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MEROLA OPERA PROGRAM2016 SUMMER FESTIVAL

SCHWABACHER SUMMER CONCERTTRANSFORMATIONS

COSÌ FAN TUTTEMEROLA GRAND FINALE

SEASON SPONSORS DANDELION CHOCOLATE

FRANCES K. AND CHARLES D. FIELD FOUNDATIONAL GARREN FUND

IL CENACOLO, ITALIAN CULTURAL CLUBJACK H. LUND CHARITABLE TRUST

NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR THE ARTSBERNARD OSHER FOUNDATION

RUSTY ROLLAND AND THE SCHICK FUND

There is no better way to experience the magic of Merola than by becoming a member. Each summer, our members get a unique backstage view of the training of tomorrow’s opera stars. Whether it’s by watching our participants work with renowned master teachers from the opera world, talking to them at a member reception or sitting in the War Memorial Opera House as they take the stage — you’ll be there to witness it all and say “I knew them when.”

Merola membership has its benefitsBy supporting Merola, there are many behind-the-scenes events you could experience:

• Be among the first to get to know our talented young artists at the popular Meet the Merolini event

• Get invitations to master classes led by leading opera artists

• A day backstage at Merola

It’s not too late to join!For more information on member benefits, please contact Miriam Rosenfeld at (415) 936-2311 or [email protected], or visit merola.org/join.

Photos (left to right) Raehann Bryce-Davis (Merola 2015) performs in the Schwabacher Summer Concert; Amina Edris and James Ioelu (Merola 2015 participants) in Don Pasquale; legendary performer James Morris works with Brad Walker (Merola 2015) in a master class. Photos by Kristen Loken.

The Merola Opera Program operates in collaboration with the San Francisco Opera, under the auspices of David Gockley, General Director; Matthew Shilvock, General Director Designate; Nicola Luisotti, Music Director; Sheri Greenawald, Director, San Francisco Opera Center; and Mark Morash, Opera Center Director of Musical Studies.

Find Merola on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Flickr, and Instagram! Make sure to keep posted on the latest news by visiting merola.org and signing up for our e-newsletter.

HELP SUPPORT THE FUTURE OF OPERA JOIN MEROLA!

MEROLA OPERA PROGRAM · 3

Welcome to the 2016 Merola Summer Festival

Table of Contents

We are pleased to welcome you to the Merola Opera Program’s 59th season. This year we are excited that our first three productions will take place at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, in

the heart of San Francisco’s arts corridor. The festival begins with the Schwabacher Summer Concert, which this year will feature powerful and diverse excerpts from Arabella, Dialogues des Carmélites, Le Comte Ory, Lohengrin, Serse, and The Rake’s Progress. Esteemed conductor Eric Weimer will lead the orchestra and we are thrilled that our 2014 Apprentice Stage Director Omer Ben Seadia will return to stage the extended opera scenes.

Our two opera productions are contrasting works that deal with the complexities of human relationships — Transformations, Conrad Susa’s deeply psychological retelling of fairy tales with a libretto by Anne Sexton, and Così fan tutte, Mozart’s sharply observed take on romance and fidelity with a libretto by Lorenzo da Ponte. Acclaimed conductor Neal Goren will take the podium for Transformations and innovative director Roy Rallo will stage the opera. Our own Mark Morash (Merola 1987) conducts Così fan tutte, and internationally lauded Merola alumnus Ted Huffman (Merola 2010) is our director. The festival concludes on the stage of the War Memorial Opera House with the Merola Grand Finale. This exciting array of arias and ensembles will be conducted by dynamic conductor Rory Macdonald and staged by 2016 Merola Apprentice Stage Director Aria Umezawa.

These productions, and the 12 weeks of intensive training, would not be possible without the steadfast support of our Merola members. If you are a Merola member, you’ll also have the chance to witness firsthand the exciting development of the artists in the 2016 Merola training program at our master classes and other member events. Our deepest thanks to you for helping us train and nurture the artists who are the future of opera. If you have yet to become a Merola member, we hope you will consider joining us to get a behind-the-scenes glimpse of the training that makes our summer festival productions possible.

See you at the opera!

Warmest regards,

Jayne C. Davis, Chairman Carlyn Clause, President Jean Kellogg, Executive Director

ABOUT MEROLAPAGE 5

SCHWABACHER SUMMER CONCERTPAGE 9

TRANSFORMATIONSPAGE 14

COSÌ FAN TUTTEPAGE 16

MEROLA GRAND FINALEPAGE 18

2016 MEROLA ARTISTSPAGE 21

PRODUCTION ARTISTSPAGE 29

FACULTYPAGE 33

BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND STAFFPAGE 34

MEROLA OPERA PROGRAM DONORSPAGE 35

SAN FRANCISCO OPERA ADLER FELLOWSHIP SPONSORSPAGE 39

This project is supported, in part, by an award from the National

Endowment for the Arts.

Merola Summer Festival Graphic Design by Cheshire Isaacs

cheshiredave.com

(left to right) Jean Kellogg, Jayne C. Davis, and Carlyn Clause. Photo by Kristen Loken.

4 · 2016 SUMMER FESTIVAL


About the Merola Opera Program

JAYNE C. DAVIS Chairman CARLYN CLAUSE President JEAN KELLOGG Executive Director

Widely regarded as the foremost opera training program for aspiring singers, coach/accompanists, and stage directors, the Merola Opera Program is the cornerstone of San Francisco Opera’s training and performance programs for promising artists. Named for San Francisco Opera’s first general director, Gaetano Merola, the Merola Opera Program began during the 1954–55 season and established its full training program in 1957.

Merola has served as a proving ground for hundreds of artists, including Anna Netrebko, Patricia Racette, Ruth Ann Swenson, Carol Vaness, Deborah Voigt, Joyce DiDonato, Susan Graham, Dolora Zajick, Rolando Villazón, Thomas Hampson, Leona Mitchell, and Patrick Summers among many others.

Each year, nearly 1,000 young artists apply for admission. Out of these, only twenty-three singers, five pianists, and one apprentice director have the rare opportunity to study, rehearse, coach, and participate in master classes with established professionals.

Merola operates in close artistic collaboration with San Francisco Opera but is an independent nonprofit organization, governed by a separate board of directors. Merola is responsible for its own fundraising, primarily from loyal members and foundations.

How is the future of opera developed? Join Merola and find out! For membership information, please call (415) 936-2311 or visit Merola.org.

SAN FRANCISCO OPERA CENTERSheri Greenawald Director Mark Morash Director of Musical Studies

San Francisco Opera Center operates under the direction of internationally acclaimed San Francisco Opera. The Opera Center was created to coordinate the Company’s affiliate training programs, including the Merola Opera Program. These programs provide a continuing sequence of performance and career development opportunities to the best young professional singers, pianists, and directors.

SAN FRANCISCO OPERADavid Gockley General Director Matthew Shilvock General Director designate Nicola Luisotti Music Director

San Francisco Opera is committed to the training of young opera artists and offers Merola a wealth of artistic resources and opportunities. Year after year, Merola alumni grace the stage of this world-class company.


Cocktail Reception and Formal Dinner City Hall

Concert Herbst Theatrefeaturing

Deborah Voigt (Merola ‘85)Artists from San Francisco Opera’s Rigoletto:

Quinn Kelsey (Merola ‘02) Pene Pati (Merola ‘13)

Zanda Švede (Merola ‘13)and other special Merola alumni

Dessert Reception Veterans Building Green Room

For more information, visit www.merola.org/60 or call (415) 936-2311

In 2017 Merola Celebrates

SIX DECADES

Training Future Opera Stars

Merola Benefit Gala & ConcertSunday, June 11, 2017


in memory of Brian Asawa

The Merola Opera Program is deeply saddened by the loss of renowned countertenor Brian Asawa, Merola 1991 alum. During Brian’s summer at Merola, he received acclaim for his role as the Gypsy Boy in The Bartered Bride.

Brian went on to become a San Francisco Opera Adler Fellow and then launched into an international career that placed him at the forefront of the countertenor resurgence, specializing in baroque opera and singing leading roles at San Francisco Opera, the Metropolitan Opera, Los Angeles Opera, and many others. Brian also became the first countertenor to win both the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions and Plácido Domingo’s Operalia competition.

Thanks to the generosity of wonderful supporters, the Merola Opera Program has established the Brian Asawa Memorial Fund to benefit future Merola participants, with preference given to countertenors. The first beneficiary is Merola 2016 countertenor Aryeh Nussbaum Cohen. To donate, please visit merola.org or call the Merola development department at (415) 936-2311.

Photo by Marco Borggreve

Fourteenth seasonJuly 15 - August 6, 2016:

Russian Reflections

TICKETS & INFORMATION: WWW.MUSICATMENLO.ORG • 650-331-0202

• Exceptional Concertsby World-Renowned Chamber Musicians

• Free Café Conversationsand Master Classes

• Engaging Symposiaand Lectures

• Free Concerts byTalented Young Artists from the ChamberMusic Institute


Tasting Room Open DAily

V I S I T U S

Breathless Wines wine garden & tasting loungeA relaxing patio & garden featuring a live music stage,

patio seating, and sparkling wine just steps from Healdsburg Square.

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Eric Weimer CONDUCTOR Omer Ben Seadia DIRECTOR

Thursday, July 7, 7:30 PM and Saturday, July 9, 2:00 PM San Francisco Conservatory of Music

Christopher Verdosci Costume Design Jax Messenger Lighting Design Marcelo Donari Hair/wig and Makeup Design

James H. Schwabacher (1920–2006) was not only instrumental in the establishment and development of the Merola Opera Program — he became its very heart and soul, demonstrating an unwavering commitment to the next generation of vocal talent. Jim was, first and foremost, a noted tenor and scholar who graced many opera stages. And just as important to him as making music was encouraging others to do the same. Jim took pride in passing on to young artists insights gleaned from his own career and studies, and he conveyed his rigorous musical standards with a gentle and loving touch. In addition to his artistic leadership, Jim provided vital financial and administrative stewardship to Merola, serving as President of the Board of Directors for 29 years and subsequently as Chairman of the Board for 15 years.

Devoted to the future of opera for more than half a century, his leadership continues to inspire us to identify, train, and nurture the world’s finest young operatic talent.

This concert is named in memory of Merola’s late Chairman, James Schwabacher, and is graciously underwritten, in part, by the Grace A. Diem and Alice E. Siemons Foundation, the Frances K. and Charles D. Field Foundation, the Jack H. Lund Charitable Trust, and Rusty Rolland and the Schick Fund.

Eric Weimer is generously sponsored, in part, by Darla and Richard Bastoni.

Omer Ben Seadia is generously sponsored in part by Bob and Terri Ryan and Mr. Haggai Niv.

The Schwabacher Summer Concert runs approximately two hours and thirty minutes with one intermission.

The use of cameras, cellular phones, and recording equipment of any kind is strictly prohibited at all Merola Opera Program performances and events.

Schwabacher Summer Concert Production Artists can be found starting on page 29.

SCHWABACHER SUMMER CONCERT


Serse music By George Frideric Handel libretto by unknown author, from a play by Giovanni Bononcini Performed in Italian with English supertitles

Serse — Aryeh Nussbaum Cohen Arsamene — Taylor Raven Elviro — Nicholas Boragno Romilda — Jana McIntyre Atalanta — Mary Evelyn Hangley

Overture

From Act 1: Scenes 1–6In a garden, King Serse rapturously admires a tree that offers him shade. His brother, Arsamene, enters accompanied by his servant, Elviro, in search of Romilda. They hear Romilda singing sweetly in the distance. However, she is only mocking the king’s inexplicable obsession with a tree. Upon hearing her voice, Serse becomes infatuated with her and immediately declares his intent to marry her. Arsamene initially denies even knowing her identity, but eventually concedes to recognize the young woman. He deems it is unlawful for the king to marry anyone less than a queen, and then refuses an order to woo Romilda on behalf of Serse. The king departs, intending to speak to her himself. Arsamene vows that he alone shall have Romilda. He warns Romilda of the king’s amorous intentions. To complicate matters even further, their conversation unwittingly gives hope to Romilda’s sister, Atalanta, who desires Arsamene for herself. Serse returns abruptly, causing Arsamene to hide. The king invites Romilda to share his throne; she declines diplomatically but the king will not take no for an answer. Arsamene emerges from hiding to protest vociferously, but is quickly banished—although Serse suggests he might show compassion if Romilda yields to him. Arsamene refuses to give in. Serse presses Romilda for a response. When she refuses he proceeds to declare his love for her.

SCHWABACHER SUMMER CONCERTCONTINUED

Silver Season OpeningNew Century kicks off its 25th anniversary celebrations with a debut appearance by the New York Philharmonic’s Artist-in-Association, Israeli pianist Inon Barnatan, performing Mozart’s beloved Piano Concerto No. 13 in C Major, K. 415.

SEPTEMBER 15-18, 2016NADJA SALERNO-SONNENBERG, concertmasterINON BARNATAN, piano

FOR TICKETS AND INFORMATION: NCCO.ORG OR CALL 415. 392.4400

1617NCCO_MerolaOpera.indd 1 6/13/16 2:26 PM


THE RAKE’S PROGRESS music By Igor Stravinsky libretto by W. H. Auden and Chester Kallman Performed in English with English supertitles

Tom Rakewell — Josh Lovell Nick Shadow — Nicholas Boragno Baba the Turk — Tara Curtis

from Act 2: Scenes 1 and 3

Scene 1: Not long after striking a deal with Nick Shadow, Tom Rakewell is already growing disillusioned with his newly found fortune and the sordid adventures and pleasures London has to offer. He contemplates the vanity and shallowness of his new life, wondering if he will ever find true satisfaction and happiness. Precisely at that moment, Nick Shadow enters with a new proposition; he proposes that in place of love Tom should marry Baba the Turk, the famous bearded lady, for her wealth and fame. Though reluctant at first, Tom agrees and both prepare for the new conquest.

Scene 3: Tom’s marriage to the talkative and fiery Baba is already proving to be more than he can bear. He seeks a way out or at least a way to get a word in.

ARABELLA music By Richard Strauss libretto by Hugo von Hofmannsthal Performed in German with English supertitles

Waldner — Nicholas Boragno Ein Zimmerkellner — Josh Lovell Zdenka — Jana McIntyre Matteo — Kyle van Schoonhoven Arabella — Mary Evelyn Hangley

From Act 1Count Waldner has two daughters, Arabella and Zdenka. Arabella is being courted by three different suitors, but due to dire financial straits the Waldners cannot afford for both daughters to marry, so Zdenka lives out her life as a man instead, known to all as Zdenko.

Count Waldner has just struck a deal with Count Mandryka, agreeing to present his daughter, Arabella, to the Count at the ball that evening. In exchange, Mandryka leaves Waldner with a sizable reward, which leaves Waldner practically dumbstruck. Zdenka walks in as her father considers his next move, but rather than explaining the new developments, Waldner rushes to the ball to make arrangements for that evening. Left alone, Zdenka reflects on her infatuation with Matteo, one of her sister’s suitors. She has been writing letters to him using her sister’s name. Matteo arrives, hoping to receive another letter. Zdenka promises he will get one this evening if he comes to the ball, and she sends him off. Arabella enters, berating Zdenka for not being ready for the ball. Frustrated with her sister’s embarrassment of riches, Zdenka reminds her of the suitors who will be expecting her at the ball, then storms out. Arabella reflects upon her predicament. Not one of her suitors is especially appealing as she finds herself drawn to a mysterious stranger whom she encountered, although she may never see him again. She hopes the ball that evening will brighten her mood.

Intermission


SCHWABACHER SUMMER CONCERTCONTINUED

LOHENGRIN music and libretto By Richard Wagner Performed in German with English supertitles

Elsa — Sarah Cambidge Lohengrin — Kyle van Schoonhoven

From Act III, Scene 2Alone at last in the bridal chamber, Elsa and her husband happily express their love. Nevertheless, Elsa is troubled by the fact that she is prohibited from knowing her new husband’s name or his origins. To ease her mind, he tells her that he comes from a land of glory and beauty. But Elsa, under the influence of a maddening potion, worries that he will one day leave her. Despite the warnings he has given her, she can bear it no longer. She asks him the forbidden question. Before he can respond, Telramund, the Duke’s guardian, and his henchmen burst in. Without delay, Elsa hands the sword to her husband, and he swiftly stops the men in their tracks. Lohengrin tells Elsa that their happiness is now doomed.

Dialogues des Carmélites music and libretto By Francis Poulenc Performed in French with English supertitles

La Prieure — Tara Curtis Mère Marie — Taylor Raven Blanche — Jana McIntyre Le Médécin — Nicholas Boragno

From Act 1, Scene 4On her deathbed, sensing that the end is near, the Mother Superior charges Mother Marie to keep watch over and spiritually guide the novice, Sister Blanche. Blanche enters and Mother Superior bids her farewell and warns her about the spiritual perils she must combat. The doctor is called in hope of relieving the old woman’s pain but he is not able to provide her with any comfort. Amidst her cries of pain, the Mother Superior details her many years of service to God, but angrily shouts that He has abandoned her in her final hours. Delirious and in pain, the Old Prioress dies, leaving Mother Marie and Sister Blanche scared and bewildered.

LE COMTE ORY music By Gioachino Rossini libretto by Eugène Scribe and Charles-Gaspard Delestre-Poirson Performed in French with English supertitles

Le Comte Ory — Josh Lovell Isolier — Taylor Raven La Comtesse Adèle — Jana McIntyre Ragonde — Tara Curtis

From Act 2, No. 11 and 12In an effort to get closer to Adèle, Count Ory has taken refuge in her castle with his men, who are all disguised as nuns. At night, Ory approaches Adèle’s room, introducing himself as “Sister Colette” who is unable to sleep. Isolier, realizing his master’s mischievous plan, steps in, leaving Ory to unwittingly make advances to his own servant. All of a sudden, trumpets blare, announcing the return of Adèle’s husband. Ory is forced to concede his cunning plan has failed and declare victory to the powers of wedlock.


H A F N ER

toasts 59 successful years of the

Merola OperaProgram

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TRANSFORMATIONSmusic by Conrad Susa Libretto by Anne Sexton Sung in English with English supertitles

Transformations is produced by permission of E.C. Schirmer Music Company.

Neal Goren CONDUCTOR Roy Rallo DIRECTOR

Thursday, July 21, 7:30 PM and Saturday, July 23, 2:00 PM San Francisco Conservatory of Music

Peter Littlefield dramaturg Marsha Ginsberg Scenic Design Christine Crook Costume Design Jax Messenger Lighting Design Marcelo Donari Hair/wig and Makeup Design

#1, Princess/Gretel — Teresa Castillo #2, Anne Sexton/Witch — Shannon Jennings #3, Good Fairy/Witch — Chelsey Geeting #4, Rumpelstiltskin/Truman Capote — Boris Van Druff #5, Caged Man/Dog — Brian Michael Moore #6, Prince/Fox/Hansel — Isaac Frishman #7, Iron Hans/Wolf — Andrew G. Manea #8, King/Hare — Matthew Anchel

This production is graciously underwritten, in part, by the Frances K. and Charles D. Field Foundation, the Jack H. Lund Charitable Trust, and the Bernard Osher Foundation.

Neal Goren is generously sponsored, in part, by Jean and Lindsay MacDermid.

Roy Rallo is generously sponsored, in part, by the Anthony I. Balestrieri Endowment Fund.


Transformations Production Artists can be found starting on page 29.

Opera on the CouchFollowing the Saturday, July 23rd performance Room 207, 2nd floor, SF Conservatory of Music Admission is freeFollowing the July 23rd performance, The San Francisco Center for Psychoanalysis invites you to a special, free talk analyzing the work of Conrad Susa and Anne Sexton in Transformations from a psychological perspective.

Opera on the Couch presents Bay Area psychoanalysts giving brief, post-performance talks focusing on both the dramatic and musical content of the opera, where the audience is invited to join the discussion.


Composer’s Notes

Transformations is an entertainment in two parts of five scenes each. The text, from the late Anne Sexton’s book of the same name, is a highly personal telling of some of Grimms’ fairy tales. More nearly short stories, the texts were arranged with Anne Sexton’s approval to emphasize the subplot, which concerns a “middle-aged witch” who gradually becomes a vulnerable beauty slipping into a nightmare.

For each poem-story, Anne Sexton includes a personal prologue which motivates the telling of the story. If the general plot seems to be the succession of specially told Grimms’ fairy tales, then the subplot is about the artistic and psychological process of Anne Sexton. There is no need, of course, for the actress to look or act like Anne Sexton because this is not a strictly autobiographical work even though Anne Sexton becomes a creation here as much as Rumpelstiltskin. She is the people in the stories and the people are themselves.

Act I

The Gold Key Our need to understand ourselves and our world.

Snow White The ambivalent relationship of mother and daughter.

The White Snake The divine madness and inspiration of the artist.

Iron Hans Our ambivalence toward the insane and the damaged.

Rumplestiltskin The doppelgänger inside us all.

Act II

Rapunzel The need of women for each other.

Godfather Death The confrontation with the fear, desire for, and irrevocability of death.

The Wonderful Musician The demonic power of music.

Hansel and Gretel Mother love and cannibalism.

Briar Rose The ambivalent relationship of father and daughter.


COSÌ FAN TUTTEmusic By W.A. Mozart Libretto by Lorenzo Da Ponte Sung in Italian with English supertitles

Mark Morash CONDUCTOR Ted Huffman DIRECTOR

Thursday, August 4, 7:30 PM and Saturday, August 6, 2:00 PM San Francisco Conservatory of Music

Marsha Ginsberg Scenic Design Christine Crook Costume Design Marcelo Donari Hair/wig and Makeup Design

Ferrando — Amitai Pati Guglielmo — Cody Quattlebaum Don Alfonso — Josh Quinn Fiordiligi — Yelena Dyachek Dorabella — Alexandra Schenck Despina — Adelaide Boedecker

This production is graciously underwritten, in part, by the Frances K. and Charles D. Field Foundation, the Jack H. Lund Charitable Trust, and the Bernard Osher Foundation.

Mark Morash is generously sponsored, in part, by Miss Ursula Grunfeld, Miss Vivienne E. Miller, and Hiroko Prather.

Ted Huffman is generously sponsored, in part, by Barbara K. Jackson.


Così fan tutte Production Artists can be found starting on page 29.


Synopsis

Act IGuglielmo and Ferrando, brash young army officers, boast about the fidelity and beauty of the sisters to whom they are engaged, Fiordiligi and Dorabella. Their cynical older friend Don Alfonso counters that no woman is capable of fidelity. When the young men protest, Don Alfonso proposes a wager. If Guglielmo and Ferrando will do as he says, by the end of the day he will prove that their fiancées are as faithless as all women.

Unaware of these machinations, Fiordiligi and Dorabella compare portraits of the men they love. Don Alfonso arrives and tells them Guglielmo and Ferrando have received military orders to leave for the battlefield. The young men enter and bid their fiancées a tearful farewell. Heartbroken, the sisters confide in a maid, Despina, that Guglielmo and Ferrando have gone off to war. Despina advises Fiordiligi and Dorabella to take advantage of their fiancés’ absence and amuse themselves with other lovers. The sisters are horrified, but Don Alfonso, who overhears the discussion, recruits Despina to assist him with his plot.

Guglielmo and Ferrando return, now disguised as Albanians. Don Alfonso introduces them to Fiordiligi and Dorabella as old friends. Acting on Don Alfonso’s orders, the young men each begin courting the other’s fiancée. The sisters react with outrage. Fiordiligi proclaims her loyalty to her betrothed, and she and Dorabella storm off. Guglielmo and Ferrando rejoice at the fidelity of their sweethearts, but Don Alfonso reminds them the day has not yet ended. Despina suggests a new plan to Don Alfonso.

Alone, Fiordiligi and Dorabella lament the absence of their fiancés. The Albanians rush in and say they have taken poison out of unrequited love. Despina and Don Alfonso go in search of a doctor. They soon return with Despina, disguised as a doctor, who claims to be a follower of Dr. Mesmer. She says she will cure the young men with a magnet. Guglielmo and Ferrando claim they need kisses to heal, but Fiordiligi and Dorabella refuse to yield.

Act IIDespina pleads with her mistresses not to be so stubborn about enjoying themselves and urges them to pick their favorite Albanian. Dorabella decides there would be no harm in a little light flirtation. Surprisingly, Fiordiligi agrees. Each sister professes a preference for the Albanian who is in fact betrothed to the other sister (Dorabella chooses Guglielmo, Fiordiligi chooses Ferrando).

Dorabella flirts with Guglielmo, and they exchange gifts. Fiordiligi is more anguished, tempted but wracked with guilt for betraying her fiancé. Dorabella’s infidelity shocks Ferrando. Guglielmo is pleased that he has succeeded with his friend’s betrothed while his own fiancée remains steadfast. But then Fiordiligi at last gives way to her feelings for Ferrando.

Neither sister has proved faithful. Crushed, Guglielmo and Ferrando admit that Don Alfonso has won the wager. Meanwhile, Fiordiligi and Dorabella, who have agreed to marry their Albanian suitors, prepare for a double wedding. Despina, disguised as a notary, presides over the ceremony. But no sooner are the marriage contracts signed than regimental music sounds. Panicked that their original fiancés have returned, the sisters hide their Albanian husbands. Guglielmo and Ferrando soon reappear as themselves. When they learn their betrotheds have just married the Albanians, they profess outrage and rush off to confront their supposed rivals. Moments later they return, holding their Albanian disguises. Despina also removes her disguise and reveals that she was the notary.

Fiordiligi and Dorabella beg Guglielmo and Ferrando to forgive them. Don Alfonso urges them all to accept life as it is rather than a romantic fantasy.


MEROLA GRAND FINALESaturday, August 20, 7:30 PM, War Memorial Opera House

Rory Macdonald CONDUCTOR Aria Umezawa DIRECTOR

Christopher Verdosci Costume Design Mark Hueske Thomas Lighting Design Marcelo Donari Hair/wig and Makeup Design

2016 MEROLA ARTISTS

Matthew Anchel Bass Adelaide Boedecker Soprano Nicholas Boragno Bass-Baritone Jonathan Brandani Apprentice Coach Sarah Cambidge Soprano Teresa Castillo Soprano Aryeh Nussbaum Cohen Countertenor Tara Curtis Mezzo-Soprano Yelena Dyachek Soprano John Elam Apprentice Coach Isaac Frishman Tenor Chelsey Geeting Mezzo-Soprano Mary Evelyn Hangley Soprano Shannon Jennings Soprano Josh Lovell Tenor Andrew G. Manea Baritone Jana McIntyre Soprano Brian Michael Moore Tenor Noah Palmer Apprentice Coach Amitai Pati Tenor Cody Quattlebaum Bass-Baritone Josh Quinn Bass-Baritone Taylor Raven Mezzo-Soprano Nicolò Sbuelz Apprentice Coach Alexandra Schenck Mezzo-Soprano Jennifer Szeto Apprentice Coach Aria Umezawa Apprentice Stage Director Boris Van Druff Tenor Kyle van Schoonhoven Tenor

This concert is graciously underwritten, in part, by the Blanche Thebom Trust and the Jack H. Lund Charitable Trust.

Merola Grand Finale attire generously sponsored by Leslys Vedder, in memory of James Forest Vedder.

Rory Macdonald is generously sponsored, in part, by Darla and Richard Bastoni.

Reception is generously sponsored, in part, by Culinary Excellence and The Shenson Foundation in memory of Ben & A. Jess Shenson.

Merola Grand Night Mix wine generously provided by Dr. Edward Gomez.


Merola Grand Finale Production Artists can be found starting on page 29.


MEROLA GRAND FINALE DEDICATION

Gerald B. Rosenstein (1927–2016)

Ein gutes Leben ist die beste Antwort. A good life is the best response.

Merola lost one of its dearest friends when Gerald B. (Jerry) Rosenstein passed away on January 1, 2016. A Merola board member for 30 years, and emeritus board member from then on, Jerry is remembered as a generous sponsor and wonderful mentor to many young artists who came through Merola. Born in Bensheim, Germany and raised in Amsterdam, Jerry and his parents restarted their lives in Paris in 1945, after surviving Auschwitz-Birkenau and several other concentration camps. He moved to San Francisco in 1949 and had a successful career in international trade that involved extensive travel in Asia and the Caribbean. During the last 35 years, Jerry devoted his life to sharing his experiences during the Holocaust with young people and supported equality, human rights, and gay rights, as well as many service and arts organizations, including Congregation Sha’ar Zahav, Jewish Family and Children’s Services, San Francisco Performances, the Holocaust Center of Northern California, and the Merola Opera Program.

The 2016 Merola Grand Finale is dedicated in loving memory of Gerald B. Rosenstein.

Left: Gerald B. Rosenstein, Adam Lau (Merola 2011), Sheri Greenawald, and Joan KellyPhoto by Kristen Loken


AN ITALIAN JOURNEYAugust 5 – 14San Francisco

NORTH AMERICAN PREMIERE OF HANDEL’S PARNASSO IN FESTA

americanbach.org (415) 621-7900

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BY KEITH JOSEF ADKINSDIRECTED BY L. PETER CALLENDERWEST COAST PREMIERE NOV/DEC

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BY TOM STOPPARDDIRECTED BY TIMOTHY NEARJAN/FEB

415.677.0325 Single Tickets on Sale August 1 SFPERFORMANCES.ORG

CHRISTIANGERHAHERbaritoneGEROLD HUBERpiano

Tue Dec 13, 2016 7:30pmHerbst Theatre

MARK PADMOREtenorJONATHAN BISSpiano

Fri Mar 17, 20177:30pmHerbst Theatre

SARAH CONNOLLYmezzo-sopranoJOSEPH MIDDLETONpiano

Thu Mar 23, 2017 7:30pmHerbst Theatre

CAROLYN SAMPSONsopranoJOSEPH MIDDLETONpiano

Wed May 17, 2017 7:30pmHerbst Theatre

2016–2017Vocalists


MATTHEW ANCHEL BASS

HOMETOWN New York, New YorkMEROLA ROLE #8 (Transformations)SCHOOLS & YOUNG ARTIST PROGRAMS Manhattan School of Music; LA Opera Domingo-Thornton Young Artist Program; Opera Theatre of St. Louis Gerdine Young Artist; Caramoor Young ArtistTEACHERS Patricia McCaffrey MAJOR ROLES Sarastro (Die Zauberflöte); Don Alfonso (Lucrezia Borgia); Ferrando (Il trovatore); Alaska Wolf Joe (Mahagonny); Harasta (Cunning Little Vixen); Count Ceprano (Rigoletto) MEROLA SPONSORS Albert L. Mosher and John E. McCormick AIDS Memorial Fund, Mrs. Barbara J. Ross, Mr. Glenn H. Reid, Mr. Michael Colbruno

ADELAIDE BOEDECKER SOPRANO

HOMETOWN Sarasota, FloridaMEROLA ROLE Despina (Così fan tutte)SCHOOLS & YOUNG ARTIST PROGRAMS Merola Opera Program 2014; Pittsburgh Opera Resident Artist; Santa Fe Young Artist Program; Marcello Giordani Young Artist Program; Eastman School of Music; University of FloridaTEACHERS Kathryn Cowdrick (Eastman School of Music), Dr. Anthony Offerle (University of Florida), Dr. Paula Page (Hochschule für Musik-Frankfurt) MAJOR ROLES Alice B. Toklas (27); Beth (Little Women); Anna (Nabucco); Despina (Così fan tutte); Lila/Laura (Cold Mountain); Serpetta (La finta giardiniera); Marie (La fille du régiment); Mabrouka (Sumeida’s Song); Frasquita (Carmen); Stella (A Streetcar Named Desire)MEROLA SPONSORS Ms. Amy Roth and Mr. Robert Epstein

NICHOLAS BORAGNO BASS-BARITONE

HOMETOWN Newport Beach, CaliforniaMEROLA ROLES Schwabacher Summer Concert: Elviro (Serse), Nick Shadow (The Rake’s Progress), Waldner (Arabella), Le Médécin (Dialogues des Carmélites)SCHOOLS & YOUNG ARTIST PROGRAMS Manhattan School of Music; Stuttgarter Opernschule; Opera Saratoga; Chautauqua OperaTEACHERS Reid Bruton, Shirley Close, Mark Oswald (Manhattan School of Music), Catherine Malfitano (Manhattan School of Music), Dunja Vejzovic (Stuttgarter Opernschule) MAJOR ROLES Leporello (Don Giovanni); Captain (Eugene Onegin); David (A Hand of Bridge); Giorgio (Nina, o sia la pazza per amore); Schaunard (La bohème); The Judge (Trial by Jury)MEROLA SPONSORS The Sidney and Phyllis Blair Fund, Mr. Milton J. Mosk, Nicholas and Mary Ann Gannam Endowment Fund

JONATHAN BRANDANI APPRENTICE COACH

HOMETOWN Lucca, ItalySCHOOLS & YOUNG ARTIST PROGRAMS Yale University School of Music; University of Music and Performing Arts (Vienna, Austria); Assistant Conductor Minnesota Opera; Associate Conductor Des Moines Metro Opera; Assistant Conductor Yale Philharmonia; Resident Artist Coach Minnesota Opera; Istituto Musicale (Livorno, Italy)TEACHERS Shinik Hahm (Yale University), Mark Stringer (University of Music & Performing Arts-Vienna), Yuji Yuasa (University of Music & Performing Arts-Vienna) COACHING EXPERIENCE La bohème; Tosca; La fanciulla del West; L’elisir d’amore; Don Pasquale; La fille du régiment; Carmen; L’Italiana in Algeri; Il barbiere di Siviglia; Hansel and Gretel; Ariadne auf Naxos; Le nozze di Figaro; Don Giovanni; Così fan tutte; Die Zauberflöte; Die Entführung aus dem Serail; AriodanteMEROLA SPONSORS The Jacobs Family Trust, Il Cenacolo Italian Cultural Club, Karl and Alice Ruppenthal Foundation for the Arts, The Anthony I. Balestrieri Endowment Fund

2016 Merola Artists


SARAH CAMBIDGE SOPRANO

HOMETOWN Vancouver, CanadaMEROLA ROLE Schwabacher Summer Concert: Elsa (Lohengrin)SCHOOL Lamont School of MusicTEACHERS Kenneth Cox (Lamont School of Music), Patricia Plumley MAJOR ROLES Mimì (La bohème); Susannah (Susannah); Countess (Le nozze di Figaro); Marguerite (Faust); Suor Angelica (Suor Angelica); Micaëla (Carmen)MEROLA SPONSORS Miss Vivienne E. Miller, Mr. and Mrs. A. Barlow Ferguson Endowment Fund, Bernice and John Lindstrom

TERESA CASTILLO SOPRANO

HOMETOWN Denver, ColoradoMEROLA ROLE #1 (Transformations)SCHOOLS & YOUNG ARTIST PROGRAMS Lamont School of Music; Metropolitan State University of Denver; Bel Canto at Caramoor; Opera Viva! (Italy); Manhattan School of Music Summer Voice Festival; Emerald City OperaTEACHERS Ashley Putnam, Timothy León, Sara Bardill, MeeAe Nam MAJOR ROLES Muse (Terra Cotta Warriors—US Premiere); Drusilla (L’incoronazione di Poppea); Yum-Yum (The Mikado); Dew Fairy (Hansel and Gretel); Barbarina (Le nozze di Figaro); Queen of the Night (Die Zauberflöte)MEROLA SPONSORS Nicholas and Mary Ann Gannam Endowment Fund, James R. Meehan, D.G. Mitchell, Opera Standees Association, in memory of Freida Batten

ARYEH NUSSBAUM COHEN COUNTERTENOR

HOMETOWN Brooklyn, New YorkMEROLA ROLE Schwabacher Summer Concert: Serse (Serse)SCHOOL Princeton UniversityTEACHERS Dr. Robert C. White Jr., Max van Egmond, David Kellett (Princeton University) MAJOR ROLES Timante (Demofonte); Raphael (Tobias and the Angel); Cefalo (Gli Amori di Apollo e Dafne); Nerone (L’incoronazione di Poppea); Cino (Teuzzone)MEROLA SPONSORS Mary and Tom Foote, Brian Asawa Memorial Fund, The Anthony I. Balestrieri Endowment Fund

TARA CURTIS MEZZO-SOPRANO

HOMETOWN Kansas City, MissouriMEROLA ROLES Schwabacher Summer Concert: Baba the Turk (The Rake’s Progress), La Prieure (Dialogues des Carmélites)SCHOOLS & YOUNG ARTIST PROGRAMS Merola Opera Program 2015; Sarasota Opera; Lyric Opera of Kansas City; Brevard Music Center; Music Academy International; University of Kansas; The Boston Conservatory; University of MissouriTEACHERS Joyce Castle, Dr. Rebecca Folsom, Ann Harrell MAJOR ROLES Amneris (Aïda); Zita (Gianni Schicchi); Marcellina (Le nozze di Figaro); Cornelia (Giulio Cesare); Lucretia (The Rape of Lucretia); Third Lady (Die Zauberflöte); Mother Marie (Dialogues des Carmélites); La Zia Principessa (Suor Angelica); Mrs. Herring (Albert Herring); Inez (Il trovatore); Mrs. Grose (Turn of the Screw)MEROLA SPONSOR Zheng Cao Opera Fund, in memory of Zheng Cao

2016 Merola ArtistsCONTINUED


YELENA DYACHEK SOPRANO

HOMETOWN Vinnytsya, UkraineMEROLA ROLE Fiordiligi (Così fan tutte)SCHOOLS & YOUNG ARTIST PROGRAMS University of Southern California Thornton School of Music; University of the Pacific Conservatory of Music; Aspen Music Festival and School; Taos Opera InstituteTEACHERS Elizabeth Hynes (University of Southern California), Daniel Ebbers (University of the Pacific), Alina Ilchuk MAJOR ROLES Vitellia (La Clemenza di Tito); Fiordiligi (Così fan tutte); Iphigénie (Iphigénie en Tauride); Tatyana (Eugene Onegin); Madama Cortese (Il viaggio a Reims); Mrs. Ford (The Merry Wives of Windsor); Pamina (Die Zauberflöte); Mrs. Peachum (The Threepenny Opera)MEROLA SPONSORS Drs. John and Lois Crowe, Mr. Milton J. Mosk, Miss Dorothy Schimke, James Heagy in memory of Janey Heagy

JOHN ELAM APPRENTICE COACH

HOMETOWN Cleburne, TexasSCHOOLS & YOUNG ARTIST PROGRAMS University of Michigan; Baylor University; Opera in the Ozarks; Music in the MarcheTEACHERS Martin Katz, Sheila Page, Jane Abbott-Kirk COACHING EXPERIENCE Les Contes d’Hoffmann; Madama Butterfly; Carmen; Don Giovanni; Into the Woods; UrinetownMEROLA SPONSORS Otto Guth Fund, Jean E. Bennett Jr. Fund, Mike and Rusty Rolland, The Anthony I. Balestrieri Endowment Fund

ISAAC FRISHMAN TENOR

HOMETOWN Omaha, NebraskaMEROLA ROLE #6 (Transformations)SCHOOLS & YOUNG ARTIST PROGRAMS Michigan State University; University of Nebraska at Omaha; Opera Iowa; Chautauqua OperaTEACHERS Richard Fracker, Karen Kness MAJOR ROLES Don Ramiro (La Cenerentola); Cecil (A Room with a View); Ferrando (Così fan tutte); Tamino (Die Zauberflöte)MEROLA SPONSORS The Anthony I. Balestrieri Endowment Fund, Susan York, Gropper Memorial Fund, Ms. Faye Wilson

CHELSEY GEETING SOPRANO

HOMETOWN Portland, MaineMEROLA ROLE #3 (Transformations)SCHOOLS Louisiana State University; Stetson University; College of Central FloridaTEACHERS Robert Grayson, Mary Jane Christeson, Dr. Lesley Mann, Dr. Loraine Sims, Susan Neves MAJOR ROLES Dorabella (Così fan tutte); Dido (Dido and Aeneas); Jezibaba (Rusalka); Šenkýřka (Hlas Lesa); Praskowia (The Merry Widow); Cinderella (Into the Woods)MEROLA SPONSORS David Miller, The Anthony I. Balestrieri Endowment Fund, Charles Rolle, M.D. Endowment Fund, Greer and Thayer Hopkins


MARY EVELYN HANGLEY SOPRANO

HOMETOWN Long Beach, New YorkMEROLA ROLES Schwabacher Summer Concert: Atalanta (Serse), Arabella (Arabella)SCHOOLS & YOUNG ARTIST PROGRAMS Florida State University; SUNY Fredonia; Sarasota Opera; Brevard Music CenterTEACHERS David Okerlund (Florida State University), Angela Haas (SUNY Fredonia), Gwendolyn Coleman Detwiler (SUNY Fredonia) MAJOR ROLES Frau Fluth (Die lustigen Weiber von Windsor); Juliette (Roméo et Juliette); Micaëla (La tragédie de Carmen); Bea (Three Decembers); Mary Willis (Cold Sassy Tree)MEROLA SPONSORS Maureen Clarke, Mary Stevens Riley, San Francisco Opera Guild Peninsula Chapter, Mr. and Mrs. A. Barlow Ferguson Endowment Fund

SHANNON JENNINGS SOPRANO

HOMETOWN Orlando, FloridaMEROLA ROLE #2 (Transformations)SCHOOLS & YOUNG ARTIST PROGRAMS Florida State University; Mittelsächsisches Theater Freiberg; Wolf Trap Opera; Ash Lawn Opera; Virginia OperaTEACHERS Elizabeth Bishop, Diana Soviero MAJOR ROLES Marguerite (Faust); Fiordiligi (Così fan tutte); Susannah (Susannah); Mimì (La bohème); Micaëla (Carmen); Josephine (H.M.S. Pinafore); Juliette (Roméo et Juliette); Lauretta (Gianni Schicchi); Guenevere (Camelot); Pamina (Die Zauberflöte)MEROLA SPONSOR Mr. John Lee

JOSH LOVELL TENOR

HOMETOWN Victoria, CanadaMEROLA ROLES Schwabacher Summer Concert: Tom Rakewell (The Rake’s Progress), Ein Zimmerkellner (Arabella), Le Comte Ory (Le Comte Ory)SCHOOLS & YOUNG ARTIST PROGRAMS University of Michigan; University of Victoria; Opera NUOVA; Opera on the AvalonTEACHERS Stanford Olsen, Benjamin Butterfield MAJOR ROLES Ferrando (Così fan tutte); Rinuccio (Gianni Schicchi); Le Prince Charmant (Cendrillon); Don Ottavio (Don Giovanni); Bardolfo (Falstaff); Normanno (Lucia di Lammermoor); Monostatos (Die Zauberflöte); Alexis (The Sorcerer); Mozart (Mozart and Salieri); Jephtha (Jeptha); Uriel (The Creation); Zadok (Solomon); First Sailor (Dido and Aeneas); Bao Yu (Dream of the Red Chamber workshop)MEROLA SPONSORS Amici di Merola Fund, Mary Stevens Riley, Mr. and Mrs. A. Barlow Ferguson Endowment Fund, Dr. and Mrs. Phillip H. Beck



ANDREW G. MANEA BARITONE

HOMETOWN Troy, MichiganMEROLA ROLE #7 (Transformations)SCHOOLS & YOUNG ARTIST PROGRAMS University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music; Cleveland Institute of Music; CCM Summer Opera Bootcamp: Creating Carmen; Music Academy of the West; Castleton Festival; Music Fest PerugiaTEACHERS Bill McGraw (University of Cincinnati-CCM), Clifford Billions (Cleveland Institute of Music), Elsie Inselman MAJOR ROLES OR EXPERIENCE Danilo (The Merry Widow); Escamillo (Carmen); Peter/Father (Hansel and Gretel); Jake Wallace (La fanciulla del West); Marquis (Dialogues des Carmélites); Pandolfe (Cendrillon); Usher (Trial by Jury)MEROLA SPONSORS Ms. Pamela George, Gerald B. Rosenstein Fund, San Jose Opera Guild, Anonymous

JANA MCINTYRE SOPRANO

HOMETOWN Santa Barbara, CaliforniaMEROLA ROLES Schwabacher Summer Concert: Romilda (Serse), Zdenka (Arabella), Blanche (Dialogues des Carmélites), La Comtesse Adèle (Le Comte Ory)SCHOOLS & YOUNG ARTIST PROGRAMS Manhattan School of Music; University of California at Los Angeles; Chautauqua Institute; Miami Music FestivalTEACHERS Joan Patenaude-Yarnell, Michael Dean, Agatha Carubia MAJOR ROLES Miss Wordsworth (Albert Herring); Andromède (Persée et Andromède); La Fée (Cendrillon); Queen of the Night (Die Zauberflöte); Zerlina (Don Giovanni); Le Feu/Rossignol (L’enfant et les sortilèges); Drusilla (L’incoronazione di Poppea); Rose 1 (Blood on the Dining Room Floor); Señora Digrazia (The Dove and the Nightingale); Minerva (Orpheus in the Underworld)MEROLA SPONSORS Drs. Richard and Pamela Rigg, Leona Gordon Lowin Memorial Fund, Ms. Patricia Nottingham, Nafiseh and Karl Lindberg

BRIAN MICHAEL MOORE TENOR

HOMETOWN Cincinnati, OhioMEROLA ROLE #5 (Transformations)SCHOOLS & YOUNG ARTIST PROGRAMS Manhattan School of Music; Cincinnati Opera Young ArtistTEACHERS Mark Oswald, Karl Resnik MAJOR ROLES Belmonte (Die Entführung aus dem Serail); Rodolfo (Luisa Miller); Duke of Mantua (Rigoletto); Prince Sou-Chong (Das Land des Lächelns); Rodolfo (La bohème); Albert (Albert Herring); Tebaldo (I Capuleti e i Montecchi); Don Ottavio (Don Giovanni); Faust (Faust); Charlie Drouet (Sister Carrie—World Premiere)MEROLA SPONSOR Barbara K. Jackson

NOAH PALMER APPRENTICE COACH

HOMETOWN Baltimore, MarylandSCHOOLS & YOUNG ARTIST PROGRAMS New York University; Mannes School of Music; Opera North Young Artist Program; Sarasota Opera; Midwest Institute of Opera TEACHERS Jose R. Mendez (New York University), Pavlina Dokovska (Mannes School of Music) COACHING EXPERIENCE L’enfant et les sortilèges (conductor); Carmen; Madama Butterfly; La traviata; Il trovatore; The Impresario; Candide; Bon AppétitMEROLA SPONSORS The Jacobs Family Trust, Mrs. Mary A. Culp, L. Henry Garland Memorial Fund, The Anthony I. Balestrieri Endowment Fund


AMITAI PATI TENOR

HOMETOWN Auckland, New ZealandMEROLA ROLE Ferrando (Così fan tutte)SCHOOLS & YOUNG ARTIST PROGRAMS The University of Wales Trinity St. David; Salzburger Festspiele; The University of Auckland; The New Zealand Opera School; New Zealand OperaTEACHERS Patricia Wright, Frances Wilson, Nuccia Focile, Dennis O’Neill MAJOR ROLES Un Seigneur (La favorite); Tamino (Die Zauberflöte); Maori Warrior (1); Ensemble (Rigoletto); Spook (The Electrical Eclipse); Ensemble (La Sonnambula)MEROLA SPONSORS Kia Ora Foundation, San Jose Opera Guild

CODY QUATTLEBAUM BASS-BARITONE

HOMETOWN Ellicott City, MarylandMEROLA ROLE Guglielmo (Così fan tutte)SCHOOLS The Juilliard School; University of Cincinnati, College Conservatory of MusicTEACHERS Marlena Malas (The Juilliard School), Kenneth Shaw (University of Cincinnati-CCM), Carol Shuster Yunkunis MAJOR ROLES Lautsprecher (Der Kaiser von Atlantis); Colonel (Meet John Doe); Melisso (Alcina); Der Fischer (Matsukaze); L’Horloge Comtoise (L’enfant et les sortilèges); Figaro (Le nozze di Figaro)MEROLA SPONSORS The Anthony I. Balestrieri Endowment Fund, San Francisco Opera Guild East Bay Chapter, Jean and Lindsay MacDermid, Mr. and Mrs. Paul L. McKaskle

JOSH QUINN BASS-BARITONE

HOMETOWN Tampa, FloridaMEROLA ROLE Don Alfonso (Così fan tutte)SCHOOLS & YOUNG ARTIST PROGRAMS New England Conservatory of Music; Gerdine Young Artist Opera Theatre of Saint Louis; Janiec Opera Company Brevard Music CenterTEACHERS Luretta Bybee, MaryAnn McCormick MAJOR ROLES Forester (The Cunning Little Vixen); Brandon (The Long Christmas Dinner); Don Alfonso (Così fan tutte); Marquis de la Force/Jailer (Dialogues des Carmélites); Papageno (Die Zauberflöte); Thoas (Iphigénie en Tauride); Falke (Die Fledermaus)MEROLA SPONSORS In Memory of Patricia Yakutis Endowment Fund, Merola Members Fund, Stephen and Connie Zilles, Drs. Joan B. and James Kelly

TAYLOR RAVEN MEZZO-SOPRANO

HOMETOWN Fayetteville, North CarolinaMEROLA ROLES Schwabacher Summer Concert: Arsamene (Serse), Mère Marie (Dialogues des Carmélites), Isolier (Le Comte Ory)SCHOOLS & YOUNG ARTIST PROGRAMS University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill; University of Colorado at Boulder; Central City Opera; Virginia OperaTEACHERS Abigail Nims, Louise Toppin MAJOR ROLES Angelina (La Cenerentola); Ottavia (L’incoronazione di Poppea); Ruth (Pirates of Penzance); Witch (Hansel and Gretel)MEROLA SPONSORS In Honor of Leontyne Price Endowment Fund, Mr. Michael H. Kalkstein and Ms. Susan English, Dr. David D. Stein and Dr. Phyllis A. Kempner, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.



NICOLÒ SBUELZ APPRENTICE COACH

HOMETOWN Udine, ItalySCHOOLS & YOUNG ARTIST PROGRAMS Aspen Music Festival & School; University of Georgia; Accademia del Teatro alla Scala (Milan, Italy); Conservatorio “G. Tartini” (Trieste, Italy)TEACHERS Teresa Trevisan (Conservatorio di Trieste), Dante Mazzola, Vincenzo Scalera (Accademia del Teatro alla Scala), Kathryn Wright, Liza Stepanova (University of Georgia) COACHING EXPERIENCE Così fan tutte; The Merry Widow; L’amico Fritz; Hansel and Gretel; Il barbiere di Siviglia; Don Giovanni; Don Pasquale; L’occasione fa il ladro; L’Italiana in AlgeriMEROLA SPONSORS Otto Guth Fund, Il Cenacolo Italian Cultural Club, Donna Lee Grassman Memorial Fund, The Anthony I. Balestrieri Endowment Fund

ALEXANDRA SCHENCK MEZZO-SOPRANO

HOMETOWN Long Beach, CaliforniaMEROLA ROLE Dorabella (Così fan tutte)SCHOOLS & YOUNG ARTIST PROGRAMS California State University at Long Beach; The Academy of Vocal Arts; Aspen Opera Theater CenterTEACHERS Marvellee Cariaga (CSU at Long Beach), William Stone (The Academy of Vocal Arts) MAJOR ROLES Siébel (Faust); Olga (Eugene Onegin); Larina (Eugene Onegin); Polina (Pique Dame); Dorabella (Così fan tutte); Dulcinée (Don Quichotte); Le Prince Charmante (Cendrillon); The Mother (Amahl and the Night Visitors); The Composer (Ariadne auf Naxos); Sesto (La clemenza di Tito); Cherubino (Le nozze di Figaro)MEROLA SPONSORS Mary and Tom Foote, Mr. and Mrs. A. Barlow Ferguson Endowment Fund, Mr. Thomas E. Foutch in memory of Eleanor Kenney, James Heagy in memory of Janey Heagy

JENNIFER SZETO APPRENTICE COACH

HOMETOWN Calgary, CanadaSCHOOLS & YOUNG ARTIST PROGRAMS Canadian Opera Company Ensemble Studio; Opéra de Montréal Atelier Lyrique; McGill University; University of TorontoTEACHERS Elizabeth Upchurch, Michael McMahon, Claude Webster, Marietta OrlovCOACHING EXPERIENCE Carmen; Siegfried; Le nozze di Figaro; La traviata; Madama Butterfly; Die Walküre; Il barbiere di Siviglia; Hansel and Gretel; La bohème; Così fan tutteMEROLA SPONSORS Donna Lee Grassman Memorial Fund, Nicholas and Mary Ann Gannam Endowment Fund, The Anthony I. Balestrieri Endowment Fund

ARIA UMEZAWA APPRENTICE STAGE DIRECTOR

HOMETOWN Toronto, CanadaSCHOOLS & YOUNG ARTIST PROGRAMS McGill University Schulich School of Music; Brevard Music FestivalTEACHERS Patrick Hansen, David Gately, Dean Anthony, Irene Feher, Thérèse Sevadjian, Donna Sherman DIRECTING EXPERIENCE Love Potion No. 9 (L’elisir d’amore); Storybook; L’île du rêve; Tenors, Trumpets, and La Traviata; The Barber of Cowtown (Il barbiere di Siviglia); Pygmalion; Artemisia; The Masque of the Red Death; La chute de la maison Usher; The Cask of Amontillado; Las Goyescas; El retablo de maese Pedro; La voix humaine; David et Jonathas; Hin und zurück; Talk OperaMEROLA SPONSORS The Lotfi Mansouri Apprentice Stage Director Endowment Fund, Miss Ursula Grunfeld, Karl and Alice Ruppenthal Foundation for the Arts, In Memory of Jean Donnell Fund


BORIS VAN DRUFF TENOR

HOMETOWN Olean, New YorkMEROLA ROLE #4 (Transformations)SCHOOLS Fredonia State University; University of Tennessee; Knoxville TEACHERS Jonathan Retzlaff, Cecily Nall, Gerald Gray MAJOR ROLES Male Chorus (The Rape of Lucretia); Rodolfo (La bohème); Basilio (Le nozze di Figaro); Gastone (La traviata); Toby (The Medium); Tamino (Die Zauberflöte); Witch (Hansel and Gretel); Larry/Matt (The Face on the Barroom Floor); Trin (La fanciulla del West)MEROLA SPONSORS Querita Eybel Endowment Fund, Mrs. Barbara J. Ross, Mrs. Dana T. Horner

KYLE VAN SCHOONHOVEN TENOR

HOMETOWN Lockport, New YorkMEROLA ROLE Schwabacher Summer Concert: Lohengrin (Lohengrin), Matteo (Arabella)SCHOOLS & YOUNG ARTIST PROGRAMS Westminster Choir College; Fredonia School of Music; The CoOperative Program; Sarasota Opera; Opera North; Opera New Jersey; Opera SlavicaTEACHERS Laura Brooks Rice (Westminster Choir College), Elem Eley (Westminster Choir College), Gerald Gray (Fredonia School of Music), Delia Wallis (Fredonia School of Music) MAJOR ROLES Don José (Carmen); Tamino (Die Zauberflöte); Hoffmann (Les contes d’Hoffmann); Alfredo (La traviata); Gastone (La traviata); Bacchus (Ariadne auf Naxos); Peter Fallow (Bonfire of the Vanities); Lippo Fiorentino (Street Scene); Ruiz (Il trovatore); Lysander (A Midsummer Night’s Dream)MEROLA SPONSORS Mrs. Birgit Chase, Mr. and Mrs. A. Barlow Ferguson Endowment Fund, Thomas E. Morton and Anne L. Morton



OMER BEN SEADIA DIRECTOR SCHWABACHER SUMMER CONCERT

RECENT ENGAGEMENTS Tosca (Revival director, Houston Grand Opera); Così fan tutte (University of Michigan); Roméo et Juliette (International Vocal Arts Institute); drama coach at Young Artists Vocal AcademyADDITIONAL CREDITS L’italiana in Algeri (Opera Santa Barbara); A Streetcar Named Desire (Revival director, Opera Santa Barbara); The Sound of Music (Crested Butte Music Festival); Pursuing the Dream (Cincinnati Opera); Der Kaiser von Atlantis/Brundibar (Cincinnati Chamber Opera); Merola Grand Finale (Merola Opera Program 2014); Don Pasquale (Cincinnati College —Conservatory of Music)

CHRISTINE CROOK COSTUME DESIGN TRANSFORMATIONS AND COSÌ FAN TUTTE

RECENT ENGAGEMENTS Hamlet (Shotgun Players); The Lighthouse (Opera Parallèle); Champion (Opera Parallèle); Eurydice (Shotgun Players); Lulu (West Edge Opera); Lucia di Lammermoor (LA Opera); Dead Man Walking (Opera Parallèle)UPCOMING ENGAGEMENTS Powder Her Face (West Edge Opera); Cunning Little Vixen (West Edge Opera); Caught (Shotgun Players); Pancho Villa (Ballroom Marfa) ADDITIONAL CREDITS Instructor of Costume Design at USF; Instructor of Costume Design Academy of Art University; Company Member Shotgun Players (2013–15)

MARCELO DONARIHAIR/WIG AND MAKEUP DESIGN ALL PRODUCTIONS

RECENT ENGAGEMENTS Principal Makeup Artist (San Francisco Opera)ADDITIONAL CREDITS Così fan tutte (Western Opera Theater); Makeup Artist and Wig Designer (Teatro Colón); TV series Looking; films San Andreas, Steve Jobs

MARSHA GINSBERG SCENIC DESIGN TRANSFORMATIONS AND COSÌ FAN TUTTE

RECENT ENGAGEMENTS Every Angel is Brutal (Clubbed Thumb); The Effect (Barrow Street Theater); Angel Reapers with Martha Clarke (Signature Theater); Kruso and Das Schwarze Wasser (Sets/Costumes, Hans Otto Theater, Potsdam); Big Republic (Sets/Costumes, Theater Rampe)ADDITIONAL CREDITS Previously with Roy Rallo: Methusalem Project; Don Pasquale (Nationaltheater Weimar); Ariadne auf Naxos (Opera National de Bordeaux); La finta giardiniera (Merola Opera Program); Elektra, Bluebeard’s Castle (Long Beach Opera); L’Orfeo (Konzerttheater Bern); The Rake’s Progress (Staatstheater Braunschweig); Powder Her Face (New York City Opera at BAM and Festival Opera de Quebec). Opera and theater productions internationally and regionally with directors Christopher Alden, Lydia Steier, Ken Rus Schmoll, Jay Scheib at theaters including Glimmerglass Opera, San Francisco Opera, Theater Basel, Lincoln Center, Luminato Festival, Spoleto Festival, MASS MoCA, Guggenheim, ART, Trinity Rep.AWARDS AND RESIDENCIES Obie award for environment and costumes for Habit with David Levine (PS122/FIAF); NYFA architecture/design fellowship; Foundation for Contemporary Art; NYSCA project grant for Faust 2, Mabou Mines; NEA/TCG designer fellowship; Watermill Center Residencies; MacDowell ColonyUPCOMING The Undertaking (BAM Next Wave and Theatre de la Ville, Paris); Annie Baker’s John (ACT)

2016 Merola Production Artists


NEAL GOREN CONDUCTOR TRANSFORMATIONS

RECENT ENGAGEMENTS Dark Sisters world premiere by Nico Muhly for Gotham Chamber Opera and Opera Philadelphia, and by Lembit Beecher; U.S. stage premieres for Gotham Chamber Opera by Kaija Saariaho, Toshio Hosokowa, Bohuslav Martinu, and Xavier Montsalvatge; La tragédie de Carmen for UNCSA; I Have No Stories to Tell You (Gotham Chamber Opera)UPCOMING ENGAGEMENTS U.S. premiere of two chamber operas by Louis Andriessen for New York’s Center for Contemporary Opera ADDITIONAL CREDITS Founding Artistic Director and conductor, Gotham Chamber Opera (2001–15); The Turn of the Screw (Angers Opera and Opéra de Nantes); The Magic Flute (New York City Opera); recital accompanist for Leontyne Price, Kathleen Battle, Hei-Kyung Hong, Harolyn Blackwell, Håkan Hagegård, Thomas Hampson, Lorraine Hunt Lieberson, Aprile Millo, Hermann Prey, among others; Associate Professor, Mannes College, The New School for Music, 1992–present

TED HUFFMAN DIRECTOR COSÌ FAN TUTTE

RECENT ENGAGEMENTS Les mamelles de Tirésias (Dutch National Opera); 4.48 Psychosis (Royal Opera House world premeire); Macbeth (Glyndebourne); Svadba (Festival d’Aix en Provence)UPCOMING ENGAGEMENTS Le premier meurtre (Opera Lille world premiere); Debuts at Zurich Opera, Oper Frankfurt, Grand Theatre de Luxembourg, Opera Angers-Nantes ADDITIONAL CREDITS Eugene Onegin (Theater an der Wien); Threepenny Opera (Théâtre des Champs-Élysées); Les mamelles de Tirésias (La Monnaie, Festival d’Aix en Provence, Aldeburgh Festival); Der Kaiser von Atlantis (Juilliard Opera and Central City Opera); La Calisto (Cincinnati Opera); La cambiale di matrimonio (Philharmonia Baroque with SF Opera Adler Fellows)

RORY MACDONALD CONDUCTOR MEROLA GRAND FINALE

RECENT ENGAGEMENTS Die Zauberflöte (San Francisco Opera, Royal Danish Opera, Opera Australia); Ariadne auf Naxos (Opera Theater of St. Louis); Il barbiere di Siviglia (Canadian Opera Company); Carmen (Houston Grand Opera, Santa Fe Opera); Turn of the Screw (Vienna Konzerthaus)UPCOMING ENGAGEMENTS Die Zauberflöte (Lyric Opera of Chicago); Die Fledermaus (Santa Fe Opera); Così fan tutte (Oper Frankfurt); Fra Diavolo (Opera di Roma) ADDITIONAL CREDITS Fidelio; Das Rheingold; Hänsel und Gretel; A Midsummer Night’s Dream; Il barbiere di Siviglia (Royal Opera House, Covent Garden); The Elixir of Love; The Pearl Fishers (English National Opera); Idomeneo; Così fan tutte; Albert Herring (Glyndebourne on Tour)

JAX MESSENGER LIGHTING DESIGN SCHWABACHER SUMMER CONCERT AND TRANSFORMATIONS

RECENT ENGAGEMENTS In the Penal Colony (Boston Lyric Opera); Pyramus and Thisbe (Canadian Opera Company); Oresteia and The Wreckers (Bard SummerScape); R. B. Schlather’s exhibition (Alcina, Orlando); Princess Butterfly (Wanda Culture Industry Group); Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte CarloUPCOMING ENGAGEMENTS The Turandot Project (Bard SummerScape); MONUMENT (Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival)ADDITIONAL CREDITS Il barbiere di Siviglia (Merola Opera Program); Sleeping Beauty; Fluctuating Hemlines; WAM2; Shostakovich Concerto; WAM!; Don Quixote (The Washington Ballet); Requiem; The Elixir of Love for Families (San Francisco Opera); projects at New York City Opera; the John F. Kennedy Center; Théâtre du Châtelet (Paris); Theatro degli Archmbold (Malan) Victorian Arts Center (Melbourne)

2016 Merola production ArtistsCONTINUED


MARK MORASH CONDUCTOR COSÌ FAN TUTTE

RECENT ENGAGEMENTS A Streetcar Named Desire (Opera Santa Barbara and Merola Opera Program); Adler Fellows in Concert (Napa Valley Symphony); Die Fledermaus (San Francisco Conservatory of Music); The Medium/Gianni Schicchi (Merola Opera Program 2015); The Rape of Lucretia (Merola Opera Program 2013); Postcard from Morocco (Merola Opera Program 2012); Master class residencies at Hawaii Opera Theater (Honolulu, HI), Opera on the Avalon (Newfoundland, Canada), and Kia Ora Foundation (Christchurch, New Zealand)UPCOMING ENGAGEMENTS December 2016: Concert with Manitoba Chamber Orchestra, Winnipeg, Canada; January 2017: A Streetcar Named Desire with Hawaii Opera Theater, Honolulu, HIADDITIONAL CREDITS Director of Musical Studies, San Francisco Opera Center

ROY RALLODIRECTOR TRANSFORMATIONS

RECENT ENGAGEMENTS The Rake’s Progress (Utah Opera, Portland Opera, Pittsburgh Opera); Il barbiere di Siviglia (San Francisco Opera); Ariadne auf Naxos (Opera National de Bordeaux); Methusalem Project (Nationaltheater und Staatskapelle, Weimar); Il barbiere di Siviglia (Merola Opera Program 2011); Schwabacher Summer Concert (Merola Opera Program 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015)UPCOMING ENGAGEMENTS Così fan tutte (Portland Opera) ADDITIONAL CREDITS Don Pasquale (Nationaltheater und Staatskapelle, Weimar); Pique Dame (Houston Grand Opera); Doktor Faustus (co-directed with Nicolas Brieger; Nationaltheater Munich); Lucio Silla, Bluebeard’s Castle, Elektra (Long Beach Opera); Aida (co-directed with Christopher Alden; Deutsche Oper, Berlin)

ARIA UMEZAWADIRECTOR MEROLA GRAND FINALE

RECENT ENGAGEMENTS Die Fledermaus (Opera 5); Opera at Warp Speed (Kingston Symphony Orchestra); Love Potion No. 9 (Cowtown Opera); Trabed’s Opera Training Wheels (Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony)UPCOMING ENGAGEMENTS The Boatswain’s Mate (Opera 5) ADDITIONAL CREDITS Pygmalion (Opera McGill); Dreams, Fantasies and Delusions (Wilfred Laurier University); Artemesia (North American Premier, Helios Opera); Duotang Chesterfield’s Murder Mystery Theatre (Theatre Double Take and the Toronto Fringe Festival); Artistic Director of Opera 5; Creator, Writer and Director of the Opera Cheats webseries

CHRISTOPHER VERDOSCICOSTUME DESIGN SCHWABACHER SUMMER CONCERT AND MEROLA GRAND FINALE

RECENT ENGAGEMENTS Setting the Record Straight: Mozart vs Salieri Redux (Atrium Theatre); Eugene Onegin and Lucia Di Lamermoor (Eugene Opera); Tango Dell’Amore (ODC); Tales of a Lonely Planet (Brava Theater); The Conjurer and The Concubine, Four Green Fields Creely, Multiplex, Ode to the Cupcake (Thick House); Verdi Messa da Requiem (San Francisco Opera); The Cunning Little Vixen (Bregenz Opera Festival); Carmen (Teatro Regio, Torino); Tannhäuser (Greek National Opera)ADDITIONAL CREDITS San Francisco Opera (Associate Costume Director); Merola Opera Program (Faculty: Costume Theory and Practicality); Chanel No. 5 at 80 (Curator)

ERIC WEIMERCONDUCTOR SCHWABACHER SUMMER CONCERT

RECENT ENGAGEMENTS L’elisir d’amore (University of Illinois); Der fliegende Holländer (Washington National Opera); La fille du régiment (Fargo-Moorhead Opera)UPCOMING ENGAGEMENTS Das Rheingold (cover, Lyric Opera of Chicago); Les troyens (cover, Lyric Opera of Chicago) ADDITIONAL CREDITS Thirty seasons as full-time Assistant Conductor with Lyric Opera of Chicago; numerous partial-seasons with the Metropolitan Opera, San Francisco Opera, Bayreuth Festival, and Canadian Opera Company; 26 summer residencies with the Ryan Opera Center; Ph.D. in Musicology (University of Chicago); Assistant Conductor for 13 different Ring cycles


2016 Merola opera Program Technical Staff

GARY BEISAWCO-TECHNICAL DIRECTOR ALL PRODUCTIONS

JULIE CHINSTAGE MANAGER COSÌ FAN TUTTE, MEROLA GRAND FINALE

LIANA DILLAWAYSTAGE MANAGER TRANSFORMATIONS

SARAH DIONASSISTANT STAGE MANAGER TRANSFORMATIONS

MARCELO DONARIHAIR/WIG AND MAKEUP ARTIST ALL PRODUCTIONS

CYNTHIA FUSCOWARDROBE SUPERVISOR ALL PRODUCTIONS

SHANNON GAUGHFASSISTANT STAGE MANAGER COSÌ FAN TUTTE, MEROLA GRAND FINALE

TRAVIS HINERCARPENTER SCHWABACHER SUMMER CONCERT, TRANSFORMATIONS, COSÌ FAN TUTTE

NICOLE HOSTETLERPROPERTIES ASSISTANT SCHWABACHER SUMMER CONCERT, TRANSFORMATIONS, COSÌ FAN TUTTE

ERIC JOHNSONPROPERTIES ASSISTANT SCHWABACHER SUMMER CONCERT, TRANSFORMATIONS, COSÌ FAN TUTTE

ALEXANDRA LEONCOSTUME PRODUCTION SUPERVISOR ALL PRODUCTIONS

ZIJA BRUBAKER LUBIN-WESTSTAGE MANAGER SCHWABACHER SUMMER CONCERT

DAVID NOLANPROPERTIES SUPERVISOR SCHWABACHER SUMMER CONCERT, TRANSFORMATIONS, COSÌ FAN TUTTE

DANGÉ OGUNTODUCO-TECHNICAL DIRECTOR ALL PRODUCTIONS

LAUREN PEKELASSISTANT STAGE MANAGER SCHWABACHER SUMMER CONCERT

HENRY WILENMASTER ELECTRICIAN SCHWABACHER SUMMER CONCERT, TRANSFORMATIONS, COSÌ FAN TUTTE

2016–17 SINGLE TICKETS ON SALE NOW

ANDREA CHÉNIERGiordano • Sep 9–30

WORLD PREMIERE DREAM OF THE RED CHAMBERHwang and Sheng • Sep 10–29

DON PASQUALEDonizetti • Sep 28–Oct 15

THE MAKROPULOS CASEJanáček • Oct 14–29

AIDA Verdi • Nov 5–Dec 6

MADAME BUTTERFLYPuccini • Nov 6–Dec 4

RIGOLETTOVerdi • May 31–Jul 1, 2017

DON GIOVANNIMozart • Jun 4–30, 2017

LA BOHÈMEPuccini • Jun 10–Jul 2, 2017

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OPERA BOX OFFICE War Memorial Opera House Mon 10am–5pm, Tue–Sat 10am–6pm (Sat phones only) sfopera.com • (415) 864-3330

Tickets Start at $26!


2016 MEROLA OPERA PROGRAM FACULTY

JOHN ALERMASTER TEACHER

RICHARD BATTLE WIG AND MAKEUP INSTRUCTOR

OMER BEN SEADIADIRECTOR SCHWABACHER SUMMER CONCERT

DEBORAH BIRNBAUM BREATHING/VOCAL COACH

STEVEN BLIER MASTER COACH

ALESSANDRA CATTANI*ITALIAN COACH

VINSON COLEMASTER TEACHER

ALAN DARLING MASTER COACH

JANE EAGLEN MASTER TEACHER

NEAL GORENCONDUCTOR TRANSFORMATIONS

SHERI GREENAWALD MASTER TEACHER

PETER GRUNBERG MASTER COACH

CHUCK HUDSONMASTER TEACHER

TED HUFFMANDIRECTOR COSÌ FAN TUTTE

WARREN JONES MASTER COACH

MARTIN KATZ MASTER COACH

BRUCE LAMOTT HARPSICHORD AND CONTINUO INSTRUCTOR

RORY MACDONALDCONDUCTOR MEROLA GRAND FINALE

MARK MORASH CONDUCTOR COSÌ FAN TUTTE

ROBERT MORRISONMASTER TEACHER

PATRICIA KRISTOF MOY FRENCH COACH

KEVIN MURPHY MASTER COACH

JOHN PARR MASTER COACH

ROY RALLO DIRECTOR TRANSFORMATIONS

REGINA SAISI IMPROVISATION TEACHER

CÉSAR ULLOA MASTER TEACHER

CHRISTOPHER VERDOSCI CAREER COACH

ERIC WEIMERCONDUCTOR SCHWABACHER SUMMER CONCERT

*Sponsored by Il Cenacolo Italian Cultural Club Renzo Turco Grant for Italian Language Studies


OFFICERS

JAYNE C. DAVIS CHAIRMAN

CARLYN CLAUSE PRESIDENT

DR. JAMES TRISTAN CROSSVICE PRESIDENT

JOAN B. KELLYVICE PRESIDENT

ROBERT B. MISONVICE PRESIDENT

MARY SUE BIZZARRITREASURER

LINDSAY MACDERMID SECRETARY

PAST PRESIDENTS

MRS. STARR BRUCE (1957–1962)JAMES H. SCHWABACHER (1962–1991)DR. A. JESS SHENSON (1991–1995)JAYNE DAVIS (1995–1999)RUSTY ROLLAND (1999–2003)DAVID S. HUGLE (2003–2007)PATRICK WILKEN (2007–2011)DONNA L. BLACKER (2011–2015)

DIRECTORS

ADAM ARTHUR BIER DR. PHYLLIS B. BLAIR BARBARA BRUSER CLARK MICHAEL COLBRUNO THE HON. MARIE BERTILLION

COLLINS HUGH J. COUGHLIN DR. JAMES TRISTAN CROSS GEORGE CROW PAMELA GEORGE MARY HENDERSON MELVYN HETZEL SUSAN HONE DANA TURKINGTON HORNER DAVID S. HUGLE ROBERT B. JACOBY MICHAEL H. KALKSTEIN WILLIAM W. KWAN, MDNAFISEH LINDBERG SYLVIA R. LINDSEY JOHN W. LINDSTROM DR. MYRON MARX DR. PAMELA ZELL RIGG RUSTY ROLLAND NATALIE O. SHUTTLEWORTH DR. DAVID D. STEIN BLANCHE GERMAIN STREETER DR. W. CONRAD SWEETING CAROL A. WEITZ MR. CHRISTOPHER E. WISEMANSUSAN YORK STEPHEN ZILLES

EMERITUS DIRECTORS

DONNA L. BLACKERPEGGY DENNISMRS. A. BARLOW FERGUSONMRS. JANE R. LE ROUXHARRIET MEYER QUARRÉMARY STEVENS RILEYANITA WEISSBERG

MEROLA OPERA PROGRAM STAFF

JEAN KELLOGG EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

DAN MEAGHER DIRECTOR OF MARKETING

TRACY GRANT DIRECTOR OF FOUNDATION, CORPORATE, AND GOVERNMENT RELATIONS

MARK SHATTUCK CONTROLLER

MIRIAM ROSENFELD DONOR RELATIONS AND EVENTS MANAGER

RACHEL KRASNER MARKETING AND EVENTS ASSOCIATE

CINDY HO ACCOUNTANT AND BOOKKEEPER

JEAN SHIRK MEDIA MEROLA SUMMER FESTIVAL COMMUNICATIONS CONSULTANT

ELIO BUCKYINTERN

SAN FRANCISCO OPERA CENTER Staff

SHERI GREENAWALD DIRECTOR

MARK MORASH DIRECTOR OF MUSICAL STUDIES

CHRIS BRAGG ADMINISTRATIVE DIRECTOR

KAREN JINE COMPANY MANAGER

JO ANN MCSTRAVICK ARTISTS’ SERVICES AND AUDITIONS ADMINISTRATOR

CÉSAR ULLOA MASTER VOICE TEACHER

ELLEN PRESLEY MEROLA SCHEDULER

MEROLA OPERA PROGRAM BOARD OF DIRECTORS And STAFF


$25,000 and Above

GovernmentNational Endowment for the Arts

FoundationsFrances K. and Charles D. Field FoundationAl Garren Fund

IndividualsMs. Eloise BouyeMiss Vivienne E. MillerLeslys Vedder, in memory of

James Forest Vedder

$20,000 – $24,999

Foundation Bernard Osher Foundation

IndividualsNordin and Donna Blacker Mike and Rusty Rolland

$10,000 – $19,999

Foundations Il Cenacolo Italian Cultural Club The Ann and Gordon Getty FoundationThe Henry W. and Nettie Robinson Foundation Rusty Rolland and the Schick Fund Wallis Foundation

Corporation Dandelion Chocolate

Individuals Peter and Jayne Davis John and Cynthia Fry Gunn Barbara K. Jackson Mr. John Lee Ms. Amy Roth and Mr. Robert Epstein In Memory of Cameron Waterman III Mrs. Alfred Wilsey

$5,000 – $9,999

Foundation Il Cenacolo Italian Cultural Club Renzo Turco

Grant for Italian Language StudiesKia Ora Foundation

Individuals Norby Anderson Darla and Richard Bastoni Mrs. Birgit Chase Carlyn Clause and Alexander L. Brainerd George and Susan Crow Drs. John and Lois Crowe Dr. Lisa Danzig Tim Dattels and Kristine Johnson Mary and Tom Foote Priscilla and Keith Geeslin Ms. Pamela George Miss Ursula Grunfeld James Heagy, in memory of Janey Heagy

Ms. Harriet Heyman and Mr. Michael Moritz Mrs. Dana T. Horner Franklin and Catherine Johnson Mr. Michael H. Kalkstein and Ms. Susan English Norman T. Larson Bernice and John Lindstrom Jean and Lindsay MacDermid Mr. Milton Mosk and Mr. Thomas Foutch Drs. Richard and Pamela Rigg Mary Stevens Riley Mrs. Barbara J. Ross Bob and Terri Ryan Mr. and Mrs. Jack Schafer Dr. David D. Stein and Dr. Phyllis A. Kempner Mrs. Carol A. Weitz Susan York Anonymous

$2,000 – $4,999

Foundations Karl and Alice Ruppenthal Foundation

for the Arts Raymond Family Foundation San Francisco Opera Guild East Bay Chapter San Francisco Opera Guild Peninsula Chapter San Jose Opera Guild The Sequoia Trust Tulsa and Simone Fund Walter and Elise Haas Fund

Individuals Mary Sherrill BaxterMr. and Mrs. Phillip B. Beck Dr. Phyllis B. Blair Ms. Brooke Bourland Ms. Langley Brandt Ms. Annette Campbell-White and

Dr. Ruediger Naumann-Etienne Mr. and Mrs. Richard Clark Maureen Clarke Mr. Michael Colbruno Mr. Hugh J. Coughlin Dr. and Mrs. Alexander Cross Mrs. Mary A. Culp Peggy and Reid Dennis Mr. David Dickson and Mr. Patrick Wilken Mr. Robert E. Ellis and Ms. Jane W. Bernstein Mr. Thomas E. Foutch Michael A. Harrison and Susan Graham Harrison Mary and Craig Henderson Mr. and Mrs. Melvyn Hetzel Ms. Susan Hone Greer and Thayer Hopkins Mr. David S. Hugle Ms. H. Nona Hungate Patricia and Philip Jelley Drs. Joan B. and James Kelly Ms. Nelda Kilguss Mr. and Mrs. Karl Lindberg Ms. Sylvia R. Lindsey Josephine Maxon Patrick McCabe Mr. and Mrs. Paul L. McKaskle James R. Meehan David Miller Mr. Robert B. Mison D. G. Mitchell

We extend our sincere appreciation to all donors and acknowledge the following individuals, foundations and corporations for their generous gifts totaling $1,000 or more made between October 1, 2015, and June 1, 2016, in support of the Merola Opera Program. For more information about supporting the Merola Opera Program, please contact (415) 936-2324, email [email protected], or visit our website at merola.org.

MEROLA OPERA PROGRAM Donors


Ms. Camille Morishige Thomas E. Morton and Anne L. Morton Mrs. Pamela Murdock Mr. Haggai Niv Mr. Paul D. Nordine Ms. Patricia Nottingham Hiroko Prather Mr. Glenn H. Reid Mr. and Mrs. Michael Rudd Miss Dorothy Schimke Ms. Jean Shuler Dr. J. H. Silveira Dr. and Mrs. W. Conrad Sweeting Ms. Suzanne Turley Bruce and Fran Walker Mrs. Anita Weissberg Ms. Faye Wilson Ms. Shirley Woo and Mr. David Rosenfeld Mr. and Mrs. A. Lee Zeigler Stephen and Connie Zilles Anonymous

$1,000 – $1,999

Foundations Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. Joyce and William Brantman Foundation Opera Standees Association,

in memory of Freida Batten Edward Pollak Family Fund San Francisco Opera Guild Marin ChapterWeeden Foundation

Corporation Meyer Sound

Individuals Patricia Vaughn Angell Nina K. Auerbach, MD Adam Arthur Bier and Rachel Bier Lem Paul and Kathy Bissinger Maurice and Mary Sue Bizzarri Mrs. Peter H. Black Dr. and Mrs. Melvin C. Britton Frances Campra Mr. Martin S. Checov and Mr. Timothy J. Bause Mr. and Mrs. Melvin Cheitlin Mr. and Mrs. Lloyd Cluff Mr. Paul Connolly Mrs. Beverly Coughlin Dr. James Tristan Cross and

Mr. Charles Antonen Dr. and Mrs. Roy L. Curry Mr. and Mrs. James F. Dean Mr. and Mrs. G. M. Dearing Mrs. Annina R. Demmon Mr. and Mrs. Frank DeSocio Keith Doerge Mr. Peter Felleman Mr. Steven Franceschi Mrs. William M. Friede Joseph and Antonia Friedman Mr. and Mrs. Raymond Haas Mr. Fred Hartwick Mr. and Mrs. Claude M. HessMs. Maxine Hickman Wilma Horwitz Mr. Robert Jacoby Ms. Andrea G. Julian Mr. and Mrs. Timothy Kahn Mrs. Jeannie Kaufman Dr. Marion R. Kramer Mr. Lorrin G. Kroska William W. Kwan, MD Joan Shelbourne Kwansa Ms. Kathe Lange Mr. Randall E. Laroche and Mr. David Laudon Mrs. Nancy Donnell Lilly Mr. Peter M. Lundberg and James B. Mowdy Eve and Niall Lynch Mr. and Mrs. Daniel J. Mardesich Dr. Myron Marx

Mr. and Mrs. J. Patterson McBaine Mrs. Anne G. McWilliams Cathy and Howard Moreland David and Marilyn Nasatir Mr. and Mrs. Boyce Nute Ms. Susan K. Prather Mr. and Mrs. David Rinaldo Ms. Marianne Buttner Robison Mrs. Edward W. Rosston Jeannie Sack and Jordan Sachs Mr. Paul Sack Mr. Steven Shladover Ruth A. Short Natalie O. Shuttleworth Dr. and Mrs. Jon F. Sigurdson Diana Starcher and John SifonisMartin TannenbaumBlanche Germain Streeter Ms. Maggie Thompson Mr. Robert Walker and Mr. Ernest PhinneyMrs. Nelson WildMiss Faye Wilson Mr. Christopher E. Wiseman

and Mr. Eric W. SleighDr. and Mrs. John A. Zderic Anonymous

In-Kind Donors

ADAMVSKaren and Lawrence AmesAmici di MerolaDavidson Bidwell-Waite and Edwin WaiteAdam Arthur Bier and Rachel Bier LemDiane BlanchardBlue Sky AdventuresJonathan BrandaniBreathless Wines William BurdenSarah CambidgeAnnette Campbell-White and

Dr. Ruediger Naumann-EtienneJohn ChurchwellCarlyn Clause and Alexander L. BrainerdAryeh Nussbaum CohenVinson ColeMarie and Leonard CollinsCatherine CookDr. and Mrs. Alexander CrossJames T. Cross and Charles AntonenPeter and Jayne DavisCulinary ExcellenceHelga and Roy CurryTara CurtisDutch Henry WineryAmina EdrisDr. Edward GomezPamela GeorgeBeatrice and Paul GomorySheri GreenawaldRonny Michael GreenbergHafner VineyardBryndon HassmanJames HeagyMelvyn and Maureen HetzelCraig and Mary Henderson Hinman and Carmichael LLPHotel HealdsburgBrian JagdeMartin KatzDr. William KwanNafiseh and Karl LindbergNoah LindquistSylvia LindseyJean and Lindsay MacDermidEmily MarcusLucas MeachemMeyer SoundRobert MolliconeMark MorashAnne and Tom MortonEdward Nelson


Nob Hill GazetteAnnie NunanToni Marie PalmertreeAmitai PatiPene PatiMatthew PiattDrs. Richard and Pamela RiggMike and Rusty RollandTerri and Bob RyanSan Francisco OperaNicolò SbuelzDeAnna ShererMatthew ShilvockNatalie O. ShuttleworthAndrew StensonMatthew StumpMichael SumuelZanda ŠvedeTante Marie’s Cooking SchoolElza van den HeeverCarol WeitzPeter Winkelstein

Corporate Matching Gift Donors

Adobe Systems Incorporated American Express Gift Matching Program AT&T Foundation BankAmerica Foundation Chevron U.S.A., Inc. Genentech Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation IBM Foundation McKesson Corporation Millipore Corporation Motorola Sun Microsystems, Inc. Time Warner Matching Grants Program Union Bank of California

Merola Legacy Society

The Merola Legacy Society honors those who have included the Merola Opera Program in their will, trust, or other estate plans. For more information on how you can support the Merola Opera Program through your estate planning, please call (415) 936-2321.

Norman Abramson and David Beery Mrs. Barbara Adams Mrs. Judith Anderson Mrs. John Anderton Ms. Wilma Avery Kathleen H. Barr Ms. Eloise Bouye Mr. and Mrs. Christopher Bowen In Memory of George (Troy) Browman and his

Living Partner J. Gerald Gagnon Mr. Donald Buhman Mr. Russell P. Chappell Ms. Donna Chazen Maureen Clarke Carlyn Clause and Alexander L. Brainerd Mr. Michael Colbruno Jose Maria Condemi Mrs. Charles Cornman Mr. Gerald F. Currier and Mr. Cleveland M. Smith Peter and Jayne Davis Mr. Stephen Drewes Mrs. Thelma Dry Mr. and Mrs. Vernon Dwelly Mr. Robert F. Ewing and Mr. Cesar L. De Joya, Jr. Mrs. A. Barlow Ferguson Mary and Tom Foote Mario Fracchia Mrs. William M. Friede Joseph and Antonia Friedman Ms. Magda Gabali

Mr. Louis B. Gagliardi Ms. Pamela George Mrs. Rolf Gille Tracy Grant Miss Doris Grau Miss Ursula Grunfeld Dr. and Mrs. John G. Gurley James Heagy in memory of Janey Heagy Tom Houran and Bill Medigovich Mr. David S. Hugle Barbara K. Jackson Ms. Elizabeth A. Jacobs Ms. Dagmar L. Jamison Ms. Joanie Juster Mrs. Jeannie Kaufman Jean Kellogg Ms. Ludmila Kisseleva-Eggleton and

Mr. Peter Eggleton Mr. Louis A. Koffman Mr. Ken Kolby Mrs. Barbara F. Kral Herbert and Barbara Graham Kreissler Ms. Joan Shelbourne Kwansa Mr. Frank S. Lanier Mrs. Olive Lawton Mr. John Lee Ms. Marcia Leonhardt Bernice Gucker Lindstrom Jean and Lindsay MacDermid Joseph R. Maletta-Hoffman Family Trust Ms. Norrine L. Marchegiani-Lewis Mr. and Mrs. Daniel J. Mardesich Dr. Myron Marx Ms. Denise E. Mauldin Bill Medigovich Ms. Christine Miller Miss Vivienne E. Miller D. G. Mitchell Cathy and Howard Moreland Ms. Thelma Morris Mr. Albert L. Mosher Mr. Milton Mosk and Mr. Thomas Foutch Mr. Carroll J. Newbanks Ms. Marie J. Niemann Mr. Haggai Niv Mr. Carl Noelke Mr. and Mrs. Michael A. O’Hanlon Ms. Brenda Osborne Ms. Sheldeen G. Osborne

and Mr. Steven E. Tirrell Robert and Carol Parvin Mr. Glenn H. Reid Mr. Robert Robertson Mike and Rusty Rolland Ms. Louise A. Russell Bob and Terri Ryan Mr. and Mrs. John Ryckman Jeannie Sack Debra R. Schoenberg Ms. Marilyn G. Seiberling Ms. Carolyn Shaw Ms. Jean A. Sherlin Natalie O. Shuttleworth Mr. and Mrs. David Sloss Ms. Sue Sommer Ms. Nancy Soper and Robert Soper Dr. David D. Stein and Dr. Phyllis A. Kempner Dr. Sam Thal Miss Carol Tomlinson Mr. Hugh C. Trutton James S. and Gayle G. Tunnell Ms. Suzanne Turley Shirley Wilson Victor Mr. Albert J. Vizinho Ms. Gladys Wagman Mrs. Barbara Wanvig Mr. Patrick Wilken Ms. Ann L. Williamson Dr. and Mrs. John A. Zderic Anonymous


Merola Opera Program Endowment

The Merola Opera Program acknowledges with thanks those groups and individuals who have established or support the following endowment funds, which provide lasting tributes and generate continual support for developing the artists of the future.

Kurt Herbert Adler — Merola Endowment Fund Amici di Merola Fund Barab Family Trust Fund Dr. Leland Barber and Gladys K. Barber

Endowment Fund The Anthony I. Balestrieri Endowment Fund Richard J. Bartlett Memorial Fund Jean E. Bennett, Jr. Fund The Sidney and Phyllis Blair Fund John S. Brooks Memorial Fund Florence Bruce Fund Bruser Family Fund Carlton F. Bryan Fund Betty Cable Fund Zheng Cao Opera Fund Mai G. Coggin Endowment Fund Cooper Endowment Fund Reid and Peggy Dennis Endowment Fund Grace A. Diem and Alice E. Siemons

Endowment Fund In Memory of Jean Donnell Fund Querita Eybel Endowment Fund Mr. and Mrs. A. Barlow Ferguson Endowment Fund I. P. Patrick Gallagher Fund Nicholas and Mary Ann Gannam Endowment Fund L. Henry Garland Memorial Fund Richard and Rhoda Goldman Fund Donna Lee Grassman Memorial Fund Gary Griffith Memorial Endowment Fund Gropper Memorial Fund Anneliese Gruenberg-Bremer Fund Otto Guth Fund Mark Haffner Apprentice Coach Fund In Memory of James T. Heavey Fund Elaine Henderson Endowment Fund Heritage Fund Vija Hovgard Endowment Fund David S. Hugle and Haggai Niv

Endowment Fund The Jacobs Family Trust Grace and Mildred Johnson Endowment Fund In Memory of Peter G. Kavantjas

Endowment Fund Donald Wayne Kennedy Fund Leona Gordon Lowin Memorial Fund Lotfi Mansouri Apprentice Director Fund Meltzer Family Memorial Fund Merola Members Endowment Fund Albert L. Mosher and John E. McCormick

AIDS Memorial Fund Oreste J. di Muro Endowment Fund The Bernard Osher Foundation

Career Grant Endowment Mary A. Powell Career Grant Fund In Honor of Leontyne Price Endowment Fund Charles Rolle, M.D. Endowment Fund Marie Louise Rosenberg Memorial Endowment Fund Gerald B. Rosenstein Fund Schick Memorial Fund Eva and Henry Schlesinger Fund The Shenson Family Fund Claudia Stoop Memorial Fund Blanche Thebom Trust Fund Dickson Titus III Fund Alma Brooks Walker Memorial Fund Frank W. and Matilda O. Weymouth

Living Trust Fund James L. Wilson Trust Endowment Fund In Memory of Patricia Yakutis Endowment Fund Alma Cella Yoder Trust Estate of Mr. William Zoller

Planned Giving

The Merola Opera Program honors the memory of the following friends who have provided a legacy of support through their bequests and other planned gifts this year.

Mrs. Marjorie Appleton Mrs. Marion Zimmer Bradley K. E. Freeman Dr. Lilli Kalis Mr. Jack H. Lund

Tributes

The Merola Opera Program wishes to express its sincere appreciation to all donors who have made memorial and honorary donations between October 1, 2015 and June 1, 2016.

In Memory OfBrian AsawaFreida BattenJean Donnell Bob Hawes Janey Heagy Eleanor Kenney Valerie Pope Henry W. Robinson and Nettie Robinson Gerald B. Rosenstein Mr. James H. Schwabacher Barbara Swedlow James Forest Vedder Cameron Waterman III

In Honor OfHugh Coughlin Cesar De Joya and Robert Ewing Pamela George Jean Kellogg and Henry Tang Robert B. Mison Mrs. Barbara J. Ross Peter Winkelstein


MEROLA OPERA PROGRAM CAREER GRANTS

The Merola Opera Program gratefully acknowledges the following donors who have provided special support to our young artists.

Dr. Phyllis B. Blair Career Grant — Drs. Sidney & Phyllis Blair Fund Florence Bruce Career Grant — Mrs. Starr Bruce Endowment Fund Jean Donnell Memorial Career Grant — In Memory of Jean Donnell Fund Richard & Rhoda Goldman Career Grant — Mr. Richard N. Goldman Fund Gropper Memorial Career Grant — Alfred Fromm & Otto E. Meyer, in Memory of Dr. Angel Gropper E. A. Haggerty Memorial Career Grant — Larry L. Hillblom Foundation David S. Hugle Career Grant — Mr. David S. Hugle Peter G. Kavantjas Career Grant — In memory of Peter G. Kavantjas Endowment Fund Merola Alumni Career Grant — Merola Opera Program Alumni Albert L. Mosher & John E. McCormick AIDS Memorial Career Grant —

Albert L. Mosher & John E. McCormick AIDS Memorial Fund The Bernard Osher Foundation Career Grant — The Bernard Osher Foundation Mr. & Mrs. Bernhardt Poetz Memorial Career Grant — A Friend of Merola Mary A. Powell Career Grant — Mary A. Powell Fund Schick Memorial Career Grant — Schick Memorial Fund Schwabacher Family Career Grant — Mr. James H. Schwabacher Fred M. Levin and Nancy Livingston, The Shenson Foundation in memory of

Drs. Ben and A. Jess Shenson Richard Strauss Opera Career Grant — G. William Jewell, in memory of Mr. Robert C. Silvering Dickson Titus III Career Grant — Dickson Titus III Fund

Adler Fellow SponsorsRobert & Julie DicksonRobert Epstein & Amy RothThe Diana Dollar Knowles Fund

for Emerging ArtistsJames Heagy, in memory of Jayne HeagyAnnette Campbell-White & Kia Ora FoundationFrances K. & Charles D. Field FoundationBetty & Jack SchaferMrs. James K. McWilliamsDon & Rene MorganBarbara K. JacksonBarbara M. Ward & The Honorable

Roy L. WonderPeggy & Boyce NuteMs. Maria Cardamone & Mr. G.P. MatthewsHelen BerggruenLucia Bogatay & Thomas D. Wickens*Drs. Jon & Lois CroweDrs. Martin E. & Corazon D. Sanders

Adler Program SponsorsRobert & Julie DicksonFrances K. & Charles D. Field FoundationCharles D. & Frances K. Field FundBarbara K. JacksonSheila Wishek

Adler Affiliate SponsorsDarla & Richard BastoniAnne GrayBill MedigovichDr. Maya MeuxMs. Alice Ames Morison & Dr. Oakley Hewitt

Adler Program Endowment GiftsPhyllis Edwards Scholarship FundWilliam Randolph Hearst Young Artists FundThe Claramae Turner Hoffman & Frank Hoffman

Endowment FundThe Diana Dollar Knowles Fund for

Emerging ArtistsLorry I. LokeyRalph R. Michaelis EstateAnna & Frederick Schubert

Friends of the AdlersJoyce & William Brantman FoundationAllan R. & Sally J. BrudosJanet & Lloyd CluffLeonard & Marie CollinsMr. & Mrs. Peter W. DavisLisa Erdberg & Dennis GibbonsDonald & Patricia FrischmannBernice E. GreeneMary & Craig HendersonBarbara E. Jones, in memory of

William E. JonesFred & Beth KarenVictoria KirbyMs. Katharine LangeMr. John E. LeeSylvia R. LindseyBernice & John LindstromMr. & Mrs. Laurence R. LyonsMiss Vivienne E. MillerMilton Mosk & Thomas FoutchPatricia NottinghamMr. Glenn H. ReidBarbara J. RossMrs. Edward W. Rosston*Mrs. Afie RoyoBob & Terri RyanDeborah & Paul SaguesMr. Felipe R. Santiago & Mr. Barry T. JosephSan Francisco Opera Guild/East Bay ChapterAnonymous (3)

San Francisco Opera Adler Fellowship Sponsors

* deceased


Mix. Mingle. Be Grand.

Grand Night MixSaturday, August 20 6 pm - 7 pm

Veterans Building Green Room$25

Mix up your Merola Grand Finale evening at this pre-performance reception featuring an

open wine bar and light nibbles.

Grand Night Mix tickets do not include admission to the Merola Grand Finale.

Make it a grand night with Merola.

Before and after the Merola Grand Finale on Saturday, August 20th, join us for exciting events

that will make this one special evening!

Don’t miss the exciting 2016 Merola Grand Finale at the War Memorial Opera House. The 2016 Merola young artists take

the stage performing arias and scenes from legendary operas, accompanied by full orchestra.

Concert Tickets: $45 $35 $25

To order tickets, visit the SF Opera Box Office or call (415) 864-3330.

Merola Grand Finale Post-ReceptionSaturday, August 20 10:30 pmVeteran’s Building Green Room

$50

After the Merola Grand Finale, meet the 2016 young artists…Enjoy appetizers and desserts

plus an open wine bar. Catering by Culinary Excellence.


MOVIESMerola Goes to the

All programs begin at 1pm with a short introduction by a Merola representativeKoret Auditorium at the San Francisco Public Library Main Branch

100 Larkin Street, San Francisco

Free screenings of film adaptations of classic operas!

Visit merola.org for more information

LE NOZZE DI FIGAROSeptember 11, 2016

Starring: Anna Netrebko (Merola 1996 alum), Ildebrando D’Arcangelo

DIE ZAUBERFLÖTENovember 20, 2016

Starring: René Pape, Diana Damrau

CARMENJanuary 29, 2017

Starring: Anna Caterina Antonacci, Jonas Kaufmann

L’ITALIANA IN ALGERIMarch 26, 2017

Starring: Mario Cassi, Alex Esposito

FREE!


PATRICIA RACETTE 1988

JOYCE DiDONATO 1997

DOLORA ZAJICK 1983

CAROL VANESS 1976

ROLANDO VILLAZÓN 1998

LEONA MITCHELL 1971

ANNA NETREBKO 1996

Who Will you see this summer?

For 59 years, Merola has trained and developed many opera artists who have gone on to become world-renowned. Here are some of our famous alumni.

THOMAS HAMPSON 1980

RUTH ANN SWENSON 1981, 1982

ARTURO CHACÓN-CRUZ 2003

STUART SKELTON 1995


C H O C O L AT E P RO G R A M N OT E S

Look for this rare recitativo dedicated to hot chocolate in this season’s:

Così Fan Tutte - MozartAct I Scene 8

By Despina,a maid to two ladies,

while whisking hot chocolate:

Can life get any lower than serving pampered ladies?

Morn till midnight they rush us,this way ... no, that way ... so we scamper,

new duties daily, all for naught.

Not for yours truly! Half an hour

I’ve whipped the chocolate till light and luscious.

And for my labormy only compensation is the aroma.

On my own palate would you think it wasted?Ladies, come! Pause and ponder:

Why should you get the �avor and I just the smell?

For once, I’m going to taste it.

Despina takes a sip.

How delicious!

Enjoy a sip of European drinking chocolate a�er the performance at Dandelion Chocolate - 740 Valencia Street.

� a n k y o u f o r s u p p o r t i n g S a n F ra n c i s c o ’ s p e r f o r m i n g a r t s .

There are a number of ways to remember Merola, including designating Merola as a beneficiary in your will, by setting up a charitable remainder unitrust with appreciated assets to receive lifetime income and a charitable tax deduction, or by naming Merola as beneficiary in a life insurance policy.

All those who have remembered Merola in their estate planning are part of the Merola Legacy Society. Planned giving gifts to the Merola Legacy Society provide stable support that ensures Merola will be able to continue its mission of training and nurturing the finest young operatic talent year after year, in good times and bad.

Merola Legacy Society members are invited to special events and performances with Merola alums.

For further information about the Merola Legacy Society and how to include Merola in your estate planning, please contact Jean Kellogg at (415) 936-2321 or [email protected].

Top right Merola Legacy Society member Michael Colbruno (right) with 2012 and 2014 Merola artist Casey Candebat (photo by Kristen Loken)

Bottom right Merola Legacy Society member Glenn Reid (left), Merola 2012 artist Theo Lebow and Merola Legacy Society member Jim Heagy (photo by Kristen Loken)

Background The War Memorial Opera House (photo by David Wakely)

JOIN THE MEROLA LEGACY SOCIETYAND REMEMBER MEROLA IN YOUR ESTATE PLANNING

A gift that keeps on giving

Merola Legacy Society member Michael Colbruno says, “I have included Merola in my planned giving because I like the idea of a ‘gift that keeps on giving.’ I want to ensure that my commitment to young artists outlives my time on this Earth. I can’t think of a more perfect gift than one that continues to support the training of the most amazing singers in the world for future generations to enjoy.”

“I love opera and I love the young artists!” says Merola Legacy Society member Jim Heagy. “It feels good to give them a boost in their careers at a time when they need help and Merola helps me to do that. Merola is a very worthwhile cause.”

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