la bohème - Stageview

PALM
BEACH
OPERA
LA BOHÈME
By Giacomo Puccini
JANUARY 16-18, 2015
Kravis Center for the Performing Arts
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WHAT’S
INSIDE
2015 SEASON
Board of Directors | 8
Message from the Chairman | 11
Message from the General Director | 13
La Bohème | 17
Cast of Characters | 18
Synopsis of Scenes | 20
Cast Biographies | 22
Palm Beach Opera Orchestra | 29
Production Personnel | 30
Contributors | 34
Palm Beach Opera Guild | 46
Palm Beach Opera Staff | 51
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MARCH 21, 2015
Kravis Center for the Performing Arts
LaBoheme_ChildrensPerformance.indd 1
12/22/2014 11:49:44 AM
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Board of Directors
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
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Mr. Dennis K. Williams
Chairman
Mr. Sanford H. Fisher
Vice Chairman
Mrs. Gladys Benenson
Vice President
Mrs. Ari Rifkin
Vice President
Dr. David I. Kosowsky
Vice President
Mr. Marc S. Solomon
Vice President
Board of Directors
DIRECTORS
Mr. Sanford Baklor
Dr. Elizabeth Bowden
Ms. Rita Denerstein
Mr. John A. Domenico
Mrs. Annette Y. Friedland
Mrs. Ann Fromer
Mr. Paul A. Goldner
Mr. Charles Gottesman
Mr. Chuck Hardwick
Mr. Peter A. Hoffman
Mrs. Ronnie Isenberg
Mrs. Florence Kaufman
Mrs. Vicki Kellogg
Dr. Marsha Laufer
Mr. Howard Lester
Mrs. Mary M. Montgomery
Mr. John J. Pohanka
RADM Philip Whitacre
EMERITI
Mrs. Claire Chasanoff
Mr. Leon Fassler *
Mrs. Arlette Gordon
Mrs. Virginia Longo
Mrs. Charlotte Miller
Mrs. Sunny Miller
Mrs. Helen K. Persson*
Mr. M. Mac Schwebel
Mrs. Muriel Shapiro
Mrs. Reneé Silvester*
Mrs. Barbara Weimer
BOARD OF GOVERNORS
Dr. & Mrs. Sander M. Abend
Mr. & Mrs. Stephen and Madeline Anbinder
Mrs. Cornelia T. Bailey
Dr. & Mrs. Hans D. Baumann
Mr. & Mrs. William G. Brown
Mrs. Nancy H. Canary & Mr. William Sullivan
Mrs. Ariane Csonka-Comstock
Mr. James Crystal
Mr. & Mrs. Douglas Daft
Ms. Hermine Drezner & Mr. Jan Winkler
Mr. Michael Dyer
Mr. & Mrs. Paul Efron
Mrs. Estelle Fassler, In Memory of Leon Fassler
Mr. & Mrs. Gordon Getty
Mrs. Arlette Gordon
Mr. & Mrs. Allan Greenblatt
Mr. & Mrs. Lee and Peg Greenspon
Mr. & Mrs. Carl H. Hewitt
Mrs. Suzanne Holmes
Mr. Joseph Kerzner & Mrs. Lisa Koeper
Mrs. Charlotte Kimelman
Mr. & Mrs. Ronald S. Kochman
Mrs. Jamie Link
Mrs. Virginia Longo
Mr. & Mrs. George Mann
Mr. Michael McCafferty & Mr. Joseph Horton
Mrs. Hermé de Wyman Miro,
The International Society of Palm Beach
Mr. William Murray, CHA
Mrs. Anka Palitz
Mr. & Mrs. Ellis Parker
Mrs. Lois Pope
Mrs. Rose Price
Mr. & Mrs. Beverlee and John J. Raymond, Jr.
Mr. Israel Schubert
Mr. M. Mac Schwebel
Mrs. Muriel A. Shapiro
Mrs. Rita Taca
Mrs. Karen Tell
Mr. & Mrs. B. Haven Walling, Jr.
Dr. & Mrs. Charles Weissmann
Mrs. Sieglinde Wikstrom
*In memoriam
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Individual Season Honorees
Palm Beach Opera salutes the individuals who make each season possible through their
annual support in the amount of $100,000 or more. (List complete as of 11/15/14)
Mrs. Gladys Benenson
Mrs. Eugene M. Isenberg
Mr. and Mrs. Sanford H. Fisher
Mrs. Mary M. Montgomery
Mr. and Mrs. Dennis K. Williams
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Dear Palm Beach Opera Friends,
On behalf of the Board of Directors and Board of Governors, I’m delighted to welcome
you to our first mainstage production of the season and to thank you for being part of
the Palm Beach Opera family.
Between this weekend’s tragically romantic La Bohème, our first world premiere
performance of an American opera, Enemies, A Love Story in Feburary, and the light
hearted, sparkling The Daughter of the Regiment in March, the 2015 season includes
something exciting for everyone. Moreover, the Children’s Performance matinee of
The Daughter of the Regiment will delight our youngest audiences, and our Gala evening,
Seduction of the Senses, which my wife Roseanne and I are thrilled to chair, features a
performance by Russian star bass Ildar Abdrazakov. We are certain this will be a sell-out
like last year.
The Board of Directors is committed to continuously strengthening its leadership, and
put long-term strategies and endowment plans in place. Last season, we quietly started
our Raise Your Voice! Campaign, with the ambitious goal of raising $18MM to secure and
grow our programs and productions for the future. Everyone agrees that live, worldclass opera and education programs provide vital cultural and economic enhancement
for our community. Producing live opera, however, is the most expensive art form.
With your support, this campaign will allow the opera company to build an endowment
that will reduce the amount we need to raise annually and will allow us to expand
our programs.
We hope the past performances of the opera company have inspired you, and we
hope that inspiration leads to your commitment to the successful future for the opera
company – spread the word about our 2015 season, invite your friends to experience our
performances, and be generous in your own financial support of our treasured opera
company. Together we can secure continued success and assure entertaining opera
performances in Palm Beach County. I thank all of you for the vital role you play!
Enjoy the performance this weekend, and have a healthy and prosperous New Year!
Dennis K. Williams
Chairman of the Board
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La Bohème Sponsors
Production Sponsors
Mrs. Eugene M. Isenberg
Mr. and Mrs. Howard Lester
Sunday Matinee Sponsors
Mrs. Cornelia T. Bailey
Mr. and Mrs. William G. Brown
Opening Night Dinner Sponsors
Mr. and Mrs. Ellis Parker
Supertitles Sponsor
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Dear Patrons,
Welcome to all of you, I wish you a wonderful New Year filled with good health and lots
of joy! I’d like to especially welcome those of you who are joining Palm Beach Opera for
the very first time - I’m sure you’ll find the opera crowd to be friendly and fun.
La Bohème remains one of the world’s most beloved opera, and for good reason:
it’s absolutely universal in its humanity and emotional storytelling. Several weeks
ago, my partner and I had the great pleasure of attending our first Kabuki theater
performances in Tokyo – an amazing experience! Elaborate costumes, effective scenic
elements, outlandish wigs and make-up combined with their vocal delivery and musical
accompaniment created an extensive emotional journey for all audience members.
Whether they were familiar with the Kabuki tradition and knew how to evaluate the
performers, or whether they were first-timers like we were, no one escaped the emotion
in the sound and movement. And while the sights and sounds were very different
from what you’ll see and hear tonight, the themes of the stories were the same as the
ones you’ll find in La Bohème, and dealt primarily with love and loss. So let yourself be
transported tonight and follow along on the emotional journey of our bohemians.
I hope you’ll also join us in February for our Gala with Russian star bass Ildar Abdrazakov,
and for the upcoming world-premiere production of Enemies, A Love Story (don’t
miss this once in a lifetime opportunity!). We continue to add new initiatives, so as to
engage with new audiences and deepen our impact in the community. Most dear to
my heart this season are two programs of very different nature: the new Opera Cabaret
at Palm Beach Improv, a comedy club at CityPlace, to create a very ‘out-of-bounds’
opera experience, as well as a new sensory-friendly initiative during our Children’s
Performance in order to better serve families with children on the autism spectrum.
Thank you sincerely for your continued patronage and support to make all these
programs possible!
Daniel Biaggi
General Director
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IN MEMORIAM
Herbert Benn
As a board member, president, general manager,
and patron for over 20 years, Herbert Benn was
instrumental in taking Palm Beach Opera to new
heights. His leadership will be remembered fondly.
Leon Fassler
Leon’s extensive knowledge of the opera world,
thoughtful advice, and jovial spirit will be greatly
missed on the Board of Directors.
Eugene Isenberg
Gene was considered by many the smartest, toughest,
and most charismatic businessman they ever met. His
longtime commitment to Palm Beach Opera lives on
through his wife Ronnie, who remains on the Board
of Directors.
Robert P. Strauss
As a patron and supporter of Palm Beach Opera for over
15 years, he and his beloved wife, Eugenia P. Strauss,
co-sponsored many mainstage productions. The loss
of his wit, wisdom, and love of opera is lamented.
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Corporate Foundation and
Government Season Honorees
PRESTO - $25,000 +
Palm Beach Investment Research Group, Inc.
VIVACE - $10,000 - $24,999
Meridian Captial Group, Israel Schubert
The Itto A. Willits Charitable Foundation, BMO Private Bank
ALLEGRO - $7,500 - $9,999
ANDANTE - $5,000 - $7,400
The Barron Group at UBS Financial
ADAGIO - $2,500 - $4,999
Enterprise Holdings Foundation
LARGO – Up to $2,499
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director notes
Fenlon Lamb, Stage Director
About 25 years ago, I sang one of the milkmaids in La Bohème for a summer
festival in Washington, D.C. I had very little connection to or experience with this
masterpiece and from my limited vantage point I couldn’t understand the allure of
the most popular, most performed opera in the world. It was a means to an end,
one of my first gigs, some summer pocket change for a jaded college student. As far
as I could tell it was the usual bill of fare: boy meets girl, large crowd scene with fun
and hijinks ensues, followed by sickness and a quarrel with the inevitable death
of the soprano soon after. Why was everyone so enamored with this seemingly
run-of-the-mill, Italian opera?
In actuality, when La Bohème premiered in 1896 at the Teatro Regio in Turin, the
critics’ response was quite underwhelming. Next to the weightiness of Wagner’s
mythological and epic operas, this pedestrian subject matter and Puccini’s
orchestration choices came off as fluffy and unimportant. “Just as La Bohème does
not leave much impression in the mind of the listeners, it will not leave much
impression on the history of our lyric theater,” opined the critic Carlo Bersezio.
Others agreed and one critic went as far as to beg Puccini to return to “the great and
difficult battles of art.” It wasn’t until several weeks after the premiere that the entire
audience in Palermo refused to leave the theater and demanded a repeat of the last
scene in its entirety. Here, finally, was the key to appreciating this achingly beautiful
and poignant love story with its soaring melodies and commonplace subjects. The
genius lay in the intimacy and the human connections and relations played out in
the opera; the audience could see their own struggles and triumphs.
Puccini’s publisher, G. Ricordi, whole-heartedly believed in the success of La
Bohème and swore that if the opera hadn’t succeeded “in hitting the nail squarely
on the head, I will change my profession and sell salami.” After my initial doubts
about the opera so many years ago, I won’t go so far as to change my career now
in atonement but I absolutely have to join Ricordi’s sentiments and swear my
allegiance to this sublime piece of theater. What better subject for an opera than
all the small things that make up a life? The chance meeting of two neighbors, a
Christmas Eve celebration with friends, the arguments and frustrations expressed
between two sets of lovers and the sacrifice and support given to a dying friend…
all of these simple but powerful moments supported by Puccini’s amazingly direct
music get right to the heart of the human experience.
Henri Murger provided the source material for this exquisite tragedy in his serialized
vignettes Scènes de la vie de bohème and described Bohemia as a district in the
department of the Seine bordered on the North by hope, work and gaiety, on
the South by necessity and courage, on the West and East by slander and the
hospital; an apt description of the artist’s way of thinking and a wonderful entrée
into this opera. As a fly on the wall, we have an intimate glimpse into the trials and
tribulations of these young Bohemians who understand that braving cold and
hunger is nothing compared to the spoils of a life following their passions and
that hope and love are the very foundations of a life well-lived.
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Photo credit: Arizona Opera
January 16, 17, 18, 2015
at The Raymond F. Kravis Center for the Performing Arts
La Bohème
An opera performed in 4 acts
Sung in Italian
With English Supertitles
First Performance
Teatro Regio, Turin, Italy
February 1, 1896
Music by Giacomo Puccini
Libretto by Luigi Illica and
Giuseppe Giacosa
Last Palm Beach Opera Performance
2009
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Cast of Characters
Conductor:
Stage Director:
Daniele Callegari+
Fenlon Lamb
Listed in order of vocal appearance
Marcello:
Rodolfo:
Colline:
Schaunard:
Benoit/Alcindoro:
Mimì:
Parpignol:
Musetta:
Luis Ledesma
Dimitri Pittas+ (1/16 & 1/18)
Anthony Kalil+ (1/17)
Evan Boyer+
Tobias Greenhalgh^
Thomas Hammons
Keri Alkema (1/16 & 1/18)
Eleni Calenos (1/17)
Nicholas Nestorak*
Ellie Dehn+
Palm Beach Opera Orchestra and Chorus
Scenery Designer:
Peter Dean Beck
Lighting Designer:
Ron Vodicka
Hair and Make-up Designer: Kathy Waszkelewicz
Associate Conductor &
Greg Ritchey
Chorus Master:
Rehearsal Pianists:
Irina Nedelcu*, Timothy Cheung
Brett Finley
English Supertitles:
Scenery Provided By:
Arizona Opera
Costumes Provided By: Malabar Limited of Toronto
+ Palm Beach Opera Debut
* Palm Beach Opera Young Artist
^Palm Beach Opera Former Young Artist
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Synopsis of Scenes
LA BOHÈME
ACT I
In the four bohemians’ garret
ACT III
At the toll gate at the Barrière d’Enfer
ACT II
ACT IV
Quartier Latin
Back at the garret
INTERMISSION
Approximate running time: 2 hours and 20 minutes
THE STORY
LA BOHÈME
ACT I.
Paris, the 1850s. In their Latin Quarter garret, the near-destitute painter
Marcello and poet Rodolfo try to keep warm on Christmas Eve by feeding the
stove with pages from Rodolfo’s latest drama. They are soon joined by their
roommates—Colline, a philosopher, and Schaunard, a musician, who brings
food, fuel, and funds he has collected from an eccentric student. When the
landlord, Benoit, comes to collect the rent, they ply the older man with wine,
then throw him out. As his friends leave for the Café Momus, Rodolfo promises
to join them later, remaining behind to write. There is a knock at the door; the
visitor is a pretty neighbor, Mimì, whose candle has gone out on the stairway.
Rodolfo relights it. Mimì realizes she has lost her key, and in the confusion, both
candles are blown out. As the two search for the key in the moonlight, their
hands meet. Rodolfo tells Mimì his dreams (“Che gelida manina”). She then
recounts her life alone in a lofty garret, embroidering flowers and waiting for
the spring (“Mi chiamano Mimì”). Rodolfo’s friends are heard outside, urging
him to join them; he calls back that he is not alone and will be along shortly.
Expressing their joy in finding each other (Duet: “O soave fanciulla”), Mimì and
Rodolfo embrace and leave for the café.
ACT II.
At the Café Momus, Rodolfo introduces Mimì to his friends. Marcello’s former
sweetheart, Musetta, makes a noisy entrance on the arm of the elderly but
wealthy Alcindoro. The ensuing tumult reaches its peak when, trying to regain
Marcello’s attention, she sings a waltz about her popularity (“Quando me’n vo’”).
Sending Alcindoro off on an errand, she falls into Marcello’s arms and tells the
waiter to charge everything to Alcindoro. Soldiers march by the café, and the
bohemians fall in behind.
INTERMISSION
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THE STORY
ACT III.
At dawn by a tavern on the snowy outskirts of Paris, a customs official admits
farm women to the city. Mimì wanders in, searching for the place where
Marcello and Musetta now live. When the painter emerges, she tells him of
her distress over Rodolfo’s incessant jealousy (Duet: “O buon Marcello, aiuto!”).
She says she believes it is best that they part. When Rodolfo appears from the
tavern, Mimì hides nearby, though Marcello thinks she has gone. The poet tells
Marcello that he wants to separate from his sweetheart, citing her fickleness;
pressed for the real reason, he breaks down, saying that her coughing can
only grow worse in the poverty they share; he’s desperately afraid she will die
from her illness. Overcome with tears, Mimì stumbles forward to bid her lover
farewell (“Donde lieta uscì”). While Mimì and Rodolfo recall past happiness,
Musetta quarrels with Marcello, who has caught her flirting (Quartet: “Addio
dolce svegliare”). The painter and his mistress part, hurling insults at each other,
but Mimì and Rodolfo decide to remain together until spring.
ACT IV.
Now separated from their girlfriends, Rodolfo and Marcello lament their
loneliness in the garret (Duet: “O Mimì, tu più non torni”). Colline and Schaunard
bring a meager meal. To lighten their spirits the four stage a dance, when
suddenly Musetta bursts in to tell them that Mimì is outside, too weak to come
upstairs. Rodolfo carries her in, while Musetta asks Marcello to sell her earrings
for medicine and Colline goes off to pawn his overcoat (“Vecchia zimarra”). Left
alone, Mimì and Rodolfo recall their first meeting and their happy days, but she
is seized with violent coughing (Duet: “Sono andati?”). The others return and
Mimì drifts into unconsciousness. When Rodolfo at last realizes that she is dead,
he throws himself despairingly on her body, calling her name.
Courtesy of The Metropolitan Opera
THE BACKGROUND
Puccini’s La Bohème is based on Scènes de la Vie de Bohème, a collection of
stories written by Henri Murger. Although the critics were initially unimpressed
with La Bohème, Puccini found widespread and lasting success with the opera;
currently, La Bohème is the most produced operatic work of our day. Although
not considered a verismo opera, La Bohème is heralded nonetheless for its
situational, character-driven realism. Well-known arias from La Bohème include
Rodolfo’s Act I aria “Che gelida manina,” which is followed seamlessly by Mimi’s
“Si, Mi chiamano Mimi.” In Act II, Musetta’s waltz “Quando m’en vo” is frequently
performed in operatic recital along with Mim’s Act III aria “Donde lieta usci.” Act
IV includes Colline’s touching “Vecchia zimarra” and the final love duet “Sono
andati” which leads to the opera’s heart-breaking finale.
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Conductor
Daniele Callegari
Conductor
Born in Milan, he served as the Principal Conductor of
Wexford Opera Festival and Royal Flanders Philharmonic
Orchestra of Antwerp. He conducted at MET Opera and
Carnegie Hall of New York, Opéra National de París,
Washington Opera, San Diego Opera, Munich Staatsoper,
Berlin Staatsoper and Deutsche Oper, Wiener Staatsoper,
Opernhaus Zurich, Liceu de Barcelona, Teatro alla Scala, Maggio Musicale
Fiorentino, Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia di Roma, New Israeli Opera
of Tel Aviv, New National Theatre in Tokyo, as well as the Orchestre Nationale
d’Île de France, Orchestre Nationale de Belgique, Orchestra Nacional de France,
Philharmonique de Monte-Carlo, Münchner Rundfunkorchester, among others.
Recent engagements have included La Sonnambula in Bari, Falstaff in Montreal,
Madama Butterfly in Paris, Un Ballo in Maschera in Tel Aviv, Ernani in Montecarlo
and Tosca in Venice. Upcoming opera highlights include Don Pasquale in Beijing,
La Bohème in Palm Beach, Maria Stuarda at Théâtre des Champs Elysées de Paris,
Ariane et Barbe-Bleue and Don Carlo in Strasbourg, I Due Foscari in Santiago de
Chile, Macbeth in Tel Aviv, Attila in Montecarlo, Aïda in Barcelona, Don Giovanni
and Falstaff in San Diego Opera.
Stage Director
Fenlon Lamb
Stage Director
Opera News called stage director Fenlon Lamb “moving
and convincing” and Seen and Heard International praised
her “well-honed theatrical sensibility.” Ms. Lamb is the
current Director of Opera and Vocal Programming at Bar
Harbor Music Festival where she has designed and directed
engaging productions of Carmen, L’Elisir d’Amore, Madama
Butterfly and Il Barbiere di Siviglia. Recent directorial engagments include
Rossini's Il Barbiere di Siviglia at Palm Beach Opera, Verdi’s Rigoletto at Arizona
Opera, Massenet’s Werther at Mobile Opera, Humperdinck’s Hänsel und Gretel
at Nightingale Opera, Janáček’s Cunning Little Vixen, Wagner’s Der Fliegende
Holländer at Opera Carolina. Beginning her career as Director of Opera at Kent
State University, she created an acting and performance curriculum to train
young singers and directed full productions of Dido and Aeneas, The Telephone,
Trial by Jury and Handel’s Semele. This was followed by her main-stage début
directing La Traviata for Toledo Opera. As Resident Director with Cleveland
Opera on Tour, Ms. Lamb created and directed condensed productions of Tosca,
Don Giovanni, Madama Butterfly, Il Barbiere di Siviglia, Carmen and Turandot, all of
which toured throughout Northeast Ohio.
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Keri Alkema
Mimì (1/16 & 1/18)
Soprano (New York, New York)
Last seen at Palm Beach Opera: Giulietta,
Les Contes d’Hoffmann; 2014
Upcoming Engagaments: Amelia, Un Ballo in Maschera,
Theatre du Capiole; Tosca, Tosca, Orlando Philharmonic;
Cio-Cio-San, Madama Butterfly, Teatro Municipal de Santiago de Chile
Career Highlights: Vitellia, La Clemenza di Tito, Canadian Opera Company;
Desdemona, Otello, Teatro Municipal de Santiago de Chile; Anna Bolena,
Anna Bolena, Minnesota Opera; Mimì, La Bohème, Glyndebourne; Adalgesia,
Norma, Opera North
Education: University of Florida; Florida State University
Eleni Calenos
Mimì (1/17)
Soprano (Thessaloniki, Greece)
Last seen at Palm Beach Opera: Antonia, Les Contes
d’Hoffmann; 2014
Upcoming Engagements: Cio-Cio San, Madama Butterfly,
Ash Lawn Opera
Career Highlights: Antonia, Les Contes d’Hoffmann, Palm Beach Opera;
Countess, Le Nozze di Figaro, Austin Lyric Opera/Tulsa Opera; Gilda, Rigoletto,
Sarasota Opera; Nedda, I Pagliacci, Shreveport Opera; Hanna Glawari,
Die lustige Witwe, Zomeropera - Belgium
Education: Boston University; Opera Institute Queens College;
Municipal Conservatory of Thessaloniki Greece
Hobbies: Travel, Books/Films, Art Exhibitions
Dimitri Pittas
Rodolfo (1/16 & 1/18)
Tenor (Woodside, New York)
Palm Beach Opera Debut
Upcoming Engagements: Rodolfo, La Bohème, Opera
Nationale de Bordeaux; Rodolfo, La Bohème, Opera Nationale
de Paris; Don Carlo, Don Carlo, Opera Philadelphia
Career Highlights: Rodolfo, La Bohème, Metropolitan Opera, Lyric Opera of
Chicago; Macduff, Macbeth, Metropolitan Opera; Don Carlo, Don Carlo, Théâtre
du Capitole in Toulouse; Alfredo, La Traviata, Deutsche Oper Berlin, Alfredo, La
Traviata, Seattle Opera; Edgardo, Lucia di Lammermoor, Houston Grand Opera
Education: Crane School of Music at SUNY Potsdam; McGill University; Santa Fe
Opera Apprentice Artist; Lindemann Young Artist Development Program
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Anthony Kalil
Rodolfo (1/17)
Tenor (Goshen, Indiana)
Palm Beach Opera Debut
Upcoming Engagements: First Armored Man, Die Zauberflote,
Metropolitan Opera; Duke of Mantua, Rigoletto, Arizona Opera;
Ruggero, La Rondine, Opera Theatre of St. Louis
Career Highlights: The Young Man, Die Frau ohne Schatten, Metropolitan Opera;
Title role, Benvenuto Cellini, MET + Julliard scenes conducted by James Levine;
Duke of Mantua, Rigoletto, PORTopera
Education: Wartburg College; Lindemann Young Artist Development Program
Ellie Dehn
Musetta
Soprano (Anoka, Minnesota)
Palm Beach Opera Debut
Upcoming Engagements: Donna Anna, Don Giovanni,
San Diego Opera; Violetta, La Traviata, Central City Opera;
Contessa, Le Nozze di Figaro, Covent Garden
Career Highlights: Donna Elvira, Don Giovanni, Metropolitan Opera; Antonia,
Les Contes d’ Hoffmann, Teatro Alla Scala; Musetta, La Bohème, Rome Opera
Education: Oberlin Conservatory; Academy of Vocal Arts
Hobbies: Yoga, cats, wine
Luis Ledesma
Marcello
Baritone (Mexico City, Mexico)
Last seen at Palm Beach Opera: Macbeth, Macbeth, 2014
Upcoming Engagements: Marcello, La Bohème, Dresden
Semperoper, Escamillo, Carmen, Finger Lakes Opera;
Escamillo, Carmen, Sinfonica de Jalisco
Career Highlights: Enrico, Lucia di Lammermoor, Savonlinna Festival; Escamillo,
Carmen, Savonlinna Festival; Jack Rance, La Fanciulla del West, Montreal Opera;
Rodrigo, Don Carlo, Koeln Oper; Alphonse, La Favorite, Liceu di Barcelona;
Riccardo, I Puritani, Liceu di Barcelona; Marcello, La Bohème, Liceu di Barcelona;
Rodolfo, Leoncavallo’s La Bohème, Theater an der Wien, Vienna
Education: Conservatorio Nacional de Musica, Mexico City; The Academy
of Vocal Arts
Hobbies: Tennis, movies, dancing
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Tobias Greenhalgh
Schaunard
Baritone (Rochester, New York)
Last seen at Palm Beach Opera: Young Artist 2013-2014 Season
Upcoming Engagements: Le Directeur/Gendarme, Les
Mamellles de Tiresias, Wiener Kammeroper; Ramiro, L’heure
Espagnole, Wiener Kammeroper; Solo European Debut
Recital, Vienna, Austria
Career Highlights: Le Mari, Les Mamelles de Tiresias, Wolf Trap Opera;
Eugene Onegin, Eugene Onegin, Wiener Kammeroper; Argante, Rinaldo,
Wiener Kammeroper; Leo Stein/Man Ray, 27, Opera Theatre of St. Louis;
Dancairo, Carmen, Wolf Trap Opera
Education: The Juilliard School
Hobbies: Fitness, travel, reading
Evan Boyer
Colline
Bass (Louisville, Kentucky)
Palm Beach Opera Debut
Upcoming Engagements: Masetto, Don Giovanni,
Seattle Opera; Armchair/Tree, L’enfant et les sortilèges,
Seiji Ozawa Ongaku-juku Festival; Bass Soloist,
Mozart Requiem, Dallas Symphony
Career Highlights: Créon, Médée, Chicago Opera Theater; Sarastro,
Die Zauberflöte, Lyric Opera of Chicago; Lodovico, Otello, Lyric Opera of Chicago;
Samuel, Un Ballo in Maschera, Canadian Opera Company; Sarastro,
Die Zauberflöte, LA Opera
Education: Curtis Institute of Music; Northwestern University
Hobbies: Literature, biking
Thomas Hammons
Benoit/Alcindoro
Baritone (Cincinnati, Ohio)
Palm Beach Opera Debut
Upcoming Engagements: Dr. Bartolo, Le Nozze di Figaro,
Central City Opera; Sacristan, Tosca, Orlando Opera;
Speaker, Die Zauberflöte, Dayton Opera
Career Highlights: Henry Kissinger, Nixon in China, Houston Grand Opera;
Dr. Bartolo, Il Barbiere di Siviglia, Metropolitan Opera; Schigolch, Lulu,
Chicago Lyric; Rambo, The Death of Klinghoffer, Monnaie Theater, Brussels;
Dr. Bartolo, Le Nozze di Figaro, Metropolitan Opera
Education: Cincinnati College – Conservatory of Music
Hobbies: Surrealism, philosophy and art, book collecting
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Greg Ritchey, Associate Conductor & Chorus Master
Greg Ritchey returns for the 2014-15 season as Associate
Conductor and Chorus Master. During his time at Palm
Beach Opera, he has been Chorus Master for more than
twenty productions including Macbeth, Turandot, Don
Giovanni, Pagliacci, Madama Butterfly, La Traviata, La Bohème,
L’Italiana in Algeri, L’elisir d’Amore, Nabucco, Orfeo ed Euridice
as well as Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 and Verdi’s Requiem.
In addition he has over the past few seasons at PBO been conductor for Palm
Beach Opera’s Young Artists production of The Turn of the Screw and Opera @ The
Waterfront. Mr. Ritchey also serves as Conductor of Opera at the Amalfi Coast
Music Festival as well as assistant conductor at the Wexford Opera Festival. As
assistant conductor at Opera Theater of Saint Louis he conducted performances
of Le Nozze di Figaro and workshop performances of Terance Blanchard’s world
premiere opera Champion. Previous music staff positions have included Dallas
Opera, Central City Opera, Virginia Opera, and Sarasota Opera. As pianist Mr.
Ritchey has played concerts as soloist and collaborator throughout the United
States and Europe. He holds a BM degree from the University of North Texas and
the MM degree from the Juilliard School of Music.
Peter Dean Beck, Scenery Designer
Peter Dean Beck has designed scenery and/or lighting for
close to three hundred productions around North America.
Among his opera credits are Falstaff, Turandot, Manon, Don
Giovanni, Madama Butterfly, Hansel and Gretel, A Midsummer
Night’s Dream, and Romeo et Juliette for such companies as
Atlanta Opera, Florida Grand Opera, Glimmerglass Opera,
Virginia Opera, and Chautauqua Opera. He has designed
productions of Andrea Chenier, L’Italiana in Algeri, Macbeth, Elektra, and Tristan
and Isolde for Hawaii Opera Theatre, where he has been principal designer for
twenty-eight seasons. He has also been designing opera productions for the
University of Colorado for nineteen seasons. In Asia, he has designed a double
bill of Le Rossignol and Cavalleria Rusticana for Sakai City Opera in Japan and
lit Cav/Pag in Macao and Don Carlo in Hong Kong. His musical theater credits
include West Side Story, Sound of Music, Candide, The King and I, The Music Man,
and Fiddler on the Roof. His work for dance includes The Indigo Girls Project for
Atlanta Ballet and Nutcracker for Ballet Hawaii.
26
Ron Vodicka, Lighting Designer
Ron Vodicka’s lighting has been seen at numerous theatres
and opera houses including the Old Globe Theatre in San
Diego, San Diego Opera, San Francisco Opera, and New
York City Opera. Previous work at PBO includes, Lucia Di
Lammermoor and Macbeth. He has also served as a stage
manager for the national tours of Hairspray, Saturday Night
Fever, Man of La Mancha, and Evita. He is currently the
Production Stage Manager for The Lion King on Broadway.
Kathy Waszkelewicz, Hair and Make-up Designer
Since 1981 Kathy has worked with over 20 different opera
companies. She was the winner of the William Zauder Award
for outstanding makeup at the NCA National Show Case
in Las Vegas. Kathy has been a makeup artist for the Tony
Awards and the Kennedy Center Honors, had toured with
Disney’s National Tour of Beauty and the Beast as their head
makeup and prosthetic artist. Kathy has been with Palm
Beach Opera since 1993 and became the resident wig and makeup designer in
1999. Kathy participated with Palm Beach Opera’s Swing & Sings summer camp
for kids, and enjoys Children’s Performance days.
27
Chorus and Supers
PALM BEACH OPERA CHORUS
Greg Ritchey, Associate Conductor & Chorus Master
WOMEN’S CHORUS
Rachel Arky*
Patricia Bates
Christina Rene Clements
Judith Destine
Glenda Fernandez-Vega
Bridgette Gan *
Anette Yasmin Glaser
MEN’S CHORUS
Jason Duika*
Neil Eddinger
Evan R. Ferrar
Fernando Gonzalez
Ardean Landhuis
Darren Craig Littman
Liana Guberman*
Shanna Nolan Gundry
Helene Kaufman
Gerri L. Kinley
Danielle Krause
Janet Perez
Erin Philleo
JoAna Rusche *
Nancy Saint Pierre
Tara Sperry
Laura Antonia Vicari
Kelly Weaver
Neil Nelson
Nicholas Nestorak*
Robert O’Brien
Nicholas Petersen
Mark Prill
David Ramcharitar
Michael W. Ross
Parker Trefz
Robert Watson*
John Whittlesey
Lanell Williams
* Palm Beach Opera Young Artist
CHILDREN’S CHORUS
Aubrey Barnes
Mayah Bernstein
Rebecca Berris
Kim Cornell
Ayani Duverger
Blake Dykstra
Devin Dykstra
SUPERNUMERARIES
Francesca Alfano
Mary Galbicka
Kendall Hughes
Conrad Kieliszek
Ray Liberti
28
Sydney Horan
Grace Johansson
Eamon Kimball
Mackensey Moore
Ashley Murphy
Daniel Reiter
Emma Russell
Sonya Shokhina
Shayna Singer
Adrianna Wagner
Kennedy Williams
Dena Wolfs
Andraya Zabielski
Amanda Zabielski
Otto Martinez
Wayne McLead
Julian Restrepo
Christina Sheridan
Ronen Singer
Janice Waite
Sabrina Weber
Marcie Wells
Palm Beach Opera ORCHESTRA
Flute
Karen F. Dixon*
Beth Larsen^
Francesca Arnone
Lewis^
Laura Dwyer
Suzanne Duffy
Piccolo
Beth Larsen^
Francesca Arnone
Lewis^
Suzanne Duffy
Oboe
Eric Ohlsson*
Catherine Weinfield
English Horn
Kendra Hawley
Clarinet
Michael Forte*
Scott Ellington^
Scott Singer
Bass Clarinet
Richard Hancock
Bassoon
Michael Ellert*
Laura Winters
Horn
David Peel*
Amy Bookspan
Gregory Miller
Julia McAlister
Trumpet
Richard Stoelzel*
Brian Stanley°
Kevin Maloney
Mark Petersen
Trombone
Stephen Rawlins*
Hugh Harbison
James Lehman
Tuba
Kenneth Amis*
Timpani
Andrew Proctor*
Percussion
Michael Singer*
Michael Launius^
Aya Kaminaguchi
Scott Crawford
Harp
Kay Kemper*
Violin I
Eliot Chapo
Concertmaster
Laura Hilgeman Miller
Co-Concertmaster
Rafael Elvira
Associate Concertmaster
Rebecca Lautar
Antonio Rincon
Tina Raimondi
Dina Kostic°
Monica Cheveresan
Danut Muresan
Aleksandr Zhuk^
Asy Alisade
Violin II
Dale Sandvold*
Ruby Berland**
Wade Brandon^
Erika Venable
Renata Guitart
Carole D. Simmons
Evgeniya Zharzhavskaya
Adam Diderrich
Joseph Adkins
Rochelle Skolnick
Viola
Scott O’Donnell*°
Karen Hebermehl°*
Susan Schwab
Diane K. Weisberg°**
Rebecca Diderrich
Elizabeth Moll
Chauncey Patterson
Cello
Christopher H. Glansdorp*
Cornelia Brubeck**
Jody Yanow
Benjamin Salsbury°
Susannah Kelly^
Aaron Merritt
Elizabeth Aron
Jacquelyne Robbins
Bass
Mik Groninger*
Brian D. Myhr*
Martha Spangler
Matthew Nelson
Orchestra
Librarian
Dale Sandvold
Orchestra
Stage Manager
Kay Kemper
Orchestra
Personnel Manager
Michael A. Ellert
KEY
* = Principal
** = Assistant Principal
° = 2015 Season Leave
of Absence
°* = Acting Principal,
this season
°** = Acting Assistant
Principal, this season
^ = Leave of absence,
this production
Italics = substitutes/
extras, this production
29
Production Staff
Director of Production: Director of Artistic Operations: Company Manager: Greg Hirsch
Scott Guzielek
Katy Reeves
Production Stage Manager: 1st Assistant Stage Manager: 2nd Assistant Stage Manager: Assistant Director: Costume Director: Properties Supervisor: Assistant Technical Director: Assistant Lighting Designer: Draftsman: Supertitle Manager: Brett Finley
Paul Sieveking
Jerome Smith
Daniel Ellis
Meredith Hinton
Alanna Maniscalco
Sean Jeffries
Dan Efros
Judith Daitsman
Irina Nedelcu
Production Carpenter: Assistant Production Carpenter: Carpenter: Flyman: Production Electrician:
Electrician: Props: Sound: Production Wardrobe: Wardrobe: Tailors: Stitcher: Stephen Ford
Peter Marzilli
Gary Minnar
Jeffrey Whitehead
George Benckenstein
Russ Baron
Richard Howarth
Jeffrey Curtis
Barbara Black
Maureen Pena
David Whittaker
Jorge Pires
Alice Mclanahan
30
31
32
RAISE YOUR VOICE!
THE CAMPAIGN TO SECURE AND GROW PALM BEACH OPERA
PALM BEACH OPERA IS DETERMINED TO GROW AND ACHIEVE
AN EVEN BIGGER IMPACT ON THE PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY
Palm Beach Opera touches every man, woman, and child who attend our
performances at the Kravis Center, in the classroom or on the Waterfront.
Every season, old memories are revisited and new ones created.
In 2013 Palm Beach Opera’s Board of Directors launched Raise Your Voice!,
our campaign to secure and grow the future of Palm Beach Opera.
Over more than 50 years, Palm Beach Opera
has positively impacted over 1 million people.
How will you Raise Your Voice! to share opera with the next 1 million?
Mary M. Montgomery
Chair
Sanford (Sandy) H. Fisher
Chair
For more information contact Daniel Biaggi, 561.833.7888 or [email protected].
33
Contributions to the Annual Campaign
Donations from 6/1/13 to 11/1/14
Chairman’s Circle Gold ($50,000 and Above)
Mrs. Cornelia T. Bailey
The Edward H. Benenson Foundation
Mrs. Gladys Benenson
Community Foundation of Palm Beach
and Martin Counties
Cultural Council of Palm Beach County,
Tourist Development Grant
Mr. & Mrs. Sanford H. Fisher
GE Foundation
Mrs. Eugene Isenberg
The David I. & Ingrid M. Kosowsky Fund,
a Donor Advised Fund of
Combined Jewish Philanthropies
of Greater Boston, Inc.
John S. and James L. Knight Foundation
Mr. & Mrs. Bruce and Suzie Kovner
Mr. & Mrs. Howard Lester
Mrs. Mary M. Montgomery
Palm Beach Opera Guild
Mrs. Helen K. Persson*
Mrs. Rose Price
Mrs. Ari Rifkin
State of Florida, Department of State,
Division of Cultural Affairs,
the Florida Council on Arts and Culture
Mr. & Mrs. Marc Solomon
Mr. & Mrs. Dennis K. Williams
Gladys and Sy Ziv Foundation
Chairman’s Circle Silver ($25,000-49,999)
Mr. Sanford M. Baklor &
Ms. Arlene Kaufman
Dr. Elizabeth M. Bowden
Mr. & Mrs. William G. Brown
Mrs. Rita Heller Denerstein
Mr. & Mrs. Chuck Hardwick
Hawthorn Suites by
Wyndham West Palm Beach
Mr. & Mrs. Robert Kaufman
OPERA America, Inc.
Opera Partners, LLC
Palm Beach Investment Research Group |
Rick Stone & Howard Cooper
Mrs. Muriel A. Shapiro
Mr. Robert P. Strauss*
Mrs. Sieglinde Wikstrom
Chairman’s Circle Bronze ($15,000-24,999)
Ms. Ariane Csonka-Comstock,
In Honor of Dmitri Nabokov
Mr. & Mrs. Douglas Daft
Mr. & Mrs. John A. Domenico
Mr. & Mrs. Paul Efron
Mrs. Estelle Fassler
Mrs. Annette Y. Friedland
Mr. & Mrs. Robert Fromer
Mr. & Mrs. Gordon Getty
Mr. & Mrs. Paul A. Goldner
Mr. & Mrs. Charles Gottesman
Mr. & Mrs. Carl H. Hewitt
Mr. & Mrs. Peter A. Hoffman
Mr. & Mrs. Christopher Kellogg
Drs. Henry & Marsha Laufer
Mr. & Mrs. George Lindemann
National Endowment for the Arts
Mrs. Anka Palitz
Mr. & Mrs. Ellis Parker
Mr. & Mrs. John J. Pohanka
Mrs. Lois Pope
Mr. & Mrs. Beverlee and John J. Raymond, Jr.
Meridian Capital Group, LLC, Israel Schubert
Dr. & Mrs. Charles Weissmann
Board of Governors Gold ($10,000-14,999)
Dr. & Mrs. Sander M. Abend
Cartier North America
City of West Palm Beach
Crystal & Co.
The Itto A. Willits Charitable Foundation,
BMO Private Bank
Mrs. Arlette Gordon
Mr. & Mrs. Lee and Peg Greenspon
Mr. Joseph Kerzner & Mrs. Lisa Koeper
34
Mr. & Mrs. Mark F. Levy
Mr. Michael McCafferty & Mr. Joseph Horton
Mr. & Mrs. George Mann
Mrs. Hermé de Wyman Miro,
The International Society of Palm Beach
Owens-Illinois, Inc.
The PNC Financial Services Group
Mrs. Karen Tell
Mr. & Mrs. B. Haven Walling, Jr.
Board of Governors ($7,500-9,999)
Mr. & Mrs. Stephen & Madeline Anbinder
Ms. Hermine Drezner & Mr. Jan Winkler
Il Circolo, The Italian Cultural Society
of the Palm Beaches
Mr. & Mrs. Allan Greenblatt
Mrs. Charlotte Kimelman
Northern Trust
Mr. Irving Salem
Mr. M. Mac Schwebel
Mrs. Rita Taca
RADM Philip Whitacre
Grand Benefactor ($5,000-7,499)
The Barron Group at UBS Financial
Mr. Roy Bartolomei & Mr. Peter Wronsky
Dr. & Mrs. Hans D. Baumann
Mrs. Nancy H. Canary &
Mr. William Sullivan
Capital Group Private Client Services
Classical South Florida
Cultural Council of Palm Beach County
Mrs. Shirley Diamond
Mrs. Donald Findlay
Florida Crystals Corporation
Mr. Roy L. Furman
Mr. & Mrs. Gerald Golden
Mr. Stanley Goldstein
Heart of Neiman Marcus Foundation
Mr. & Mrs. Sidney Kohl
Mrs. Tova Leidesdorf
Mr. & Mrs. Jack Levins
Mrs. Bernice Lieberman
Mrs. Virginia Longo
Dr. & Mrs. Morton Mandell
Mr. J. D. McClatchy & Mr. Chip Kidd
Mrs. Marvin Mordes
Palm Aire Friends of the Arts
Mrs. Jo K. Pulvermacher
The Rovensky Family,
Mae Cadwell Rovensky Foundation
Mr. & Mrs. Meyer Sapoff
Mrs. Beverly Sommer
SunSentinel
Mr. & Mrs. Donald J. Trump
Wells Fargo
Dr. & Mrs. Jeffrey Wolff
Benefactor ($2,500-4999)
Mr. David Auerbach &
Mrs. Ariane Csonka Comstock
Ms. Jane Beasley
Mr. Daniel Biaggi & Mr. David Espinosa
Mr. & Mrs. L. David Callaway
Mrs. Lurana Campanaro
Mr. & Mrs. David F. Click
Mr. Terry & Dr. Linda Collier
Mrs. Natasha Consigli
Mr. Richard Cosnotti & Ms. Sharon Bledsoe
Downtown Development Authority
Eau Palm Beach Resort & Spa
Enterprise Holdings Foundation
Mrs. Gertrude Faillace*
Ms. Nancy Edman Feldman &
Mr. Mike Chefetz
Mr. & Mrs. Lawrence Friedland
Mrs. Joan Galison
Mr. & Mrs. George and Sandy Garfunkel
Mr. & Mrs. Leon Gnat
Mr. & Mrs. Franklin L. Haney
Mr. & Mrs. Thomas Holien
Mrs. Suzanne Holmes
Ms. Catherine Jacobus
Mr. Nathan Leventhal
Ms. Jane Mitchell
Mrs. Suzanne Niedland
Mr. & Mrs. Harold Oelbaum
The Honorable & Mrs. Samuel Raia
Mr. & Mrs. Harland A. Riker, Jr.
Mr. Conrad Schmitt & Mr. Andrew P. Payti
Mr. & Mrs. John Staluppi
Mr. & Mrs. Seth P. Stein
Mrs. Rosalie W. Stone
Mr. & Mrs. Milton G. Strom
Mrs. Ruth Summers
Dr. & Mrs. Charles Tager
Tiffany & Co.
Mr. Barry Tucker
Mr. & Mrs. Robert I. Tuteur
Ms. Laura Yellin & Mr. Christopher Wege
Mrs. Maureen P. Wilkens
35
Patron ($1,000-2,499)
Mr. Alan Adams
Mr. & Mrs. Theodore and Ruth Baum
Mr. & Mrs. Roger Beutner
Dr. Allen H. Bezner
Mr. and Mrs. David Bigelow
The Blanke Foundation,
Bank of America, N.A., Trustee
Dr. Rachael Bloomfield
Mr. & Mrs. Chris Boardman
Mrs. Vicki Bowles
Mr. & Mrs. David Brodsky
Mr. John J. Brunetti, Jr.
Mr. Victor Cohen & Ms. Julia Rotwein
Mrs. Judith H. Cohen
Ms. Maude Cook
Ms. Melissa A. Coyne
Mr. Richard D. Crone & Mr. Andre Manzi
Mr. & Mrs. Harold Danenberg
Mrs. Sophie F. Danforth
Mr. Michael J. Dixon
Ms. Jean Dolan
Mrs. Margaret Donnelley
Ms. Mary Sue Donohue, Esq.
Mrs. Joan K. Eigen
Mrs. Jo Ann Engelhardt & Mr. George Elder
Mr. Alfonso Fanjul, Jr.
Mr. & Mrs. Gerald Fineberg
Mr. & Mrs. Lester Fisher
Mrs. Miriam Flamm
Dr. Stephanie Flicker
Mr. & Mrs. Stanley N. Gaines
Dr. Gabriella Gerstle
Dr. & Mrs. Donald Giddon
Mrs. Trudy Glekel
Mrs. M. Fredrica Godshalk
Mr. Jerome & Dr. Barbara Golden
Mrs. Jacqueline Goldman
Mr. & Mrs. Dan L. Goldwasser
Mrs. Diane Hallenbeck
Mr. & Mrs. James Harpel
Mr. & Mrs. Joel Hart
Mr. Greg Hirsch
Mr. & Mrs. Ashley Hoffman
Mrs. Lisa L. Huertas
Mr. Claude Jacquemin
Jon Smith Subs
Dr. & Mrs. Steven Kringold
36
Ms. Anneliese Langner
Dr. & Mrs. Richard Lazzara
Mrs. Jill L. Leinbach
Mrs. Shirley F. Levy
Mr. Scott Lindsay
Mr. James L. Long
Ms. Adriana Luchechko
Mrs. Fran Luckoff
The Lunder Foundation
Mr. & Mrs. James Macdonald
Mrs. Chris Marden
Sydelle F. Meyer Charitable
Lead Annuity Trust
Mrs. Sheila Mondry
Mrs. Sherrill Mulhern
Mr. & Mrs. Salvatore Nuzzo
Dr. Cleopatra Ortiz & Mr. Michael Cohen
Palm Beach Flagler Rotary Foundation
Dr. Richard E. Pelosi
Mrs. Emily Tannen-Pervez & Mr. Naj Pervez
Mr. Geoffrey Pohanka & Ms. Anne Kline
Publix Super Markets Charities
Mr. & Mrs. Timothy Rivers
Mr. William D. Robbins
Mr. Mark S. Rosen
Mr. & Mrs. Harold Rosenson
Mrs. Margret Rost
Mr. & Mrs. Howard Ruskin
Mr. & Mrs. S. Lyon Sachs
Mr. & Mrs. Ralph Saltzman
Mr. & Mrs. Murray Schneider
Dr. & Mrs. William Schneider
Dr. Wilma Bulkin Siegel
Mr. & Mrs. Robert N. Snyder
Mr. Lawrence Sosnow
Dr. & Mrs. John Strasswimmer
Mr. & Mrs. Charles Sumner
Target Corporation
Mrs. Nada Tauber
Mrs. Barbara Goldfarb Tepperman &
Mr. Fred Tepperman
Dr. & Mrs. David N. Tucker
VSA Florida
Mr. & Mrs. Andrew Watson
Mr. & Mrs. Scott Wood
Mrs. Frank Zinghini
Supporter ($500-999)
Anonymous
Mr. & Mrs. Todd Barron
Mr. Michael Bodle
Mr. Frank Butler
Mrs. Mary O.B. Connor
Mrs. Dale Coudert & Mr. Steven Rose
Ms. Daniele Y. Danese
Mr. Robert Devins
Mr. & Mrs. Ronald Early
Mrs. Catherine G. Edgar
Mr. & Mrs. Stephen and Linda Epstein
Mr. & Mrs. John D. Geberth
Mrs. Mildred Good
Mrs. Jackie Grimm
Dr. & Mrs. Randolph Guthrie
Dr. Marie G. Jureit-Beamish &
Mr. Bill Beamish
Mr. & Mrs. Julian Juster
Mr. & Mrs. Harold and Deko Klebanoff
Mr. & Mrs. Sidney La Monte
Dr. & Mrs. I. Jerry Leopold
Mr. Herman Levinsky
Ms. Donna Long
The Honorable & Mrs. Roger H. Lourie
Madison Avenue Florist
Mr. Gustavo A. Martinez
Mr. Michael W. Mattingly
Mr. Ross Meltzer
Mrs. Sunny Miller & Ms. Huntley Miller
Ms. Esther L. Nelson
Mrs. Eugenia O'Shea
Mrs. William G. Pannill
Mrs. Cynthia Pappas
Mr. Stephen Peterson
Mr. & Mrs. William J. Pittler
Mr. Michael Ramos
Mr. & Mrs. Misha Rudolph
Mr. & Mrs. John Rutherfurd
Dr. Richard J. & Mrs. Maureen W. Saab
Mr. & Mrs. Robert Schneider
Mr. & Mrs. Piera and Shaheen Shaheen
Mr. & Mrs. Alfredo Siani
Mr. Myles J. Slosberg & Ms. Diane Krane
Mr. & Mrs. Jonathan Smith
Mr. Thomas Terrell
Dr. & Mrs. Frederick Van Poznak
Ms. Gloria Vogel
Mr. & Mrs. Robert Weber
*In Memoriam
BECOME A DONOR
Bring grand opera productions to life with your charitable gift,
and join Palm Beach Opera’s family of donors today.
Visit SUPPORTPALMBEACHOPERA.ORG to give online. THANK YOU!
37
IN HONOR OF
Donations from 6/1/13 to 11/1/14
In honor of Mrs. Gladys Benenson
Mrs. Audrey Goodman
Mrs. Helen Sweig
In honor of Mr. Daniel Biaggi
Mrs. Suzanne Holmes
Mr. Steven Kringold
Mr. Mark F. Levy
In honor of Mr. and Mrs. Sandy
and Isanne Fisher
Mr. Myles Slosberg &
Ms. Diane Krane
In honor of Mrs. Suzanne Holmes
Mr. Mark F. Levy
In honor of Mrs. Ronnie Isenberg
Mrs. Gloria Vogel
In honor of Mrs. Wanda Klaas
Mr. Richard Klaas
In honor of Mr. and Mrs. Robert
and Florence Kaufman
Mrs. Karen Berger
Mr. & Mrs. Sidney Kohl
In honor of Mrs. Jo Pulvermacher
Mrs. Lisa L. Huertas
In honor of Mr. and Mrs. Charles
and Jean Shacter
Mrs. Mary Sue Donohue
In honor of Mr. Marc Solomon
Mr. James Crystal, Crystal & Co.
In honor of Mrs. Norma Shapiro
Mrs. Estelle Fassler
In honor of Ms. Amanda Sirianni
Ms. Sara Stephens
In honor of Mr. Martin Tucker
Ms. Ellen Rabinowitz
Palm Beach Opera would like to thank the Estate
of Dmitri Nabokov and Ms. Ariane Comstock
for their support in memory of Dmitri Nabokov
(1934-2012), opera singer, literary authority,
race car driver, and resident of Palm Beach.
Mr. Nabokov’s sonorous bass rang out in Palm
Beach Opera’s productions of Don Giovanni and
Lucia di Lammermoor. His legacy will live on by
supporting vocal and dramatic training of the
next generation of male opera singers.
38
IN MEMORY OF
Donations from 6/1/13 to 11/1/14
In memory of Mr. and Mrs. Herbert
and Edythe F. Benjamin
Mr. & Mrs. Peter A. Hoffman
In memory of Ms. Eva Boucai
Ms. Laura Weissman
In memory of Mr. Leon Fassler
Mr. & Mrs. Stephen and Linda Epstein
The Kirschner Family
Mrs. Lisa Huertas
Mrs. Joyce Koslow
Mr. & Mrs. Robert Liss
Mrs. Selma Rosen
Mr. & Mrs. Phil Salzman
Mr. & Mrs. Martin Schwartz
Mrs. Louise Scuderi
Mr. & Mrs. Leon Silverman
Mr. & Mrs. James Speiser
In memory of Mr. Eugene M.
Isenberg
Mrs. Shirley Diamond
Mrs. Rose Evangelista
Mrs. A. Billie Feher
Mrs. Ruby Herman Green
Greenberg Traurig, Mr. Frank Brogan &
Mr. Parker Taylor
Mr. & Mrs. David S. Levine
Mrs. Sydell L. Miller
Drs. Jeffrey Rothman & Nancy Sacks
Mrs. Sylvia Slifka
Mr. Dean E. Taylor
In memory of Mr. Derek Labbett
Dr. & Mrs. Richard Aronsohn
Mrs. Rebecca Jagle
Mr. & Mrs. James Macdonald
In memory of Dr. Michael Longo
Mr. & Mrs. Charles Miller
In memory of Mr. Robert M.
Montgomery, Jr.
Mr. Thomas Terrell
In memory of Dr. Marvin Mordes
Mr. Frank Bruno &
Ms. Jackee Benjamin
Mr. & Mrs. Lee and Peg Greenspon
Mrs. Lisa Huertas
Ms. Marjorie Kovens
Mrs. Eliane Leuwenkroon-Strosberg
Mr. Irvin M. Lippman & Mr. Bill Harkins
Dr. & Mrs. Les Schwartz
Mr. Fred S. Shapiro
In memory of Mr. Dmitri Nabokov
Mrs. Ariane Csonka-Comstock
Estate of Dmitri Nabokov
In memory of Mrs. Helen K. Persson
Mrs. Suzanne Holmes
Il Circolo, The Italian Cultural
Society of the Palm Beaches
Mr. Thomas Terrell
In memory of Mrs. Renée Silvester
Il Circolo, The Italian Cultural Society
of the Palm Beaches
In memory of Mr. Robert P. Strauss
Mr. & Mrs. Henry A. Gladstone
In memory of Mr. Clinton T. Walker
Mr. Brian Hile
In memory of Mr. Frank Zinghini
Ms. Laurie Spar & Mr. John Pierce
39
The Orpheus Legacy Society
Palm Beach Opera thanks the following donors who, through their foresight
and generosity, have included the Opera in their wills or estate plans. You are
invited to join other opera lovers by leaving a legacy gift to Palm Beach Opera.
Named for the mythological poet who charmed the gods with his music,
the Orpheus Legacy Society recognizes those forward thinking individuals.
If you have already made such a provision, please notify us so that you may
be appropriately recognized.
For further information about planned gifts, please call Lisa L. Huertas,
Director of Philanthropy, at 561.835.7558 or e-mail [email protected].
Members
Dr. & Mrs. Hans D. Baumann
Mr. Norman Burwen*
Dr. & Mrs. David I. Kosowsky
Mrs. Mary M. Montgomery
Mrs. Rose Marie Morton
Mr. & Mrs. Frank J. Pannizzo
Mrs. Helen K. Persson*
Mrs. Rose Price
Mrs. Marjorie Shields
Mr. & Mrs. Gladys and Sy Ziv*
*In Memoriam
Mrs. Helen K. Persson
In Memoriam
Helen’s legacy as Palm Beach Opera’s angel will
continue every time the curtain rises on another production,
and every time a singer touches a fellow human's soul.
40
Knight Foundation
Matching Grant
THANK YOU TO OUR PATRONS
We did it! Together we matched the Knight Arts Challenge, an $80,000
matching grant from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation for
Opera @ The Waterfront on December 13, 2014.
Anonymous
Mr. Roy Bartolomei &
Mr. Peter Wronsky
Mr. Daniel Biaggi
Ms. Carmen A. Bowman
Mr. George C. Cass
Mrs. Polly U. Champ
Mr. & Mrs. Merle Charney
City of West Palm Beach
Classical South Florida
Downtown Development Authority
Eau Palm Beach Resort & Spa
Ms. Nancy Edman Feldman &
Mr. Mike Chefetz
Ms. Joan A. Finger
Florida Crystals Corporation
Ms. Clorinda & Mr. Stephen Gibson
Ms. Rona Goldstein
Ms. Doreen Grasso
Mrs. Lisa L. Huertas
Dr. & Mrs. Jeffrey E. Ingeman
Jon Smith Subs
Dr. & Mrs. James Kenda Jones
Mr. & Mrs. Donald G. Kempf, Jr.
Mr. & Mrs. Samuel Lederman
Mr. & Mrs. George Lindemann
Mrs. Barbara H. Madsen
Mr. Paul R. Manning
Ms. Megan Marino
Ms. Emily Jean McFadden
Mrs. Mary M. Montgomery
Mrs. Marvin Mordes
Mrs. Nina P. Oliva
OPERA America, Inc.
PalmTech Computer Solutions
Mrs. William G. Pannill
Mr. David Reese
Mr. & Mrs. Harland A. Riker, Jr.
Mr. Edward Roddy
Roddy Limited Partnership
Mr. Richard Schultz
Mrs. Muriel A. Shapiro
Sydelle F. Meyer Charitable Lead
Annuity Trust
The Palm Beach Post
Mrs. Sally Valenti
Dr. & Mrs. Frederick Van Poznak
Mr. Maury Wolfe
Mr. Roger Yaseen
Opera @ The Waterfront App was funded by OPERA America’s Building Opera
Audiences Grant Program, supported by the Ann and Gordon Getty Foundation.
41
patron spotlight
Sunny Miller
When did you see your first opera?
I saw my first opera in Honolulu in 1967. I grew up in an area where opera didn't
exist. I didn't become aware of the opera until I married my husband who
was a huge opera fan. I still have all of my husband's opera records. I became
Corresponding Secretary of the Board of Directors for the Palm Beach Opera.
How does opera make you feel?
The opera makes me feel challenged. I appreciate and love it so much! I learned
a lot from opera and enjoyed them so much that I went to every single one. I
would study librettos to learn more about them.
Why is it important to you to support Palm Beach Opera?
I wouldn't want the opera to disappear! Music and the Arts are so important to
the community. I support them as much as I can. I've met so many wonderful
people through the opera as well.
In the world of the performing arts, what makes opera so special?
It encompasses every art form: dance, music, orchestra, scenery, and staging.
It is a total art form.
What is your favorite opera?
Tosca is my absolute favorite. I also like La Bohème and La Traviata. Madama
Butterfly and Carmen are also favorites of mine. Even The Barber of Seville and
The Marriage of Figaro. I just love them all!
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CALL TO ACTION —
TIME, MONEY, or OPINION
WHAT IS YOUR PLAN?
The Orpheus Legacy Society recognizes those individuals who are
supporting Palm Beach Opera in their wills or estate plans. When you join,
you make a lasting mark on your community.
To learn more about the Orpheus Legacy Society or to inform
Palm Beach Opera of a planned gift you have already made,
please contact Lisa L. Huertas at 561-835-7558 or [email protected].
I WOULD LIKE TO CONTRIBUTE
Thank you! Please fill out the form below to make your contribution.
We would love for you to be one of our volunteers! Please fill in your
information below and we will contact you about upcoming opportunities.
Great ideas are always welcome. Use the box below to share your thoughts
with us.
Please mail form to 415 S. Olive Ave., West Palm Beach, FL 33401
THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING PALM BEACH OPERA
PAYMENT INFORMATION
NAME
Check enclosed for $
ADDRESS
city
primary phone
SECONDARY PHONE
state
zip
in honor of or
in memory of:
We will reach out to you for the appropriate mailing address to notify the individual(s) and/or their families above of
your honor/memorial gift. Thank you for sharing your love of opera!
MasterCard
AmEx
Card #
Exp. Date
email
I would like to make my gift
Visa
CVV
Signature
Palm Beach Opera is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit
corporation and all gifts made to the Opera are taxdeductible to the extent provided by state and federal
law. 100% of such gifts are retained by the Opera to
support its operations.
A COPY OF THE OFFICIAL REGISTRATION (#CH1153) AND FINANCIAL INFORMATION MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE DIVISION OF CONSUMER SERVICES BY CALLING
TOLL-FREE WITHIN THE STATE OF FLORIDA, 1-800-435-7352. REGISTRATION DOES NOT IMPLY ENDORSEMENT, APPROVAL OR RECOMMENDATION BY THE STATE.
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midsummer evening
Arlette Gordon, Hermé de Wyman Miro, Jean Dolan
Dr. John and Karin Strasswimmer
Chuck and Sheilagh Hardwick
Dr. Nicole Ederiken, Peg Greenspon
Sandra Goldner, Michael Chioldi, Paul Goldner
NEW YORK DINNER
Carl and Marsha Hewitt,
Anka Palitz, Allen Moyer
Daniel Biaggi, Gladys Benenson
Robert and Florence Kaufman, Ann and Robert Fromer
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Linda and Peter Hoffman
Sanford and Isanne Fisher, Ben Moore
Opera @ the waterfront
Dennis Scholl, Dennis K. Williams
Sanford Fisher, Mayor Jeri Muoio, Isanne Fisher
Delphine and Douglas Daft
RADM Phil Whitacre, Vicki Kellogg
Stella, Aaron, and Mia Wormus
Susan DeRose, Marc Solomon, Adam Solomon
Nick Gold, Bram Majtlis, Sandra Heydt
Virginia Longo, Sally Valenti
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Committee and board members
Claire Chasanoff
Chairwoman of the Board
Ari Rifkin
Vice President
Carol Berliant
President
Barbara Weimer
Recording Secretary/
Treasurer
Elizabeth Bowden
Vice President
Lisa Koeper
Corresponding Secretary
Estelle Fassler
Vice President
Charlotte Kimelman
Assistant Corresponding
Secretary
Phyllis Pressman
Vice President
Arlette Gordon
Past President
Suzy Minkoff
Vice President
Sigrid Baumann
Past President
BOARD MEMBERS
Mrs. Rita Denerstein
Mrs. Jean Dolan
Mrs. Shirley Diamond
Mrs. Nancy Feldman
Mrs. Isanne Fisher
Mrs. Florence Gaynor
Mrs. Jacqueline Goldman
Mrs. Ronnie Isenberg
Mrs. Gail Kleinert
Mrs. Diane Krane
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Mrs. Ingrid Kosowsky
Mrs. Anneliese Langer
Mrs. Tova Leidesdorf
Mrs. Mary Montgomery
Mrs. Elayne Mordes
Mrs. Maria Murphy
Mrs. Sally O’Connor
Mrs. Bernis Rosenbloom
Mrs. Muriel Shapiro
Mrs. Mary Weiss
Mrs. Virginia Zeani
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YOUNG ARTIST PROGRAM
The Palm Beach Opera Young Artist Program is funded by
The Edward H. Benenson Foundation.
Additional support is provided by the National Endowment for the Arts and
Il Circolo, the Italian Society of the Palm Beaches.
The Palm Beach Opera Young Artist Program is a stepping stone to a successful
career as an opera singer for post-graduate and emerging singers. During
their five-month residency in Palm Beach they develop and polish essential
stagecraft and performance skills, aided by musical and career guidance from
Palm Beach Opera’s experienced artistic staff. The Young Artists are Palm
Beach Opera’s community ambassadors, performing throughout the area in
education and outreach concerts as well as covering lead roles and performing
comprimario roles on the mainstage.
Bridgette Gan
Soprano
Sponsored by Roseanne and
Dennis Williams
Nicholas Nestorak
Tenor
Liana Guberman
Soprano
Sponsored in part
by Mickey and Allan
Greenblatt
Robert Watson
Tenor
Jason Duika
Baritone
Rachel Arky
Mezzo Soprano
Sponsored by Estelle
Fassler, in memory of
Leon Fassler
JoAna Rusche
Mezzo Soprano
Sponsored by The Gladys
and Sy Ziv Foundation
Irina Nedelcu
Piano
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VOLUNTEERS and
Hospitality Committee
VOLUNTEERS
Debbie Banta
Mark Banta
Pat Banta
Erica Barden
Emily Cleghorn
Jacob Cornelius
Kyle Cortes
Kaitlin Cox
Rebecca Decker
Roz Gordon
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Vern Gorham
Kendall Hughes
Nikita Lazera
Liz Magdaleno
Joan Merra
Travis Moore
Eve Nardo
Braden Pearsall
Wendy Perlman
Steve Rivera
Cara Young
Hospitality
Committee
Tom Brett
Felice Brett
Jane Freedman
Chuck Hardwick
Ingrid Kosowsky
Kathy Lehan
Claude Lourie
Roger Lourie
Sheilagh Mylott
Nancy Stainback
Ruth Summers
Elaine Textor
Alan Weinstein
Sharon Weinstein
Nancy Wilkinson
STAFF LIST
GENERAL DIRECTOR
Daniel Biaggi
ARTISTIC & PRODUCTION
Managing Director Productions & Facilities
Director of Artistic Operations
Company Manager
Associate Conductor & Chorus Master Orchestra Personnel Manager
Head Coach Young Artist Program
Greg Hirsch
Scott Guzielek
Katy Reeves
Greg Ritchey
Michael Ellert
Timothy Cheung
PATRON ENGAGEMENT
Director of Communications
Director of Philanthropy
Patron Engagement & Grants Manager
Patron Engagement Assistant
Communications Manager
Education & Community
Engagement Manager
Audience Services Manager
Audience Services & Group Sales Associate
Guild & Patron Relations Liaison
Jourdan Laine Howell
Jennifer Isola
Christina Sheridan
Ann E. Baskind
FINANCE & ADMINISTRATION
Director of Finance & Administration
Joe Cremona
Ceci Dadisman
Lisa L. Huertas
Kristina Klaas
Kimberly Banta
Amanda Kahan
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