The Opera Tattler

The 29 Merolini for 2008 were interviewed by San Francisco Opera Center Director Sheri Greenawald and Merola Opera Board of Directors Chairman Jayne Davis yesterday evening, in the Green Room of the War Memorial Veterans Building. We learned that baritone Young Joo An went to high school with current Adler Fellow Ji Young Yang and that tenor René Barbera has a beanie baby collection. There are some dancers among them, baritone Eugene Chan can break dance and soprano Amanda Majeski tapped danced professionally. Apprentice coach Eileen Downey admitted that as a child she wanted to be a conductor because she wanted a tux with coattails.

We also found out who is singing what this summer:

Schwabacher Summer Concert
Young Joo An: Tonio (Pagliacci), Giorgio Germont (La Traviata)
René Barbara: Ernesto (Don Pasquale)
Leah Crocetto: Manon Lescaut (Manon), Norina (Don Pasquale)
Nathaniel Peake: Alfredo (La Traviata), Le Chevalier des Grieux (Manon)
David W. Pershall: Dr. Malatesta (Don Pasquale)
Ben Wager: Don Pasquale, Comte des Grieux (Manon)

Albert Herring
Albert Herring: James Benjamin Rodgers
Lady Billows: Kate Crist
Florence Pike: Nicole Birkland
Miss Wordsworth: Ellen Wieser
Mr. Gedge: Eugene Chan
The Mayor: Tyler S. Nelson
Superintendent Budd: Benjamin LeClair
Sid: Darren Perry
Nancy: Renée Tatum
Mrs. Herring: Natasha Florez

Don Giovanni
Don Giovanni: Austin Kness
Donna Anna: Amanda Majeski
Don Ottavio: David Lomelí
Donna Elvira: Rena Harms
Commendatore: Ben Wager
Leporello: Carlos Monzón
Masetto: Adam Cioffari
Zerlina: Joélle Harvey