MADAMA BUTTERFLY Program

GIACOMO PUCCINI NOV. 15 | 18 | 21 | 23 | 2014

Only in new MexicO.

THE DAUGHTER OF THE REGIMENT RIGOLETTO SALOME

I

I

I

Donizetti

Verdi

R. Strauss

LA FINTA GIARDINIERA COLD MOUNTAIN

I

I

Mozart

World Premiere

Composer Jennifer Higdon Librettist Gene Scheer

Robert Godwin photo

JULY 3 – AUGUST 29

2 015

Only at THE SANTA FE OPERA.

SantaFeOpera.org

I

800-280-4654

W.A. MOZART MAY 2 | 5 | 8 | 10 | 2015

OPERACOLORADO.ORG | 303.468.2030 THE 2014-2015 SEASON IS SPONSORED BY KEN AND DONNA BARROW

OPERA CO LORADO PRE S E NTS

CHAMPAGNE GALA2015 SUPPORTING OPERA COLORADO’S COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PROGRAMS

FRIDA Y, FEBRUARY 6, 201515 { PLE A S E S A V E THE DA TE }

Tim Murphy / FotoImagery.com

When renowned craftsmanship meets a thoroughly modern aesthetic, the results are inspiring. So whether you are remodeling or building new, come discover the one kitchen environment that will become uniquely yours, uniquely you.

kitchensofcolorado.com A SPEN 970. 925. 8579

CR E S T E D B UT T E 9 7 0 .3 4 9 .5 0 2 3

DE NVER 3 0 3 .3 9 9.4564

STEAM BO AT SPRING S 970.879.9222

TELLURIDE 970.728.3359

VA IL 970.949.5500

FROM THE GENERAL DIRECTOR AND CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD

WELCOME TO THE 2014-2015 SEASON I t is a pleasure to welcome you to Opera Colorado’s

2014-2015 Season. We have two beautiful

productions to share with you, Puccini’s all-time favorite Madama Butterfly and Mozart’s colorful fantasy The Magic Flute. Both productions feature some of today’s most exciting artists and directors,

and we welcome back to the orchestra pit our Artistic Advisor, Maestro Ari Pelto.

Our 2014 Fiscal Year was marked by significant challenge and success. While we kept very tight control over our expenses, we exceeded our goals in Annual Fund support as well as ticket sales – ending our fiscal year on June 30, 2014 with a surplus. We fully acknowledge that this financial accomplishment could not have been attained without the loyal and generous support of patrons like you.

The artistic and financial achievements of the past year have formed a more secure foundation for envisioning a new, robust future for Opera Colorado. This fall our Board of Directors and Staff embarked upon a long range planning process, working towards creating a measured approach to re-establishing a third opera in each season, while increasing performance opportunities in our Front Range community and across the state. Needless to say, the plans we make will require significant fundraising and a greater investment from our community.

With the enthusiastic support of all who love this incredible art form, and of those who are curious about it, we are certain that the goals we set for our future will be reached. We have much to look forward to in this season and the next – in particular our world premiere of Lori Laitman’s The Scarlet Letter in May of 2016.

We hope that Opera Colorado continues to be an important part of your life!

Greg Carpenter

Mike Bock

General Director

Chairman

OPE RA COLORADO 2014-2015

•

7

OPERA COLORADO EDUCATION

GET ON THE HORN! CALL THE PRESS!

WE’VE GOT NEWS! BIG NEWS!

By Cherity Koepke, Director of Education & Community Engagement

O

pera Colorado’s education programs are selling out at Over the next few weeks in August and September, we had to a record pace! Each season Opera Colorado brings the list “sold out” next to all the Backstage Workshops. Reservations magic of opera to over 35,500 students all across the state of were still coming in rapidly. Our Marketing department had Colorado through our Education & Community Engagement featured Education in one of the weekly newsletters. We saw a Programs. From our touring operas performed in schools to response. In one day, five new schools registered for programs. our field trips that bring students to the opera house, we are These were schools that had never participated in an Opera keeping opera alive and building audiences for the future.

Colorado education program before. It was an exciting day.

It’s a herculean task, but one that we are passionate about.

With Backstage Workshops fully booked, the next That passion seems to be infectious. Based on the response program to take the position of front runner was our touring we’ve had this year, we anticipate another sold out season. opera production of Hansel and Gretel. On September 10th, Our programs are featured in an annual Education & we booked a total of seven school performances, one Romeo Community Engagement brochure that is mailed out to every & Juliet and six Hansel and Gretel. By the end of that week, elementary, middle and high school in the Front Range as well as we had reached no availability for school performances other schools throughout Colorado. in the fall and we were on limited After the mailing, an email blast is sent availability in January and May 2015. to hundreds of teachers. For the 2014Our touring opera productions are unique and entertaining, as well as 2015 Season, the brochure dropped educational. We take some of the on August 18, 2014. By August 20th, just two days after our brochure and most popular operas and abridge email reached teachers, we had sold them so that they can be performed out programs! in roughly one hour. We also Our Backstage Workshops are adapt them to be sung in English, one of our most popular programs making them accessible to our and it was this year’s front runner. student audiences. These touring In this program, students tour the opera productions are fully staged, opera house and learn – through costumed and performed by Opera six different interactive, hands-on Colorado’s Young Artists. We stations – what it takes to create receive positive feedback about the an opera. They visit Stage Combat, quality of our touring productions Wigs and Makeup, Costumes, THE STUDENT MATINEE PROGRAM BRINGS MORE THAN and there’s a reason for that – Stage Management, Conducting 2,000 STUDENTS TO THE OPERA HOUSE EACH YEAR. they are fun and fabulous. About and, of course, Professional Opera 90 percent of students who see a Singing. The Ellie Caulkins Opera House literally becomes touring production are experiencing their first opera. a living classroom. There’s nothing quite like being a part of By end of September, something we had been watching the excitement surrounding a live production. No wonder we closely, wondering if it could happen, happened. On can’t keep this program in stock!

September 26, 2014 the Student Matinee of The Magic

8

•

OPE RA COLORADO 2014-2015

LEFT AND CENTER: STUDENTS PARTICIPATE IN A BACKSTAGE WORKSHOP. RIGHT: OPERA COLORADO’S YOUNG ARTISTS PERFORM A TOURING PRODUCTION.

Flute sold out. Now that may not seem unusual; our Student Matinee program is usually in high demand. In fact, it has sold out the past two years. However this year was different. The matinee typically reaches capacity a few weeks prior to the performance. This year’s matinee will be performed on May 7, 2015. It sold out more than 7 months in advance. This is literally record-breaking. Since the inception of the Student Matinee program, this is the strongest response we’ve ever seen. The Student Matinee program brings more than 2,000 school-age students to the opera house to see an abridged performance of one of our mainstage operas. It is performed in the original language with a live orchestra. The students see the same production as our adult audiences, with one exception. The matinee is performed with Opera Colorado’s Young Artists in the leading roles. It’s their chance to take the stage in a major

role and perform in front of a highly enthusiastic audience. The student matinee is one of my favorite days of the year. There’s nothing quite like listening to 2,000 students yelling “bravo.”

It’s now November and, unbelievably, we’re running out of programs to offer.

Backstage Workshops – gone.

Student Matinee – gone.

Family Day at the Opera – sold out.

Generation OC – fully booked for the year.

Touring Productions – limited availability.

In-School workshops – limited availability.

Student Dress Rehearsals – booking steadily.

Even our annual Greater Colorado Tour is over 70 percent booked for May 2015. I’ve been asked why. Why do you think Opera Colorado is seeing such a strong response to their programs? I think the answer is multi-faceted. I think we’re providing high quality programs that are impactful, represent the truth about opera and meet the needs of teachers. I think we’re choosing repertoire that people, including students, want to see. I think we’re continually adapting to the changing face of arts education.

I recently received an email from a teacher who was disappointed that the program they were trying to book had already sold out. I expressed that I was sorry and offered to place them on a waiting list; the teacher’s response spoke volumes.

“Don’t be sorry. It means you’re doing something right.” Yes, we are and we plan to be doing so for years to come.

STUDENT MATINEE PROGRAMS ARE PERFORMED BY OPERA COLORADO’S YOUNG ARTISTS.

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO HELP EXPAND OUR EDUCATION & COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PROGRAMS SO THAT WE CAN REACH MORE STUDENTS IN THE 2015-2016 SEASON, PLEASE CALL 303.468.2029 OR GO ONLINE TO DONATE AT OPERACOLORADO.ORG/SUPPORT.

OPE RA COLORADO 2014-2015

•

9

WHENCE BUTTERFLY?

By Betsy Schwarm

N

ever setting foot in Japan, Giacomo Puccini (1858-1924) yet decided to give the tale of Madama Butterfly operatic form. Similarly, though he visited New York City, Gold Rush California was not on his agenda, and yet his opera La fanciulla del West is set in exactly that location. Neither opera is a case of tale that the composer himself initially conceived.

On the contrary, he borrowed both from the same American playwright, David Belasco (1853-1933). Without Belasco, these operas would never have come to life and Puccini’s catalog of works would be that much poorer.

Born in San Francisco in the early days of the state’s Gold Rush, Belasco was still a child when he began performing in productions by travelling theater troupes that ranged through the gold camps. However, like many theatrically inclined persons even today, Belasco sought out the wider horizons of New York City. Before he was thirty, he was managing theaters; before he was forty, he had established himself as an independent theater producer and sometimes playwright.

In either capacity, his genius lay in a sense of visual and dramatic effects, taking the small details of a script and rendering them powerfully upon the stage. He was one of the first theater producers to see the potential of stage lighting for maximizing impact upon an audience, and it was his lighting effects in a London production of his play Madame Butterfly that particularly caught Puccini’s attention.

The story itself was not Belasco’s invention. That he had borrowed wholly from a magazine piece by John Luther Long, published in 1898 in Century Illustrated Monthly Magazine, and Long’s was derived GI AC OMO from a novel by Pierre Loti. In Long’s telling, the central character survives, older but wiser. Apparently, Belasco judged that it would be a more powerful tale if her abandonment causes her to take her life, for that is the way he told it.

When the action of Belasco’s play begins, Lt. Pinkerton has been away for several years, and Butterfly is already fending off would-be suitors. The long-absent husband only joins the action for the last several minutes of the one act

12

•

OPE RA COLORADO 2014-2015

GIACOMO PUCCINI

DAVID BELASCO

drama; the great majority of his dialog is with the American consul Sharpless, not with poor Butterfly. So Pinkerton has no real chance to earn the audience’s sympathies, and one can hardly imagine that crying out her name as she dies redeemed him in many hearts.

The absence of any sort of love scene was, apparently, no handicap to Belasco’s imagination. Nor, apparently, was his personal lack of finesse with the written word. A visionary of stage design, he seemed not to suspect that having his leading lady declare,

“I bed all moaneys he goin’ come mos’ one million mile for see those chil’,” might provoke laughter for all the wrong reasons. The sentiment she expresses is much the same in Puccini’s opera, but taking away the pidgin English and allowing music to underline the emotions made all the difference.

When the play opened in New York City March 5, 1900, it was a smash hit, and rapidly crossed the ocean to be staged in London, where it came to Puccini’s attention. Within four years, it would take operatic form at La Scala in Milan. In one year more, it would be at London’s P U C CINI Covent Garden. Were it not for Puccini’s genius, Belasco’s dramas would be little remembered today. It is the music that made the stories memorable, and for that fact, Belasco should have given thanks the day that Puccini bought a theater ticket in London. ©Betsy Schwarm • Author of Operatic Insights and three other books on classical music.

pHOTO by MaRk and kRiSTen Sink.

Amahl and the Night Visitors

by Gian Carlo Menotti The story of a magic star, a shepherd boy, and how unselfish love and good deeds can work miracles.

This tuneful one-act opera brings the meaning of the holiday season home for all.

December 4 & 5 at 7:30 pm December 6 at 2 pm & 7:30 pm St. Luke’s United Methodist Church, Highlands Ranch Tickets $25/$15 students. Visit CentralCityOpera.org/amahl.

Look for shows in Central City, denver and throughout Colorado in 2015. la traviata | man of la mancha | thE prodigal son | thE blind | don quixotE and thE duchEss 303.292.6700 | CentralCityOpera.org

Dine Great

and you won’t be late.

Our Sport & Stage menu is specifically designed for you to enjoy a fantastic dinner and make it on time for the show. Three-courses available pre-theatre, only offered during 5pm - 6:30pm reservations.

1111 14th Street, Denver, CO 80202 5pm - 6:30pm $60 per person Complimentary Valet Parking For Reservations Call 303-389-3050 or visit www.edgerestaurantdenver.com

LIFE’S A STAGE. SET YOURS WITH STICKLEY.

Englewood 720.493.5677 | Broomfield 303.467.2777 | Complimentary Interior Design Service | stickleyaudi.com

Jewelry • Gifts Accessories • Clothing Shoes • Bags

“Fashion Changes, But Style Endures.”

- Coco Chanel

M ADAM A BU T T ER FLY NOVEMBER 15 • 18 • 21 • 23, 2014 ELLIE CAULKINS OPERA HOUSE Opera in Three Acts

By Giacomo Puccini Libretto by Luigi Illica and Giuseppe Giacosa There will be one 25 minute intermission between Act 1 and 2.

CAST I N OR D E R OF VOCAL APPEARANCE

Lt. B. F. Pinkerton Goro Suzuki Sharpless Cio-Cio-San The Imperial Commissioner Registrar The Bonze Prince Yamadori Kate Pinkerton

Dinyar Vania* Anthony Webb* Erica Brookhyser* John Hancock* Xiu Ying Li* (pronounced Shuying Li) Andrew Paulson^* Brett Sprague^ Leo Rado^* Jared Guest Katherine Sanford^*

Opera Colorado Orchestra Opera Colorado Chorus Conductor Stage Director Chorus Master Lighting Design Wigs and Makeup Design

Ari Pelto Keturah Stickann* Andres Cladera* Lucas Krech* Ronell Oliveri

| SCENIC DESIGN BY WALLY COBERG COSTUMES ARE THE PROPERTY OF OPERA THEATRE OF ST. LOUIS

SCENERY PROVIDED BY VIRGINIA OPERA

COSTUMES DESIGNED BY MARIE ANNE CHIMENT THE PRE - PERFORMANCE LECTURE IS PRESENTED BY MUSIC HISTORIAN BETSY SCHWARM SPONSORED BY J . MICHAEL KING , MD

|

PEAK ENT AND VOICE CENTER

*Opera Colorado Debut ^Opera Colorado Young Artists

M A D A M A B U T T E R F LY •

1

M R . A N D M R S . K E N N ETH T. BAR ROW | 2014-2015 S EASON S P ON S O R Dinyar Vania, B. F. Pinkerton Appearance made possible by a generous gift from Ellie Caulkins Opera Colorado Young Artists Appearance made possible by a generous gift from Joy Dinsdale Maestro Ari Pelto is sponsored by Dave and Pam Duke Opera Colorado Young Artist Leo Rado is sponsored by Marlis and Shirley Smith, and The Honorable Karen L. Brody and Mike Hughes.

Opera Colorado Young Artist Katherine Sanford is sponsored by Patrick Spieles and Carol McMurry.

Artists housing for Jared Guest is made possible by a generous gift from Steve Dilts & Joy Dinsdale.

Opera Colorado Young Artist housing is made possible by Studio TBD. OP E R A COLOR A D O ’ S 2 0 1 4 - 2 0 1 5 S E A S O N S P O N S O R S

OP E R A C O LO R A D O M E D IA S P O N S O R S

ENGLISH OR SPANISH SUBTITLES AT YOUR FINGERTIPS OPERATING THE SUBTITLES | FOLLOW THESE EASY STEPS  Prior to the performance, the screen will display a sponsored message automatically. (You cannot turn it off.)  When the singing begins, briefly press the red button.  Press once for English titles and twice for Spanish titles.  Press three times to turn the system off.  Repeat these steps after intermission(s).

Pressing the button too many times or holding the button down will result in system failure. Titles are only broadcast when singing occurs on the stage. If you experience difficulty with the system, please contact an usher for assistance. Opera Colorado does not offer refunds or exchanges in the event of subtitle system failure. A synopsis of the opera is available in this program.



All Sunday matinee performances offer audio description for the visually impaired. Headsets are available at the coat check.

English subtitles written by Jeremy Sortore for Opera Colorado. Spanish translation by TranslatingSpanish.com

2

• M A D A M A B U T T E R F LY

FROM THE DIRECTOR We trace the roots of Cio-Cio San, the tragic victim of Pinkerton’s abandonment, to John Luther Long, an American lawyer who is said to have based his short story, “Madame Butterfly,” on the recollections of his missionary sister, who traveled through Japan at the turn of the last century. The story is brutal. Pinkerton is manipulative and rude – treating his young bride as a toy to be discarded, leaving her disowned and pregnant. Japanese stereotypes are abundant in the story, but ugly American stereotypes are in full force as well.

Puccini’s Madama Butterfly is softer than the original (softer, even, than his own original, as he rewrote much of it after its premiere). Here, Pinkerton admits regret when he comes back, and Cio-Cio San is no longer a caricature of the gentle, confused foreigner, but a strong woman in her own right. Puccini pulled the focal point of the opera away from the culture clash of East and West and concentrated it more on the personal tragedy of his title character. Despite

this, I feel the East and West dissonance is still pertinent to the story, partially because it resonates in our global society, and partially because it adds to the victimization of this young woman caught between her perception of the prevalence of fidelity in Western Culture, and a strong sense of honor coming from her Samurai father’s own death in the face of a dishonorable future.

In Puccini’s time, exoticism was all the rage, and his audience only knew these cultures through artistic portrayal.

We have different access today, and different attitudes. In light of this, I feel a certain responsibility to be as culturally correct in portraying Japan as I can, while remaining dramaturgically faithful to the opera as written. Our cast is not Japanese, yet we work to find the right breath and gesture with which to portray Cio-Cio San’s journey in ways that ring true for a 21st century audience, while highlighting the clash between American and Japanese cultures at the dawn of the 20th century.

SYNOPSIS MADAMA BUTTERFLY

BY BETSY SCHWARM

SETTING • NAGASAKI AROUND 1900

ACT ONE US navy lieutenant B. F. Pinkerton has rented a house in Nagasaki for his new bride, the fifteen-year-old geisha CioCio San, known as Butterfly. The marriage broker Goro explains the arrangements for the wedding. Pinkerton chats with the American consul Sharpless, who is shocked by the younger man’s heartless approach to marriage; Pinkerton makes it clear that this alliance is temporary, as someday he will take an American wife. Butterfly’s unruly relations arrive.

Butterfly explains that she is devoted to her new husband and has even adopted his religion. The Japanese ceremony takes place, but just then, Butterfly’s uncle, the Bonze, a Buddhist priest, arrives and denounces her for her religious conversion.

Butterfly’s relatives depart. Pinkerton calms his bride’s tears and fears, and the two begin their first night together.

ACT TWO Pinkerton’s ship left Nagasaki three years ago. Except for her maid Suzuki, Butterfly has lived alone in poverty, yet she remains confident that he will return. Sharpless brings a letter from Pinkerton. His attempts to read it aloud are thwarted by her persistent questions. The marriage broker Goro arrives with Prince Yamadori, who wishes to marry Butterfly, whom Japanese custom regards as abandoned. Insisting that she is already married, she sends them away. Sharpless asks Butterfly

what she would do if Pinkerton never returned. Horrified at the very idea, she presents her young son, of whose existence Pinkerton does not yet know. Promising to inform the boy’s father of his birth, Sharpless leaves. The firing of the harbor cannon announces the arrival of Pinkerton’s ship. Butterfly and Suzuki deck the house with flowers. Then, as night falls, Butterfly awaits her husband’s return.

ACT THREE It is morning. Butterfly has waited all night in vain. After she goes to rest, Pinkerton and Sharpless arrive and are greeted

by Suzuki. The maid makes clear her mistress’ devotion to Pinkerton, then asks about a woman she sees in the garden.

Sharpless explains that she is Pinkerton’s American wife, Kate, and that they have come to ask custody of the boy, for Pinkerton does not intend to return to Butterfly at all. Horrified by the consequences of his actions, the errant husband leaves Kate, the consul, and the maid to break the news. Awakening and joining them, Butterfly guesses the truth. She agrees to the adoption, if Pinkerton will come for the boy himself.

Sharpless and Kate go to find him. In their absence, Butterfly sends Suzuki away, then prepares to take her own life with her father’s sword. Suzuki thrusts the boy into the room. Butterfly says goodbye to her son, then, as the American returns, takes her own life, as Pinkerton enters the room in despair.

M A D A M A B U T T E R F LY •

3

PUCCINI: MADAMA BUTTERFLY T he origins of this famously Japanese-inspired work actually lie in London. The Italian-born composer spoke hardly any English, a fact that never kept Puccini from attending the English theater.

Perhaps he felt that emotions supersede language, and that despite missing the text, he could still understand the message. Whatever his reasons, while in London in GIACOMO PUCCINI 1900, he attended a performance of David Belasco’s oneact play Madame Butterfly, which told of a Japanese girl’s ill-fated love for an American sailor. Immune to the play’s awkward dialog, which imposed upon the leading lady the most fractured English, Puccini reveled in its poignancy, and asked his publisher, Ricordi, to obtain the story’s operatic rights. Early in 1901, the composer and his favorite librettists, Luigi Illica and Giuseppe Giacosa, with whom he had previously worked with success on La Bohéme (1896) and Tosca (1900) set about creating what would become one of the most beloved of all operas.

A serious effort was made to introduce an element of realism into the new opera, and to clearly evoke its Japanese setting, as well as its Japanese and American characters. Illica, being the half of the libretto team responsible for overall structure and scenarios (Giacosa was more gifted with the actual text), even traveled to Nagasaki to investigate local color and personalities. Puccini, for his part, visited with the wife of the Japanese ambassador to Italy, who sang to him native songs, the mood of which echo throughout the score. She gave her approval of the opera’s plot, declaring that she knew of such a situation happening in real life.

In Puccini’s care, even small details have authenticity. In the entr’acte late in the opera as the title character quietly awaits her husband’s return, the music – with a gently humming chorus and light pizzicato for the strings – has all the delicacy of the paper walls of her Japanese house. It was this scene in the original play, with no spoken lines whatsoever, and lighting

4

• M A D A M A B U T T E R F LY

effects to evoke the passing of the night, that had moved Puccini to take on the story in the first place.

Madama Butterfly’s American characters were given no less attention than their Oriental counterparts. Puccini assured Ricordi that he was “doing my best to make Mr. Pinkerton sing like an American.” Occasional wisps of “The Star-Spangled Banner” are the most obvious proof of that intent. However, one might also suppose that the character’s bluff and forceful phrases, even in love scenes, might have seemed to Puccini as an American personality trait.

Despite this extreme care invested in the new opera, the La Scala audience at the premiere February 17, 1904 openly jeered Butterfly, booing and hissing even before the opera had concluded. Its Japanese setting was mocked, and its tragic heroine derided as second-hand copy of the leading lady in La Bohéme. Puccini’s sister testified that the furor upset her so much that she fled the theater long before the opera ended.

Convinced that jealous rivals had filled the house with their own supporters, specifically to disrupt the performance, Puccini did not despair. His devotion to Butterfly was so strong that rather than abandoning the piece, he and his librettists began extensive revisions, most notably restructuring its overly long second act into two broad scenes connected by a gentle choral interlude, the aforementioned Humming Chorus.

The new Butterfly, which reached the stage several months after the failure of its predecessor, was a success. Two more revisions would follow in 1905 and 1906, before the opera reached its definitive form: the form in which audiences delight even now over a century later.

Characters and Voice Parts: Cio-Cio San (Butterfly) – soprano Goro, the marriage broker – tenor Kate Pinkerton – soprano Sharpless, the American consul – baritone Suzuki– mezzo Prince Yamadori, Butterfly’s suitor – baritone Benjamin Franklin Pinkerton – tenor the Bonz (Butterfly’s uncle) – bass

PROGRAM NOTES AND SYNOPSIS

©BETSY

SCHWARM, AUTHOR OF

OPERATIC INSIGHTS, AND THREE OTHER BOOKS ON CLASSICAL MUSIC.

THE ARTISTS Erica Brookhyser* | Suzuki Erica Brookhyser recently finished four seasons as principal mezzo at Staatstheater Darmstadt in Germany.

Her roles there included Didon Les Troyens, Cherubino Le Nozze di Figaro, Fenena Nabucco, Orfeo Orfeo ed Euridice, Muse/Nicklausse Les Contes d’Hoffmann, Emilia Otello, Second Lady Die Zauberflöte, Lola Cavalleria Rusticana, Brangäne Tristan und Isolde, and Wellgunde/Waltraute/Second Norn Der Ring des Nibelungen. She received acclaim in Germany and France for her portrayal of Carmen in a televised production from the stage of Seefestspiele Berlin. Her American appearances include the mezzo soloist in a fully-staged El Niño by John Adams with Spoleto Festival USA, Meg Page Falstaff with LA Opera, the title role in Cendrillon with Central City Opera, Brigitta Die Tote Stadt with Boston’s Odyssey Opera, and Tisbe La Cenerentola with Utah Opera. Erica trained at Los Angeles Opera’s Domingo-Thornton Young Artist Program, Santa Fe Opera and Tanglewood Music Festival.

Jared Guest | Prince Yamadori Jared A. Guest grew up in the suburbs of Orlando where he learned to love and appreciate classical music and opera.

He received a Bachelor of Music degree in Voice Performance from Florida State University in Tallahassee. After moving to Texas, Jared earned his Master of Music degree in Voice Performance and Opera from the University of Houston’s Moores School of Music. He has performed in a wide range of operas such as Il Barbiere di Siviglia, Der Rosenkavalier, Falstaff, Amelia, Il Postino, Der Zauberflöte The Ballad of Baby Doe, Don Giovanni, Tosca and more. Jared is a graduate of two years in the Opera Colorado Young Artist Residency program and is extremely excited to be returning as a main stage artist for the 2014 season. Jared is looking forward to bringing great operatic masterworks to Denver audiences once again with this outstanding company.

John Hancock* | Sharpless Acclaimed for his refined vocalism and theatrical versatility, baritone John Hancock made his Metropolitan Opera debut as Le Gendarme in Les Mamelles de Tirésias under the baton of James Levine.

He has since appeared in a dozen roles with the company, including Count Almaviva

in Le nozze di Figaro, Falke in Die Fledermaus, Albert in Werther, Brétigny in Manon, Capulet in Roméo et Juliette, and both Marcello and Schaunard in La bohème. At San Francisco Opera he has sung the roles of Sharpless in Madama Butterfly, Yeletsky in Queen of Spades and Lescaut in Manon Lescaut. His New York City Opera productions include Capriccio, Carmina Burana and Le Nozze di Figaro. Hancock is a graduate of the Juilliard Opera Center, where he was winner of the Richard F. Gold Grant. He has also received grants and prizes from the Metropolitan Opera National Council, the Loren L. Zachary Society and the Sullivan Foundation.

Xiu Ying Li* (pronounced Shuying Li) Cio-Cio San Chinese Soprano Shuying Li has become the most sought after interpreter of Puccini’s Madama Butterfly in North America.

Following a recent performance of Madama Butterfly with New York City Opera, which was simulcast on PBS’ Live from Lincoln Center telecast, New York Times critic acclaim “A really striking performer, offered big, clear singing with dramatic nuance as Butterfly; …was convincing and vocally impressive.” The performance won an EMMY® Award. She also won the Diva Award, as well as the Stanley Tausend Award for outstanding performer of New York City Opera. In the 2014-15 season Ms. Li will perform Turandot in Turandot in Japan. She will sing the leading role as Sufen from the world premiere opera The River of Spring to open Shanghai International Art Festival. She has performed major roles in Madama Butterfly, La bohème, Manon Lescaut, Tosca, Turandot, Suor Angelica, La Traviata, Ariadne auf Naxos and Faust to name a few.

Andrew Paulson^* Imperial Commissioner Andrew Paulson received his undergraduate degree from Westminster Choir College and received his Master’s Degree in Voice Performance at Florida State University.

Recent opera credits include the cover of First Prison Guard in Heggie’s Dead Man Walking at Central City Opera, Giorgio Germont (La Traviata) with Opera on the Avalon, Clayton McAllister and Luther (Cold Sassy Tree) with Sugar Creek Opera, and Mercutio (Romeo et Juliette) with Florida State Opera. He received second place in the Mobile Opera Competition and received Encouragement Awards from both the Schuyler Foundation for Career Bridges and the Florida District of the Met Competition. As an Opera Colorado Young Artist his roles include the First Priest in The Magic Flute and Papageno in the Student Matinee, the roles of Mercutio and the

M A D A M A B U T T E R F LY •

5

THE ARTISTS Prince in Romeo & Juliet, and the Father in Hansel and Gretel in the company’s touring productions.

Leo Rado^* | Bonze Leo Rado holds a B.M. with scholastic distinction and M.M. in voice from The Juilliard School. At Juilliard, his roles included Bottom in Britten’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Simone in Puccini’s Gianni Schicchi and Tobia Mill in Rossini’s La Cambiale di Matrimonio. In 2011, he performed the role of Willi Graf as both singer and pianist in the U.S. premiere of Sir Peter Maxwell Davies’ Kommilitonen! at Juilliard, which brought him critical acclaim from The New York Times. In addition to working with his teacher Dr. Robert C. White throughout his studies, Leo has had the opportunity to work with conductors such as Riccardo Muti, Charles Dutoit and Stephen Lord. As an Opera Colorado Young Artist he will perform the roles of Capulet/Friar Lawrence in Romeo & Juliet and the Sandman in Hansel and Gretel; the company’s touring productions. In the mainstage productions, Leo will also sing Second Man in Armor in The Magic Flute.

Katherine Sanford^* | Kate Pinkerton Katherine Sanford completed her undergraduate degree at the University of Maryland and her Master’s degree at the University of Michigan. She was a recipient of the University of Michigan Stevenson Friends of Opera Scholarship. Recently, she performed the role of Barbarina in the Hub Opera Ensemble’s performance of Le nozze di Figaro. Other opera credits include the roles of Donna Elvira in Don Giovanni, Lucretia in The Rape of Lucretia and Ottavia in L’incoronazione di Poppea at the University of Michigan, and Hansel in Hansel and Gretel and Mercédès in Carmen with Bel Cantanti Opera. Katherine also performed as an apprentice artist with Des Moines Metro Opera in 2013. As an Opera Colorado Young Artist, she will perform Second Lady in The Magic Flute and Papagena for the Student Matinee, as well as the roles of Hansel in Hansel and Gretel and Stephano/Gertrude in Romeo & Juliette for the company’s touring productions.

Brett Sprague^ | Official Registrar Brett Sprague holds degrees from Chapman University and Manhattan School of Music. His credits include Peter Grimes (Chautauqua Opera), Don Pasquale, (Amore Opera), The Most Happy Fella (Dicapo Opera), Die Zauberflöte (New York Lyric Opera Theatre), The Ghosts of Versailles, Cosi fan tutte and Thais 6

• M A D A M A B U T T E R F LY

(Manhattan School of Music’s Opera Theatre), L’elisir d’amore (Tuscia Opera festival) and Signor Deluso, Gianni Schicchi and Die Fledermaus (Opera Chapman). As a 2014 Opera Colorado Young Artists, Brett performed in the touring productions (The Barber of Seville and Romeo & Juliet), and in the student matinee of Carmen he sang the role of Don José. His mainstage roles in last season included Borsa in Rigoletto and Rememdado in Carmen. His will sing in this season’s touring productions of Romeo & Juliet and Hansel and Gretel, and First Man in Armour in The Magic Flute. In the Student Matinee he will sing the role of Tamino.

Dinyar Vania* | B.F. Pinkerton Dinyar Vania’s 2014-15 engagements include Duke in Rigoletto for Opera Omaha, Rodolfo in La bohème with Pensacola Opera, and joining the roster of the Metropolitan Opera for La bohème.

His 2013-14 season included debuts with Minnesota Opera as Des Grieux in Puccini’s Manon Lescaut, Lyric Opera Baltimore as Cavaradossi in Tosca, and Virginia Opera as Don José in Carmen. Recent highlights include his debut with Boston Lyric Opera as Pinkerton, also with Glimmerglass Opera; with Spoleto Festival USA as Roberto in Puccini’s Le Villi; returning to Lyric Opera of Kansas City as Pinkerton and Don José; to Pensacola Opera and Opera Naples as Cavaradossi; Rodolfo with Dayton Opera, and Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra; opera highlights concerts with Seattle Symphony and Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra; and Ettore in Kimmo Hakola’s La Fenice (world premiere) with the Savolinna Festival (Finland). With the esteemed New York City Opera he sang Rodolfo in La bohème.

Anthony Webb* | Goro Tenor Anthony Webb is critically acclaimed for his vocal power and agility, as well as his dynamic acting skills. His recent credits include Mathurin in The Reformed Drunkard with Little Opera Theater of New York; Edgardo in Lucia di Lammermoor with Opera in the Heights; Mitch in A Streetcar Named Desire with Union Avenue Opera; Sam in Susannah with St. Petersburg Opera; Blausius/Gavin in Hugo Kauder’s Merlin (World Premiere) Count Almaviva in Il barbiere di Siviglia with Crested Butte Music Festival and Pirelli in Sweeney Todd with Opera Theatre of St. Louis. His upcoming engagements include Goro in Madama Butterfly with Opera Colorado; Mayor Upfold in Albert Herring with Vashon Opera and Tenor Soloist with the Northern Duchess Symphony Orchestra in A Night of Rodgers and Hammerstein.

THE ARTISTS Andres Cladera* | Chorus Master Uruguayan conductor Andres Cladera, recently named Resident Conductor of Opera San Antonio and Founder/Artistic Director of The Microscopic Opera Company of Pittsburgh, is a versatile and cultivated artist in both the operatic and symphonic worlds. He has prior conducting experience with Opera San Antonio, Opera Colorado, Carnegie Mellon Philharmonic, Opera Theater of Pittsburgh, Edgewood Symphony, Pittsburgh Early Music Consort, Chatham Baroque and San Antonio Symphony. Cladera holds a Masters degree from Carnegie Mellon University and Bachelors of Fine Arts degrees in Piano and Voice Performance from College of Charleston. Cladera was awarded the 2007 Outstanding Young Conductor of the year by the Association of Choral Directors of America, as well as first place in several international piano competitions. Upcoming engagements include Salome (Opera San Antonio) La Voix Humaine/Il Segreto di Susanna (Opera San Antonio) Mercy Train (Microscopic Opera Company) Winter’s Tale (Quantum Theater Company). Andres Cladera lives in Denver, Colorado.

Denver Taiko* Japanese Drumming Ensemble Denver Taiko, founded in 1976, is a community based, 501(c)3 non-profit organization committed to honoring and sharing Japanese drumming through performance and providing an engaging creative outlet for those with an interest in the art of taiko. Denver Taiko is a community-based, self-taught group of drummers who enjoy the art of Japanese drumming through group performance. They perform in and around Denver and have also performed outside of Colorado in various states including Wyoming, Tennessee, South Dakota, Missouri, Kansas and Nebraska. The group was honored in 2001

by Denver’s Mayor Wellington Webb, receiving the Mayor’s annual award for Excellence in the Arts. Denver Taiko will be celebrating its 40th Anniversary in 2016 with a concert and hopes that many of you will participate in the celebration. For more information, visit denvertaiko.org or find them on Facebook.

Lucas Krech* | Lighting Design Multi-media artist working in light, video projection and code. Multiple nominations for NYIT and BATCC awards. Winner Broadway World, SF “Best Lighting Design” 2011. Recipient of the Lighting Artist in Dance grant from The Dancers Group for collaboration on new multimedia work 2013. Opera designs include Opera Santa Barbara, Opera Colorado, West Edge Opera, West

Bay Opera, First Look Sonoma, Yale Arts & Ideas Festival, LPR, Berkeley Opera and more. Theater credits span Off-Broadway and regional including The Magic, Barter Theater, Marin Theater Company, Shotgun Players, Center Rep, Gotham Stages, Friendly Fire, Immigrant’s Theater and NYMF. Dance collaborators include Nicolo Fonte, Matthew Neenan, Sean Curran, Amy Seiwert, Adam Houghland, Johannes Weiland, Emery LeCrone, Peter Quantz, Erika Tsimbrovsky and Andrea Schermoly. Installation work shown at SOMArts, Studio Gracia, Outside/Input and Black Rock City. He received a MFA in design from NYU. Ari Pelto | Conductor In 2013, Opera Colorado appointed Ari Pelto as Artistic Advisor following an acclaimed debut conducting Don Giovanni. In addition to Madama Butterfly, his future productions with Opera Colorado include Aida and the world premiere of Lori Laitman’s The Scarlett Letter in 2016. With performances that have been called poetic, earthy and highly individual, Pelto is in demand in opera houses throughout the United States. He made a highlypraised debut in 2004 at New York City Opera with La Traviata, and become a regular guest conductor returning for Madama Butterfly, La Boheme and Carmen. He has appeared with Opera Theatre of St.Louis, Boston Lyric Opera and Utah Opera, Minnesota Opera among others as well as in Japan, Europe and South America.

Upcoming engagements include Salome at Virginia Opera, The Rake’s Progress at Portland Opera and I Pagliacci at Opera Memphis where he serves as Principal Guest Conductor.

Keturah Stickann* | Director Keturah Stickann’s directing credits include Don Quichotte (San Diego Opera), Flight (Opera Fayetteville), Rigoletto (Opera Memphis), Don Giovanni (Janiec Opera Company), The Tales of Hoffman (Knoxville Opera), Manon (Knoxville Opera), Don Pasquale (Opera in the Heights), La tragédie de Carmen (Janiec Opera Company) and Madama Butterfly (Opera Santa Barbara). Ms. Stickann is a frequent collaborator with director, Leonard Foglia, most notably as is his choreographer and movement director for MobyDick, which traveled around the world and was filmed in 2012 for PBS’ Great Performances. She is also his choreographer for Cruzar la Cara de la Luna and A Coffin in Egypt, both commissioned by Houston Grand Opera. In 2012, Ms. Stickann toured to Japan and Chile to remount Michael Hampe’s production of Tannhäuser, and before that was an assistant director for Lillian Groag and Lotfi Mansouri on many new productions including Orphee, La fanciulla del West, Pagliacci and Cavalleria Rusticana. *Opera Colorado Debut ^Opera Colorado Young Artists

M A D A M A B U T T E R F LY •

7

MADAMA BUTTERFLY ORCHESTRA VIOLIN

Takanori Sugishita, concertmaster Renè Knetsch, principal second violin Angela Dombrowski Lynne Glaeske Margaret Gutierrez Debra Holland Robyn Julyan Annamaria Karacson Cyndi Mancinelli Leah Mohling Brett Omara Susie Peek Ingrid Peoria Gyongyi Petheo Veronica Pigeon Leslie Sawyer Christine Short Robyn Sosa VIOLA

CELLO Jeff Watson, principal Cedra Kuehn Charles Lee David Short Elle Wells Carole Whitney BASS

David Crowe, principal Jeremy Nicholas Matthew Pennington James Vaughn FLUTE

Susan Townsend Elizabeth Sadilek PICCOLO

Olga Shylayeva OBOE

Max Soto Tenly Williams ENGLISH HORN

Michael Brook, principal Brian Cook Matthew Dane Erika Eckert Sarah Richardson Lora Stevens

Liz Telling

PRODUCTION STAFF

Brian Greffe, MD, Company Physician Buzz Reifman, NPPA, Company Otolaryngologist

MUSIC STAFF Andres Cladera, Chorus Master Keun-A Lee, Coach/Accompanist Kim Peoria, Orchestra Personnel Manager Ingrid Peoria, Orchestra Librarian PRODUCTION STAFF Katie Preissner, Production/Stage Manager Jordan Braun, Assistant Stage Manager Sarah Johnson, Assistant Stage Manager Joel Atella, Assistant Director Jeremy Sortore, Title Coordinator Beth Nielsen, Title Operator Park Wm. Showalter, Chorus Liaison

8

CLARINET

Michelle Orman Heidi Mendenhall BASS CLARINET

Art Bouton

TECHNICAL STAFF Dennis Watson, Head Carpenter Don Watson, Shop/Production Carpenter Bert Hedrick, Assistant Carpenter Jeff Reidel, Head Flyman David Arellano, Head Electrician Chris Green, Light Board Operator Patrick Howard, Assistant Lighting Designer Bill Hansen, Head Props Travis Schadle, Assistant Props Charles Polich, Head Sound Karen Watson, Purchasing Agent

• M A D A M A B U T T E R F LY

BASSOON

Kim Peoria Kaori Uno HORN

Devon Park, principal Marian Hesse Jason Johnston Lauren Varley TRUMPET

Brian Brown, principal Ken Aikin Steve Kilburn TROMBONE

Bron Wright, principal William Stanley Andy Wolfe TUBA

Michael Allen HARP Janet Harriman, principal TIMPANI Peter Cooper, principal PERCUSSION

Mark Foster, principal Nena Lorenz Carl Dixon

ELLIE CAULKINS OPERA HOUSE CREW Al Price, House Prop Dave Wilson, House Electrician Dave Lambert, House Carpenter Michael Cousins, House Sound COSTUMES Ann Piano, Costume Director Alison Milan, Shop Manager and Wardrobe Head SHOP ASSISTANTS Barbara Piano Elizabeth C. Porter Christine Samar DRAPER Kevin Brainerd DRESSERS Christine Samar Kevin Brainerd Sara Lynn Hildebrand Elizabeth C. Porter Gwendolyn Adams

ORCHESTRA LIBRARIAN

Ingrid Peoria

ORCHESTRA MANAGER

Kim Peoria

OPERA COLORADO CHORUS Janet Braccio Becky Bradley Claire Brooker Susan Clark Emily Johnson Kimberly Kirkwood Amy Kopatich Heather Mills Susan Rahmsdorff Katherine Snyder

John Adams Jamie Halladay Brandon Joseph Patrick McAleer Jason Parfenoff Todd Resseguie Park Wm. Showalter Norman Spivy Joey Taczak

VOLUNTEER DRESSERS Leslie Cady Kathy Heider Jan Heimer Pat Smith Barbara Wilder WIGS AND MAKEUP Sarah Opstad, Associate Wig and Makeup Designer Angela Norris, Wig and Makeup Assistant ARTIST HOSTS Host Chairman: Merrill Shields Jeff Brown Greg Carpenter Larry Chan Brian Crane Sigrid and Dick Freese Robert Kahn Cherity Koepke Heather MacKinnon Darrell and India Mount Astrid Stocks SUPERS Marielle Link Miles Parfenoff

GIVE THEM SOMETHING

to remember you by.

Every life is unique and deserves to be remembered in a special way. With whispering pines, picturesque grounds and breathtaking views of the majestic Rocky Mountains and Denver skyline, Olinger Mount Lindo Cemetery offers a resting place unlike any other. The cemetery’s historic lighted cross—the largest in the country—graces the scenic mountaintop and has become a beloved local landmark.

As members of the Dignity Memorial® network, we are dedicated to helping you and your loved ones create a meaningful memorial that truly celebrates the life it represents. You can even tell your own unique story by making your final plans now, before the time of need.

CALL TODAY TO CREATE A LASTING TRIBUTE

that will be celebrated for generations to come.

OLINGER FUNERAL HOMES AND CEMETERIES OLINGER MOUNT LINDO

OLINGER CHAPEL HILL

OLINGER CROWN HILL

5928 South Turkey Creek Rd. Morrison, CO

6601 South Colorado Blvd.

Centennial, CO

7777 West 29th Ave. Wheat Ridge, CO

303-771-3960

303-771-3960

303-233-4611

OlingerMountLindoCemetery.com

OlingerChapelHillCemetery.com

OlingerCrownHillCemetery.com

Cemetery

Mortuary and Cemetery

Mortuary and Cemetery

DrKing-Ad.v1_PS-V4 1/11/13 1:47 PM Page 1

Everyone has a voice.

Shouldn’t yours be heard?

Don’t take your voice for granted.

A weak, breathy, hoarse, scratchy, strained, or graveled voice often indicates a problem. Hoarseness lasting longer than a few weeks probably isn’t “laryngitis.”

Dr. Michael King treats the full spectrum of ear, nose, and throat disorders. He is an otolaryngologist and a fellowship-trained laryngologist (voice specialist) providing care to singers, performers, and professional speakers.

Dr. King is one of only a few specialists in the Western region performing minimally invasive office procedures, balloon sinuplasty, and laser surgery.

Offices in Broomfield & Golden • 720-401-2139 • PeakENTandVoiceCenter.com Services and treatments include• Minimally invasive office procedures of the throat and sinuses • Laser surgery of the vocal cords • Treatments for pre-cancerous lesions or early throat cancers • Microsurgery for vocal cord polyps or cysts • Botox injections for spasmodic dysphonia • Voice restoration for vocal cord paralysis • Esophagoscopy and evaluation for reflux

R e t i r e a m i d s t De n v e r’s t op c u lt u r a l , di n i ng a n d sp or t s v e n u e s a djac e n t t o m i l e s of pa r k l a n d a n d bi k i ng / wa l k i ng t r a i l s .

Begin a new chapter in your life.

SOPHISTICATED DOWNTOWN LIVING

Balfour is something you rarely find.

A renowned senior living community in the heart of Denver. Just steps away from the vibrancy of downtown.

•

Independent Living, Assisted Living, and Memory Care

•

Culinary Director is award-winning, Four Seasons-trained chef

•

Full liquor license with daily happy hour cocktails in Balfour’s very own SkyBar

•

Over 200 Life Enrichment programs a month

•

24/7 concierge services and two dedicated town cars

•

Minutes from restaurants, entertainment, and top attractions of downtown

Move in Now!

Michael, age 13, with his mother, Madeline Michael Schonbrun, Founder and CEO of Balfour and former President of National Jewish Health, needed to find his mother a retirement community.

After her husband’s death, Madeline, a lifelong New Yorker active in charity work, wanted to move to Colorado to be closer to family, but didn’t want to sacrifice the amenities and sophisticated lifestyle of downtown living. Michael’s search left him unsatisfied; there were no senior living communities downtown, and no options that would meet Madeline’s expectations and lifestyle.

And that’s why he created Balfour.

Join Us for a Tour, Call for a Reservation: 720.360.4500 M–F 9am–6:30pm, Weekends 10am–5pm; Open Holidays 10am–3pm

Ba l f ou r A tR i v er f ron tPa r k .com - 15 0 0 l i t t l e r av en s t.

ANNUAL CONTRIBUTORS FOUNDATIONS, CORPORATIONS AND GOVERNMENT The Board of Directors of Opera Colorado and the staff wish to acknowledge the extraordinary generosity of the foundations, corporations and government agencies that made contributions in support of our general operating expenses, technology fund and Education & Community Engagement Programs from October 15, 2013 – October 15, 2014.

PRESIDENT CIRCLE ($20,000+) The Anschutz Foundation Avenir Foundation Bonfils-Stanton Foundation Chambers Family Fund The Denver Foundation Fidelity Investments Charitable Giving Fund Franklin C Deters Trust Galen and Ada Belle Spencer Foundation Invisible Cities Investments LLC Rassman Design* Shamos Family Foundation Scientific and Cultural Facilities District Sidney E. Frank Foundation DIRECTOR ($10,000+) Ann and Gerald Saul Foundation Caulkins Family Foundation CIBER, Inc. The Crawley Family Foundation Faegre Baker Daniels Gates Family Foundation Hood-Barrow Foundation Jess and Rose Kortz and Pearl Rae Foundation Melvin and Elaine Wolf Foundation, Inc. Profit Planning Group Tulsa Community Foundation Virginia W. Hill Foundation MAESTRO ($5,000+) Ann and Gordon Getty Foundation Denver Lyric Opera Guild ECA Foundation, Inc. Fairfield and Woods, PC The Hunt Family Foundation Jeanne Land Foundation Mile High United Way Peak ENT and Voice Center Leonard and Alice Perlmutter Charitable Foundation Vectra Bank of Colorado Wells Fargo

20

•

DIVA ($2,500+) Magnolia Hotel* National Philanthropic Trust Schwab Fund for Charitable Giving The Denver Post Charities Wells Fargo Advisors*

The Armstrong Foundation The Deane Family Fund The Dobbins Foundation The Henry Laird Smith Foundation The Schramm Foundation William D. Radichel Foundation

COMPRIMARIO ($1,000+) AMG Charitable Gift Foundation Anonymous Beaver Creek Resort Company David B. and Gretchen W. Black Family Foundation Jeremy and Debbie Lazarus Fund Kinder Morgan Foundation Read Foundation Inc.

CHORISTER ($500+) Carson-Pfafflin Family Foundation IBM International Foundation Newmont Mining Corporation Rose Community Foundation

IMPRESARIO (Special sponsorships above annual contribution) Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth T. Barrow Mike and Julie Bock* Ellie Caulkins Joy and Christopher Dinsdale Dave and Pam Duke Mr. Michael A. Hughes and the Hon. Karen Brody Dr. J Michael King Ms. Tracy McCarthy* Merrill Shields and M. Ray Thomasson* Marlis and Shirley Smith Mr. John Shott* Mrs. and Mr. Rachel Solomon Patrick Spieles and Carol McMurry IMPRESARIO FOUNDATIONS Avenir Foundation Bonfils-Stanton Foundation* Mervin and Elaine Wolf Foundation *Technology Fund

OPE RA COLORADO 2014-2015

FRIEND ($100+) Barnes and Noble Bell Family Foundation Bjork Lindley Little, PC Daniels-Houlton Family Foundation Gray Consulting Hewlett-Packard Company Ingrid Fretheim Interiors Nelson Family Foundation The Elmer F. Pierson Foundation The Gill Foundation Whole Foods Market Cherry Creek* *Gift In-Kind

TRIBUTES IN HONOR OF GREGORY A. CARPENTER

IN MEMORY OF SHIRLEY SIMONSON

Sandra Vinnik

Patricia and James Dolan Marijane and George Hutchinson Ross and Geneva Corace Donna E. Hamilton

IN HONOR OF URSULA AND CHARLES KAFADAR

Ms. Lois B. London Sandra Vinnik IN MEMORY OF DR. WILLIAM LOOKNER

Dr. Daniel J. Greenholz IN MEMORY OF MARGARET COYNE

Mr. Wiiliam Obermann IN MEMORY OF BYRON GRABER

David and Debra Flitter Ms. Jo B. Shannon Bjork Lindley Little, PC Sandra Parker

IN MEMORY OF BARBARA WILKINSON

Ms. J.C. Collins IN MEMORY OF IRWIN E. VINNICK, MD

Sandra Vinnik IN MEMORY OF LUCILE LYNN

Gene and Linda Young IN MEMORY OF WILLIAM E. STILES

Donna J. Stiles IN HONOR OF ELEANOR N. CAULKINS

Marjorie J. Marks

Mrs. Marcia D. Strickland David J. Chavolla

IN MEMORY OF SUE MOHRMAN

IN MEMORY OF EVA

IN MEMORY OF SUUKYI

Joseph Mauro IN MEMORY OF MARIE J. KENDRICK

Nancy K. Storer IN MEMORY OF DAVID COLEMAN

Beverly Clark-Coleman

& HENRY HURST Prof. and Mrs. Joseph S. Szyliowicz IN MEMORY OF OUR PARENTS

Priscilla R. Brookens

SYMPHONY FOR THE HOLIDAYS THIS HOLIDAY SEASON Pink Martini with the Colorado Symphony

DEC 9

Handel’s Messiah

DEC 13-14

Celtic Woman: Home For Christmas

DEC 17

A Colorado Christmas

DEC 19-21

Too Hot To Handel

DEC 27-28

A Night In Vienna

DEC 31

COLORADOSYMPHONY.ORG

303.623.7876

BOX OFFICE: MON-FRI 10 AM-6 PM :: SAT 12 PM-6 PM IN BOETTCHER CONCERT HALL, HOME OF THE COLORADO SYMPHONY

ANNUAL FUND CONTRIBUTORS INDIVIDUALS

The Board of Directors of Opera Colorado and the staff express their deepest appreciation to the individuals who have contributed to the Annual Fund.

This generosity enables Opera Colorado to continue producing opera of the highest artistic merit and to reach over 35,500 school children and adults each year.

The following list acknowledges individual donors who made gifts to Opera Colorado’s Annual Fund from October 15, 2013 – October 15, 2014.

PRESIDENT CIRCLE ($20,000+) Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth T. Barrow Mike and Julie Bock Ellie Caulkins Dave and Pam Duke Hugh A. Grant and Merle C. Chambers Cy and Lyndia Harvey Ms. Hilja K. Herfurth Harold R. and Ann Logan Marcia and Richard Robinson Susan and Jeremy Shamos Merrill Shields and M. Ray Thomasson Patrick Spieles and Carol McMurry DIRECTOR ($10,000+) Bruce and Sarah Allen Al and Rebecca Bates Sheila S. Bisenius Peyton Bucy and Suzanne Dost Bucy Noel and Thomas Congdon Mary and Tom Conroy Robert and Lenore Damrauer Ray J. Groves Harley and Lorraine Higbie Michael A. Hughes and Karen Brody Mr. and Mrs. Jeremy F. Kinney Honorable and Mrs. Kenneth Laff Dr. and Mrs. William N. Maniatis Therese McCarthy Ms. Muffy Moore and Mr. Al Minier Leonard and Alice Perlmutter Kevin O’Connor and Janet Ellen Raasch Ann and Gerald Saul Marlis and Shirley Smith Beatrice B. Taplin Mr. and Mrs. Charles I. Thompson Martha and Will Tracey Byron Watson Britney B. and Richard Weil Sandy Wolf MAESTRO ($5,000+) Linda Bjelland Robert S. Graham Sarah and Christopher Hunt Craig N. Johnson and Alicia McCommons 22

•

Diana and Mike Kinsey Ms. Carole Leight Frank and Virginia Leitz Kalleen R. and Robert Malone Veronica A. McCaffrey and Barbara A. Frank Rhea J. Miller Robert R. Montgomery and Nancy Hawkins Craig and Maria Ponzio Myra and Robert Rich Mr. and Mrs. George G. Shaw Mrs. Carol C. Whitley Larry and Brigitte Zimmer Anonymous (1) DIVA ($2,500+) Ellen & Donald Bauder Mr. James L. Berggren Ron Covey Dr. Stephen L. Dilts Marcus & Wendy Divita Celeste and Jack Grynberg Judith Johnston Living Trust Joe and Francine Kelso Christine and Harry Phillips Zondra Rae Pluss Bruce Polkowsky and Bill Powell Nijole and Walter Rasmussen Juan and Alicia Rodriguez Helen Santilli and Lyn Barber Vicki and Harry Sterling Christopher Price and S. Edith Taylor Jerry and Debi Tepper Marilyn Ware COMPRIMARIO ($1,000+) Ed Altman, Jr. and Dr. Dina Brudenell Altman Ellen Anderman and James Donaldson Robert and Megan Armstrong Mr. and Mrs. William D. Armstrong Hartman Axley Janice Baucum Brian Bennett and Bev Daniels Robin E. Black Brian Bross M.D. & Bonnie Daniels Ms. Karen M. Bruggenthies Dr. Bill and Betty Buchanan Mrs. Sue M. Cannon George P. Caulkins and Christina Radichel Caulkins Mr. John N. Caulkins The Tooth Fairy Carl Clark and Mark Groshek Aubrey Copeland, MD John and Alix Corboy Steve and Pat Corder Kathleen Crapo Carolyn E. Daniels Ze and Dick Deane George and Yonnie Dikeou Richard T. and Margaret N. Dillon Carl A. and Nan Eklund Terry Frazier and Kathy Wells Karen Fukutaki Mr. and Mrs. George C. Gibson Dr. and Mrs. Burton Golub Mr. Frank Guerra and Ms. Jo Ellen Graybill Susan and J. Lawrence Hamil

OPE RA COLORADO 2014-2015

Deborah Hayes and James L. Martin III Drs. Kathryn Hobbs and Marc Cohen Mr. William T. Hoffman Steven and Chryse Hutchins Robert J. and Maria Jennet Gary and Judith Judd Dr. and Mrs. John N. Kabalin Dr. Lawrence Kim and Nhung Van Sally and Jim Kneser Dr. Kendra Kohlhaas Dagmar Kress Mary Laird and Russel Stewart Dr. and Mrs. Jeremy Lazarus Mrs. Patricia A. Livingston Pat and Barbara McCelvey Jim and Carole McCotter Dr. Monica I. Minkoff and Mr. Harry M. Siegfried Janet R. Mordecai Lynnette Morrison Mr. and Mrs. Chris J. Murphy Dr. and Mrs. Calvern E. Narcisi Drs. Sarah and Harold Nelson Marian Ordway Dines Carl Patterson Dorothy Pearson Bonnie C. Perkins Rick Poppe & Jana Edwards Mr. Thomas J. Powers Jr. Alexander & Cynthia Read Dr. Barbara Reed Kent A. Rice and Ann Corrigan Steven and Joan Ringel Karen and Mark Sather Ruth E. Schoening Jane Schultz-Burnett Rachel Solomon and Jonathan Parrott John B. Trueblood Richard Tubbs and Marilyn Smith Drs. Kathy Kennedy and Ben Vernon Ed and Patty Wahtera B. Douglas Watson Maradith and Rusty Wilkins Kenneth and Mary Willis Cheryl McGinnis and Edward Woolman Anonymous (3) CHORISTER ($500+) Mrs. Susan Adams Marilyn and Jules Amer Randall and Jill Anderson John and Rosemary Ashby John E. Baril and Brian Cook Peter Batty and Paula Kechichian Dr. and Mrs. Henry J. Beckwitt Charles E. Berry Sandy and Rogene Buchholz Mr. and Mrs. K.W. Calkins George M. and Carol G. Canon Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence G. Carpenter Marjorie and Doug Carriger Mark and Margaret Carson Charles Case and Phillip St. Cloud Barbara and Roger Chamberlain Samuel Chan Ronald and Donna Charlin Mr. David Clarke Ms. Kathryn Codo Catherine Cole Dr. Alan Como and Mrs. InHye Como Donna and Ted Connolly

Dr. & Mrs. Robert Contiguglia Mary W. Crawley Lisa Crispin and Robert Downing Nancy Crow and Mark Skrotzki Ms. Cheryl M. Cruickshank Angie D’Albora Jerri Lynn Modrall and Eric E. Doering Timothy James Donahue Robert Duncan Walter W. and Maryruth Y. Duncan Elizabeth C. and Matther Dyer Lois N. Eckhoff Jack Finlaw and Gregory Movesian Larry S. and Joanne Fisher Celeste Fleming Richard C. and Frances Frey Deborah Friedman Dr. and Mrs. Arthur Garfein Dr. Daniel J. Greenholz Renee and Martin Gross Mrs. Carol & Dr. Fred Grover Beverlee B. Henry and The Honorable Robert P. Fullerton Lee and Margaret Henry Kathryn Hight Richard Hilty Ms. Laura M. Hoffman Christine Hollander and Michael McGee Graham and Cathy Hollis Whitney and Halle Holmes Marcia Holt and John Holt Michael E. Huotari and Jill R. Stewart Kendor and Paulette Jones Frank A. and Pauline Kemp Herbert E. and Darlene Kress Patty Lorie Kupetz Pauline Langsley Ann and James Leh Deanna Rose Leino Robert & Gloria Lilly-Cohen Jim and Patience Linfield Lester and Nancy Lockspeiser Patty Lorie Kupetz William Mathews Dave and Miza McReynolds Bob and Mereth Meade Mrs. Nathaniel C. Merrill Mr. and Mrs. James Mills Frend John Miner and Jeff Lawhead Henry B. Mohr Dr. and Mrs. John Moyer Drs. Michael and Mary Moynihan Robert Nelson Ralph Ogden Ronald Y. Otsuka Dr. and Mrs. David S. Pearlman Robert and Mary Quillin Irene M. Ibarra and Armando Quiroz Marcia L. Ragonetti Charles and Reta Ralph Karyn K. Rieb Ayliffe and Fred Ris Susan and Paul Roberts Joe Ronnenberg Mr Doug Rooney Mr. Allan S. and Judith Rosenbaum Luana Rubin Jane Russell and Bill Russell Jack and Ruth Salter Mr. Henry R. Schmoll Dr. and Mrs. Edwin R. Smith

The Cheesecake Factory features an extensive and creative menu of more than 200 dishes made fresh from scratch, along with more than 50 low-calorie “SkinnyLicious™” dishes and 50 signature cheesecakes & desserts.

Enjoy lunch, dinner, late night dining and Sunday Brunch.

1201 16th Street • Tabor Center • Denver (Just a short walk from the Performing Arts Complex, at the corner of 16th & Larimer St.

Fine Wines.

DCPA patrons receive a free bottle of Canvas wine and a $10 hotel parking credit with the purchase of two dinner entrees.

303-595-0333

www.thecheesecakefactory.com

303.321.2236 1165 S. Broadway Denver, CO 80210

Offer valid thru 3/30/15.

Hyatt Regency Denver at Colorado Convention Center 650 Fifteenth Street, Denver, CO 80202 303 486 4434

www.thedenvertearoom.com

• Reserve Now For Holiday High Tea • Selection of Over 70 Teas • Breakfast & Lunch Menus • Afternoon High Tea Service

By Reservation Only

Specializing in the finest

extra-virgin olive oils and balsamic vinegars from around the world.

3 Denver Locations Pizzas Salads Calzones Strambolis B ASIL D OCS P IZZA.COM

Live Smooth Jazz, Brunch & Libations

Join Us Sunday’s 9am - 1pm

Spend $60 on dinner & get any bottle of wine at 1/2 off

(ordered with this theatre promotion)

303.862.9850

2449 Larimer St. • Denver CO 80209

amerigodelicatus.com

DINER & BAR DOWNTOWN • 15TH & CURTIS • 303.534.1927 AURORA • PARKER & HAVANA • 303.751.0347

LoDo

1338 15th Street (15th at Market) in LoDo 303-974-5784 Monday-Saturday: 11-6pm Sunday: 11-4pm Bring in your program for 10% off your purchase.

Littleton

2660 Main Street (Next to Savory Spice Shop) 720-328-4783 Monday: 10-5pm Tuesday-Friday: 10-6pm Saturday: 10-5pm Sunday: 11-4pm

Four Diamonds AAA Four Stars - 5280 magazine

GLENDALE • CHERRY & LEETSDALE • 303.333.4403 samsno3.com

1776 Grant Street • Denver, CO 80203 303.318.7272 www.randolphsdenver.com

$2 OFF $10 PURCHASE $2 off $10 purchase or more. Not valid on specials, alcohol, or other offers. One coupon per table.

Just 3 blocks from the theater complex 909 17th Street at Champa Call 303.296.3525 for reservations

ANNUAL FUND CONTRIBUTORS Jennifer Sobanet Larry D. and Neslihan Stephens Dr. Richard Stienmier Bill and Shirley Stout Mrs. Marcia D. Strickland Jim and Sue Swanson Robert and Elizabeth Swift John and Sharon Trefny John R. and Wendy Trigg Normie and Paul Voilleque Laura Waldron Valerie M. Wassill Scott and Karen Yarberry Dr. Jack and Mrs. Barbara Zable Ken and Charlotte Ziebarth Mr. and Mrs. Stephen True Anonymous(1) FRIEND ($100+) Norman O. and Margaret Aarestad Lora Adams James and Lorraine Adams Frank J. Adler Dr. Richard J. Agee Paul and Susan Ahlquist Catherine H. Anderson Jane L. Anderson Omar Angola Judith Babcock Mary E. Bahde Donald K Bain Stephen Bain Marilyn Baldwin Dennis Barrett Ms. Jennifer N. Bater Nancy Battan Marie Belew Wheatley Barbara Benedict Mr. and Mrs. Mitchell Benedict III Drs. Tomas and Diane Berl John R. and Coleen Binder Laura Bittner Steve Blatt Catherine Boller Ms. Sandra Bonetti Kent Borges Carolyn R. Borus Richard J. Bottjer Jeff and Shirley Bowen Joe and Gwen Bowers Brewster and Helen Boyd Donald K. Braden Ms. Jay Breen Mr. William Broderick Eve Brogan Priscilla R. Brookens Darrell Brown and Suzanne McNitt Lucinda and Edward Bryant Sharon Kay and Craig Lee Bundy Edie Busam Gordon & Ron Butz William Caile S. Nelson Cammack Hebert Cantor Ken Carlson Teri Carnahan Brad Case and William McMechen Patricia Caulkins Prof. Gerald Chapman Brett and Crystal Childs Everett Clark Ethel K. Clow 24

•

Mr. and Mrs. John P. Congdon Alexander J. Conley and Alysia Marino Kathleen M Cook Dr. David J. Cooper and Evelyn W Cooper Marty and Howard Corren Vicki Cowart and Chris Hayes Treasa J. and David Craig Lucy and Thomas Creighton Ms. Louise Crosby Sara and Jim Culhane Margaret H. Cunningham Cathy Dal Santo Katy Daniel Silvia & Alan Danson Helen Shreves Ronald L. Deal Peter and Deedee Decker Jacqueline Demolin Roberta Depp Greg Diamond Ursula and Tom Dickenson Thomas and Brenda Douglis Peter and Marian Downs Laurie and Ben Duke III Philippe and Cynthia Dunoyer Mr. and Mrs. Wayne D. Eckerling Dr. Gifford and Chris Eckhout Judie Eidson Joseph J. and Beverly Elinoff Ted and Vivian Sheldon Epstein Judith H. Fahrenkrog Alice Fairey Ms. Ann B. Fawcett Amy Feaster Mr. Michael Feliccissimo Mrs. Ann Figura Mr. Scott Finlay Kathryn Finley Stacy Fischer Janet and Sheldon Fischer Mr. Thomas Fox L. Richard and Sigrid Halvorson Freese Jeannette Furer Cynthia Gaertner Alan Gallagher and Connie Christiansen Ms. Fran Gander Bill & Ilse Gardner Mr. Alan G. Gass & Mrs. Sally R. Gass Caleb F. and Sidney Gates Jennifer Ruth Gentry Linda Goldstein Tamara Goldstein Mr. and Mrs. Ricardo Goncalves Stephen L. and Donna Good Liz Goodman and Robert Nauman Veronica Goodrich Kazuo and Drusilla Gotow Ray L. Gottesfeld Anthony and Katherine Gottlieb Susan and John Gowen Brian Greffe, MD & Mark Donovan, Phd Gina Guy Regina Hackley Jerry Jean Hale Richard Hansen Mr. Richard H. Hart

OPE RA COLORADO 2014-2015

Winifred Hartman Jerry and Patty Hauptman Richard Haynes Mr. Richard W. Healy Peter Hebert Mr. and Mrs. Phil G. Heinschel Patricia Hill Pascoe Richard and Sandra Hilt Sarah C. Hite Jon and Tina Holdman Dorothy and Ted Horrell Barbara and Kevin Hughes Barbara and John Hughes Helen O. Hull Ms. Jane A. Hultin Mr. Dennis R. Hurt Paul W. Husted John Dennis Hynes Daniel Isaman Dr. Jacob G. and Mrs. Sarah F. Jacobson Brian A. and Catherine Janonis Ms. Jill Johnke Donald W. and Susan Jones Mr. and Mrs. Howard B. Jordan Mrs. Kerstin Karloev Mr. and Mrs. Arthur W. Kidder Eileen and Walter Kintsch Bonnie Kipple Kenneth Kirkland Loring and Carol Knoblauch Leonard Koch Mrs. and Mr. Svetlana Komisarchik Elmer and Doris Koneman Donna Kornfeld Rex Kramer and Cindy Crater John W. Kure and Cheryl Solich Ms. Barbara Ladon Warren and Nancy Lawrence Richard S. Leaman Mr. Bernard Leason and Mrs. Frieda Sanidas Leason Richard K. and Melinda Lee Noel Lejeune and Lynn Callaway Nancy Leonard Dr. and Mrs. James List Randall M. Livingston Windham and Anne Loopesko David Luebbers Mrs. R. T. Lyford Jr. Jogn D. and Janet MacFarlane Janet and David MacKenzie Mr. & Mrs. Ginnie and Tom Maes Henry Mahlman Caroline E. and Harold Malde Melissa Malde Anne Marquis John and Minda Marshall Andrew Martin Keith Maskus Mr. Gary Mather Marian E. Matheson Pam and Mo Mathews Tanya R. Mathews Jeanine Matney Sandy Mazarakis and Neil Burris Mary McClanahan Myron McClellan and Lawrence Phillips Dr. and Mrs. Hugh J. McGee Jr. William and Virginia McGehee Maeve Vickers McGrath

Katherine Millett Jean Milofsky Mr. George Mitchell Sue and Bill Mohrman Mr. and Mrs. Mike Monahan Bill R. Moninger Ann and Mike Moore Beverly B. Moore Louis J. Moran and Douglas Van Dines Warren Morrow Margaret Morrow Marilyn Munsterman and Charles Berberich Mark and Sally Murray John & Mary Muth Ralph Nagel Johanna Nardi-Korver W. Peterson and Nancy Nelson Richard L. Nielsen Dr. and Mrs. David A. Norris Maureen and Benjamin Nystuen Kent & Ruth Obee Kelli O’Brien & Michael Kolotylo Kurt M. Olender and Kam Wong Kent and Elaine Olson Stephanie and Roger Oram Lindsay Packer Renee and David Parkhurst Neil and Margaret Peck Perry and Virginia Peine David and Rhona Pessel Sandra G. Pettijohn Linda Plaut Andrew R. Pleszkun Rich and Kim Plumridge Ann and Jeffrey Pontious Ms. Heather Porter Mrs. Kathryn L. Pride Katherine A. Raabe Dr. & Mrs. Pablo Ramos Mr. David and Dr. Juanita Redfield Philip Reed T. R. Reid Richard Replin and Elissa Stein Julie Reusser Maxine and Ed Richard Mr. and Mrs. Gene Richards Donald W. Richman Jennie Ridgley Ronald H. and Ann Riley Sylvia and Byron Riley Mr. Joseph C. Rook Linda F. Rosales Joann Rose Mary Ann Ross Jack and Oonagh Ross Mr. Richard Russel Ms. Suzanne B. Ryan Youlon D. Savage Rick Scalpello Ms. Erika L. Schafer Paul Scheele William and Doris Scheeley Elizabeth Schwarm-Glesner Fern B. Seltzer Bob and Barbara Shaklee Casey Shpall Mr. Jon Shreve Mr. Carl Shushan and Ms. Sandi Hill Ms. Phyllis Shushan

Denver Lyric Opera Guild is welcoming new members!

Who we are and what we do • Support and encourage singers pursuing careers in opera • Provide continuing education to members in the appreciation and knowledge of opera • Award Scholarships, Grants and fi nancial support to young Colorado Singers • A volunteer, non-profit, charitable organization • Provide opportunities for members to experience the joy of opera

We invite you to look into membership and volunteering opportunities For information visit DenverLyricOperaGuild.org or call Marleen Diamond at (303) 683-3609 marleendiamond@comcast.net

GIVING VOICE TO OPERA!

ENJOY THE FREEDOM ICON makes it easier to enjoy the activities you love

For information on surgical treatment of the eye, visit

720.524.1001

ANNUAL FUND CONTRIBUTORS

VOLUNTEERS

Mr. Theodor M. Simmons Patricia K. Simpson Mr. Gary Sims Catherine K. Skokan Michael Snow Stephanie Solich Norman Spivy James B. Steed Mr. and Mrs. Bernard Steinberg James Stewardson Susan Stiff Donna J. Stiles Jenene & James Stookesberry Amy D. Stuemky Frank J. Sullivan and Sylvia Sullivan Harold D. and Shirley Summers Drs. Morris and Ellen Susman James Switzer Mrs. Mary Symonton William Bradford and Chin Tan Barbara Thorngren Jack D. Tidwell Janice Tilden Lloyd & Barbara Timblin, Jr. Dr. and Ms. James Kennedy Todd Giles D. Toll M.D. Elizabeth Tracey Alice and Frank Traylor Robert C. Tripp Lucile B. Trueblood Betty & Rex Ulricksen Dr. Peter and Mrs. Kathy Van Arsdale Gretchen Vanderwerf and Gordon Jones

NOVEMBER 2013 - NOVEMBER 2014 Sandy Adams Sally Lammers Stan & Marianne Anderson Susi Landers Eric Bard Melinda Leach Laurel Barsa Heather MacKinnon Irene Betin David & Margaret Mejia Devanie Blake Joanne Moldow Barbara Bower Frank Parce Jeff Brown Eva Phibbs Joan Camozzi Donna Ries Lisa Cobb Ellie Roberts Joyce de Roos Therese Schoen Stephen Dilts Linda Schipper Peggy Engel Ruth Schoening Christae Evanson Ron Sherbert Victor Fabrizio Syrma Sotiriou Terry Frazier Mary Stirling Nancy Fredricks Jenene Stookesberry Sigrid Freese Mary Talbot Danielle Hawkins Linda Vigor James Herringer Candice Watts Jenny James Wendy Wendell Robert Kahn Wendy Wenkstern Sydney Kenney Janet Wolfer Dean & Madge Klassen Christel Woody Rhonda Knight Frank Zoske Paull Kupler

Francisco Varela Sandra Vinnik Mary and Terry Vogt Bernd Wachter Norma and George Wagoner Shirley C. Ward Ms. Carley Warren Mr. and Mrs. Charles L Warren Ms. Robin Stewart and Mr. Kirk Weber Dr. Adriana Weinberg Ms. Cia A. Wenzel Robert and Dorothy Wham Ms. Marilyn L. Wheeler James W. White and Andrew Sirotnak Anne Williams Evan and Caroline Williams Ms. Beverly Williams Kathy Williamson Timothy Wilson Hilda Wing Mary Wise A-Young Woody Dr. and Mrs. Raymond Yost Ms. Phyllis J. Young Jeffrey Zax Sue and Carl Zimet Ms. Dale Zitek Mike and Nancy Zoellner Tina Walls Anonymous (3)

Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of our donor list. However, if your name is incorrectly listed, please accept our sincere apologies and contact Leah Podzimek at 303.468.2029. Although space limitations only allow us to list donors whose gifts were $100 and above, we are deeply grateful for the support of all our dedicated contributors.

Wine, dine and unwind: Date night at four seasons

Take advantage of our Wine, Dine and Unwind offer and indulge in the ultimate “Date Night” experience. Begin your

weekend escape with two complimentary cocktails at EDGE

Bar. Unwind in our indoor and outdoor whirlpools, or pamper

yourself at our urban spa sanctuary. Next, savor local ingredients

at EDGE Restaurant, our progressive American steakhouse, with a delicious three-course prix

xe dinner for two before

returning to your room where a romantic treat awaits. In the retu

morning, sleep in and enjoy breakfast in bed at your convenience.

For reservations, contact your travel consultant, Four Seasons at

1-800-332-3442 or the Hotel directly at 1-303-389-3000. Or visit www.fourseasons.com/denver/packages

Wealth Management Isn’t One Thing. It’s Everything.

When planning for the future, you’re really planning your legacy. But in doing so, you take everything into consideration. Retirement goals. Family trusts. Succession plans.

The list goes on and on. Which is why you need a wealth advisor who takes a holistic approach and considers how your particular variables work together. We know there is more to your ambition than simply accumulating money. Let us be an advocate for your life’s dreams.

Give us a call, or better yet, let us come see you.

Private Banking | Fiduciary Services | Investment Management Financial Planning | Specialty Asset Management | Insurance 303.864.7220 | www.csbt.com © 2014 Colorado State Bank and Trust, a division of BOKF, NA. Member FDIC. Equal Housing Lender. Private Bank at Colorado State Bank and Trust provides products and services through BOKF, NA and its various affiliates and subsidiaries. Investments and insurance are not insured by the FDIC; are not deposits or other obligations of, and are not guaranteed by, any bank or bank affiliate. All investments are subject to risks, including possible loss of principal.

GETTING TO KNOW OPERA COLOR We recently caught up with our new Young Artists between rehearsals to ask them a few fun questions so that we can get to know them better.

Here’s a little look into their lives on and off the stage.

MEET LEAH BOBBEY Why did you become an opera singer? Opera encourages me to be my most courageous self; it makes me feel alive.

What do you hope to accomplish this season as a YA? I want to improve vocally and dramatically.

Favorite TV show? Parks and Recreation One of the hardest things about being an opera singer? Being away from my family and friends.

You’d never think and opera singer has to______. Spend a lot of time filling out online applications!

One of the most fun things about being an opera singer?

Making art that inspires and moves.

First encounter with Opera? I went to Die Zauberflöte at the Met for my first ever opera!

What’s your favorite hobby? Bikram yoga or hiking.

I also love cooking and board games with good friends!

Favorite Meal? My aunt’s homemade macaroni and cheese.

Favorite Dessert? Anything that combines peanut butter and chocolate!

A non-music related accomplishment you’re most proud of? I did a “Tough Mudder” last October (2013), a physical feat I thought I’d never be able to do!

Best advice from a mentor that has stuck with you?

Surround yourself with life-enhancing people.

What are you most looking forward to as an OC YA? Pamina is a dream role of mine, so I can’t wait for the student matinee of The Magic Flute!

28

•

MEET KATHERINE SANFORD Why do you love singing opera? Opera tells a story and expresses human emotion through the universal language of music. To be a part of that story-telling and to connect with audience members through music is what motivates me to pursue this career.

If you weren’t an opera singer, you’d probably be______. An oboist! I played the oboe until college, and when it came time to audition for music programs, I chose to study voice because I felt more in control and confident in my singing.

Favorite pre-performance dinner? Pre-performance meal: a giant salad. Post-performance meal: Pizza!

Favorite Dessert? Carrot cake.

Favorite composer? J.S. Bach and Benjamin Britten.

Favorite TV show? Parks and Recreation Best advice from a mentor that has stuck with you? “You are enough.”

What’s your favorite hobby? I love being active, and particularly enjoy running, biking and strength training.

OPE RA COLORADO 2014-2015

One of the most fun things about being an opera singer?

Costumes and hair/make-up have always been one of my favorite elements of an opera production. I loved playing pretend and dress-up as a kid, and opera lets me continue that as a grown-up!

What you hope to accomplish this season as a YA? I hope to strengthen my movement and acting skills when performing “pants roles,” and our many educational performances of Hansel and Gretel will be a tremendous help.

First encounter with Opera? I didn’t see my first opera until college! I saw Gianni Schicchi at Washington National Opera, and I thought two things: 1) This is amazing, and 2) I want to be up there on stage.

MEET BRETT SPRAGUE What are you most looking forward to as an OC YA? I am especially excited to participate in the student Matinee. It is an experience unlike any other.

Favorite role you like to sing? My dream role right now is Peter Grimes in the opera of the same name, by Benjamin Britten.

ADO’S 2014-2015 YOUNG ARTISTS Best advice from a mentor that has stuck with you? Be yourself, don’t overthink, and have fun.

Why do you love singing opera? It feeds my soul, as cheesy as it sounds. Connecting with a character helps me learn more about myself, and sharing it with the audience helps me grow.

Most memorable performance to date? Last year’s student matinee of Carmen at the Ellie. I have never felt so on top of the world.

Favorite TV show? Sons of Anarchy What you like about Denver/Colorado so far? It is the first place I have felt AT HOME since moving away from my home 8 years ago. The people are wonderful, it is gorgeous and I love the weather.

One important thing you do every day as an opera singer? Take my mind completely off of music or anything related to work. If I didn’t emotionally and vocally rest, I would go insane!

MEET ANDREW PAULSON What are you most looking forward to as an OC YA? I look forward to the Hansel and Gretel Outreach show because I love the music and elementary audiences are my favorite to work with!

Best advice from a mentor that has stuck with you? Follow your dreams and do what you love, life is too short to do anything else.

If you weren’t an opera singer, you’d probably be ___. A field scientist in marine biology.

Favorite TV show? Game of Thrones is fantastic!

I also really enjoy Scandal, Revenge and Grey’s Anatomy.

What do you enjoy doing most in your spare time? I enjoy playing chess, umpiring high school baseball and hiking.

A non-music related accomplishment you’re most proud of? I am an Eagle Scout from BSA Troop 673 in Great Falls, VA.

One of the hardest things about being an opera singer?

Self-doubt is the hardest thing about being an opera singer. It’s very hard to just trust that what you’re doing is best for you, it’s easy to compare yourself to others and the business is inherently negative because you’re always trying to fix something to make it better.

One of the most fun things about being an opera singer?

The reward of connecting with an audience is the greatest gift anyone could receive. Knowing that you’ve made a difference in someone’s life or that you entertained them for 2-4 hours is incredibly meaningful.

MEET LEO RADO Favorite role or aria you like to sing? I love singing Mozart’s Figaro above everything else at the moment. Although my dream role for the future would be Scarpia in Tosca, the Dutchman, or Hans Sachs.

An embarrassing moment in a performance that didn’t go as planned? Tried to grab a prop knife from a sheath attached to my ankle and caught my pant leg with it, ripping the inseam all the

way past my knee.

Most memorable performance to date? Doing the boy solo in La Bohème at the Lyric Opera of Chicago at age 12.

Favorite TV show? Frasier What are you most looking forward to as an OC YA? Being a part of the main stage productions, and learning as much as I can from my colleagues, directors, coaches and conductors.

If you weren’t an opera singer, you’d probably be_____. A physicist.

What do you enjoy doing most in your spare time? Sightreading piano music.

What’s your favorite hobby? Golf.

A non-music related accomplishment you’re most proud of?

Learned how to kite surf in the Baltic Sea off the coast of southwestern Estonia.

What you hope to accomplish this season as a YA? Stage experience, and a strong foothold from which I can progress in this career.

One important thing you do every day as an opera singer?

Listen to the golden age singers on you tube. Ruffo, Bastianini, Cappuccilli, London, Merrill, Ghiaurov.

FOR THE FULL LENGTH INTERVIEWS AND BIOS OF THE YOUNG ARTISTS, VISIT OPERACOLORADO.ORG/EDUCATION/YOUNG-ARTISTS.

OPE RA COLORADO 2014-2015

•

29

BOARD OFFICERS

Michael Bock Chairman Marcia Robinson President Michael Hughes Chair Emeritus Martha Tracey Treasurer Carol Crossin Whitley Secretary and Vice President Dirk deRoos Vice President DIRECTORS

Ovation! Magazine and In-Theatre programs are produced for Opera Colorado

by The Publishing House.

Angie Flachman-Johnson Publisher Wilbur E. Flachman President & Founder Annette Allen Art Director Production Coordinator For advertising information 303-428-9529 www.pub-house.com www.coloradoartspubs.com

Bruce Allen Kenneth Barrow Suzanne Dost Bucy Ellie Caulkins Lifetime Honorary Chair Dr. Larry Chan Mary Conroy Craig Johnson The Honorable Kenneth M. Laff William Maniatis Tracy McCarthy Muffy French Moore Kevin D. O’Connor Kent Rice Ex-Officio Gerald Saul Merrill Shields Shirley Smith Byron Watson Britney Weil Larry Zimmer HONORARY DIRECTORS

Susan Adams Sheila Bisenius Nellie Mae Duman Jack Finlaw Hugh Grant Michael Hughes Dr. Charles Kafadar Jeremy Kinney Loring W. Knoblauch Lifetime Honorary Director Pamela Merrill Jeremy Shamos Susan Shamos Harry Sterling

STAFF

Greg Carpenter General Director ADMINISTRATION

Darrel Curtice Director of Finance & Administration Julie Nowasell Staff Accountant ARTISTIC

Ari Pelto Artistic Advisor DEVELOPMENT AND MARKETING

Camille Spaccavento Annette Brown Joyce de Roos Molly Epstein Nicholas Geyer Tom Kirkpatrick Suzanne Mulvany Rachel Perez Leah Podzimek Resnicow Schroeder Assoc

Director of External Affairs & Marketing Patron Services Assistant Volunteer Coordinator Group Sales Associate Development and Marketing Assistant Tessitura Consultant Special Events Marketing Manager Individual Giving and Grants Manager Public Relations EDUCATION AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

Cherity Koepke Julie Nowasell Betsy Schwarm Elena Kalahar Leo Kaufman

Director of Education & Community Engagement Education Assistant Pre-Performance Lecturer Intern Intern PRODUCTION

Katie Preissner Production Manager Ann Piano Costume Director YOUNG ARTISTS PROGRAM

Cherity Koepke Allan Armstrong Leah Bobby Katherine Sanford Brett Sprague Andrew Paulson Leo Rado

Director Resident Coach Accompanist Soprano Mezzo-soprano Tenor Baritone Bass-Baritone

DIRECTORY TICKETS

TICKET OFFICE LOCATION

ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICES

ELLIE CAULKINS OPERA HOUSE

OperaColorado.org 303.468.2030 695 S. Colorado Blvd, Suite 20 Denver, CO 80246 303.778.1500 695 S. Colorado Blvd, Suite 20 Denver, CO 80246 1106 14th Street (14th and Curtis Street)

The Ellie Caulkins Opera House is part of the Denver Performing Arts Complex, owned and operated by the City and County of Denver, Division of Arts & Venues LOST AND FOUND DINING AT DPAC

ONLINE RESERVATIONS

720.865.4220 Kevin Taylor’s at the Opera House 303.640.1012 Limelight Supper Club 720.227.9984 Restaurantkevintaylor.com

FI N D US ON:

30

•

OPE RA COLORADO 2014-2015

IrresIstIble

InspIred

IconIc

Apple

•

brooKs brotHers

HYde pArK

•

•

bUrberrY

KIeHl’s sInce 1851

MontblAnc

•

rAlpH lAUren

• •

tIFFAnY & co.

MAcY’s

•

•

elwAY’s

lAcoste

•

•

FAÇonnAble

loUIs VUItton

restorAtIon HArdwAre •

tUMI

neIMAn MArcUs

•

nordstroM

160 AMAZInG store s 3000 eA s t F Irs t AVen Ue • de nVe r, co • sHopc He rrYcre e K.c oM

Metamorphosis, an Hermès story

« Sangles Hermès » necklace in gold and diamonds Denver The Shops at North Creek 105 Fillmore Street (303) 388-0700 Hermes.com