Excerpts from The Elixir of Love Review by Robert Rollin -Cleveland Classical

Volume 17Spring 2016Newsletter

We invite you to tune into WYSU-FM 88.5 on Monday evenings at 8PM for the NPR WORLD OF OPERA sponsored in part by Opera Western Reserve.

Opera Western Reserve presented as its 12th annual production Gaetano Donizetti’s The Elixir of Love (L’elisir d’amore), an opera buffa in two acts. For a dozen years the company has mounted excellent operas, shrewdly limiting itself to a single annual performance and consistently playing to full houses while maintaining high artistic standards. Friday night’s performance was no exception. First-rate lead singers, fine preparation of choral numbers and ensembles, excellent blocking onstage, and a wonderful orchestra all contributed to another resounding success. Youngstown-born soprano Randa Rouweyha was terrific as Adina. Her lovely lyric soprano voice gracefully negotiated the many intricacies of the challenging bel canto role. She proved to be equally exceptional in the ensembles. Tenor Pedro Willis-Barbosa, a native of Bahia, Brazil, was excellent as Nemorino. His vocal quality was pure throughout the wide-ranging role. His most expressive solo moment was in the famous second-act aria, “Una furtiva lagrima” (“One Tiny Tear”), which bears the same relationship to the overall opera that Ernesto’s Serenade does in Don Pasquale. Bass-baritone Jason Budd, also born in Youngstown, took every advantage of the buffo role of Dr. Dulcamara. The part calls for a comic expansiveness and satirical mien that came naturally to him. Baritone Michael Young, a native of Cortland, Ohio, had a gorgeous dark vocal quality. He projected the conceit and pomposity needed for the Sergeant Belcore role very effectively. Soprano Kathleen Bachtel and baritone Robert Pierce, as Gianetta and the Notary, were excellent in their supporting roles. Bechtel’s role was somewhat larger, and she projected her fine voice well. The production excelled particularly in the extensive ensembles that enliven this wonderful, exuberant opera. The first-act duet between Adina and Nemorino was outstanding. Dulcamara’s duets — one with Nemorino in Act 1, the other with Adina in Act 2 — were both superb. The latter melody recurs in the final scene of the opera as a solo aria sung by Dulcamara with different and more pointedly sardonic words. Conductor Susan Davenny Wyner was terrific in maintaining the musical continuity, keeping a consistently good balance among singers, chorus, and accompaniment. The small orchestra, playing a reduction by Bryan Higgins, performed with grace and power.

Pedro Willis-Barbosa & Randa Rouweyha

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Tickets

Susan Sexton, LMT

Stambaugh Auditorium www.stambaughauditorium.com (330)259-0555

Ballet Western Reserve (330)744-1934

Stambaugh Chorus www.stambaughchorus.org

Youngstown State University Dana School of Music/

The Donald P. Pipino Performing Arts Series (330)941-3105

The Rustbelt Theater Company

www.facebook.com/rustbelttheater (330)507-2358

The Warren Philharmonic-(330)399-3606

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The DeYor Performing Arts Center- (330)744-0264

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Mozart’s comic masterpiece, with libretto by his favorite collaborator, Lorenzo da Ponte, tells of two young soldiers who accept an older friend’s wager that the women they love would not remain faithful in their absence. They return in disguise and woo each other’s fiancées with Mozart’s wonderful melodies and with surprising success! Who will end up paired with whom at the final curtain? What do you think?

Ticket sales begin April 1st. Call (330)941-3105 or go to www.ysu.tix.com

Così fan tutteApril 22-23 at 7:30PM, April 24 at 2:00PMYoungstown State University- Ford Theater

By Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Libretto by Lorenzo da Ponte.

Sung in Italian with supertitles in English.

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Tickets

Tickets for our upcoming production of Carmen, taking place Friday, November 11, 2016 will go on sale May 1st. Order your tickets by June 1st and receive a $5 discount on select tickets! Call the Stambaugh Auditorium Box Office at (330)259-0555 or online at: www.operawesternreserve.org

Supporter $250 2 tickets Orchestra Level Contributor $500 4 tickets Orchestra LevelDonor (and up) $1,000+ 8 tickets Orchestra Level

Remember! Individual Underwriters are entitled to a reservation of complimentary tickets:

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Includes:6lbs. Ground Chuck

8 Prime Ribeyes8 Sirloin Filets

6lbs. Jumbo Chicken Wing Dings2 Slabs of St. Louis Ribs

8 Chicago Cut Pork Chops8 Pork Porterhouse Chops

2 Bottles of Wine from Kavic Winery

$250 Estimated Value Raffle tickets may be purchased by calling the Opera Western Reserve office at (330)480-0693.

$10 per ticket or 3 for $25

Drawing will be held on Tuesday, June 14th at 5PM

1000 Fifth Avenue, Youngstown, OH 44504

Robert Pierce, Baritone- Educational Outreach DirectorKathy Miller, Accompanist- Music DirectorKathleen Bacthel, SopranoVictor S. Cardamone, TenorLauren Corcoran, SopranoRebecca Enlow, Soprano Dean LaSalandra, BaritonePatrick Niess, TenorKathie Steeb, Soprano

Opera Western Reserve Elliot Legow, Chairman Susan Davenny Wyner, Music DirectorDavidVosburgh,ProductionDirector

Frank & Pearl Gelbman FoundationAimee & Lulu Seidel Foundation

Youngstown Foundation

Thank you to our recent Foundation & Underwriter Supporters!

Elliot & Christine LegowNancy Meacham

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Rose DiNobileRichard M. Aron

Laura QuinnZahava & Rami Yehudai

Michael RosenbergJames Blair

Rodney LambersonVincent & Phyllis Bacon

Dr. Alan GittisKathleen PierceJanet Sanders

Sandra Kady DimargioCorlis Green

William J. HelwigTedrow & Susan Perkins

Ruth Fisher MendelLotis Cooper

Julia Catchpole Elizabeth Axe