The Irene Dalis Vocal Competition by operasj

PRESENTS

THE IRENE DALIS VOCAL COMPETITION MAY 21, 2022

GENERAL DIRECTOR’S LETTER TO MY DEAR OSJ FAMILY, It is with immense pride and excitement that we are bringing the esteemed Irene Dalis Vocal Competition back to the stage of the California Theatre, replete with the incredible musicianship of our orchestra. Not seen since 2014, this is the ideal moment to revive this incredible tradition of our beloved founder, Irene Dalis. Born and bred in San Jose, Irene went on to wow audiences all over Europe and when she debuted at The Metropolitan Opera in 1957 as Princess Eboli in Verdi’s Don Carlo, the reviews were ecstatic. One critic wrote: “Her expert vocalism and musicianship were immediately apparent in the ‘Veil Song,’ which Dalis sang better than I have ever heard it sung. In the tricky ensemble with Carlo and Rodrigo in the Queen’s gardens, she was just as impressive, and her sweeping, almost torrential handling of ‘O don fatale’ won her a genuine ovation from the capacity audience. Everywhere, Dalis’s acting went hand-in-glove with her singing.” Irene delighted audiences at the Met in more than 270 performances—from Amneris opposite Leontyne Price’s Aïda to Brangäne with Birgit Nilsson’s Isolde. No one knew better how to hold the stage, and the entire audience, in the palm of her hand. Incredible musicianship partnered with undeniable charisma, Irene lit the stage on fire. It is no surprise then that her genius birthed Opera San José. Others would have early-career singers work their way from the chorus to downstage center. Not Irene; at OSJ, the brightest stars of opera’s future take on the major roles they were meant to tackle. We hear their first Mimìs, their first Rigolettos. And because we at OSJ are rich in an audience that listens with their hearts, our artists learn to fly here. It is fitting that with the revival of Irene’s beloved vocal competition we are relaunching our Education Ticket Program. Through the generous support of an anonymous donor, for every ticket purchased, a free ticket has been offered to a local student. Opening the doors of the opera house to our students and young people is critical as we reenter the joy of live performance after the years without it. Our Education Ticket Program is a crucial part of our New Audience Initiative—bringing opera to the people and the people to the opera. As we reemerge from the dark days of the pandemic, gathering together to enjoy the power of opera performance by the future stars of the industry, we at Opera San José are thrilled to be opening this glorious art form to every citizen of our community. Through robust and diverse programming from educational offerings to community partnerships—like our collaboration with Local Color to identify the San Jose artist Angie Chua to create our season artwork—our New Audience Initiative opens the doors of the California Theater to our entire community. From the brilliant performances of the CANTA chorus and The Flamenco Society to working with Mosaic America to bring the beauty and passion of classical Indian dance to The Marriage of Figaro, we cannot wait to share our artform through the brilliant vision that our founder, Irene Dalis, created in 1984. It is with great thanks to our staff, trustees, orchestra, backstage crew, ushers, artists, and generous patrons like yourself for making the revival of the vocal competition possible. This afternoon’s concert is a glorious celebration of the incredibly bright future of opera with our beloved OSJ family, in honor of Irene, through the joy and power of music. Here’s to many more performances together, with new friends and old, united in our love for the greatest music and our enjoyment of each other!

OPERA SAN JOSÉ PRESENTS

THE 2022 IRENE DALIS VOCAL COMPETITION FINALS

Shawna Lucey GENERAL DIRECTOR & CEO

Joseph Marcheso MUSIC DIRECTOR

BOARD OF TRUSTEES Phyllis Bismanovsky Mimi Carlson George L. Crow

HOSTED BY

Eugene Brancoveanu

Jane Decker Julie Edgcomb Charles F. Hanes TREASURER

FEATURING

The Opera San José Orchestra CONDUCTED BY

Joseph Marcheso

Prof. John Heineke Peggy Heiman Jennifer A.R. Hsu SECRETARY N. Eric Jorgensen Michael H. Kalkstein VICE PRESIDENT Lawrence A. Kern Shawna Lucey

Saturday, May 21, 2022 at 3:00 pm California Theatre

Cathy R. Lazarus Jeanne McCann Pravesh Mehra Gillian Moran PRESIDENT Dr. H. Andrea Neves

The Irene Dalis Vocal Competition is made possible by the generous support of Dr. H. Andrea Neves. In memory of Janice Toyoshima, long-time patron and member of the Friends of Opera San José volunteer guild, Opera San José has received an anonymous gift to support its student ticket and education program. For every ticket sold, one ticket will be available at no cost to a local student.

EMERITUS COUNCIL Richard Dorsay Frank Fiscalini Glen Gould Rita Horiguchi Lee Rosen Don Schmidek Gerald Seelig Jan Telesky Melody Walsh Laurie Warner PRESIDENT Dick Whitney

SHAWNA LUCEY GENERAL DIRECTOR & CEO 2 OPERA SAN JOSÉ

OPERA SAN JOSÉ 3

THE 2022–23 SEASON AWAITS! Opera San José joyfully celebrates the thrill of live performance with the announcement of its 39th season. It’s a celebration of the indomitable human spirit and the exuberance of being able to gather together to experience the music, laughter, and even a few tears. operasj.org/2223season

THE MARRIAGE OF FIGARO Music by Mozart Libretto by Da Ponte September 10 – 25, 2022

CINDERELLA

Music & libretto by Alma Deutscher November 12 – 27, 2022

WHO WAS

IRENE DALIS? by Linda Riebel Opera San José’s founder, Irene Dalis, passed away eight years ago at the age of 89. As her biographer, I’d like to give you a sense of who she was: a world-class mezzosoprano, hard-working company founder, mentor to many young singers, and fearless visionary. Irene Dalis’s career began with a contract in Germany, where resident artists were given major roles. Soon she was at New York’s Metropolitan Opera, where for 20 years she sang leading roles (Azucena, Amneris, Eboli, and more) alongside Plácido Domingo, Leontyne Price, Franco Corelli, and Birgit Nilsson. (For opera newbies: those were the superstars of the time). Other engagements took her to Covent Garden, San Francisco, and Bayreuth. Upon retiring from the stage, she was offered a professorship at San Jose State University, where Opera San Jose began as a singing class in 1977 and, under her guidance, gradually grew into a formal production company. Remembering her start in Germany, she decided to recreate that format, founding the first (and still the only) professional opera company in the U.S. that offers renewable year-long contracts to emerging singers, with guaranteed leading roles, housing, health care, and as many lessons as they can absorb.

FALSTAFF

Music by Verdi • Libretto by Boito February 11 – 26, 2023

TOSCA

Music by Puccini Libretto by Illica & Giacosa April 15 – 30, 2023

Irene Dalis assembled a remarkable team who stayed with OSJ for thirty years, building it into the artistic gem we know today. One singer from the early days remembers that Irene attended rehearsals, visited the costume shop, raised money, and did myriad other things, all while handling the business side of the enterprise. Wrote one reporter, “Dalis crackles with energy. She’s like a finely wrought coiled spring. Passion electrifies the air, even when she talks about house receipts, square footage, bills, and grant applications.” OSJ became official in 1984 and performed at the 500seat Montgomery Theatre. For decades, Dalis attended every performance, her way of showing respect and support for the singers she was nurturing. Meanwhile, she had her eye on an old thousand-seat movie house nearby, which had been shuttered for decades. Lobbying hard, she persuaded the City of San Jose and David Packard (and his Packard Humanities Institute) to contribute millions of dollars for the renovation. The glorious California Theatre you are sitting in was the result. The Irene Dalis Vocal Competition continues her dream of discovering and advancing promising opera artists.

SUBSCRIBE TODAY FOR THE BEST SEATS AT THE BEST PRICES! operasj.org • (408) 437-4450

Linda Riebel is the author of Irene Dalis: Diva, Impresaria, Legend, available on Amazon and at Barnes and Noble. OPERA SAN JOSÉ 5

ARTIST BIOGRAPHIES

VEENA AKAMA-MAKIA

ANDRES CASCANTE

ANASTASIA MALLIARAS

SEJIN PARK

Mezzo-Soprano Hometown: Little Rock, Arkansas

Baritone Hometown: San Jose, Costa Rica

Soprano Hometown: Los Angeles, CA

Baritone Hometown: Seoul, South Korea

This Season: Dritte Dame (Die Zauberflöte, Merola Opera Program, Summer 2022); Chicago Opera Theater Young Artist: Tawny Betty (Quamino’s Map, world premiere), Tree Spirit (The Beekeeper), Ib cover (Becoming Santa Claus), Mercédès cover (Carmen); Bertha cover (Fire Shut Up in My Bones, Lyric Opera of Chicago); current member of Professional Diploma in Opera program at Roosevelt University Career Highlights: Liszt’s Missa Solemnis (Eastman Symphony), Gloria (Freedom Ride, MassOpera); training: bachelor’s degree (University of Central Arkansas), master’s degree (Eastman School of Music) www.veenaakamamakia.com

BEN BRADY Bass-Baritone Hometown: Denver, CO At OSJ: Prince Yamadori, Madama Butterfly (2019); Colline (Cover), La bohème (2017) This Season: Sprecher, Die Zauberflöte (Eugene Opera); Dr. Dulcamara, L’elisir d’amore (Cal Baptist University); Colline, La bohème (Opera Modesto) Career Highlights: James Toland Vocal Arts Competition Tier II (First Place, 2018); Met Council Auditions (Semifinalist, 2020); Santa Fe Opera Apprenticeship Program (2022) www.benbradyopera.com

SUSANNE BURGESS Soprano Hometown: Atlanta, GA

This Season: : Current member of Juilliard’s Artist Diploma in Opera Studies program Career Highlights: Gianni Schicchi (LA Vocal Arts), Alvaro (Florencia en el Amazonas, Yale Opera), Beethoven’s Ninth (broadcast with National Symphony of Costa Rica), National Semifinalist (Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions); training: master’s from the Yale School of Music. www.andrescascantebaritone.weebly.com

SHANLEY HORVITZ Mezzo-Soprano Hometown: Voorhees, NJ This Season: Donna Elvira (Don Giovanni), title role (Carmen), Anacoana (Franchetti’s Cristoforo Colombo), Ježibaba (Rusalka) Career Highlights: 1st Place, Orpheus International Vocal Competition; 2nd Place, Pasadena Vocal Competition; 1st Place, Houston Gilbert & Sullivan Society Career Grant; 1st Place Vienna Summer Music Festival Competition; 1st Place Mario Lanza Institute Competition; Encouragement Award, Metropolitan Opera National Council Laffont Pittsburgh District

This Season: Anastasia recently completed her first mini tour with her chamber music group, Duo Apollon, where she performed on various classical concert series in California. During the 21/22 season, she was seen as the Sandman in Pacific Opera Project’s production of Hansel and Gretel and soprano soloist with the Huntington Beach Symphony Orchestra where she performed selections from Mozart operas. Career Highlights: Nannetta, Falstaff (West Bay Opera); performing with Duo Apollon; performing with the American Contemporary Ballet.

This Season: Professional Studies Program (Mannes School of Music) Career Highlights: Figaro (Il barbiere di Siviglia, Opera Steamboat Festival 2021), Marcello (La bohème, Mannes School of Music and Yonsei University), Belcore (L’Elisir d’amore, Arte Opera Company), First Prize (Medici International Music Competition), Second Prize and Audience Favorite (Galina Vishnevskaya International Opera Singers Competition), Apprentice Artist (Santa Fe Opera, summer 2022); training: bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Yonsei University.

www.anastasiamalliaras.com

KYLE VAN SCHOONHOVEN Dramatic Tenor Hometown: Lockport, NY

SAMSON McCRADY

This Season: Don José (Carmen, Hawaii Opera Theatre), Eurydice (Met), Laca (Jenůfa, Opera de Rouen)

Baritone Hometown: Tucson, AZ This Season: Giorgio Germont, La traviata (South Bend Lyric Opera) Career Highlights: Papageno, Die Zauberflöte (Cafritz YAP, Washington National Opera, 2019); Pa Zegner, Proving Up (Aspen Music Festival, 2019)

Career Highlights: Bacchus (Ariadne auf Naxos, Cincinnati Opera), Pique Dame (Lyric Opera of Chicago), Metropolitan Opera National Council winner www.Kylevs.com

www.samsonmccrady.com

www.shanleyhorvitz.com

NINA MUTALIFU EMILY MICHIKO JENSEN Soprano Hometown: San Diego, CA This Season: First Lady & Pamina cover, Die Zauberflöte (Pensacola Opera): Berta cover, Il Barbiere di Siviglia (Pensacola Opera)

This Season: Gilda, Rigoletto (Boheme Opera NJ); Helena, A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Des Moines Metro Opera); Mabel, Pirates of Penzance and Cleopatra (cover), Giulio Cesare (Atlanta Opera)

Career Highlights: Jessie, Mahagonny: Ein SongSpiel (Florentine Opera): Suor Angelica, Suor Angelica (IU Opera Theater); Donna Anna, Don Giovanni (Boston Opera Collaborative)

Career Highlights: Lucy Brown, The Threepenny Opera (Atlanta Opera); Violetta, La traviata (Teatro Lirico d’Europa); Musetta, La bohème (New York City Opera)

www.EmilyMichikoJensen.com

Upcoming: Tosca cover, Tosca; Angel More and Susan B. Anthony cover, Mother of Us All (Chautauqua Opera)

Soprano Hometown: Ürümqi, China This Season: Donna Anna (cover), Don Giovanni (Aspen Opera Theater) Career Highlights: Alice Ford (Falstaff), Martina Arroyo Prelude to Performance 2018; Soloist, (Sound of Eurasia), Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts 2019; Soloist Talents of the World. Carnegie Hall 2019; Upcoming: Donna Anna cover, Don Giovanni (Aspen Opera Theater); New York Recital Tour 2022; Teatro Grattacielo 2023 www.ninamutalifu.com

www.susanneburgess.com 6 OPERA SAN JOSÉ

OPERA SAN JOSÉ 7

JUDGE BIOGRAPHIES J’NAI BRIDGES SEMIFINALS JUDGE Two-time Grammy award-winning American mezzo-soprano J’Nai Bridges, known for her “plush-voiced mezzo-soprano” (The New York Times), and “calmly commanding stage presence” (The New Yorker) has been heralded as “a rising star” (Los Angeles Times), gracing the world’s top opera and concert stages. Bridges is a leading figure in classical music’s shift toward conversations of inclusion and racial justice. The 2021/22 season alone has seen Bridges’ ascent into the sphere of new music taking on several world-premieres, but continuing to explore the traditional roles. She is one of Kennedy Center’s NEXT 50 leaders of cultural diversity. Bridges’s career highlights include receiving the 2016 Richard Tucker Career Grant and 2018 Sphinx Medal of Excellence, and she is a 2012 Marian Anderson Award winner. She made her Metropolitan Opera debut in the Grammy® winning production of Akhnaten by Phillip Glass. Bridges has performed all over Europe and North America. In the 2022/23 season, Bridges performs with the Los Angeles Philharmonic and San Francisco Symphony; returns to Lyric Opera of Chicago and debuts at Arena di Verona as Carmen; and she will make her greatly anticipated Seattle Opera debut in a concert performance of Samson et Dalilah. ®

KHORI DASTOOR SEMIFINALS JUDGE Khori Dastoor has been General Director and Chief Executive Officer of Houston Grand Opera since August, 2021. She holds responsibility for HGO’s strategic vision, fiscal condition, artistic merit, labor relations, and reputation both nationally and internationally. She joined the HGO team from Opera San José, where she served as General Director. During her tenure, OSJ launched the nation’s first COVID relief fund for artists and musicians, established a digital media studio dedicated to producing opera, distributed content to over 30 partner companies, and increased the company’s patron base to include a worldwide audience for the first time in the company’s 37-year history. She serves on the Board of Directors for Opera America where she is the Co-Chair of the Learning and Leadership Council and is a founding member and mentor for the Mentorship Program for Opera Leaders of Color. Previously, Khori served as Associate Director of The Packard Humanities Institute. Khori holds a bachelor’s degree in vocal performance from the New England Conservatory of Music and a master’s degree in opera studies from UCLA. She and her husband are the proud parents of two young daughters.

JOSEPH MARCHESO SEMIFINALS JUDGE, FINALS CONDUCTOR Joseph Marcheso is the Music Director and Principal Conductor of Opera San José. This season he conducted Dido and Aeneas and Carmen for the company’s return to live performances and returns next season for Falstaff and Tosca. Maestro Marcheso has conducted over 25 productions for OSJ, including The

8 OPERA SAN JOSÉ

Flying Dutchman, the West Coast premiere of Silent Night, and the world premiere of Where Angels Fear to Tread. As staff conductor for the San Francisco Opera, he served on many productions, including Les Troyens, Jenůfa, Der Ring, Die Meistersinger, Partenope, the San Francisco premiere of Nixon in China, and the world premieres of The Gospel of Mary Magdalene, Dolores Claiborne, The Dream of the Red Chamber, and Girls of the Golden West.

MATTHEW OZAWA SEMIFINALS JUDGE Matthew Ozawa is a stage director, executive leader, artistic director, and educator who has firmly cemented himself as one of the preeminent creative forces in the opera world today. Most recently, Ozawa was appointed as the Chief Artistic Administration Officer at Lyric Opera of Chicago, a new role that will oversee all of Lyric’s artistic planning, processes, and activities. As a stage director, Ozawa is known as a master storyteller, whose “strikingly spare productions” (New York Times) are “a vivid demonstration of what opera is all about” (Opera News). His productions consistently “deliver brilliance on all fronts” (Chicago Tribune) and are filled with “breathtaking imagery” (Broadway World). Passionate about collaborative interdisciplinary performance, new work, and reigniting classics, Ozawa’s “stylish” and “intelligent” productions have been seen at Carnegie Hall, The Kennedy Center, Lyric Opera of Chicago, Houston Grand Opera, Santa Fe Opera, Opera Theatre of St. Louis, and San Francisco Opera, among many others.

JOHN CHURCHWELL FINALS JUDGE John Churchwell is Head of Music Staff for San Francisco Opera. Prior to that appointment in 2011, he served as an assistant conductor for both the Metropolitan Opera and San Francisco Opera for 14 years. Mr. Churchwell has worked on over 125 productions with James Levine, Nicola Luisotti, Donald Runnicles, Nello Santi, and Sir Charles Mackerras among others. A champion of American music, he most recently participated in the world premiere of John Adams’s Girls of the Golden West. Previous world premieres include John Harbison’s The Great Gatsby, Jake Heggie’s Dead Man Walking, Philip Glass’s Appomattox, and Tobias Picker’s Dolores Claiborne among others. Mr. Churchwell has partnered in recital with vocalists including Michael Fabiano, Lawrence Brownlee, Joyce DiDonato, Isabel Leonard, Lisette Oropesa, Ellie Dehn, and Frederica von Stade, as well as numerous chamber music concerts with members of the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra. A native of Knoxville, Tennessee, Mr. Churchwell holds degrees from the New England Conservatory, Tufts University, and the University of Minnesota. He is a graduate of the Metropolitan Opera’s Lindemann Young Artist Development Program and San Francisco Opera’s Merola Program, and currently serves on the faculty of the Music Academy of the West.

JUDGE & HOST BIOGRAPHIES SOLOMAN HOWARD FINALS JUDGE Winner of Washington Performing Arts’ 2021 Ambassador of the Arts Award and the Kennedy Center’s 2019 Marian Anderson Vocal Award, bass Soloman Howard is a graduate of Washington National Opera’s Domingo-Cafritz Young Artist Program and garners high praise for his vivid performances on the great opera and concert stages of the world. Mr. Howard joins San Francisco Opera in the 2021/22 season for Tosca, Fidelio, and Don Giovanni. He also bows as Colline in La bohème at Teatro Real in a production conducted by Nicola Luisotti and with the Jacksonville Symphony in fullystaged performances led by Music Director Courtney Lewis. In concert, he performs Beethoven’s Ninth with Fabio Luisi and the Dallas Symphony as well as with Jakub Hrůša leading The Philharmonia, and an all-Verdi Gala Concert at San Francisco Opera with Eun Sun Kim. A frequent guest of The Metropolitan Opera, Mr. Howard has also performed at Lyric Opera of Chicago, Washington National Opera, Los Angeles Opera, Santa Fe Opera, and Opéra national de Bordeaux. Concert appearances include performances with the Los Angeles Philharmonic, National Symphony Orchestra, Vienna Chamber Orchestra, Handel and Haydn Society, and the English Concert, under such conductors as Gustavo Dudamel, Christoph Eschenbach, Harry Christophers, Christian Arming, and Harry Bicket. Soloman Howard is a proud graduate of the Manhattan School of Music and Morgan State University.

SHAWNA LUCEY FINALS JUDGE Shawna Lucey is General Director and CEO of Opera San José, and an opera and theater director. Her work has been seen at Santa Fe Opera, San Francisco Opera, The Metropolitan Opera, Bread & Puppet Theater, Lyric Opera of Kansas City, Dallas Opera, Skylight Music Theater, The Bolshoi Theater, and Schauspiel Hannover. Recent directorial engagements include a new legacy production of Tosca for San Francisco Opera, Pearl Fishers for Santa Fe Opera, and Falstaff for Dallas Opera. Lucey received her MFA in directing from the Schukin Institute of the Vakhtangov Theater in Moscow, the only American to have done so. She is currently enrolled at Columbia pursuing a Master of Science in Nonprofit Management. Lucey is known for her feminist stagings of classic and modern pieces, bringing passionate new resonance to the warhorses of opera and grappling with contemporary works through a feminist paradigm.

FREDERICA VON STADE FINALS JUDGE Since her Metropolitan Opera debut in 1970, beloved American mezzo-soprano Frederica von Stade has sung nearly all of her great roles with that company. Ms. von Stade’s artistry has inspired the revival of neglected works such as Massenet’s Cherubin, Rameau’s Dardanus, and Monteverdi’s Il ritorno d’Ulisse in patria. Her ability as a singing actress has allowed her to perform operetta and musical theater, including the

title role in The Merry Widow and Desirée Armfeldt in A Little Night Music. She created the role of Tina in Dallas Opera’s world premiere production of Dominick Argento’s The Aspern Papers (a work written for her) as well as Madame de Merteuil in Conrad Susa’s The Dangerous Liaisons and Mrs. Patrick De Rocher in Jake Heggie’s Dead Man Walking, both for San Francisco Opera. She has made more than 70 recordings with every major label, garnering her six Grammy nominations and two Grand Prix du Disc awards. She enjoyed the distinction of simultaneously holding the first and second places on national sales charts for Angel/EMI’s Show Boat and Telarc’s The Sound of Music. She can be seen in countless Live from The Met performances and PBS broadcasts. Frederica von Stade holds honorary doctorates from Yale University, Boston University, San Francisco Conservatory of Music (which holds a Frederica von Stade Distinguished Chair in Voice), Georgetown University School of Medicine, and her alma mater, the Mannes School of Music. In 1998 Ms. von Stade was awarded France’s highest honor, an officer of L’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres.

MAYA KHERANI SEMIFINALS HOST Indian-American soprano Maya Kherani has been lauded for her vibrant voice and exciting characterizations in repertoire from the Baroque to the modern. This season includes a debut at the Festival d’Aix-en-Provence and Château de Versailles as Drusilla/Fortuna in L’incoronazione di Poppea, Messiah (Boston Baroque), Reena Esmail’s Meri Sakhi Ki Avaaz (Berkeley Symphony), Bach Cantatas (Portland Baroque Orchestra), Belinda (Dido and Aeneas, Opera San José), and Piper in Pay the Piper (Glyndebourne, world premiere). Upcoming engagements include debuts with the American Bach Soloists, Philharmonia Baroque, Pacific MusicWorks, Vancouver Symphony, Rhode Island Philharmonic, Portland Opera, Early Music Vancouver, and return engagements with OSJ and Portland Baroque.

EUGENE BRANCOVEANU FINALS HOST An alumnus of San Francisco Opera’s Merola Program and former Adler Fellow, baritone Eugene Brancoveanu was a Resident Artist at Opera San José from 2019–2022. Past roles with OSJ include Leporello, Escamillo, Conte di Luna, Eisenstein, Stanley Kowalski (A Streetcar Named Desire), Starbuck (Moby-Dick), Father (Hansel and Gretel). He has also appeared in OSJ’s digital productions of Sing For Your Supper!, Love and Secrets, The Parting Glass, and Dichterliebe. Career highlights include the title role of Shostakovich’s Orango with the L.A. Philharmonic under Esa-Pekka Salonen and Peter Sellars (available on Deutsche Grammophon), and Marcello in Baz Luhrmann’s production of La Bohème on Broadway and in Los Angeles, for which he received both an honorary Tony Award and the 2004 LA Stage Alliance’s Ovation Award. Mr. Brancoveanu graduated both the Academy of Music in Transylvania, Romania and the Mozarteum in Salzburg, Austria.

OPERA SAN JOSÉ 9

OPERA SAN JOSÉ ORCHESTRA VIOLIN 1

PICCOLO

Valerie Tisdel, Concertmaster Sue-mi Shin, Assistant Concertmaster Michael Grossman Virginia Smedberg Josepha Fath Rita Lee George Hayes Chag-Hee Lee

MyungJu Yeo

VIOLIN 2 Claudia Bloom, Principal Elizabeth Corner, Assistant Principal Gulnar Spurlock Marie Flexer-Parker Judith Kmetko Stella Bonilla Sarah Biagini Sarah Elert

VIOLA Chad Kaltinger, Principal Janet Doughty, Assistant Principal Melinda Rayne Alexandra Leem

OBOE Patricia Emerson Mitchell, Principal Pamela Hakl Economos

PRODUCTION STAFF TECHNICAL DIRECTOR John Draginoff

FOLLOW SPOT EMERITUS Bob Moreno*

ASSISTANT TECHNICAL DIRECTOR, LIGHTING DESIGNER Matthew Vandercook

SCENIC SHOP ADMIN VOLUNTEER Barbara Brosh

PROPERTIES MASTER Lori Scheper-Kesel

HAIR AND MAKEUP CREW Denise Gutierrez‡ Sophia Smith‡

SCENE SHOP SUPERVISOR, PROPERTIES ARTISAN, SCENIC ARTIST Christopher Kesel

ORCHESTRA LIBRARY ASSISTANTS Sara Bruce Kathy Luich

HOUSE ELECTRICIAN William Schroeter*

SUPERTITLES CREATOR Chloe Lin

Bruce Foster

DECK STEWARD Lesley Willgohs*

BASSOON

SUPERTITLES OPERATOR Chloe Koontz

HEAD AUDIO Tom Johnson*

ENGLISH HORN Pamela Hakl Economos

CLARINET Mark Brandenburg, Principal Bruce Foster

BASS CLARINET

Deborah Kramer, Principal Carolyn Lockhart

FRENCH HORN

HEAD VIDEO Ryan Price*

William Klingelhoffer, Principal Jonathan Mayhew Anderson Beth Zare Caitlyn Smith Franklin

CELLO Isaac Pastor-Chermak, Principal Carol Rice, Assistant Principal Robin Snyder Tyler DeVigal

BASS Bill Everett, Principal Bruce Moyer, Assistant Principal

FLUTE James Blanchard, Principal Elissa Brown MyungJu Yeo

MUSIC DIRECTOR JOSEPH MARCHESO

ARTISTIC/MUSIC MANAGING DIRECTOR OF ARTISTIC OPERATIONS Monica Thakkar

TRUMPET

TROMBONE Mary Tyler, Principal Nicole Hillis

BASS TROMBONE Jason Borris

TIMPANI Artie Storch

PERCUSSION Jim Kassis

HARP

HEAD OF MUSIC STAFF Veronika Agranov-Dafoe ARTISTIC PROJECTS ADMINISTRATOR Andrew C. Elsesser

DIRECTOR OF ADVANCEMENT Tom Mulder

PRODUCTION ASSISTANT Grace Owens

FUNDRAISING OPERATIONS MANAGER Paige Sweetin

ORCHESTRA PERSONNEL MANAGER Evan Kahn

PATRON SERVICES PATRON EXPERIENCE MANAGER Kristina Miller

ARTISTIC INTERN Chloe Lin

PATRON SERVICES REPRESENTATIVE Johnny Villar

FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATION

PATRON SERVICES SPECIALIST Jasmine Sandoval

CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER James D. Williams

PRODUCTION/ TECHNICAL

ACCOUNTANT Mike Monje

TECHNICAL DIRECTOR John Draginoff

ADMINISTRATION & PATRON SERVICES MANAGER Catherine Wagner

COSTUME DIRECTOR Alyssa Oania

MARKETING INTERIM DIRECTOR OF MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS Pamela Sevilla

ABOUT OPERA SAN JOSÉ

INSTITUTIONAL ADVANCEMENT MANAGING DIRECTOR OF INSTITUTIONAL STRATEGY Claire Padien-Havens

REHEARSAL PIANISTS Veronika Agranov-Dafoe Victoria Lington

Ruthanne Adams Martinez

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GENERAL DIRECTOR & CEO SHAWNA LUCEY

ORCHESTRA LIBRARIAN Jay Stebley

Jim Dooley, Principal Daniel Santos John King

Opera San José (OSJ) is an opera company located in the heart of Silicon Valley. Maintaining a resident company of artists, OSJ presents four mainstage productions annually in San Jose’s historic California Theatre, while regularly broadcasting fully-produced productions from its state-of-the-art Heiman Digital Media Studio. Now in its 38th season, OSJ specializes in role debuts, serving as an artistic incubator for established and emerging artists alike, producing world-class operatic performances for diverse audiences throughout the Bay Area and around the globe.

*Denotes member of IATSE Local 134 ‡ Denotes member of IATSE Local 706

OPERA SAN JOSÉ ADMINISTRATION

ASSISTANT TECHNICAL DIRECTOR Matthew Vandercook PROPERTIES MASTER Lori Scheper-Kesel SCENE SHOP SUPERVISOR Christopher Kesel

PUBLICITY AND MARKETING PROVIDED BY Carla Befera & Co.

Irene Dalis as Ortrud in Lohengrin. OPERA SAN JOSÉ 11

ANNUAL SUPPORT

Opera San José extends our deepest appreciation for the generosity of the individuals, corporations, foundations, and organizations whose annual support and partnership have brought this art form to life for Bay Area audiences for thirty-eight seasons. Please e-mail development@operasj.org to make a tax-deductible donation, or to learn more about the unique benefits our donors receive. The following listings reflect donations recorded as of May 4, 2022. Entries with an asterisk (*) note a deceased donor.

Jack & Judy Schneider Gayle Spencer Robert Strain Mary Wang Jean-Marie White & Bryan Rodriguez Drs. Robert & Antonette Zeiss Anonymous

FOUNDATIONS, PUBLIC SECTOR, & OTHER ORGANIZATIONS

SHOWCASE CIRCLE $1,000–$2,499

MATCHING GIFTS

The Bouye 1977 Trust Carol Franc Buck Foundation The City of San Jose The Ann and Gordon Getty Foundation The William and Flora Hewlett Foundation The Kieve Foundation The David & Lucile Packard Foundation

Adobe Systems Incorporated Cisco Systems Foundation eBay Electronic Arts Google Intel Corporation Nvidia Oracle Palo Alto Networks Paypal Synopsys Thermo Fisher T-Mobile ViacomCBS VISA VMware Foundation

$50,000+

OTHER ORGANIZATIONS

$500,000+ The Packard Humanities Institute Shuttered Venue Operators

$100,000+

National Endowment for the Arts Wadhwani Charitable Foundation

$10,000+ California Arts Council Schlegel Living Trust Uta May 7, 1990 Lorraine and Gerard Seelig Foundation

$5,000+

IATSE B-32 Friends of Levitt Pavilion San Jose Nova Vista Symphony Association Phantom Group Rancho San Antonio Forum San Jose Museum of Art Association United Way of the Bay Area

The Callisto2 Fund Five Arts Foundation San Jose Opera Guild

INDIVIDUAL DONORS

$1,000+

PRODUCERS CIRCLE $50,000+

Children’s Discovery Museum C.K. Family Foundation The Filippi Foundation (Frank & Olivia Filippi) The Greenside Foundation The Merrimac Fund Sternberg Foundation The Simon Strauss Foundation Eva Xu-Roy Wang Family Charitable Fund

CORPORATIONS $50,000+ The Applied Materials Foundation

$1,000+ Heritage Bank of Commerce IBM Corporation

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Elizabeth F. Adler Anna M. Bagniewska* & Denis St. Jean Mimi & Eric Carlson George L. Crow Mary & Clinton Gilliland Peggy Heiman Jim* & Pat Jackson Michael Kalkstein & Susan English Lawrence A. Kern Dr. H. Andrea Neves Jan & Don Schmidek Anonymous (2)

CONDUCTORS CIRCLE $20,000–$49,999 Tim & Tricia* Anderson Nola & Harvey Armstrong Elfi Berkowitz Charles F. Hanes

Prof. John M. Heineke & Prof. Catherine R. Montfort Michael McGinley

ARTIST CIRCLE $10,000–$19,999 Josef & Phyllis Bismanovsky Ann Brown Doris & Alan Burgess Jane H. Decker Julie Edgcomb James Feit Glen Gould & Bunny Laden Katerina Hollblad-Fadiman & Jeffrey Fadiman Marjorie Johnson Eric Jorgensen Wanda Kownacki Cathy & Dick Lampman Cathy & Steve Lazarus Bernice Lindstrom Jeanne L. McCann Pravesh & Neeru Mehra D.G. Mitchell Ann Marie Mix Heidi Munzinger & John Shott Richard* & Hannelore Romney Dave Thompson Janice Toyoshima* Dr. Brian Ward* Anonymous (4)

BACKSTAGE CIRCLE $5,000–$9,999 Richard & Clarice Anderson Jim Beatty Mario & Rose Belotti Pamela & Craig Carper Doris Davis Al & Kathy DiFrancesco John Dohner & Katherine Bazak Richard H. Dorsay Jennifer & Matias Duarte John & Cecelia Eurich BenJoaquin Gouverneur & Khori Dastoor Mr. & Mrs. William H. Harmon, Jr. Pat Janes William R. Lambert Joseph Marcheso Dr. Jakob Nielsen & Hannah Kain Jim & Alice Orth Bob & Terri Ryan

Joy Sakai Joyce & Campbell Scott Richard & JoAnna Strawbridge Jan Telesky Mr. & Mrs. G. Terstiege Bradford Wade & Linda Riebel Melody Walsh Michael & Laurie Warner Dr. Herbert Weil & Dr. Anabel Anderson Imbert Mariquita West Dr. & Mrs. C. Whitby-Strevens Richard & Phyllis Whitney Dennis & Marianne Wilcox Stephen & Connie Zilles

DIRECTORS CIRCLE $2,500–$4,999 Richard J. Andrews Dr. Charlene Archibeque Dr. Janet Averett Dr. Alfonso Banuelos & Suzanne Wittrig David Burke & Victoria Burton Burke Mary Esther Candee Carolle J. Carter & Jess Kitchens John & Agnes Caulfield Paul & Marijane Chestnut Isabel Chiu, CPA Elena & Ron Danielson Mary Patricia Daoud James & Susan Dyer Maureen Ellenberg Alice & Bob Fenton John Gerhardt & Janet Newman Drs. Lucia & Jack Gilbert Mel & Janice Goertz Lucy Grisetti Rita Elizabeth Horiguchi Mary Idso George Hume Warren & Judy Kaplan Bonnie Kellogg & Tim Cannard Anita Köhler Océane Li & Dr. Sofien Bouaziz Phillip Livengood Philip & Margaret Ma Joan Mansour Kevin McGiboney & Nancy Lutzow Barbara Molony & Thomas Turley Gabriele Ondine Bob & Bonnie Peterson Randy Presuhn & Timothy Nguyen

Jeanne & Michael Althouse Shirley E. Bailey Emily & Stephen Berman Gene Bernardini Ted Biagini Brenda Birrell Leon Bonner & Redge Meixner Judith Borlase James & Margaret Brady Dr. Anne-Catherine & Dr. Richard Bramley Barbara Brosh Scott Bruck & Raul Gorospe Michael & Mary Calegari Elaine Cardinale Linda Cato Park & Joan Chamberlain Gloria Chiang William M. Conlon & Judith E. Schwartz Rose Crimi Antonia Cross Donald & Betty* D’Angelo Jimmie Dawson Dr. George Deabill Richard & Maureen DeBolt Marilyn & Frank Dorsa Arden Down

Mary Jane Edwards Rod Ferguson & Kathleen Egan M. M. Feldman & Rick Morris Frank Fiscalini Kevin & Celeste Ford David & Janice Gilman Sigi & Klaus Glimski Orville Goering Joseph & Honmai Goodman Helen & Dr. Glenn Hakanson Kathryn Hall Cheryl Holt Gloria Chun Hoo David G. Hough Randall & Carle Hylkema Ilene & Kenneth Imboden Homi Irani & Anna Yonemura Linda Izquierdo Pamela & Edward Jajko Jeraldine Johnson Dennis & Sheryl Johnson Derk & Mary Johnson Ray & Laurel Kaleda Kristine Kelly & Arthur Gleckler Mary M. & Harry Kelly Beverly & Craig Kemp Stephen Kociol Thomas Lane Rob & Lucinda Lenicheck Mark & Susan Levine Océane Li & Dr. Sofien Bouaziz Russell Lindgren Sylvia & Paul Lorton, Jr. Scott Lurndal Jonathan Lynam Jeanne Lyons Victor Ma

DEDICATED GIFTS

IN-KIND DONORS

IIn memory of Brian Ward Alina Lee

10th Street Distillery Barbara Brosh Nancy Daniher Peggy Heiman J. Lohr Vineyards & Wines Joseph George Wine Shop David Givens Half Moon Bay Winery N. Eric Jorgensen Jeanne L. McCann The Packard Humanities Institute Elizabeth M. Poindexter Quintessa Estate Christopher James Ray Joyce & Campbell Scott Telesky Financial Services Chip & Bonnie Williams Two Anonymous Donors

In memory of Joanne Smartt John Williams In memory of Robert Lawson Margaret Lawson With gratitude for West Side Story Rita Elizabeth Horiguchi

Robert Mackenzie & John Thompson Tom MacRostie Maj. Bernard Magelky Robert McIntosh A. Kirk McKenzie Jay & Brigitte McKnight Donna Medeiros & Moe Gharahgouzloo Chris & Katie Metzger Barry & Rosemarie Mirkin Duncan Missimer Kathleen Montoya Janet Muscio & William McCraw Tony Nespole, MD Cynthia & Ken Newton John R. & Elsa Nimmo William Nowicki Ellen, Gerald Oicles Arlene N. Okerlund Ahmad & Ruth Orandi Kent Owen Pamela & David W. Packard Janice Paull Bill Perry Nedra Petty Jackie Pighini Joe Pon & George Duran Nancy Pyeatt Alice Ramsauer Rebecca Ranninger Owen & Marc Owen Stephen & Denise Rawlinson Arvo & Astrid Rehemets Mr. & Mrs. Joseph J. Rizzuto William L. Robertson & Ieva K. Zvargulis Lee & Shirley Rosen Lucinda Sanchagrin & Dennis McLean

Fred Saunders & Lynn Evans Robert Savoie Marilyn Sefchovich Robert & Linda Selinske Colette A. Siegel Darby Siempelkamp & Michael Kresser J.H. Silveira M.D. Pieter & Jacqui Smith Todd & Sandy Smith Rory & Linda Snyder T. Spencer Mr. & Mrs. Dan Staringer Kathy Stark & Christopher Aoki Jim Stauffer Laura Sternberg Mary C. Stradner H. James Tellefson David & Mary Alice Thornton Melita Wade Thorpe Dr. May Loo & Dr. William Thurston Jim Todd Nancy Valencia John Verbestel & Kyle Matthews Karlette Warner & Ward Hoffman Alice Weigel Lance & Mary Werthman Neil Wilhelm & Laura Hill Chip & Bonnie Williams Nate & Carolyn Wilson William & Donna Wohltmann Fern Wollrich-Jaffe Ellen C. Wynn Susan Yost Cecily & Fernando Zazueta Junjie Zhu Anonymous (9)

SPECIAL THANKS FRIENDS OF OPERA SAN JOSÉ

OPERA

OPERA SAN JOSÉ 13

LEGACY SUPPORT

FRIENDS OF OPERA SAN JOSÉ THE OFFICIAL VOLUNTEER AUXILIARY OF OPERA SAN JOSÉ

CENTURY CLUB The Opera San José Century Club celebrates our loyal donors who have surpassed $100,000 in cumulative giving to the company. We applaud your remarkable generosity and thank you for your continued investment in preserving the culture of our community and the continued health of Opera San José. We are deeply grateful to you. Bravissimo! Elizabeth F. Adler • Tim & Tricia* Anderson • Jim Beatty • Jean Brandt • Catherine Bullock • Mimi & Eric Carlson • George L. Crow Mary & Clinton Gilliland • Peggy Heiman • Prof. John M. Heineke & Prof. Catherine R. Montfort • Doreen James • Marjorie Johnson Mary Louise Johnson • Michael Kalkstein & Susan English • Jeanne L. McCann • Ann Marie Mix • Dr. H. Andrea Neves • Pamela & David W. Packard Richard* & Hannelore Romney • Martha Sanford & Gary Hong • Jan & Don Schmidek • Roger & Isobel Sturgeon • Dave Thompson Michael & Laurie Warner • Richard & Phyllis Whitney • Anonymous (4)

IRENE DALIS LEGACY SOCIETY Members of the Irene Dalis Legacy Society are individuals who help ensure the future of Opera San José by remembering the company in their wills, retirement plans, trusts, or other estate plans. You can learn how these different vehicles of giving can benefit you, your loved ones, and the opera by contacting us at development@operasj.org for more information regarding charitable estate gifts. Cheryl Adams • Tim Anderson • Barbara Barrett • A. Bayman & M. Arlock • Ken Borelli • Mimi & Eric Carlson • Diane Claypool • Rose Crimi • George L. Crow Doris Davis • Wendy Dewell • Richard H. Dorsay • James & Susan Dyer • M. M. Feldman & Rick Morris • Mr. & Mrs. Paul J. Keller Peggy Heiman • Jeanne L. McCann • Kevin McGiboney & Nancy Lutzow • D.G. Mitchell • Heidi Munzinger & John Shott • Dr. H. Andrea Neves Nancy Nielsen • Elizabeth M. Poindexter • Lee & Shirley Rosen • Martha Sanford & Gary Hong • Jan & Don Schmidek • Joyce & Campbell Scott Victoria Slichter • Dr. Larry Stern • Roger & Isobel Sturgeon • Marilyn Taghon • Lawrence Tartaglino • Jan Telesky • Melita Wade Thorpe • Dickson Titus Albert J. Vizinho • Bradford Wade & Linda Riebel • Michael & Laurie Warner • Dr. & Mrs. C. Whitby-Strevens • Richard & Phyllis Whitney • Anonymous

OPERA SAN JOSÉ ENDOWMENT FUND Gifts to the endowment ensure the continuation of Opera San José’s mandate to support the development of operatic talent for generations to come. Please email development@operasj.org to learn more about how to give an endowment fund gift of cash, stock, or through planned giving vehicles.

FoOSJ offers time and talents, helping at lecture and fundraising events, holding outreach campaigns, supporting OSJ staff, and welcoming people into the Opera San José family. FoOSJ Board Members Bonnie Williams, President Marilyn Sefchovich, Vice President Barbara Brosh, Secretary Sheryl A. Kelly, Treasurer Jeanne Lyons Meera Prahlad Linda Riebel Suzanne Sarro Joyce Scott Jim Stauffer Brad Wade Julie Amato & Lee Boyce Didier Benoit Beverly & Hal Berry Phyllis Bismanovsky Judith Borlase Sara Bruce Mary Buxton Pamela Carper Judy Coughlin Elena Danielson

Nancy Daniher Pat Daoud Brenda Davis Jane Decker Randy Earle Marilyn Fordham Ebe Frasse Mike Gutman & Trudy Levy Dana F. Haberland Christopher Hall & Sandra Sarro Peggy Heiman Rita Elizabeth Horiguchi Coleen Kohtz Barbara Koplos William Lambert Cathy Lazarus Lucy Logan Kathleen Luich Denis & Mary Fran Lynch Kathleen McCabe-Martin Jeanne McCann Bernadette McCann Joanna McGrady Paul Michelow

Tom Miller & Bobbie Wolner Jane Moorman Brigid Moreton Arlene Okerlund Gabriele Ondine Phil Park Joy Sakai Delia Schizzano & Richard Zamar Campbell Scott Shirley Shoup-Howard Alissa, Bennett & Anneliese Soria Denis St. Jean John, Linda, & Savannah Swan Chie & Emily Tieu Nancy Valencia Jocelyn Vincent Laurie & Mike Warner Dennis & Marianne Wilcox Chip Williams Alinor Willis Fern Jaffe Wollrich

If you’d like to join other opera lovers, meet interesting new people, attend special events, and support Opera San José, please contact us at friends@operasj.org.

Tim & Tricia* Anderson • Mimi & Eric Carlson • Jim* & Pat Jackson • The Kieve Foundation • Schlegel Living Trust Uta May 7, 1990 Estate of Janice Toyoshima • Bradford Wade & Linda Riebel • Anonymous

HEIMAN DIGITAL MEDIA STUDIO With gratitude to the individuals whose leadership gifts in memory of Fred Heiman made the development of our state-of-the-art studio possible:

ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICES & BOX OFFICE 2149 Paragon Drive San Jose, CA 95131 Monday–Friday, 10am–4pm operasj.org • (408) 437-4450

CALIFORNIA THEATRE BOX OFFICE Open 90 minutes prior to performance and M–F, 10am–4pm, when Opera San José is in residence.

GROUP SALES Groups of 10 or more receive special rates. Kristina Miller, Patron Experience Manager boxoffice@operasj.org

GUEST APPEARANCES Opera San José artists or speakers are available to community groups, corporations, and schools. Contact Patron Services at boxoffice@operasj.org or (408) 437-4450.

LEAVING THE HOUSE OR LATECOMERS If, for any reason, you must leave during the performance, you will not be readmitted. Latecomers will be seated at House Management’s discretion, who reserve the right to refuse admittance to any performance. Latecomers may be asked to watch the performance on a television monitor in the lobby, should late seating not be possible.

LISTENING DEVICES Peggy Heiman • George L. Crow Michael Kalkstein & Susan English • Jan & Don Schmidek ROMEO Club • Anonymous

Assisted listening devices are available at the coat check.

RECORDINGS The videotaping or other video or audio recording of this production is strictly prohibited.

EXITS The lighted exit sign nearest your seat is the shortest route out of the theater. In case of an emergency, please do not run; walk through the nearest exit. Photo credits: Veena Akama-Makia headshot: www.osberphotos.com / Ben Brady headshot: Godoy Shots Photography / Emily Michiko Jensen headshot: Jessica Osber Photography / West Side Story photo: David Allen

14 OPERA SAN JOSÉ

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OPERA SAN JOSÉ 15

2022–23 Subscriptions On Sale Now

THE MARRIAGE OF FIGARO SEP 10–25, 2022

CINDERELLA NOV 12–27, 2022

FALSTAFF FEB 11–26, 2023

TOSCA APR 15–30, 2023

operasj.org • (408) 437-4450