"The Barber of Seville" Playbill

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The Frances Richards Aldridge Danley Maestro dell’ Opera Conducter’s Chair

Frances Richards Aldridge Danley developed her love for Opera at the early age of six when her mother, Frances Norquist Aldridge, took her backstage to work with props for Mobile Opera performances.

This introduction spurred a life-long passion for ensuring that our community was able to enjoy a world-class opera experience. Fran served the Mobile Opera Guild (Mobile Opera’s auxiliary organization) in many key roles including, committees for the Madame Rose Scholarship Competition, Transportation, Long Range Planning, Nominating, and Advisory Committee. She served as Corresponding Secretary, President-Elect and in 1997, President of the Guild. Despite all of her many roles, Fran most fondly recalls the 30 years of working props backstage for numerous performances.

We are grateful for her service and today are proud to announce the newly created conductor’s chair,

The Frances Richards Aldridge Danley Maestro dell’ Opera.

cho o s et he

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Madame Rose Palmai-Tenser Developing Artist Program Young Artist Program is a scholarship program for students selected from area colleges and universities. These students participate in main stage productions, education and outreach programs and act as musical ambassadors for Mobile Opera.

Young Artists work with internationally recognized soloists, directors, designers and conductors.

2018-2019 Young Artists

Joseph O’Shea Baritone Ronnie Kole Scholar

Megan Zuhowski Soprano Susan B. Gardberg Scholar

The Resident Artists Program, selects, from across the U.S., professional singers of exceptional artistry at the beginning of their careers. In programs performed throughout the community, they introduce the classical voice and the performing arts, helping to develop an interest and awareness of opera that creates future singers, audiences, and patrons.

2018 Resident Artists

Tjaden O’Dowd Cox Soprano

Rachel Gibson Mezzo-Soprano

Peter Lake Tenor

Josh Sewell Baritone

The Madame Rose Palmai-Tenser Scholarship Competition is a voice competition for young singers. It is currently limited to eligible individuals in the southeastern states of Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee, Alabama, Georgia and Florida.

The public is invited, free of charge, to the competition. The winner will be announced at the end of the program, and cash scholarship awards will be made at that time.

Madame Rose Palmai-Tenser Scholarship Competition Competition Finals – January 13, 2019 @ 1:00pm Larkins Music Center, 2nd Floor, Katherine Willson Recital Hall

IN THE COMMUNITY

Major Sponsor of Education and Outreach Programs THE NAN H. ALTMAYER CHARITABLE FOUNDATION STUDENT PREVIEWS give Middle and

season’s Opera School Tour, The Enchanted Forest, is an epic adventure to save the forest from a firebreathing dragon and teaches the basics of operatic story-telling. Complete with dramatic twists and turns—and music from iconic composers including Mozart, Bizet, Gilbert & Sullivan—each performance depends on audience participation to find the right path and make the best choice.

In cooperation with the Mobile Public Library, AFTERNOON OF STARS is an informal performance followed by a reception which gives you the opportunity to meet and hear the artists prior to the mainstage performances.

VOCE (Voices of Children Everywhere)

NIGHT OF SONG: MONDAY MUSIC SERIES offers an exciting

The MADAME ROSE PALMAITENSER DEVELOPING ARTIST PROGRAM is one of the ways Mobile

High School students the opportunity to experience Opera first-hand by attending a final dress rehearsal. In conjunction with the Student Preview, a Mobile Opera Teaching Artist visits participating schools prior to the performance to tell students the story of the Opera and to discuss their role as an audience member.

lineup of free performances on 5 dates throughout the Opera season. Programming for Night of Song: Monday Music Series will vary from soloists to ensembles to one act presentations to new works.

This

is an after-school choral program that is offered to 1st - 5th graders in participating schools. VOCE provides age- appropriate instruction in choral singing, music theory and performance in a fun environment.

Opera fulfills its mission to promote the growth and development of young talent in the performing arts. The program includes three parts: The Young Artist Program, The Resident Artist Program and The Madame Rose Vocal Scholarship Competition.

MOBILE OPERA STAFF D. Scott Wright General & Artistic Director Stacey B. Driskell Associate Director, Education & Outreach Deaven Elliott Administrative Coordinator Proud supporter of Mobile Opera

Open Daily 8 AM - 5 PM

(Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas & New Year’s Days)

Theodore, AL 800.247.8420 / 251.973.2217 bellingrath.org

Murray House

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A ministry of the Episcopal Diocese of the Central Gulf Coast 1257 Government Street, Mobile, AL 36604 (251) 432-2272

BOARD OF DIRECTORS EXECUTIVE BOARD Bruce Earnest, President Laureen Lynn, Vice-President* Charmein Moser, Treasurer Leslie Suffich, Secretary R. Terry Hartley, Immediate Past Presidentt

DIRECTORS Sheryl Bates Lynda Carroll, PhD Sorina S. Christian Finn Cox Martin Flechsenhar Joe Gerard* Duane A. Graham* Jean Harper Ann Hearin Brigitte Kemnade Michael O. Landers Heather Cook Lawton Dr. Christopher McCaghren Arthur Oken Danny K. Patterson Wade B. Perry, Jr.* John Strope Celia Wallace Douglas Whitmore Darrel Williams Jane Williamson Michael Zoghby

HONORARY DIRECTORS Beverly Corte* Spencer C. Frost, III * David Gardberg* J. Russsell Goodloe, DMD* Theodore Greenspan* John Hafner* Jimmie Hatcher* J. B. Horst* Earl G. Jackson* F. Michael Johnson* L. Keville Larson* John N. Leach* Christopher L. Lee* William C. Regan, Jr.* James T. Robson* Stephen V. Russell* Ronald Snider* Lewis Wilder Katherine Willson* Forrest C. Wilson *Past President

WELCOME

W

elcome to Mobile Opera’s production of the The Barber of Seville! I know that I speak for all of our board members, when I say we are thankful that you are with us tonight.

As we begin the 2018-2019 season I would like to encourage each of you to become more involved with what is happening at Mobile Opera. Your attendance, financial support, and time as an opera volunteer are critical to the growth and development of our organization.

Scott, Stacey, Deaven and the rest of the board remain committed to professional excellence in our seasons, supporting local singers, our education programs, increasing audience members and growing the financial resources of Mobile Opera for the future. Our board focus for 2018-2019 will Dr. Bruce Earnest Board of Directors President be: - Continued artistic excellence in all events and performances; -To secure additional funding of $50,000 for the growth of programs and performances; -Expand audience development and educational activities for the future of opera in Mobile.

If you would be interested in partnering with us in any way, I am eager to speak with you. Please call me at (605) 670-8180 so we can talk about the future of Mobile Opera.

See you in Seville!

Dr. Bruce Earnest

Your talent lights up our state.

We are proud to support the Mobile Opera. Thank you for more than 70 years of world-class productions hailed by critics and beloved by audiences.

AlabamaPower.com

Š2016 Alabama Power Company

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geneRal

W

D. Scott Wright

General & Artistic Director

aRTisTic diRecToR WelcoMe

elcome to the 2018-2019 season. This marks the 73rd Anniversary of Mobile Opera’s proud tradition of quality opera and classical music education on the Gulf Coast. Over the years, Mobile Opera and the performing arts in general have continued to pay large dividends to our community in opportunities for performance, service, enjoyment, and appreciation. I am very happy to work with very talented and interesting colleagues who diligently strive to maintain Mobile Opera’s position as a cultural leader. I am grateful for the many artists who have graced our stage and whose friendships provide a network expanding our community across the nation and even around the world. When considering all these things, it is hard to gauge the depth of the impact that Mobile Opera has had on so many lives. So, I thank you for being a part of Mobile Opera, for making a difference by your support through your contributions of treasure, time, and talent, as well as by your attendance.

Thank you for your overwhelming approval of our non-traditional venue and acceptance of the challenge of redefining the opera experience. Preparing this production has been exciting in many ways. We have realized how much the foundation of the past has been taken for granted, we have learned how many details have to be re-imagined, and we have come to appreciate the fundamental truth: art endures. Art is a large part of the expression of who we are, of what our community stands for, and what we hope for. And something that we fervently hope for is a continued appreciation for the importance of the performing arts in our lives; that the magic will endure as artists come and go, as venues change, and as Mobile Opera continues to provide opportunities for performance, service, enjoyment, and appreciation for generations to come. This is a grand opportunity to continue a grand tradition.

May tonight’s performance be the only moment that gives you chills this winter.

Spire proudly supports Mobile Opera and the performers who are enriching lives through the arts in Alabama.

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Mobile oPeRa Media sPonsoRs

The Larkins Music Center 257 Dauphin Street, Mobile, AL 36602 (251) 432-6772 â– mobileopera.org

Mobile Opera is a member of National Opera Association. This program has been made possible in part by grants from the Alabama State Council on the Arts, the National Endowment for the Arts, the City of Mobile and the Mobile County Commission/Mobile Arts Council.

RSVP of Mobile engages individuals age 55 and older in a diverse range of community service activities.

With a mission of enriching the lives of older adults, strengthening the community and encouraging civic engagement, RSVP has proudly served our community for 40 years.

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JANUARY 6 - 12, 2019 Mobile Opera’s annual celebration of our role in the community with something to interest and engage the opera lover and those who have yet to be introduced to this great art form.

Sunday, January 6 - The Greatest Showman Movie Sing-A-Long

Movie @ 2:00pm - Bernheim Hall, Ben May Main Public Library

Monday, January 7 - The Ghosts of Gatsby (One Act Opera, performed by Samford University Opera Program) 7:00pm - Larkins Music Center 2nd floor, Willson Recital Hall

Tuesday, January 8 - TBA Wednesday, January 9 - Opera Trivia 9:00am - 4:30pm Find us on Facebook

Thursday, January 10 - A Little Mid-Day Music Noon-1:00pm - Larkins Music Center 2nd floor, Willson Recital Hall

Friday, January 11 - Opera ArtWalk: Song and Cider 6:00pm - Larkins Music Center, Courtyard

Saturday, January 12 - Madame Rose Palmai-Tenser

Scholarship Competition – Finals 1:00pm - Larkins Music Center 2nd Floor, Willson Recital Hall

Admission to all events is free!

More information: (251) 432-6772 or mobileopera.org

Acknowledgments

Mobile Opera Costume Guild Mobile Opera continues its new tradition of costume excellence by the Mobile Opera Costume Guild. These multi-talented stitchers have expertise in a variety of skills that are put to use in creating costumes for Mobile Opera’s productions. Costumes for this season’s productions were created with the assistance of Marsha LeBoeuf, Costume Director of Washington National Opera, serving as

Artist Housing and Transportation Kevin Anderson Carol Lee and Tom Burge Candlewood Suites Darla and Bruce Earnest Jennifer and Terry Hartley Randy and Cherie Jennings Joanne and Robert Maceluch Sally & David Pearsall Ann and Forrest Wilson Sarah & Scott Wright

Mobile Opera is grateful to the following

Aria Lopuhovsky Barbara Flowers Ben Harper consultant to the MOCG. Billie Dunn Brydon Fox Charmein and Bruce Moser Members: Clinton Dootlittle Chair: Sarah Wright Chickasaw Civic Theatre Susan Ames Graham Driskell Nancy Goodman Hartley Bros. Mfg. Michele Hill Hillary Anaya Michelle Patton Ian Weaver Viola Thornton JJPR Angie Wilkie JoAnn McKnight Darrel Williams Karen Smith Gwin Williams

Keith Necaise Photgraphy Kevin Lee, Lagniappe Mary McCluskey Mary Parker Antiques Michelle Matthews, AL.com Mobile Public Library Plantation Galleries RSVP Volunteers ShowBiz Lighting Steve Alsip The Temple Downtown Theatre 98 Thomas Rowell Zelda Peach Zimlich, The Florist

Cast Party Provided By

Il barbiere di Siviglia Synopsis Act I

Act II

Disguised as the student “Lindoro”, Count Almaviva serenades Rosina, the captive ward of Dr. Bartolo.

He is interrupted by the arrival of Figaro, to whom he reveals his love for Rosina. Figaro explains that Dr. Bartolo plans to marry her himself.

Figaro is Bartolo’s barber. He offers to arrange -- for a fee -- an introduction to Rosina, and to work with the Count to spoil Bartolo’s plan. Disguised as a drunken soldier, the Count will enter the house in order to woo Rosina. The two rejoice in their schemes.

The Count reappears, now disguised as the assistant to the music teacher, Basilio, who has reportedly been taken ill. Gaining the confidence of Bartolo, he proceeds to court Rosina during her music lesson. Figaro arrives for Bartolo’s daily shave. During the commotion of the music lesson, Figaro manages to steal the keys to the balcony and plans, with the lovers, a midnight escape and elopement. The all too healthy Basilio arrives. The conspirators pursuade Basilio that he has scarlet fever and must return home. The Count and Figaro leave as well, in order to make arrangements for the midnight marriage.

Scene 1

Scene 2 Alone, Rosina contemplates her love for Lindoro and her loathing for Bartolo. Figaro arrives and tells her that his cousin, “Lindoro” (really the Count), has been serenading her, and is deeply in love. Overjoyed, she gives Figaro a note to deliver to Lindoro. Meanwhile, Dr. Bartolo and the music teacher, Basilio, conspire to ruin the Count through gossip.

Almaviva arrives in Bartolo’s home in disguise, creating a rowdy confusion.

Soldiers arrive to quiet the disturbance and place Lindoro under arrest. The Count quietly reveals his true identity to the Sergeant and is released, adding to the confusion.

Left alone, Bartolo produces the letter Rosina wrote to “Lindoro”, arousing Rosina’s anger with suspicions that “Lindoro” actually intends to sell her to Count Almaviva. In her anger she discloses the arranged elopement and promises to marry Bartolo. At midnight, Figaro and the Count arrive.

After more confusion and explanation, the lovers are reconciled. A Notary hired by Bartolo enters with Basilio, and both are persuaded to marry the young lovers. Bartolo arrives, with soldiers, demanding the arrest of Figaro and the Count. The marriage is announced, the Count is revealed, and Bartolo decides to make the best of it. As all rejoice in their happiness, Figaro rejoices in the success of his schemes.

Music by Gioachino Rossini Libretto by Cesare Sterbini

James Caraher* Eric Gibson Mobile Opera Costume Guild John Bridges, Showbiz Lighting MMI Theatricals SCENIC CONSULTANT Rebecca Lake Properties Master Albert “Ski” Lopuhovsky Rehearsal Pianist Eric Andries Chorus Master Dr. Laura Moore Makeup Design Lisa Davis Production Stage Manager James Boykin Conductor Stage Director Costumes Lighting Design Set Design

ROSINA COUNT ALMAVIVA FIGARO DR. BARTOLO BASILIO FIORELLO/OFFICER BERTA AMBROGIO A NOTARY

Cristina Backhoum-Sanchez Christopher Nelson Alex DeSocio*

Timothy Lafontaine David Cushing* Josh Sewell* Monika Cosson Kelly Teague* George Davis

MUSICIANS and SOLDIERS OF THE GUARD Mobile Opera Chorus * Mobile Opera Debut

Artist Profiles

ERIC ANDRIES Rehearsal Accompanist Eric Andries is pleased to be returning to Mobile Opera where he has accompanied several productions, including The Crucible, The Merry Widow, Tosca, Don Pasquale and more. He has a wide range of musical experience in several genres. He has been the rehearsal pianist for several opera companies, including Des Moines, Amarillo, Omaha, Hidden Valley Ensemble, Shreveport, Mobile, Syracuse, Indianapolis, and the Ashlawn Music Festival.

Eric is an avid jazz pianist who has worked with Princess Cruise Line.

He was the keyboardist/arranger for a salsa music group that was featured at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival.

A native of Baton Rouge, he holds degrees from LSU in piano performance and has studied in France and Austria.

CRISTINA BAKHOUM-SANCHEZ Rosina

Cristina Bakhoum-Sanchez is a powerful and vibrant Soprano who credits her love and natural ear for languages to her exotic background of Egyptian and Mexican parents. “BakhoumSanchez’s formidable talent and stage presence are of such high caliber that her future in opera portends great success” (On the Aisle-Indianapolis).

She recently performed Mimì in Puccini’s La Bohème with Indianapolis Opera, which were both a role and company debut for her. Her interpretation of Mimì was hailed as “remarkably expressive” (Nuvo Indy’s Alternative Voice) and “splendid…not just from the standpoint of her powerful vocal performance, but also her heartbreaking portrayal of tragic Mimì” (On the AisleIndianapolis). Cristina is ecstatic to return to Mobile Opera for her role debut as Rosina. In 2017 she debuted the role of Dorabella in Mozart’s Cosí fan tutte with Mobile Opera. Cristina has had the pleasure of also working with Central City Opera, Capitol City Opera, Shreveport Opera, Pine Mountain Music Festival, and New Orleans Opera.

Cristina was a prizewinner in the Fielder Grant for Vocal Career Advancement and also advanced to the Semi-finals in the Soma International Foundation Competition, the Shreveport Opera Singer of the Year Competition, and the Dallas Opera Vocal Competition. She received her Graduate Diploma from the New England Conservatory of Music under the tutelage of renowned Luretta Bybee. She holds a Master of Music from Florida State University and Bachelor of Music from Loyola University New Orleans.

JAMES CARAHER Conductor

The Frances Richards Aldridge Danley Maestro dell’ Opera James Caraher, Conductor and Pianist, began his career as a rehearsal accompanist for Tri-Cities Opera in Binghamton, NY. Within a few years, he held the position of Music Director for the opera companies of Syracuse, NY, Memphis, TN, and Indianapolis, IN, and was a frequent guest conductor for many other regional opera companies, including Nashville Opera, New Jersey Opera, Opera Saratoga, and The Opera Company of Philadelphia.

Since his departure in April of 2014 from Indianapolis Opera, after 33 years, he has devoted his time to guest conducting, coaching, recital accompanying, and teaching. He is currently Music Director for the Opera Program at Butler University in Indianapolis, and Artistic Director/Conductor for The International Opera Performing Experience, a summer opera-language program located in Mercatello sul Metauro, Italy, This January, Mr. Caraher will return to Lakeland to conduct The Imperial Symphony Orchestra’s production of Mozart’s The Magic Flute.

MONIKA COSSON Berta

Monika Cosson began her career as a member of the highly esteemed longstanding choral group The Gregg Smith Singers in New York City in 1994, followed by an internship with the Adirondack Festival of American Music in Saranac Lake, NY. She has performed opera roles with New Orleans Opera, Santa Fe Opera, Opera Southwest, Jefferson Performing Arts Society, and Mobile Opera.

Her concert credits include guest appearances with the New Orleans Philharmonic Orchestra, Santa Fe

Desert Chorale, Canticum Novum Chamber Chorus and Orchestra, Santa Fe Community Orchestra, and the Symphony Chorus of New Orleans. Ms. Cosson has been a featured soloist for many organizations including the Santa Fe Federated Republican Women, New Mexico State Senate, New Mexico State Capitol, The City of Santa Fe - Prince Felipe and Princess Letizia of Spain, and Santa Fe Film Festival. Upcoming engagements include Handel’s Messiah with Pensacola Choral Society, Eastern Shore Choral Society, Symphony Chorus of New Orleans, La Frugola, Il Tabarro (Mobile Opera); and Saint-Saëns Requiem (Christ Church Cathedral, Mobile, Alabama).

In addition to performing Ms. Cosson directs the Protestant Chancel Choir on Eglin Air Force Base at the West Gate Chapel. Beyond her musical endeavors, she enjoys practicing and teaching yoga at URU Yoga & Beyond.

DAVID CUSHING Basilio David Cushing’s versatile bass-baritone has recently tackled title roles of Don Pasquale and Le nozze di Figaro, Frère Laurent in Roméo et Juliette, and

Bottom in A Midsummer Night’s Dream. This season, Mr. Cushing returns to Boston Lyric Opera for The Handmaid’s Tale and performs as Colline in La bohème and Sarastro in Die Zauberflöte with the Boston Youth Symphony Orchestra. With the Boston Lyric Opera, he has performed in The Threepenny Opera, Tosca, The Nefarious and Immoral But Highly Profitable Enterprise of Mr. Burke & Mr. Hare. He sang the title role of Don Pasquale with Bar Harbor Music Festival; performed Banquo in Macbeth and reprised the role of Basilio in Il barbiere di Siviglia with Opera Tampa; created the role of Sun Tze in the world première of Rev. 23 with White Snake Projects; and sang Tiresias in Stravinsky’s Oedipus Rex with Emmanuel Music.

He also performed Basilio in Il barbiere di Siviglia with Boston Midsummer Opera and joined the Boston Symphony Orchestra at Tanglewood for their production of La boheme.Mr. Cushing has played roles in Un ballo in maschera, Die Zauberflöte, Rigoletto, Don Giovanni, Roméo et Juliette, Der Rosenkavalier, among many others. He performed the role of George Wilson in John Harbison’s The Great Gatsby with the Tanglewood Festival and he performed the leading role of Maometto in Rossini’s rarely performed opera L’assedio di corinto.

He has been a soloist for Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9, Requiems by Verdi, Fauré and Mozart, as well as many other major works.

productions. Gibson was named Director of Opera at Northern Arizona University in 2015. In the summers, Gibson has taught with AIMS in Graz (Austria) and the Härnösand Folkhögskola Opera Workshop (Sweden).​

ALEX DESOCIO Figaro

ERIC GIBSON Stage Director

Alex DeSocio (Wichita, KS), Baritone, was referred to by The New York Times as having a, “Buttery, booming baritone.” He holds degrees from Northwestern University, B.M., and University of Maryland, M.M. Alex is a two-time alumnus of the Merola Opera Program and former resident artist with Pittsburgh Opera.

Professional experience includes, Mercutio in Romeo et Juliette with Opera Birmingham, Marcello in La Boheme with Pacific Opera Project, Lescaut in Manon with Opera Santa Barbara, Malatesta in Don Pasquale with Livermore Valley Opera, Count in Le nozze di Figaro with Miami Music Festival, and Guglielmo in Cosi fan tutte with LoftOpera. Major competitions of mention are, Laureate in the Queen Elisabeth Competition, a two-time Semi-Finalist in the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions, and winner of the Sullivan Foundation Grant.

Eric Gibson’s stage direction keeps him in great demand.

Recent credits include The Barber of Seville for Opera Tampa; Madama Butterfly, Pirates of Penzance and Die Fledermaus with FargoMoorhead Opera; HMS Pinafore and The Mikado for Union Avenue Opera; The Magic Flute for the Manhattan Opera Studio; Rigoletto for Mid-Atlantic Opera; Heathers: The Musical for Vulcan Lyric in Philadelphia; La Boheme for Boheme Opera, NJ; and Little Women for Central Oklahoma University. This year he made his debut at Opera Tampa with The Barber of Seville and returned to Union Avenue Opera for HMS Pinafore. Gibson has directed productions of The Mikado, The Light in the Piazza and Sweeney Todd for Mobile Opera. In 2011-12, Eric Gibson served as Director of Opera at Baylor University, where he directed Dido and Aeneas, Gallantry, and Signor Deluso. I​n 2002, Gibson took over the artistic directorship of LOOK Musical Theatre (formerly Light Opera Oklahoma), where he directed for over a dozen years, creating many original

TIMOTHY LAFONTAINE Dr. Bartolo

Baritone, Timothy Lafontaine’s recent performances include Alberich in Götterdämmerung with Union Avenue Opera, Candy in Of Mice and Men with the Phonecia Festival of the Voice, Don Magnifico in Opera at Florham’s La Cenerentola, and Dr. Bartolo in Syracuse Opera’s production of Le Nozze di Figaro. Dr. Bartolo in Il Barbiere di Siviglia is a frequent favorite role for Mr. Lafontaine with performances in past productions which include Asheville Lyric Opera, Festival Opera de Saint Eustache in Quebec, Lyrique-en-mer Festival, Belle Isle, France Naples Opera, the Helena Symphony, Harrisburg Opera and Producao Exmovere Festival of Lisbon. Additional roles include the title role in Don Pasquale for Mobile Opera and Tony in Di Capo Opera Theater’s The Most Happy Fella, Ping in Puccini’s Turandot, Daniel Webster in The Devil and Daniel Webster for Mobile Opera and Fresno Grand

Opera, Rucker Lattimore in Cold Sassy Tree with Amarillo Opera, Gianni Schicchi for Skylight Opera Theater, Rigoletto for Harrisburg Opera and Opera Ginasio di Portugal and Steno in Opera Orchestra on New York’s Marino Faliero.

He is thrilled to be returning to Mobile Opera. Mr. Lafontaine also enjoys an active career in concert and oratorio. He performed at Lyrique-en-mer Festival in Belle Isle, France where he sang the baritone solo in Brahm’s Requiem. Other engagements include Rossini’s La Petite Messe Solennelle with Montreal’s L’Orchestre Symphonique du Nouveau Monde and Verdi’s Requiem with the Queens College Chorus and Symphony. He sang Orff’s Carmina Burana with the Hilton Head Symphony and the Kennet Symphony Orchestra, Puccini’s Messe di Gloria with the Great Neck Choral Society and Rossini’s La Petite Messe Solennelle with the New Haven Chorale.

Amore Opera as Alfredo in La Traviata, New Rochelle Opera as Rodolpho in La Boheme, and DIVAria Productions as Don Ottavio in Don Giovanni. Past engagements include Fredric in Pirates of Penzance with Nashville Opera and Mississippi Opera, Alfredo in La Traviata with Midatlantic Opera, Don José in Carmen with Natchez Festival Of Music, Don Ottovio in Don Giovanni with Regina Opera, Nemorino in L’elisir d’amor, Ernesto in Don Pasquale, Eisenstein in Die Fledermaus, Joe Cable in South Pacific and Lun Tha in The King and I. Christopher was an Apprentice Artist with The Ohio Light Opera, Des Moines Metro Opera and Opera Santa Barbara.

JOSh SEWELL Fiorello/Sargeant

ChRISTOPhER NELSON Almaviva Tenor, Christopher Nelson returns to Mobile Opera as Count Almaviva in Il Barbiere di Siviglia. In 2018, Christopher joined Opera on the James as Don Ramiro in La Cenerentola, Mobile Opera as Rodopho in La Boheme,

Joshua Sewell is a recent graduate from the University of Southern Mississippi, and is excited to be participating in his first opera since graduation. His most recent roles while he was still in school included General Zuniga in USM’s Carmen, The Jailer in Mississippi Opera’s Tosca, and Don Alfonso in USM’s Cosi fan Tutti.

Chorus

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Supernumeraries

Steven Alsip LAURA MOORE Chorus Master Laura Moore is Interim Chair of the Music Department and Director of Choral Activities at the University of South Alabama. She received her doctorate in Choral Conducting from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, a Master’s degree in Piano Performance from the Peabody Institute of the Johns Hopkins University, a Master’s degree in Choral Conducting from UNC Greensboro, and the BA from Davidson College. Dr. Moore is active in church music and musical theater, and enjoys coaching singers and accompanying vocalists and instrumentalists. She has served as clinician and adjudicator in North Carolina, Mississippi, and Alabama. As part of the Alabama Ambassadors of Music tour to Europe in 2009 and 2011, Dr. Moore conducted choral concerts in England, France, Switzerland, Austria, and Germany.

ken Austin

ChRISTOPhER POWELL Chorus Rehearsal Accompanist

David Loftin George Davis

Supernumerary Notary

Seth Tucker

kelly Teague

Allan Maples

Joseph O’Shea

Supernumerary Ambrogio

The Mobile oPeRa oRchesTRa violin i

Enen Yu, Concert Master Juliana Gaviria

violin ii

Zully Morales Bret Heim

viola

Jim Lichtenberger Daniela Pardo

cello

Guo-Sheng Huang Jose Sunderland

bass

Taylor Hollyer

fluTe

TiMPani

Travis Jones

Laura Noah

oboe

Patricia Malone

claRineT

J.C. Barker Melissa Turner

PeRcussion Luis Rivera

conTinuo

Eric Andries

bassoon

Evelyn Watkins

hoRn

IN COOPERATION WITH MOBILE SYMPHONY

Rebecca Chambers Judy Sykes

sTage Technician Ben Harper

TRuMPeT

Peter Wood

You’ve got to hear this!

MobileSymphony.org 251.432.2010

&

conTRibuToRs

coRPoRaTe iMPRessaRio level ($20,000 +)

foundaTions

The Laura Lee Patillo Norquist Charitable Foundation

MaesTRo ciRcle ($10,000-$19,999)

The Nan Altmayer Charitable Trust The Community Foundation of South Alabama

City of Mobile Mobile County Mobile Arts Council

PRiMa donna ciRcle ($5,000-$9,999)

Alabama Power Company Alabama State Council on the Arts Anonymous Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alabama

The Crampton Trust J.L. Bedsole Foundation Springhill Medical Center Sybil H. Smith Foundation

sPonsoR level ($2,500-$4,999)

C.D. Helen & Jeff Glaze Foundation Shell Oil Company Foundation

Spire Energy

PaTRon level

($1,000-$2,499)

B&B Pet Store Mike and Patsy Dow Foundation IBM International Foundation

Miller Charitable Foundation Turner Supply Company Vanguard Charitable Trust

coRPoRaTe suPPoRTeR (gifTs undeR $1,000)

Alabama World Trade Association Amazon Smile Anonymous Fiser Giafagleone Charitable Fund, a Donor Advised Fund of The U.S. Charitable Gift Trust

Lawrence and Lawrence Middleton & Associates The Schumann Music Club SP Engineering, Inc. Wells Builders

CONTRIBUTORS INDIVIDUAL Maestro Circle

($10,000 +) Anonymous Scott and Sarah Wright

Prima Donna Circle ($5,000-$9,999) Ms. Ann Hearin Ms. Celia Wallace Mrs. Ivey Williamson

Wagner Level

($2,500-$4,999)

Anonymous Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Bates Dr. and Mrs. Bruce Earnest Dr. and Mrs. Joerg Kemnade

Ms. Laureen Lynn Mr. James T. Robson Dr. and Mrs. Chris Salter

Puccini Level

Anonymous Mr and Mrs. Duane A. Graham Mr. Michael Landers Dr. and Mrs. Christopher McCaghren

($1,250-$2,499)

Mr. and Mrs. Wade B. Perry Mr. and Mrs. Norville Smith Mr. and Mrs. Michael Zoghby

Verdi Level

Anonymous Mr. Richard F. Beirne, IV Drs. Marion and Lynda Carroll Dr. Lanier Cauley Mr. and Mrs. Tim Corrigan Mr. and Mrs. Finn Cox Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Damson Mr. R.P. Denniston Mr. Jimmie Duet

($600-$1,249) Dr. and Mrs. Wade Faulkner Maureen and Spencer Frost Mr. and Mrs. JB Horst Dr. . Douglas Hungerford Mr. and Mrs. Marcus Kennedy Mr. and Mrs. Bruce Moser Dr. and Mrs. Michael O’Dowd Mr. and Mrs. David Pearsall Dr. Allen Perkins

Ms. Plia Dees Preston Rickie Richey and Cathy Cope Mr. Howard Shramm Ms. Ann Marie Terry Mr. Darrel Williams Mr. and Mrs. James Wishon Mr. and Mrs. J. Edwin Wright Dr. Clarke Yarbrough

Donizetti Level Dr. and Mrs. Steven Alsip Anonymous Ms. Katherine Austill Ms. Ann Bedsole Ms. Sharee L. Broussard Mr. J. Gregg Buckalew

($300-$599)

Mr. William Cutts Garin and Deborah Danner Stacey and Brian Driskell Ms. Avery Fick Dr. and Mrs. Art Frankel Mr. and Mrs. Lowell Friedman

Mr. Mike Gewin and Ms. Margueritte Kettering Dr. and Mrs. James Glasser Mr. and Mrs. Jeff Grill Ms. Jimmie Hatcher Mr. and Mrs. Robert Heitman

Donizetti Level (cont’d) Dr. and Mrs. David Legier, Jr. Mr. and Mrs. James Lyons Dr. and Mrs. Michael Madden Mr. and Mrs. Jack McAleer Ms. Geri Moulton Mr. and Mrs. Brian Naylor

Mr. Arthur Oken Michelle and Mike Patton Mr. Clayton Ryan Ms. Melissa Safin Dr. and Mrs. Cort B. Schlichting Dr. and Mrs. Julio Turrens

Dr. and Mrs. David Warren Mr. and Mrs. Forrest Wilson Mr. Douglas Whitmore Ms. Joanie Zoghby Ms. Mary Jo Zoghby

Rossini Level Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Adamo Mr. and Mrs. Raymond Adams Anonymous Dr. Robert Batens Mr. Don Bowden Dr. Julia H. Box Mr. and Mrs. Michael Box Mr. and Mrs. Gene Brabston Mr. and Mrs. John G. Carden Ms. Valerie Case Mr. and Mrs. George Chandler

($150-$299)

Mrs. Frank Dulaney Mr. and Mrs. William Davis Mr. and Mrs. Valrey Early Mr. Larry Eggers Ms. Deaven Elliott Dr. Maria S. Figarola Dr. and Mrs. Martin Flechsenhar Dr. John Kessinger Ms. Gail Leacy Ms. Mary Beth McIsaac Barbara Michell and Hans Rufer

Mr. and Mrs. Scott Peach Mr. John Pendergrass Dr. Thomas Rowell Mr. Douglas Sinchak Ms. Leslie Suffich Ms. Jean Tucker Mr. and Mrs. George Waldron Mr. and Mrs. Gregg Williams Ms. Vincentine Williams Ms. Mary Zoghby Mr. Edmund Zoghby

Mozart Level Anonymous Mr. Kenneth Austin Ms. Betty Baldwin Mr. and Mrs. Robert Baker Ms. Terry Barkin Mr. Don Blanchard Ms. Gay Corte Ms. Donna Drake Mr. Wendell Eatherly Ms. Kathleen Gill Mr. Lorenzo Franklin Mr. and Mrs. Steven Harmon Mr. and Mrs. Charles Hayes

($100-$149)

Mr. and Mrs. William Jones Walter Kirkland and Judy Culbreth Richard and Linda Kletecka Mr. and Mrs. Christopher Knight Mr. and Mrs. Champ Meyercord Jason McKenzie and Day Peake, III Mr. and Richard Miller Ms. Valerie Mitchell Ms. Kaye Montgomery Mr. and Mrs. John Day Peake, Jr. Ms. Katherine Pittman Mr. and Mrs. Bill Purvis Mr. and Mrs. Howell Raines

THANK YOU!

Every donor is important to our future.

Mr. and Mrs. Grey Redditt Mr. and Mrs. John Ruggiero Dr. and Mrs. Cort Schlichting Mr. and Mrs. Tim Simmonds Dr. Laura Anne Shaver Mr. and Mrs. Edward Stone Mr. and Mrs. Gregg Terral Mr. Gene Tillman Ms. Julia Simmons Mr. and Mrs. William J. Suffich Mr. and Mrs. Sid Vogel Mr. and Mrs. Michael Zoghby, Jr.

GIVE TODAY! Make your gift online at mobileopera.org or call (251) 432-6772.

&

honoRaRY

MeMoRial gifTs

In honor of Katherine Willson Scott and Sarah Wright

In honor of Scott Wright Mr. and Mrs. Dan Curtis

In honor of Michael Zoghby Mr. Joey Carter Mr. David Wirtes

In memory of Fran Danley

In memory of Rita Pounds Jacobs Mrs. Ivey Williamson Scott and Sarah Wright

In memory of Pamela Joy Johnson Scott and Sarah Wright

In memory of Albert Klein Anonymous Scott and Sarah Wright

Mr. and Mrs. Wade B. Perry Scott and Sarah Wright John and Susan Leach

IN kIND GIFTS Alabama Public Radio Candlewood Suites Dogwood Productions Gulf Services Contracting Kangal and Associates Lagniappe Mobile Arts Council RSVP Volunteers Springhill Medical Center University of Mobile University of South Alabama Wintzell’s Oyster House Zimlich, the Florist

The Lynn McDermott Whitmore Group of Wells Fargo Advisors is proud to support Mobile Opera The Lynn McDermott Whitmore Group of Wells Fargo Advisors Laureen Lynn, CIMA®, CPWA® First Vice President – Investments 41 W. I-65 Service Rd. N., Ste. 220 Mobile, AL 36608 Direct: 251-345-8811 laureen.lynn@wellsfargoadvisors.com wellsfargoadvisors.com

Doug Whitmore Financial Advisor 41 W. I-65 Service Rd. N., Ste. 220 Mobile, AL 36608 Direct: 251-345-8815 douglas.whitmore@wellsfargoadvisors.com

Michael (Mike) McDermott Financial Advisor 41 W. I-65 Service Rd. N., Ste. 220 Mobile, AL 36608 Direct: 251-345-8814 michael.mcdermott@wellsfargoadvisors.com Investment and Insurance Products:

NOT FDIC Insured

NO Bank Guarantee

MAY Lose Value

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DECIDEDLY DIFFERENT.

Join Mobile Opera for its annual afternoon tea.

Sunday, March 3, 2019 -3:00pm Bragg Mitchell Mansio� 1906 Springhill Ave

$25 per person Hats are encouraged

MOBILE OPERA

2018 | 2019 SEASON Wolf-Ferrari’s

The Secret of Susanna February 16, 2019

More than

IMAGINED More thanEXPECTED More than MUSIC!

MOBILEOPERA.ORG | (251) 432-6772

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From The Shoals to the shore Alabama Public Radio has you covered!

Tune in or stream from www.apr.org for the best local, regional, national and global news as well as classical music.

DEGREES BM with Concentration in Music Education (Instrumental or Vocal) BM with Concentration in Performance (Instrumental or Vocal) BM with Concentration in Elective Studies (Business) BM with Concentration in Elective Studies (Specific Outside Fields) MM in Music Education (General, Instrumental, or Vocal) MM in Performance (Brass, Percussion, Piano, Voice or Woodwind) MM in Collaborative Keyboard Music Minor

ENSEMBLES INSTRUMENTAL Wind Ensemble Symphony Band University Band Symphony Orchestra String Ensemble Jaguar Marching Band Jaguar Pep Band Jazz Ensemble VOCAL University Chorale USA Opera Theatre USA Concert Choir

CHAMBER Flute Choir Clarinet Ensemble Trumpet Ensemble Trombone Ensemble Tuba Euphonium Ensemble Chamber Brass Ensembles Chamber Woodwind Ensembles Percussion Ensemble USA Steel Band USA World Music Ensembles Piano Ensemble Guitar Ensemble

AUDITION DATES

January 12, 2019 February 9, 2019 March 2, 2019 (vocal only)

March 9, 2019 (instrumental only) April 6, 2019

For more Information about AUDITION DATES, call 251-460-6136

CONTACT INFORMATION

University of South Alabama, Department of Music | Laidlaw Performing Arts Center, Room 1072 5751 USA Drive South, Mobile, AL 36688 | (251) 460-6136 | E-mail: usamusic@southalabama.edu www.southalabama.edu/music | Facebook: facebook.com/southalabamamusic

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T H E P E R F ECT H OM E PORT I N D OW NTOW N M OB I L E At Candlewood Suites® hotels, we offer a more casual kind of stay, including all of the comforts and conveniences you need to be at your best while on the road.

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