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Home , Albina Shagimuratova, Alexandra Deshorties, Anthony Roth Costanzo, Aryeh Nussbaum Cohen, Carlisle Floyd, Christine Goerke

HOUSTON GRAND AND SID MOORHEAD, CHAIRMAN

WELCOME YOU TO THE

TAMARA WILSON, LIVESTREAM HOST

E. LOREN MEEKER, GUEST JUDGE

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2021

AT 7 P.M.

BROADCAST LIVE FROM THE WORTHAM THEATER CENTER

TEXT TO VOTE TEXT TO GIVE

Text to vote for the Audience Choice Award. On page Support these remarkable artists who represent 9, you will see a number associated with each finalist. the future of opera. Text the number listed next to the finalist’s name to 713-538-2304 and your vote will be recorded. One Text HGO to 61094 to invest in the next generation vote per phone number will be registered. of soul-stirring inspiration on our stage!

2 WELCOME TO CONCERT OF ARIAS 2021

SID MOORHEAD Chairman

A multi-generation Texan, Sid Moorhead is the owner of in HGO’s Overture group and Laureate Society, and he serves Moorhead’s Blueberry Farm, the first commercial blueberry on the company’s Special Events committee. farm in Texas. The farm, which has been in the Moorhead family for three generations, sits on 28 acres in Conroe and Sid was a computer analyst before taking over the family boasts over 9,000 blueberry plants. It is open seasonally, from business and embracing the art of berry farming. He loves to the end of May through mid-July, when people from far and travel—especially to Europe—and has joined the HGO Patrons wide (including many fellow opera-lovers and HGO staffers) visit on trips to Italy and Vienna. to pick berries.

“It’s wonderful. You’re your own boss and you get to meet a lot of wonderful people,” Sid told the Houston Chronicle when interviewed for a story about the farm. “I enjoy getting to talk and visit with the people the most.” The same is true when this opera lover comes downtown to enjoy an evening at the TEXT TO GIVE Wortham. Join Sid in supporting these remarkable artists who Sid has been an HGO subscriber since the 2010-11 season, a represent the future of opera. Trustee since 2016, and a member of the Board of Directors since early 2019. Generous of spirit and always eager to be of Text HGO to 61094 to invest in the next generation of service to HGO, Sid immediately agreed to join the Board after soul-stirring inspiration on our stage! being invited. His sole request was getting the chance to snap a quick selfie while holding HGO’s Tony Award. Sid is also active

3 UNDERWRITERS 2021 2020–21 CONCERT OF ARIAS HELDENCIRCLE

A mighty corps of outstanding character who believe in the power of great art, encouraging and supporting the stars of tomorrow, despite the hardship of today.

PRESENTER Sid Moorhead, Concert of Arias Chairman Novum Energy Louise Chapman Petrello Family Foundation Estate of Eleanor Searle McCollum Jill and Allyn Risley Glen A. Rosenbaum AWARDS PRESENTER Houston Methodist CHORUS Official Healthcare Provider for Dr. Saúl and Ursula Balagura Janice H. Barrow BACKSTAGE LIVE PRESENTED BY Zane and Brady Carruth Frost Bank Molly and Jim Crownover Norton Rose Fulbright STAR Kathleen Moore and Steve Homer Judy and Richard Agee Tokio Marine HCC A Friend of HGO United Airlines Claire Liu and Joseph G. Greenberg Official Airline for Houston Grand Opera Laura and Brad McWilliams Vinson & Elkins LLP Winstead PC DIRECTOR Janet and John Carrig MAESTRO John G. Turner and Jerry G. Fischer Robin Angly and Miles Smith Michelle Beale and Richard H. Anderson IMPRESARIO Susan and Dr. Michael Bloome Drs. Rachel and Warren A. Ellsworth IV Efraín Z. Corzo and Andrew Bowen Sandy and Lee Godfrey FINALIST TRAVEL & ACCOMMODATIONS Drs. Elizabeth Grimm and Jack A. Roth UNDERWRITTEN BY Dr. Ellen R. Gritz and Milton D. Rosenau Jr. Michelle Beale and Richard H. Anderson Gloria M. Portela and Richard E. Evans Dr. Ellen R. Gritz and Milton D. Rosenau Jr. Dr. Elizabeth Travis and Jerry Hyde Helen Wils and Leonard Goldstein CONDUCTOR Ajamie LLP BB&T Cathy and Randy Crath Judy and David Belanger Kathleen Cross and Richard Stout ConocoPhillips Anna M. Dean Jennifer and Benjamin Fink Jeanette and John DiFilippo Nancy F. Haywood Connie Dyer Elizabeth and Richard Husseini Carol and Bob Hewell Teresa and José Ivo Sharon Ley Lietzow Marianne Kah Susan and Ward Pennebaker Reinnette and Stan Marek Betty and Jess Tutor Kathrine G. McGovern

4 RÉPÉTITEUR Linda and Stephen Bickel Adrienne Randle Bond Robert Noyes Chanon Mathilda Cochran Joanne and David Dorenfeld Kellie Elder and David Halbert Patricia Freeman and Bruce Patterson Carolyn and Ron Galfione Geraldine Gill Lynn Gissel Brenda Harvey-Traylor Ann and Stephen Kaufman Stephanie and Richard Langenstein Carolyn J. Levy Sara and Gabriel Loperena Tracy Maddox and John Serpe Muffy and Mike McLanahan Lexie and Dr. Bill Mitch Sara and Bill Morgan Charlene and Chuck Nickson Hinda Simon Barbara and Louis Sklar Rhonda and Donald Sweeney Marietta Voglis Penny and John Wright Rini and Edward Ziegler

SOLOIST Meg Boulware Linda and Lester Burgess Gwyneth Campbell Sarah and Sam Cooper Lee Huber Michelle Klinger and Ru Flanagan Dorothy McCaine Terrylin G. Neale Dr. Barbara Tilley Ann and Karl Tornyos Dean Walker

Christa M. Cooper FROSCH Maureen and Mel Hetzel Kirk Hickey Iris McWilliams Patterson & Sheridan LLP DonNell and Tom Rushing

5 CONCERT OF ARIAS

PATRICK SUMMERS Diego Opera as Mimì in their production of La bohème, for HGO Artistic and Music Director, the world’s first-ever drive-in opera production. She also gave Judge a series of virtual performances, including a “Living Room Margaret Alkek Williams Chair Recital” for and a Spanish-themed program entitled “Pasíon Latina,” alongside pianist Craig Terry, for Lyric was named Opera of Chicago. Planned engagements during the winter artistic and music director of HGO and spring of 2021 include her first-ever performances in in 2011 after having served as the the title role of Tosca at Opera Philadelphia and then again company’s music director since 1998. Some highlights of at , and Cio-Cio San in at his work at HGO include conducting the company’s first-ever Opernhaus Zürich; she also had been set to perform Donna complete cycle of Wagner’s Ring and its first performances Elvira in at Los Angeles Opera, but that was of the Verdi ; collaborating on the world premieres of canceled. Martínez’s career highlights include Cio-Cio San and Tarik O’Regan’s The Phoenix, André Previn’s Brief Encounter, Musetta in La bohème at the ; the title role Christopher Theofanidis’s The Refuge, ’s It’s a in Rusalka at the Glyndebourne Festival and Teatro Colón in Wonderful Life, The End of the Affair, and Three Decembers, Buenos Aires; the title role in Luisa Miller and the Countess ’s and Prince of Players, and in Le nozze di Figaro at the Bayerische Staatsoper; Violetta in Tod Machover’s Resurrection; leading the American premiere La traviata, Donna Elvira, and Cio-Cio San at of Weinberg’s Holocaust opera The Passenger, both at HGO House Covent Garden; Donna Elvira at Opera; and on tour to the Festival; and nurturing the Nedda in I Pagliacci, Tatyana in Eugene Onegin, Marguerite in careers of such artists as , Ailyn Perez, Joyce , Fiordiligi in Così fan tutte, and Rusalka at Lyric Opera of DiDonato, Ana María Martínez, Ryan McKinny, Tamara Wilson, Chicago; Elisabetta in Don Carlo, Amelia in , Albina Shagimuratova, , Norman Mimì, Violetta, Nedda, and the title role in at Los Reinhardt, , and Dimitri Pittas. Maestro Summers Angeles Opera; and her major roles with HGO. Orchestral has enjoyed a long association with highlights include performances with the , (SFO) and was honored in 2015 with the San Francisco Opera , Boston Symphony Orchestra, Medal. His work with SFO includes conducting Jake Heggie’s Filharmonica della Scala, Puerto Rico Symphony, Seoul Moby-Dick, which was recorded and telecast on PBS’s Great Philharmonic, Tchaikovsky Symphony in Moscow, the Sinfônica Performances. In 2017, he was awarded an honorary Doctor Brasileira, and the BBC Symphony. of Music degree by Indiana University. He was recently named artistic director of the Aspen Music Festival’s opera program E. LOREN MEEKER alongside Renée Fleming. During the 2019–20 season at Guest Judge HGO, he conducted Saul and . Other recent engagements included Dead Man Walking at the Israeli Opera. E. Loren Meeker has served as General & Artistic Director of ANA MARÍA MARTÍNEZ OPERA San Antonio since 2019. HGO Artistic Advisor, Judge Meeker co-directed Vinkensport and directed The Impresario for the HGO Grammy Award–winning soprano Digital series. She made her HGO mainstage directorial debut Ana María Martínez is considered with The Pearl Fishers in 2019. Also for HGO, she served as one of the foremost sopranos of associate director of Florencia en el Amazonas (2019), The her time, with an international Marriage of Figaro (2011), and (2013); assistant career that spans the world’s director of The Queen of Spades (2010); and choreographer most important opera houses and concert halls. HGO’s first- and assistant director for (2005) and ever artistic advisor, Martínez has a storied history with the Don Giovanni (2006). Other HGO projects as director include company, performing roles including Cio-Cio San in Madama a special production of Trial by Jury at the 1910 Harris County Butterfly (2010), the title role in Carmen (2014), Marguerite Courthouse (2013), HGO Studio Showcase 2013–14, and in Faust (2016), and Florencia in Florencia en el Amazonas HGOco world premieres of A Way Home (2010), From My (2019). During the 2020–21 season, Martínez joined San Mother’s Mother (2012), Past the Checkpoints (2013), and

6 River of Light (2014). She recently directed four productions KIRILL KUZMIN with Opera Association—, Principal Coach , Faust, and —and won the Gambit Best of Opera Award for Die Fledermaus and Faust. She has HGO Studio alumnus Kirill Kuzmin received critical acclaim for productions of The Cunning Little is currently principal coach at HGO Vixen (The ), Daughter of the Regiment and a music staff member at The (Atlanta Opera), and Die Fledermaus (Lyric Opera of Glimmerglass Festival. During the Chicago), Carmen (Washington National Opera and Madison HGO Digital season, he accompanied Opera), Die Fledermaus (San Francisco Opera), La pietra del artists Arturo Chacón-Cruz and paragone (Wolf Trap Opera), La bohème (The Glimmerglass Sasha Cooke for their Live from The Cullen recitals. In the Festival and OPERA San Antonio), (OPERA 2019–20 season, Kuzmin served on HGO’s music staff for San Antonio), Manon Lescaut (Singapore Lyric Opera), and productions of Saul and Aida. Previous HGO credits include Manon (Teatro Colon). Most recent directorial engagements Eugene Onegin (also as diction coach), Le nozze di Figaro, include (Rice University), (Opera Faust, (also as continuo player), and West Side Southwest), Show Boat (Glimmerglass Festival), Madame Story, as well as two of Wagner’s monumental Ring cycle Butterfly (Portland Opera), and Tosca for OPERA San Antonio. , and Götterdämmerung. He also served as principal coach for HGO’s world premiere of TAMARA WILSON and ’s The House Without a Christmas Tree Livestream Host and was involved in the world premiere of David Hanlon and Stephanie Fleischmann’s After the Storm. In the summer of Soprano and HGO Studio alumna 2020, he had been engaged to serve as principal coach for the Tamara Wilson (2005–07), a noted production of at the Glimmerglass Festival, but it was interpreter of Verdi roles, was seen canceled due to COVID-19. recently at HGO in the titular role in Aida (2020) and as Chrysothemis SCOTT F. HEUMANN in (2018). This season her Live from The Cullen recital kicked off the series for HGO Digital. Other HGO roles include The first prize in the Eleanor Leonora in (2013); Elisabeth de Valois in the McCollum Competition for Young five-act French (2012); Miss Jessel in The Turn Singers Concert of Arias is the Scott of the Screw (2010); Konstanze in The Abduction from the F. Heumann Memorial Award, named Seraglio (2008); and Amelia in A Masked Ball (2007). She in loving memory of HGO’s former won first prize in HGO’s 2005 Eleanor McCollum Competition artistic administrator, dramaturg, and Concert of Arias and won the prestigious Richard Tucker career advisor to the Houston Grand Opera Studio. In his work Award in 2016. Additionally, in 2016, she was nominated for with HGO, Scott Heumann (1952–93) demonstrated a vast an Olivier Award for her London debut in Calixto Bieito’s new knowledge of opera, unwavering dedication, and tremendous production of (ENO). Her 2019–20 season love for the art form. The company relied upon him for casting included performing the title role in Turandot (Canadian Opera and musicological decisions, and he exerted a profound Company); Amelia in A Masked Ball (); influence in all artistic areas of HGO. Widely recognized and Elisabetta di Valois in Don Carlo (Oper Frankfurt). Recent throughout the opera industry for his pioneering work in the opera highlights include a return to The Metropolitan Opera use of supertitles, Heumann created the projected translations for the title role in Aida, the same role in which she made her for some 50 operas, and his scripts continue to be used by Met debut; Leonora in Il trovatore (); HGO and other companies throughout the . Desdemona in (); the title Countless singers looked upon him as a trusted counselor role in (Teatro alla Scala); Chrysothemis in and friend. Elektra (Zurich Opera); and Elisabetta di Valois in Don Carlo ( and Zurich Opera).

7 PROGRAM Key’mon W. Murrah “Amour, viens rendre à mon âme” Christoph Willibald Gluck (1714-1787) from Orphée et Eurydice

Brittany Logan “I Want Magic!” from A Streetcar Named Desire André Previn (1929-2019)

Hannah Shea “Ah, scostati!... Smanie implacabili” (1756-1791) from Così fan tutte

Aaron Crouch “Tarquinius does not wait” from (1913-1976)

Alaysha Fox ”Dich, teure Halle” from Tannhäuser (1813-1883)

Emily Treigle “Allez, laissez-moi seul... Coeur sans amour” Jules Massenet (1842-1912) from Cendrillon

Eric Taylor “Kuda, kuda, vï udalilis” from Eugene Onegin Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky (1840-1893)

Luke Sutliff “Mein Sehnen, mein Wähnen” from Die tote Stadt Erich Wolfgang Korngold (1897-1957)

Ángel Vargas “Ah, la paterna mano” from (1813-1901)

Brittany Logan “Senza mamma” from (1858-1924)

Emily Treigle “Deh, per questo istante solo” Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791) from

Aaron Crouch “Dopo notte” from (1685-1759)

Luke Sutliff “Look! Through the port comes the moonshine Benjamin Britten (1913-1976) astray!... And farewell to ye” from Billy Budd

Hannah Shea “! Qui m’aurait dit … Ces lettres!” Jules Massenet (1842-1912) from Werther

Ángel Vargas “La roca fría del Calvario” from La Dolorosa José Serrano (1873-1941)

Key’mon W. Murrah “Ombra mai fu” from George Frideric Handel (1685-1759)

Alaysha Fox ”Vissi d’arte” from Tosca Giacomo Puccini (1858-1924)

Eric Taylor “Freunde, das Leben ist lebenswert!” from Giuditta Franz Lehár (1870-1948)

HOUSTON GRAND OPERA STUDIO PERFORMANCE Due to last-minute travel difficulties, two contestants pre-recorded their performances: Alaysha Fox, “The Promise of Living” from The Tender Land accompanied by pianist Catherine Miller, at St. by Matthew’s Evangelical Lutheran Church in North Hollywood, California, and Ángel Vargas, accompanied Artists of the HGO Studio by pianist Julia Lynch, at Mascarade Opera Studio Tara Faircloth, Stage Director in Florence, Italy.

8 2021 CONCERT OF ARIAS FINALISTS

ALAYSHA FOX TEXT TO VOTE FOR YOUR Soprano—New York, NY FAVORITE! Alaysha Fox is currently in her second year as a member of LA Opera’s Text the number listed next to the finalist’s Domingo Colburn Stein Young name to 713-538-2304 and your vote will be Artist Program, where she recently recorded. One vote per phone number will be performed the role of Dorothee in Joseph Bologne’s The Anonymous Lover. She was scheduled registered. to join ’s Apprentice program last summer, 1 - Aaron Crouch but that was canceled due to COVID-19. Last season, Fox performed the role of Erstes Mädchen in Mörder, Hoffnung der 2 - Alaysha Fox Frauen with the LA Philharmonic. She has sung in the Camelot benefit concert with the Lincoln Center Theater and Kathleen 3 - Brittany Logan Battle’s Underground Railroad recital; performed as First Lady 4 - Key’mon W. Murrah (), Lady Macbeth (Bloch’s Macbeth), Female Chorus (The Rape of Lucretia), and Penelope (Penelope); 5 - Hannah Shea and appeared as a featured artist in Lee Mingwei’s exhibit 6 - Luke Sutliff Sonic Blossom with the Metropolitan Museum’s MetLiveArts. Fox’s honors include being named a Grand Finalist in the 7 - Eric Taylor Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions, a first place winner of the Joan Taub Ades Vocal Competition, a semi-finalist 8 - Emily Treigle in the Elizabeth Connell Prize for Dramatic Sopranos, and a 9 - Ángel Vargas recipient of the Lotte Lenya Competition Emerging Artist award. An alumna of the Chautauqua Opera and Opera Saratoga young artist programs, Fox holds a Master of Music degree in Opera Studies from the Manhattan School of Music. AARON CROUCH BRITTANY LOGAN Tenor—Bowie, MD Soprano—Garden Grove, CA Aaron Crouch is a recent graduate of the Curtis Institute of Music in Brittany Logan received her Bachelor Philadelphia, where his roles included of Music degree from the California Prunier in Puccini’s , Lensky State University, Long Beach and in Tchaikovsky’s Eugene Onegin, her Master of Music degree from and Don Ottavio in Mozart’s Don Giovanni. Crouch was a Gold the University of Cincinnati College- Medalist at the National YoungArts Foundation in 2017, a first Conservatory of Music (CCM). She place winner in the 2017 Sue Goetz Ross Memorial Competition, is a former Young Artist at Cincinnati Opera, where her credits and a first place winner in the 2017 Classical Singer Music Vocal included productions of , Roméo et Juliette, Competition. He received an encouragement award from the and Le nozze di Figaro, among others. She maintains a busy Premiere Opera Foundation’s International Vocal Competition in schedule in concert and recital, including several recent 2018, and an Emerging Artist Award from Opera Index in 2019. engagements as guest soloist with the CCM Philharmonia. In past summers, Crouch has attended the Chautauqua Institute, Logan is proponent of new and contemporary music whose where he performed the role of Nemorino in Donizetti’s L’elisir past projects include Matthew Aucoin’s Eurydice, Gregory d’amore. In 2019, Crouch was a Young Artist at The Glimmerglass Spears’s Castor and Patience (Cincinnati Opera), and Philip Festival, where he debuted the role of The Son in the world Glass’s The Perfect American (Long Beach Opera). A former premiere of ’s opera, Blue. He is a 2017 and 2019 Studio Artist with Wolf Trap Opera, she is a Metropolitan Opera alumnus of HGO’s Young Artists Vocal Academy. National Council Connecticut District Winner and a recipient of CCM’s Seybold-Russell Award and Corbett Opera Scholarship. She currently studies with Dr. Gwendolyn Coleman.

9 set to make his debut in the role of Elder McLean in Susannah KEY’MON W. MURRAH at Opera Theatre of Saint Louis, but that was canceled due —Louisville, KY to COVID-19. At the Shepherd School, he has appeared as Kaiser Overall in Der Kaiser von Atlantis and Johannes Zegner Key’mon W. Murrah holds a Bachelor in Proving Up. He holds a Bachelor of Music degree from the of Arts in Arts Administration with a , where he studied with the late Sanford Sylvan minor in Music from the University and made his Alice Tully Hall debut performing Fauré’s L’horizon of Kentucky. Last year Murray chimérique. In past summers, Sutliff performed the roles of toured with the American Spiritual Demetrius in A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Belcore in Ensemble and was a young artist at the Glimmerglass Festival. L’elisir d’amore at the Chautauqua Institute. In 2019, he was selected to participate in a Masterclass with

Joyce DiDonato at ’s Weill Music Institute, and ERIC TAYLOR sang Vivaldi’s Montezuma with the America Baroque Opera Co. In 2018, he sang in Handel’s Giulio Cesare with the Red Tenor—Saint George, UT River Lyric Opera. His honors include being named first place winner in the Camille Coloratura Competition, a semi-finalist Eric Taylor is currently pursuing his in the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions, and Master of Music degree at Rice the Grand Prize winner of the Premiere Opera Foundation + University, where he has performed NYIOP International Vocal Competition, all in 2020. In 2018, the roles of Sam Polk in Susannah he won the Encouragement Award at the Metropolitan Opera and Tito in La clemenza di Tito. While Council Central District Auditions, and won second place in pursuing his undergraduate degree in music at Westminster the Emerging Soloists Competition. In 2021, Murrah will join College, he performed several leading roles, including Nemorino the Studio Artist Program at the Grand Opera and sing in L’elisir d’amore and Rodolfo in La bohème, in addition to Bertarido from Handel’s as a Fleming Artist at Aspen appearing in with Salt Lake City’s Ballet West. Music Festival. Taylor has participated in Apprentice Artist programs with Santa Fe Opera, Central City Opera, and Utah Lyric Opera. He had been HANNAH SHEA set to perform in Santa Fe Opera’s Tristan und Isolde and HGO’s Mezzo-soprano—Harrisburg, PA Werther and this season, but those engagements were canceled due to COVID-19. He was named a semi-finalist at the Hannah Shea is currently pursuing Metropolitan Opera’s National Council Auditions in 2017. her Master of Music degree at Rice University’s Shepherd School EMILY TREIGLE of Music. In 2020, she was a Mezzo-soprano—New Orleans, LA finalist in the Opera Festival’s Mildred Miller International Voice Competition, the Emily Treigle is currently pursuing Houston Saengerbund Awards, and the Grand Concours Vocal her Master of Music degree at Competition in Austin. Shea recently sang the role of Nelda in Rice University’s Shepherd School the Shepherd School’s production of Taking Up Serpents by of Music, where she received her Kamala Sankaram and performed as a Street Singer Soloist Bachelor of Music degree last year. in Bernstein’s Mass at the Brevard Music Center. Other roles This spring, she will cover the title include Fidalma in Cimarosa’s Il matrimonio segreto, the Third role of L’enfant in L’enfant et les Sortilèges at Rice. In November, Lady in Mozart’s The Magic Flute, and Prince Orlofsky in J. Treigle was named a District Winner in the Metropolitan Opera Strauss’s Die Fledermaus, all at Carnegie Mellon University, National Council Auditions, and she will continue on to the Gulf where she received her bachelor’s degree in vocal performance. Coast region competition this spring. In summer 2021, she She is a 2019 alumnus of HGO’s Young Artists Vocal Academy. plans to return to Wolf Trap Opera as a Studio Artist for a second summer. In 2019, Treigle trained with HGO’s Young Artist Vocal LUKE SUTLIFF Academy and participated in the Aspen Music Festival, where —Littleton, CO she portrayed Madame Armfeldt in A Little Night Music. Previous roles include Bradamante in and Mrs. Ott in Susannah, an Luke Sutliff is currently pursuing opera made famous by her grandfather, world-renowned bass- his Master of Music degree at Rice baritone . She is a student of Dr. Stephen King. University’s Shepherd School of Music, studying under the tutelage of Dr. Stephen King. Sutliff will be joining Santa Fe Opera as an Apprentice Artist in summer 2021. Last summer, he had been

10 ÁNGEL VARGAS Tenor—San Juan, Puerto Rico

Ángel Vargas is currently a Studio Artist at The Mascarade Opera Studio in Florence, Italy. He was a Gerdine Young Artist at Opera Theatre of Saint Louis’s summer festivals in 2018 and 2019, singing in the world premiere of Huang Ruo’s An American Soldier in 2018. As a fellow with the Aspen Music Festival, Vargas sang Spalazani in Les contes d’Hoffmann. He also has interpreted the roles of Gherardo (Gianni Schicchi), Vašek (The Bartered Bride), Elder Gleaton (Susannah), and the Commissaire (Dialogues des Carmélites), and has covered the roles of the Duke (Rigoletto) and Hoffmann (Les contes d’Hoffmann). In the 2016 Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions, Vargas was a winner in the Puerto Rico District and advanced to be a finalist in the Gulf Coast region. In 2019, he graduated with a Master of Music degree in Vocal Performance from Rice University’s Shepherd School of Music. Vargas will make his company debut of Rinuccio in The New Generation Festival’s production of Gianni Schicchi in September 2021.

11 HOUSTON GRAND OPERA STUDIO ARTISTS RAVEN MCMILLON in The Marriage of Figaro at Opera Theatre of Saint Louis as Soprano—Baltimore, MD a Gerdine Young Artist and returned to the Tanglewood Music Center as a soprano fellow. In the summer of 2020, she was HGO Digital appearances: Rona set to make her Santa Fe Opera debut as First Wood Sprite Richards in The Impresario; Gretel in Rusalka, but this was canceled due to COVID-19. She will in Hansel and Gretel; Peter in The return to Opera Theatre of Saint Louis this summer as Lauretta Making of The Snowy Day, an Opera in Gianni Schicchi. for All; Giving Voice. First-year HGO Studio artist. LINDSAY KATE BROWN Mezzo-soprano—Waterloo, NY Underwriter: Brenda Harvey-Traylor HGO Digital appearance: Gertrud in Raven McMillon received her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Vocal Hansel and Gretel. Third-year HGO Performance at Carnegie Mellon University and completed Studio artist. her graduate degree at the University of Cincinnati College - Conservatory of Music (CCM). Her opera credits include Adele Previously at HGO: Giovanna in Die Fledermaus; the title role in Goldie B. Locks and the in Rigoletto; Second Lady in The Magic Flute (COVID-19 Three Singing Bears; Linfea in ; and Barbarina in cancellation). Third prize winner in HGO’s 2018 Eleanor Le nozze di Figaro. In addition to her opera credits, McMillon McCollum Competition Concert of Arias. has also workshopped new roles such as Mary in Chiao’s The Secret Codes of Mary Bowser and Lucy in Picker’s Awakenings. Underwriters: Mr. and Mrs. James W. Crownover / Lynn Gissel Her recent roles included La Princesse in L’enfant et les sortilèges with the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra and Last year Lindsay Kate Brown won first place in the Upper Papagena in Die Zauberflöte at CCM in the summer of 2020, Midwest Region of The Metropolitan Opera National Council which were canceled due to COVID-19. Auditions and competed in the national Grand Finals. She earned an Artist Diploma at Rice University and made ELENA VILLALÓN her professional debut with Tri-Cities Opera in 2014. In Soprano—Austin, TX summer 2018, she was a young artist at Des Moines Metro Opera, where she reprised the role of Ma Moss in HGO Digital appearances: Farinelli’s Copland’s The Tender Land and covered the role of Ježibaba Trainer in Vinkensport; Amy in The in Dvořák’s Rusalka. In 2019 she sang the role of the Making of The Snowy Day, an Opera Composer in Ariadne auf Naxos with Wolf Trap Opera. for All; Dew Fairy and Sandman in She will join Santa Fe Opera this summer as an apprentice Hansel and Gretel. Second-year HGO artist, performing the role of Hippolyta in A Midsummer Studio artist. Night’s Dream.

Previously at HGO: Page in Rigoletto; Woman in selected SUN-LY PIERCE performances of the world premiere of El Milagro del Mezzo-soprano—Clinton, NY Recuerdo/The Miracle of Remembering; Inez in La favorite. Audience Choice Award winner in HGO’s 2019 Eleanor HGO Digital appearance: Hansel in McCollum Competition Concert of Arias. Alumna of HGO’s Hansel and Gretel. First-year HGO Young Artists Vocal Academy (2018). Studio artist.

Underwriters: Dian and Harlan Stai Previously at HGO: First prize winner in HGO’s 2020 Eleanor McCollum Competition Concert of Arias. Elena Villalón was a Grand Finals winner of the 2019 Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions. She is a recent Underwriters: Charlene and Chuck Nickson/Tracy Maddox and graduate of the University of Cincinnati College - Conservatory John Serpe of Music (CCM), has been a vocal fellow at the Tanglewood Music Center, and is an alumna of HGO’s 2018 Young Artist Originally from Clinton, NY, Chinese American mezzo-soprano Vocal Academy. In summer 2019, she performed Barbarina Sun-Ly Pierce completed the graduate vocal arts program at

12 the Bard College Conservatory of Music and holds a bachelor’s obtained his Bachelor of Music in voice degree from the degree in vocal performance from the Eastman School of University of Kentucky School of Music and recently completed Music. As a winner of the Marilyn Horne Song Competition, his Master of Music degree at Rice University’s Shepherd Pierce was set to perform on an international recital tour with School of Music. Denson was a studio artist at Wolf Trap Opera pianist Chien-Lin Lu featuring the premiere of a new song in 2018 and was set to return to Wolf Trap Opera for a second cycle by two-time Grammy Award–winning composer Jennifer season in the summer of 2020 to perform the Commander Higdon, which was canceled due to COVID-19. In the fall of and cover the title role in Eugene Onegin, as well as cover the 2019, Pierce joined the Broad Street Orchestra as Dorinda in role of Marcello in La bohème, but those productions were Handel’s Acis and Galatea. She was set to return to the Music canceled due to COVID-19. Academy of the West last summer as a 2020 Vocal Fellow, but this was canceled due to COVID-19. NICHOLAS NEWTON Bass-baritone—San Diego, CA RICARDO GARCIA Tenor—Castro Valley, CA HGO Digital appearances: Daddy/ Tim in The Making of The Snowy HGO Digital appearances: Hans Day, an Opera for All; Giving Voice. Sach’s Trainer in Vinkensport; The Second-year HGO Studio artist. Making of The Snowy Day, an Opera for All; Suite Española: Explorando Previously at HGO: Monterone in Iberia. First-year HGO Studio artist. Rigoletto; Second Soldier in Salome (COVID-19 cancellation). Third prize winner in HGO’s 2019 Eleanor McCollum Underwriters: Michelle Beale and Dick Anderson/Dr. Ellen Gritz Competition Concert of Arias. Alumnus of Young Artists Vocal and Mickey Rosenau Academy (2016).

Ricardo Garcia recently completed his Master of Music in Underwriters: Nancy Haywood/Kathy Moore and Steve Homer/ Voice at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music (SFCM) Jill and Allyn Risley and holds a Bachelor of Music in Voice from the University of the Pacific. He was a studio artist at Wolf Trap Opera, where Nicholas Newton’s notable performances include the roles he covered Roméo in Roméo et Juliette and Giocondo in La of Count Ceprano in Rigoletto and Capulet (cover) in Roméo pietra del paragone, and a voice fellow with Music Academy of et Juliette with Wolf Trap Opera, Achilla in Julius Caesar at the West, where he sang Jenik in The Bartered Bride. Recent Rice University, and L’arbre and Le fauteuil in L’enfant et les roles include Lamplighter/Drunkard in The Little Prince and sortilèges at the Aspen Music Festival. Newton was a 2019 Fenton in . As a first-year apprentice at Santa Fe Opera, national semifinalist in the Metropolitan Opera National Council he covered Parpignol in La bohème and sang Fenton and Auditions and the first-place winner in the 2018 Virginia & Normanno in the Apprentice Scenes Night. Recently, Garcia Susan Hawk Competition. In summer 2019, he sang Monterone won the San Francisco District of the Metropolitan Opera in Rigoletto with Opera Theatre of Saint Louis. In the summer of National Council Auditions and advanced to the region finals in 2020, he had been set to return to Wolf Trap Opera as Colline Los Angeles. This summer, he will sing the role of Grimoaldo in in La bohème, but that production was canceled due Rodelinda at the Aspen Music Festival. to COVID-19.

BLAKE DENSON CORY MCGEE Baritone—Paducah, KY Bass—Stafford, VA

HGO Digital appearances: Giving HGO Digital appearances: Billy in The Voice; Peter in Hansel and Gretel; Making of The Snowy Day, an Opera Suite Española: Explorando Iberia. for All; Giving Voice. First-year HGO First-year HGO Studio artist. Studio artist.

Previously at HGO: 2018 Alumnus of Previously at HGO: Second prize HGO’s Young Artists Vocal Academy. winner in HGO’s 2020 Eleanor McCollum Competition Concert of Arias. Underwriters: Drs. Elizabeth Grimm and Jack Roth/Carolyn Levy/Gloria Portela and Dick Evans. Underwriter: Beth Madison

Blake Denson was a Grand Finals winner in the 2020 Cory McGee recently completed his Master of Music degree at Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions and is a 2018 Rice University’s Shepherd School of Music. In summer 2019, alumnus of HGO’s Young Artists Vocal Academy (YAVA). He he joined Santa Fe Opera as an apprentice artist, portraying

13 the role of the Gardener in Ruder’s The Thirteenth Child. In pianist with the Aspen Opera Center, where he worked on 2018 he was a studio artist with Wolf Trap Opera, where Il barbiere di Siviglia; he returned to Aspen in the summer he played La Voce in Mozart’s and Ranger Nat in of 2019. He received his Master of Music degree in Vocal David Hanlon’s children’s opera, Listen, Wilhelmina!, and Coaching and Accompanying from the University of Illinois. was a soloist in “Bernstein at 100 – A Celebration.” Recent Previous engagements include the Bay View Music Festival engagements include the title role in Le nozze di Figaro and (Carmen), where he returned in 2019 as a faculty pianist for its Pandolfe in Massenet’s Cendrillon (Oberlin Opera Theater) two-week opera and art song program. He appeared with tenor and Leporello in Don Giovanni (Oberlin in Italy). He will return Richard Trey Smagur in a recital of Schumann’s Dichterliebe at to Santa Fe this summer for a second summer as an apprentice Houston’s Jones Hall in a program presented by the Houston artist, performing the role of Theseus in A Midsummer Symphony. In the summer of 2020, he served as a coaching Night’s Dream. fellow at Wolf Trap Opera. WILLIAM GUANBO SU BIN YU SANFORD Bass—Beijing, China Pianist/coach—Seoul, Korea

HGO Digital appearance: Bowie HGO Digital appearances: Coach Krebs in The Impresario. Second- for The Impresario and The Making year HGO Studio artist. of The Snowy Day, an Opera for All. She will also appear with HGO Previously at HGO: Usher in Rigoletto; Studio singers in recitals and other Fifth Jew in Salome (COVID-19 cancellation); Second Armored performances. First-year HGO Studio artist. Man in The Magic Flute (COVID-19 cancellation). Second place winner in HGO’s 2019 Eleanor McCollum Competition Concert Underwriters: Stephanie Larsen/Lynn Des Prez/ of Arias. Valerie and Miguel Miro-Quesada

Underwriters: Anne and Albert Chao Bin Yu Sanford has established herself as a solo pianist, vocal coach, and chamber musician. Yu Sanford earned her Master William Guanbo Su is a Grand Finals Winner of the 2019 of Music in Solo Piano Performance and an Artist Diploma Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions. He has been in Opera Coaching at the University of Cincinnati College - a Gerdine Young Artist at Opera Theatre of Saint Louis and Conservatory of Music (CCM). Recently, she was selected as a voice fellow at the Aspen Music Festival. He has studied one of the vocal piano fellows at Music Academy of the West, German lieder at the Franz Schubert Institute in Vienna, and in where she worked on Jennifer Higdon’s Cold Mountain. From 2017 won first prize in the Gerda Lissner Lieder Competition. 2017–20, Yu Sanford served as a graduate assistant in the During the summer of 2019, he sang Count Ceprano in Verdi’s opera department at CCM. She was the first prize winner of Rigoletto with Opera Theatre of Saint Louis as a Gerdine Young the Pennsylvania MTNA Young Artist Piano Competition. In the Artist. This summer, he will return to Aspen to sing Sarastro in summer of 2020, she was scheduled to join the Glimmerglass The Magic Flute and Garibaldo in Rodelinda. Festival as an apprentice pianist, however the festival was canceled due to COVID-19. ALEX MUNGER Pianist/coach—New Berlin, Wisconsin

HGO Digital appearances: Coach for Vinkensport and Hansel and Gretel. He will also appear with HGO Studio singers in recitals and other performances. Second-year HGO Studio artist.

Previously at HGO: Coach for Rigoletto, La favorite, and The Magic Flute (COVID-19 cancellation). He also appeared with HGO Studio singers in recital and other performances.

Underwriters: Saúl and Ursula Balagura/Trey Yates

Alex Munger previously served as a staff pianist at the University of Illinois, where he helped prepare La bohème and The Rape of Lucretia. In 2018, Munger was a fellowship

14 ABOUT THE HGO STUDIO

Pictured from left to right: Current HGO Studio artists Sun-Ly Pierce, Bin Yu Sanford, Cory McGee, Ricardo Garcia, Nicholas Newton, Elena Villalón, William Guanbo Su, Alex Munger, Blake Denson, Raven McMillon, and Lindsay Kate Brown.

The Eleanor McCollum competition is a crucial recruitment tool for the Houston Grand Opera Studio, one of the most highly respected and prestigious young artist programs in the world. For over 40 years, the HGO Studio has served young singers and pianist/coaches who have completed their academic training and are preparing to embark on full-fledged operatic careers. Each year after an exhaustive international search, a hand-selected group of the most exceptionally talented individuals is brought here to Houston to work on the mainstage and in recital alongside the best in the business at Houston Grand Opera. During a residency of up to three years, each performer collaborates with an expert team while gaining invaluable experience at the highest professional level. Alumni of the HGO Studio perform at the best opera houses around the world—and internationally renowned artists such as Joyce DiDonato, Jamie Barton, Ana María Martínez, Ryan McKinny, and Tamara Wilson still regularly return to their home stage at HGO. For many, the HGO Studio is just the beginning of a lifelong relationship with the company.

HGO STUDIO SUPPORTERS

In addition to those that underwrite our current HGO Studio The Gordon and Mary Cain Foundation Endowment Fund artists, the HGO Studio receives generous support from Sylvia Thomas Capshaw Endowment Fund Barnes and Jim Trimble, Mr. Patrick Carfizzi, Brenda Harvey- James J. Drach Endowment Fund Traylor, Jerry and Sharyn Metcalf, Mr. and Mrs. Richard Reynolds, The Evans Family and Janet Sims. Carol Lynn Lay Fletcher Endowment Fund William Randolph Hearst Endowed Scholarship Fund The HGO Studio is grateful for the in-kind support of the Texas Charlotte Howe Memorial Scholarship Fund Voice Center. Elva Lobit Opera Endowment Fund Marian and Speros Martel Foundation Endowment Fund The Young Artists Vocal Academy (YAVA) is generously Erin Gregory Neale Endowment Fund underwritten by Mr. and Mrs. Robert N. Wakefield and the HGO Dr. Mary Joan Nish and Patricia Bratsas Endowed Fund Guild. Additional support for YAVA is provided by Mr. Patrick John M. O’Quinn Foundation Endowed Fellowship Fund Carfizzi, Gwyneth Campbell, and Dr. David and Mrs. Norine Gill. Shell Lubricants (formerly Pennzoil–Quaker State Company) Fund HGO thanks Magnolia Houston for outstanding support of the Mary C. Gayler Snook Endowment Fund HGO Studio and YAVA programs. Tenneco, Inc., Endowment Fund Weston-Cargill Endowed Fund Additional support for the Houston Grand Opera Studio is provided by the following funds within the Houston Grand Opera Endowment, Inc.:

15 WINNERS

YEAR NAME AWARD YEAR NAME AWARD

1989 Eric Perkins 1st Place 1999 Michael Maniaci 1st Place Kyle Ketelsen 2nd Place 1990 Mark Oswald 1st Place Twyla Robinson 3rd Place Bradley Garvin 2nd Place Kyle Ketelsen Audience Choice Jennifer Jones 2nd Place Roy Cornelius 2nd Place 2000 Barbara Quintiliani 1st Place Joshua Winograde 2nd Place 1991 Patricia S. Johnson 1st Place Anna Christy 3rd Place Arturo Valencia 2nd Place Anna Christy Audience Choice Kelly Anderson 3rd Place 2001 Janette Zilioli 1st Place 1992 Mary Dunleavy 1st Place Kristine Winkler 2nd Place Yvonne Gonzales 2nd Place Katherine Rohrer 3rd Place Anita Krause 3rd Place Janette Zilioli Audience Choice

1993 Margaret Lattimore 1st Place 2002 Laquita Mitchell 1st Place Zheng Cao 2nd Place Marjorie Owens 2nd Place Olga Makarina 3rd Place Nicholas Phan 3rd Place Laquita Mitchell Audience Choice 1994 Ana María Martínez 1st Place Alicia Berneche 2nd Place 2003 Arturo Chacón-Cruz 1st Place Stephanie Blythe 3rd Place Jennifer Black 2nd Place Jennifer Root 3rd Place 1995 Helen Todd 1st Place Arturo Chacón-Cruz Audience Choice Gabriel González Juárez 2nd Place Nicole Heaston 3rd Place 2004 1st Place Nicole Heaston Audience Choice Alexander Tall 2nd Place Kyle Albertson 3rd Place 1996 Monique McDonald 1st Place Corey Bix 3rd Place Joyce DiDonato 2nd Place Alexander Tall Audience Choice Misha Royzen 3rd Place Arturo Rodriguez Audience Choice 2005 Tamara Wilson 1st Place Jordan Bisch 2nd Place 1997 Karen Henrikson 1st Place Ryan McKinny 3rd Place Alfred Walker III 2nd Place Liam Bonner Audience Choice Jennifer Davison 3rd Place Tiffany Jackson 3rd Place 2006 Maria Markina 1st Place Tiffany Jackson Audience Choice Alicia Gianni 2nd Place Cortez Mitchell 3rd Place 1998 Chen-Ye Yuan 1st Place Alicia Gianni Audience Choice Alexandra Deshorties 2nd Place Troy Cook 3rd Place 2007 Faith Sherman 1st Place Chen-Ye Yuan Audience Choice James J. Kee 2nd Place Jamie Barton 3rd Place James J. Kee Audience Choice

16 YEAR NAME AWARD YEAR NAME AWARD

2008 Caitlin Lynch 1st Place 2016 Madison Leonard 1st Place Joélle Harvey 2nd Place Zoie Reams 2nd Place Octavio Moreno 3rd Place Alexandra Razskazoff 3rd Place Caitlin Lynch Audience Choice Yelena Dyachek Ana María Martínez Encouragement Award 2009 Rachel Willis-Sørensen 1st Place Sol Jin Audience Choice Catherine Martin 2nd Place Michael Sumuel 3rd Place 2017 Aryeh Nussbaum Cohen 1st Place Jung Nan Yoon 3rd Place Nicolette Book 2nd Place Nathaniel Peake Audience Choice Thomas Glass 3rd Place Siphokazi Moltena Ana María Martínez 2010 Anthony Roth Costanzo 1st Place Encouragement Award Devon Guthrie 2nd Place Siphokazi Moltena Audience Choice Boris Dyakov 3rd Place Geoffrey Hahn Online Viewers’ Choice Anthony Roth Costanzo Audience Choice 2018 Leia Lensing 1st Place 2011 Mark Diamond 1st Place Dorothy Gal 2nd Place Thomas Florio 2nd Place Lindsay Kate Brown 3rd Place Lauren Snouffer 3rd Place Liv Redpath Ana María Martínez Adam Lau Audience Choice Encouragement Award Liv Redpath Audience Choice 2012 Andrea Carroll 1st Place Leia Lensing Online Viewers’ Choice Natalya Romaniw 2nd Place Peixin Chen 3rd Place 2019 William Meinert 1st Place Andrea Carroll Audience Choice William Guanbo Su 2nd Place Nicholas Newton 3rd Place 2013 Thomas Richards 1st Place Yunuet Laguna Ana María Martínez Sydney Mancasola 2nd Place Encouragement Award Sarah Larsen 3rd Place Elena Villalón Audience Choice Sydney Mancasola Audience Choice Katherine DeYoung Online Viewers’ Choice

2014 D’Ana Lombard 1st Place 2020 Sun-Ly Pierce 1st Place Amanda Woodbury 2nd Place Cory McGee 2nd Place Sofia Selowsky 3rd Place Angel Romero 3rd Place Amanda Woodbury Audience Choice Tatiana Carlos Ana María Martínez Encouragement Award 2015 Mané Galoyan 1st Place Angel Romero Audience Choice Chris Bozeka 2nd Place Laureano Quant Online Viewers’ Choice Federico De Michelis 3rd Place Yongzhao Yu Ana María Martínez Encouragement Award Yongzhao Yu Audience Choice

17 2020-21 HGO STUDIO Raymond Gnanwo Hounfodji Assistant Producer FACULTY & STAFF French Instructor Ciara Ayala Brian Speck Kristine McIntyre Stage Manager Director Showcase Director Brian August

Miah Im 2020-21 HGO STUDIO Production Manager Music Director COMMITTEE Kristen Burke

Jamie Gelfand Dr. Ellen R. Gritz, Chair Stage Director for HGO Studio Studio Manager Jack A. Roth, M.D., Vice Chair Performance Robin Angly Tara Faircloth Carlisle Floyd Philip A. Bahr Artistic Advisor Dr. Saúl Balagura Lighting Designer Michelle Beale Michael James Clark Stephen King Larissa Bither Director of Vocal Instruction Melinda Brunger English Subtitles Sponsored by Jill and Allyn Risley, Patrick Carfizzi Jeremy Johnson Janet Sims, and the James J. Drach Molly Crownover Endowment Fund Dr. Warren A. Ellsworth IV Technical & Safety Director Lynn Gissel Joshua C. McIntosh Patrick Summers Sandy Godfrey Conducting Instructor and Coach Brenda Harvey-Traylor Assistant Technical Director Margaret Alkek Williams Chair Nancy Haywood Joseph Farley Steve Homer Ana María Martínez Marianne Kah Social Media Artistic Advisor Stephanie Larsen Tyme Powell, Emily Sitton Richard Leibman Peter Pasztor, Principal Coach Carolyn J. Levy Piano Provided by Sponsored by Mr. and Mrs. James A. Beth Madison Da Camera Elkins Jr. Endowment Fund Kathleen Moore Charlene Nickson Program Editor Kirill Kuzmin Gloria Portela Catherine Matusow Assistant Conductor Allyn Risley Janet Sims Program Designers Kevin J. Miller Dian Stai Chelsea Crouse, Tamila Amanzholova Assistant Conductor Harlan Stai Kathy Stout The entire staff of HGO contributed to Brian Connelly John G. Turner the success of this production. For a full Piano Instructor Robert N. Wakefield listing of the company’s staff, please Trey Yates visit HGO.org/aboutus/people. Tara Faircloth Drama Coach CONCERT OF ARIAS 2020-21 PRODUCTION Philip Lehl City Kitchen Catering Acting Coach STAFF Kirksey Gregg Productions Adam Noble Executive Producer Movement Instructor Daniel James Produced in association with Austin Opera Christa Gaug Director German Instructor Ben Doyle, BEND Productions

Enrica Vagliani Gray Producers Italian Instructor Dale Edwards, Natalie Barron Sponsored by Marsha Montemayor

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