Carmen - Opera Western Reserve

Editors:
Bernadette Lim
Jacqueline Bibo
Johnnethen Pierce
Volume 4
Contributors:
David Vosburgh
Diana Farrell
OPERa Western Reserve, Youngstown, OHIO
Fall 2009
Introducing the cast of
Carmen
Jennifer Barsamian, Mezzo Soprano (Carmen)
“A consummate artist with winning personality and a deep, rich strong vocalism,” Barsamian, was most recently heard in the title role in Carmen with New
Jersey Verismo Opera and with Dell’Arte Opera in NYC. This past year, Jennifer was heard as the soloist in the Vaughn Williams Magnificat with the West
Hartford Symphony Orchestra. Last year, Jennifer sang excerpts from Carmen in a concert with the Queens Choral Society and Orchestra featuring the
Metropolitan Opera soprano, Erika Sunnegårdh. In recent seasons, Jennifer has been heard at Asheville Lyric Opera, Opera Company of the Highlands,
and Utah Festival Opera. Also, a participant at the Cleveland Art Song Festival, Jennifer sang in master classes with renowned artists such as Martin Katz,
Warren Jones, David Daniels, and Stephanie Blythe. Jennifer holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Music from Westminster Choir College, a Master of Music
Degree from North Carolina School of the Arts and a Performance Artist Certificate from the A.J. Fletcher Opera Institute in North Carolina.
Dione Parker Bennett, Soprano (Micaela)
Bennett’s voice has been heard in recitals, operas, and guest appearances across the country. She has performed operatic roles such as Bess in Porgy and
Bess; Mimi in La Boheme, Gertrude in Hansel and Gretel, and Lucy in Treemonisha. Her oratorio performances include Handel’s Messiah, Beethoven’s Mass
in C, Schubert’s Mass in G, Dubois’ Seven Last Words of Christ, and Mozart’s Vespers. More recently, she sang the role of Suor Genevieffa in Puccini’s
Suor Angelica with the Metropolitan Chamber Orchestra of Columbus. Recently, she was featured in the Cantilena Concert Series Rags to Riches at the
Columbus Museum of Art. Bennett is currently on the faculty at Ashland University. Her studies have taken her to the American Institute of Musical Studies in
Graz, Australia. Bennett is a graduate of the University of Akron and a doctoral candidate at the University of Illinios. Her upcoming endeavors include a
returning performance with the Cantilena Concert Series in December and a featured performance at King Arts Center in Columbus, Ohio.
Rachel Copeland, Soprano (Mercedes)
Rachel Copeland has recently completed her coursework as a doctoral student at Indiana University, where she studies with Distinguished Professor of
Music, Timothy Noble and coached with Carol Vaness. Most recently, Ms. Copeland worked with New Jersey Opera as the cover for the title role in Lucia
di Lammermoore, with the San Diego Opera as Fiorgiligi in Cosi fan tutte, and Nell in Rumpelstiltskin for their Outreach and Educational tours. She has
also recently appeared as Papagena in Indianapolis Opera’s production of The Magic Flute, Musetta in La Boheme at DuPage Opera, and Mabel in The
Pirates of Penzance at Louisiana Lyric Opera. While a student at Indiana University, Ms. Copeland performed frequently with Indianapolis Opera and
their Young Artist and outreach programs in performances ranging from Violetta in La Traviata to Donna Elvira in Don Giovanni. She has studied various
roles such as Adina in L’elisir d’amore and Abigail in The Crucible with the world-famous Martina Arroyo.
Clayton Hilley, Tenor (Don Jose)
Since his debut with OPERA Western Reserve as Pinkerton in Madama Butterfly, Mr. Hilley has been seen in opera companies from New York to the Rocky
Mountains in a wide variety of operatic roles. In November of 2008, he debuted with the Opera Studio of the Manhattan School of Music in the dramatic
tenor role of Rodrigue in scenes from Massanet’s Le Cid. Later in the spring, with MSM Opera Studio, he sang the role of Alfred in Johann Strauss, Jr.’s
comic masterpiece Die Fledermaus. Immediately after completing his studies at MSM, he sang the role of Froh in Wagner’s Das Rheingold, a production of
the Indianapolis Opera and Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra. Mr. Hilley then spent the remainder of the summer with Central City Opera as a resident
Apprentice Artist. There, he sang two roles: Arolodo, in Handel’s Rinaldo and Edgardo in Donizetti’s Lucia di Lammermoor. He now lives in Boston, MA
where he is a resident Fellow in the Opera Institute at Boston University.
Marie Masters, Soprano (Frasquita)
Ms. Masters was born and raised in Fairlawn, Ohio and received her Bachelor of Music degree from the Oberlin Conservatory of Music. Ms. Masters
appeared as a soloist in Vivalidi’s Gloria, Stravinsky’s Le Rossignol, Four Russian Peasant Songs, and as the Trainbearer in Elektra with the Cleveland
Orchestra. Recent engagements include covering the roles of Pisana in I Due Foscari and Ännchen in Der Freischütz for Opera Orchestra of New York. Ms.
Masters won an Encouragement Award in the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions. She is currently pursuing a Master of Music degree at Indiana University, where she studies with Costanza Cuccaro. Her roles with IU Opera Theatre include Gilda in Rigoletto, Gretel in Hansel and Gretel, Madame
Pompous in Too Many Sopranos, and Mercedes in Carmen. The Cleveland Plain Dealer called Ms. Masters, “...as feisty and endearing a Susanna [Le Nozze
di Figaro] as you’re likely to find on any collegiate stage, not to mention more than a few professional ones.”
Philippe Pierce, Tenor (El Remendado)
Mr. Pierce is earning critical acclaim as a singing actor in the character tenor repertoire. Of his recent portrayal in A Little Night Music, Opera News
said, “Henrik was quite well played and sung by Philippe Pierce, who... was capable of singing the highest notes easily, without resorting to falsetto...”
and highly complimented his acting. The Cleveland Plain Dealer exclaimed, “Bravos, too, to Philippe Pierce, who brings incisive zest to the roles of Don
Basilio and Don Curzio, “ in Le Nozze di Figaro. More recent engagements include Prunier in La Rondine, Giuseppe in La Traviata, Frederic in The Pirates
of Penzance, Marc in the World Premier Production of Florida, Don Ottavio in Don Giovanni, and Ernesto in Don Pasquale. Mr. Pierce is also a frequent
performer in New England. He recieved his BA in Theater Arts from Brown University and an MM from the New England Conservatory. While at Brown,
Mr. Pierce was the recipient of the Weston Fine Arts Award. He has also performed in Emma at the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC.
Max J. Pivik, Baritone (El Dancairo)
See photo and biography in “The OPERA Western Reserve Young Artists” section (Page 2)
Scott Skiba, Baritone (Escamillo)
Mr. Skiba has sung with the Indianapolis Opera, Bloomington Music Works, Oberlin Opera Theater, Louisiana Lyric Opera, Olney Theater Center, DuPage
Opera Theater, Indiana University Opera Theater, Opera Western Reserve and the Pittsburgh Opera. His Oratorio and concert performances include
the Bloomington Symphony Orchestra, Akron Symphony, Oberlin Black River Singers, Cleveland Choral Arts Society, Columbus Symphony, Cincinnati
Pops Orchestra, guest recitalist at The Oberlin Conservatory of Music and featured soloist in The McGraw Hill Companies’ Young Artists Showcase, on
96.3 WQXR - The Classical Radio Station of the New York Times. Skiba completed doctoral coursework with internationally acclaimed baritone and
Distinguished Professor of Music, Timothy Noble at the Indiana University. Skiba began his vocal training with Mr. Greg Biddle and received a bachelor’s
degree in vocal performance and a master’s degree in opera theater from the Oberlin Conservatory of Music where he was a student of Daune Mahy.
We wish to welcome Ballet Western Reserve’s Artistic Director, Richard Dickinson and his dancers Kendall Garczewski and Jens Lee.
The OPERA Western Reserve Young Artists
Lindsey Ann Anderson, mezzo soprano, received her Masters degree from the Cleveland Institute of Music in May of 2009.
She is continuing her studies at the Institute in the studio of Dr. Mary Schiller. At CIM, Ms. Anderson performed the opera roles:
La Zia Principessa in Suor Angelica, Ursule in Béatrice et Bénédict, and Third Lady in Die Zauberflöte. In July of 2008, Ms. Anderson
attended the Bay Area Summer Opera Theatre Institute in San Francisco. At BASOTI she sang the role of Zita in Puccini’s Gianni
Schicchi and performed in several scenes from Britten’s The Rape of Lucretia and Bizet’s Carmen.
Diana Farrell, soprano, recently made her professional debut as the Countess in the Crested Butte Music Festival’s Le Nozze
di Figaro. Other recent performances include the title role of Amelia Goes to the Ball, Mother in Little Red Riding Hood, Countess
Ceprano in Rigoletto, 2nd Knitter in Game of Chance, and Madame Heartmelt in Impresario. Concert engagements include a
performance of Berlioz’s Les Nuits d’été with the Dana Orchestra and soprano soloist in the Messiah with the Westfield Festival
Choir in Westfield, Massachusetts. Currently completing her Artist Diploma with Dr. Mary Schiller at the Cleveland Institute
of Music, Ms. Farrell serves as the Director of Educational Outreach Programming for OPERA Western Reserve where she
performs regularly as a Young Artist.
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.
Shafica Kaleel, mezzo-soprano, is a senior with a major in English and minor in Music at Youngstown State University. In
November 2008, she performed selected opera scenes from Eugene Onégin and Albert Herring with the opera workshop. Ms. Kaleel
appeared in the role of Laurie Moss in the production of The Tender Land with the university in April 2009. Ms. Kaleel is currently
in the voice studio of Dr. Misook Yun and hopes to pursue a Masters degree in Vocal Performance upon graduation.
Matthew Miles, tenor, is a graduate of Boardman High School, in his senior year at Youngstown State University and studies with
Dr. Allan Mosher. He made his professional debut as Borsa in Rigoletto with Opera Western Reserve, and was last seen on the OWR
stage as Goro in Madama Butterfly in 2008. Mr. Miles’ operatic roles include The Lover in Amelia Goes to the Ball, Leon in Signor Deluso, and Gherardo in Gianni Schicchi. 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.
Marcel Worrell Miller, tenor, is a native of Washington, D.C. and a graduate of the Duke Ellington School of the Arts. He
attends the Cleveland Institute of Music, where he studies with Clifford Billions. Mr. Miller has performed numerous roles with
the CIM Opera Theatre, including Gastone in La Traviata, Dr. Blind in Die Fledermaus, Basilio and Don Curzio in Le Nozze di Figaro,
and Monastatos in The Magic Flute. He has also appeared in scenes as Tarara in Utopia, Limited and the Clerk in The Ballad of Baby
Doe.
Carrie Minenok, soprano, is completing her music studies at the Dana School of Music at Youngstown State University. In
her time as a student there, she has performed in numerous roles including Lauretta in Gianni Schicchi, Laurie in The Tender Land,
Mademoiselle Warblewell in The Impresario, and Clara in Signor Deluso. Carrie has also performed the role of Kate Pinkerton in
OPERA Western Reserve’s 2008 production of Madama Butterfly. As a recitalist, Carrie has performed Mozart’s Exsultate Jubilate
and Canteloube’s Chants d’Auvergne with the Dana Symphony Orchestra. Carrie’s awards include winner of the Giorgio Tozzi
Scholarship and the Dana Young Artist competition. Following graduation in the spring, Carrie plans to spend a summer in Italy
studying opera, and to then pursue a Masters Degree in Vocal Performance.
Robert Pierce, baritone, is a native of Painesville, Ohio. He has sung the title role in Haydn’s The Apothecary, Claudio in Béatrice et
Bénédict, Mr. Ford in The Merry Wives of Windsor, Husband in Amelia Goes to the Ball, and Frank in Die Fledermaus. He has also sung
in the Opera Cleveland chorus and as a soloist with the Westerville Symphony. In 2008, Mr. Pierce graduated with a Bachelor of
Music dgree from Otterbein College, and he currently attends the Cleveland Institute of Music in the studio of Clifford Billions.
Max J. Pivik, baritone, is a Senior Vocal Performance major at Youngstown State University. He has appeared in productions
with the Dana Performing Arts Series, Opera Circle of Cleveland and OPERA Western Reserve. Max’s previous operatic roles
include Dottore Malestesta in Don Pasquale, Sharpless, The Bonze and Prince Yamadori in Madama Butterfly, Top in Tenderland, the
Husband in Amelia Goes to the Ball, Signor Deluso in Signor Deluso, Marullo in Rigoletto, Gianni Schicchi in Gianni Schicchi, Antonio
in Le Nozze di Figaro, Dottore Grenville in La Traviata, and Peter in Hansel and Gretel. He has been a participant in several Valley
Lyric Opera masterclasses with Maestro Francisco Casanova. Mr. Pivik is the Educational Outreach Associate Director for
OPERA Western Reserve. He currently serves as the Music Director and Choral Conductor at Trinity United Methodist Church in
Youngstown Ohio. As a successful competitor Max has won numerous NATS competitions including, first Place at the 2009 Great
Lakes Region NATS competition. He is also a winner of the Dana Young Artist Competition.
How We Spent Our Summer...
The OPERA Western Reserve family has been busy with exciting events this
summer. Music Director, Susan Davenny Wyner recently conducted Mozart’s
Cosi Fan Tutte at Boston University. Maestra Wyner and her husband, American
composer, Yehudi Wyner, released a recording of four major works. Included
in the recording is Mr. Wyner’s piano concerto “Chiavi in Mano” which was
awarded the 2006 Pulitzer Prize for music. Taken from The New York Times,
Sunday, May 31, 2009, “A comprehensive musician, Mr. Wyner is an elegant
pianist, a fine conductor, a prolific composer and a revered teacher.” The article
also praises Maestra Wyner for her “…rapturous account” of Mr. Wyner’s three
other works.
General Manager and Production Director, David Vosburgh directed
and musically staged a production of “Guys and Dolls” for the Brunswick Alumni
Community Theatre this past July. He has also been diligently constructing the
Farrell as Countess Almaviva (on left) singing “Sull’aria” with castmate
set for Carmen. Ben Legow, son of Vice Chairperson, Elliot Legow, Esq., has
Kara Guggenmos as Susanna.
been traveling through Kyrgyzstan in Central Asia as a Peace Corps volunteer.
He has been teaching English as a foreign language to children for two years, and is expected to teach for another two. In his descriptive journal-style letters to home, he provides entertaining insight to his experiences in Kyrgyzstan. They may be found on “www.vindy.
com.” Brian Keith Johnson, who has performed with us in Pagliacci, La Boheme, The Marriage of Figaro, and most recently in Madama
Butterfly was busy portraying the macho Roman general, Miles Gloriosus in A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum at Porthouse Theatre. Taken from various reviews, Johnson was said to “[have] a great voice” and was a “booming Miles Gloriosus.”
OWR’s Young Artists have been involved in various opera productions. Educational Outreach Director, Diana Farrell has
been busy at the Crested Butte Music Festival making her professional major debut as Countess Almaviva in Mozart’s The Marriage
of Figaro. During the production, Farrell worked with Conductor, David Syrus, who is the head of the Royal Opera in Covent Garden
and Stage Director, Sarah Myers, who will be directing the Metropolitan Opera this upcoming year. Educational Outreach Associate Director, Max J. Pivik, spent some time at the Pierce Opera House singing as Dr. Malatesta in Valley Lyric Opera’s production of
Don Pasquale. Other appearances include former Educational Outreach Director, Corinne Morini as Norina and Sofronia and current
Young Artist, Matthew Miles singing Ernesto. Barbara Luce from the Costume Kingdom dressed the performers to perfection with her
beautiful costumes. Also, Young Artist, Robert Pierce is featured on page 85 in an advertisement for the Cleveland Institute of Music in
the September issue of Classical Singer.
Our Carmen cast is busily wrapping up their summer projects as they prepare for November’s performance! Jennifer Barsamian, who will appear as Carmen in the fall, was most recently heard in the same opera with New Jersey Verismo Opera and with
Dell ‘Arte Opera in New York City. Barsamian also sang a reading of Rigoletto as Maddalena with Sing Through Central in NYC. This
month, Barsamian will be singing in Long Island Opera’s Gala Concert which features opera favorites by composers such as Puccini,
Verdi, Bizet, and Mozart. Scott Skiba, our Escamillo, was busy educating the talent in Italy. Skiba was on the faculty at the Oberlin in
Italy program in Arezzo. More recently, he taught an arts/music/culture program in Urbania, Italy. Returning to the OWR stage as Don
Jose, Clayton Hilley made his debut with Central City Opera Company singing the role of Edgardo in Lucia di Lammermoor this July.
In May, “audiences heard his young but powerful voice” in the role of Froh in Das Rheingold for Indianapolis Opera and Indianapolis
Symphony Orchestra. At the Manhattan School of Music, Hilley performed the role of AlOrchestral Works by Yehudi Wyner and
fred in Die Fledermaus “to great comic success.” Rachel Copeland, who will sing the role of
Susan Davenny Wyner
Mercedes, has been covering the title role in Lucia di Lammermoor with Opera New Jersey.
She will be singing excerpts of the opera with the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra. Prior to
singing the role of Carmen’s El Ramendado this fall, Philippe Pierce will be in performances
of La Traviata as Gastone for Dayton Opera in October.
What’s summertime without a wedding? We are excited to present newlyweds Mr.
and Mrs. Robert Maine! Formerly known as OWR’s Young Artist, Lauren Hess, the Maines
tied the knot on July 29th in a touching ceremony. Additionally, our Escamillo, Scott Skiba has
fallen for gypsy girl, Rachel Copeland. OWR would like to congratulate soon to be Mr. and
Mrs. Scott Skiba, who will declare their wedding vows on October 24th.
OPERA Western Reserve is excited and busily preparing for Carmen. Don’t forget
to come see it on Friday, November 6, 2009 at 8 PM. It will be performed at Stambaugh
Auditorium. Tickets go on sale October 1st (330)480-0693. OPERA Western Reserve hopes
that you all had a wonderful and relaxing summer, and look forward to seeing you in
November!
Save the Dates
Be sure to tune in to 88.5WYSU-FM & HD-1 for NPR World of Opera every Monday at 8 PM!
Sept
Various Performances
YSU Dana School of Music
Sat Sept 12 , 3PM
Stambaugh Chorus
Youngstown State University Sat Sept 12, 8 PM
Broadway Now!
330.941.3636 Youngstown Symphony Ochestra
Community Outreach Festival
Wellman Theater
330.759.1819
Sat Sept 26, 8PM
Expanding Musical Boundaries
Youngstown Symphony Orchestra
DeYor PAC
330.744.0264
Sun Oct 4, 7PM Herman’s Hermits with Peter Noone
Stambaugh Auditorium
Fri Oct 9, 8PM
Jazz Concert
YSU Dana School of Music
Sat Oct 10, 8PM
Amadeus Live!
Youngstown Symphony Orchestra
Sept 26, 29 Oct 2,4
Pittsburgh Opera
Eugene Onegin
Benedum Theatre
412.281.0912
Chanticleer: National Premier
Sat Oct 10, 1PM
Metropolitan Opera
E.J. Thomas Hall
330.972.2342
Tosca Live Telecast
Tinseltown Movie Theater
Encore: 10/28 6:30PM
330.965.2335
DeYor Performing Arts Center Wed Oct 14, 8PM
330.744.0264 Cleveland Institute Of Music
Wed Oct 14, 8PM
City Music Cleveland
Free Concert, Reservations Required
Diana Farrell, Soprano
CIM
216.791.5000
Stambaugh Auditorium Sun Oct 18, 7PM Rescue Concert w/ Ron Chick Stambaugh Auditorium
330.259.0555 Angels for Animals/Rescue Mission of the Mahoning Valley 330.259.0555
Sat Oct 24, 1PM
Aida Live Telecast
Tinseltown Movie Theater
Metropolitan Opera
Encore: 11/11 6:30PM
330.965.2335
Oct 30-Nov1, 7
Opera Cleveland
Sun Sept 20, 12 PM
Sundays at Stambaugh: Carmen Preview
Stambaugh Auditorium, OPERA Western Reserve
330.259.0555
Monday Musical Tue Oct 6, 7:30PM
330.743.2717 Tuesday Musical
Stambaugh Auditorium
330.941.3636
DeYor Performing Arts Center
330.744.0264
Don Giovanni by Mozart
Oct 24, 27, 30, Nov 1
Pittsburgh Opera
Falstaff by Verdi
Benedum Theatre
412.281.0912
State Theatre Fri Nov 6, 8PM
Carmen by Bizet
216.575.0903 OPERA Western Reserve
Stambaugh Auditorium
330.480.0693
Sat Nov 7, 1PM
Turandot Live Telecast
Tinseltown Movie Theater
Metropolitan Opera
Encore: 11/18 6:30PM
330.965.2335
Sun Nov 8, 12PM An International Musical Journey
Sundays at Stambaugh
Stambaugh Auditorium
330.259.0555
Nov 12-22
University Theater
Thurs Nov 12, 8PM
Monday Musical Club
The Lovin’ Spoonful
Stambaugh Auditorium
330.743.2717
Sun Nov 15, 3PM
Tuesday Musical
The Cleveland Orchestra
The Baker’s Wife
Youngstown State University
330.941.3105
Sat Nov 14, 8PM
Bach to Brahms
Youngstown Symphony Orchestra
Sat Nov 21, 1PM & 7:30PM
Ballet Western Reserve
Sun Nov 29, 3PM
Sinatra Tribute
DeYor Performing Arts Center
330.744.0264
The Nutcracker
Joey Thomas Big Band
Stambaugh Auditorium
330.744.1934
Sun Nov 22, 3PM
Stories & Pictures featuring Peter and the Wolf
Warren Philharmonic Orchestra
330.399.3606
Stambaugh Auditorium Wed Dec 2, 7PM Handel’s Messiah & Carol’s and Cocoa
330.259.0555 Stambaugh Chorus, Dana School of Music
Tue Dec 8, 7PM
Holiday Concert
Stambaugh Youth Concert Band
Stambaugh Auditorium
330.259-0555
Sat Dec 12, 8PM Holiday Spectacular
Youngstown Symphony Orchestra
Sat Dec 19, 1PM Les Coutes d’Hoffmann Live Tinseltown Movie Theater
Metropolitan Opera
Encore: 1/6 6:30PM
330.965.2335
Thurs Dec 31, 4PM-midnight
Various Venues
Thurs Dec 31, 4PM-midnight
Various Venues
Sat Jan 9, 2010, 1PM
Metropolitan Opera
Sat Jan 16, 2010, 1PM
Metropolitan Opera
Sat Feb 6, 2010, 1PM
Metropolitan Opera
First Night Canfield
Carmen Live Telecast
Encore: 2/3 6:30PM
330.533.2290
Tinseltown Movie Theater
330.965.2335
Simon Boccanegra Live Tinseltown Movie Theater
Encore: 2/24 6:30PM
330.965.2335
Jan 30-Feb 7, 2010
Pittsburgh Opera
First Night Youngstown
Sat Feb 13, 2010, 8PM
Symphonic Valentine
Youngstown Symphony Orchestra
> Ford Ave.
<
<
Stambaugh Auditorium
>
5th Ave.
<
>
Ford Ave.
> Carolina Ave.
Now a 2 way street
Parking
Park Ave. <
Now a 2 way street
<---- S to Rt. 422
To -->
Belmont Ave.
<-- To
Belmont Ave.
<
330.744.9966
Der Rosenkavalier Live Tinseltown Movie Theater
Encore: 1/27 6:30PM
330.965.2335
The Rape of Lucretia
Additional Parking
Stambaugh Aud.
330.259.0555
DeYor Performing Arts Center
330.744.0264
Parking Map at Stambaugh Auditorium
Featuring New 2 Way Streets
Ford Ave.
E.J. Thomas Hall
330.972.2342
> N to Gypsy Lane ---->
Park
Ave.
Wick Park
Benedum Theater
412.281.0912
DeYor PAC
330.744.0264
Listen to Live Opera &
Buy a Book
at the Barnes & Noble Book Fair!
Who: OPERA Western Reserve’s Young Artists
What: Fun with Opera
an interactive opera improvisation performance
Where: Barnes & Noble
381 Boardman-Poland Road
Boardman, OH 44512
(located in the Shops at Boardman Park)
(330)629-9562
When: Tuesday, October 13th at 6:30 PM
In celebration of Education Week, Barnes & Noble
is showing their support for OWR’s eductaional
outreach program through Bookfair Vouchers.
By presenting a voucher (located on the back of this
sheet) when making a Barnes & Noble purchase, a
percentage of the net sale will be donated to
OPERA Western Reserve!
Carmen
Bizet’s Carmen caused a scandal when it first opened at the Opéra-Comique in Paris. Not because the title role is an amoral
gypsy woman who seduces a young soldier, causing him to leave his hometown sweetheart, desert his regiment, and join her
band of gypsy smugglers, and not because she immediately dumps him for a dashing bullfighter. None of this was shocking to
late 19th century Parisian audiences. The scandal was because Carmen starts out in typical comic opera fashion, with choruses
of exotic gypsy ladies, strutting dragoons, and merry villagers. Then, the opera turns dark and ominous. Carmen reads her
fatal doom in her cards which predict her death at the hands of her jilted soldier boy. When Carmen was stabbed to death at
the end of the opera, it was the first time a character had “died” on the stage of the Opéra-Comique.
However, the opera-lover’s infatuation with Carmen has only seemed to grow in the years since its 1872 debut. With its
soaring melodies and raw passions have proved their stage-worthiness by making it one of the most performed operas ever.
The “good boy,” Don Jose, lured away by the “bad girl,” Carmen, to their mutual destruction, is as primal as the image of the
moth to the flame, and just as inevitable.
Bizet and his two librettists, Meilhac and Halévy, Frenchman all, were able to pluck their characters (and, adding a few
not found there) from the novel by another Frenchman, Prosper Mérimeé, and “musicalize” them into the very epitome of
the hot-blooded Spaniards in our imaginations. Mix together such colorful images as young soldiers, bullfighters, and Gypsy
smugglers, and you have the recipe for a rousing tale of love and jealousy, excitement and danger, all safely on the other side of
the orchestra pit.
Carmen will be performed on the stage of historic Stambaugh Auditorium on Friday, November 6, 2009 at 8 PM. Tickets
will go on sale starting October 1st and may be purchased at the OPERA Western Reserve Box office 1000 Fifth Avenue,
Youngstown, OH 44504 or via phone (330)480-0693.
hOPERA
Western Reserve dedicates this performance of Carmen to the memory of
Elizabeth Louise “Betty” Allen
(1927-2009)
Betty Allen, born in Campbell, Ohio, was a distinguished mezzo-soprano, and one of the first African-American “singers to achieve
prominence on the international opera stage.” She was the executive director of the Harlem School of the Arts from 1979 to 1992.
Allen taught voice at the Manhattan School of Music where she remained on staff until her death.g
Carmen
8 p.m. Friday, November 6, 2009
Stambaugh Auditoriu m
Ticket Order Form
Box Office Opens October 1st
Call 330.480.0693 between 12 and 6 p.m. M onday-Friday for Further Information
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[ ] Check Enclosed
If you would like to support OWR by becoming an Underwriter, please contact the office for donor levels and benefits.
Payment Fo rm
[ ] Visa
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Please Charge my
A
Additional Free Parking
Handicapped Accessible
C
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A S
T
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A E
Balcony
Account No: ____________________________________________________
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A: $60
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D: $15
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First Floor Orchestra*
*Premium Prices for some First Floor Orchestra Locations
Exp iration Date:________ Signature:________________________________
Mail: Opera Western Reserve
1000 Fifth Avenue
Youngstown, OH 44504
Fax: 330.480.0775
Warning: OWR does not accept
online ticket purchases due to the
rise in ticket scamming. We accept
orders by phone, mail, or in person.
Contents
Introducing the Cast of Carmen
The OWR Young Artists
How We Spent our Summer
Save the Dates!
Stambaugh Auditorium Parking Map
About Carmen
A dedication to Betty Allen
Ticket Order Form
1000 Fifth Avenue
Youngstown, OH 44504-1673
We’d like to thank...
Ruth H. Beecher Charitable Trust
Walter & Helen Bender Memorial Fund
Zita M. and Joseph DiYorio Charitable Foundation
Frank and Pearl E. Gelbman Charitable Trust
Home Savings Charitable Foundation
Internet Data Management, Inc.
Jane F. Lamb Charitable Foundation
William B. Pollock II & Kathryn Challiss Pollock Foundation
Aimee and Lulu Seidel Foundation
Walter E. and Caroline H. Watson Foundation
The Raymond John Wean Foundation
The Youngstown Foundation
The Youngstown Opera Guild
... for their support!
Opera Western Reserve
Patricia Fleck Kavic, Chairperson/General Director
Susan Davenny Wyner, Music Director/Conductor
David L. Vosburgh, General Manager/Production Director
PERA
Western Reserve
Friday November 6th, 2009 8pm
Stambaugh Auditorium, Youngstown
Susan Davenny Wyner, Music Director
David Vosburgh, Stage Director
“...High artistic quality of productions.”
Carmen
By Georges Bizet
In French With English Supertitles
omaliaphoto
Free on-site Parking
Tickets $15 $30 $45 $60
Ticket Information and reservations call 330.480.0693
Tickets go on sale October 1
Opera Western Reserve 1000 Fifth Avenue Youngstown, OH 44504
(330) 480-0693
www.operawesternreserve.org