New Orleans Opera Association - Madame Butterfly 2022 Program

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Editor Ashley McLellan

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Ali Sullivan

Senior Account Executive

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Production Manager

Rosa Balaguer Arostegui

Production Designer

Meghan Rooney

Chief Executive Officer

Todd Matherne

Copyright 2022 New Orleans Opera Association and Renaissance Publishing, LLC. No part of this publication may be reproduced without the consent of the publisher. © New Orleans Opera Association

WELCOME

Dear Friends,

As a society, it is important to constantly assess, evaluate, and examine our social values – their presentation, their perception, and also their internalization. Opera is no different. Our collective conscience has evolved and changed over the years, and shouldn’t our opera as well? It is important, as we seek to share the joy of opera inclusively, that we also have the courage to look at the canon with fresh eyes, with a contemporary perspective, and with an understanding that many of the stories we have been telling the same way for so many years may have actually caused harm and division. Madame Butterfly is one of those very titles, and opera companies today struggle with presenting it – and other select, classical works that no longer reflect our modern-day values.

For our production of Madame Butterfly to serve as an avenue of healing, we felt it was important to give agency and artistic leadership to the very communities this opera affects the most. New Orleans Opera has engaged a creative team who will tell it from both a female perspective as well as from the viewpoint of those of Asian heritage living in a white, European culture. We are fortunate to have Aria Umezawa directing the production and Judith Yan conducting the LPO. Their leadership will permit a fresh interpretation of this story – one that retains all of the grandeur of the original opera while presenting a more thoughtful storytelling practice, rejecting the racial stereotypes inherent in the work.

We hope, by sharing this ongoing journey to finding deeper meaning in these works, that we can also discover together how they can still serve as powerful agents of change in our communities today.

Welcome to Madame Butterfly, the final production of our 2022-2023 season.

In this program you will find detailed information about next season and the four new productions we will present – all at the Mahalia Jackson Theater. Each will feature internationally recognized artists and will, collectively, provide a broad spectrum of stories and experiences. There will be something for everyone with many exciting surprises along the way.

Next season will also mark the inaugural year of our million-dollar Masterworks Campaign, currently in process. It is a major effort to ensure that each of the next three seasons will include great opera “Masterworks.” I hope you will consider participating to sustain the Opera as it continues to recover from the lingering effects of the pandemic. Please contact Joanna Sternberg

(nooagiving@neworleansopera.org | 504.267.9526) for more information.

You are in for a treat with today’s production of Madame Butterfly, and I look forward to enjoying with you our thrilling 2023-2024 Opera season. Your involvement – as subscribers, as donors, and as participants – is vital to our ongoing mission to continue producing operas of the highest artistic quality. Thank you so much for your passion and support of the New Orleans Opera!

Clare Burovac, NOOA General and Artistic Director

Dwayne O. Littauer, NOOA Board President

NOOA BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Mr. Dwayne O. Littauer

President

Ms. Sonya Moore

Vice President

Mrs. Mary Chapman Albert

Mr. Ron Austin

Dr. Nicolas Bazan

Mrs. Adelaide Wisdom Benjamin

Mr. Peter Brigandi

Mr. Joseph Bruno

Ms. Luretta Bybee

Mrs. Serafina Charbonnet

Mr. Edgar L. “Dooky” Chase III

Mr. Arthur A. Crais Jr.

Dr. Patrick J. Dowling

Mrs. Pauline Hardin

Secretary

Mr. Emmet Geary, Jr. Treasurer

Mrs. Diane S. Dupin

Mr. Roch Eshleman

Mr. Tim Fields

Dr. Constance Gistand

Mr. Bruce A. Gordon

Ms. Adrea Heebe

Mrs. Rania Khodr

Mrs. Elizabeth Mahorner Landis

Mrs. Christine LeBlanc

Mr. Edward F. Martin

Mr. Jonathan C. McCall

Dr. R. Ranney Mize

Mr. James C. Gulotta, Jr.

Immediate Past President

Ms. Ann Owens

Dr. Everett Robert

Mr. Gregory St. Etienne

Prof. Cynthia Samuel

Mr. Leopold Z. Sher

Mrs. Harry C. (Claire) Stahel

Mr. Philip Straub

Ms. Catherine Burns Tremaine

Dr. Rand Voorhies

Ms. Debby Hirsch Wood

Mr. Joseph Young

NOOA ADVISORY BOARD

Mrs. Virgene Biggers

Mrs. Margie Breeden

Ms. Elizabeth “Liz” Glaser Broekman

Ms. Michelle Butler

Dr. Mark Caldwell

Mrs. Eileen Capritto

Mrs. Kathy Christian

Hon. Jacquelyn B. Clarkson

Ms. Joan Coulter

Dr. R.W. Culver

Mr. Georges Daou

Mrs. Thomas S. Davidson

Mrs. Monique R. Gougisha Doucette

Mrs. Betsy Dowling

Mr. Brooke Duncan

Dr. Charles Dupin

Ms. Marlene Duronslet

Mr. Elroy W. Eckhardt

Mrs. Melissa Mason Gordon

Ms. Amanda Green

Mr. Douglas Grundmeyer

Mr. Timothy Hemphill

Ms. Melissa Hess

Mr. Neuville Hotstream

Mr. Michael Howard

Hon. Bernette J. Johnson

Ms. Givonna Joseph

Mrs. Rose LeBreton

Ms. Lisa Leone

Mr. Frank Maselli

Mrs. Gail McKenna

Dr. Jane Cagan Miller

Mrs. Cindy Mistrot

Mrs. Pat Murrell

Mr. Ernest L. O’Bannon

Dr. Andrew Orestano

Prof. Amy Pfrimmer

Ms. Ashley Pradel

Dr. Byron Scott

Dr. Alan E. Sheen

Mrs. Sonda Stacey

Ms. Diana Stieffel

Dr. Peter M. Tufton

MASTERSIGNERS

Mastersigners are opera lovers committed to the financial stability of the New Orleans Opera. As major supporters, these contributors also receive benefits including invitations to exclusive private receptions, access behind the scenes to rehearsals, champagne receptions and more. This list reflects cumulative donations received from December 1, 2022 to the time of this program’s publishing.

Première Circle:

$50,000- $99,999

Anonymous

Drs. Emel Songu and Ranney Mize

Mr. John G. Turner and Mr. Jerry G. Fischer

Platinum Circle:

$25,000- $49,999

Drs. Nicolas and Haydee Bazan

Mr. Arthur A. Crais, Jr.

Mr. Edward F. Martin

Drs. Rand & Terry Voorhies

Mrs. Ellen Frohnmayer

Mr. Emmet Geary, Jr.

Jay Gulotta and Susan Talley

Mrs. Meredith Hathorn and Mr. Rawley M. Penick III

Ms. Adrea Heebe

Mr. and Mrs. Erik F. Johnsen

Mr. and Mrs. V. Price LeBlanc, Jr.

Mr. Dwayne O. Littauer

Mr. Jonathan McCall

Mrs. Louise H. Moffett

Ms. Sonya Moore

Ms. Ann Owens

Mr. and Mrs. Robert Priddy

Prof. Cynthia A. Samuel

Mr. and Mrs. Harry C. Stahel

Mr. and Mrs. Leopold Z. Sher

Mrs. Catherine Burns Tremaine

Mrs. Adelaide Wisdom Benjamin

Mr. Joseph Young, Jr. and Dr. Aysen Young*

Mastersigners:

$5,000 - $9,999

Anonymous

Ms. Jo-Ann C. Adams

Dr. and Mrs. Patrick J. Dowling

Dr. and Mrs. Charles L. Dupin

Mr. and Mrs. Roch Eshleman

Joan Hooper and Julian

Feibelman Jr.

Mr. Tim Fields

Ms. Joanna Giorlando

Melissa and Bruce Gordon

Pauline and Allain Hardin

Mr. and Mrs. Hicham Khodr

Mr. and Mrs. James C. Landis

The Estate of Mr. Robert E. Leake Jr.

Mr. Donald I. Levy

Nina and Lawrence Pugh

Dr. Everett Robert

Mrs. Sally Richardson and Ronald J. Scalise Jr.

Mr. and Mrs. Alfred E. Stacey IV

Ms. Mary Ann Sternberg

Mr. and Mrs. Philip Straub

Mr. Bernard Van der Linden

Maestro Circle:

$10,000- $24,999

Mr. and Mrs. Doug Albert

Mr. Henry Bernstein

Carol B. & Kenneth J. Boudreaux

Mr. Peter R. Brigandi Jr.

Mr. and Mrs. James Willeford

Special acknowledgement to Mr. Joseph Young, Jr. for founding the Mastersigners in 1981.

Mary & Doug Albert, Co-chairs of the Mastersigner Program

Drs. Nicolas and Haydee Bazan, Co-Chairs, Maestro Circle

LOUISIANA PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA

Maureen Bellina

Caroline Boudreaux

Jethro Celestin

Julie Condy

Claudia Copeland

Alyssa Hernandez

Olivia Garcia

William Gautreaux

Frederick George

Thomas Lin

Amanda McCarthy

Johnny Missakian

Charles Mukaida

Jeffrey Newell

Hugo Pinto

Samantha Resser

Sofia Riggio

Michael Robillard

Hillary Smith

Juliana Starr

Karina Valle

Brigid Van Timmeren

Riley Vagis

Allison Waguespack

Jane Wear

Nicholas Yetter

Zara Zemmels

SUPERNUMERARIES

Nicole Bittner

Jan Lapré

Lara Lignitz

Carla Pittari

Carol Rausch, Chorus Master

Stage Director - Aria Umezawa

RECENTLY:

• A Midsummer Night's Dream, Vancouver Opera

• The Raven, Opera Philadelphia

•The Queen In Me, Canadian Opera Company, Amplified Opera, Nightwood Theatre, Theatre Gargantua

UPCOMING:

• Turandot, Opera Colorado

• Acis and Galatea, Philharmonia Baroque

• Le nozze di Figaro, Calgary Opera

Ariaumezawa.com

Hiromi Omura - Madame Butterfly

RECENTLY:

• Cio-Cio-San, Madama Butterfly, Tokyo Nikikai Opera Theater

• Countess Almaviva, The Marriage of Figaro, Tokyo Nikikai Opera Theater

• Floria Tosca, Tosca, Puccini Festival (Torre del lago/ Italy)

UPCOMING:

• Stenographer, Norma Jean Baker of Troy, Parco Theater (Tokyo)

Hiromiomura.com

Sophia Spindel - Dolore

Conductor - Judith Yan

RECENTLY:

• An American Dream (Jack Perla/Jessica Murphy Mooworld premiere), Seattle Opera

• La bohème (Puccini), Vancouver Opera

• Suor Angelica (Puccini), Opera Omaha

UPCOMING:

• The Rape of Lucretia (Britten), San Francisco Opera Merola

• February (Laura Kaminsky/Lisa Moore - world premiere), Opera on the Avalon

• Symphony No. 9 (Beethoven), Saskatoon Symphony

Judithyanconductor.com

Jonathan Kaufman – Lt. Pinkerton

RECENTLY:

• Macduff, Macbeth, Winter Opera St. Louis

• Rodolfo, La bohème, Opera Western Reserve

• Cavaradossi (cover), Tosca, Opera Carolina

UPCOMING:

• Rodolfo, La bohème, Opera Grand Rapids

• Turiddu, Cavalleria rusticana, Opera Carolina

• Hoffman, The Tales of Hoffmann, Opera Carolina

Uiatalent.com/artists/kaufman-jonathan/?c=classical-voice

Nina Yoshida Nelsen – Suzuki

RECENTLY:

• Mezzo Soloist, Alma Mahler Songs, Toledo Symphony

• Mama, An American Dream, Opera Santa Barbara

• Suzuki, Madama Butterfly, Atlanta Opera

UPCOMING:

• Fricka, Die Walküre, Opera Santa Barbara

• Khanh, Bound, Seattle Opera

• Carmen, Carmen, Opera Santa Barbara

NinaYoshidaNelsen.com

Julius Ahn – Goro

RECENTLY:

• Guang [lead role], Stuck Elevator [world premiere], Nashville Opera

• Kaspar, Amahl and The Night Visitors, On Site Opera

• Goro, Madama Butterfly, The Atlanta Opera

UPCOMING:

• Mime, Das Rheingold, The Atlanta Opera

• Goro, Madama Butterfly, San Francisco Opera

• Goro, Madama Butterfly, Cincinnati Opera Juliusahn.com

Weston Hurt - Sharpless

RECENTLY:

• Scarpia, Tosca, Arizona Opera

• Germont, La traviata, Lyric Opera of Kansas City

• Germont, La traviata, Boston Youth Symphony at Symphony Hall

UPCOMING:

• Baritone soloist, War Requiem (Britten), Opera Roanoke

• Baritone soloist, Requiem (Verdi), Harvard Radcliffe Orchestra

• Scarpia, Tosca, Madison Opera Westonhurt.com

André Chiang - Prince Yamadori/Commissioner

RECENTLY:

• Captain Smith, A Capacity for Evil, Opera Las Vegas

• Marcello, La bohème, Opera Western Reserve

• Gianni Schicchi, Gianni Schicchi, Opera Mississippi/ Natchez Festival of Music

UPCOMING:

• Father, Fearless (workshop), Opera Delaware Andrechiangbaritone.com

RECENTLY:

• Don Fernando, Fidelio, Austin Opera

• Mefistofele, Mefistofele (Boito), Knoxville Opera

• Silva (cover), Ernani, Lyric Opera of Chicago

UPCOMING:

• König Heinrich, Lohengrin, Theater Bremen

• Banquo, Macbeth, Theater Bremen

• Nourabad, The Pearl Fishers, Austin Opera Hidenoriinoue.com

RECENTLY:

• Pamina, The Magic Flute, Loyola University New Orleans Opera

• The Nursing Sister, Suor Angelica, Loyola University of New Orleans Opera

• Second Woman, Dido and Aeneas, Loyola University of New Orleans Opera

UPCOMING:

• Countess, Le nozze di Figaro, Saluzzo Opera Academy

• Fiordiligi (Role Study/Cover), Così fan tutte, Berlin Opera Academy Juliaernst.com

RECENTLY:

• Candide, The Atlanta Opera

• Ernani, Sarasota Opera

• Rigoletto, Utah Opera

UPCOMING:

• Cosi fan tutte, Opera Theatre of St. Louis

• Cavalleria Rusticana and Pagliacci, Lyric Opera of Kansas City

• Roméo et Juliette, Opera San Jose Stevenckemp.com

RECENTLY:

• La Cenerentola, Kentucky Opera

• Trouble in Tahiti / Seven Deadly Sins, Madison Opera

• Samson and Delilah, Seattle Opera

UPCOMING:

• The Boy Who Kissed the Sky, Alliance Theatre

• Wolf Play, A Contemporary Theatre

• The Love for Three Oranges, Des Moines Metro Opera

Connieyun.com

Julia Ernst - Kate Pinkerton

Lighting Designer - Connie Yun

Hidenori Inoue – The Bonze

Scenic Designer - Steven C. Kemp

SYNOPSIS

A STATEMENT FROM THE DIRECTOR

Un bel dì vedremo…

Magic exists in opera. Once the curtain rises and the music begins we can be transported through time and space to witness and experience stories of profound emotion that have endured for centuries. These shimmering fantasy worlds are deliberately built by composers, directors, designers, and performers, often to facilitate a disconnection between the audience witnessing their work and the outside world. Despite this disconnection from reality, if we take the position that the stories we tell on stage have no real-world consequences, taking the view that art is purely for escapism and entertainment devalues what we do.

In Puccini’s opera, the titular Butterfly has every reason to conjure a fantasy world for herself. The hardship she has endured incentivizes her to accept an offer: the opportunity to marry a man who will afford her the type of security she hasn’t known since the loss of her father. This offer becomes a lifeline and the stakes are high for the arrangement to succeed, but the longer Cio-Cio San lets herself mistake fantasy for reality, the less she is able to accept the truth of her situation.

In a similar way, we the audience, are emerging from our own periods of hardship, and the desire to escape into a fantasy world for some respite is appealing. But some of the onstage worlds we build are harming members of our community by perpetuating stereotypes and making beautiful the violence

committed against them - in the case of Madame Butterfly , anti-Asian violence. When we are unaware of the fact that our fantasies have been constructed for us, and when we are not called upon to confront what we are witnessing, we are less able to recognize the truth - that these same narratives are playing out in the world around us: as an online comment, harassment on the street, or at its worst, as a shooting in Georgia.

This production invites challenge by pointing to the elements of fantasy present in both Puccini’s work, and the broader production. It questions whether this world we are building helps us move forward, or facilitates an escape from reality. And it encourages us to disrupt the narrative, so that one beautiful day the magical stories we tell won’t shield us from the truth, but will empower us to rise up and meet the world before us.

MADAME BUTTERFLY

A director stands on the stage before a runthrough of Madama Butterfly . He is preparing to see his vision come to life. The players are ready backstage, and the orchestra is in the pit. With a flourish, he indicates that the performance should start. Before our eyes, a fantasy world is built. It is beautiful, filled with emotion, and seductive - so much so that everyone forgets that this world is also filled with cultural inaccuracies and stereotypes.

The set flies in, the music takes over, and we lose ourselves in the fantasy world on stage.

ACT I

Benjamin Franklin Pinkerton is a United States Naval officer in Nagasaki, Japan. He has purchased an arranged marriage with a young geisha and tours the house he intends to rent for himself and his soon-to-be bride. Pinkerton and the marriage broker, Goro, are soon joined by the American Consul, Sharpless.

Goro is sent to fetch the girl while Pinkerton and Sharpless have a drink. Pinkerton displays a brashly American attitude of adventure, pleasure, and conquest. Sharpless warns Pinkerton that the girl sounded genuinely in love during her visit to the consular office a few days prior and shouldn’t be toyed with. Shrugging off these concerns, Pinkerton wishes to capture this delicate Butterfly – to him, the Japanese marriage contract is much the same as the Japanese home lease - easily made and easily broken. He cavalierly toasts to the proper (white) American bride he intends to “really” marry in the future.

When the sweet and naïve Cio-Cio San (“Butterfly”) arrives, she reveals she is only 15 years old and tells them that she has been working as a geisha since her family’s fall from prominence. She

shows Pinkerton her things, including figurines representing her Buddhist ancestors, and tells him she secretly converted to Christianity yesterday as a gesture of her devotion to their union.

After their brief wedding ceremony, her uncle, a Bonze (Buddhist priest), arrives to denounce the marriage and to condemn Cio-Cio San for casting aside their ancestral religion. Her other family members are scandalized by the announcement and they too abandon her. Butterfly has now been forced to relinquish both her traditional faith and her family and is alone in the world, except for her new husband.

Her maid, Suzuki, prepares Butterfly for her wedding night. Pinkerton soothes his new bride with reassurances and sweet nothings, and they are left alone to make love as husband and wife.

Musical highlights:

• “Dovunque al mondo” - Pinkerton’s breezy ode to American bravado, which melodically quotes the Star-Spangled Banner.

• “Bimba, Bimba, non piangere” - Pinkerton and Butterfly’s extended love duet ends the act.

ACT II/III

Three years have passed since the wedding, and Pinkerton’s departure from Japan not long afterward. Cio-Cio San and Suzuki are still in the house on the hill, their finances dwindling. Suzuki prays to her gods, but Butterfly’s faith in Pinkerton is unwavering, and she is assured that he will return to her as he promised.

When Sharpless arrives from the consul for a visit, bearing a letter from Pinkerton (which clearly contains bad news), she proudly welcomes him into her “American” home. His visit is interrupted by Goro, the marriage broker, who ushers in Prince Yamadori, the latest in a string of suitors presented to Butterfly. Goro insists that Pinkerton’s abandonment is tantamount to divorce under Japanese law and Cio-Cio San should remarry. She staunchly refuses, wishing to abide only by American law, and sends the prince and Goro away.

Sharpless uncomfortably begins to read Pinkerton’s “Dear John” letter, punctuated by Butterfly’s excited interruptions, but ultimately is unable to bring himself to break the news that Pinkerton doesn’t wish to see her during his impending visit to Nagasaki. Sharpless sets aside the letter and instead exhorts Butterfly to re-consider the Japanese prince’s proposal. Distraught, she repeats her resolve to remain faithful to her marriage. She reveals a small child and makes the shocked consul promise to inform Pinkerton that he has a son. As Sharpless leaves, Butterfly again drives away the spiteful Goro.

Just then, a cannon sounds to announce the arrival of Pinkerton’s ship. Butterfly, Suzuki, and the boy joyfully prepare themselves and the house for Pinkerton’s return, waiting up all night.

Musical highlights:

• “Un bel di vedremo” - At the start of the act, Butterfly dreams of Pinkerton’s return, in one of the most famous soprano arias in all of opera.

• The “Humming Chorus” ends the act.

In the morning, Cio-Cio San finally rests after her overnight vigil. Suzuki is left to answer the door when Sharpless arrives with Pinkerton…and Pinkerton’s American wife, Kate. They have come to persuade Butterfly to allow Kate to adopt and raise the child in America. Only now realizing the extent of Cio-Cio San’s devotion, Pinkerton is overwhelmed by guilt and runs away, unable to face her.

When Cio-Cio San rushes into the room, hoping to see Pinkerton at her doorstep, she instead sees Suzuki, Sharpless, and Kate. She quickly intuits what is happening, and stoically agrees to give up her son if Pinkerton comes to collect the child from her in person.

After everyone leaves, she prays at an ancestral altar and takes up her father’s knife. Her son is sent in by Suzuki. Butterfly puts an American flag into the little boy’s hand in order to greet his father and blindfolds him so that he won’t witness her final act.

Musical Highlights:

• “Addio, fiorito asil” - Pinkerton admits his cowardice.

• “Tu, tu, piccolo iddio” - Butterfly’s arioso to her son.

As the truth of Cio-Cio San’s story begins to set in, the singer portraying her begins to see the theatrical world she is inhabiting for what it is: a fabrication of her culture created by people who had no real understanding of those they were fantasizing about. She is forced to decide if she is willing to repeat and reinforce someone else’s perspective for the sake of art or whether there is a way to take control of the narrative.

MADAME BUTTERFLY

COMPOSER

Giacomo Puccini

LIBRETTIST

Luigi Illica and Giuseppe Giacosa, based on an 1898 short story by John Luther Long

DIRECTOR

Aria Umezawa

CONDUCTOR

Judith Yan, The Jerry W. Zachary and Henry Bernstein Maestro Chair

With The Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra

CAST

Madame Butterfly - Hiromi Omura

Lt. Pinkerton - Jonathan Kaufman

Suzuki - Nina Yoshida Nelsen

Sharpless - Weston Hurt

Goro - Julius Ahn

Prince Yamadori/Commissioner - André Chiang

The Bonze - Hidenori Inoue

Kate Pinkerton - Julia Ernst

The Official Registrar - Thomas Lin

Yakuside – Charles Mukaida

Cousin – Karina Valle

Mother – Olivia Garcia

Aunt – Juliana Starr

Dolore - Sophia Spindel

The Director -David Hinton

CREATIVE TEAM

Scenic Designer - Steven C. Kemp

Lighting Designer - Connie Yun

Wig & Makeup Designer - Danyale Cook

Chorus Master - Carol Rausch

Production Manager - Sarah McCall

Technical Director - Keith Christopher

Costume Director - Danielle Domingue Sumi

Stage Manager - Nic Labadie-Bartz

1st Asst. Stage Manager - Kiane D. Davis

2nd Asst. Stage Manager - Emily Holter

Assistant Lighting Designer - Brantley McClendon

Property Master - Shelley Irene Dall

Scenic Painter - Nathan Arthur

Wardrobe Lead - Lesly Davi

Rehearsal Pianist - Douglas Sumi

Supertitles Prompter - Beth Rota

Supertitles by Brett Finley

Costumes provided by Sarasota Opera Association, Inc.

Conductor Judith Yan’s participation is made possible, in part, with generous support from Ms. Meredith L. Hathorn and Mr. Rawley M. Penick.

Conductors for New Orleans Opera are generously sponsored by the Jerry W. Zachary and Henry Bernstein Fund for the New Orleans Opera Association.

Student Night Out Dress Rehearsals are made possible with generous support from The Louise Baehr Martin Memorial Fund.

INDIVIDUAL DONORS

Thank you to our individual donors for the 2022-2023 Opera season. New Orleans Opera Association gratefully acknowledges the following individuals and family foundations for their generous support. This list reflects cumulative donations received from December 1, 2022 to the time of this program’s publishing.

To add your name to the roster of supporters, call Director of Development Joanna Sternberg at (504) 267-9526, visit neworleansopera.org, or send your check to New Orleans Opera Association, P.O. Box 52108; New Orleans, LA 70152; Attn: Development Office. Many companies will match employee and retiree gifts – ask your employer for a matching form to submit with your check. Contributions to the New Orleans Opera Association are tax-deductible as allowable by law (tax ID number 720272897). We are grateful for each contribution, and we make every effort to ensure the accuracy of these listings as of the printing/publishing deadlines. To make a correction to your listing for future printings or, if you believe you have been omitted from the donor list, please call (504) 267-9526.

Opera Club Circle: $2,500 - $4,999

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Ms. Laura Donnaway

Ms. Judith Doughty

Mrs. Patricia Dunbar Murrell

Mr. Richard Dunford

Mrs. Alma Dunlap

Ms. Camille G. Durkin

Mr. Ronald Durnford

Mr. Wendell Eatherly

Mr. and Mrs. Edward D. Edmiston

Ms. Airey Ellis

Mr. Horace English

Ms. Debra Fagnano

Dr. Maria J. Falco

Ms. Deborah Fallis

Mrs. D. Blair Favrot

Mrs. Diane Fee

Mr. John Ford

Alan and Julie Gandolfi

Mr. David Gereighty

Ms. Elizabeth Gottfried

Ms. Amanda Green

Ms. Janice Grijns

Mr. and Mrs. Michael C. Grumich

Mr. and Mrs. William Haase

Mrs. Carol Hall

Mr. and Mrs. Johnny Harmon

Ms. Joan Hoffmann

Mr. Melvin Jones

Ms. Givonna Joseph

Mrs. Betty Karam

Mr. Arthur M. Kastler

Ms. Sonia Kenwood

Ms. Vicki King

Mrs. Gina Klein

Dr. Thomas F. Kramer

Dr. Edward Levy

Mrs. Helen Malachias

Prof. Dugg McDonough

Mrs. Ellen McGlinchey

Stacey Michael

Ms. Shirley Morrison

Mr. Chester Morrison

Ms. Rebecca Moseley

Mr. M. Christian Mounger

Dr. Lynne Neitzschman

Dr. James Oakes

Mrs. Joan Oppenheim

Ms. Sophia Pappas

Ms. Jeanne Parrish

Dr. and Mrs. Nicholas Persich

Ms. Mary Penn

Ms. Janice Piazza

Ms. Jane Raiford

Mr. and Mrs. Elliott Raisen

Mr. A. Ravi P. Rau

Ms. Brenda Reilly

Ms. Courtney Sarpy

Ms. Diana Ricou-Smith

Ms. Catherine Robbins

Dr. James Robinson

Ms. Elizabeth Ryan

Ms. Kelly Sampson

Ms. Helen L. Schneidau

Mr. Stanley Schwam

Ms. Margaret Shields

Mr. B. Todd Sitzman

Mr. Alan Smason

Mrs. Jacqueline Sperier

Mr. Robert Swedberg

Ms. Hilda Thomas

Mr. Howard Thompson

Ms. Roberta Trufant

Ms. Virginia Tuman

Ms. Linda Usdin

Dr. Virginia Vehaskari

Mr. Richard Velkley

Dr. Robert Weilbaecher

Ms. Carmelite Wellman

Mr. James Wesner

Mr. John Wettermark

*deceased

INSTITUTIONAL UNDERWRITERS

THANK YOU!

New Orleans Opera Association thanks our business, foundation and government partners for their recent support!

New Orleans Opera works with each business and community partner to create a sponsorship package that suits your company’s particular needs. Whether you seek opportunities to entertain your clients, corporate visibility at performances, marketing partnerships, or all of the above, New Orleans Opera can assist you. Your sponsorship supports the Opera while providing exclusive benefits and visibility for your company.

GOLD CIRCLE - $100,000+

Lois and Lloyd Hawkins Jr. Foundation

Louisiana Economic Development

New Orleans Opera Endowment Fund

SILVER CIRCLE - $50,000+

Lois and Lloyd Hawkins Jr.

Grand Opera Foundation

The Theresa Bittenbring Marque & John Henry Marque Fund

The Ranney and Emel Songu Mize

Chamber Opera Series

Edward F. and Louise B. Martin Family Fund

BRONZE CIRCLE - $25,000+

City of New Orleans/Arts New Orleans

New Orleans Theatre Association

New Orleans Opera Women's Guild

The Selley Foundation Fund

INTERMEZZO CIRCLE - $10,000+

Entergy Charitable Foundation

Erik F. Johnsen Family Foundation

V. Price LeBlanc Jr. Fund

Lexus of New Orleans

Louisiana State Arts Council/

Louisiana Division of the Arts

McCall Fund

Louise H. Moffett Family Foundation

New Orleans Tourism and Cultural Fund (NOTCF)

Priddy Family Foundation

Wisdom-Benjamin Foundation

BENEFACTOR CIRCLE - $5,000+

An Anonymous Foundation in support of Opera on Tap-New Orleans

Carol B. and Kenneth J. Boudreaux Foundation

Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities

National Endowment for the Arts

National Endowment for the Humanities

The Greater New Orleans Foundation’s Hansen Fund for Arts Technical Assistance

WWOZ

AMBASSADOR CIRCLE - $1,000+

City of New Orleans Mayor’s Office of Cultural Economy

Fidelity Bank

Hancock Whitney Bank

Josef Sternberg Memorial Fund

Louisiana Society of Hearing

Aid Specialists

New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival and Foundation

Peoples Health

Renaissance Publishing

The Ella West Freeman Foundation

Van der Linden Family Foundation

WWNO

We gratefully acknowledge matching and in-kind(*) gifts from the following institutions:

Acme Oyster House*

Addis NOLA*

Ancora Pizzeria & Salumeria*

Annunciation Restaurant*

Antoine’s*

Applied Materials Foundation

Bistro Daisy*

Booth Bricker Fund

Brennan’s *

Byblos*

Capulet*

Café Degas*

Café Porche*

Chemin a la Mer*

Compere Lapin*

Central City BBQ*

Criollo*

Dooky Chase Restaurant*

Encore*

ExxonMobil Foundation

Felix’s Restaurant and Oyster Bar*

Freeport McMoRan Copper and Gold Foundation

Galatoire’s*

Happy Raptor Distilling *

High Hat*

Iacavone Kitchen*

Josephine Estelle*

Martin Wine Cellar*

Merck Foundation

New Orleans Museum of Art*

New Orleans Jazz Market*

NOLA Caye*

Pascale’s Manale Restaurant*

Peoples Health

Restaurant R’evolution*

Shell Oil Company Foundation

Stephanie Varns, CPA*

The Grill Room at the Windsor Court Hotel*

Windsor Court Hotel*

Wiley Publishing

UBS Financial Services

Ye Olde College Inn*

COMMEMORATIVE GIFTS

IN LOVING MEMORY OF:

Gladys Gay LeBreton

Mr. and Mrs. Edward F. LeBreton III

Dr. Carolyn Ruth Rudnick Ettinger

Ms. Sharon Hayes-Roth

Virginia Chapman

Doug and Mary Albert

Alfonso Sabadie

Ms. Francisca Sabadie

John Armbruster

Ms. Paula Armbruster

Annette Scott

Ms. Shirley Morrison

Mrs. Betty Brooks

Mr. David S. Thomas Jr.

Mr. Emmet Geary Jr.

Mr. and Mrs. Frederick

W. Christian

IN HONOR OF

Maestro Robert Lyall

Sarah Jane McMahon

Ranney Mize

Drs. Nicholas and Haydee Bazan

Deborah Green

Ms. Clara Green

Stephanie Sheridan

Ms. Mary Scully

Varla Jean Merman

Alex Aho

Mr. A.J. Capritto

Mr. Emmet Geary Jr.

Dr. Aysen Young

Mr. Emmet Geary Jr.

Mimi and Claude Schlesinger

Robert Burovac

Dwayne Littauer

Robert Leake

Mr. and Mrs. John K. Roberts, Jr.

Ms. Airey Ellis

Susan Dawson

Katherine Vaughan

Anne Heard

Alma Dunlap

Patrick Breeden

Margie Breeden

Kathryn Lear Dorman

Ms. Cynthia Molyneux

Monty Ramos

Jennifer Rigterink

Andrew Kingsley

Liam Griffin

Christina Mohammed

Audrey Fowler

J.C. and J.C. Harmon

Ted Martin

Mr. Howard Thompson

Enoch J. Donaldson

Janice Grijns

Mercedes Vulliet Bonner

Thomas and Judith Bonner

Deirdre P. Long

Dr. William Long

Daniel J. Carroll Jr. and Betty

Jo Carroll Hussey

Daniel and Lisa Carroll

Phil Frohnmayer

Ellen Frohnmayer

Susan Caven Wisdom

Mr. Norton Wisdom

John and Julia Newsham

Ms. Sally N. Inglis

Diane Bennett Hammer MD

Dr. Robert Hammer

Ranney and Emel Songu Mize

Janet Wilson

Sonda Stacey

Ms. Elizabeth Liu

Joanna Sternberg

Ms. Mary Ann Sternberg

New Orleans Louisiana Saints and New Orleans Pelicans

Jay Gulotta and Susan Talley

PLANNED GIVING WITH NEW ORLEANS OPERA

Help build the future of opera in New Orleans through your planned gift.

When you include the New Orleans Opera Association in your estate plans, you play a significant role in the continued success of top quality opera and opera education for generations to come. We are happy to assist you in identifying gift options that suit your financial and philanthropic goals – from a simple bequest in your will to a charitable trust or endowed fund.

Planned giving makes great art possible and helps sustain the activities of the Opera Association now and into the future. We thank the current Legacy Society members and invite you to join their ranks by notifying the Development Office that you have provided for the Opera Association in your estate plans. You can also request more information about the many kinds of gift options and underwriting opportunities you may choose to support.

Planned giving instruments can include:

· Outright charitable gifts

· Gifts of appreciated property

· Bequests

· Revocable trusts

· Life insurance

· Retirement benefits

· Charitable remainder trusts

JOIN US! Please consider joining the Legacy Society to help ensure the continued tradition of producing grand opera in America’s first city of opera.

Legacy Society Members

as of September 2022

Anonymous (2)

Drs. Stephen J. & Miriam R. Bensman

Dr. Patricia Cook

Dr. Maria J. Falco

Mr. Emmet Geary Jr.

Ms. Jacqueline Mae Goldberg

Mr. Dwayne O. Littauer

Robert Lyall

Louise* and Ted Martin

Drs. Emel Songu and Ranney Mize

Dr. Andrew Orestano

Meredith Hathorn Penick

Nina and Lawrence Pugh

Xenia Krinitzky Roff

Alma A. Slatten

Philip & Eleanor Straub

Mrs. Norton L. Wisdom (Susan)

Ms. Debby Hirsch Wood

Major Planned Gifts

2008-2022

Bequests & Endowed Funds

Bequests & Endowed Funds

Garic K. Barranger

The Estate of Abby Ray Catledge, in memory of her father Bryne Lucas Ray

Rose Annette Chisesi

Norma Jean Gross

Lois and H. Lloyd Hawkins Jr.

Albert and Rea Hendler

Gerald Kendal

Victor Leglise

The Estate of Guillermo

Náñez-Falcón

Mary Nell Porter Nolan

The Theresa Bittenbring Marque & John Henry Marque Fund

The Estate of James Robert Pope

Rachel Sainton

William H. Sholes

Lynette Askin Stillwell

James G. Viavant

Jerry Walker Zachary

For more information, or to add your name to this list, contact Director of Development

Joanna Sternberg at (504) 267-9526. All inquiries are confidential.

EVERYONE BELONGS HERE

EVERYONE BELONGS HERE.

Yes, everyone . In this theater, we are one community coming together to experience this beautiful art form. Say hi to your neighbor. Welcome them. Welcome one another.

COME AS YOU ARE.

The way you present yourself to the world reflects your own identity. You may wish to dress up to come to the New Orleans Opera. You may wish to dress casually. No matter how you dress, you are welcome here.

YOUR EXPERIENCE HERE IS PERSONAL.

You are allowed to laugh, to gasp, to weep, to react. So are your neighbors. This is live theater. The performers share their energy with you, and in turn, you share your energy with them. Everyone must engage for the performance to succeed.

WORDS CAN HAVE A BIG IMPACT.

If you choose to share your opinions (either via social media, with our staff over the phone, or in person at one of our shows) about our policies, productions, cast members or staff, please refrain from using offensive or hurtful language—especially disparaging language that is commonly used to offend marginalized groups. Ask yourself whether what you have to say contributes to someone's well-being or whether it is deliberately destructive.

SHOW KINDNESS.

Show kindness to yourself, to others, and to our staff. New Orleans Opera is a space where creativity, positivity, and joy are all celebrated. Please leave negativity at the door.

NOOA Staff

Clare Burovac, General & Artistic Director

Gina Klein, Director of Operations

Artistic & Production

Keith Christopher, Technical Director

Sarah McCall, Director of Production

Carol Rausch, Chorus Master / Music Administrator

Development

Joanna Sternberg, Director of Development

Courtney Randall, Development Operations Manager

Community Partnerships & Education

Tara Melvin, Director of Community Partnerships & Education

Marketing, Communications, & Audience Experience

Janet Wilson, Director of External Affairs

Devin Johnson, Patron Services Manager

Dylan Trân, Marketing Coordinator

Jenny Chapman, Support Group Liaison

Mariah Forde, Assistant Director of Communications

Robert Lyall, General Director Emeritus

IATSE STAFF

IATSE Local #39

Keith Christopher- President

Alan Arthur- Business Manager

Ashley Boudreaux- House Steward

Neil Ingles- Master Electrician

Al Davis- Head Fly

Michael Delacerda- Head Audio

Keith Tujague- Head Carpenter

Heidi Bayer- Head Props

IATSE Local #840

Theatrical Wardrobe Union

Shannon Muhleisen, President

Nancy Macko, Secretary/Treasurer

Bonnie Haase, Business Agent

Lesly Davi, Wardrobe Lead

Stephanie Kuhn, Sewing Lead

H. LLOYD HAWKINS SCENIC STUDIO

Keith Christopher, Technical Director

Nathan Arthur, Art Director

NOOA SUPPORT GROUPS

The Women’s Guild has been in existence since 1947, serving the mission of “Keeping Opera Alive” in New Orleans. The membership of the Women’s Guild is comprised of women who are dedicated to fostering and promoting the cultural aspects of opera, creating fun and exciting fundraising events, as well as educational efforts, in cooperation with the New Orleans Opera Association.

Sylvain Society is the New Orleans Opera’s Young Professionals affiliate group. Established in 2017, their purpose is to connect the operatic arts to the Greater New Orleans community through events such as their annual Big Wig Ball fundraiser.

FOUNDING SUSTAINERS

Thank you to our Founding Opera Sustainers who have committed to making a monthly donation to New Orleans Opera. Please visit our website if you would like to become part of this group or would like more information. neworleansopera.org/become-a-founding-sustainer

Mr. Alex Aho

Mrs. Michele Beelman

Ms. Margie Breeden

Mrs. Xiomara Brewster

Ms. Clare Burovac

Ms. Melissa Burovac

George and Lee Anne Carter

Mr. Tony Currera

Drs. David DeGenova and Kristi Soileau

Mrs. Laura Donnaway

Joyce Dugais

Mr. and Mrs. Ed Edmiston

Ms. Diane Fee

Alan and Julie Gandolfi

Dr. Mary Frances Gardner

Mr. and Mrs. Bruce Giaimo

Annie Glover

Mr. and Mrs. Michael C. Grumich

Ms. Amanda Hembree

Ms. Andrea Heming

Ms. Sylvia Johnson

Ms. Jyoti Kehl

Ms. Gina Klein

Mr. Norman Krasne

Mr. Dwayne O. Littauer

Mr. Robert Lyall

Dr. and Mrs. Christopher Merritt

Dr. Jane Cagan Miller and Mr. Bruce Miller

Ms. Rebecca Moseley

Ms. Mary Penn

Monique Pyle

Mary Scully

Ms. Hallie Sheck

Terry and Meg Sims

Mr. Alan Smason

Ms. Bianca Spears

Mr. and Mrs. Alfred E. Stacey IV

Mr. and Mrs. Rodney Stieffel

Ms. Deniz Ucar

Mr. Justin von Andersson

Ms. Yvonne Vonderhaar

Donnie Watkins

Ms. Janet Wilson

(Details coming soon!)