVicar, and has worked with conductors such as James Conlon, Carlo Rizzi, and Sir Andrew Davis. A grand prize winner of the Metropolitan Opera Laffont Competition, Rosel has also been recognized in the Lotte Lenya, Palm Beach Opera, and Jose Iturbi competitions. He trained at Lyric Opera of Chicago’s Ryan Opera Center, the Music Academy of the West, and UCLA. He continues to study with heldentenor Timothy Mussard.
STEFAN VINKE
SIEGFRIED
ATLANTA OPERA DEBUT
Stefan Vinke, German Heldentenor, graduated as a church musician at the Cologne College of Music before beginning his professional singing career in Karlsruhe and Krefeld / Mönchengladbach. His plans include Siegmund (Die Walküre) at Greek National Opera, his return to Opera Australia for the new production of the Ring Cycle at Brisbane, Siegfried at Stuttgart Staatsoper, as well as a return to the Müpa in Budapest as Siegfried in the Ring Cycle, the title roles of Tristan und Isolde for Seattle Opera, Tannhäuser for the Royal Opera House and Teatro Colon Buenos Aires, among others. On the concert platform he joins Benjamin Zander and the Boston Philharmonic for a performance of Das Lied von der Erde, and sings the title role of Tannhäuser in a concert performance for Opera Australia. Globally renowned as an interpreter of Wagner’s great tenor roles, he has sung the title roles of Tristan, Siegfried, Tannhäuser, Parsifal, Lohengrin and Rienzi, also Siegmund (Die Walküre), Siegfried (Götterdämmerung), Erik (Der Fliegende Holländer), and Walther von Stolzing (Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg) Stefan Vinke was Tristan in two productions, Siegfried (Siegfried and Götterdämmerung) and Walther von Stolzing at the Bayreuth Festival. His numerous Ring Cycle appearances include the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden with Sir Antonio Pappano, the Metropolitan Opera, New York, Wiener Staatsoper, Deutsche Oper Berlin, Salzburg- and Bayreuth festival and Bayerische Staatsoper under Kiril Petrenko, Barcelona, Venice, Köln, Bukarest, Budapest, Melbourn. He has also sung the title role of Idomeneo, Florestan (Fidelio), Bacchus (Ariadne), Menelas (Die ägyptische Helena), Paul (Die tote Stadt), Alviano (Die Gezeichneten), and Jim Mahony (Aufstieg und Fall der Stadt Mahagonny) in the theatres of Berlin, Hamburg, Cologne, Leipzig, Stuttgart, Munich, Paris, Montpellier, Lisbon, Barcelona, Venice, Madrid, Sydney, Bejing, Geneva, Chicago, Seattle, Hong Kong, Tokyo, and at the Salzburg Festival.
Studio Artist Program
This season, singers Aubrey Odle, Amanda Sheriff, and Jason Zacher return for a second year in the program, with Wayd Odle coming on as the only freshman singer. Joining the vocalists will be stage director Elio Bucky
Each of the Studio Artists is an early career professional with significant training and stage experience, some with lead performances and major concert appearances on their resumé.
The program builds on The Atlanta Opera’s commitment to provide opportunities for performers at all stages in their careers.
Throughout the season, these artists will have the opportunity to work with established performers and coaches
to improve their skills in all aspects of their field. Master Vocal Teacher
Laura Brooks Rice has been part of the Studio Artist program since 2021 and is an acclaimed performer and voice teacher and acting coach.
An experienced group of coaches and clinicians, including Principal Guest Voice Teacher David Okerlund, are engaged in the training and support of the Studio Artists.
The Atlanta Opera is grateful for the support of the young artist program from the Donald and Marilyn Keough Foundation, John and YeeWan Stevens, and Jerry and Dulcy Rosenberg.
AUBREY ODLE mezzo-soprano
ELIO BUCKY stage director
AMANDA SHERIFF soprano
WAYD ODLE tenor
JASON ZACHER bass-baritone
VIOLIN
Peter Ciaschini*
The Loraine P. Williams Orchestra Concertmaster Chair
Ami Campbell† Acting Concertmaster
Helen Kim*
Assistant Concertmaster
Lisa Morrison
Acting Assistant Concertmaster
Fia Durrett* Principal Second Violin
Virginia Respess-Fairchild
Acting Principal Second Violin
Adelaide Federici*
Assitant Principal Second Violin
Patrick Ryan
Acting Assistant Principal Second Violin
Edward Eanes*
Felix Farrar
Sally Gardner-Wilson
Robert Givens
Patti Gouvas*
Shawn Pagliarini
Jessica Stinson*
Rafael Veytsblum*
Tricia Anderson†
Holly Bryan†
Mary Matthews Burndrett†
Barbara Careaga†
Kevin Chaney†
Chelsea Cline†
Eileen Drew†
Kim Hain†
Heather Hart†
Alison James†
Tremaine Jones†
Kathryn Koch†
Matvey Lapin†
Ramel Price†
Grace Kawamura Stubbart†
Elonia Varfi†
Musicians employed in this production are represented by the American Federation of Musicians of the United States and Canada.
*Core Musician On Leave †Non-Core Musician
VIOLA
William Johnston Principal
Catherine Allain
Assistant Principal
Ryan Gregory*
Julie Rosseter*
Karl Schab*
Joli Wu*
Lacie Bowlware†
Clark Carruth†
Hilary Gamble-Villarral†
Tania Maxwell-Clements†
Shadwa Mussad†
Kathryn Steely†
Maggie Synder†
Meghan Yost†
CELLO
Charae Krueger Principal
Emma Cary*
Assistant Principal
David Hancock
Acting Assistant Principal
Mary Kenney
Cynthia Sulko*
Barney Culver†
Sarah Kapps†
Yuliya Kim†
Abigail Monroe†
Grace Sommer†
BASS
Daniel Tancredi Principal
Emory Clements
Bailey Bennett†
Adam Bernstein†
Jarod Boles†
Jonathan McWilliams†
FLUTE/PICCOLO
James Zellers
Principal
Kelly Bryant
doubling piccolo
Aaron Rib†
doubling piccolo
OBOE/ENGLISH HORN
Christina Gavin
Principal
Ann Lillya†
Kaitlyn Smith† doubling English Horn
CLARINET/BASS CLARINET
David Odom
Principal
John Warren
doubling Bass Clarinet
Justin Stanley†
BASSOON
Debra Grove
Acting Principal
John Grove†
doubling Contrabassoon
Marissa Takaki†
FRENCH HORN/WAGNER TUBA
David Bradley
Principal
Andrew Sehman†
Associate Principal
Jason Eklund
James Baker†
Michael Daly†
Eric Hawkins†
Mackenzie Newell†
TRUMPET
Yvonne Toll-Schnieder
Principal
Alexander Freund
Brandon Craswell†
TROMBONE
William P. Mann Principal
Richard Brady
Josh Bynum†
BASS TRUMPET
David Strand†
CONTRA BASS TUBA
Donald Strand
Principal
TIMPANI
John Lawless
Principal
PERCUSSION
Michael Cebulski
Principal
Jeff Kershner†
Courtney MacDonald-Bottoms†
HARP
Susan Brady Principal
Ellen Foster†
PERSONNEL MANAGER
James Zellers
A Passion Woven in Opera
Sandy Teepen’s Enduring Passion for the Arts
From an early age, Sandy Teepen was captivated by the world of opera. As a self-proclaimed “World War Two Kid,” she discovered its magic through The Metropolitan Opera’s radio broadcasts, hosted by the legendary Milton Cross. Her passion deepened as she built an extensive record collection, cherishing each album alongside her well-worn copy of Milton Cross’ Complete Stories of the Great Operas
Sandy’s artistic spirit naturally led her to a career in theater, where she worked as a costume assistant at respected venues, including Minnesota’s renowned Guthrie Theater. However, it was in Cincinnati that her love for opera truly ignited, sparked by a transformative production of Leonard Bernstein’s Candide
In 1982, life presented an unexpected new chapter when her husband, Tom, was offered a position as a columnist and editor at the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Though initially uncertain about the move, the couple quickly fell in love with Atlanta and its flourishing arts scene. Tom soon joined the board of directors at The Atlanta Opera, and together, they played a vital role in shaping the company’s early years.
Today, opera remains a cherished family tradition for Sandy, who regularly attends performances with her daughter and granddaughter. When not at the opera, she devotes herself to quilting in her Midtown studio, creating exquisite works that have been showcased in galleries across the country. Meanwhile, Tom’s journalistic contributions, now preserved at Emory University Library, continue to enrich Atlanta’s cultural heritage.
Sandy’s decision to include The Atlanta Opera in her estate plans is a testament to her lifelong dedication to the arts. Through her generosity, she ensures that future generations will continue to experience the transformative power of live opera.
To learn more about The Barbara D. Stewart Legacy Society, please contact Jonathan Blalock at 336-512-6832 or jblalock@atlantaopera.org.
PROVIDED BY: SANDY TEEPEN
VALHALLA SOCIETY
The Atlanta Opera recognizes the following donors whose extraordinary generosity has helped bring to life Atlanta’s first-ever Ring Cycle. Their support fuels this monumental artistic endeavor, ensuring Wagner’s epic masterpiece is staged with the power, passion, and grandeur it deserves. This list reflects gifts and annual pledges made in support of this historic production.
NIBELUNG SPONSOR
*Mr. & Mrs. Carl W. Knobloch, Jr.
WÄLSUNGEN SPONSOR
Mr. Howard W. Hunter—Gramma Fisher Foundation
Karina Miller Trust
Thurmond Smithgall and the Lanie & Ethel Foundation
SIEGMUND SPONSOR
Mr. & Mrs. Paul Blackney
Disosway Foundation - Dudley & Carole Johnson
Alfredo & Beau Martin
WOTAN SPONSOR
Atlanta Music Festival Association Fund of Community Foundation of Greater Atlanta
*Sylvia Halleck, MD
BRÜNNHILDE SPONSOR
Dr. & Mrs. Alexander Gross
The Halle Foundation
Mary & Charles Yates
SIEGLINDE SPONSOR
Mr. J. Carter Joseph
Dr. Jill Mabley
Mr. & Mrs. Steve Paro
Lynn & Kent Regenstein
Mr. & Mrs. William E. Tucker
FRICKA SPONSOR
*Mrs. Elizabeth Ann Bair
Dr. John W. Cooledge
The Hills Family Foundation, Mr. & Mrs. Thomas D. Hills, Trustees
Mr. Darryl-Christopher Payne
FOUNDING MEMBERS
James C. Goodwyne
David Hughes
Become a Valhalla Society member and help The Atlanta Opera realize its bold vision: creating stunning new productions of Wagner’s Ring Cycle. Valhalla Society members are the key to making these epic productions a reality and receive special recognition and exclusive benefits in return. To explore membership opportunities, contact the Opera’s development team: (470) 720-0534.
ANNUAL GIVING
We are grateful for the following donors’ generous support. This list reflects gifts and annual pledges to unrestricted operating expenses, special projects, and/or endowment made between September 1, 2023 and March 19, 2025.
DIRECTOR’S CIRCLE
$200,000+
Harold Brody & Donald Smith†
John & Rosemary Brown†
Dr. Frank A. Critz & Dr. Ann Critz†
Beth & Gary Glynn
Mr. Howard W. Hunter - Gramma Fisher Foundation†
Disosway Foundation - Dudley & Carole Johnson
Mr. & Mrs. Michael L. Keough
*Mr. & Mrs. Carl W. Knobloch, Jr.†
*Peggy Weber McDowell & *Jack McDowell
Mr. James B. Miller, Jr.
Larry L. Prince Family Foundation
Jerry & Dulcy Rosenberg†
Katherine Scott
Thurmond Smithgall & The Lanie and Ethel Foundation
$100,000+
Connolly Family Foundation†
*Sylvia Halleck, MD
Mr. John Haupert & Mr. Bryan Brooks†
Alfredo & Beau Martin†
John & Yee-Wan Stevens†
Rhys & Carolyn Wilson†
$50,000+
The Antinori Foundation†
Mr. & Mrs. Paul Blackney†
Mr. Robert P. Dean & Mr. Robert Epstein†
Mr. John L. Hammaker
Mary Ruth McDonald
Mr. & *Mrs. Robert L. Setzer
Mr. William F. Snyder†
Carol B. & Ramon Tomé†
Ms. Bunny Winter & Mr. Michael Doyle†
$25,000+
Cathy & Mark Adams†
Mr. & Mrs. James Anderson
Bryan & Johanna Barnes†
Laura & Cosmo Boyd
Mr. Frank H. Butterfield†
Matt & Kate Cook
Mr. Tomer Zvulun & Mrs. Susanna Eiland
Dr. & Mrs. Alexander Gross†
Mr. & Mrs. Edward J. Hardin
Mr. & Mrs. Douglas J. Hertz
Sandra & Peter Morelli†
Talia & John Murphy
Victoria & Howard Palefsky†
*Mr. William E. Pennington†
Mr. Peter Read
Judith & Mark Taylor
Mr. & Mrs. William E. Tucker
Benny & Roxanne Varzi
Bob & Cappa Woodward Charitable Fund
Mary & Charles Yates†
PATRON’S CIRCLE
$15,000+
*Mrs. Elizabeth Ann Bair
Julie & *Jim Balloun†
Mr. David Boatwright†
Ms. Mary Calhoun
Barbara N. Croft & Thomas High
Mr. Robert & Mrs. Elizabeth Currie
Dr. Donald J. & Janet Filip†
The Gable Foundation, Inc†
Alex & Heather Hertz
Mr. J. Carter Joseph
Ms. Elizabeth Klump
Mimi & Dan D. Maslia
Slumgullion Charitable Fund†
Philip & Caroline Moïse
Mr. & Mrs. Richard P. Nicholas III†
Ms. Janine Brown
& Mr. Alex J. Simmons, Jr.
Mr. & Mrs. E. Kendrick Smith
Triska Drake & G. Kimbrough Taylor
Larry & Beverly Willson†
Gold $10,000+
Shareef & Dee Dee Abdur-Rahim
Elizabeth & Jeremy Adler†
Mrs. *Phillip E. Alvelda†
*Mr. & *Mrs. Shepard B. Ansley
Dr. & Mrs. Asad Bashey
*Mr. & Mrs. C. Duncan Beard
Mr. & Mrs. Dante Bellizzi
Anonymous
Dr. John W. Cooledge
Dieter Elsner
Mr. Leroy & Mrs. Ariana Fass
Stephens Family Foundation
Mr. Michael D. Golden
& Dr. Juliet Asher
The Hilbert Law Firm
Donna & *Richard Hiller
Roya & Bahman Irvani
*Mary & *Wayne James
Gail G. Johnson
James M. Kane
& Andrea Braslavsky Kane
Dr. & Mrs. David Kavtaradze
Dr. Jill Mabley†
Belinda & Gino Massafra
Mr. Mark & Mrs. Laura Miles
Stephanie & Gregor Morela†
Mr. Tom Nolan
Mr. & Mrs. Steve Paro†
Mr. & Mrs. Michael E. Paulhus†
Lynn & Kent Regenstein†
Mr. James L. Rhoden
Ms. Ana M. Rountree
& Mr. Mason Rountree
Mr. Milton J. Sams†
Thomas R. Saylor
Charles T. & Donna Sharbaugh†
Mr. & Mrs. Timothy E. Sheehan
Christine & Mark St.Clare†
Lynne & Steven Steindel
George & Amy Taylor†
Wadleigh C. Winship Charitable Fund
Silver $5,000+
Mr. Kent B. & Dr. Diane Alexander
Mr. Edward S. & Mrs. Nese Berkoff
Drs. Tatiana & Igor Bidikov
Catherine A. Binns
Dr. R. Dwain Blackston
Ginny & Charles Brewer
Drs. Eda Hochgelerent & Bruce Cassidy†
Mrs. Carol J. Clark
Jean & Jerry Cooper
Dr. Jeannette Guarner
& Dr. Carlos del Rio
Mr. Richard H. Delay & Dr. Francine D. Dykes†
Mr. & Mrs. Robert G. Edge
Sally & Hank Fielding†
Mr. James & Mrs. Kathy Flanagan
Mr. Kristofer J. Funkhouser
Mr. & Mrs. Ethan Garonzik
Mr. Ellis & Mrs. Cathy Green
Kevin Greiner & Robyn Roberts
Judge Adele P. Grubbs
Gena & Joey Gyengo
Ms. Lynn Hanna
Mr. L. D. Holland†
Mr. & Mrs. David C. Huffman
Mr. Pitak Intrawityanunt
Christopher & Joan Kell
Ms. Anne Morgan
& Mr. James Kelley
Mr. Alfred D. Kennedy
& Dr. Bill Kenny
Mr. & Mrs. Larry Kurlander
Mrs. Dale Levert
& Mr. George W. Levert
Mr. Patrick & Mrs. Karen Litre
Mr. & Mrs. Andrew Long
Mr. Nicholas Marrone
Robert & Creel McCormack
Clara M. & John S. O’Shea†
Mr. Ron Raitz
Mr. Fred & Mrs. Marilyn Schwartz
*Morton & Angela Sherzer
Baker & Debby Smith†
Dr. & Mrs. Nicholas Valerio III† Thurman Williams
Bronze $2,500+
Scott & Betsy Akers
Mr. James L. Anderson
Natalie & Matthew Bernstein
Mr. Jonathan Blalock
Mr. Adam Borchert
Susan Borrelli
Raphael Bostic
Sean & Amy Bowen
Ms. Alice Sue Claeys
Mr. Bruce R. Cohen
Mr. & Mrs. Ron L. Cundy
Mr. James M. Datka & Ms. Nora P. DePalma
Shellie Davis
Jim & Carol Dew
Mr. Jon & Mrs. Lejla Dickson
Mr. Mark du Mas
Mr. Trey Duskin & Ms. Noelle Albano
Dr. & Mrs. Todd D. Ellis
Mr. Thomas Emch
Mr. & Mrs. Lance Fortnow
Ms. Rebecca Y. Frazer & Mr. Jon Buttrey
James C. Goodwyne & Christopher S. Connelly
Dr. Thomas N. Guffin, Jr.
Atlanta Neurology
Ms. Kristin Hathaway Hansen & Mr. Norman Hansen
Douglas Hooker & Patrise Perkins Hooker
Dr. & Mrs. Jeffrey R. Hoopes
Mr. & *Mrs. Harry C. Howard
Cliff Jolliff & Elaine Gerke
Mrs. Cecile M. Jones
Ms. Alison Womack
Red Eft Mapping
Linda L. Lively & James E. Hugh III
Bruno Lopes
Dr. & Mrs. Ellis L. Malone
Samantha & William Markle
Mrs. Linda McGinn
Mr. Bernard & Mrs. Una McGuinness
Rob McSwiney & Samantha Kirby
Mr. Steve & Mrs. Hala Moddelmog
Linda & Don Morris
Barbara & Mark Murovitz
Karen & Rick Murphy
Mrs. Agnes Nelson
Denis Ng & Mary Jane Panzeri Ng
Lisa Pate & Greg Barnard
Lucy S. Perry
Mr. Joshua Peyton
Mrs. Betsy Pittman
Mr. Stuart & Mrs. Barbara Pliner
Mr. Marc Pollack
Patty & Doug Reid
Margaret & Bob Reiser
Mr. John & Mrs. Kathryn Richard
Mr. & Mrs. Diff Ritchie
Monet Jeanne Roberson
Mr. & Mrs. J. Barry Schrenk
Dr. Edgar P. Simard
Mr. Paul Snyder
Dr. Jane T. St. Clair
& Mr. James E. Sustman
Dr. Taheri & Ms. Vaziri
Mr. Tarek Takieddini
Kyle Taylor
Mr. Johnny Thigpen
& Mr. Clay Martin
Mr. Samual Todd
Dr. & Mrs. James O. Wells, Jr.
Elizabeth Wiggs
*Dr. & Mrs. R. Craig Woodward
FRIEND’S CIRCLE
Investor $1,000+
Paula Stephan Amis
Mr. Paul Anderson, Jr.
Ms. Casey Armanino
Anita Atkinson
Mr. Philip & Mrs. Melissa Babb
Ms. Joselyn B. Baker
Mr. Michael & Mrs. Deborah Bald
Mr. & Mrs. Robert O. Banker
Tara Baquero
Ms. Hope M. Barrett
Christine M. Beard
Mr. Albert E. Bender, Jr.
Mr. Chris & Mrs. Carolyn Benne
Jill Blair & Fay Twersky
Mr. Walter Carter Bland
Dr. & Mrs. Jerry Blumenthal
Marcelo Boffi
Ms. Martha S. Brewer
Ms. Donna Burchfield
Mr. James Carr, Jr.
Anonymous, honoring Tracy McLendon, ABG
Mr. Nelson C. Chu
Ms Lillianette Cook & Ms. Carol Uhl
John & Linda Cooke
Mr. & Mrs. Edward S. Croft III
Mr. Kevin Cronin
Ann & Jim Curry
Dr. & Mrs. F. Thomas Daly Jr.
Mr. Tom & Mrs. Cindy Daly
Mr. & Mrs. Harold T. Daniel Jr.
Eb & Sarah Daniels
Mr. Clark & Mrs. Kristin Dean
Mr. & Mrs. Peter Dean
Drs. Morgan
& Susan Horton Eiland
Mr. Jack Firestone
Richard Franco MD
Spencer Gelernter & Sonya Kuropatwa
Mr. Douglas Gooding
Helen C. Griffith
Mr. & Mrs. Richard P. Grodzicki
Enio P. Guerra
Ms. Louise S. Gunn
Robert & Ada Habl
Felicia & Isaiah Hale
Zach Healy
George L. Hickman III
Richard & Linda Hubert
Mr. David Hughes
Mr. & Mrs. Gert Kampfer
Mrs. Peter G. Kessenich
Ms. Carla Knobloch
Ms. Carol Kranig
Colleen Langner
Anonymous
Tim & Angela Leveridge
Mr. Clyde W. Lollis
Mr. & Ms. Larry Anderson
Mrs. Blanchette Maier
Dr. & Mrs. Steven Marlowe
Mrs. Erin Martin
Mr. Briant & Mrs. Mary Matheson
Ellie May
Charles Bjorklund & Sted Mays
Mr. & Mrs. Allen Meadors
Mr. M Sean Molley
& Ms. Heidi C. Pritchett
Ms. Grace Murphy
Twinkle Nelson
Carol S. Niemi
Mr. Darryl-Christopher Payne†
Seth Persily
Dr. & Mrs. Lawrence S. Phillips
Mr. Mark Pighini
David Pumpelly
Mr. Enrique Rapetti
Dr. & Mrs. Donald Reitzes
R.J. & D.G. Riffey, Jr.
Sidney & Phyllis Rodbell
Julie Salisbury
Stewart & Mary Searle
Mr. Kenneth L. Shigley
Mr. & Mrs. Nicholas Shreiber
Ed Shrum
James Sizemore
Mr. Fred B. Smith
Anonymous
Richard Sonenklar & Gregory Haynes
Elizabeth Morgan Spiegel
Gail & Barry Spurlock
Mr. & Mrs. Robert Stansfield
Lindsay & Michael Stewart
Kay Summers
Stephen Swicegood
& Ruth Ann Rosenberg
Dr. & Mrs. Michael Szikman
Dr. & Mrs. Kenneth G. Taylor
Ms. Virginia S. Taylor
Maria Todorova
Dawn Tresh
Ms. Juliana T. Vincenzino
Ms. Kathleen Waldrop
Mr. & Mrs. Kenneth O. Walkington Jr.
Ms. Betsy K. Wash
Mr. Mark & Mrs. Rebekah Wasserman
Alan & Marcia Watt
Rae & *George Weimer
Mr. & Mrs. Mark Westfall
Ms. Kathy J. White
Dr. & Mrs. Hamilton Williams
Supporter $500+
Judith M. Alembik
Karyn Alexander
Dr. Amir Banishahi
Jennifer Barlament & Ken Potsic
Colonel & Mrs. John V. Barson, D.O.
Mrs. Marilee F. Betor
Mr. Matt Blackburn
Ms. Mary D. Bray
Craig & Brenda Caldwell
Lisa Chang
Mr. & Mrs. Don S. Coatworth
Dr. Lawrence M. Cohen
Mr. David D’Ambrosio
Mr. Brock Darby
Mr. & Mrs. John Drucker
*Mr. & Mrs. Robert F. Engeman Sr.
Elizabeth Evans
Allison Fichter & Phillip O’Brien
Dr. & Mrs. David J. Frolich
Linda Gabbard
Mr. Glen Galbaugh
Mr. Tim & Mrs. Linda Gartland
Henry Gonzalez
Dr. Richard Goodjoin
Mr. & Mrs. Sheffield Hale
Mr. Ronald L. Harris & Mrs. Jacqueline Pownall
Mr. Jamael & Mrs. Rashidah Hester
Mr. Craig Hodges
Debra M. Hulsey
Robby Johnson
Mr. & Mrs. Thomas E. Johnston
Ms. Lynne Elliott Jones
Matthew Katzmark
Dorothy Yates Kirkley
Mr. Brian Kurlander & Mrs. Carrie Johnson Kurlander
Joan & Arnold Kurth
Sean Lee
Mr. Sidney E. Linton
Livvy Kazer Lipson
Virginia Litland
Allan & Vaneesa Little
Sara Lomeli
Dr. Jo Marie Lyons
Jeanie & Albert Marx
Mr. Michael Mayes
Mr. M. Reynolds McClatchey Jr.
Mr. & Mrs. Allen P. McDaniel
Mr. Asghar & Mrs.Roya Memarzadeth
John S. Metz
Jane Morrison
Terri & Stephen Nagler
Ms. Mollie W. Neal
Rita Omark
Kia Painter
*Sharon & Jim Radford
Mr. Stephen L. Rann & Ms. Dytre Fentress
Sandra & Ronald Rousseau
Rebecca Russell
Dr. & Mrs. William M. Scaljon
Mr. Mike Schleifer & Mrs. Laura Hackman
Ms. Regina Schuber
Dr. & Mrs. William E. Silver
Andrew J. Singletary, Jr.
Clayton & Holly Sparrow
Mr. & Mrs. Gerald F. Stafford, Jr.
Melanie Steele
Laura Stevens
Judge Mike & Mrs. Jane Stoddard
Steve & Christine Strong
Carolyn & Robert Swain
Edward Thomas
Mr. Stephen H. Thompson & Mr. Drew Mote
Isabel Urrittia
Mr. Joseph Usher
Ms. Brenda D. Jennings
Kiki Wilson
Mr. & Mrs. Henry M. Wyche
Contributor $250+
Dr. Catherine Allard
Christine Allen
Ms. Nancy H. Amato
Stephan & Laura Anderson
Mr. & Mrs. David S. Baker
Claire & Bryan Benedict
Mr. & Mrs. Sid Besmertnik
James & Nancy Bross
Dr. Keith & Dr. Christine Bruno
Mark & Peg Bumgardner
Mr. Jerald M. Byrd
Raymond Chinn
Carol Cookerly & Robert Beal
Mr. John & Mrs. Janet Costello
Carol Comstock & Jim Davis
Mr. & Mrs. David R. Dye
Mr. Devin Ehrlich
Mr. Courtney Ellis
& Dr. Amina Bhatia
Ms. Ellen Evans
Julia Filson
Leigh Furrh
Mary Anne & Bruce Gaunt
Ms. Pat Godbee
Vasily Goncharu
Ms. Susan Goodman
Drs. Nancy & Robert Griner
Jim & Virginia Hale
Ms. Laura Heery
Mr. & Mrs. Douglas M. Holly, Jr.
Ms. Jan W. Hughen
Mr. Rolf Ingenleuf
Susan Johnston & Shannon Motley
Mr. William Johnston
Mr. & Mrs. David Keller
Nancy Kritikos
Lawrence Kurzius
Mr. & Mrs. Bertram L. Levy
Mr. Roy Locklear III
Richard Lodise & Valerie Jagiella
Dr. & Mrs. Frank Marxer
Michael McDaniel
Mr. Simon Miller
Berthe & Shapour Mobasser
Mr. William R. Mrs. Morrison & Elizabeth R. Clark-Morrison
Mr. & Mrs. George T. Munsterman
Bahar Nia
Mr. John Owens
Mr. William A. Pasch
Mr. & Mrs. John Payan
Mr. Lawrence F. Pinson
Catherine Popper & Noah Eckhouse in honor of Ms. Faye P. Popper
Misty Reid
Mr. Stephen & Mrs. Elizabeth Rhoden
Mr. Barry F. Ross
& Mrs. Jane M. Rooks Ross
Harriet Ruskin
Ms. Anne Schneider
Dr. & Mrs. Stuart H. Silverman
Mr. Raymond A. Strikas
Dr. David E. Sutherland II
& Mrs. Sarah F. Yates Sutherland
Barbara & Jon Swann
Mr. & Mrs. Frederick C. Taylor
Mr. & Ms. Wolfgang Tiedtke
Erica Walden
Ms. Susan Wall
Mr. Robert & Mrs. Susan White
Yolanda White
Troy Wiley
Ann Williams
Ms. Jone Williams
& Ms. Barbara Robb
Mr. Russell F. Winch
Mr. & Mrs. Richard H. Zimmermann
Ben & Adrienne Zinn
†extraordinary donors who have committed to continue their annual giving for three years or more *deceased
CORPORATE PARTNERS
$200,000
The Home Depot Foundation
$100,000
The Coca-Cola Company
Delta Air Lines, Inc.
$50,000+
Nelson Mullins
Price Waterhouse Coopers
Rothschild & Co
Smurfit WestRock Company
UPS
$25,000+
Capital Group Companies
Charitable Foundation
Gas South
KPMG LLP
Pwc Charitable Foundation
$10,000
Accenture
BlackRock
Cox Enterprises, Inc.
Deloitte
Eversheds Sutherland Hilbert/Kurt
Homrich Berg, Inc. – Buckhead
PNC Financial Services Group
Salesforce.com, Inc.
SG Contracting
Southern Company
The Varzi-Cohen Group, Merrill Lynch
Truist
$5,000+
Batdorf & Bronson Coffee Roasters
Carter CIBC
McMaster-Carr Supply Company
FOUNDATIONS & GOVERNMENT SUPPORT
FOUNDATIONS
$500,000+
The Molly Blank Fund of The Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation
Lettie Pate Evans Foundation
$225,000+
Mr. Howard W. Hunter
—Gramma Fisher Foundation
$100,000+
Anonymous
The Charles Loridans Foundation, Inc.
The Coca-Cola Foundation
Connolly Family Foundation
Disosway FoundationDudley and Carole Johnson
The Halle Foundation
Donald and Marilyn Keough Foundation
Knobloch Family Foundation
$50,000+
Atlanta Music Festival Association Fund of Community Foundation of Greater Atlanta
The Gable Foundation
Livingston Foundation
Mary and EP Rogers Foundation, Inc.
The Sara Giles Moore Foundation
The Rich’s Foundation, Inc.
Truist Trusteed Foundations: Florence C. and Harry L. English Memorial Fund
The Zeist Foundation, Inc.
$20,000+
The The Jim Cox, Jr. Foundation
The Roy and Janet Dorsey Foundation (by Larry B. Hooks and Robert G. Edge, Trustees)
The Hertz Family Foundation, Inc.
J. Marshall & Lucile G. Powell
Charitable Trust
The Ray M. & Mary Elizabeth Lee Foundation
$10,000+
AIDS Healthcare Foundation
The George M. Brown Trust Fund
The Stephens Family Foundation
$5,000+
Camp-Younts Foundation
The Robert and Polly Dunn Foundation
The Hills Family Foundation, Mr. & Mrs. Thomas D. Hills, Trustees
$1,000+
The Mary Brown Fund of Atlanta, Georgia
The Opera Guild for Atlanta
GOVERNMENT FUNDING
City of Atlanta Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs
Cobb Travel & Tourism
Fulton County Arts & Culture
Georgia Council for the Arts
National Endowment for the Arts
BARBARA D. STEWART LEGACY SOCIETY
The Atlanta Opera recognizes donors who have designated The Opera as a beneficiary in their estate plan as members of the Barbara D. Stewart Legacy Society. This society honors Barbara D. Stewart’s extraordinary legacy gift and her many contributions to The Atlanta Opera.
Cathy Callaway Adams & Mark Adams
Anonymous (5)
Mr. & *Mrs. Shepard B. Ansley
*Mrs. Elizabeth Ann Bair
Mrs. Wallace F. Beard
The Bickers Charitable Trust
Mr. Jonathan Blalock
*Jim & *Nancy Bland
Mr. Montague L. Boyd, IV
Mr. Robert Colgin
*Martha Thompson Dinos
The Roy & Janet Dorsey Foundation
Mr. Richard H. Delay & Dr. Francine D. Dykes
Arnold & Sylvia Eaves
* Ms. Dorothy E. Edwards
*Heike & Dieter Elsner
Ms. Melodi Ford
Carl & Sally Gable
*Ms. Anne Marie Gary
Mr. & Mrs. Sidney W. Guberman
*Sylvia Halleck, MD
Ms. Judy Hanenkrat
Caroline Hardin
Richard & Fern Hartnig
The Hilbert Family Trust
Eda L. Hochgelerent, M.D. & Bruce A. Cassidy, M.D.
Mr. L. Don Holland
Mr. Hilson Hudson
*Mrs. Joseph B. Hutchison
Gail G. Johnson
Mr. J. Carter Joseph
*Mrs. Alfred D. Kennedy, Sr.
*Mrs. Isabelle W. Kennedy
Mr. Alfred Kennedy
Dr. William R. Kenny
*Donald & *Marilyn Keough
Mr. & Mrs. Michael L. Keough
TRIBUTES
& MEMORIALS
In Memory of Phillip Edward Alvelda
Mrs. Kay Alvelda
In Memory of Shepard B. Ansley
Dr. R. Dwain Blackston
Jonathan Blalock
John & Rosemary Brown
Sally & Hank Fielding
Mr. & Mrs. Sidney W. Guberman
Mary Ruth McDonald
In Memory of Helen Arnold
Ms. Susan Borrelli & Ms. Cindy Parker
In Memory of Eleonora M. Barson
Colonel John V. Barson, D.O. & Mrs. Gay L. Barson
Ms. Corina M. LaFrossia
Mr. & Mrs. John G. Malcolm
Mr. Robert L. Mays
Mr. & Mrs. Allen P. McDaniel
*Peggy Weber McDowell & *Jack McDowell
*Mr. Michael A. McDowell
Mr. & Mrs. Craig N. Miller
*Miss Helen D. Moffitt
Mr. J. Robert Morring
Clara M. & John S. O’Shea
Mrs. Polly N. Pater
Mr. James Paulk
*Mr. William Pennington
*Mr. Bruce Roth
*Ms. Hazel Sanger
Mr. D. Jack Sawyer, Jr.
Anita & J. Barry Schrenk
Katherine Scott
*Mrs. Roberta Setzer
Elizabeth N. Shapiro
*Mrs. Lessie B. Smithgall
Elizabeth Morgan Spiegel
Christine & Mark St.Clare
*Ms. Barbara D. Stewart
*Mrs. Eleanor H. Strain
Mr. Tarek Takieddini
Sandra & *Tom Teepen
Dr. & Mrs. Harold Whitney
*Mrs. Jane S. Willson
Rhys & Carolyn Wilson
Ms. Bunny Winter & Mr. Michael Doyle
Mr & Mrs Robert G Woodward
Mr. Charles R. Yates, Jr. & Mrs. Mary Mitchell Yates
*Mr. & *Mrs. Charels R. Yates, Sr.
Mr. Tomer Zvulun & Mrs. Susanna Eiland
In Memory of Duncan Beard
Bob & Cappa Woodward Charitable Fund
In Honor of Mr. Jonathan Blalock
Mr. Leroy & Mrs. Ariana Fass
Everett L. Long
In Honor of Dr. Hal Brody & Mr. Don Smith
Connor Howard
In Honor of John & Rosemary Brown
Mr. Barry F. Ross & Mrs. Jane M. Rooks Ross
In Memory of Kyle Burkhalter
Mr. Matthew Y. Burkhalter & Mr. John Carey
*deceased
In Memory of Anson Callaway
Dawn & Randall Romig
In Memory of Suzanne Claeys
Ms. Alice Sue Claeys
In Honor of Rebekah Clark Cooledge
Dr. John W. Cooledge
In Honor of Robert Dean & Robert Epstein
Linda & Don Morris
In Memory of Col. & Mrs. Edgar W. Duskin
Noelle Albano & Trey Duskin
In Honor of Robert & Elizabeth Edge
Cecile Jones
In Honor of Sally & Hank Fielding
Ms. Nancy H. Amato
Ms. Anne Schneider
In Memory of Mrs. Phyllis A. Franco
Dr. Richard D. Franco
In Memory of Sam Hagan
Jonathan Blalock
William Frampton, III
Mr. Sheffield Hale & Mrs. Elizabeth M. Hale
Mr. Alfred Msezane
Mr. William O. Shropshire & Mrs. Patricia Shropshire
Wayne R. Vason & Lee Harper
Ms. Elizabeth Wilson & Ms. Susie Schklar
Ms. Roslyn S. Winston
In Honor of Caroline & Jack Hardin
Dr. Frank & Mrs. Barbara Marxer
In Memory of Mary & Wayne James
John & Rosemary Brown
In Memory of Patricia E. Johnston
Mr. Wayne Johnston
In Honor of Gloria Lin
Jonathan Blalock
Red EFT Mapping | Mr. Lawrence Knight
In Memory of George H. & Cecile G. Malone
Ms. Eleanor Malone
In Honor of Alfredo Martin
Jonathan Blalock
In Honor of Tracy McLendon, ABG Anonymous
In Honor of Julie Meyer
Helen & Steven Kraus
In Honor of Howard & Victoria Palefsky
Natalie & Matthew Bernstein
Mr. Michael D. Golden & Dr. Juliet Asher
Jonathan Blalock
Virginia & Charles Brewer Family Foundation
Mr. Bruce R. Cohen
Mr. John & Mrs. Janet Costello
Mr. John Haupert & Mr. Bryan Brooks
Mr. Fred & Mrs. Marilyn Schwartz
Mr. Stuart & Mrs. Barbara Pliner
Carla Knobloch
Mr. & Mrs. Bertram L. Levy
Ms. Anne Morgan & Mr. James Kelley
Patty & Doug Reid
Dr. & Mrs. Stanley E. Romanstein
Mr. Paul & Mrs. Amy Snyder
Ms. Bunny Winter & Mr. Michael Doyle
In Honor of Jerome & Dulcy Rosenberg
Dr. & Mrs. William E. Silver
In Honor of Rolando Salazar & The Atlanta Opera Chorus
Ms. Pat Godbee
In Honor of Katherine Scott
Allison Fichter & Phillip O’Brien
In Memory of Mrs. Roberta Setzer
Mr. Robert L. Setzer
In Memory of Suzette Snell
Mr. Robert & Mrs. Elizabeth Currie
In Honor of John & Yee-Wan Stevens
Jonathan Blalock
In Honor of Mr. William Tucker
Douglas Gooding
In Honor of Jason Walker
Erica Walden
In Honor of Paul Warshauer
Helen & Steven Kraus
In Memory of George Weimer
Dr. R. Dwain Blackston
Mr. Matthew Y. Burkhalter & Mr. John Carey
Mary Ruth McDonald
In Memory of Marya Gabrielle Williams
Jone Williams & Barbara Robb
In Memory of Margaret Gwendolyn Williams
Thurman Williams
In Honor of Charlie & Mary Yates
Anonymous (24)
Carol Cookerly & Robert Beal
Douglas Gooding
Mr. Pitak Intrawityanunt
Mr. Tom Nolan
Mr. Stephen & Mrs. Elizabeth Rhoden
Mr. & Mrs. J. Barry Schrenk
Dr. David E. Sutherland II & Mrs. Sarah F. Yates
Sutherland
Mr. Joseph Usher
Dorothy Yates Kirkley
In Honor of Mr. Tomer Zvulun & Ms. Susanna Eiland
Sally & Hank Fielding
Ms. Elizabeth Klump
Bob & Cappa Woodward Charitable Fund
In Honor of The Atlanta Opera Staff
Rae & George Weimer
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
Board Chair
Mr. Rhys T. Wilson
Vice-Chair
Mr. John L. Hammaker
Vice-Chair | Development Committee Co-Chair
Mr. Charles R. Yates, Jr.
Treasurer | Finance Committee Chair
Ms. Bunny Winter
Secretary
Mr. Howard Hunter
Audit Chair
Mr. Bryan H. Barnes
Community Engagement Committee Chair
Mr. Alex Simmons, Jr.
Development Committee Co-Chair
Mrs. Talia Murphy
Equity, Diversity & Inclusion Committee Chair
Mrs. Stephanie Morela
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
MEMBERS
Mrs. Qaadirah Abdur-Rahim
Ms. Cathy Callaway Adams
Mrs. Susan M. Anderson
Mr. Bryan H. Barnes
Mr. Dante Bellizzi
Mr. Montague L. Boyd, IV
Dr. Harold J. Brody
Mrs. Rosemary Kopel Brown
Mr. Frank H. Butterfield
Mrs. Kate Cook
Dr. Frank A. Critz
Mr. Clark Dean
Mr. Robert Dean
Dr. Carlos del Rio
Dr. Todd Ellis
Mr. Dieter Elsner
Dr. Donald J. Filip
Mr. Kevin Greiner
Mrs. Joanne Chesler Gross
Facilities Task Force Chair
Mr. Howard Palefsky
Investment Committee Co-Chair
Mr. Frank Butterfield
Investment Committee Co-Chair
Mrs. Sandra S. Morelli
Nominating & Board Engagement Committee Chair
Mr. Kevin Greiner
Strategic Planning Committee Chair
Mrs. Christine St.Clare
At-Large Member, Immediate Past Chair
Mrs. Cathy Callaway Adams
At-Large Member
Mr. John Haupert
Carl W. Knobloch, Jr. General & Artistic Director, ex-officio member
Mr. Tomer Zvulun
Mrs. Caroline Hardin
Mr. John Haupert
Mr. Jamael Hester
Mr. Andrew R. Long
Mr. Alfredo Martin
Ms. Kelly Mayhall
Mr. James B. Miller, Jr.
Mrs. Stephanie Morela
Mrs. Sandra S. Morelli
Mrs. Talia Murphy
Mr. Howard Palefsky
Mr. Michael E. Paulhus
Mr. Herbert J. Rosenberg
Mr. Thomas Saylor
Mr. Alex Simmons, Jr.
Mrs. Christine St.Clare
Mr. William E. Tucker
Mr. Rashaun Williams
ADVISORY COUNCIL
Mr. Andrew J.M. Binns
Mr. Kenny L. Blank
Mrs. Inge Bledel
Ms. Mary Calhoun
Mrs. Lejla Dickson
Ms. Sally Bland Fielding
Ms. Julia Filson
Mr. Roger Fleming
Mr. Lance Fortnow
Dr. Thomas N. Guffin, Jr.
HONORARY MEMBERS
Mr. Ronald Antinori
The Very Reverend
Samuel G. Candler
Mr. Robert G. Edge
Mr. Carl I. Gable, Jr.
Mrs. Nancy Hall Green
Mr. Gregory F. Johnson
Mr. Carter Joseph
Mr. Alfred Kennedy, Jr.
Mr. Michael Keough
Mrs. Emily C. Knobloch
Mr. George Levert
Mr. J. Barry Schrenk
Mr. Timothy E. Sheehan
Mr. G. Kimbrough Taylor, Jr.
Mr. Mark K. Taylor
Mr. Thomas R. Williams
Mr. Robert G. Woodward
Mr. Douglas Hooker
Mrs. Erin Quinn Martin
Mr. Robert G. Pennington
Mr. Paul Snyder
THE ATLANTA OPERA STAFF
EXECUTIVE
Carl W. Knobloch, Jr. General & Artistic Director Tomer Zvulun
Managing Director
Executive Assistant & Board Liaison
Special Projects Manager
ARTISTIC / MUSIC
Micah Fortson
Misty Reid
Nancy Kritikos
Music Director Emeritus Arthur Fagen
Director of Artistic Administration
Artistic & Operations Manager
Meredith Wallace
Megan Bennett
Chorus & Orchestra Manager Chris Bragg
Artistic Services Coordinator
Orchestra Librarian
PRODUCTION
Production & Facilities Advisor
Elizabeth Graiser
Phil Parsons
Robert Reynolds
Director of Production Planning Meggie Roseborough
Development Communications & Volunteer Coordinator Sasha Svirshch
FINANCE
Chief Financial Officer Christina Paloski
Controller Lawanda Coleman
Accounting Manager Britt Herring
Senior Accountant David Tubbs, Jr.
ADMINISTRATION
Chief Administrative Officer Kathy J. White
Director of Facilities Kenneth R. Timmons
HR Manager Winona Cobb
MARKETING & AUDIENCE DEVELOPMENT
Director of Sales & Marketing Rebecca Brown
Creative Services Manager Matt Burkhalter
Assistant Director of Sales & Marketing Emily Crisp
Box Office Associate Sierra Embres, Patty de la Garza, Justin Stanley
COMMUNICATIONS & PUBLIC RELATIONS
Director of Communications & Public Relations Michelle Winters
Communications & Marketing Manager Ashley May King
THE ATLANTA OPERA FILM STUDIO
Director of The Atlanta Opera Film Studio Felipe Barral
Short-Form Video Editor
THE ATLANTA OPERA STUDIO ARTISTS
Stage Director
Hank Collins
Daniel Ware
Jaime Mancuso
Gina Cirillo
Teddy Murray
Andrew Van Eyechaner
Mike Wood
Brennon Jones
Jenn Rogers
LaShawn Melton
Brittney Fontus
Elio Bucky
Mezzo-Soprano Aubrey Odle
Tenor Wayd Odle
Soprano Amanda Sheriff
Bass-Baritone ..................................... Jason Zacher
SIEGFRIED LIVESTREAM
Additional Camera Operators Adam Khan, Kendra Johnson, Michelle Sanders, Valeriia Luhovska, Isaac Breiding
Sound Capture & Live Mixing
Tim Whitehead
Sound Monitor Preston Goodson
Livestream Technical Operator
Gerald Griffith
Livestream Technical Support Keelan Bearden
Switcher Operator Felipe Barral-Secchi
CONCESSIONS
Concession stands are located in the center of the lobbies on all three levels. Food and beverage items are prohibited inside the theater. Thank you for your cooperation.
RESTROOMS
Restrooms are located on house right and house left of all three lobbies. Family restrooms are also located on house right of all three lobbies. Mobility-impaired patrons may use any of our restrooms.
PREPAID PARKING
On the performance page on the Cobb Energy Centre website there is a link to purchase parking in advance. Day of parking is available for $15 (credit or debit card only). There are 1,000 on-site parking spaces; 700 in a four-level deck and 300 more in a surface lot.
EMERGENCY INFO
In the event of an emergency, please locate the nearest usher who will direct you to the appropriate exit.
ELEVATORS
Elevators are located on each side of the lobbies on all levels.
LOST & FOUND
Items are turned into the Synovus Box Office on the day of a performance. To inquire about a lost item, please call Public Safety at 770-916-2911.
SMOKING
Smoking is prohibited inside the building.
SPECIAL ASSISTANCE
Persons requiring access assistance are asked to contact the Ticketmaster at 800-982-2787 for advance arrangements.
Audio clarification devices are available to our hearing impaired guests at no charge. This is on a firstcome, first-served basis and are available at the main desk in the lobby.
Wheelchairs are available upon request. All items require a form of identification to be held until the item is returned.
COBB ENERGY CENTRE RULES & REQUESTS
• All patrons, regardless of age, must have a ticket in order to be admitted to the performance. Please be aware that not all performances are suitable for children.
• Infants will not be admitted to adult programs. Parents will be asked to remove children who create a disturbance.
• There is no late seating allowed. Closed-circuit monitors are provided in the lobby as a courtesy to latecomers.
• Please turn off all cellphones prior to the beginning of each performance.
• Please limit conversation during the performance.
• Cameras (including use of cellphone camera) and audio and video recording devices are strictly prohibited at all times.
• Leaving while the show is in progress is discourteous and we ask that you refrain from doing so.
• Please unwrap all candies and cough drops before the performance.
