High Notes: Shining a little spotlight on our very own Madama Butterfly

Editors:
Bernadette Lim
Johnnethen Pierce
Jacqueline Bibo
Contributors:
David Vosburgh
Diana Farrell
OPERa Western Reserve, Youngstown, OHIO
Volume 2
Fall 2008
Madama Butterfly
It’s hard to conceive today that Madama Butterfly, the most popular opera in the repertoire, was a flop at its
first performance on February 17, 1904. The boos and catcalls were so loud you sometimes couldn’t hear the singers
or the orchestra. But after some judicious cutting and the addition of a new aria, at its second production a mere three
months later, the disaster was turned into a triumph, one that continues today over 100 years later.
The story of the trusting young geisha from a good family who is married to an American naval officer for “999
years” or the end of the month, whichever comes first, never fails to move an audience, especially when it is told with
Puccini’s more melodious score. Cio Cio San’s plaintive “Un bel di Vedremo” (Some fine day he will return) is one of the
most recognized arias in all opera.
Butterfly has a long history. A similar story by Pierre Loti was the inspiration for Madame Chrysantheme by Messager, whose popularity was eclipsed by Madama Butterfly. Puccini’s opera was first a short story by John Luther Long.
It then became a smash hit in a one-act play from Broadway’s master producer/director David Belasco. Its 14 minute
sunset through sunrise lighting effect was a marvel of the new electric lighting on stage. It was this production that Puccini saw in London that inspired him to set it to music, a chance encounter for him and an enduring delight for us.
Opera Western Reserve has chosen this perennial favorite for its fifth production. The performance will be conducted by Music Director Susan Davenny Wyner with staging and scenic design by Production Director David Vosburgh,
costumes by Barbara Luce/The Costume Kingdom and lighting by J. Anthony Ferrello/fortytwo inc. The outstanding cast
is listed below. See you at Stambaugh Auditorium, Friday, November 7, when the curtain opens at 8 pm.
Misook Yun, Soprano (Cio-Cio San)
Misook is a native of South Korea and has been heard as Nedda in Pagliacci and Mimi in La Boheme with Opera
Western Reserve. Other leading roles include Violetta in the Youngstown Opera Guild production of La Traviata, Adina in L ‘Elisir d’Amore, and Dorabella in Cosi Fan Tutti, just to name a few. Among her awards is first
prize in the Metropolitan Opera Competition in the Oregon District when she was at the University of Oregon.
She is also an associate professor of voice at YSU’s Dana School of Music.
Clayton Hilley, Tenor (Lt. B.F. Pinkerton)
Tenor Clayton Hilley is pleased to debut as Pinkerton in his favorite opera, Madama Butterfly. Other operatic
roles include Hoffmann in Les Contes d’Hoffmann, Alfredo in La Traviata, Don José in Carmen, and Froh in Das
Rheingold. He has been a Young Artist with the Indianapolis Opera Ensemble, Chautauqua Opera, La Musica
Lirica in Italia, and Opera in the Ozarks. He currently pursues the Professional Studies Certificate at the Manhattan School of Music.
Brian Keith Johnson Baritone (Sharpless)
Brian returns to the Opera Western Reserve having been Tonio in its debut production of Pagliacci, Marcello in
La Boheme, and the Count in Le Nozze Di Figaro. Originally from Warren, OH, this baritone is heard regularly
with the Warren Philharmonic and on many stages both locally and regionally. He comes to us directly from
performances in Il Tabarro with the Union Avenue Opera Company in St. Louis, MO.
Irene Roberts, Mezzo-Soprano (Suzuki)
Irene is currently studying at the Cleveland School of Music where she has sung leading roles in Die Zauberflote
and Die Fledermaus. At the University of the Pacific she was heard in The Mikado and as Orfeo in Orfeo et Euridice as well as many concert appearances.
William Clarence Marshall, Bass (The Bonze)
William was first heard with Opera Western Reserve as Doctor Bartolo in Le Nozze Di Figaro. A resident of
Cleveland, Mr. Marshall has been heard locally as a soloist with the Warren Philharmonic Orchestra, as Porgy
in the Beck Center’s production of Porgy and Bess, and in Sweeney Todd and Don Giovanni with the Cleveland
Opera. He toured nationally as Joe in the Hal Prince Production of Show Boat.
High Notes: Shining a little spotlight on our very own
Lawrence Brownlee, a Youngstown native, has recently
received the Artist of the Year Award from the Seattle Opera.
After a busy fall on both sides of the Atlantic, he will be
performing for the Metropolitan Opera in the production of
La Cenerentola on May 1, 6, and 9, 2009.
Gary Lehman, from Niles, made his Metropolitan
Opera Debut performing the challenging tenor lead
in Tristan and Isolde. He is playing the role of Stathis
Borans in the American premier of The Fly at Los
Angeles Opera.
Introducing the OPERA Western Reserve Young Artists
Diana K. Farrell, soprano, of Wilbraham, Massachusetts, serves as the Director of Educational
Outreach and Programming for Opera Western Reserve’s ImprOvPERA in Youngstown, OH. Recent
operatic roles include the title role in Amelia Goes to the Ball, the Countess Ceprano in Rigoletto
with OWR and Madame Heartmelt in The Impressario. Miss Farrell was a winner of the 2006 Tri-State
NATS Competition and has participated in master classes with Metropolitan artists Michael Chioldi
and Lawrence Brownlee. She is a graduate student of YSU in the studio of Dr. Misook Yun. She also
studied with Jeanie Darnell in Urbino, Italy. Miss Farrell currently attends school at the CIM in the
studio of Mary Schiller.
Lauren Hess, mezzo-soprano, is a senior vocal performance major at Youngstown State University
and acts as the Assistant Director of Educational Outreach and Programming for Opera Western
Reserve. Lauren is one of the recipients of the Youngstown Opera Guild’s Giorgio Tozzi Scholarship
for the 2007-2008 school year. Recent roles include Chambermaid in Amelia Goes to the Ball and
3rd Knitter in Game of Chance. In fall 2006, Lauren was a featured soloist with the Dana Orchestra.
She is an active member of the Dana Vocal Society, of which she was president for the 2006-2007
school year. She is also involved with the Dana Vocal Performance Clinic, and has served as an
assistant voice teacher for the past two years.
Max J. Pivik, baritone, a native of Pittsburgh, is a Senior Vocal Performance major at Youngstown
State University. He has appeared in productions with the Dana Performing Arts Series, Opera
Circle and Opera Western Reserve. Max’s previous operatic roles include, The Husband in Amelia
Goes to the Ball, Signor Deluso in Signor Deluso, Marullo in Rigoletto, and Gianni Schicchi in Gianni
Schicchi. Max has been a participant in several Valley Lyric Opera masterclasses with Maestro
Francisco Casanova. He also serves as the Assistant Choral Director and Conductor at Trinity United
Methodist Church in Youngstown Ohio. As a successful competitor Max took First Place at the 2006
Tri-State NATS competition, and won the Dana Young Artist Competition.
Carrie Minenok, soprano, is in her third year as a vocal education major at Dana School of Music studying with Misook Yun. Carrie has performed as a soloist with the Dana Orchestra singing
the Exsultate Jubilate in the Mozart Celebration Concert. She has been seen in the operatic roles
of Clara in Signor Deluso, the title character of Little Red Riding Hood, Knitter #1 in A Game of
Chance, Lauretta in Gianni Schicchi and Mademoiselle Warbewell in The Impresario. Carrie is the
winner of the Youngstown Music Teacher Association Competition as well as the most recent recipient of the Giorgio Tozzi Scholarship and the Ohio Federation of Music Club Scholarship.
Matthew Miles, tenor, is a graduate of Boardman High School, in his fourth year at Youngstown
State University and studies with Dr. Allan Mosher. Current operatic roles include The Lover in Amelia Goes to the Ball, Leon in Signor Deluso, Gherardo in Gianni Schicchi and a professional debut as
Borsa in Rigoletto with Opera Western Reserve. Matthew was a student of the Opera Theatre and
Music Festival of Lucca, Italy in 2007 and 2008 under partial scholarship from the Youngstown Opera Guild. After graduation he plans to attend graduate school to attain his Master’s and Doctoral
degrees. He hopes to someday perform opera professionally as well as teach voice at the university level.
Elizabeth Walker, mezzo-soprano, is a junior vocal education major at Youngstown State University. Miss Waker is also working towards a minor in piano at the Dana School of Music. Her previous
opera credits include The Friend in Amelia Goes to the Ball and Zita in Gianni Schicchi. Miss Walker
has also performed in the chorus of Opera Western Reserve’s Rigoletto. Originally from Natrona
Heights, Pennsylvania, she is an active member of the Zeta Tau Alpha sorority and the Dana School
of Music Chorale.
Karen Lyn DeBartolo-Fisher, pianist, is a life-long Boardman resident. She received her Bachelor
of Music Education degree, graduating Summa Cum Laude, from Oral Roberts University in Tulsa,
Oklahoma, where her roommate was the now-famous, Kathie Lee Gifford. Karen studied piano
with Andrej Wasowski, and did a great deal of accompanying while at ORU, including for Opera
Workshop, traveling with the ORU choir on tour, as well as performing with Kathie Lee.
Presently, Karen Lyn is very proud to spend a large part of her time accompanying for the music
departments of the Boardman School system. She is also honored to be the accompanist for Symphonette, a division of the Youngstown Symphony Youth Orchestra.
Save the Dates
Sept 26- Oct 4 Company
The Youngstown Playhouse
The Youngstown Playhouse, Youngstown
330.788.8739
Sun Oct 5 Don Giovanni on the Web
The Royal Opera House in London
www.roh.org.uk
Oct 5, 8 Sun 2pm, Wed 7pm Il Barbiere di Siviglia
Cedar Lee Theater
Oct 10, 11 Pygmalion
Opera Circle
Nov 13-16, 21-23 Little Women The Musical
Youngstown State University Theater
Nov 14, 16 Lucia di Lammermoor
Opera Circle
Sat Oct 11 8 pm Motown Spectacular, The Contours DeYor Performing Arts Center
Youngstown
330.744.0264
Various Venues, Cleveland
216.441.2822
Sat Nov 15 8 pm Artist & Conductor
Youngstown Symphony Orchestra
Cleveland Nov 15, 18, 21, 23 The Grapes of Wrath
440.564.2030 Pittsburgh Opera
Various Venues, Cleveland
216.441.2822
Bliss Hall, Youngstown
330.941.3105
DeYor PAC, Youngstown
330.744.0264
Benedum Center, Pittsburgh
412.456.6666
Sun Nov 16 7 pm Steve March Torme
Stambaugh Auditorium, Monday Musical Club
Youngstown
330.743.2717
Tue Nov 18 7:30 pm The Cleveland Orchestra
E.J. Thomas Hall, Tuesday Musical
Akron
330.972.7570
Sat Oct 11 1 pm Salome- Strauss
Tinseltown Theater, Boardman Sat Nov 22 1 pm La Damnation de Faust
Tinseltown Theater, Boardman
Encore Broadcast: Wed. October 22 7pm
330.965.2335 Encore Broadcast: Wed. December 3 7 pm
330.965.2335
Sat Oct 18 8pm Universe of Music
Youngstown Symphony Orchestra
DeYor PAC, Youngstown
330.744.0264
Oct 18, 21, 24, 26 Samson et Dalila
Pittsburgh Opera
Benedum Center, Pittsburgh
412.456.6666
Nov 26, 30 Sun 2pm, Wed 7pm Romeo et Juliette
Cedar Lee Theater
Cleveland
440.564.2030
Sat Nov 29 Michael W. Smith, Melinda Doolittle
Chevrolet Centre
Youngstown
330.746.7267
Sun Oct 19 Lunch and Concert: Soprano Misook Yun
Youngstown, Stambaugh/Christman Hall
12:30 pm Sun Nov 30, Dec 1 How the Drag Queen Stole Christmas
330.259.0555 The Oakland Center for the Arts (Fundraiser)
Wed Oct 22 7:30 pm The 5 Browns
E.J. Thomas Hall, Tuesday Musical
Akron Wed Dec 3 7 pm Carols and Cocoa
330.972.7570 Dana School of Music and Stambaugh Chorus
Sat Oct 25 8 pm Lonestar
Stambaugh Auditorium, Monday Musical Club
Youngstown
330.743.2717
Fri Dec 5-20 BIG, The Musical
The Youngstown Playhouse
Youngstown
330.788.8739
Oct 26, 29 Sun 2pm, Wed 7pm
Cedar Lee Theater
Cleveland
440.564.2030
Sat Dec 6 8 pm Celtic Holiday, Leahy
DeYor Performing Arts Center
Youngstown
330.744.0264
Sun Dec 7 Lunch and Concert: Dana Trinity Brass
Youngstown, Stambaugh/Christman Hall
12:30 pm
330.259.0555
Sat Nov 8 1 pm Doctor Atomic
Tinseltown Theater, Boardman
Encore Broadcast: Wed. November 19 7pm
330.965.2335
Sun Dec 14 7 pm Debby Boone
Stambaugh Auditorium, Monday Musical Club
Youngstown
330.743.2717
Nov 12-15 Beatrice et Benedict
Cleveland Institute of Music
Dec 14, 17 Sun 2pm, Wed 7pm Don Giovanni
Cedar Lee Theater
Cleveland
440.564.2030
Norma
Oct 31, Nov 2, 8 Hansel und Gretel
Opera Cleveland
Nov 12, 16 Sun 2pm, Wed 7pm Otello
Cedar Lee Theater
State Theater, Cleveland
216.575.0903
Kulas Hall, Cleveland
261.791.5000
Cleveland
440.564.2030
Sat Dec 20 12 pm Thais
Encore Broadcast: Wed. January 7 7 pm
Youngstown
330.746.0404
Stambaugh Auditorium
330.941.3636
Tinseltown Theater, Boardman
330.965.2335
Contents
Madama Butterfly Preview
1000 Fifth Avenue
Youngstown, OH 44504-1673
Our Young Artists
Musical Calendar
(Including The Met at Tinseltown
and La Scala at Cedar Lee)
We’d like to thank...
The Youngstown Opera Guild
Home Savings Charitable Foundation
Denise and John York Fund, Youngstown
Jane F. Lamb Charitable Foundation
The Youngstown Foundation
The Youngstown Opera Guild
Ruth H. Beecher Charitable Trust
... for their Support
Opera Western Reserve
Patricia Fleck Kavic, Chairman/General Director
Susan Davenny Wyner, Music Director/Conductor
David L. Vosburgh, General Manager/Production Director
“...High artistic quality of productions.”