THE FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY College of Music
presents
2023 Opera Workshop Showcase
Matthew Lata and Caroline Bankey, Directors
Abril Valbuena and Dennis Oliveira, Graduate Assistants
Brandon Banks, Shem Loh, and Mikayla Rogers, Piano
Ethan Bigelow, Lighting Design
Sunday, April 30, 2023
2:00p.m. | Opperman Music Hall
LA RONDINE (Puccini) – Trio
Prunier: Cody Whiddon Lisette: Cecilia Malley Magda: Angellina Fedullo
Music Director: Mikayla Rogers Stage Director: Abril Valbuena
The poet Prunier and ex-maid Lisette arrive at Magda’s country house. They are quarreling over Lisette’s failed stunt as an opera singer when Magda, Prunier’s friend and Lisette’s former employer, comes in. Prunier questions whether Magda is happy in the country and prompts her to return to the city and be with her former lover. Magda declares she is content and takes Lisette back as her maid, and Prunier secures a date with Lisette before leaving.
LA CALISTO (Cavalli) – Trio
Natura: Claire Goodwin Eternità: Talia Boudjemaa Destino: Madeline Schneider
Music Director: Mikayla Rogers Stage Director: Dennis Oliveira
In the prologue to La Calisto, three immortals - Nature, Eternity, and Destiny - decide who among humanity may be immortalized. Nature and Eternity praise those who have made it through the tests, placing them in the heavenly firmament. Soon, Destiny arrives, with a new candidate - Calisto - to be honored.
DIALOGUES OF THE CARMELITES (Poulenc) – Trio
Soeur Blanche: Gabriella Berios Rosario Soeur Constance: Elizabeth Robertson
Music Director: Mikayla Rogers Stage Director: Emerson Haven
Mère Marie: Mariah Moran
Blanche is a nun at a convent in France during the French Revolution. Amid anti-religious tension, the Prioress of the convent has just died a terrifying death where she questioned God. Blanche and Constance have been left alone to guard her body. While Constance leaves to get the new guards, Blanche is too scared to stay and, as she attempts to leave, she runs directly into Mother Marie, who scolds her for leaving her post. She excuses her from daily prayers the next morning, but cautions her not to neglect her station again. The next morning, Blanche and Constance visit the Prioress’s grave. Constance remarks that it is too small, and that it almost seems like the Prioress got the wrong death. When Blanche questions her, Constance implies that perhaps the prioress’s suffering will have made death easier for someone else. She leaves Blanche to ponder this ominous prediction.
To Ensure An Enjoyable Concert Experience For All…
Please refrain from talking, entering, or exiting during performances. Food and drink are prohibited in all concert halls. Recording or broadcasting of the concert by any means, including the use of digital cameras, cell phones, or other devices is expressly forbidden. Please deactivate all portable electronic devices including watches, cell phones, pagers, hand-held gaming devices or other electronic equipment that may distract the audience or performers.
Recording Notice: This performance may be recorded. Please note that members of the audience may at times be included in this process. By attending this performance you consent to have your image or likeness appear in any live or recorded video or other transmission or reproduction made in conjunction to the performance.
Florida State University provides accommodations for persons with disabilities. Please notify the College of Music at (850) 644-3424 at least five working days prior to a musical event to request accommodation for disability or alternative program format.
THE YEOMEN OF THE GUARD (Sullivan) – Finale
Ensemble of Ladies: Talia Boudjemaa, Claire Goodwin, Cecilia Malley, Elizabeth Robertson, Madeline Schneider, Michaela Stiles
Elsie: Angellina Fedullo
Fairfax: Cody Whiddon
Phoebe: Gabriella Berios Rosario Dame Caruthers: Mariah Moran
Music Director: Mikayla Rogers Stage Director: Dennis Oliveira
At the finale to Yeoman of the Guard, a wedding is underway! Elsie Maynard is set to marry Leonard Meryll. As the festivities begin, though, it is revealed that a man she had previously been sworn to marry - Colonel Fairfax - has come to take her away. Elsie surrenders to her duty, but it turns out that Fairfax has been Leonard this whole time! Everything ends happily.
ARIADNE AUF NAXOS (R. Strauss) – Duet
Bacchus: DaSean Stokes
Music Director: Brandon Banks
Ariadne: Caitlyn Ecuyer
Conductor: Sebastian Jimenez
Ariadne, having been abandoned by her lover Theseus, has sat alone on her island and resigned herself to death. Bacchus, a god, has washed up on her island having just just escaped being transformed by the sorceress Circe. Ariadne mistakes his identity multiple times, thinking he is the one to bring her to the underworld. But perhaps there is more to Ariadne’s story. Will she choose death, or love?
DIE ENTFÜHRUNG AUS DEM SERAIL (Mozart) – Aria
Belmonte: Matthew Youngblood
Pianist: Brandon Banks
Belmonte, newly arrived at the Pasha’s palace where his beloved Constanza is imprisoned, sings of his love and his hopes.
L’INCORONAZIONE DI POPPEA (Monteverdi) – Duet
Poppea: Audra Weathers
Music Director: Brandon Banks
Nero: Dawson Franzino
Stage Director: Emerson Haven
Nerone is the Emperor of Rome. Despite being married to the Empress Ottavia, he has an ongoing affair with the lesser noblewoman Poppea. In this scene, Nerone prepares to leave after a night with Poppea to go divorce his wife, so that he and Poppea may be married. Poppea doubts his devotion, and tries to get him to stay, fearing he might go back to Ottavia.
LA CLEMENZA DI TITO (Mozart) – Aria
Sesto: Dawson Franzino
Pianist: Brandon Banks
Sesto has been ordered by Vitellia to kill the Emperor Titus in exchange for her love. Sesto agonizes over this difficult choice.
MAVRA (Stravinsky) – Highlights
Parasha: Jennifer Lamont The Hussar: Jabari Lewis
The Mother: Dawson Franzino
The Neighbor: Audra Weathers Music Director: Shem Lo Conductor: Sebastian Jimenez
Stage Director: Dennis Oliveira
A young woman - Parasha - waits at the window for her lover - Vassili. He arrives but the two are interrupted by the girl’s mother, who laments the loss of their family’s maid. This gives Parasha a wonderful idea; she introduces Mavra -Vassili in disguise- to serve as a maid.
DIE ENTFÜHRUNG AUS DEM SERAIL (Mozart) – Quartet
Constanza: Michaela Stiles
Pedrillo: Jabari Lewis
Belmonte: Matthew Youngblood Blonde: Jennifer Lamont
Music Director: Mikayla Rogers Stage Director: Abril Valbuena
Belmonte and Constanza, along with their servants Pedrillo and Blonde, are reuniting after being separated for a while. Belmonte’s concerns over Constanza’s fidelity interrupt their joyous reunion as Pedrillo follows suit. The couples reflect on the issue and the women decide to forgive their partners in the name of love.
We would like to thank the Voice Faculty for all of their continued support of the workshop scenes program.