The Opera Tattler
Reviews of Performances and their Audiences
Category: Merola Opera Program
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* Notes *The Merola Opera Program's L'elisir d'Amore opened last night at Cowell Theater in San Francisco. The orchestra started off crisply under Martin Katz. Though the pit must be less than ideal, they did sound jaunty throughout. The trumpet and bassoon had fine soli. The cast was strong, a lot of lovely voices. The chorus…
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The casts for Merola's L'elisir d'amore have been announced today. Thursday, August 5 and Saturday, August 7Nemorino: Daniel Montenegro Adina: Nadine Sierra Belcore: Benjamin Covey Giannetta: Hye Jung Lee Dulcamara: Thomas Florio Friday, August 6 and Sunday, August 8Nemorino: Alexander Lewis Adina: Valentina Fleer Belcore: Ao Li Giannetta: Abigail Santos VillalobosDulcamara: Sidney Outlaw
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* Program * “Sorge infausta una procella” from OrlandoSidney Outlaw, baritone and David Hanlon, piano “Ces lettres” from WertherRobin Flynn, mezzo-soprano and Natalia Katyukova, piano “Il lacerato spirito” from Simon BoccanegraKevin Thompson, bass and Michael Spassov, piano “In fernem Land” from LohengrinKevin Ray, tenor and David Hanlon, piano “Měsíčku na nebi hlubokém” from RusalkaJanai Brugger-Orman, soprano and Michael Spassov,…
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* Notes * This year's Day at Merola was Tuesday, beginning with a lunch in Lower Level Café of the War Memorial Opera House. A couple of members of the Opera Standees Association who are also sponsors of tenor Alexander Lewis kindly invited me to join their table. Mr. Lewis conversed with us about how he…
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* Notes *This year's Auditions for the General Director of San Francisco Opera were yesterday evening, featuring the participants of the Merola Opera Program. All of the singers were very good, as were the pianists. This year we only have one returning Merolino, Eleazar Rodríguez, who sang "Sì, ritorvarla io giuro," with those dizzying high Cs,…
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The 24 of the 25 Merolini for 2010 were interviewed by San Francisco Opera Center Director Sheri Greenawald, Merola Opera Board of Directors Chairman Jayne Davis, and President Patrick Wilken yesterday evening, in the Green Room of the War Memorial Veterans Building. This year three of the participants are Canadian, and we have only one…
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* Notes * Tenor Eleazar Rodríguez's senior recital at San Francisco Conservatory of Music was last night. Accompanied by pianist Alexander Katsman, Rodríguez sang songs from Charles Gounod, Ottorino Respighi, Joaquin Turina, and Robert Schumann. The Gounod sounded very pretty, sweet, and bright. His voice is flexible and does not sound constricted at the top.…
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SopranosJanai Brugger, Chicago, IllinoisRebecca Davis, Naperville, IllinoisValentina Fleer, Moscow, RussiaHye Jung Lee, Seoul, Republic of KoreaAbigail Santos Villalobos, Ciales, Puerto RicoNadine Sierra, Fort Lauderdale, Florida Mezzo-sopranosColleen Brooks, Platteville, WisconsinRobyn Flynn, Orlando, FloridaRenee Rapier, Marion, Iowa TenorsAlexander Lewis, Sydney, AustraliaDaniel Montenegro, Santa Ana, CaliforniaKevin Ray, Cornwall, New YorkEleazar Rodríguez, Piedras Negras, Coahuila, Mexico BaritonesBenjamin Covey, Mallorytown,…
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The winners this year are sopranos Leah Crocetto, Lori Guilbeau, and Rachel Willis-Sørensen; tenor Nathaniel Peake; and baritone Elliot Madore. Official Site | Press Release from SF Opera [PDF]
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The Merola Opera Program is getting a new Web site on January 18, 2010. Official Site | SF Opera
The Opera Tattler 