Kodak Hall at Eastman TheatreJanuary 14 & 16, 2011

by Giuseppe Verdi

Mercury Opera Rochester presents

presents

Giuseppe Verdi’s

Falstaff

Libretto by Arrigo BoitoBased on Shakespeare’s Plays

The Merry Wives of Windsor and Henry IV

Benton Hess – Artistic Director & ConductorDavid Bartholomew – Stage Director

with the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra

Set Design by Timothy JozwickLighting Design by Nic Minetor

Costumes Provided by A.T. Jones & SonsMakeup & Hair Design by Elsen Associates, Inc.

There will be two intermissions.

Blackfriars Theatre795 E. Main Street, Rochester(585) 454-1260Jacques Brel is Alive and Well and Living in Paris Dec. 31 – Jan. 22The Glass Menagerie Feb. 26 – Mar. 19The Who’s Tommy April 23 – May 14www.blackfriars.org

Bristol Valley Theater151 South Main Street, Naples(585) 374-6318A Dash of Rosemary: the Music of Rosemary Clooney June 9 – 19A Coupla White Chicks Sitting Around Talking June 23 – July 3Cabaret July 7 – 17Charley’s Aunt July 21 – 31 Alfred Hitchcock’s The 39 Steps Aug. 4 – 14 www.bristolvalleytheater.org

Downstairs Cabaret Theatre20 Windsor St, 172 W Main St, 540 E Main St, Rochester(585) 325-4370Christmas with the Calamari Sisters Nov. 20 – Jan. 9Marc Salem’s Mindgames Ongoingwww.DownstairsCabaret.com

Geomantics Dance Theater(585) 563-3338With Eastman Opera Theatre in Gluck’s Orpheus and Eurydice at Harro East January 27 – 30www.projectivekinetics.org

Geva Theatre Center75 Woodbury Boulevard, Rochester(585) 232-4382I’ll Be Geneseeing You Jan. 4 – 30Over the Tavern Feb. 14 – Mar. 13Radio Golf Mar. 22 – Apr. 17The Music Man Apr. 27 – June 5www.gevatheatre.org

Greater Rochester Repertory Companies@ MuCCC, 142 Atlantic Ave., Roch.(585) 234-1254Bermuda Ave. Triangle Mar.17 – 20An Actor’s Nightmare June 23 – 26 www.muCCC.org

JCC CenterStage1200 Edgewood Avenue, Rochester(585) 461-2000 ext 235Love, Luck and Laughter January 29 – February 6Triangle Factory Fire Project Mar. 5 – 20Mel Brooks’ The Producers May 7 – 22www.jccrochester.org

KalidasIndia Community Ctr., Macedon(585) 381-1541 www.kalidastheater.org

Mercury Opera Rochester1600 North Clinton Ave, Rochester(585) 473-6567 Falstaff @ Eastman Jan. 14 – 16Candide @ Hochstein May 6 – 8www.mercuryoperarochester.org

Method Machine@ MuCCC, 142 Atlantic Ave., Roch.(585) 319-7427Lieutenant of Inishmore Feb 17 – Mar 6Something Cloudy, Something Clear May 5 – 22www.methodmachine.org

Off-Monroe PlayersSalem United Church, 60 Bittner St., Roch.(585) 234-0500Gilbert & Sullivan’s Iolanthe May 6 – 11 www.off-monroeplayers.org

Out of Pocket Productions(585) 269-4673Separation Jan. 27 – Feb. 6Stop Kiss March 11 – 19

The Penfield Players1985 Baird Road, Penfield (585) 340-8655 Horse-Scents May 6 – 21 www.penfieldplayers.org

Pittsford MusicalsPittsford Mendon High School(585) 586-1500Company June 17 – 25www.pittsfordmusicals.org

PUSH Physical Theatre(585) 415-7874Check our online calendar for tour dates or call for booking info.www.pushtheatre.org

RAPA East End Theatre727 E. Main Street, Rochester(585) 325-3366 Snow White 7 Dwarfs January 21 – 30Dreamgirls February 24 – March 6Newsies April 1 – 30Spelling Bee May 13 – 22 www.rapaonline.us

Rochester’s Black Sheep TheatreVillage Gate Square274 N. Goodman Street, Rochester(585) 414-3927Witness for the Prosecution Jan. 14 – 29Magic Time: three one-acts from Caffe Cino March 11 – 26 The Mystery Plays May 6 – 21www.blacksheeptheatre.org

Rochester Children’s TheatreNazareth College Arts Center4245 East Avenue, Rochester(585) 385-0510 Disney’s Aladdin Feburary 12 – 20And Then They Came For Me March 10 Alice in Wonderland April 30 – May 13www.rochesterchildrenstheatre.org

Rochester Community Players(585) 234-7840 Dublin Carol @ MuCCC April 1 – 17Othello @ Highland Bowl July 1 – 16 www.rochestercommunityplayers.org

TYKEs, Theatre Young Kids EnjoyJCC, 1200 Edgewood Ave., Rochester(585) 461-2000 ext 235Seussical Jan. 15 – 23Fancy Nancy, Duck for President and Other Story Books Feb. 11 – 13If You Give a Mouse a Cookie Mar. 26 – Apr. 3www.TykesTheatre.org

Unleashed! IMPROV at the JCC1200 Edgewood Avenue, Rochester(585) 461-2000, ext. 235Improv Shows Dec. 11, Jan. 8, Feb. 12, March 12, April 9, May 14, www.unleashedimprov.com

Village Idiots at Village Gate Square274 N. Goodman Street, Rochester(585) 797-9086Fridays and Saturdayswww.improvVIP.com

Check out the amazing variety of theatre in the Rochester area.

For the most up-to-date calendar info plus links to all 22 theatres, visit: www.theatrerocs.org

Great theatre just got easy to find.

Setting & SynopsisWindsor, England in the 15th Century

Act I, Scene 1 – Inside The Garter Inn Sir John Falstaff, the portly rascal of Windsor, and his usual partners-in-crime Bardolfo and Pistola are accused (correctly) by Dr. Caius of robbing his home. Seeking to better his fortunes, Falstaff plans to woo two wealthy married ladies, Alice Ford and Meg Page, and writes identical love letters to them.

~ Pause ~

Act I, Scene 2 – The Garden of the Ford Home Alice and her daughter, Nannetta, talk to Meg and Dame Quickly, compare the letters, and discover they are alike. Ford arrives with Dr. Caius, Fenton, Bardolfo and Pistola, all warning him about Falstaff’s designs. Briefly alone, Nannetta and Fenton steal kisses. The women plot to arrange a rendezvous between Falstaff and Alice. Both the women and the men all pledge (albeit separately) to succeed in their revenge on the fat knight.

~ 15-Minute Intermission ~

Act II, Scene 1 – Inside The Garter InnQuickly assures Falstaff that both Alice and Meg return his ardor, and a meeting with Alice is arranged in the nearby forest. Ford, disguised as “Master Brook,” pretends an unrequited passion for Alice. Falstaff boasts that he already has set up a tryst. Ford vows to avenge his honor, but regains his composure when Falstaff returns.

~ Pause ~

Act II, Scene 2 – In Ford’s House The women listen to Quickly’s report, but Nannetta (in love with Fenton) is distressed as her father has promised her to wealthy Dr. Caius. Alice receives her fat suitor. Falstaff hides as Meg reports that Ford is on his way, furious. Falstaff takes refuge in a laundry basket; Ford and his men search the house. Nannetta and Fenton also hide but are discovered by Ford. Alice orders the laundry emptied into the Thames then shows her husband as Falstaff is dumped into the muddy river.

~ 15-Minute Intermission ~

Act III, Scene 1 – Outside The Garter Inn at SunsetQuickly insists to Falstaff that Alice still loves him and arranges a midnight rendezvous in Wind-sor Park, then tells him the spooky tale of the Black Huntsman’s ghost. Alice and the others plot to frighten Falstaff by dressing up as wood sprites.

~ Pause ~

Act III, Scene 1 – In Windsor Forest Later that Night All are disguised. Falstaff lumbers in wearing antlers. Nannetta calls to the forest creatures who torment Falstaff until he begs for mercy. When the conspirators unmask, Sir John plays the good sport. Ford betroths Caius to the queen of the fairies (now Bardolfo in disguise) and unwit-tingly blesses the union of Nannetta and Fenton. Ford too has been tricked but he can forgive as well, and Falstaff leads the company in declaring the world is but a jest.

Program NotesOnce Verdi had experienced the wildly successful premiere of his opera Otello in 1887, he considered himself officially retired. He was in his middle 70s and not in the best of health, but the brilliant librettist Arrigo Boito (a pretty good composer in his own right), with whom Verdi had collaborated on Otello, insisted that there was one more opera yet to be written, a comic opera based on one of Shakespeare’s most vivid creations, Sir John Falstaff. Verdi wrote to Boito complaining that he was too old and too tired to undertake another opera, but Boito persisted, “After having expressed the tears and lamentations of the human heart in Otello, [Verdi should] finish with an immense explosion of hilarity. That would be amazing!”

Verdi had actually written one other comic opera, Un Giorno di Regno (1840), his first attempt in the genre. Un Giorno di Regno (“King for a day”) is not a bad opera, but it’s also not very good. There’s very little in it that’s really original or inventive, being composed as it is on the tried and true Donizetti formulas of the day, but it certainly shows promise. Verdi went on from there to write one glorious tragedy after another, inspiring Gioacchino Rossini to make the statement that Verdi was incapable of writing a comic opera. I’m sure that on some level Verdi was anxious to prove Rossini wrong, so he gave Boito the green light to commence work on a text. The composer was probably expecting to receive a version of Shakespeare’s play The Merry Wives of Windsor (Which Otto Nicolai had already set in German in 1849), in which Falstaff is a major character. But Verdi must have been surprised and delighted to receive a libretto which included the very best and funniest scenes of Sir John Falstaff from The Merry Wives of Windsor and Henry IV, parts one and two.

Verdi began work gleefully, for his own amusement he said. Because of his health, he had to limit himself to working only two hours a day, but gradually the piece began to take shape. It took him three years to write it…longer than it had taken to compose Rigoletto, La Traviata, and Il Trovatore put together. It is a score of immense originality and genius with an orchestration the likes of which had never been heard before. Richard Strauss called it “one of the greatest masterworks of all time.”

It was difficult to find an Italian at the end of the 19th century who didn’t love and admire Giuseppe Verdi, who had acquired fame both as a composer and a political figure (much to his own surprise and discomfort). But he did have his detractors. There were those people in musical circles who agreed that Verdi certainly knew how to write a beautiful melody, but expressed doubt about his compositional skill on a purely technical level. At the very end of Falstaff, once the drama has all

been played out, Falstaff himself says, “Let’s end this piece with a grand chorus.” The music that Verdi supplies to end this remarkable work is a gigantic fugue, the most formal and rigid form in all of music, tremendously difficult to write. Even the great master of the fugue, J. S. Bach, never wrote one any better that the one with which Verdi ends his Falstaff. It’s Verdi leaving his musical life with a wink, a giggle, and a testament to his true greatness as a composer in every sense.

As a footnote to the above, I want to point out that Verdi had always had an affection and fascination for the works of Shakespeare. Three of his best operas are based on Shakespeare, Macbeth, Otello, and Falstaff. Yet, if you look up the name Shakespeare in the index at the end of any book on Verdi and his works, the play that is mentioned most often is neither Macbeth, Othello, nor either of the plays in which Falstaff is a character. It is rather, King Lear. Verdi wanted very much to compose this opera his entire career, but circumstances always prevented it. It never got written. What a shame!

Benton HessArtistic Director and Conductor

CastSir John Falstaff ................................................................................... Scott BeardenFord, Alice’s Husband .........................................................................Andrew Oakden Fenton .................................................................................................... Jonathan BlalockDr. Caius ...................................................................................................Robert Strauss Bardolfo, a follower of Falstaff ............................................................. Jamin FlabianoPistola, a follower of Falstaff ................................................................. Marc WebsterMrs. Alice Ford .......................................................................................... Jessica DoldNannetta, her daughter ...................................................................... Kathryn LewekDame Quickly .....................................................................................Gwenneth BeanMrs. Meg Page ...............................................................................Kathryn CowdrickHost of the Garter Inn ........................................................................ Peter ElliottRobin, Falstaff ’s page ...................................................................... Alexander Christie

Chorus – Burghers & street-folk, Ford’s servants, fairies & witches Justin Barleben, Keith Brown, Sheila Sullivan Buck, Tyler Coughlin, Waiton Farrell, Patricia Fussell, Jeffrey Greene, Lindsay Holmes, Robert Holmes, Seyoung Jeong,

Helana Koch, Debra McKinney, Mary Menzie, Emily Mills, Charles Palella, Becki Boyanski Place, Lori Romaniw, Lisa Rosenbauer, Dennis Rosenbaum,

Josh Rosenberg, Chad Rushforth, Kerri Lynn Slominski, Elizabeth Smith, Laura Szymanowicz, Alexander Turpin, Lynn Zicari

Children’s Chorus – elves & fairiesErin Breen, Ffion Collinsworth, Tressa Johnson, Andrew Grohmann LaFavor,

Julia Rose Larson, Rebecca Luttrell, Mayra Rodriguez, Sarah Rosati, Elizabeth Rossborough, Audrey Scudder, Elizabeth Stansbury

Dancers – fairiesKennedy Jackson, Joyce Liow, Lucia Lorenzo, Lily Snyder,

Karenna Thomas, Francessca Ziobro

Violin IJuliana Athayde, Concertmaster The Caroline W. Gannett & Clayla Ward Chair, Funded in perpetuityWilfredo Degláns, Associate ConcertmasterShannon Nance, Assistant ConcertmasterPerrin YangTigran VardanyanEllen RathjenJanice MacisakWilliam HuntKenneth LangleyLise Stoddard

Violin IIDavid Brickman, PrincipalPatricia SunwooJohn SullivanLara SipolsNancy HuntBoris ZapesochnyJeremy HillAngel OuYang

ViolaMelissa Matson, PrincipalMichael Larco, Asst. PrincipalMarc AndersonElizabeth SekaOlita PoveroLisa Steltenpohl

CelloKathleen Murphy Kemp, Acting PrincipalLars KirvanChristopher HaritatosMary Ann WukovitzBenjamin KrugIngrid Bock

BassColin Corner, Principal The Anne Hayden McQuay Chair, Funded in perpetuityMichael Griffin, Asst. PrincipalJack StauberGaelen McCormickRobert Zimmerman

FluteRebecca Gilbert, Principal The Charlotte Whitney Allen Chair, Funded in perpetuityJoanna Bassett

PiccoloJan Angus

OboeErik Behr, Principal The Dr. Jacques M. Lipson Chair, Funded in perpetuityJohn Upton

English HornAnna Steltenpohl

ClarinetKenneth Grant, Principal The Robert J. Strasenburgh Chair, Funded in perpetuityMin Na Lee

Bass ClarinetRamon Ricker

BassoonAbraham Weiss, PrincipalCharles Bailey

Contra-BassoonCharles Bailey

HornW. Peter Kurau, Principal The Cricket and Frank Luellen Chair, Funded in perpetuityElizabeth Porter, Asst. PrincipalJennifer BurchDavid AngusPatrick Walle

TrumpetDouglas Prosser, Principal The Elaine P. Wilson ChairWesley NanceHerbert Smith

TromboneLisa Albrecht. Acting PrincipalJohn Marcellus Paul BellinoAndrew Chappell

TubaW. Craig Sutherland, Principal

TimpaniCharles Ross, Principal The Harold and Joan Feinbloom Chair, Funded in perpetuity

PercussionJim Tiller, PrincipalJohn McNeill

HarpGrace Wong, Principal The Eileen Malone Chair, A Tribute by Mr. and Mrs. Harcourt M. Sylvester, Funded in perpetuity

GuitarLeah Zicari

Personnel ManagerJoseph Werner

Principal LibrarianKim Hartquist

Stage ManagerCurtis Bradley

Asst. Stage ManagerDave Miller

Artistic OperationsChris Beyer

R o c h e s t e r P h i l h a r m o n i c O r c h e s t r aChristopher Seaman, Music DirectorJeff Tyzik, Principal Pops ConductorMichael Butterman, Principal Conductor for Education and OutreachThe Louise & Henry Epstein Family Chair, Funded in perpetuityArild Remmereit, Music Director-Designate

Artistic & Production StaffArtistic Director & Conductor........................................................................................Benton HessStage Director ....................................................................................................... David BartholomewStage Manager ........................................................................................................................... Joel Atella Production Manager/Technical Director .....................................................................Jim McMurtrieSet Designer ..................................................................................................................Timothy JozwickLighting Designer .................................................................................................................Nic MinetorCostumes Provided by ................A.T. Jones and Sons & Mercury Opera Rochester CollectionCostume Coordinator ........................................................................................... Kay Marline NoskeWig & Make-up Design .......................................................Cindy Ludwig for Elsen Associates, Inc. Bach Children’s Chorus – Artistic Director .............................................................Karla KrogstadChoreographer .....................................................................................................................Diane LewisAssistant Conductor & Pianist .................................................................................. Richard MastersProps Manager ........................................................................................................................Lynn ZicariChorus Rehearsal Pianist & Assistant Chorusmaster ..............................................Lyndon MeyerAssistant Director...........................................................................................................Lindsay Chassé Assistant Stage Manager ................................................................................................Amanda Wood Assistant Lighting Designer ..........................................................................................Dan O’DonnellSet Provided by ............................................................................................................ Syracuse OperaWigs Provided by ..................................................................................................Elsen Associates, Inc. Hair Dressers/Make-up Artists ............................................ Sue Harrison & Danielle LetourneauCostume Assistant ................................................................................................. Claudette HerculesStitcher .................................................................................................................................. Carol RosatiDressers/Make-up Assistants ....................................Suzanne Bell, Heidi Dundon, Aubrey Eaton, Leslie Phillips, Elizabeth Snyder, Alyss Steiner, Karen TuccioSupertitle Translation ........................................................................................Celeste MontemaranoSupertitle Operator....................................................................................................Andrew GilchristPre-Opera Talk ................................................................................................................... Jack LangerakTicket Service ............................................................................................................... RPO Box OfficeHouse Manager & Ushers .................................................................................................David Meyer

Many thanks to the Guild of Mercury Opera Rochester

and to the many volunteers who enable us to produce the finest, world-class opera

in Rochester.

BiographiesBenton Hess, Artistic Director/Conductor After training at the New England Conservatory as a pianist, Benton Hess served as assistant conductor for several regional opera companies before taking the podium himself in 1970 for a Boston production of Benjamin Britten’s The Rape of Lucretia, replacing conductor James Levine on a week’s notice. Since then he has conducted hundreds of performances for dozens of opera companies in America, Europe, and the Middle East. Local audiences will remember his work with the Opera Theatre of Rochester from the mid-70s through the 80s. Hess

has presided over many world and important regional operatic premieres and has assisted numerous composers in presenting their works: David Amram, Carlisle Floyd, Lee Hoiby, Karel Husa, Libby Larsen, Daniel Pinkham, Greg Sandow, and Conrad Susa, to name but a few. He has also served on the faculties of several prestigious institutions: Boston University, Boston Conservatory, the New England Conservatory, Mannes College of Music in NYC, the Hartt School of Music, Rutgers, and the University of North Carolina at Greensboro among them. Since 2001 Maestro Hess has been Distinguished Professor of Voice and Musical Director of Eastman Opera Theatre. As one of New York City’s most respected and sought-after vocal coaches, his clientele reads like a “Who’s Who” in opera, from Nicolai Gedda and Eleanor Steber at the ends of their careers to Renée Fleming at the beginning of hers. Benton Hess appears regularly as conductor, pianist/accompanist, and master class clinician throughout the US and abroad. Besides his responsibilities at Eastman and with Mercury Opera, Hess is Artistic Director of “Si parla, si canta,” an Italian language program for young singers and coach/accompanists in Urbania, Italy, and conductor for the International Vocal Arts Institute in Tel Aviv, Israel. Maestro Hess has conducted Mercury Opera Rochester’s productions of La Traviata, Tosca, Amahl and the Night Visitors, Don Giovanni, Norma, and Madama Butterfly in previous seasons.

David Bartholomew, Stage Director A native Texan, David Bartholomew received a Masters Degree in piano performance from Boston’s New England Conservatory and concertised extensively in the New England area in both solo recital and chamber music. Following graduate study in opera production, he was awarded the prestigious Frank Huntington Beebe Foundation grant for study in Europe, after which he accepted a position as chairman of opera studies at the Boston Conservatory. He began his professional career directing productions of Mozart’s Le Nozze di Figaro and Don Giovanni at Harvard

University and Hansel and Gretel for San Francisco Opera’s Western Opera Theater. In addition to Boston Conservatory, Mr. Bartholomew has served as head of opera studies at The New England Conservatory and the University of Nebraska at Lincoln as well as guest stage director at Boston University, University of Colorado, and the University of Puget Sound. He has directed for various professional companies around the US including Affiliate Artists Opera Company, Boston Lyric Opera, Wolf Trap Center for the Performing Arts in Vienna, Virginia, Mobile Opera, Eugene Opera, Colorado Music Theater Festival, and Nevada Opera. Productions include The Rake’s Progress, The Magic Flute, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, The Balcony, Paradiso Choruses, Wozzeck, Jonny spielt auf, A Month in the Country, Così fan tutte, La Clemenza di Tito, Werther, Die Fledermaus, Carmen and world premiere performances of Medea by Rockefeller Competition winner Ray Luke, Thomas Pasatieri’s Signor Deluso, and The Pied Piper of Hameln by Carol Sams. Mr. Bartholomew is the Principal Guest Stage Director with the Fargo-Moorhead Opera and was Principal Stage Director and Artistic Director for Tacoma Opera from 1993 to 2004. He is currently Artistic Director for Opera Southwest in Albuquerque, NM. This production marks Mr. Bartholomew’s third production with Mercury Opera, having also work with the company directing Tosca and last season’s La Traviata.

Gwenneth Bean, Dame Quickly Contralto Gwenneth Bean’s 17 year career has taken her to opera stages and concert halls throughout the United States, Canada, Europe and Japan. She has sung numerous roles with the New York Metropolitan Opera, Chicago Lyric Opera, and opera houses in Dallas, Miami, Santa Fe, Toronto, San Francisco, Washington DC, Boston, Philadelphia, Vienna, Rome, Paris, London, and more. She toured Japan with the Metropolitan Opera and toured Europe and the United States with the late maestro Leonard Bernstein, conducting his own

Songfest Cycle which aired on television as well as on PBS’s “Live from the Capitol” July 4th broadcast. Ms. Bean has worked with conductors Zubin Mehta, Leonard Slatkin, Seiji Ozawa, Andrew Davis, Hugh Wolf, James Levine, Charles Dutoit as well as the late Leonard Bernstein, to name a few. She has been a soloist on the Carnegie Hall stage eleven times and has performed with The American Symphony, New Jersey Symphony, Boston Symphony, Philadelphia Orchestra, Chicago Symphony, New York Oratorio Society, Denver Symphony, Los Angeles Philharmonic, National Symphony, Vienna Philharmonic, the Rome and Toronto Symphonies, and many others. She has appeared on several Live From Lincoln Center PBS broadcasts and numerous Texaco radio broadcasts. Ms. Bean has shared the stage with Luciano Pavarotti, Placido Domingo, Renee Fleming, Sherill Milnes, Samuel Ramey, Jerry Hadley, Jessye Norman, and many others. She has three CDs available, “The Contralto Voice,” “The Best Gift,” and “Behold His Glory.” Ms. Bean resides in Grand Rapids, Michigan, where she teaches voice and is the Director of Music and Worship at Spring Lake Christian Reformed Church.

Scott Bearden, Falstaff Baritone Scott Bearden is the First Prize winner as well as the Audience Prize winner in the 2008 Irene Dalis Vocal Competition, after having also received the Audience Prize in 2007. Also in 2007, Mr. Bearden was the First Prize winner of the 2nd Chester Ludgin American Verdi Baritone Competition in front of a jury made up in part by Placido Domingo, Mignon Dunn and Maestro Julius Rudel. Mr. Bearden continues to impress audiences and critics alike with his vivid portrayals of many of the heavier baritone roles from the Italian repertoire. In 2009, Mr. Bearden appeared as Iago in a concert performance of Verdi’s

Otello with the Oakland/East Bay Symphony and as Tonio in Knoxville Opera’s production of I Pagliacci. In 2008, to great acclaim, Mr. Bearden was seen as the title role in Verdi’s Rigoletto in San Jose, as Amonasro in Verdi’s Aida with Cedar Rapids Opera Theater, as Conte di Luna in Il Trovatore at Festival Opera, and as Scarpia in Tosca with Opera Theatre of Connecticut. Other past engagements include leading roles in Falstaff, Gianni Schicchi, Three Penny Opera, La Bohème, Cosi fan tutte, Il Tabarro, L’Elisir d’amore, Madama Butterfly, Manon, and Il Barbiere di Siviglia with Mississippi Opera, Tanglewood Music Festival, West Bay Opera, Midland Symphony, Sanibel Music Festival, IVAI in Tel Aviv, Israel, and Opera San Jose. Upcoming engagements include a debut at the prestigious Caramoor Bel Canto Festival, a concert at the Sanibel Island Music Festival and La Traviata with both Fremont Opera and Toledo Opera. Mr. Bearden can be heard on Vox Classics Recordings. He earned a Bachelor of Music degree from Central Michigan University and a Master of Music degree from the Manhattan School of Music. He and his wife and puppy reside in New York City.

Jonathan Blalock, Fenton Jonathan is a young tenor whose career shows great promise. His highlights from 2010 included Lazaro in the world premiere of Before Night Falls at Fort Worth Opera and Tonio in La Fille du Régiment with the International Vocal Arts Institute in Tel Aviv and Montreal. He can be heard on the Before Night Falls recording which was released by Albany Records in October. An emerging professional, Mr. Blalock sang Frederic with Opera Carolina and Ferrando with Capital Opera and The Living Opera. CVNC praised his portrayal of Ferrando, stating: “Jonathan Blalock has the tools of the great Mozartian tenors — his

voice is warm and clear, and his high notes are ringing and perfectly placed.” Jonathan has performed in Fort Worth Opera’s productions of Lucia di Lammermoor, Dead Man Walking and Carmen; he will return for a role in next season’s Hydrogen Jukebox, by Philip Glass. Other upcoming performances

include the Mozart C Minor Mass with the Eugene Concert Choir and the world premiere of The Secret Agent by Dellaira with the Center for Contemporary Opera. Blalock’s competition winnings include awards from the Anna Sosenko Trust, the Fielder Grant, the Heafner-Williams Competition, the NSAL Competition and the Orpheus National Vocal Competition. Jonathan recently completed a Masters of Music degree in vocal performance from UNC Greensboro, and he has worked as a young artist with Opera North and Opera Carolina.

Alexander Christie, Robin Alexander Christie is delighted to perform in his fifth production with Mercury Opera. His favorites include Il Barbiere di Siviglia and Show Boat. Alexander, a fifth grader at the Children’s School of Rochester, enjoys dancing, reading, and creative writing. He thanks his parents; sister, Marguerite; and the director, cast, and crew of Falstaff for their support.

Kathryn Cowdrick, Meg Page Kathryn Cowdrick, a graduate of Penn State and Columbia University with degrees in speech and voice pathology, began her career when awarded an Adler Fellowship with the San Francisco Opera. Well known for her Rossini coloratura mezzo roles, she now is in demand as a singing actress having recently sung roles that include Mrs. Lovett (Sweeney Todd) for the Princeton Festival, Marcellina (Le nozze di Figaro) for Utah Opera, Katisha (The Mikado) for Opera New Jersey, the Marquise (Daughter of Regiment) for Kentucky Opera, Ruth (Pirates of Penzance) recently for Mercury Opera Rochester and

also for Chautauqua Opera, and in the title role of Orfeo for Opera Memphis and Ballet. Ms. Cowdrick sang the role of Julia Child in Hoiby’s opera Bon Appetit for Child’s induction into the National Women’s Hall of Fame in 2007 as well as for Mercury Opera Rochester last spring, which was recorded for Albany records. For the past thirty years, she has appeared with international and regional opera companies that include Nederlandse, Lyon, Marseilles, Vancouver, Wexford Festival, Scottish Opera, New York City Opera, Ottowa, and Washington. Ms. Cowdrick can be heard on the 1984 Grammy award winning album of Antony and Cleopatra recorded live at the Spoleto Festival. She is on the voice faculty of the Eastman School of Music. Future performances include Marcellina (Le Nozze di Figaro) and Depina (Cosi fan tutte) for Lake George Opera Saratoga.

Jessica Dold, Alice Ford A native of Kansas City, KS, soprano Jessica Dold participated in the Sarasota Opera Apprentice Program (2009) and the Santa Fe Opera Apprentice Program (2009), singing in productions of Tosca, Don Carlos, L’amico Fritz, L’elisir d’amore, La Traviata, and Alceste. She also performed in fully staged and costumed scenes from Eugene Onegin, Maria Stuarda, Die Meistersinger, and A Streetcar Named Desire. Ms. Dold completed a Master of Music degree in Vocal Performance at Florida State, where she studied with soprano Shirley Close and coach Valerie Trujillo. Jessica performed the roles of Alice Ford in Verdi’s Falstaff and Vitellia

in Mozart’s La clemenza di Tito with the Florida State Opera. She also sang the roles of the Witch and Mother in Hansel and Gretel with Florida State Opera Outreach. It was her second performance of the Mother, a role she also sang with the Pittsburgh State Opera while completing her Bachelor of Music Education degree at Pittsburgh State under the tutelage of Jessie Wright Martin and Patrick Howle. Ms. Dold has performed as soloist in Brahms’ Ein Deutsches Requiem with the Tallahassee Symphony Orchestra and Choir, Faure’s Requiem with the Blue Lake Festival Orchestra and Staff Choirs, as well as in concerts with the Southeast Kansas Symphony and the American Institute of Musical Studies Festival Orchestra. Recent accolades include 2010 Orpheus Competition Winner, 2010 HGO Eleanor McCullum Competition Finalist, 2010 Gerda Lissner Foundation Encouragement Award, 2009 National Federation of Music Clubs Award, 2009 Sarasota Opera Guild Special Award, and 2008 finalist in the Meistersinger Competition in Graz, Austria.

Peter Elliott, Host of the Garter Inn Peter Elliott was recently seen as Harold in the Greater Rochester Repertory Companies’ production of The Boys in the Band. He originated the role of Dick in Nancy Stark’s hilarious comedy Ping, and was seen in the role of the psychiatrist, Martin Dysart, in Peter Schaffer’s Equus. A frequent performer with the National Technical Institute for the Deaf’s Performing Arts Company, he has been seen as the Cheshire Cat in Alice in Wonderland, John Proctor in The Crucible, Lysander in Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Charlie in The Foreigner and Dr. Rulon Stacey and 6 other characters in Moisés Kaufman’s

The Laramie Project. In New York City, Mr. Elliott worked with Stephen Sondheim on Sunday in the Park with George, Into the Woods and Merrily We Roll Along. He also worked on Jerry Herman’s hit musical La Cage aux folles and David Merrick’s 42nd Street. Mr. Elliott made his Mercury Opera Rochester debut as a Swiss Guard in Puccini’s Tosca and is thrilled to be working again with David Bartholomew and Maestro Benton Hess. He also designed and maintains Mercury Opera Rochester’s website.

Jamin Flabiano, Bardolfo Character tenor Jamin Flabiano most recently was seen as Ali in Zémire et Azor at the Greenwood Music Festival in South Carolina. He also debuted at Toledo Opera as Bardolfo. Mr. Flabiano joined the prestigious Glimmerglass American Young Artist program in the summer of 2009 where he covered the roles of the Magician in The Consul and The Sailor in Dido and Aeneas. He was also seen as Father Grenville in the 2009 Fort Worth Opera production of Dead Man Walking in addition to covering the role of Remendado in Carmen. Mr Flabiano was a Young Artist with the Fort Worth Opera from 2006 to 2008. During

his time in Texas he performed the role of Pang in the Fort Worth Opera production of Turandot, Bardolfo in Falstaff and Humbert in the world premiere of Frau Margot. He also performed the roles of Jack in Jack and the Beanstalk and the Witch in Hansel and Gretel with the Fort Worth Children’s Opera Theater. Mr. Flabiano began his musical studies with the trumpet. After attending college on an instrumental performance scholarship at Texas Christian University, he realized his passion was opera. He transferred to Oklahoma City University where he completed his undergraduate and graduate studies in vocal performance. Upon arriving in New York, Mr. Flabiano furthered his studies in opera as a scholarship student at the Manhattan School of Music.

Kathryn Lewek, Nannetta Soprano Kathryn Lewek is one of the most promising emerging artists today. Admired for her “bell-like quality”, her voice has been also described as “plush, expressive, and luminous in its upper range.” (John Pitcher, Rochester Democrat and Chronicle). She has been lauded for her operatic and oratorio performances throughout the United States and Europe, and is quickly building a reputation for her vocal interpretations of contemporary art song as well. Ms. Lewek has two recordings released on the Albany Records label, Kathryn Lewek sings Cary Ratcliff, and Quicksilver, a collaborative album with the internationally

acclaimed guitar and flute duo Nicholas Goluses and Bonita Boyd. Ms. Lewek made her solo debut at Alice Tully Hall in New York City with Musica Sacra under the direction of Kent Tritle. In April 2011, she returns to Rochester to join the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra and the Eastman-Rochester Chorus in their performance of the Brahm’s Requiem. Ms. Lewek is a graduate of the Eastman School of Music where she studied voice with Robert McIver, and was awarded the Performance Certificate in Voice for her many successes upon the Eastman Theater stage. Ms. Lewek now resides outside of New York City and studies voice with Diana Soviero and Marilyn Horne. For a complete schedule of Ms. Lewek’s upcoming performances, please visit www.kathrynlewek.com.

Andrew Oakden, Ford Baritone Andrew Oakden returns to Mercury Opera Rochester following his performance as Marcello in La Bohème. He continues to garner critical acclaim in opera houses across the United States and has come to be known for performing the dual roles of Tonio in Pagliacci and Alfio in Cavalleria Rusticana. This season Mr. Oakden made his debut with the Metropolitan Opera as Lavitsky in their new production of Boris Godunov. During the 2007-2008 season he made his debut with New York City Opera as Alfio & Tonio, which he also performed in Virginia Opera’s productions in the same year. Mr. Oakden made

his international debut in the 2008-2009 season with Opéra de Nice, performing the role of Rambaldo in La Rondine and returned to France this past summer to perform the title role in Rigoletto with the Lyrique-en-Mer Festival. Other engagements include company debuts with Florida Grand Opera, performing his first Figaro in Le Nozze di Figaro with Shreveport Opera, the role of Lescaut in Manon Lescaut, a reprise of the roles of Sharpless in Madama Butterfly with Utah Opera, and performances of Raleigh in Roberto Devereux in a new production with Dallas Opera. On the concert stage, Mr. Oakden recently performed with Santa Fe Symphony as soloist in Orff’s Carmina Burana after successful performances of the Mandarin in Turandot and Pietro in Simon Boccanegra with Santa Fe Opera.

Robert Strauss, Dr. Caius Robert Strauss has been praised for his sensitive, intelligent interpretation, his attention to musical and textual nuance, and his versatile tenor voice. On the stage, he has sung with Mercury Opera Rochester as Pedrillo in Die Entführung aus dem Serail, and roles in Tender Land, La Traviata, and Tosca. Other favorites include Peter Quint, Jack Point (Yeomen of the Guard), Archibald Craven (The Secret Garden), and Federico in L’amico Fritz, with the Centro Studi Italiani Opera Festival in Urbania, Italy. Concert performances include

Messiah, The Creation, St. Nicolas (Britten), Christmas Oratorio (Saint-Saens), and the Requiems of Pinkham and Mozart. Strauss also appeared as one of the tenor soloists in Rossini’s Messa di Gloria in the composer’s hometown of Pesaro and has toured Italy performing scenes and arias from the standard Italian operatic literature. As comfortable behind the production table as he is in front of it, he has directed full productions of Dido And Aeneas, Trial By Jury, the New York State premiere of Benton Hess’ Felice, as well as The Secret Marriage, Turn of the Screw, and Così fan tutte, as well as a retelling of Gilbert & Sullivan’s masterpiece Pinafore for all-male cast: U.S.S. Metaphor. He served as assistant stage director for Mercury’s production of Il barbiere di Siviglia, and directed the inaugural production of Amahl and the Night Visitors for the company as well. Dr. Strauss currently serves on the voice faculty of Nazareth College and the Fredonia School of Music and is the Artistic Director and Conductor of the Rochester Gay Men’s Chorus.

Marc Webster, Pistola Bass Marc Webster performed with The Juilliard Opera Center, Wolf Trap Opera, Seattle Opera Studio, Florida Grand Opera Studio, San Francisco Opera Merola Studio, and Eastman Opera Theater. Roles included Sarastro in Die Zauberflöte, Tutor in Le Comte Ory, Rambaldo in La Rondine, Seneca in L’incoronazione di Poppea, Pistola in Falstaff, Sir Giorgio in scenes from I Puritani, and Osmin in scenes from Die Entführung aus dem Serail. Mr. Webster is also an active recitalist and has recently performed with The New York Festival of Song with Stephen Blier and with the Marilyn Horne Foundation The Song

Continues series at the Weill Recital Hall. He has performed in oratorios with the Juilliard Symphony in Alice Tully Hall, Colonial Symphony, Jacksonville Symphony, Eastman Symphony, Buffalo Philharmonic, Rochester Philharmonic, and Boston Chamber Orchestra at Trinity Cathedral. Mr. Webster was a finalist with the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions and holds First Place Awards from the Jessie Kneisel Lieder Competition, Eastman Concerto Competition, and The Eastman Opera Competition. Mr. Webster is currently teaching at Ithaca College and working toward a Doctorate of Musical Arts at the Eastman School of Music. He holds a Bachelor of Music from Ithaca College, a Master of Music from the Eastman School and earned an Artist Diploma from the Julliard School

of Music in 2008. He has studied with Carol Webber and Robert C. White and has coached with Benton Hess, Warren Jones, Martin Katz, Renata Scotto, Dolora Zajik, Håkan Hagegård, Jane Eaglen, Sherri Greenawald, Stephen Wadsworth, Nico Castel, Margo Garrett, Brian Zeger, Diane Richardson, Denise Massé and Corradina Caporello.

Joel Atella, Stage Manager Joel Atella is a graduate with distinction from the Eastman School of Music and a native of Fort Collins, Colorado. An aspiring stage director, Joel has most recently worked at The Geva Theatre for the 2010 Festival of New Theatre, and has worked at Syracuse Opera as Stage Manager and Assistant Director for productions of The Mikado, Der Fliegene Holländer, and La Boheme. He is scheduled to call Don Giovanni for them in February 2011. Favorite performance roles include Michael Darling in Peter Pan, Monsieur Lacouf in Les Mamelles de Tirésias, and Toby in The Medium, produced by Eastman Opera Theatre. Joel is a Presidential Scholar in the Arts, and an advocate and committed patron of live theatre and the arts. Joel has been assistant director for Mercury Opera’s La Boheme, was Production Stage Manager for the recent Pirates of Penzance, and is thrilled to call a show in the historic Eastman Theatre. He is very grateful for his loving parents, their support, and encouragement.

Karla M. Krogstad, Director of the Bach Children’s Chorus at Nazareth College Karla Krogstad earned degrees from the New England Conservatory of Music, University of Connecticut, and Eastman School of Music. She is an active arranger of music for children’s voices and received the 1995 “Friend of Foreign Language” and 1996 “Culture Through the Arts” awards from the NYS Association of Foreign Language Teachers. Founded by Ms. Krogstad in 1989, the Bach Children’s Chorus maintains a very busy performance schedule. Ms Krogstad has conducted the Chorus in such diverse works as Britten’s War Requiem, Orff‘s Carmina Burana, the Waltz of the Snowflakes from Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker, and Mahler’s Symphony #3. She led the Chorus to its current “home” in residence at Nazareth College in 2001. Ms. Krogstad lives in Rochester with her husband Bob. To inquire about auditioning for the Bach Children’s Chorus, call 442-0800 or write to bachkidsusa@yahoo.com.

Diane Lewis, Choreographer Diane Lewis is Chairperson of Dance at Hochstein. She has a Master’s degree in Dance from SUNY Brockport and Bachelor’s degree in Education from Buffalo State University. She is a former member of SUNY Brockport Dance faculty. Ms. Lewis has toured Europe and USA as a soloist with the American Classical Ballet (with Nureyev) and the Festival Ballet of New York. She has danced as a principal opposite Margot Fonteyn with the Niagara Frontier Ballet at Eastman Theatre.

Cindy Ludwig for Elsen Associates, Hair and Makeup Design Cindy Ludwig represents Elsen Associates, Inc., resident hair and makeup designers for numerous opera companies in North America. She has designed for over 225 productions with Elsen Associates since 1987, and has worked for more than 28 opera companies including, Baltimore, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Detroit, Dayton, Florentine, Glimmerglass, Kentucky, Miami, Omaha, Palm Beach, Sarasota and Syracuse. Ms. Ludwig was the wig designer for Ringling Brothers Barnum and Bailey Clown College from 1989 until it’s closing in 1998. She has also worked in film and television. Cindy has a degree in Theatrical Design from Oswego State. For more information visit www.elsenassociates.com.

Richard Masters, Assistant Conductor & Pianist Richard Masters is an avid recitalist, opera coach, orchestral pianist and writer based in Austin, Texas. Recent collaborations include concerts with former principal Boston Symphony trombonist Norman Bolter, soprano Hanan Alattar (Marilyn Horne Foundation), Juilliard String Quartet violinist Earl Carlyss, and performances in Virginia and Washington D.C. of Benjamin Britten’s opera The Turn of the Screw under the baton of Lorin Maazel. Dr. Masters recently led staged performances of J.S. Bach’s “Coffee” Cantata, and has conducted Eastman performances of operas by Francis Poulenc and Jake Heggie. He currently works as an opera coach at the Butler Opera Center (University of Texas at Austin); in February and March of 2011, he will participate there in the world premiere of the revised orchestration of Daniel Catan’s La Hija de Rappacini. His writings include an in-progress biography of the American pianist and Debussy specialist George Copeland; an article on the history of accompanying will appear in a forthcoming issue of American Music Teacher.

Jim McMurtrie, Production Manager/Technical Director Jim McMurtrie joined Mercury Opera last season for La Traviata., and was also Production Manager and Technical Director for The Pirates of Penzance with the company this fall. Prior work includes the Stage Manager and Technical Director for the Urban Bushwoman Dance Company, Technical Director/Lighting Designer with the Pittsburgh Children’s Theatre Festival, and the Production Stage Manager with the Hartford Ballet. He has toured nationally and internationally with various dance and theatrical organizations. More recently, he has been spending his time in the alternative energy field.

Nic Minetor, Lighting Design Nic Minetor is a full-time lighting designer/director for theatre, film and TV. For Mercury Opera Rochester, he has designed L’Amico Fritz, Madame Butterfly, Elixir of Love, Norma, Showboat, The Tender Land, The Barber of Seville, Don Giovanni, La Bohème, Tosca, La Traviata and The Pirates of Penzance. At Eastman Opera Theatre he has been resident designer for more than 45 productions, including The Secret Garden, Candide, La Bohème, The Medium, The Consul, Postcards from Morocco, Dialogue of the Carmelites, The Mother of Us All, Suor Angelica, The Breasts of Tiresias, The Rape of Lucretia, Falstaff, Passion, The Marriage of Figaro, Turn of the Screw, Patience, Transformations, Albert Herring, L’Elisir D’amoure, A Waterbird Talk, Tartuffe, Cosi Fan Tutte, Xerxes. Sweeney Todd, She Loves Me, The Coronation of Popea, Trouble in Tahiti, La Rondine, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Suzannah, Tartuffe, The Turk in Italy and others. Designs for Opera Theatre of Rochester include The Marriage of Figaro, Rigoletto, Il Trovatore, Faust, Hansel and Gretel, Otello. For Geva Theatre Center he has designed the lighting for Agatha Christie’s Black Coffee, The Mystery of Irma Vep, I’m Not Rappaport, Every Good Boy Deserves Favor, and six years of A Christmas Carol. He lit the Smithsonian Institution-sponsored film of Beckett’s End Game. As a photographer, Nic has illustrated more than a dozen books on backyard birding, America’s national parks and historic cities for The Globe Pequot Press.

Kay Marline Noske, Costume Coordinator When Kay Noske’s kids asked her if she realized she had more books about the history of fashion than the downtown library (including 3, count ‘em, 3 biographies of famed Hollywood costumer Edith Head), she realized she’d somehow missed her calling. Ms. Noske made the jump from acting to costuming with typically fervent enthusiasm. Her passionate efforts have been recognized by several TANYS (Theater Association of New York State) awards for her work with Rochester Shakespeare Players and community productions of classics like The Importance of Being Earnest and Sorry, Wrong Number. Costumed presentations of Silver Screen films at Rochester’s famed Dryden Theater are more evidence of her divine madness. Ms. Noske supports her sartorial addiction by editing for Wegmans Food Markets. Thus, she spends her days writing about broccoli and her nights dreaming about a date with William Powell or finding one of Irene Dunne’s original hats on Ebay.

A PROUD SPONSOR OF

MERCURY OPERA ROCHESTER

IN PARTNERSHIP WITH YOU | A Dedicated Team of Highly Experienced Tax Planners, Accountants, and Business Consultants

585.427.8900 | EFPRotenberg.com

Artistic Director Benton Hess

Artistic AdvisorGerard Floriano

OfficersThomas Smith, President

Judith Ricker, Vice PresidentMaureen Rutecki, Treasurer

Anne Wells, Secretary

Executive DirectorKristen Kessler

Operations ManagerLynn Zicari

Directors

Agneta BorgstedtSarah CollinsPeter Durant

Ronald FondillerDavid FriedmanF. Paul GreeneJack Langerak

Craig LarsonDeborah LattimeFrances LennieDouglas LowryMary Menzie

Joy Ryen PlotnickNellie Rosenberg

Justin Runke Stephanie Samuel

Alexa Scott-FlahertyFriederike SeligmanC. Gavin Strakosh

Lois TaubmanGreg Weber

Founder’s CircleArt Axelrod

Sunny RosenbergHelga Strasser

Board of Directors

A Change of PlansBecause of scheduling difficulties and a direct conflict with other significant musical events, our originally planned performance of

Bernstein’s Candide will be rescheduled for a date in the future.

In its place, Mercury Opera Rochester is taking thise opportunity to introduce:

Opera Illuminated A Peek Behind the Curtain with Maestro Benton HessFeaturing local professional singers and favorite opera selections

Friday, May 6 at 8 PM at Hochstein Performance Hall

Tickets:Eastman Theatre Box Office, 433 East Main St, Rochester 14604, www.rpo.org, 585-454-2100, and at all Rochester-area Wegmans

Tickets for our originally scheduled performance on Sunday, May 8 can be exchanged at the box office.

Gold$10,000 to $24,999NYS Council on the ArtsThe New York State Legislature – Joseph Robach

Silver$5,000 to $9,999The Ann & Gordon Getty FoundationMary K. MenzieThe Rainbow FundNellie J. RosenbergSunny Rosenberg Joel & Friederike Felber Seligman

Maestro$2,500 to $4,999The Arts & Cultural Council for Greater RochesterDavid & Ilene FlaumThe Guild of Mercury Opera RochesterCraig & Susan LarsonLawrence MartlingRochester Area Community FoundationThomas SmithC. Gavin Strakosh

Prima Voce$1,000 to $2,499James & Catherine AquavellaArthur & Jeanette AxelrodAgneta D. Borgstedt, MDSarah H. CollinsJohn & Carol CondemiEric M. DreyfussMaria DunphreyHarold & Joan FeinbloomGerard & Joan FlorianoRob W. GoodlingThe Gouvernet Arts FundBenton HessFrances & Peter LennieJames & Jane LittwitzJoseph J. ManciniJudith & Ramon RickerJon & Katherine SchumacherLois & Mark Taubman

Impressario$500 to $999Margaret J. CarnallPeter & Suzanne DurantJoanne & Steve FrenchDavid & Linda FriedmanF. Paul Greene & Jacqueline ZahoraKristen Kessler Paulina & Laurence KovalskyJack & Gail LangerakBarbara & John LovenheimHelga & Alexander StrasserPeggy Weir

Comprimario$250 to $499Alan L. CamerosWilliam J. & Marcia L. CaseyWilliam & Carol CroccaMarlene DolingMargaret FreemanDominic A. FrisciaMarion FulbrightJohanna GambinoJack HicksMary-Ann HrankowskiBejan & Sharon IranpourLeo R. & Charlotte K. LandhuisJoyce LindleyRebecca MartinCheryl MayewskiDavid & Carolyn MeiselWilliam & Elizabeth PowellDr. Suzanne H. RodgersElise & Stephen RosenfeldPhilip G. & Ettie RubensteinMaureen & Michael RuteckiRuth C. SchnabelEugene J. Schneider & Gloria J. BaciewiczJosephine S. TrubekMr. & Mrs. Stephen F. VenutiJohn B. WhiteMrs. Pamela S. Wilkens White

Coro$100 to $249AnonymousJames & Jacqueline AdamsStewart & Barbara AgorMary Elaine AldorettaBruce & Cynthia AustinDr. Jerome BartholomewJohn BickmoreMorton & Maxine BittkerDon & Joyce BogdanskiPhilip & Anita BonanniGail BossoBeverly T. BowenJosephine BraitmanJosephine BuckleyJohn & Anna BundschuhMr. & Mrs. Augustin CarducciJohn & Diane CaselliRosalie J. CavallaroBruce W. ChapinThomas & Kathleen ChristianJune ClaseNorinne ColeAnne C. Coon & Craig J. ZicariMrs. Lillian A. CourtheouxBob & Ellen CroogMr. & Mrs. Helmut DaehnDr. Sal & Joan DalberthVito & Marge D’AmbrusoLinda W. Davey

Dan & Janet DaviesValera D’EsopoRosalie DiPasqualeMargaret & Peter DundasEdward & Linda DunnPeter ElliottMarcia L. ElwittJoseph Finetti & Maria MastrosimoneThomas & Janet FinkFranlee Frank & John SmithE. Robert & Patricia FussellConnie Gates & Jennifer LloydWilliams Tool Inc.Jacquie & Andy GermanowWesley & Evelyn GhyzelTeresa Giuliani-ImburgiaMrs. Coral T. GlassmanSteven & Bonnie GoldsteinBernard & Beverly GordonBurton GordonBill & Ruth GraceDr. Elaine F. GreeneGeorge GreerMarge & Don GrinolsMarian D. GriswoldTavia Jane HarpendingMonica R. HaydenWarren & Joyce HeilbronnerMr. & Mrs. Warren HeiligmanJoseph HeintzmanDorothy A. HolmesKathleen Holt & Stephen LurieRobert E. Horn, MDDavid HouNancy & Gary HoughtlingErnest & Roberta IerardiRobert & Maria IsgroMr. & Mrs. Peter W. Kelderhouse, Sr.Armin & Grace Harlow Klein Rose-Marie B. KlipsteinDr. Martin & Phyllis S. KornDenise & Robert LaRossaAlice & John LeddyDavid & Dorothy LeidigCharles Lundeen & John WilliamsSwaminathan MadhuRoberta Majka & Patti FollansbeeDavid & Rose ManciniStephen MatkowskyMichael McCourt & Jan MoynihanFrank & Betty McGlassonBarbara McIver & Robert WasonRobert G. & Chita McKinneyBruce & Eleanor McLearJohn N. McMathThomas & Mary Lou MeesTerry MeloreHarry & Linda MessinaMona MillerSanford & Jill MillerMark & Rena MontiLee & Brenda Moss

Contributors

John MuenterDr. Philip S. NashJohn Ninfo & Judith RanalettaFrederick NuernbergJanet C. OaksLori & Louis OsgoodGary & Myrna PaigeBernard & Molly PannerTom & Esther PaulLloyd PeasleyAllyson & Webster PilcherPeter PlummerDonald H. Poulin & Louis H. LococoDavid RakovRichard & Margery RosenDick & Bea RosenbloomDavid & Susan RothenbergLisa RubinerDaniel & Charlotte RyanBertha M. SantiroccoEva & Jude SauerGeorge Scharr & Linda RiceConrad SchegArthur & Kathryn SchusterPaul SchuttAnthony J. & Gloria S. SciolinoJames N. Scott & Bonnie L. HeddonAlexa Scott-Flaherty & Jonathan ItkinPaul SeidelDon SeipelMark & Holley ShaferDavid J. SharkeyVirginia SkuseKen & Alice SliningJoseph F. & Mary Ellen SliszMaxine M. SmithCharles H. SpeirsRobert & Carol StilesDr. Robert & Sally StookeyJune StornelliFran & Steve StudleyMr. & Mrs. David SwansonFrank & Rose Marie SwiskeyRobert & Doris TeamersonRobert ter-HorstMarsha TillsonMargaret & Donald TonkinsonPamela M. TurnerGary & Marie Van GraafielandDoug Cline & Lorraine Van Meter-ClinePaul & Joan Van NessMargaret VanasJames VarnerLarry & Diane WardlowMargaret N. WebberAnn D. Weintraub & Ursula W. ReinersAnne & Robert WellsAnne WestChristine WickertMary Alice & Bob WolfRoger ZaengleinRobert & Signe ZaleRobert O. & Carol Zimmerman

Gifts In Kind &Special ThanksAnjü YogaAntara Wind EnsembleArtisanWorksBagel LandBalsam BagelsBamba Bistro RestaurantCharlotte BarnardThe Bastian GroupCindy Battisti – Opera BraceletsBethlehem Lutheran ChurchBlackfriarsAgneta BorgstedtBreathe YogaBristol Valley TheaterCasa Larga VineyardCentury Liquor & WinesThe Cheesecake FactorySarah CollinsConstellation BrandsGill &Tony DecharioJoanne DennstedtEastman Opera TheatreEastman School of MusicPeter ElliottEsperanza MansionRon & Jane FondillerGarth Fagan DanceGeva Theatre CenterAndy GreenHarter, Secrest & Emery LLPHenry B’s RestaurantBenton HessHochstein School of Music & DanceColleen HummelJCC Center StageKeuka Lake WineryRose-Marie KlipsteinAmanda LoBaughMary MenzieMemorial Art GalleryNic MinetorNazareth College Theatre Dept.A New Hue Image & Color ConsultingAlex Northrop & Jules SmithOff Monroe PlayersParachute GraphicsJoan ParkerNellica RaveRestaurant 2 VineRochester Broadway Theatre LeagueRochester City BalletRochester Community PlayersRochester Philharmonic OrchestraRooster Hill VineyardLisa RosenbauerSunny RosenbergFriederike SeligmanSentry SafeShaheen ManagementRick ShaheenThomas SmithThe Spa at the Del MonteStarbucks

Lois & Mark TaubmanTemple B’rith KodeshKimberly Upcraft-RussVintage Kimono Fashions by EtsukoPeggy WebberWriters & BooksCarmina Zicari

Special Supporters of our Education Programs this SeasonArthur & Jeanette AxelrodLillian BonanniAgneta BorgstedtNancy BoyerJosephine BraitmanMargaret CarnallSarah CollinsSharon CrouchMarlene DolingMarcia ElwittHarold & Joan FeinbloomMaria & Joan FlorianoConnie Gates & Jennifer LloydBonnie GoldsteinVirginia HartleyBenton HessDiana Clarkson HollLinda KirkwoodPeter & Frances LennieJoyce LindleyJoseph J. ManciniCheryl MayewskiThomas McFaddenMary K. MenzieMona MillerMonroe County Bar AssociationJoanna NatoliIrina NovozhenetsRay & Judy RickerJanette RoachNellie RosenbergSunny RosenbergBertha SantiroccoAlexa Scott-Flaherty & Jonathan ItkinDon SeipelFriederike SeligmanTom SmithCorky StrakoshFran & Steve StudleyRoger & Beth Cross Wilhelm

Although every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of this list, occasional errors & omissions occur. Please contact Mercury Opera Rochester at 473-6567 with any changes or corrections. This list reflects donors of record at the Coro level and above (minimum of $100 donation) as of January 7, 2011.

salutes

Mercury Operaand our wonderful community of musicians

Join the music-making at Hochstein!

Locations in Rochester & Canandaiguawww.hochstein.org

Tribute & Honorary GiftsTribute and Honorary Gifts are a special way to remember loved ones or commemorate special occasions.

In Appreciation for Tom SmithArmin & Grace Harlow Klein

In Memory of Janice BirnbaumDavid & Ilene Flaum

In Memory of Bill HearneMarjana AbabovicMaxine M. Smith

In Memory of Jo HelferRuth & Steve Teitel

In Memory of Belle Yampolski LovenheimLisa Rubiner

In Memory of Mary McNamaraThomas & Mary Lou Mees

In Memory of Dr. Paul MoriconiRichard & Donna Campbell Deborah FratiDavid & Rose ManciniJoseph J. Mancini

In Memory of Justice Wilmer J. PatlowJanet K. Patlow

In Memory of Haskell B. RosenbergNellie J. Rosenberg

In Honor of Sarah CollinsU.T. Miller Summers

In Honor of Fontaine FollansbeeRoberta Majka & Patti Follansbee

In Honor of Kristen KesslerSusan Mou

In Honor of Helen MeyerRosalie J. Cavallaro

In Honor of Kate Maroney & John BuffettRose-Marie Klipstein

Planned Giving & BequestsPlease consider leaving Mercury Opera Rochester in your estate plans, whether by will, trust, insur-ance, life income arrangement, or through current income gifts. Your concern and appreciation for Mer-cury Opera Rochester will extend far beyond your own lifetime.

This production is funded in part by grants from the New York State Council on the Arts and the New York State Legislature.

www.elderwood.com

there’s nothing like a Great performance to keep us young at hear t

A wine and spirits shop

where the wine sells itself

749 Park AvenueRochester, NY 14607

(585) 271-0590

300 Park Point Drive Suite 110Rochester New York 14623

(585) 427-8383http://wokwithyou.com

D I M S U M - C H I N E S E - T H A I - S U S H I

C H I N E S E - P H O - T H A I - S U S H I

GOLDEN PORT池 滿 金

105 East Ave.Rochester, NY 14604

585-256-1780http://www.thegoldenport.com