SMPAC-Florentine

2011-2012 South Milwaukee Performing Arts Series

The Florentine Opera Studio America’s Songbook Friday, March 23, 2012 7:30 pm South Milwaukee Performing Arts Center Box Office: 414-766-5049

2011-2012 Season Sponsors Official Caterer of the SMPAC Emerald

City

CATERiNG LLC

The South Milwaukee Performing Arts Center 2011-2012 Season was supported in part by a grant from the Wisconsin Arts Board with funds from the State of Wisconsin and the National Endowment for the Arts.

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Altar Call Hymn, from Elmer Gantry* (2007), Aldridge The Ensemble *Elmer Gantry: Winner of 2 Classical Grammys Robert Aldridge and Herschel Garfein’s Elmer Gantry, recorded on March 19 & 21, 2010, at the Marcus Center for the Performing Arts.

At the River (1864), Robert Lowry, arr. Ives (1922) Kristen DiNinno Memories: a) Very Pleasant (b) Rather Sad (1922), Ives Dan Richardson Down in the River to Pray (c.1860), traditional, arr. Stewart The Ensemble Simple Gifts (Shaker tune), arr. Copland (1950) Schuller/Richardson At the River, arr. Copland (1950) The Ensemble Three scenes from Susannah (1955), by Carlisle Floyd Act I, ii: Ain’t it a pretty night Erica Schuller Act I, v: It’s about the way people is made Matt Richardson & Schuller Act II, iii: That’s mighty pretty singin’ Dan Richardson & Schuller We are women, Candide (1956), Bernstein Schuller/ DiNinno Here I Stand, The Rake’s Progress (1951), Stravinsky Matt Richardson Isn’t It Romantic, Love Me Tonight (1932), Rodgers & Hart The Ensemble If ever I would leave you, Camelot (1960), Lerner & Loewe Dan Richardson Star Dust (1927), lyrics: Mitchell Parish, music: Hoagy Carmichael Stormy Weather (1933), lyrics: Ted Koehler, music Harold Arlen Cloudburst (1957), Hendricks, Kirkland/Harris South Milwaukee PAC 3

about florentine oper a studio The Florentine Opera Studio provides season-long, comprehensive artist-inresidence employment for talented singers beginning their professional careers, while serving the mainstage, education and outreach goals of the Florentine Opera Company. From autumn 2011 through May 2012, the Florentine Opera Studio allows promising singers experience and training to facilitate their professional growth in the opera art form.

Each season, four singers (soprano, mezzo, tenor, baritone/bass) participate in the Studio Program. As a key component of the experience, these Studio Artists have the opportunity to sing supporting and comprimario roles during the opera season. Additionally, artists perform for education and community outreach initiatives and the Florentine’s in-school touring opera program, serving over 13,000 students in K4-5th grade each school year. Studio Artists also have the opportunity to gain continuing training and career advice through master classes and coachings with visiting artists and master teachers. biogr aphies Erica Schuller (soprano), a Milwaukee native, received her Master of Music from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music and holds degrees in Vocal Performance and Music Education from the Eastman School of Music. Erica has been a frequent soloist with the San Francisco Bach Choir, performing in works including Bach’s Johannes Passion, Jesu meine Freude and Aus der Tiefe. She made her second appearance with the Boston Early Music Festival in Monteverdi’s L’incoronazione di Poppea in (2009), and was commended for her “skill and grace” by the Boston Globe. She can also be heard on the Festival’s Grammynominated recording of Lully’s opera, Psyche (2007). Erica’s soprano soloist role in the MSO’s production of Handel’s Messiah was praised, “Her wonderful singing both expressed and prompted joy,” by Third Coast Digest.

She garnered critical acclaim for her 2010-2011 performances with the Florentine Opera as Elvira in Rossini’s L’Italiana in Algeri – for her “grace and strength” by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, and “shimmering soprano sound” by the Shepherd Express. Erica has returned for her second season as a 4 South Milwaukee PAC

Studio Artist with the Florentine Opera during the 2011-2012 Season. She will perform the role of Mrs. Gleaton in Floyd’s Susannah in March. Prior operatic credits include Armida in Handel’s Rinaldo, Pamina in Mozart’s Magic Flute, Belinda in Purcell’s Dido and Aeneas, Amor in Cavalli’s L’Egisto, Noémie in Massenet’s Cendrillon, Lazuli in Chabrier’s L’Étoile, Euridice in Rossi’s L’Orfeo, and Axinia in Boris Goudenow

by Johann Mattheson.

Kristen DiNinno (mezzo-soprano) was most recently a Gerdine Young Artist with The Opera Theater of Saint Louis where she covered the three roles of Swiss Grandmother, Austrian Woman and British Dancing Girl in John Adam’s The Death of Klinghoffer. She was a Young Artist at The Shreveport Opera Company, where she performed in Don Giovanni as Zerlina, The Fantasticks as The Mute, Man of La Mancha as The Moorish Girl Dancer and covered The Mother in Amahl and the Night Visitors. Ms. DiNinno received Third Prize in the Mary Jacobs Smith Singer of the Year Competition in 2010. While obtaining her Masters Degree at The Manhattan School of Music in New York City, Ms.

BIOGR APHIES (cont.)

DiNinno was involved in a new contemporary chamber opera through American Opera Projects called Love/ Hate by Jack Perla where she debuted the role of Laura. She performed the role of The Girl in Manhattan School of Music’s Griffelkin by Lukas Foss. The New York Times praised her performance saying, “Kristen DiNinno, as the girl who has a humanizing effect on Griffelkin, contributes a directness and simplicity that makes her persuasively childlike.” Kristen is excited to be singing the role of Suzy in La Rondine this summer with Des Moines Metro Opera.

Matthew Richardson (tenor) was born in Denver, Colorado and raised in Dubuque, Iowa.

He trained at the Eastman School of Music where he performed several roles including Charles Guiteau in Assassins, the Teapot in L’enfant et les sortilèges and Tapioca in L’ètoile. During the summers of 2006 and 2007, Matthew performed 12 supporting and lead roles with the College Light Opera Company including Cacambo in Candide, Frederick in The Pirates of Penzance and Ralph Rackstraw in H.M.S. Pinafore. After spending some time abroad, Matthew moved to Milwaukee to continue his vocal studies. He has spent the past two years singing with various local ensembles including the Florentine Opera Chorus, teaching private voice lessons, and working as a ballroom instructor at East Towne Ballrooms. The 2011-2012 season is Mr. Richardson’s second as a member of the Florentine Opera Studio Artist Program. He was recently seen on the Florentine stage as Señor Marcos in the world premiere of Río de Sangre, as Shepherd/Sailor in a double-bill of Blow’s Venus & Adonis and Purcell’s Dido & Aeneas, and as Pong in the recent sold out performances of Turandot.

Iowa-native, Dan Richardson, (bass-baritone) is pleased to join the Florentine Opera as a member of the 20112012 Florentine Opera Studio. This past spring, Richardson made his mainstage debut with Opera Omaha as Prince Yamadori and the Imperial Commissioner in Puccini’s Madama Butterfly. Other recent roles include Méphistophélès in Faust with Opera Lousiane, Antonio and Figaro in Le nozze di Figaro with the Des Moines Metro Opera, and Angelotti in Tosca with the Cedar Rapids Opera Theatre. He has also performed with the Sarasota Opera, Chamber Opera Chicago and the Lyric Opera of Chicago, where he performed the role of Don Bartolo for their “Opera in the Neighborhoods” production of Rossini’s The Barber of Seville. He has also performed scene work as John Claggart in Billy Budd, Giorgio in I Puritani, Tom in Un ballo in maschera, Leporello in Don Giovanni, Colline in La bohème, Talbot in Maria Stuarda, Hans Sachs in Die Meistersinger, Nick Shadow in The Rake’s Progress, Don Alfonso in Così fan tutte, Collatinus in The Rape of Lucretia and Antony in Antony and Cleopatra, among others. Mr. Richardson is an alumnus of Simpson College, where he studied with Dr. Maria DiPalma and Dr. Robert Larsen. Dan was recently seen on the Florentine stage as the Mandarin/ Father in the recent sold out performances of Turandot.

William Florescu became the General Director of Milwaukee’s Florentine Opera Company in May of 2005.

During his tenure, he has overseen the expansion of the Company’s repertoire, producing works including the Florentine’s first Bellini opera (I Capuleti e i Montecchi), first Baroque opera (Handel’s Semele), the Midwest premiere and recording on the Naxos label of Aldridge’s Elmer Gantry (3 time Grammy nominated for the 2012 South Milwaukee PAC 5

BIOGR APHIES (cont.) awards) and a world premiere of Don Davis’s Río de Sangre (October 2010).

The Florentine production of Rio was also released commercially on the Albany Records label. He has also directed main stage operas including The Barber of Seville, The Magic Flute, Rigoletto, a double bill of Blow’s Venus and Adonis and Purcell’s Dido and Aeneas as well as touring education operas by nationally renowned arts education John Davies, including Little Red’s Most Unusual Day, The Three Little Pigs, Pinocchio (which was televised by Milwaukee Public Television in April of 2009), Jack and the Beanstalk and, most recently, The Billy Goats Gruff. In October of 2008, Mr. Florescu oversaw the creation of the Florentine Opera Studio, a nine-month program for young professional singers, which is in its fourth year for the Florentine’s 20112012 season.

Pops and the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra.

From 1999 until early 2005, he was the General Director of Lake George Opera (now Opera Saratoga) in Saratoga Springs, New York. Previously, he served as General Director of the Columbus Light Opera. While in Ohio, he was also Associate Dean and Director of Opera/Musical Theatre at the Capital University Conservatory of Music, and served a season as Assistant Artistic Director for Iowa’s Dorian Opera Theatre.

During the 2011-2012 season, he will judge the Metropolitan Opera Auditions in various US cities, present Master classes for the Classical Singer Convention for the University of Wisconsin Green Bay, judge the McCammon Vocal Competition for Fort Worth Opera, and direct Carlisle Floyd’s Susannah for the Florentine Opera. In addition, he is producing, with Opera America, a singer Training Workshop in Milwaukee in March 2012.

Opera audiences around the country have seen his work as a stage director, most recently for Augusta Opera, Hawaii Opera Theatre, Nashville Opera, Opera Columbus and Opera Birmingham. On the operatic stage, he has appeared in leading and supporting roles with Opera Columbus, Columbus Light Opera, Iowa’s Dorian Opera, Toledo Opera, National Opera Company and the Whitewater Opera, among others. On the concert stage, he has sung with the Columbus Symphony Orchestra, Mansfield Symphony Orchestra, North Carolina Symphony, the Indianapolis Summer

Mr. Florescu is currently working on a book about auditioning in opera for young singers, and maintains an active blog, The Opera Audition. He received his training at the Cincinnati CollegeConservatory of Music, the Trinity College of Music in London, England, Miami University and the Ohio State University.

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He has recently presented master classes for Westminster Choir College, Peabody Institute, Capital University, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and Lake George Opera. He is also a frequent judge of vocal competitions, most recently for the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions, The Eastman School of Music, The Montreal International Czech and Slovak Voice Competition, and Fort Worth Opera’s McCammon Vocal Competition.

Mr. Florescu has served on the Opera Review Panel for the National Endowment for the Arts, and has served as an onsite reporter for the Endowment. He serves on the Strategic Planning Committee as well as the New Works Forum for Opera America.

SMPAC STAFF Chad Piechocki.................................................................................................................... Director Rebecca Ohm..................................................................................................Marketing Director Alex Clark............................................................................................................Technical Director Brianna Cullen.............................................................................................................SMHS Intern 2011-12 SOUTH MILWAUKEE PERFOR MING ARTS COUNCIL Pat DerHovsepian.............................................................................................................President Trisha St. Lawrence Urbaniak..............................................................................Vice President Michelle M. Haslam..........................................................................................................Secretary Janet Garcia........................................................................................................................ Treasurer Dal Drummer Karla Nimphius Harris David Kieck

Heidi Lofy Ed Magnuson Carla Uphill

School Board for School District of South Milwaukee

Dr. Rita Olson.........................................................................................................Superintendent Patricia Bordak................................................................................................................... President Therese Travia........................................................................................................... Vice President David Maass................................................................................................................................ Clerk John Haslam........................................................................................................................Treasurer Carol Dufek Kathleen Molus Joseph Weirich

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THANK YOU The South Milwaukee Performing Arts Center thanks Jon Poor and the Wisconsin Arts Board for their support of this performance, as well as Emerald City Catering for being the Official Caterer of the SMPAC. We thank the community for its support and for building this magnificent facility.

It is our goal to provide you with quality arts programming that leaves you waiting for more.

ABOUT THE SOUTH MILWAUKEE PERFORMING ARTS CENTER Mission: to enrich the community by providing creative, innovative and diverse performing arts and life-long learning experiences, as well as a professionally managed facility for community and regional organizations.

Vision: to be a performing arts center that delivers outstanding and diverse performance events and services to the students, district, community and greater South Shore area.

Did you Know?

The South Milwaukee Performing Arts Council is the nonprofit board that supports the SMPAC through fundraising efforts and programming decisions. The Council aims to create a diverse base of financial support for the SMPAC. These funds help support the overall operating budget, artists’ fees and production costs of the annual Performing Arts Series.

Ticket sales alone account for only 46% of overall operating expenses for the season. Even if we sold-out every show, we still would not be able to cover 100% of our costs - as is the case with most performing arts venues.

There are three key aspects of the annual revenue that the Council supports: Annual Campaign, Sponsorships/Grants and the annual Mystery Dinner Theatre Fundraiser. Additional support like this is critical to our ongoing success and future growth as it allows us to help bring in world-class events like Cirque Le Masque, amazing artists like Alpin Hong and once-in-a-lifetime educational opportunities for our students.

If you have any questions or would like more information, please contact Chad Piechocki, Director of the South Milwaukee Performing Arts Center at cpiechocki@sdsm.k12.wi.us or at 414-766-5048.

Thank you for your support of the South Milwaukee Performing Arts Center!

Enjoy the show!

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2011-2012 ANNUAL CAMPAIGN DONORS (patrons donated between July 1, 2011 and March 1, 2012) Muse • $2,500 & Up Anonymous Visionary • $1,000 - $2,499 Tom & Geri Bitters Tom & Janet Cook – In Memory of Eunice Hahn Shirley Pritzlaff Stan & Trisha Urbaniak In the Spotlight • $500 - $999 Jack & Pat DerHovsepian Thomas & Anne Frederick Thomas & Janet Garcia Mr. Wesley Hellen In Memory of Gerald Jaworski Gil & Laurie Llanas Richard & Kay Lussier Northwestern Mutual Foundation* Bob & Bunny Scudder

Center Stage • $250 - $499 Chris & Michelle Haslam Rosemary A. Hurst Rachel M. Sorce Wisconsin Energy Foundation* Joan & Arjuna Yelanjian In the Wings • $100 - $249 Anonymous (2) Janet L. Behling Marc & Mary Gear Matt & Carole Glaske Chester & Lorraine Grobschmidt Rick & Barb Grobschmidt Virginia D. Grossman The Harley-Davidson Foundation, Inc.* John E. Haslam Marvin & Sharon Hipp Patrice Kitzek Wessel Elacqua Vincent & Lois Koehler Rosemary & Bruce Larkin Fritz & Connie Mahsem

Mary & Tom Meszaros Patricia M. Pomahac South Milwaukee McDonald’s Sunrise Clothiers Richard G. Thinnes Carla Uphill Wende Warren The Windhover Foundation* Ralph P. Windler Ernest & Katherine Wunsch Advocate - $50 - $99 Anonymous (3) Elizabeth Almon Ken & Gerda Bourgeois Evelyn “Irish” Dean Dorothy Hall Jerry & Judy Kromraj Janet Mierendorf Ken & Mary Neitzel Chris & Marilyn Rosland Peter & Barbara Terranova Jim Toth Mary Ann Wilkes

*Donation made via matching gift program.

If there is an error with your gift acknowledgement, please accept our sincere apologies. We ask that you inform us of this error so we may correct it as soon as possible.

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SOUTH MILWAUKEE PERFOR MING ARTS CENTER POLICIES At the request of the artists, the taking of photographs or the use of recording devices during the performance is strictly prohibited.

All sales for the South Milwaukee Performing Arts Series are final. Refunds will be given only when an event is cancelled and not rescheduled. South Milwaukee Performing Arts Center reserves the right to substitute comparable attractions or to change the dates of programs when compelled to do so by circumstances beyond our control. No refunds will be made in such cases. Performances are subject to change without notice.

If you are unable to attend a performance, the donation of your ticket(s) to South Milwaukee Performing Arts Center would be appreciated to enable resale. This is particularly appreciated for sold out events, when waiting patrons could fill vacant seats. Your contribution will be acknowledged for tax deduction purposes.

Latecomer Policy: Performances start promptly at the time stated on your ticket. If you arrive late and the performance has already begun, SMPAC ushers will seat you where it will be least disruptive to the audience and performers. You may take your reserved seats after intermission if there is one.

Services for patrons with disabilities: South Milwaukee Performing Arts Center is accessible to persons with disabilities. Please notify the Box Office when you are purchasing tickets if special arrangements are required.

Handicap Accessible seating is available. The theatre allows for nine seats to be removed for persons remaining in their wheelchairs, as well as eight seats with arm rest removed for those transferring from a wheelchair or walker to a theatre seat.

Seeing Eye Dogs are allowed in the theatre.

Assisted Listening Devices are available for patrons who are Hard of Hearing. Largeprint programs are available upon request. Audio Description and American Sign Language Interpreted performances are also available upon request and where applicable. At least two weeks notice is required to provide these services. If you have questions please call 414-766-5049.

Cell phones/electronic devices: Out of respect for the artists and fellow audience members, please turn off all electronic devices before the performances. These devices cause interference with our wireless microphones. If you need to use these devices, please exit the theatre before doing so.

Bad weather policy: South Milwaukee Performing Arts Center does not cancel or reschedule performances due to inclement weather, nor can we offer refunds.

Smoking is not permitted anywhere on the grounds of the School District of South Milwaukee.

Box Office hours are 10-4 pm, Monday-Friday, and one hour prior to performances.

The Box Office phone number is 414-766-5049.

Group Seating: If you would like to sit with friends, please submit your ticket orders together.

South Milwaukee Performing Arts Center 901 15th Avenue South Milwaukee, WI 53172 414-766-5049 www.southmilwaukeepac.org 10 South Milwaukee PAC

2011-2012 PERFOR MING ARTS SERIES Mark your calendars for these other exciting events in the 2011-2012 South Milwaukee Performing Arts Series.

STUDENTS’ CHOICE The Improvised Shakespeare Company Friday, April 27, 2012 7:30 pm Based on one audience suggestion The Improvised Shakespeare Company creates a fully improvised play in Elizabethan style. Each of the players has brushed up on his “thee’s” and “thou’s” to bring you an evening of off-the-cuff comedy using the language and themes of William Shakespeare. Any hour could be filled with power struggles, star-crossed lovers, sword-play, rhyming couplets and all that we’ve come to expect from the pen of the Great Bard.

PEOPLE’S CHOICE Ruthie Foster Friday, May 11, 2012 7:30 pm Through her albums and gigs that have taken her from choir lofts to folk bistros and onto stage in Europe and Australia, Foster has raised the multiple flags of American music. There’s Southern blues in her groove, rock in her rhythm, a blend of gospel redemption, country poetry and jazz elegance in her singing. “It didn’t matter to me what genre it was,” she remembers. “I just took it all in as great music – music that moved me.”

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Experienced Creativity Jon Poor is Poor Design

Design for Print and the Internet www.poordesign.com • 414-403-0389 South Milwaukee PAC 11

April 5 – 29, 2012 255 S. Water St. www.nextact.org Box Office 414-278-0765 Sponsored by Skip and Ildy Poliner 12 South Milwaukee PAC