COLLEGE OF FINE ARTS Robert A. Kvam, dean

Michael O’Hara, associate dean

SCHOOL OF MUSIC Ryan Hourigan, director

Rebecca Braun, assistant to the director Linda Pohly, coordinator of graduate programs in music

Kevin Gerrity, coordinator of undergraduate programs in music

VOICE FACULTY Meryl Mantione, mezzo-soprano & voice area coordinator

Mary Kathryn Brewer, soprano Hyery Hwang, opera/vocal coach Kathleen Maurer, mezzo-soprano

Craig Priebe, bass-baritone Yoko Shimazaki-Kilburn, soprano

Elizabeth Truitt, soprano Jon Truitt, baritone & director of opera

Mei Zhong, soprano

UPCOMING OPERA THEATRE EVENTS

Ball State Opera Theatre: Puccini’s Il Trittico Friday, April 13 | 7:30 p.m. | Sursa Hall Sunday, April 15 | 2 p.m. | Sursa Hall

UPCOMING SCHOOL OF MUSIC EVENTS

EM | Three (Electronic Music) Tuesday, February 6 | 7:30 p.m. | Sursa Hall

Tom Shah Memorial Jazz Scholarship Award Concert Wednesday, February 7 | 7:30 p.m. | Sursa Hall Music in the Museum: James Helton, piano

Thursday, February 8 | 5-8 p.m. | David Owsley Museum of Art Faculty Artist Series: Faculty Jazz Combo Tuesday, February 13 | 7:30 p.m. | Hahn Hall

Guest Artist Recital: Garnet Ungar & Roger Wright, piano duo Wednesday, February 14 | 7:30 p.m. | Sursa Hall

Faculty Artist Series: Elizabeth Crawford, clarinet, & Lori Rhoden, piano Thursday, February 15 | 7:30 p.m. | Sursa Hall

Wind Ensemble & Symphony Band Saturday, February 17 | 7:30 p.m. | Sursa Hall

Open Studios Day Monday, February 19 | 1-5 p.m. | MMP Studios Faculty Artist Series: Keith Sweger, bassoon Tuesday, February 20 | 7:30 p.m. | Sursa Hall

Series LXXII – Number 112 In keeping with copyright and artist agreements, the use of recording and photographic devices is permitted only by approved university personnel.

Food and drink are prohibited in all concert halls; we request your cooperation. bsu.edu/music

Ball State Opera Theatre presents:

Heart and Music

Second Annual Opera Gala

Saturday, February 3, 2018 | 7:30 p.m. | SURSA HALL

PROGRAM

William Finn “Heart and Music” (b. 1952) from A New Brain

Ball State Opera Theatre

Giacomo Puccini “In un coupè?...O Mimì, tu più non torni” (1858–1942) from La Bohème

Rory Wallace and Jon Truitt*

W. A. Mozart “Tutto ancor non ho perso...Via resti servita” (1756–1791) from Le nozze di Figaro

Emma Nossem+ and Yoko Shimizaki-Kilburn*

W. A. Mozart “Ah, taci, ingiusto core” from Don Giovanni

Julianna Shamel, Maxx Schneiderhahn, and Zac Biddle

Giacomo Puccini “Scuoti quella fronda di ciliegio” from Madame Butterfly

Maegan Pollonais and Mei Zhong*

Richard Rodgers “There is Nothing Like a Dame” (1902–1979) from South Pacific

The Crew of the HMS Pinafore

Georges Bizet “Mêlons! Coupons!...” (Card Trio) (1838–1875) from Carmen

Micah Starks, Katherine Wilhelm, and Kathleen Maurer*

W. A. Mozart “Don Giovanni!” (Act II Finale) from Don Giovanni

Zac Biddle, Marcel Mello, and Ethan Smith

-----INTERMISSION-----

Leonard Bernstein “Best of All Possible Worlds” (1918–1990) from Candide

Mindy Wesley, Julianna Shamel, Charlie Cummings, Maxx Schneiderhahn, and Rory Wallace

Gioachino Rossini “Serbami ognor si fido...Alle più care (1792–1868) immagini” from Semiramide

Lauren Walker and Hyery Hwang*

Leonard Bernstein “I Feel Pretty” from West Side Story

Kelci Kosin, Anna Buck, and Mindy Wesley

Léo Delibes “Viens, Mallika...Sous le dôme épais le (1836–1891) jasmin” (Flower Duet) from Lakmé

Alexandra Billhartz and Valerie Weingart

Giuseppe Verdi “Un dì, se ben rammentomi” (1813–1901) from Rigoletto

Anna Buck, Victor Cardamone, Maegan Pollonais, and Matthew Kosin

Giuseppe Verdi “Va, pensiero” from Nabucco

Ball State Opera Theatre

Claude-Michel Finale from Les Misérables Schönberg (b. 1944)

Ball State Opera Theatre

*denotes faculty performer +denotes 2017–2018 Ewert Scholarship recipient

PROGRAM

“Heart and Music” from A New Brain In this Act I song from the musical A New Brain, songwriter Gordon is confronted by his mortality and expresses his greatest fear: dying with so many songs in his heart still yet unwritten. “In un coupè?...O Mimì tu più non torni” from La Bohème As Act IV begins, Rodolfo, a writer, and Marcello, a painter, tease about seeing each other’s former loves doing well. The mood turns more melancholy as each pines for his lost love. “Tutto ancor non ho perso...Via resti servita” from Le nozze di Figaro Susanna is looking forward to her marriage to Figaro later in the day, but Marcellina has secured Figaro’s promise to marry her instead in repayment of a debt. In this scene, Susanna and Marcellina run into each other and proceed to hurl sarcastic insults, some thinly veiled and some…not so much. “Ah, taci, ingiusto core” from Don Giovanni Don Giovanni has just ordered his servant Leporello to exchange cloak and hat with him. When Donna Elvira comes to her window, Don Giovanni hides and sends Leporello out in the open wearing Don Giovanni's cloak and hat. From his hiding place Don Giovanni sings a promise of repentance, expressing a desire to return to her and threatening to kill himself if she does not take him back, while Leporello poses as Don Giovanni and tries to keep from laughing. Donna Elvira is ultimately convinced by the legendary lothario. This scene was featured in our Fall Opera Workshop concert in December. “Scuoti quella fronda di ciliegio” from Madame Butterfly In this duet from Madama Butterfly, the young geisha Butterfly has been waiting for her American husband, Pinkerton, to return to Japan for 3 years. Though others have doubted her, she has never given up hope. This hope is rewarded when Suzuki finally sees an American ship in the harbor, and in her excitement, Butterfly tells Suzuki to gather flowers and they decorate the house for Pinkerton's arrival. “Nothing Like a Dame” from South Pacific In this famous musical number, Luther Billis and the other sailors and Seabees stationed on the island base in the Pacific lament their lack of feminine companionship. “Mêlons! Coupons!...” (Card Trio) from Carmen In this scene, a gypsy camp in the mountains, Mercedes and Frasquita playfully tell their fortunes. While Frasquita dreams of love and companionship, Mercedes dreams of becoming a widow with a large fortune. Overhearing them, Carmen uses the tarot cards to tell her fortune as well and reveals death for both her and Don Jose. After her initial shock, she laments their fate.

PROGRAM NOTES

“Don Giovanni! (Act II Finale) from Don Giovanni In this climatic scene from Don Giovanni, the Commendatore returns as a living statue and offers the lothario a last chance to repent, but Don Giovanni adamantly refuses. Taking the statue’s hand in promise to dine with him, Don Giovanni cries out in pain and terror as he is surrounded by a chorus of demons, who carry him down to Hell. Leporello, watching in terror, also cries out in fear.

“Best of All Possible Worlds” from Candide In this opening number of the opera, Candide is about to be married to the lovely Cunegonde. Dr. Pangloss, their teacher, expounds his famous philosophy, to the effect that all that happens works out for the best.

“Serbami ognor si fido...Alle più care immagini” from Semiramide Arsace alludes to his love for the queen Azema without specifically naming her, but he also declares that he will die for his queen if necessary. Semiramide still believes that he really loves her, and vows that she will give him all he desires.

“I Feel Pretty” from West Side Story In this opening number of the Second Act of Bernstein’s famous musical, Maria is blissfully unaware of the gangs' plans for that night and daydreams with her friends about seeing Tony later that evening.

“Viens, Mallika...Sous le dôme épais le jasmin” from Lamké In this famous duet, Lakmé and her servant Mallika take in the sight of the beautiful flowers by the river. Lakme is briefly overcome with concern for her father, but Malika reassures her and the two return to enjoying the beautiful moment.

“Un dì, se ben rammentomi” from Rigoletto In this quartet from Act III of Rigoletto, Rigoletto and Gilda listen from outside as the Duke shamefully romances Maddalena within the house. Gilda laments that the Duke has betrayed all his vows of love to her, and Rigoletto promises to avenge her honor.

“Va, pensiero” from Nabucco Also known as the “Chorus of the Hebrew Slaves,” this chorus represents the Israelites singing about their need to be free in Jerusalem. At the time of the opera’s premiere, it also reflected the desire of Italians for national unity and in many ways serves as an unofficial Italian national anthem.

Finale of Les Misérables At the end of Les Misérables, Valjean has given Cosette a letter confessing his troubled past and the truth about her mother. As he dies, the spirits of Fantine and Éponine guide him to Heaven reminding him that “to love another person is to see the face of God.” They are joined by the spirits of those who died at the barricades, who sing that in the next world, God lays low all tyranny and frees all oppressed people from their shackles.

PROGRAM NOTES

Baritone and stage director JON TRUITT has established a national presence as a performer in the United States, having recently directed professional productions of Barber of Seville, Die Fledermaus, South Pacific, Madama Butterfly, La Traviata, Hansel and Gretel, Pagliacci, Suor Angelica, the Merry Widow, Le nozze di Figaro, La Boheme, Don Giovanni, The Elixir of Love, and Die Zauberflöte. His professional production of Die Zauberflöte was featured in Opera America magazine and has been remounted multiple times around the country. An actively performing baritone, Truitt also appears regularly with professional opera companies across the United States, including the New Orleans Opera, Des Moines Metro Opera, Asheville Lyric Opera, Muddy River Opera Company, Mobile Opera, Pensacola Opera, St. Petersburg Opera, Opera Illinois, the Crested Butte Music Festival, Jacksonville Opera, Soo Opera Theatre, and the Jefferson Performing Arts Society. He has appeared as Germont in La Traviata, Figaro in Barber of Seville, Marcello in La Boheme, Don Giovanni in Don Giovanni, Guglielmo in Cosi fan tutte, Eisenstein in Die Fledermaus, Ford in Falstaff, and more than forty other roles in the baritone repertoire. On the concert stage, he has sung with many regional symphonies and in numerous public solo recitals. Jon Truitt additionally serves as the director of opera and associate professor of music at Ball State University. He also co-directs an opera young artist program each summer with his wife, soprano Elizabeth Truitt, for Asheville Lyric Opera in North Carolina. He is a two-time apprentice artist with the Des Moines Metro Opera, a Metropolitan Opera Regional finalist, and a NATSAA Indiana State Winner. HYERY HWANG is a native of Seoul, South Korea. She has served as a vocal coach and collaborative pianist for several opera companies, including the Korea National Opera and Ohio Light Opera. She has also appeared as a singer in Baroque operas and concerts in Rochester, NY, Pittsburgh, PA, Indianapolis, IN, and Urbania, Italy. Recent engagements include performances as the soprano soloist for the works of Bach and Handel with Masterworks Chorale, Muncie, IN. Ms. Hwang was the principal coach, the assistant director, and a faculty member at the Young Artist Program held at the Pittsburgh Festival Opera. She has coached a variety of opera mainstays, such as La Bohème, Carmen, Le nozze di Figaro, Così fan tutte, Dialogues des Carmélites, La Rondine, Die Zauberflöte, and Die Fledermaus, and as a conductor, she has directed operas at Ball State Opera Theatre including Dido and Æneas, Orfeo ed Euridice, and Béatrice et Bénédict. Ms. Hwang has also been principal vocal coach at the Undercroft Opera in Pittsburgh and conducted The Impresario and Djamileh during this season. She was recently invited to give masterclasses at the Music Academy of Wrocław in Poland. Ms. Hwang’s work experience is not limited to the classical stage. She has served as music director, conductor, organist, and cantor in Catholic churches throughout Korea, Scotland, and the United States. Ms. Hwang holds degrees from Ewha Womans University, Seoul, Korea, the Eastman School of Music, and the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland in Glasgow, UK. She is currently an assistant professor of music performance at Ball State University. PETER DOUGLAS is thrilled to join Ball State Opera Theatre as graduate assistant serving as répétiteur for the 2017-18 season. He is a sought-after pianist for both instrumental and vocal collaborative work throughout Indiana and Ohio. This summer, Peter was collaborative piano fellow (assistant coach and rehearsal pianist) in the opera studio at Musiktheater Bavaria in Oberaudorf, Germany. In BSOT’s 2016-17 season, he served as substitute pianist for the productions of Béatrice et Bénédict and Le nozze di Figaro. Outside of opera, Peter maintains a busy schedule playing for instrumental and vocal studios at Ball State University. He received a Master of Music degree in piano performance from Ball State University and graduated summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Music in piano performance from Baldwin Wallace Conservatory of Music in Berea, Ohio. Peter is currently pursuing a Doctorate of Arts in piano chamber music and accompanying at Ball State University under the tutelage of Ray Kilburn.

BIOGRAPHIES PERSONNEL

Jon Truitt, director Hyery Hwang, vocal coach

Kerry Glann, chorus master Peter Douglas, piano

Zac Biddle, bass Alexandra Billhartz, soprano

Anna Buck, soprano Victor Cardamone, tenor

Charlie Cummings, baritone Matthew Kosin, baritone

Kelci Kosin, soprano Marcel Mello, baritone

Emma Nossem, mezzo-soprano Maegan Pollonais, mezzo-soprano

Maxx Schneiderhahn, baritone Julianna Shamel, soprano

Ethan Smith, baritone Micah Starks, soprano

Lauren Walker, mezzo-soprano Rory Wallace, tenor

Valerie Weingart, mezzo-soprano Mindy Wesley, soprano

Katherine Wilhelm, mezzo-soprano

Chorus Seth Allen, Lucas Blackwood, Joseph Bloom, Sylvie Dowd,

Grace Goze, Anna Jirgal, Cheyenne Johnson, Whitney Larson, Alix Latta, Danielle Lawson, Rachel Lesh, Gabriel McGill,

Kirsten Norland, Luca Perillo, Zachary Pierce, Heather Reed, Jordan Rieser

Faculty Guests Hyery Hwang, soprano

Kathleen Maurer, mezzo-soprano Yoko Shimizaki-Kilburn, soprano

Jon Truitt, baritone Mei Zhong, soprano