"La bohème" playbill

La bohème G. Puccini

2017-2018

Mobile Opera’s 72nd Season

opera oysters a proud supporter of the Mobile Opera Downtown Mobile 605 Dauphin St. West Mobile 6700 Airport Blvd.

Saraland I-65 at Exit 13

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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.

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Mobile Opera LS O O H C S E H IN T ENGAGING

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VOCE

Voices of Children Everywhere is an afterschool 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.

STUDENT PREVIEW

Middle and High School students have the opportunity to experience Opera first-hand by attending a final dress rehearsal. For many of our children, live performance and Opera is not something to which they have been exposed. In conjunction with the Student Preview, a Mobile Opera Teaching Artist visits the participating students prior to the performance to tell them the story of the Opera and to discuss their role as an audience member.

OPERA SCHOOL TOUR

This season’s Opera School Tour, The Tortoise and the Hare is an operatic version of the childhood story based on Aesop’s fable with music from the operas of Gioachino Rossini and designed for K-5 schools.

With themes of persistence, courage, and acceptance, this tale teaches that possessing talent does not bring success unless that talent is applied with determination.

MOBILE OPERA IN THE COMMUNITY AFTERNOON OF STARS

In cooperation with the Mobile Public Library, these Sunday afternoon informal performances followed by a reception give you the opportunity to meet and hear the artists prior to the mainstage performances.

NIGHT OF SONG

Mobile Opera’s monthly cabaret of opera and musical theatre, is held on the 2nd Monday of each month. Enjoy fine cuisine and your beverage of choice with entertainment from some of Mobile’s favorite singing artists.

Since its founding in 1977, Mobile’s Singing Children (“MSC”) has been the premier youth chorus on the northern Gulf Coast. Headquartered in Mobile Alabama, students are drawn to the program from many locations within a 60-mile radius.

Learning and performing choral music of the highest quality drives our children and teens toward excellence in song, spirit and studies. Organized into four age and skill appropriate ensembles, MSC provides opportunities for a diverse group of dedicated music students. Each singer fully commits to all performance obligations and weekly rehearsals.

MSC has performed in hundreds of venues over its 40-year history.

Regularly performing with Mobile Opera and Mobile Symphony Orchestra, the choirs have also appeared in well-known and sometimes distant venues including the White House, the Governor’s mansion, Carnegie Hall, The Kennedy Center, National Public Radio’s “From the Top”, 2016 AMEA conference, and 2017 ACDA/ MMEA conference.

For more information about auditions and performances: Website: www.mobilesingingchildren.org Email: mobilesingingchildren@gmail.com

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 consultant to the MOCG. If you have fabrics and sewing notions that you no longer need, MOCG welcomes your donations - - call Mobile Opera at 251-432-6772 and we will arrange to pick up your items.

WHERE DISCOVERY FINDS DIRECTION.

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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, the Mobile County Commission, Mobile Arts Council.

moBiLe oPerA meDiA sPonsors

mobile opera staff FROM THE GENERAL & ARTISTIC DIRECTOR

D. Scott Wright

M

obile Opera continues to surprise me. Each production grows in complexity and every season meets more challenges with versatility, creativity, and an energy that is inspiring. For Stacey Driskell, Deaven Elliott, and myself, I want to say ‘thank you’ to the officers and directors and the many others who encourage and assist us in bringing about fine art and education. I also want to thank those just named and the many, many people who have come together to tackle the enormous task of creating this magnificent version of La boheme. You are about to see and hear why this is one of the most popular operas ever written.

We often say that Mobile Opera is the oldest arts organization in Alabama and the 12th oldest opera company in the nation. However, the distinction is not just in surviving to old age. The greatness of this institution is in the long history of support provided by this community. Mobile Opera survives and thrives because of you. Your presence, your contributions, suggestions, encouragement, and support make it worthwhile and that makes it possible to be a cultural force for Mobile and the Central Gulf Coast. I am proud of what Mobile Opera stands for and what it does for our community. I hope that you feel the same pride in your opera company and that you will continue your support with a contribution to Mobile Opera.

Thank you for being here.

Stacey B. Driskell Associate Director

Deaven Elliott

Administrative Coordinator

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

W

elcome to Mobile Opera! I thank you for being with us for this extraodinary performance of La boheme by Puccini.

I encourage each of you to become 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’s quality productions and excellent education programs. Our board Bruce Earnest focus for 2018 will be: President ◆Continued artistic excellence in all events and performances; ◆Continue the success we have seen in a balanced budget; ◆Develop a planned giving campaign to assure Mobile Opera’s future; ◆Expand audience development activities for the future of opera in Mobile; ◆To aggressively revitalize our board by creating a sense of community If you would be interested in partnering with us in any way, I would be eager to speak with you. Please call me at (605) 670-8180 at any time so we can talk about the future of Mobile Opera!

Executive Board Bruce Earnest, President Laureen Lynn, Vice-President* Charmein Moser, Treasurer Leslie Suffich, Secretary R. Terry Hartley, Immediate Past President

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

La bohème

Music by Giacomo Puccini Libretto by Luigi Illica and Giuseppe Giacosa

Conductor: Bernard McDonald Stage Director: Scott Skiba Costumes: Mobile Opera Costume Guild Lighting Design: John Bridges for ShowBiz Lighting Scenic Design: Scott Wright and Rebeca Lake Properties Master: Albert “Ski” Lopuhovsky Rehearsal Pianist: Eric Andries Chorus Master: Laura Moore Makeup Design: Lisa Davis Production Stage Manager: James Boykin Assistant Production Stage Manager: Marlee Stevison MIMÌ........................................................................................Angel Azzarra* RODOLFO.....................................................................Christopher Nelson* MARCELLO....................................................................Gregory Gerbrandt* MUSETTA.................................................................................Darla Earnest* SCHAUNARD...........................................................................André Chiang COLLINE..................................................................................Patrick Jacobs BENOIT/ALCINDORO........................................................Thomas Rowell PARPIGNOL................................................................................Cris Sanchez CUSTOMS OFFICER...............................................................Justin Gibson SERGEANT...............................................................................Joseph O’Shea TOWNSPEOPLE, CHILDREN AND SERVANTS.....................................

Mobile Opera Chorus, Mobile Singing Children and Supernumeraries * Mobile Opera Debut

synopsis La bohème is one of opera’s most popular and unforgettable stories.

When young poet Rodolfo meets seamstress Mimì, it is love at first sight.

Will the cruel realities of poverty and ill health, cause the flame that burns between them to flicker and die or will the timeless strength of their youthful passion withstand every trial that life brings them?

that her shoe is pinching, she despatches Alcindoro to the cobbler and throws herself at Marcello who succumbs rather easily. A parade in the distance attracts the attention of the group and everyone rushes off to join the fun. Alcindoro returns with the shoe just in time for the waiter to present him with the bill for the entire party.

Act I:

Act III:

Christmas Eve. Marcello, a painter, is trying to work in the extremely cold attic apartment he shares with Rodolfo, a writer. Rodolfo is keeping them warm by burning the manuscript of his play when their friends arrive: Colline, a philosopher and Schaunard, a musician, arrive, in high spirits having unexpectedly acquired a little money. They decide to celebrate just as their landlord Benoit arrives, demanding rent. They manage to thwart Benoit and set off to Café Momus. Rodolfo stays behind to finish writing an article when Mimì, a neighbour, knocks on his door. Her candle has gone out. Mimì is feeling weak, and she faints, dropping her key.

Rodolfo helps her search, and in the darkness, their hands touch.

Act II:

Café Momus is bustling with people full of Christmas cheer as Rodolfo and Mimì join the friends.

Marcello is upset when his old flame, Musetta, walks by on the arm of the wealthy, older Alcindoro. Marcello decides to ignore her and Musetta accepts that as a challenge. Pretending

February. Mimì asks Marcello to intervene with Rodolfo whose jealousy has made their life together impossible. She overhears the men talking about her and learns that Rodolfo believes that his poverty is preventing her from getting the medical help necessary to overcome her illness. Marcello and Musetta quarrel while Rodolfo and Mimì confront the necessity of separation.

Act IV: Later in the Spring, Marcello and Rodolfo are trying to work but thoughts of their lovers distract them. Schaunard and Colline have scrounged a little food and the four friends pretend they are having a feast with dancing. They are interrupted by Musetta with the news that Mimì is dying and wants to be with Rodolfo.

The friends do what they can but it is too late to save her.

Artist Profiles

ERIC ANDRIES Rehearsal Accompanist

ANGEL AZZARRA Mimì

ANDRÉ CHIANG Schaunard

Eric Andries, rehearsal accompanist, 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.

Soprano, Angel Azzarra, studied voice at Southern Miss and earned her master’s degree at the Manhattan School of Music as the sole full scholarship voice student. She is a soughtafter chamber musician and interpreter of obscure works, recently performing Villa Lobos’ Bachianas Brasileiras No. 5 at the Heifetz International Institute of Music. Her reputation as a Rachmaninoff interpreter continues to expand with recent performances in Peru. Her operatic roles have been listed in the New York Times as “The Best Classical Music of 2016.” Recent engagements include George Crumb’s Three Early Songs, Sibelius’ Op. 70 Luonnotar at Miller Hall in New York City, and a New York premiere of Conrad Susa’s The Dangerous Liaisons as Madame de Volanges. Opera credits include Countess (Le nozze di Figaro) Pamina (Die Zauberflöte), Fiordiligi (Così fan tutte), as well as concert excerpts of Lucia (Lucia di Lammermoor), Semiramide (Semiramide), and Violetta (La Traviata). She has performed with the Franz Schubert Institute, Natchez Festival of Music, Midwest Institute of Opera, Opera Festival di Roma, and International Performing Arts Institute of Germany. Ms. Azzarra was a national finalist in the Rose Palmai-Tenser competition.

Touted by the Oregonian as “vocally commanding” baritone André Chiang brings his lyrical voice to repertoire spanning from Handel to Glass. Mr. Chiang’s recent engagements include returns to Virginia Opera as Fiorello/Officer (Il barbiere di Siviglia) and Opera Birmingham as Belcore (L’elisir d’amore).

Previous credits include Young Galileo/Salviati (Galileo Galilei), Argante (Rinaldo), Falke (Die Fledermaus), and Ford (Falstaff) with Portland Opera; Anthony Hope (Sweeney Todd) with Virginia Opera; Masetto (Don Giovanni), El Gallo (The Fantasticks), Morales/ Le Dancaïre (Carmen) and Motorcycle Cop/Guard 1 (Dead Man Walking) with Shreveport Opera; Marco (Gianni Schicchi) with Mobile Opera; and Lancelot in the Young Artist Matinee of Camelot at the Glimmerglass Festival. Competition honors include the winner of the 59th NFMC 2017 Biennial Young Artist Award and the 45th NATS Artist Awards Competition.

Upcoming engagements include St. Paul in Mendelssohn’s Paulus with the Berkeley Community Chorus and Orchestra, Charlie in Three Decembers with Painted Sky Opera, and Escamillo in La tragédie de Carmen with Louisiana Opera.

DARLA EARNEST Musetta Ms. Earnest has a diverse singing career including the acclaimed “Voices of Liberty” at Walt Disney World’s EPCOT. She has sung numerous opera and musical theatre roles in the US and Germany including: Liú in Turandot, Valencienne in The Merry Widow, Blonda in The Abduction from the Seraglio, Gretel in Hansel & Gretel, Ms. Southingham in a modern adaptation of Mozart’s Impresario, Nella in Gianni, Drusilla in The Coronation of Poppea, Grace Farrell in Annie, Laura in the world premiere of Parable, the Soprano role in Trouble in Tahiti, Lead Role in Nightclub Cantata, Anna in The King and I, and The Sound of Music’s Maria. Concert works include Soprano Soloist in the Brahms Requiem, various Rodgers and Hammerstein tributes, Gounod’s St. Cecilia Mass, Bach’s Jesu, Meine Freude, Mozart’s Exsultate Jubilate, Bernstein’s Chichester Psalms, and Schubert’s Der Hirt auf dem Felsen. Ms. Earnest studied with famed soprano Dr. Barbara Daniels and collaborated with conductors David Gier, Paul Nadler, Anton Coppola, Carlos Barrena and Jurgen Doetsch. Her voice students can be seen performing opera, musical theater, pop and jazz; in touring productions of musicals as well as in opera houses,

conservatories, universities, young artist programs, theme parks and cruise ships around the globe. Darla has served on the voice faculties of the Hochschule für Musik und Theater/ Bayerische Theaterakademie August Everding (Conservatory for Music and Theater/Bavarian Theater Academy) and in the Prinzregententheater in Munich, Germany. She is currently adjunct Professor at the University of Mobile teaching Musical Theatre and Classical Vocal Technique and is Director of Music at Bayshore Christian School.

Artist Profiles

lead role in new productions of A Streetcar Named Desire, Silent Night, Glory Denied, Mansfield Park, and Judgment of Midas, the latter of which was recorded and released in 2015 on Albany Records. By contrast, Gerbrandt is in high demand to perform the prominent standards of the Italian, French, English, and Russian repertoire. The lead baritone in La bohème, Lucia di Lammermoor, Le nozze di Figaro, L’elisir d’amore, and Faust, as well as the title roles of Don Giovanni, Il barbiere di Siviglia, and Eugene Onegin are just a sampling of his performed repertoire with Cairo Opera (Egypt), Teatro Nacional Sucre, Teatro Sanchez Aguilar (both of South America), Opera Colorado, Boston Lyric Opera, Glimmerglass Opera, Hawaii Opera Theatre, Opera Santa Barbara, Nashville Opera, Sarasota Opera, Opera Saratoga, Central City Opera, and the Utah Festival Opera.

GREGORY GERBRANDT Marcello For nearly 20 years, baritone Gregory Gerbrandt has been a full-time independent contractor and professional singer/performer in the disciplines of Opera, Musical Theatre, and Symphony, garnering critical acclaim around the globe. He has negotiated his own contracts with top organizations on five continents, collaborating with colleagues and company heads of all ages and from widely diverse backgrounds.

Gerbrandt has performed over 70 principal roles with over 60 professional organizations and has sung for ambassadors and other government officials from all over the world. Gerbrandt has created the lead baritone in five World Premieres. He is frequently asked to sing contemporary opera and has performed most recently the

PATRICK JACOBS Colline Dr. Patrick Jacobs is an established veteran of hundreds of performances in opera and musical theater. He excels as an actor and singer “with a smooth baritone and a special talent for shifting from comedy to darker mischief.” Born in Louisiana, Dr. Jacobs attended Loyola University in New Orleans, and The University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music

Artist Profiles before he finished his education in New York at SUNY Stony Brook.

He is a two-time Metropolitan Opera regional finalist and winner of the Orpheus National Vocal Competition, Dr. Jacobs has performed principal roles with opera companies throughout the United States, including: New Orleans Opera, Opera Theatre of Pittsburgh, Fresno Grand Opera, and many others. He is a featured soloist on the debut opera recordings of Hangman, Hangman! and The Town of Greed by Leonardo Balada on the Naxos recording label. As a stage director, Dr. Jacobs has worked with the University of Mobile, the International Performing Arts Institute (Kiefersfelden, Germany), LOOK Musical Theater (Tulsa, OK), and the Joe Jefferson Players (Mobile, AL). In June of 2018, he will direct Ragtime for the Joe Jefferson Players. Recent singing engagements include Simone in Gianni Schicchi with Mobile Opera, Baron Gondremarck in La Vie Parisienne with First Coast Opera, George Benton in Dead Man Walking with Pensacola Opera, as well as solos in Handel’s Messiah with Choral Society of Pensacola and a concert of contemporary art song with Crescent Chamber Artists in New Orleans. Engagements for the 2017-18 season include Don Alfonso in Così fan tutte and Colline in La Bohème with Mobile Opera, solos in Messiah with the New Orleans Symphony Chorus, and Bach’s Wachet auf, BWV 140 and Mozart’s Requiem at Christ Church Cathedral (Mobile, AL). Dr. Jacobs is the Director of Vocal Studies and Opera at the University of Mobile and the Classic Worship Leader and Choir Director at Saraland United Methodist Church. He lives in Saraland, Alabama with his wife, Stephanie, and their two children, Samuel and Allison.

BERNARD MCDONALD Conductor

The Frances Richards Aldridge Danley Maestro dell’ Opera

Bernard McDonald’s upcoming and recent engagements as conductor include: Opera Kelowna, British Columbia; Opera Theater of Pittsburgh; the Pittsburgh Opera; Bay View Music Festival, Michigan; the Dutch National Opera Academy; and the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama (RSAMD).

Also a pianist, he garnered wide-ranging experience as a vocal coach, conductor, and chorus master with major opera companies in America, Europe and the Far East. His debut at the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC, was on piano, in recital with mezzo-soprano Marietta Simpson and tenor John Aler. Professional training at the Merola Program of the San Francisco Opera led directly to an invitation to join the music staff of the New York City Opera. He was subsequently Head of Music and Chorus Master at the Florida Grand Opera in Miami. As Chorus Master of Glyndebourne, he prepared over twenty-five productions to great critical acclaim for a host of internationally renowned conductors, including Sir Simon Rattle, Sir Charles Mackerras, and Vladimir Jurowski. He has also worked with, among others, the Aspen Music Festival and

School, the New National Theatre Tokyo, the Netherlands Opera, the Netherlands Radio Choir, the Indianapolis Symphonic Choir, and the Central Iowa Symphony. He has been on the faculty of the RSAMD and CCM. A native of Scotland, his studies include piano performance at the RSAMD; opera at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, London, and the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music (CCM); musicology at the University of Glasgow; and a doctorate in conducting from Indiana University. He is currently the G. Dewey and M. Maine Larsen Chair in Opera at Simpson College.

CHRISTOPHER NELSON Rodolfo Tenor, Christopher Nelson is making is debut as Rodolfo in La boheme as well as his main stage debut with Mobile Opera. In 2017, Christopher joined Opera on the James as Bardolpho in Falstaff, Mississippi Opera as Frederic in The Pirates of Penzance, Opera North as Menelas in La Belle Helene, Pinkerton (cover) in Madama Butterfly and New York Opera Collaborative and Midatlantic Opera as Alfredo in La Traviata. Past engagements include Fredric in Pirates of Penzance with Nashville Opera, Don José in Carmen with Natchez Festival Of Music, Don Ottovio in Don Giovanni with Regina Opera,

Artist Profiles Count Almaviva in The Barber of Seville, 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.

Gondoliers, perform the tenor solos in Bach’s Magnificat with Northwest Florida Symphony in May, and will create the role of John C. Calhoun in George Mabry’s An Elegant Obsession in early September. Rowell also appears regularly with musical arts organizations along the Gulf Coast, including Mobile Symphony, Northwest Florida Symphony, Pensacola Opera, Choral Society of Pensacola, Mobile Pops, and Baldwin Pops, and is also the conductor of Bella Voce, Mobile’s premier women’s chorus. Dr. Rowell is the Area Coordinator for Vocal Studies and the Director of Opera Theatre at the University of South Alabama.

THOMAS ROWELL Benoit/Alcindoro Thomas Rowell began his affiliation with Mobile Opera as Chorus Master for the 2004 production of The Mikado. Since then, he has appeared in more than twenty-five productions with the company, including roles in The Crucible, La Traviata, Lucia di Lammermoor, Tosca, Turandot, La Fanciulla del West; KoKo in The Mikado; Goro in Madama Butterfly; Schmidt in Werther; Edmondo, the Dancing Master, and the Lamplighter in Manon Lescaut, Beppe in Pagliacci; Gherardo in Gianni Schicchi, and most recently as Mr. Scratch in The Devil and Daniel Webster.

Last spring he appeared as Goro in First Coast Opera’s production of Madama Butterfly, as Father Grenville in Pensacola Opera’s production of Jake Heggie’s Dead Man Walking, and stage directed Offenbach’s La Vie Parisienne at the University of South Alabama.

He will direct USA Opera Theatre’s upcoming production of Gilbert and Sullivan’s The

SCOTT SKIBA Stage Director Scott Skiba is Executive Artistic Director of Cleveland Opera Theater where he has directed: Le nozze di Figaro, La Bohème, Tosca, La Rondine, Gianni Schicchi, Il Tabarro, and Pagliacci.

A proponent of new opera, Scott’s initiatives helped launch the {NOW} Festival - Cleveland Opera Theater’s annual event to create, develop, and produce new opera, which is developing an opera based on Garcia Lorca’s final play, The House of Bernarda Alba, with Caridad Svich (libretto) Griffin Candey (composer) and the Baldwin Wallace Conservatory of Music.

Upcoming directing engagements

include: Macbeth (Opera Tampa), Madama Butterfly (Cleveland Opera Theater), Faust (Natchez Festival of Music), and Roméo et Juliette (Pensacola Opera).

Recent engagements include: The Student Prince (Opera Grand Rapids), Carmen (Opera Western Reserve), Suor Angelica (Mobile Opera), Il Barbiere di Siviglia (Natchez Festival of Music), and Don Giovanni (Hawaii Performing Arts Festival).

Scott’s work includes collaborative ventures in alternative and non-traditional venues that explore intimate contemporary approaches to producing opera, promoting civic engagement and providing gateways to develop new audiences including: the professional premiere of Sweets By Kate (Marble City Opera) performed in Sugar Mama’s Bakery in Downtown Knoxville; The New Opera Project - development and world premiere of Six Micro-Operas in collaboration with Interlochen Arts Academy, Parallel 45 Theatre Company and Inside Out Gallery in Traverse City, Michigan; The iLyric Project - installation of nine different operas in nine different piazze throughout the historic city of Arezzo, Italy in collaboration with the ICASTICA Festival and the city of Arezzo, Italy.

An advocate of arts education, Scott is Director of Opera Studies for the Baldwin Wallace Conservatory of Music whose spring 2017 production of Dialogues of the Carmelites won first place in the National Opera Association Collegiate Opera Competition.

He has guestdirected productions for Oberlin Conservatory, and The Interlochen Opera Theater, and is currently Assistant Artistic Director for the Hawaii Performing Arts Festival, and Movement and Acting instructor for the Cornish American Song Institute.

mobile opera chorus LAURA MOORE, Chorus Master

Laura Moore is 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.

Steven Alsip

Ken Austin

Joyce Barber

Sarah Beaver

Elizabeth Bemis

Richard Coarsey

Leigh Ann Collins

Justin Gibson

David Loftin

Vaughan Luker

Allan Maples

Joseph O’Shea

Asia Smith

Elizabeth Stephens

Seth Tucker

Christopher Powell Julio Turrnes

Monica Webb

Megan Zuhowski

Rehearsal Accompanist

Children’s chorus Mobile Singing Children under the direction of Susan Hoitt.

Kangal & associates

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IN COOPERATION WITH MOBILE SYMPHONY

violin i

Enen Yu, Concertmaster Zully Morales Juliana Gaviria

violin ii

Molly Hollingsworth Bret Heim

viola

flute

troMBone

oBoe

tiMpani

clarinet

percuSSion

Andra Bohnet Patricia Malone

BaSSoon

cello

horn

BaSS

Taylor Hollyer

Matt Greenwood

J.C. Barker Melissa Turner

Matt Watts Jim Lichtenberger Guo-Sheng Huang Jose Sunderland

Arie VandeWaa

Luis Rivera

harp

Katie Ott

Melanie Ferròbone Ken Ortlepp Judy Sykes

Stage technician Ben Harper

truMpet

Ismael Brandao

Years

20

Chee Yun Violin

M O BI LE SYM PH O NY O RCH ESTRA of excellence

MobileSymphony.org

Grammy winner Zuill Bailey

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251.432.2010

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Mobile Opera is grateful to the following Antique Emporium at MAH Aria Lopuhovsky Barbara Flowers Ben Harper Billy Dunn Bruce Earnest Cammie Wayne, Old Dutch Ice Cream Shoppe Carol Lee Burge Charmein Moser Chickasaw Civic Theatre Darrel Williams Graham Driskell Hartley Bros. Manufacturing JoAnn McKnight Joe Jefferson Playhouse Joerg Kemnade Karen Smith Keith Necaise Photography Kevin Lee, Lagniappe

Mary Parker Antiques Michelle Matthews, AL.com Mobile Public Library Mobile Singing Children Peter Kohrman RSVP Volunteers Show Biz Lighting Designs Susan Hoitt The Temple Downtown Theatre 98 Thomas Bates Thomas Rowell University of Mobile, Alabama School of the Arts Scene Shop University of South Alabama, Department of Music Wintzell’s Oyster House Zelda Peach Zimlich, the Florist

Cast Party Provided By

Artist Housing and Transportation

Mobile Opera Costume Guild Members

Dr. Rebecca Alsip Randy Bolden Darla and Bruce Earnest Joe and Diane Gerard Vaughan Luker Joanne and Robert Maceluch Sally & David Pearsall Sarah & Scott Wright

Chair: Sarah Wright Susan Ames Nancy Goodman Michele Hill Michelle Patton Viola Thornton Angie Wilkie

Contributors • CORPORaTE and FOundaTIOns iMpreSSario level

$20,000 anD aBove The Laura Lee Patillo Norquist Charitable Foundation

MaeStro circle

$10,000-$19,999 Alabama State Council on the Arts The Nan Altmeyer Charitable Trust City of Mobile The Community Foundation of South Alabama The Daniel Foundation Mobile County/Mobile Arts Council

priMa Donna circle

$5,000-$9,999 Alabama Power Company Anonymous Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alabama The Crampton Trust Evonik Corporation 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 University of South Alabama

patron level

$1,000-$2,499 Mike and Patsy Dow Foundation IBM International Foundation Turner Supply Company Vanguard Charitable Trust

corporate Supporter

giftS unDer $600 Amazon Smile Anonymous Fiser Giafagleone Charitable Fund, a Donor Advised Fund of The U.S. Charitable Gift Trust Lawrence and Lawrence The Schumann Music Club Sterling Event Designs

CONTRIBUTORS • Individuals Maestro Circle $10,000 and above

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. Joerg Kemnade Ms. Laureen Lynn Mr. James T. Robson

Puccini Level

$1,250-$2,499 Mr. and Mrs. Dan Benton Mr. R.P. Denniston Mr. and Mrs. Bruce Earnest Mr and Mrs. Duane A. Graham Mr. Michael Landers Dr. and Mrs. Christopher McCaghren Mr. and Mrs. Wade B. Perry Dr. and Mrs. Chris Salter Ms. Ann Marie Terry Mr. and Mrs. Michael Zoghby

Verdi Level

$600-$1,249 Anonymous Mr. and Mrs. William Barnhill Mr. Richard F. Veirne, IV Drs. Marion and Lynda Carroll Dr. Lanier Cauley Mr. and Mrs. Finn Cox Mr. Jimmie Duet Mr. and Mrs. Spencer C. Frost, III Dr. and Mrs. Douglas Hungerford Mr. and Mrs. Bruce Moser Dr. and Mrs. Michael O’Dowd Mr. and Mrs. David Pearsall Dr. Allen Perkins Mr. Howard Shramm Mr. Darrel Williams

Donizetti Level

$300-$599 Dr. and Mrs. Steven Alsip Anonymous Ms. Sharee L. Broussard Mr. and Mrs. Tim Corrigan Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Damson Mrs. Fran Danley Stacey and Brian Driskell Ms. Avery Fick Mr. and Mrs. Lowell Friedman Dr. and Mrs. James Glasser Mr. and Mrs. Jeff Grill Jeffery and Sheryl Howard Ms. Cecelia Murphy and Mr. Dave Johnson Mr. and Mrs. James Lyons Mr. and Mrs. Robert Maceluch Dr. and Mrs. Phillip Madonia Mr. and Mrs. Brian Naylor Mr. and Mrs. Robert Omainsky Ms. Plia Dees Preston Ms. Barbara Michell and Mr. Hans Rufer Mr. and Mrs. John Ruggiero Mr. Clayton Ryan Ms. Melissa Safin Dr. and Mrs. Cort B. Schlichting Ms. Anne Shaver William and Patricia Schwieterman Ms. Gloria Taylor Dr. and Mrs. Julio Turrens Mr. Richard Vesely Mr. and Mrs. Forrest Wilson Mr. and Mrs. James Edwin Wright

Rossini Level

$150-$299 Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Adamo Mr. and Mrs. Ray Adams Anonymous Mr. Don Bowden Dr. Julia H. Box Mr. and Mrs. Michael Box Ms. Valerie Case Mr. and Mrs. George Chandler Ms. Sorina Christian Mr. William Cutts Garin and Deborah Danner Mr. Clinton Doolittle Mr. and Mrs. Valrey Early

CONTRIBUTORS • Individuals Dr. Maria S. Figarola Dr. and Mrs. Martin Flechsenhar Dr. and Mrs. Jim Glasser Dr. and Mrs. Russell Goodloe Mr. Irvin Grodsky Ms. Jean Harper Mr. and Mrs. JB Horst Dr. John Kessinger Mrs. James Lambert Dr. and Mrs. David Legier, Jr. Mr. Terry Mannion Ms. Kaye Montgomery Mr. and Mrs. Danny Patterson Mr and Mrs. Mike Patton Mr. John Pendergrass Mr. and Mrs. Stephen Russell Mr. Douglas Sinchak Ms. Leslie Suffich Ms. Eileen Susman Ms. Jean Tucker Mr. and Mrs. George Waldron

Mozart Level

$100-$149 Mrs. and Mrs. Ray Adams Anonymous Mr. Kenneth Austin Mr. and Mrs. Robert Baker Ms. Terry Barkin Mr. and Mrs. William Callahan Mr. and Mrs. Edward Davidson Mr. Wendell Eatherly Mr. Lorenzo Franklin Dorothy and Ferrill Gibbs Ms. Therese G. Greer Mr. and Mrs. Charles Hayes Mr. Ralph Holberg, III Richard and Linda Kletecka Ms. Janice McKay Mr. Edward T. Merry, Jr. Mr. Arthur Oken Mr. and Mrs. John Day Peake, Jr. Ms. Lyda H. Prendergrast Mr. John Soderberg Mr. and Mrs. William J. Suffich Ms. Jeanne Sylvester Ms. Rosemary Talbot

Tyler Smith and Betsy Uschkrat Mr. Douglas Whitmore Ms. Mary Jo Zoghby

In Kind Gifts

Alabama Public Radio Dogwood Productions Gulf Services Contracting Kangal and Associates Lagniappe Mobile Arts Council Persons Plumbing RSVP Volunteers University of Mobile University of South Alabama Wintzell’s Oyster House Zimlich the Florist honorary and memorial gifts

In Honor of Mr. &Mrs. Forrest Wilson

Mr. and Mrs. Valrey Early _________________________________

In Memory of Robert Lee Hatcher, III Scott and Sarah Wright

In Memory of Dr. Clifford Pringle Mrs. Ivey Williamson

In Memory of Patricia Rowell Stacey and Brian Driskell Dr. Thomas Rowell Mrs. Ivey Williamson Scott and Sarah Wright

In Memory of Robert H. Sylvester, Sr. Mrs. Ivey Williamson Scott and Sarah Wright

In Memory of Cecelia Williams Ms. Laureen Lynn

GRAND SOIREE Sunday, April 8, 2018 The Grand Hotel - Point Clear 5:30pm Reception 6:00pm Dinner and Live Music Auction Begins

for the musical talents of Tjaden O’Dowd Cox, Monika Cosson and Gran Wilson, with Thomas Rowell as the auctioneer and Laura Moore as accompanist, and special guest artist, jazz piano great, Ronnie Kole.

$125 per person

cocktail/business formal attire RSVP and include dinner selection of steak or fish by April 3, 2018 to Mobile Opera - (251) 432-6772.

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.

What Role Will You Play?

The Neverland you never knew

Misery loves family

October 27- November 12, 2017

January 12-28, 2018

A divinely decadent experience

March 16-April 16-April 1, 1, 2018

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was Ragtime

June Ju e 1-17, 7, 2018 20 8

You Play" Season Subscriptions are flexible all season long. Call us at 251.471.1534. Get yours today and check out our "What Role Will You video series at joejeffersonplayers.com and on these social media platforms

Your ARTFORM in printed goods.

Since 1929, Artcraft Press is producing high quality, award winning, service to the Gulf Coast Region. We produce printed goods from simple business stationery to full color brochures, booklets and business forms. We also offer short run, quick turn-around color digital printing.

Call today for more information on how we can help you with your printed needs.

251-471-4383 12 Tacon Street

Mobile, AL 36607 Email: todd@artcraftpressmobile.com

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The Eyelid Specialist Mark S. Brown, M.D. Cosmetic Eyelid Surgery Droopy Eyelids “Eye-Lift” / Blepharoplasty Thyroid Eye Disorders

For information contact Vision Partners

251.650.LIDS www.DrMarkBrown.com

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

Wells Fargo Advisors, LLC, Member SIPC, is a registered broker-dealer and a separate non-bank affiliate of Wells Fargo & Company. © 2011, 2013 Wells Fargo Advisors, LLC. All rights reserved. 0715-03774 [74127-v4] A1699 (3326501_504383)

The University of South Alabama Department of Music, through its innovative curriculum, empowers professional musicians, music educators, and those who wish to enrich their lives through the arts. The Department serves the needs of the University to promote general education and to provide a vital cultural link to the great state of Alabama and to the Gulf Coast region. Its excellent facilities and faculty, promotion of technology, and dedication to life-long learning provide a wide spectrum of experiences for both the student and the community.

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

Degrees

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

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

January 13, 2018 February 3, 2018 March 10, 2018 April 14, 2018 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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