LaTraviata Verdi’s
The Fallen Woman
2019-2020 • 74th Season
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
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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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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 name the conductor’s chair in her honor.
The Frances Richards Aldridge Danley Maestro dell’ Opera.
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IN THE COMMUNITY
STUDENT PREVIEWS give Middle and
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.
VOCE (Voices of Children Everywhere)
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.
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.
NIGHT OF SONG: MONDAY MUSIC SERIES offers an exciting lineup of free performances 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 season’s OPERA SCHOOL TOUR, The Enchanted Forest, is an epic adventure to save the forest from a fire-breathing 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. The 2019 school tour cast is as folllows:
Tjaden O’Dowd Cox Soprano
Rachel Gibson Mezzo-Soprano
Jackson Henson Baritone
Stacey Driskell Soprano
Major Sponsor of Education and Outreach Programs THE NAN H. ALTMAYER CHARITABLE FOUNDATION The MADAME ROSE PALMAI-TENSER DEVELOPING ARTIST PROGRAM is one of the ways Mobile 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.
Young Artist Program
is a scholarship program for students selected from area colleges and universities. These students participate Mary-Bradley Knighton 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.
Diamond Sparks
Susan B. Gardberg Scholar
Joseph O’Shea
Claire Strong
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 Finals – January 11, 2020 @ 1:00pm Larkins Music Center, 2nd Floor, Katherine Willson Recital Hall
MOBILE OPERA STAFF D. Scott Wright General & Artistic Director Stacey B. Driskell Associate Director, Education & Outreach Deaven Elliott Administrative Coordinator
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DECIDEDLY DIFFERENT.
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 Joe Gerard* Duane A. Graham* Jean Harper Ann Hearin Brigitte Kemnade Michael O. Landers Heather Cook Lawton Arthur Oken Danny K. Patterson Wade B. Perry, Jr.* Stephen V. Russell* Marty Stinebaugh John Strope Celia Wallace Douglas Whitmore Darrel Williams Jane Williamson Michael Zoghby
HonoraryDirectors 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* Ronald Snider* Lewis Wilder Katherine Willson* Forrest C. Wilson *Past President
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Cast Party Provided By
Upcoming
Winter Gala Concert Fury and Pathos: seductive women in opera. An evening with acclaimed mezzo-soprano Suzanne Marie Lommler and Maestro Bernard McDonald.
LA RONDINE Puccini’s
The Swallow
2020 February 8 - 7:30pm Murphy Auditorium
The soaring music of Puccini raises the dazzling Magda to the heights of true love but the past is always present and the future spells heartbreak.
Sunday Aſter�oon Tea
Please join Mobile Opera for an aſternoon tea with music by Mobile Opera Young Artists.
Sunday, March 8, 2020 -3:00pm Bragg Mitchell Mansio� 1906 Springhill Ave $25 per person - Hats are encouraged
March 27 & 29, 2020 The Temple Downtown
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Mobile Opera History
M
obile Opera, located on the Gulf Coast of Alabama, is one of the oldest performing arts organizations in the United States, as well as the oldest in the State of Alabama, having been founded in 1945. Its founder, Madame Rose Palmai-Tenser, a concert artist from Czechoslovakia, directed the first two performances in April 1946. As its General Director, Mrs. Tenser continued to lead the company until her death in 1971. Katherine Willson became the company’s Production Coordinator and General Manager and oversaw the growth of the company through the next twentyfive years. During the company’s 1995/1996 season, she became the first female President of the Board, celebrating Mobile Opera’s 50th Anniversary Season and her own thirtyfive year involvement with the company. Under Pelham “Pat” Pearce, Mobile Opera maintained its production quality and its innovative programs dedicated to education and community outreach. The development of Mobile Opera as a nationally recognized company continued with the ten-year supervision of Jerome Shannon as General Director. Shannon was succeeded by Earl Jackson who retired in 2011. The company currently operates under the direction of General Director Scott Wright. In July 2002, Mobile Opera relocated its offices to the Josephine Larkins Music Center, a newly renovated rehearsal and administrative facility located in the designated downtown arts district, which the company shares with
the Mobile Symphony. This collaboration between two of the city’s most important performing arts organizations has been instrumental in the revitalization of the downtown area. With a 2,400-square-foot rehearsal hall, seven private music studios, conference room, catering kitchen, patron ticketing services, landscaped courtyard and administrative offices, the Larkins Music Center is a significant cultural and community asset. Under General Director, Scott Wright, Mobile Opera continues its commitment to quality productions and education. In addition to main-stage productions, programs of opera excerpts are presented in schools and community venues throughout the region, establishing the company’s long-standing commitment to arts education in the schools and communities of Alabama and the Gulf Mobile Opera’s La Traviata, 1966 Coast. Education and Community Outreach, under the direction of Stacey Driskell, has produced award-winning programs, touching the lives of thousands of school children annually along the Gulf Coast.
Mobile Opera lives by its motto: More than Expected. More than Imagined. More than Music!
&
General
Artistic Director Welcome
V
D. Scott Wright
General & Artistic Director
erdi’s La Traviata is undoubtedly one of the most popular operas ever written. It currently reigns as the most performed opera and is being seen somewhere in the world on any given weekend. Why? What makes this story and this music so timeless? Violetta is a courtesan. La Traviata is “the fallen woman”. She makes her living by being the companion of wealthy, powerful men. Outside of her own circle, she is not acceptable in the social spheres of her own patrons. When she falls in love with a young man from a “good” family, her past intervenes and she must sacrifice her own happiness to allow him and his family to preserve the fragile bubble of their social position. She does this. When the opera premiered in 1853, society was scandalized at the thought of feeling sympathy for Violetta but they did: for her nobility of spirit, for the sacrifice she makes for love, for the way she acts honorably to the unfairness dealt to her. The heart never changes. We experience the same emotions as our ancestors and a good story still has the power to move us after a century of being told over and over again. La Traviata is a good story and well told. It still sweeps us away with Verdi’s exquisite music and the story still touches us and gives us insights into our humanity. We still weep for Violetta’s noble choice. I am sometimes asked if opera is still relevant in the 21st Century. The answer is a resounding “yes.” Join us. Be a part of wonderful productions and moving experiences. Play a role in introducing children to the joys of classical music and theatrical expression. Lend your support to the development of our community and our culture. Support your opera company, Mobile Opera.
La Traviata
Synopsis
Paris • 1840s Act I
During a party at the home of Violetta Valery, a beautiful Parisian courtesan, Gastone, a nobleman, introduces his friend, Alfredo Germont, telling Violetta that Alfredo has long been an admirer. Baron Douphol, Violetta’s current protector, is jealous and refuses Gastone’s invitation to make a toast. Alfredo accepts the invitation and sings a tribute to beauty and love. As the others go off to dance, Violetta faints. Alfredo confesses that he has been in love with her for a year. Violetta offers friendship only and gives him a flower, asking him to return when it has withered. Alfredo bids her goodnight. When her guests leave, Violetta reflects on Alfredo’s offer of love, but feels that it does not fit her lifestyle of perpetual freedom and pleasure.
Act II
Scene 1 In spite of her protestation of liberty, Violetta is now living with Alfredo in the country. Annina, Violetta’s maid, tells Alfredo that Violetta has been selling her belongings in order to pay their debts. Alfredo, suddenly understanding Violetta’s sacrifice, leaves for Paris, determined to settle matters at his own cost. Violetta receives an invitation to a party at her friend Flora’s that evening. She has no intention of going back to her former life but then a visitor is announced. Giorgio Germont, Alfredo’s father, declares that living with Violetta is ruining Alfredo’s reputation. Germont comments on the luxury of the retreat but Violetta shows him the letters that have been prepared for the sale of all her possessions. He asks her to leave Alfredo because their shameful relationship is preventing Alfredo’s sister from being engaged to a gentleman of a good family. Violetta finally surrenders and agrees to leave Alfredo forever. As she writes her farewell note, Alfredo enters. Not realizing that his father is at the house, he tells Violetta that Germont had written him a severe letter, but it does not disturb him for he is certain that Germont will approve of Violetta as soon as
he meets her. Pretending to give privacy to the meeting between Alfredo and his father, Violetta goes out. A messenger brings in her farewell note. Alfredo is stricken. His father tries to console him and persuade him to return to his family, but Alfredo refuses. Finding Flora’s invitation, he decides to go and confront Violetta.
•15 Minute Intermission• Scene 2 Alfredo arrives at Flora’s house as the guests gamble. Violetta is escorted by Baron Douphol. Alfredo is enjoying great success gambling, saying that he who is unlucky in love is lucky in cards. The Baron, incensed by Alfredo’s insolence, challenges him to a game and loses a small fortune to him. As the others go in for dinner, Violetta remains behind with Alfredo. She begs him to leave before the Baron challenges him to a duel. Alfredo demands she go with him. Unable to reveal the real reason for leaving, Violetta declares that she is in love with the Baron. Alfredo, in a jealous rage, calls in the guests, denounces Violetta and throws money at her feet, saying she has now been paid in full. Germont arrives to witness Alfredo’s rage and rebukes him for his conduct. Alfredo is contrite but knows that he is helpless to make amends. The Baron demands satisfaction for the insult and challenges Alfredo to a duel.
Act III
Violetta’s illness has brought her to the point of death. Her physician, Dr. Grenvil, tells Annina that her mistress has but a few hours to live. Alone, Violetta rereads a letter from Germont saying that Alfredo has gone abroad after wounding the Baron in their duel. He has been made aware of Violetta’s great sacrifice and is returning to beg her forgiveness. Alfredo arrives. The tragic lovers are united at last, but it is too late. Germont arrives to see Violetta die in his son’s arms.
L
Travi
La
iata
Music by Giuseppe Verdi Libretto by Francesco Maria Piave
CONDUCTOR Joshua Horsh* STAGE DIRECTOR Patrick Jacobs COSTUMES Mobile Opera Costume Guild LIGHTING DESIGN Showbiz Lighting SET DESIGN MMI Theatricals PROPERTIES MASTER Albert “Ski” Lopuhovsky REHEARSAL PIANIST Eric Andries CHORUS MASTER Dr. Laura Moore MAKEUP DESIGN Alison Wilks
PRODUCTION STAGE MANAGER ASSISTANT STAGE MANAGER
James Boykin Erin Downey
VIOLETTA VALERY Elana Gleason* ALFREDO GERMONT Peter James Lake GIORGIO GERMONT Alexander Henderson* FLORA BERVOIX Tjaden O’Dowd Cox ANNINA Mollie Adams GASTONE, VISCOUNT of LETORIERES Thomas Rowell BARON DOUPHOL Richard Coarsey MARQUIS D’OBIGNY Joseph O’Shea DOCTOR GRENVIL Richard Sawyer* GIUSEPPE Joseph Robinson* FLORA’S SERVANT Caleb Kenmar* MESSENGER Blake Waters
FRIENDS OF VIOLETTA AND FLORA and SERVANTS Mobile Opera Chorus * Mobile Opera Debut
Artist Profiles from Huntingdon College (Montgomery, AL) and New England Conservatory of Music (Boston, MA).
RICHARD COARSEY Baron Douphol
MOLLIE ADAMS Annina Mollie Adams is a warm, vibrant soprano gaining a reputation for her “animated stage presence and vivacious and strong soprano voice.” Cultivating a wide-ranging career of singing opera, oratorio, art song, jazz, and chamber music, Ms. Adams has been seen in a wide scope of musical performances. She has been an active recitalist and soloist, with an emphasis on art song interpretations. Ms. Adams was last seen on the stage with Mobile Opera Company in the role of Mary Stone in The Devil and Daniel Webster, by Douglas Moore. Her collaborations with the Magnolia Chamber Orchestra have brought her throughout the Gulf Coast, presenting early chamber works of Handel, Vivaldi, and Bach. Equally at home with new works, Ms. Adams premiered the role of Ms. Dara in Dan Shore’s NOA chamber award winning opera, An Embarrassing Position. She was also praised for her “fine acting and vocal performance” as the Composer in Ariadne auf Naxos. Ms. Adams keeps an active teaching studio and holds Performance degrees
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.
Richard Coarsey, baritone, is originally from Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Richard grew up in Mobile and holds a Bachelor of Arts in Music from the University of South Alabama. Although primarily an oboist at the time, Richard also studied voice with Billye Brown Youmans and Linda Zoghby. His debut stage performance was as John Adams in JJP’s 2012 production of 1776 and he most recently played the roles of Judge Turpin in Sweeney Todd and Father in Ragtime. He has sung with the Mobile Opera Chorus in several concert performances and also in Mobile Opera’s 2018 production of La Boheme.
TJADEN O’DOWD COX Flora Bervoix
Tjaden O’Dowd Cox is a Soprano from Mobile, Alabama. She hold a Bachelor of Music from James Madison University. Tjaden has been singing on stage about as long as she can remember and was blessed to perform at Carnegie Hall and the White House with the Mobile Singing Children while still very young. She has had the opportunity to study all over the world, including Chemnitz, Germany and Beijing, China. Some of her role include Mabel (The Pirates of Penzance), Norina (Don Pasquale), Lauretta (Gianni Schicchi), and Suor Genovieffa (Suor Angelica). When not singing, Tjaden runs her own aerial studio where she teaches her clients to fly like cirque performers and performs as an aerialist herself.
ELANA GLEASON Violetta Valery Elana Gleason, hailed by the New York Post for “flaunt[ing] pinpoint finesse on high B’s and C’s” and by Opera News for singing with a “particularly beautiful soprano,” is thrilled to be making her Mobile Opera debut as Violetta in La Traviata. This season, she was heard as Krystyna Zywulska in the university premiere of Jake Heggie’s Two Remain at the Turner-Fischer Center for Opera, and as the soprano soloist in Opera Louisiane’s Opening Night gala. Her upcoming performances include the role of Agnes Sorel in Maid of Orleans with New Orleans Opera in 2020. In the previous season, Elana had the pleasure of debuting the role of Joan of Arc in Maid of Orleans, performing Judit in Bluebeard’s Castle, creating the role of Elizabeth in the university premiere of Kevin Puts’ Elizabeth Cree, singing Tatyana in Eugene Onegin, and accompanying Lisette Oropesa as a soloist in her concert “Starry Night”. Other highlights include Marguerite in Faust, Mrs. Nordstrom in A Little Night Music, Mabel in The Pirates of Penzance, Micaela in Carmen, the title role in The Merry Widow, Violetta in La Traviata, Nedda in Pagliacci, and the title role in Tosca. She has made professional appearances with New Orleans Opera, Marigny Opera, the Lake
Charles Symphony, the Natchez Festival of Music, Mississippi Opera, Opera Louisiane, The Clayton Piano Festival, La Piccola Opera, dell’Arte Opera Ensemble, Dicapo Opera, the Staten Island Philharmonic, the Allentown Symphony, and the Bard Summerscape Festival. Ms. Gleason is the recent second place winner of Mobile Opera’s Madame Rose Palmai-Tenser competition, and the first place winner of the Collegiate Scenes Competition at the National Opera Association.
ALEXANDER HENDERSON Giorgio Germont A native of Evansville, IN and a graduate of LSU, Alexander has performed with LSU Opera in the roles of il Conte from Le Nozze di Figaro, Nick Shadow from The Rakes Progress, Taddeo from l’italiana in Algeri, Sweeney Todd from Sweeney Todd, and Manfred in Jake Heggie’s Farewell Auschwitz from his triptych Out of Darkness. A mainstay with Opéra Louisiane he has performed the roles of Samuel from Gilbert and Sullivan’s The Pirates of Penzance, Bill Bobstay from Gilbert and Sullivan’s H.M.S. Pinafore, and Peter from Humperdink’s Hansel and Gretel. He has performed with Des Moines Metro Opera’s Apprentice artist program and with Sarasota Opera’s Apprentice Artist Program performing mainstage cover roles with each company.
JOSHUA HORSCH Conductor
The Frances Richards Aldridge Danley Maestro dell’ Opera
Praised for conducting with “steady acumen and considerable aplomb” and “awesome control” (Opera Today), Joshua Horsch is an extremely versatile operatic and symphonic conductor. A two-time winner of the American Prize in Opera Conducting, Joshua’s recent and upcoming conducting engagements include appearances with Des Moines Metro Opera, Opera Orlando, Mobile Opera, Pacific Opera Project, Opera Las Vegas, and Tri-Cities Opera. With a diverse repertoire of over forty operas and a broad spectrum of orchestral and choral works, Joshua has recently held positions as a conductor/coach/chorus master on the music staff of Michigan Opera Theatre, Florida Grand Opera, North Carolina Opera, Opera Saratoga, Pensacola Opera, the Boulder Philharmonic Orchestra, the Newport Music Festival, and the Colorado Music Festival. Joshua’s guest and workshop conducting includes work with the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, the Omaha Symphony, the Oregon Bach Festival Orchestra and Chorus, the Cabrillo Festival Orchestra, and the Boulder Bach Festival.
PATRICK JACOBS Stage Director 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.” Recent singing engagements include Don Alfonso in Così fan tutte and Colline in La Bohème with Mobile Opera, Narrator / Mysterious Old Man in Into the Woods with Charlottesville Opera, Baron Gondremarck in La Vie Parisienne with First Coast Opera, and George Benton in Dead Man Walking with Pensacola Opera. 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 the Director of Opera at the University of Mobile, he has stage directed more than twenty-five productions. Recent productions include Mozart’s Le Nozze di Figaro, a double-bill of Humperdinck’s Hansel and Gretel with Ravel’s L’enfant et les sortilèges as well as Menotti’s The Consul. In addition to directing productions with the University of Mobile, Dr. Jacobs is a frequent guest director with the Joe Jefferson Players (Sweeney Todd, Ragtime, Hello, Dolly!), and has directed scenes programs with the International Performing Arts Institute (Kiefersfelden,
Germany) and Light Opera Oklahoma. Engagements for 20192020 include directing Gounod’s Roméo et Juliette for Mississippi Opera, Natchez Festival of Music, and University of Mobile. He is also directing Iolanthe and Girl Power for the University of Mobile this season. As a singer, he is performing the solos in Messiah with Choral Society of Pensacola, and Captain Corcoran in HMS Pinafore with First Coast Opera. Patrick made his Mobile Opera debut as Morales in Carmen back in 2002, and is excited to make his directorial debut with the company in one of his favorite operas, La Traviata!
PETER LAKE Alfredo Germont Praised by the Houston Press for how he “…amazes with a clarion tenor that has the reedy projection of superstar-from-yore Jan Peerce.” Peter Lake is an internationally performing lyric-tenor who made his role and house debuts as Pinkerton in the ground breaking English-Japanese production of Madame Butterfly with Pacific Opera Project and Opera in the Heights! this past April. In May of 2019 Peter made is Role debut as Rodolfo in Natchez Music Festival’s production of La bohème. In the summer of 2018 made his role debut as Faust in Natchez Festival of Music’s production of Faust, and sang Pang in Mississippi Opera’s Turandot. Peter joined
the inaugural season of Savannah Opera for his second summer with the Savannah Voice Festival where he covered the role of Alfredo in a production of La Traviata and singing the role of Gastone. He will be returning to the Savannah Voice Festival this summer to perform Jinx in a production of Forever Plaid. In the spring of 2020 Peter will be making his house debut with Gulfshore Opera as Rodolfo in La bohème, and make another role debut as Lensky in Onegin as he returns to Opera in the Heights! for his second year with the company.
JOSEPH O’SHEA Marquis D’Obigny Joseph O’Shea is a Junior pursuing his Bachelors in Vocal Performance at the University of South Alabama. He currently studies with Dr. Thomas Rowell and is active in the USA Opera Theatre where he performed as Belcore in last semester’s L’elisir D’amore. He has performed with opera companies and theaters alike in the area and recently returned from his first summer festival in Brevard, North Carolina. There he participated in productions of Susannah covering Elder McLean, Die Fledermaus, and Roméo et Juliette as Paris. He aims to complete his Bachelors and then pursue his Masters in Vocal Performance.
RICHARD SAWYER Doctor Grenvil Ric Sawyer, tenor, has performed as Tamino in The Magic Flute, Nemorino in L’Elisir D’amore, Ferrando in Cosi fan Tutte, Sam in Susannah, and Rinucio in Gianni Schicchi and Bardolfo in Falstaff with the Mississippi Opera, as well as several other lead opera roles throughout the country. He is also an accomplished recitalist with programs including Die Schöne Müllerin and Winterreise by Franz Schubert and Dichterliebe by Robert Schumann and An Die Ferne Gelibte by Beethoven. As a soloist, he has performed with the Eastman Philharmonic, The USM Symphony and the Mississippi Symphony.
THOMAS ROWELL Gastone, Viscount of Letorieres 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 thirty productions with the
company, including roles in The Crucible, La Traviata, Lucia di Lammermoor, Tosca, Turandot, La Boheme, 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 Mr. Scratch in The Devil and Daniel Webster. Last spring he appeared as Tinca in Puccini’s Il Tabarro, and stage directed Donizetti’s L’Elisir d’Amore at the University of South Alabama. He will appear as Prunier in Mobile Opera’s production of Puccini’s La Rondine in March 2020 and direct USA Opera Theatre’s April 2020 production of Gilbert and Sullivan’s The Mikado. 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 premiere women’s chorus. Dr. Rowell is the Coordinator of Graduate Studies in Music, Area Coordinator for Vocal Studies, and the Director of Opera Theatre at the University of South Alabama.
Chorus
&
Supernumeraries
Steven Alsip
Samantha Anselmo
Joyce Barber
Leigh-Ann Collins
Monica Ganoe-Webb
Albert Gapud
Hosea Griffith
Caleb Kenmar
David Loftin
Laura Mixon
Kailee-Grace Montes
Joseph Robinson
Juanita TolbertCooper
Blake Waters
LAURA MOORE Chorus Master Laura Moore is 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.
Supernumeraries Dent Boykin George Davis Nathan Love
Christopher Powell
Chorus Rehearsal Accompanist
JANUARY 5 - 11, 2020 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 5 - The Phantom of the Opera Movie Sing-A-Long
Movie @ 2:00pm - Bernheim Hall, Ben May Main Public Library
Monday, January 6 - An Evening Recital 7:00pm - Spring Hill Presbyterian Chapel
Tuesday, January 7 - A Little Mid-Day Music Noon-1:00pm - Larkins Music Center 2nd floor, Willson Recital Hall
Wednesday, January 8 - Opera Trivia 9:00am - 4:30pm Find us on Facebook
Thursday, January 9 - Afternoon Tea with General Director, Scott Wright The Transformation of Life to Literature to Opera 2:00pm - Location TBA
Friday, January 10 - Aerial and Arias with Tjaden O’Dowd Cox
Soprano, Tjaden O’Dowd Cox, is an aerial silk artist who performs with opera and gravity defying acrobatics. Tjaden will sing as well as perform aerial silk choreography. 6:30pm - Larkins Music Center, 2nd floor, Willson Recital Hall Saturday, January 11 - 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
The Mobile Opera Orchestra Violin I
Enen Yu, Concert Master Elizabeth French
Violin II
Bret Heim Erica Burleson
Viola
Jim Lichtenberger Julie Marks
Cello
Guo-Sheng Huang Andrea Beltran-Landers
Bass
Taylor Hollyer
IN COOPERATION WITH MOBILE SYMPHONY
Flute
Trombone
Oboe
Timpani
Clarinet
Percussion
Andra Bohnet
Arie VandeWaa
Patricia Malone
Matt Greenwood
J.C. Barker Kip Franklin
Luis Rivera
Bassoon
Stage Technician
Evelyn Watkins
Horn
Ben Harper
Brandon Garrison Judy Bartels Sykes
Trumpet
Peter Wood
You’ve got to hear this! Single and Season Tickets on sale now!
MobileSymphony.org 251.432.2010
CONTRIBUTORS
&
Corporate .
Impressario Level ($20,000 +)
Foundations
The Laura Lee Patillo Norquist Charitable Foundation The Hearin Chandler 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 RJJB Family Foundation Springhill Medical Center Sybil H. Smith Foundation Wind Creek Casino & Hotel Atmore, AL
Sponsor Level ($2,500-$4,999)
C.D. Helen & Jeff Glaze Foundation
Shell Oil Company Foundation
Patron Level
($1,000-$2,499)
B&B Pet Store Goldberg Family Foundation Mike and Patsy Dow Foundation
IBM International Foundation Miller Charitable Foundation 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 Moses Foundation The Schumann Music Club SP Engineering, Inc. Turner Supply Company Wells Builders
CONTRIBUTORS INDIVIDUAL Maestro Circle
($10,000 +) Anonymous Mrs. R.L. Benton Scott and Sarah Wright
Prima Donna Circle ($5,000-$9,999)
Anonymous Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Bates Ms. Ann Hearin
Ms. Celia Wallace Mrs. Ivey Williamson
Wagner Level
($2,500-$4,999)
Anonymous Drs. Marion and Lynda Carroll Dr. and Mrs. Joerg Kemnade Ms. Laureen Lynn Dr. and Mrs. Michael O’Dowd
Mr. James T. Robson Dr. and Mrs. Chris Salter Dr. Clarke Yarbrough Mr. and Mrs. Michael Zoghby
Puccini Level
Anonymous Mr and Mrs. Duane A. Graham Mr. Michael Landers Dr. and Mrs. Christopher McCaghren
($1,250-$2,499)
Mr. and Mrs. Bruce Moser Lt. Col. Arthur Oken Mr. and Mrs. Wade B. Perry
Verdi Level
Anonymous Dr. and Mrs. Luis Ardon Mr. Richard F. Beirne, IV 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 Dr. . Douglas Hungerford Mr. Mike Gewin and Ms. Margueritte Kettering Dr. and Mrs. James Glasser Mr. and Mrs. Michael Hood Mr. and Mrs. David Pearsall Dr. Allen Perkins Ms. Plia Dees Preston
Drs. Cesar and Theresa Roca Ms. Melissa Safin Mr. Howard Shramm Dr. and Mrs. William Sullivan Ms. Ann Marie Terry Mr. Darrel Williams Mr. and Mrs. James Wishon Mr. and Mrs. J. Edwin Wright Ms. Mary Jo Zoghby
Donizetti Level Dr. and Mrs. Steven Alsip Anonymous Ms. Katherine Austill Ms. Ann Bedsole Ms. Sharee L. Broussard Mr. J. Gregg Buckalew Mr. and Mrs. Allen Campbell
($300-$599)
Mr. and Mrs. Finn Cox Mr. William Cutts Garin and Deborah Danner Stacey and Brian Driskell Mr. Larry Eggers Ms. Avery Fick Maureen and Spencer Frost
Mr. and Mrs. Jeff Grill Ms. Jimmie Hatcher Mr. and Mrs. Robert Heitman Mr. and Mrs. Walter Kirkland Ms. Gail Leacy Dr. and Mrs. David Legier, Jr.
Mr. and Mrs. James Lyons Mr. and Mrs. Robert Maceluch Dr. and Mrs. Michael Madden Mr. and Mrs. Jack McAleer Mr. and Mrs. John Moses Ms. Geri Moulton Mr. and Mrs. Brian Naylor Michelle and Mike Patton
Donizetti Level (cont’d) Mr. and Mrs. Scott Peach Rickie Richey and Cathy Cope Mr. and Mrs. John Roberts Mr. and Mrs. Steve Russell Mr. Clayton Ryan Dr. and Mrs. Cort B. Schlichting Mr. William Schwieterman Mr. and Mrs. Norville Smith Drs. Julio and Barbara Turrens
Mr. and Mrs. WilliamVogel Dr. and Mrs. David Warren Mr. and Mrs. Forrest Wilson Mr. Douglas Whitmore Ms. Katherine Austill Winslow Ms. Joanie Zoghby
Rossini Level Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Adamo Mr. and Mrs. Raymond Adams Anonymous Mr. Thomas A. Bolden and . Ms. Monica Smith 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 Mr. Richard Coarsey Ms. Mary Cosby Mrs. Frank Dulaney Mr. and Mrs. Harold Dey
($150-$299)
Mr. and Mrs. Valrey Early Dr. and Mrs. Bruce Earnest Ms. Deaven Elliott Dr. Maria S. Figarola Dr. and Mrs. Martin Flechsenhar Mr. and Mrs. Marcus Kennedy Dr. John Kessinger Ms. Gail Leacy Mr. Albert Lopuhovsky Mr. Terry Mannion Ms. Mary Beth McIsaac Mr. Edward T. Merry, Jr. Mr. Kurt Nauck Barbara Michell and Hans Rufer Steve and Jan Russell Dr. and Mrs. Cort Schlichting
Mr. John Pendergrass Mr. and Mrs. William Robinson Dr. Thomas Rowell Mr. Aaron H. Schneider Mr. Douglas Sinchak Ms. Leslie Suffich Mr. and Mrs. Gene Tillman Ms. Jean Tucker R.J. and Wm. T. Hackler-Vesely Mr. and Mrs. George Waldron Mr. and Mrs. Gregg Williams Ms. Vincentine Williams Mr. and Mrs. Alex Zoghby Ms. Mary Zoghby Mr. Edmund Zoghby
Mozart Level Anonymous Mr. Kenneth Austin Mr. and Mrs. Robert Baker Ms. Betty Baldwin Ms. Terry Barkin Dr. Robert Batens Ms. Barbara Baughman Mr. Don Blanchard Mr. Kenneth Cain Mr. Andrew Cash Ms. Gay Corte Mr. and Mrs. William Davis Ms. Donna Drake Mr. Wendell Eatherly Dr. and Mrs. Art Frankel Mr. Lorenzo Franklin
($100-$149)
Mr. Todd Frick Mr. and Mrs. Lowell Friedman Ms. Kathleen Gill Mr. and Mrs. Steven Harmon Mr. and Mrs. Charles Hayes Mr. and Mrs. J.B. Horst Mr. and Mrs. William Jones Walter Kirkland and Judy Culbreth Richard and Linda Kletecka Mr. and Mrs. Christopher Knight Mr. Robert Lee Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Manning Mr. and Mrs. Champ Meyercord Mr. and Mrs. Robert Newsome 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 Ms. Roxanne Harmon-Odom Mr. and Mrs. Howell Raines Mr. and Mrs. Grey Redditt Mr. and Mrs. John Ruggiero Mr. and Mrs. Tim Simmonds Dr. Laura Anne Shaver Mr. and Mrs. Edward Stone Mr. and Mrs. Gregg Terral Ms. Julia Simmons Mr. and Mrs. William J. Suffich Mr. and Mrs. Sid Vogel Mr. and Mrs. Michael Zoghby, Jr.
&
honorary
memorial gifts
In memory of Daniel A. Benton
In honor of Dr. Laura Moore and Ken Austin
In memory of Dr. John Hafner
In honor of Mr. & Mrs. Forrest Wilson, Jr.
Stacey and Brian Driskell Mr. and Mrs. Wade B. Perry Scott and Sarah Wright Ms. Laureen Lynn Mr. and Mrs. Wade B. Perry Scott and Sarah Wright
In memory of Wick Leatherwood Mr. Michael Biesbel
Stacey and Brian Driskell Dr. and Mrs. Cort B. Schlichting Mrs. Ivey Williamson Mr. and Mrs. Valrey Early, Jr.
In honor of Orland Thomas Anonymous
In memory of Sandra Rigby Sherri and Randy Williams
In memory of Mona Fuller Yarbrough Dr. Clarke Yarbrough
In memory of Josephine Zoghby Ms. Laureen Lynn Scott and Sarah Wright
IN KIND GIFTS Alabama Public Radio Candlewood Suites Dogwood Productions Gulf Services Contracting Kangal and Associates Lagniappe Mobile Arts Council
THANK YOU!
Every donor is important to our future.
RSVP Volunteers Springhill Medical Center University of Mobile University of South Alabama Wintzell’s Oyster House Zimlich, the Florist
GIVE TODAY! Make your gift online at mobileopera.org or call (251) 432-6772.
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)
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
Kangal & associates An Office TechnOlOgy cOnsulTing firm Mobile’s premier IT consulting and outsourcing company for professional organizations 60 North Royal Street Mobile, Alabama 36602 (251) 694-0045 www.kangal.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.
Members: Chair: Sarah Wright Susan Ames Viola Thornton Nancy Goodman Angie Wilkie Michele Hill Gwin Williams Michelle Patton
The Mobile Opera Costume Guild gratefully acknowledges the support of Dr. Clarke Yarbrough in memory of his wife, Mona Fuller Yarbrough.
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.
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Mobile, AL 36607 Email: todd@artcraftpressmobile.com
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.
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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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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. CANDLEWOODSUITES.COM/MOBILEDOWNTOWN
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