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Adler 2010 Speculation

Adlers-2009 The Adler Fellows for 2010 will be announced next week, but it is good fun trying to figure out which of the Merolini are coming back to San Francisco next season. It is quite likely that we won't see any of the Merola apprentice coaches as Adlers, given that both Dennis Doubin and Allen Perriello are in their first year here. As for singers, the probable outgoing Adlers are two sopranos (Heidi Melton, Tamara Wapinsky), two mezzos (Daveda Karanas, Daniela Mack), two tenors (Andrew Bidlack, Alek Shrader), and the sole bass Kenneth Kellogg. My guesses are:

Susannah Biller
Kate Crist
Maya Lahyani
Ryan Belongie
Gregory Carroll
Nathaniel Peake
Benjamin LeClair 

One would love to see countertenor Ryan Belongie and baritone Michael Sumuel as Adlers, but looking at what is coming up and who is leaving, I would be surprised if they were chosen. Suzanne Hendrix would also be great as an Adler, but she's a contralto, though this might work for next year's Die Walküre. In any case, they will need a bass, probably Ben LeClair, as Yohan Yi is a Domingo-Thornton Young Artist at LA Opera and Evan Boyer is a member of the upcoming season of Lyric Opera of Chicago's Ryan Center. Baritone Paul Scholten will be in this latter program as well. Mezzo-soprano Maya Lahyani and tenor Alex Mansoori might also be out since they are in the Seattle Opera Young Artists Program.

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18 responses to “Adler 2010 Speculation”

  1. Don Curzio Avatar
    Don Curzio

    You didn’t hear this from me, but Ryan Belongie is going to be an Adler.

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  2. The Opera Tattler Avatar
    The Opera Tattler

    I’ve heard this more than once now, so I’m taking Suzanne out, since there is no way they will take two rare vocal types like that, especially considering how little Baroque music is on the schedule.

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  3. Don Curzio Avatar
    Don Curzio

    It’s really not based at all around what operas they’re doing in a given year. The selection is really based in who they like.

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  4. The Opera Tattler Avatar
    The Opera Tattler

    Well, it does always come down to that in the end, doesn’t it?

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  5. J. Marcher Avatar
    J. Marcher

    Assuming she wouldn’t leave the Seattle program to be an Adler after accepting their offer, it’s a shame Maya Lahyani won’t be one of them.

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  6. The Opera Tattler Avatar
    The Opera Tattler

    True. I hope she does come though. We will see soon enough.

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  7. a fan Avatar
    a fan

    You know, people do go to Seattle for half a season. One of their mezzi is only there for the spring…

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  8. The Opera Tattler Avatar
    The Opera Tattler

    That’s certainly what we are hoping! 😉

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  9. Diablo Avatar
    Diablo

    From what I hear, expect the unexpected. It is interesting to know that two first-year Adler’s are leaving the program. A pianist and a mezzo soprano are leaving. We will also see countertenor.

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  10. The Opera Tattler Avatar
    The Opera Tattler

    How every interesting, indeed.

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  11. CruzSF Avatar
    CruzSF

    I just got my letter from SFO re: the November Adler Fellows concert. Heidi Melton won’t be performing because she’s accepted an invitation to perform at the Met. Do you have any word about which opera she’ll appear in?

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  12. The Opera Tattler Avatar
    The Opera Tattler

    I heard she is covering for Debbie Voigt in Elektra.

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  13. CruzSF Avatar
    CruzSF

    Great for her, sad for us. Hopefully, she’ll be able to bring her Elektra to SF.

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  14. The Opera Tattler Avatar
    The Opera Tattler

    I think Voigt is singing Chrysothemis, with Susan Bullock singing Elektra. I’m excited that Heidi is singing Sieglinde (once) at SF Opera.

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  15. mj Avatar
    mj

    Oh no, does that mean Renee Tatum is leaving? I have really been enjoying her performances.

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  16. The Opera Tattler Avatar
    The Opera Tattler

    She’s been doing very well.

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  17. J. Marcher Avatar
    J. Marcher

    You got three of them right! And I’m very pleased Lahyani is one of them.

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  18. The Opera Tattler Avatar
    The Opera Tattler

    Well, it was more of a wish list than not.

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