The Opera Tattler
Reviews of Performances and their Audiences
Category: Merola Opera Program
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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…
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The 2009-2010 participants of the Young Artists Program at Seattle Opera are sopranos Megan Hart, Vira Slywotzky, Marcy Stonikas; mezzo-sopranos Jenni Blank and Maya Layhani; tenors Alex Mansoori and Bray Wilkins; baritones Michael Krzankowski and Eric Neuville; and bass Erik Anstine. Layhani and Mansoori were both recently in San Francisco Opera's Merola Program. Young Artists…
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Another report from our friend Don Curzio. * Notes * It is a promising sign for the future of opera that this year's Merolini were such a strong group. Their finale concert was, with a few exceptions, an exciting and enticing evening, and I think I can look forward to hearing these singers many times in…
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* Notes * Soprano Tracy Dahl and pianist Mark Morash gave a small private recital to benefit the Merola Opera Program last night at Metropolitan Club in San Francisco. Apparently both were Merolini in the eighties, and both now train young singers and pianists themselves at the program. The evening started with an alternate aria for Le Nozze di Figaro…
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* Notes * The Merola Opera Program's production of Così fan tutte opened at the Cowell Theater last Friday. The singing was fine, though mezzo-soprano Caitlin Mathes stood out as Despina, her voice was almost too sweet for that comic role. She was very funny when pretending to be a notary, affecting an outrageous accent. For…
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The casting for the Merola Grand Finale was announced today. The performance, staged by Fernando Parra Bortí, is to take place August 22, and will be conducted by Antony Walker. Pagliacci Tonio: Aleksey Bogdanov Die Entführung aus dem Serail Belmonte: Alex Mansoori / Eleazar Rodríguez Osmin: Benjamin LeClair MignonMignon: Ellie Jarrett Lothario: Evan Boyer Giulio Cesare Cornelia:…
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* Notes * The Merola Opera Program's production of L'Amico Fritz opened at the Cowell Theater last night. The offstage chorus sounded angelic and the supporting cast was strong. Even the tiny part of Caterina was sung and acted well by Susannah Biller. Eleazar Rodríguez and Yohan Yi were amusing as the rakish Federico and Hanezò.…
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* Program * Thomson's "A Prayer to Saint Catherine"Alex Mansoori, tenor and Tamara Sanikidze, piano "Voici des roses" from La Damnation de FaustEvan Boyer, bass and Suzy Smith, piano Duparc's "Phidylé"Paul Scholten, baritone and Miaomiao Wang, piano "Piangete voi…Al dolce guidami" from Anna BolenaLara Ciekiewicz, soprano and Keun-a Lee, piano Weill's "J'attends un navire"Caitlin Mathes, mezzo-soprano and Stephanie Rhodes,…
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* Notes * Today's Day at Merola was certainly educational. The event began with a lunch in the opera house, and some members of the Opera Standees Association were kind enough to share a table with me. Bass-baritone Yohan Yi joined us and good-naturedly spoke about working with Dawn Upshaw at Bard College's Graduate Vocal Arts Program…
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* Notes * Tonight’s Schwabacher Summer Concert was splendid. Kate Crist and Gregory Carroll impressed in Act II Scene 2 of Der Fliegende Holländer. Crist's warm voice has some rough edges but can be quite arresting. Carroll could not match her heft and volume but has a sweet, strong voice nonetheless. Ryan Belongie and Susannah Biller…
The Opera Tattler 