Gene Stenger, Tenor

Central City Opera's (CCO) General/Artistic Director, Pelham (Pat) G. Pearce, announces that the organization has named Michael Baitzer as Principal Coach for the company's nationally recognized Bonfils-Stanton Foundation Artists Training Program. As noted in early November, CCO announced the retirement of the former administrator and founder of the Program, John Moriarty.  Marc Astafan, a respected stage director, educator, mentor and coach who has worked often with Mr. Moriarty at Central City Opera and elsewhere, was named as Moriarty's successor and will work in tandem with new Principal Coach Michael Baitzer.

Applications are being accepted for Emerald City Opera Artists Institute 2012. Application forms are available at the website. Auditions will be held in Boulder, Las Vegas and New York. The application deadline is February 10.

Colorado College in Colorado Springs is seeking a Director of Vocal Activities, Part-Time, with the rank of Principal Instructor of Voice, Part-Time. Master of Music or equivalent experience required. Applications will be accepted through Monday, February 15, 2012. See complete details in the Department  of Music job posting.

The University of Northern Colorado announces a new Mariachi Song Academy (Academia de Canto Mexicano de UNC), beginning February 18th with a series of three vocal workshops finishing with a performance for the community at large, as well as for UNC students.  All classes are free. The academy is beginning with workshops, thanks to the support of the College of Performing and Visual Arts and the No Boundaries project, with the desire to foster a closer relationship between the Mexican community of Colorado and the University. The vocal workshops are being taught by doctoral opera student in the School of Music, Juanita Ulloa, who has taught Hispanic and mariachi vocal styles at various U.S. universities, producing finalists and winners. Ms. Ulloa is herself a six time winner of the Festival de la Canción Latinoamericana, and has toured nationally and internationally, with numerous recordings in Spanish in both mariachi, or ranchera music. See this poster for full details (Spanish version on p. 2).

In Ouray, the Wright Opera House has been purchased by the non-profit Friends of the Wright Opera House following a 3-year "Campaign to Save the Opera House--- It's the Wright Thing TO DO!" They now are beginning the next phase: preserve and renovate the existing structure, for which $2 million is needed. They are anxious for interested folks to know that the building has been saved and can now be operated as a non-profit. Tours of the opera house will be offered beginning Summer 2012. Have a look at the opera house website to see the scheduled activities and programs there.

The Metropolitan Opera will webcast Ernani Thursday, February 2, 5:30 pm. Click Listen Live to go to the player for streaming this audio broadcast.


Opera Music Broadcast and Minnesota Opera will live video webcast Massenet’s Werther, starring James Valenti  and Roxana Constantinescu, on Sunday, February 5, at 1 pm. Go to this Internet address to stream the webcast: http://bit.ly/A37osc. John Robert Lindsey is Schmidt, Werther's friend.

The Metropolitan Opera will encore cinecast The Enchanted Island, starring David Daniels, Joyce DiDonato, Placido Domingo, and Danielle de Niese in several Colorado theaters, on Wednesday, February 8, at 6:30 pm.

The Metropolitan Opera will webcast Aida Thursday, February 9, 5:30 pm. Click Listen Live to go to the player for streaming this audio broadcast.


The Metropolitan Opera will live cinecast Götterdämmerung, starring Deborah Voigt, Jay Hunter Morris, Waltraud Meier, and Eric Owens in 23 Colorado theaters, on Saturday, February 11, at 10:00 am.

The Metropolitan Opera will webcast Il Barbiere di Siviglia Wednesday, February 15, 5:30 pm. Click Listen Live to go to the player for streaming this audio broadcast.


The Opera Colorado Channel at YouTube has been populated with videos about the 2012 season. Go there to find new uploads for The Marriage of Figaro, Florencia en el Amazonas and Il Trovatore. When at the Channel page, click "Uploads" to see all videos from the past two years.

Nick Reveles of San Diego Opera has produced a video series called OperaTalk!, excellent, enjoyable and informative illustrated lectures on several operas. Before you go to see Opera Colorado's The Marriage of Figaro, attend his talk about that opera at our Videos page. You will be pleased that you did.

Melissa Malde, mezzo, and Caleb Harris, piano, will present a Faculty Recital on Tuesday, January 31, at 8 pm in Milne Auditorium, University of Northern Colorado, Greeley. Tickets online at the UNC Box Office or call 970.315.2200.

Pikes Peak Opera League will meet at 9:30 am, Wednesday, February 1, Broadmoor Community Church, 315 Lake Avenue, Colorado Springs. The meeing is free and open to the public. The program, a preview of Opera Theatre’s production of La Traviata by Verdi, will be presented by Artistic Director and Founder of Opera Theatre of the Rockies, Martile Rowland and will feature excerpts of the opera sung by members of the cast. Those singing are  Annamarie Zmolek as Violetta,  Brian Harris, as Alfredo, and Thomas Erik Angerhofer as Germont. Accompaning the singers at the piano is Daniel Brink, professor of piano at Colorado College.

Meet the Artists of Mozart's The Marriage of Figaro Wednesday, February 1, 12 noon,Tattered Cover Bookstore, 1628 16th St., Denver. Enjoy a lunchtime chat with the principle artists and artistic team for the upcoming performance of The Marriage of Figaro, moderated by Opera Colorado's General Director, Greg Carpenter. This event offers a fun, casual setting for people to interact with the stars of the production prior to the opening performances.

Central City Opera with the Junior Symphony Guild presents an engaging 45-minute performance created for children ages 6 and under to introduce young kids to orchestral music, taking place February 1 through 13 at venues throughout the Denver metro area. Ensemble Artist, Chad Reagan sings Figaro's "Largo al factotum" from Rossini's famous opera. See the CCO calendar listing for Tiny Tots Inside the Orchestra for complete details.

Lamont Opera Theatre presents Opera Scenes Friday, February 3, at 7:30 pm, and Sunday, February 5, at 2:30 pm. Hamilton Recital Hall, Newman Center, University of Denver. Free but tickets are required. Free parking.

The Louise C. Conter Master Class of the Denver Lyric Opera Guild will be given on Saturday, February 4, 9 am to 4:30 pm, with Kenneth Cox, Director of Lamont Opera, at Bethany Lutheran Church, 4500 East Hampden Ave, Cherry Hills Village.

High Desert Opera's inaugural fundraiser, The Sweetheart Gala, is Saturday, February 4,  6:00 - 11:00 pm, Bookcliff Country Club, 2730 G Road, Grand Junction. Enjoy an elegant evening of fine food, dancing, entertainment and silent auction. Thrill to Broadway and classical selections performed by James Werner and other High Desert artists. Pre-paid seating is by reservation only, starting on December 1st. $125 per person. Call reservations at 970.250.3545.

The annual Competition for High School Students sponsored by Classical Singer will be held Saturday, February 4, at 10 am, in the Organ Recital Hall, University Center for the Arts, Fort Collins. It is free and open to public observation.

The annual Singer of the Year Competition will be held in the Organ Recital Hall, University Center for the Arts, Fort Collins, on Saturday, February 4, at 7:30 pm. Finalists perform and participate in a Masterclass given by guest judges and clinician Dr. Caleb Harris. Free and open to the public.

Tiffany Blake, soprano, and Michelle Stanley, flute, joined by Anne Breeden, piano, and Barbara Thiem, cello, will present a Virtuosos Series concert  of chamber music on Monday, February 6, at 7:30 pm in the Organ Recital Hall, University Center for the Arts, Fort Collins. Tickets at the UCA Box Office.

Kate Mathews sings in recital at the Magnolia Music Studio on Friday, February 10, at 7:30. pm. She will be singing Mozart arias, a piece by Handel, some Schubert, Copland, Rinaldo Hahn, and even a few by Irving Berlin. Karen Stoody will be assisting at the piano. The event is by donation-- any amount will be welcome. Reserve a free ticket to this event at BrownPaperTickets.com.

Vail Valley Foundation hosts Teatro Lirico D'Europa performances of Great Moments in Opera on Friday, February 10, at 6:30 pm, and Puccini's La Bohème on Saturday, February 11, at 6:30 pm, in the Vilar Performing Arts Center, Beaver Creek. Tickets online or by phone at 888.920.ARTS(2787) or in person at the VPAC Box Office in Beaver Creek.

Loveland Opera Theatre performs Gilbert & Sullivan's HMS Pinafore Friday, February 10, and Saturday, February 11, at 7:30 pm, and Sunday, February 12, at 2:30 pm; Friday, February 17, and Saturday, February 18, at 7:30 pm, and Sunday February 19, at 2:30 pm. Rialto Theater, Loveland. Tickets: $27/adult, $19/student & senior, $12/children 5-12 years. Special Offer: $5 for the first 285 children’s tickets issued (under 14). This is due to a generous grant given by the Loveland Generations through the Community Foundation of Northern Colorado. Please mention Loveland Generations when reserving tickets for children 14 and under. Rialto Theater Box Office online or 970.962.2120. Cast (February 11, 17, 19 / February 10, 12, 18): Lindsey Coleman / Reinet Behncke (Josephine), Craig Blackard / Steve Jackson (Ralph), Joel Sutliff  / Todd Resseguie (Corcoran), Bianca Showalter / Sarah-Nicole Ruddy (Buttercup), Scott Gagnon (Sir Joseph Porter), Robert Hoch (Dick Deadeye), Joe Massman (Bill Bobstay), Daniel Carey (Bob Becket), Logan Snook (Cousin Hebe).

John and Gail Carpenter will be in concert, singing everything from Grand Opera to Broadway, at Forrestgate Presbyterian Church, 970 Northgate Blvd., Colorado Springs, Saturday, February 11, at 7 pm. The accompanist will be Sandi Shroads. This concert is sponsored by the Rocky Mountain Music Alliance and is free but seating is limited. To make reservations call 719.646.2791 or go to the Alliance website.

Mozart’s The Marriage of Figaro opens Opera Colorado’s 2012 season with four performances at at The Ellie Caulkins Opera House at the Denver Performing Arts Complex, 14th and Curtis Streets in downtown Denver, Saturday, February 11 at 7:30 pm, Tuesday, February 14 at 7:30 pm, Friday, February 17 at 7:30 pm and Sunday, February 19 at 2:00 pm. Tickets start at $20 and go up to $165; available online at www.operacolorado.org or by phone at 800.982.ARTS. Maestro John Baril makes his debut as conductor of the production as he leads the Opera Colorado Orchestra and Chorus Stage director David Gately returns to Opera Colorado to lend his comic hand to the staging. Simone Alberghini as Figaro, Ava Pine as Susanna, Twyla Robinson as Countess Almaviva, Keith Phares as Count Almaviva, Patricia Risley as Cherubino, Julie Simson as Marcellina, Thomas Hammons as Dr. Bartolo, and James Baumgardner as Don Curzio. (See Greg Carpenter's Guest Commentary below.)

Soprano Oaklea Rowe with pianist Benjamin Ehrlich will be performing works by Strauss, Mozart, Puccini, Rogers and Hammerstein and more in concert on Sunday, February 12, at 2 pm, St. Thomas Episcopal Church, 2201 Dexter St., Denver.

James Baumgardner, tenor, will sing in an Alumni Series Concert on Wednesday, February 15, at 7:30 pm in the Organ Recital Hall, University Center for the Arts, 1400 Remington St., Fort Collins. James is a Colorado native currently residing in New York City. He has been seen with many reputable companies around the Colorado and western regions and is expanding his reputation quickly on the east coast. Tickets $7/Student, $1 Youth (2-17), $12/Adult at the UCA Box Office.

Fourteen talented members of the Central City Opera Ensemble will perform memorable scenes, duets, and ensembles from opera, operetta, and musical theatre. Concert Hall at the Denver School of the Arts. 7111 Montview Blvd., Denver, Thursday, February 16; VIP Reception: 5:30 pm, Performance: 7:00 pm. Tickets for the performance are $20 and tickets for both the show and VIP reception are $50. They can be purchased by calling the Box Office at 303.292.6700. The artists of the Ensemble are donating their services for the evening in order to raise funds for Central City Opera's Education and Community Programs. Due to grants and fundraisers such as this concert, Central City Opera is able to offer free or reduced-fee assemblies and workshops to schools and other organizations.

Pikes Peak Opera League announces An Evening in Paris, a benefit for Opera Theatre of the Rockies, on February 17 at 5:30 pm. The event will be held at the Cornerstone Arts Center on the campus of Colorado College at Cascade and Cache La Poudre. The evening begins with hors d’oervres and wine followed by a program of songs from opera and musical theatre presented by “The Stars of La Traviata.”  Featured in this special performance of repertoire chosen for this beautiful Parisian evening are singers: Annamarie Zmolek, Joel Burcham, Jacob Lassetter, Valerie Nicolosi, Brian Harris, Thomas Erik Angerhofer, Mathew Whitmore, Arthur Van Dyck, Amanda Raddatz, Jessica Oliver and Amber Markova.  Accompaning the singers at the piano will be Daniel Brink, professor of piano at Colorado College. After the concert, patrons will be served a delicious light French style dinner.  Seating is limited.  Those wishing to purchase tickets need to do so quickly since the event will sell out. Reservations are $65 per person and must be made by Feb 13, 2012.  For information and/or reservations, call Susan Loring at 719.593.8802.

Vail Valley Foundation will be hosting Bass-Baritone Bryn Terfel for the 2nd Annual Arts Center Gala Saturday, February 18, 6:30 pm, in the Vilar Performing Arts Center, Beaver Creek. The performance is a fundraiser for the non-profit theatre. Tickets online or by phone at 888.920.ARTS(2787) or in person at the VPAC Box Office in Beaver Creek.