Opera Pronto

Issue 12.2.1 ........... Newsletter of the Colorado Opera Network ........ 6 February 2012


James BaumgardnerJames Baumgardner, tenor, makes his debut next week with Opera Colorado, singing Don Curzio in Le Nozze di Figaro, and also he will be singing in an Alumni Series Concert at Colorado State University February 15 (see under Events below). James is a Colorado native, now residing in New York City where he currently is a student of Metropolitan Opera baritone Mark Oswald.  He has been seen with many reputable companies around Colorado and the western region and is expanding his reputation quickly on the east coast. James has made many leading and supporting role appearances with Opera Theatre of the Rockies, Central City Opera, Opera Fort Collins, The Longmont Symphony Orchestra, Colorado State Opera Theatre, and CU Opera. In the summers of 2008 and 2009 he was a Studio Artist with Central City Opera, where in 2009 he received the Outstanding Studio Artist of the year award, and in 2010 was in the Santa Fe Opera Apprentice Singer Program. James has a Master of Music degree from the University of Colorado Boulder and a Bachelor of Music in Music Performance from Colorado State University.

StarVale Rideout sings Nadir in Les pécheurs de perles (The Pearl Fishers) with Hawaii Opera Theater February 24, 26, 28.

Star Emily Murdock has been appointed Education and Community Programs Coordinator for Central City Opera.

News
FlashThe 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 poster for full details (Spanish version on p. 2).

eMedia
CinecastThe 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.

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


CinecastThe 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.

CinecastThe Boedecker Theater in Boulder will encore cinecast Puccini's Il Trittico from the Royal Opera House starring Lucio Gallo, Eva-Maria Westbroek, Anja Harteros, Anna Larsson and Elena Zilio, on Sunday, February 12, at 11 am and Wednesday, February 15, at 1 pm.

WebcastThe 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.


CinecastAspen Music Festival sponsors the encore cinecast of the Met's Don Giovanni at the Wheeler Opera House on Thursday, February 16, at 5:30 pm. Tickets $20 at 970.920.5770 locally or 866.449.0464 toll free or online at Aspen Show Tickets.

WebcastThe Metropolitan Opera will webcast Madama Butterfly Wednesday, February 22, 5:30 pm. Click Listen Live to go to the player for streaming this audio broadcast.


Events
NoteCentral 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.

NoteTiffany 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.

NoteSan Francisco Bay Area Mezzo-Soprano Kate Davis Mathews performs a hometown Colorado concert for family and friends with  pianist Karen Stoody, featuring works by Mozart, Irving Berlin, Schubert, Copland, and Handel. This is an intimate "house concert" at the Magnolia Music Studio, 210 W. Magnolia St, Fort Collins, with *seating limited to 50.*  Friday, February 10 at 7:30. pm. Reserve your free tickets at www.brownpapertickets.com/event/223413 or by phoning Magnolia Music Studio 970.481.8661. Donations of any amount will be accepted to defray travel costs. Kate Mathews was a featured singer last August for Opera Fort Collins Guild "Songs in Summer" with tenor Andrew Lunsford, and soprano Rose Sawvel. She has also appeared locally at Arias@Avos.

NoteVail 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 TheatreLoveland 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).

NoteJohn 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.

Opera ColoradoMozart’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.)

NoteSoprano 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.

NoteJames 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.

NoteFourteen talented members of the Central City Opera Ensemble will perform memorable scenes, duets, and ensembles from opera, operetta, and musical theatre in 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.

NotePikes Peak Opera League announces An Evening in Paris, a benefit for Opera Theatre of the Rockies, on Friday, 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 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.  Accompanying the singers at the piano will be Daniel Brink, professor of piano at Colorado College. After the concert, patrons will be served a 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 February 13.  For information and/or reservations call Susan Loring at 719.593.8802.

NoteVail 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 fund-raiser 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.

DNoteiane Bolden-Taylor, soprano, will sing in a Faculty Recital Tuesday, February 21, 8 pm, Milne Auditorium, University of Northern Colorado, Greeley. Tickets 970.351.2200.

NoteThe CU College of Music Anderson Undergraduate Voice Competition Finals will be held Thursday, February 23, 7:30 pm, Imig Music, CU Boulder. Free and open to the public.

Gust Commentary
H.M.S. Pinafore opened at the Opera Comique in London, England, on 25 May 1878 and ran for 571 performances, which was the second-longest run of any musical theatre piece up to that time. It was Gilbert and Sullivan's fourth operatic collaboration and their first international sensation. Among the most crowd-pleasing comic musicals in history, H.M.S. Pinafore is loved for its delightful songs, gleefully entertaining story and saucy satire. The captain's daughter is in love with an ordinary sailor but her father has a more sophisticated suitor in mind. Will she and her beloved defy convention and set sail for love? Filled with Sullivan's memorable melodies, H.M.S. Pinafore is pure joy and sensational entertainment for everyone, young or old!

hJuliana Bishop-HochIt is interesting to note that W.S. Gilbert took several liberal pot-shots at the class system of British society, as well as at the Royal Navy. The reversal of social stations poked fun at the social order of Britain, which audiences loved then and still love today!  The show has never lost its popularity, remaining one of the three most often performed of the Gilbert & Sullivan comic operas.

Come join us for H.M.S. Pinafore as it sets sail with Loveland Opera Theatre on February 10-12 and17-19 at the Rialto Theatre in Loveland. Tim Kennedy (stage director) has created a fast-paced, hilarious production that is sure to keep you laughing and on the edge of your seat!  His attention to detail is delightful for the cast and the audience alike. Peter Muller (lighting) has creatively designed scenic projections that comment on the action and characters throughout the production. The orchestra, conducted by Cynthia Katsarelis is made up of some of the finest musicians in Colorado. As is the tradition for Loveland Opera Theatre, most principal roles are double cast, go to www.lovelandopera.org for casting information. Ticket prices are $27 adult/ $19 student-senior/$12 children 14 and under.* For tickets, call 970.962.2120 or http://rialtoloveland.ticketforce.com/ website.

*Loveland Generations of the Community Foundation of Northern Colorado has given a grant to lower the cost of children 14 and under tickets to $5 (first 285.)  Request this discount when ordering tickets at the Rialto Box office.
Juliana Bishop Hoch
Executive and Artistic Director
Loveland Opera Theatre

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