The Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions UPPER MIDWEST REGION

MINNESOTA DISTRICT AUDITIONS

February 18, 2017 10:00 a.m. Benson Great Hall Bethel University

www.metauditionsmn.org

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MISSION STATEMENT

To discover exceptional young talent and provide a venue for young opera singers across North America at all levels of development, to be heard by representatives of the Metropolitan Opera and to assist those with the greatest potential for operatic careers.

The Auditions: General Information

• Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions are held annually in 42 Districts and 12 Regions throughout the continental United States, in addition to one District in Canada and one in Puerto Rico. Singers compete first in District Auditions; winners advance to Region Auditions. • Approximately 20 winners of the Region Auditions are brought to New York for musical preparation with the Metropolitan Opera’s music staff. On Sunday, March 12, 2017, these singers audition with piano in the National Semi-Finals on the stage of the Metropolitan Opera. • Approximately 8-10 of the Semi-Finalists will be selected as National Finalists. These singers will compete the following Sunday, March 19, 2017, in the Grand Finals Concert, accompanied by the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra. • Semi-Finalists each receive $2,500; Finalists each receive $5,000; Winners each receive $15,000.

Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions Mitchell L. Lathrop, President Camille LaBarre, National Auditions Chairperson Gayletha Nichols, Executive Director Melissa Wegner, Associate Director Eric Owens, National Advisor

Minnesota Committee Connie Fullmer, Region Co-Chair and Minnesota District Director Jimmy Longoria, Region Co-Chair and Finance Director Christine Carvell, Communications Director James R. Nash, Media Director

Katelyn Belden Cheryl Dickson Sandi Horn Pamela Jaime Bonilla Charles Frank Leo Lopez Sohriakoff Jackie Bussjaeger Tomás Hardy Georgiana Ruzich Mimi Stewart Nikole Cairns Anna Hashizume James Smith Terry Stewart Shirley Hetherington Terese Weitzel

Upper Midwest Region - District Directors Iowa Co-directors Sara Compton, Donald Simonson Nebraska Co-directors Laura Burton Franz, Adrienne Dickson North Dakota-Manitoba Co-directors Louise Pinkerton, Royce Blackburn Wisconsin Co-directors Kathy Pyeatt, Tanya Kruse Ruck, Colleen Brooks Johns

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JUDGES

The judges will select as many singers as they deem qualified to advance to the Upper Midwest Region Auditions on February 19, 2017. Monetary awards will be determined by the judges. Margo Garrett Pianist Margo Garrett is well known to audiences for her frequent performances in chamber, sonata and vocal recitals. The large roster of internationally-known artists with whom she has long performing relationships include sopranos Kathleen Battle, Barbara Bonney, the late Judith Raskin, Lucy Shelton, Dawn Upshaw, Benita Valente, mezzo Shirley Close, tenor Anthony Dean Griffey, flutist, Julia Bogorad-Kogan, violinists Jaime Laredo and Daniel Phillips, violist Paul Neubauer, and cellists Sharon Robinson, Matt Haimowitz, and the late Stephen Kates. Her recordings can be found on Albany, CRI, Delos, Deutsche Grammophon (1992 Grammy for Best Vocal Recital), Dorian, Musical Heritage Society, Nonesuch, Sony Classical and Ten Thousand Lakes. Ms. Garrett has premiered over 30 works, won an ASCAP Most Creative Programming Award (1989), headed collaborative piano programs at the University of Minnesota, The Juilliard School and New England Conservatory. She has traveled the globe giving master classes in leading schools of music and adjudicating international competitions.

Thomas Muraco Thomas Muraco has earned accolades throughout the United States, Canada, Central America, Europe, and Asia for his technical virtuosity, tonal beauty, and a unique understanding of the underlying poetry of music.

Mr. Muraco has partnered such singers as Martina Arroyo, Phyllis Curtin, Faith Esham, Maureen Forrester, Denyce Graves, Ben Heppner, Roberta Peters, Hermann Prey, and Dolora Zajick among many others. Highlights of his career include appearances at The White House, the Library of Congress, the Aspen, Banff, Bermuda, Casals, Cincinnati May and Ravinia Festivals, and major concert halls, museums, universities and cultural centers throughout the US, Europe and Asia.

Maestro Muraco has worked with opera companies world-wide and has conducted: La Bohème, Lakmé, La Traviata, Bachianas Brasileiras # 5, Carmen, La Cenerentola, Die Zauberflöte, Idomeneo, Madama Butterfly, Don Giovanni, Dialogues des Carmélites, Il Tabarro, Gianni Schicchi, Nabucco, Merlin of Goldmark, Rigoletto, Falstaff, Lucia di Lammermoor, Faust, Hänsel und Gretel, Capuleti ed i Montecchi, Luisa Miller, Die Entführung aus dem Serail.

In addition to his busy performing schedule, Mr. Muraco is presently on the faculty of the Manhattan School of Music where he trains pianists in the art of accompanying and coaching, as well as singers in all aspects of the art.

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Brian Speck Brian Speck is Director of the Houston Grand Opera Studio, where he is responsible for selection, training, and career development of the Studio’s singers and pianist-coaches, serves on the company’s senior management team, and oversees HGO’s Young Artists Vocal Academy, a week-long intensive program for undergraduate singers. After joining HGO in 2012 as Artist Liaison, he advanced to the position of Company Manager, leading HGO’s newly formed Company Office to coordinate all day-to-day rehearsal activities of the company and support its guest artists. In addition to hearing hundreds of singers each year in consideration for the HGO Studio, Mr. Speck has served as a judge for the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions and Opera Columbus’s Cooper-Bing Vocal Competition. Prior to his appointment at HGO, he held administrative positions with Aspen Opera Theater Center and Houston Public Media. He holds degrees in music from Pepperdine University and Rice University.

OFFICIAL COLLABORATIVE PIANISTS Pianist Mary Jo Gothmann enjoys a varied career as a chamber musician, soloist, opera coach, and organist. A passionate chamber musician, Mary Jo is the founder and Artistic Director of the JOYA chamber music series at Zion Lutheran Church in Anoka, Minnesota; and also is a member of the Hill House Chamber Players. Some recent chamber music engagements have included performances with the Minnesota Orchestra, Chamber Music Society of Minnesota, Bakken Trio, Music at Trinity, Colonial Chamber Music Series, Lakes Area Music Festival, and the Taos Chamber Music Group. Mary Jo performs frequently with the Minnesota Orchestra and St. Paul Chamber Orchestra. She has appeared with EOS Orchestra in New York City and as piano soloist with the New Mexico Symphony Orchestra and the St. Paul Civic Orchestra. She has worked for the Metropolitan Opera, Santa Fe Opera, and Minnesota Opera; and has performed recitals with singers from the Metropolitan Opera as well as with instrumentalists from many of the country's major symphony orchestras. Mary Jo is a graduate of the Metropolitan Opera Lindemann Young Artist Program, University of Minnesota, New England Conservatory, and St. Olaf College.

Eric McEnaney enjoys a multifaceted career as one of America’s foremost opera pianists and vocal coaches, having assisted on the musical preparation of more than 90 productions for companies throughout the country. He maintains active associations with Florentine Opera Company as Principal Pianist and Coach, Minnesota Opera as Master Coach, and Central City Opera as Assistant Conductor, and has worked as a guest coach for Opera Theatre of Saint Louis, Virginia Opera, Opera Southwest, Skylark Opera, and Lyric Opera of the North, among others. Dr. McEnaney is an alumnus of young artist programs at Music Academy of the West, Wolf Trap Opera Company, Des Moines Metro Opera, and Minnesota Opera, and maintains a private coaching studio in Minneapolis, where he also resides.

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PROGRAM

1. Emily Dyer, Soprano Ach, ich fühl’s DIE ZAUBERFLÖTE Mozart Je dis que rien ne m’épouvante CARMEN Bizet O sleep, why dost thou leave me? SEMELE Handel Quando m'en vo LA BOHEME Puccini Steal me, sweet thief THE OLD MAID AND THE THIEF Menotti

2. Samantha Schmid, Soprano Mi tradì quell'alma ingrate DON GIOVANNI Mozart In quelle trine morbide MANON LESCAUT Puccini Je dis que rien ne m’épouvante CARMEN Bizet Ó marno, marno to je RUSALKA Dvorák I've dreamt in my life WUTHERING HEIGHTS Floyd

3. Tyler Williams, Tenor Ach! so fromm, ach so traut MARTHA Flotow Una Furtiva Lagrima L'ELISIR D'AMORE Donizetti La Rêve - En ferment les yeux MANON Massenet Vainement ma bien aimee LE ROI D'YS Lalo Outside this house the world has changed VANESSA Barber

4. Lara Secord-Haid, Soprano Da tempeste GIULIO CESARE Handel The Bell Song - Où va la jeune Hindoue LAKMÉ Delibes Regnava nel silenzio LUCIA DI LAMMERMOOR Donizetti Lied der Lulu LULU Berg Nel grave tormento MITRIDATE Mozart

5. `Lauren Estelle Carter, Mezzo-Soprano Faites-lui mes aveux FAUST Gounod Vedrai, carino DON GIOVANNI Mozart Things change, Jo LITTLE WOMEN Adamo Wie Du warst! DER ROSENKAVALIER Strauss, R. Va! laisse couler mes larmes WERTHER Massenet /

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6. Jeffrey Martin, Baritone Hear me, O Lord SUSANNAH Floyd Eri tu UN BALLO IN MASCHERA Verdi Abendlich strahlt der Sonne Auge DAS RHEINGOLD Wagner Se vuol ballare LE NOZZE DI FIGARO Mozart Nemico della Patria ANDREA CHENIER Giordano

7. Amanda Kasem, Soprano Ah! Je ris de me voir FAUST Gounod Ain’t it a pretty night? SUSANNAH Floyd Or sai chi l'onore DON GIOVANNI Mozart Song to the Moon RUSALKA Dvorák In quelle trine morbide MANON LESCAUT Puccini

8. Emilie Faiella, Soprano Wo bin ich? HÄNSEL UND GRETEL Humperdinck Durch Zärtlichkeit und Schmeicheln DIE ENTFÜHRUNG AUS DEM SERAIL Mozart Ich bin Euer Liebden sehr verbunden DER ROSENKAVALIER Strauss, R. Tornami a vagheggiar ALCINA Handel Sul fil d'un soffio etesio FALSTAF Verdi

9. Tomás Dominguez, Tenor Ecco, ridente in cielo IL BARBIERE DI SIVIGLIA Rossini New York Lights A VIEW FROM THE BRIDGE Bolcom O wie ängstlich DIE ENTFÜHRUNG AUS DEM SERAIL Mozart Povero Ernesto DON PASQUALE Donizetti Salut! demeure chaste et pure FAUST Gounod

10. Amber Gauthier, Soprano Adieu, notre petite table MANON Massenet Ach, ich liebte DIE ENTFÜHRUNG AUS DEM SERAIL Mozart Regnava nel silenzio LUCIA DI LAMMERMOOR Donizetti Ch’il bel sogno di Doretta LA RONDINE Puccini The Silver Aria THE BALLAD OF BABY DOE Moore

11. Rachel Arky, Mezzo-Soprano All'afflitto e dolce il pianto ROBERTO DEVEREUX Donizetti Dido's Lament DIDO AND AENEAS Purcell Non so più LE NOZZE DI FIGARO Mozart Sein wir wieder gut ARIADNE AUF NAXOS R. Strauss En vain pour éviter CARMEN Bizet

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12. Christopher Colmenero, Tenor Ch'ella mì creda libero LA FANCIULLA DEL WEST Puccini Giulietta son io GIULIETTA E ROMEO Zandonai Lennie's Aria OF MICE AND MEN Floyd Neruda's Aria IL POSTINO Catán Pourqoui me reveiller WERTHER Massenet

13. Natalia Salemmo, Soprano Adele's audition aria DIE FLEDERMAUS Strauss, J. I never travel without one…A handmirror POSTCARD FROM MOROCCO Argento Durch Zärtlichkeit und Schmeicheln DIE ENTFÜHRUNG AUS DEM SERAIL Mozart Batti, batti, o bel Masetto DON GIOVANNI Mozart Ah, que ton âme se rassure GUILLAUME TELL Rossini

LUNCH BREAK

14. Robert Erlichman, Tenor Che gelida manina LA BOHEME Puccini Addio fiorito asil MADAMA BUTTERFLY Puccini Du bist die weit fur mich DER SINGENDE TRAUM Tauber Kuda, kuda via udalilis EUGENE ONEGIN Tchaikovsky O nature WERTHER Massenet

15. Jessica Faselt, Soprano Pace, pace mio Dio! LA FORZA DEL DESTINO Verdi Pleurez, pleurez, mes yeux LE CID Massenet Embroidery in childhood was a luxury PETER GRIMES Britten Einsam in trüben Tagen LOHENGRIN Wagner Come scoglio COSÌ FAN TUTTE Mozart

16. Stephen Maus, Baritone La vendetta LE NOZZE DI FIGARO Mozart Madamina, il catalogo è questo DON GIOVANNI Mozart Quand la flamme de l'amour LA JOLIE FILLE DE PERTH Bizet Ach, wir armen Leute HÄNSEL UND GRETEL Humperdinck For ev'ry love there is a last farewell VANESSA Barber

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17. Mariya Kaganskaya, Mezzo-Soprano Letters aria WERTHER Massenet What a movie! TROUBLE IN TAHITI Bernstein Smanie implacabili COSÌ FAN TUTTE Mozart Se bramante d'amar SERSE Handel Lyubasha's arioso THE TSAR'S BRIDE Rimsky- Korsakov

18. Mark Covey, Tenor Niun mi tema OTELLO Verdi E lucevan le stelle TOSCA Puccini Quando le sere al placido LUISA MILLER Verdi Winterstürme wichen dem Wonnemond DIE WALKÜRE Wagner Ombra mai fu XERXES Handel

19. Rebecca Kidnie, Soprano Czárdás - Klänge der Heimat DIE FLEDERMAUS J. Strauss, Jr. Embroidery in childhood was a luxury PETER GRIMES Britten Dove sono LE NOZZE DI FIGARO Mozart Depuis le jour LOUISE Charpentier Signore, ascolta TURANDOT Puccini

20. Kara Smoot, Soprano Vissi d'arte TOSCA Puccini The trees on the mountain SUSANNAH Floyd Song to the Moon RUSALKA Dvorák Je dis que rien ne m’épouvante CARMEN Bizet Ah! fuggi il traditor! DON GIOVANNI Mozart

21. Benjamin Dickerson, Baritone O Nadir PEARL FISHERS Berlioz Sibilar gli angui d’Aletto RINALDO Handel Hai già vinta la causa LE NOZZE DI FIGARO Mozart Pierrot’s Tanzlied DIE TOTE STADT Korngold Starbuck's Aria MOBY DICK Heggie

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22. Andrea Lett, Soprano I am the wife of Mao Tse-Tung NIXON IN CHINA Adams Ach, ich liebte DIE ENTFÜHRUNG AUS DEM SERAIL Mozart Regnava nel silenzio LUCIA DI LAMMERMOOR Donizetti Caro nome RIGOLETTO Verdi Ah! Je veux vivre ROMEO ET JULIETTE Gounod

23. Gina Perregrino, Mezzo-Soprano Wie du warst, wie du bist DER ROSENKAVALIER Strauss, R. Disprezzata Regina L'INCORONAZIONE DI POPPEA Monteverdi Voi che sapete LE NOZZE DI FIGARO Mozart Seguidilla CARMEN Bizet Must the winter come so soon? VANESSA Barber

BREAK

24. Brian Wallin, Tenor Un’aura amorosa COSÌ FAN TUTTE Mozart Ah! lève-toi, soleil! ROMÉO ET JULIETTE Gounod Dies Bildnis ist bezaubernd schön DIE ZAUBERFLÖTE Mozart Firenze è come un albero fiorito GIANNI SCHICCHI Puccini New York Lights A VIEW FROM THE BRIDGE Bolcom

25. Olivia Yokers, Soprano The Presentation of the Rose DER ROSENKAVALIER Strauss, R. Ach, ich fuhl's DIE ZAUBERFLOTE Mozart Sul fil d'un soffio etesio FALSTAFF Verdi Steal me, sweet thief THE OLD MAID AND THE THIEF Menotti Quando m'en vo LA BOHEME Puccini

26. Siena Forest, Soprano Caro nome RIGOLETTO Verdi Emily's Aria OUR TOWN Rorem O Legere Hirondelle MIREILLE Gounod Presentation of the Rose DER ROSENKAVALIER R. Strauss Ah! non credea mirarti…Ah! non giunge LA SONNAMBULA Bellini

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27. Nathaniel Mattingly, Bass-Baritone Vi ravviso, o luoghi ameni LA SONNAMBULA Bellini Aprite un po quegl' occhi LE NOZZE DI FIGARO Mozart Dans les roles d'amoureux langoureux LES CONTES D'HOFFMAN Offenbach O beauty, o handsomeness, goodness! BILLY BUDD Britten Schweigt, gluh'nden Sehnens wilde EURYANTHE Von Weber Triebe

28. Janel Mercado, Soprano No word from Tom THE RAKE’S PROGRESS Stravinsky Ach, ich fühl’s DIE ZAUBERFLÖTE Mozart Dove sono LE NOZZE DI FIGARO Mozart Elle a fui, la tourterelle LES CONTES D’HOFFMANN Offenbach Sì, mi chiamano Mimì LA BOHÈME Puccini

29. Whitney Morrison, Soprano Tu che di gel sei cinta TURANDOT Puccini Ah! fuggi il traditor! DON GIOVANNI Mozart Jewel Song: Ah! Je ris de me voir FAUST Gounod Io son l'umile ancella ADRIANA LECOUVREUR Cilea To this we’ve come THE CONSUL Menotti

30. Christopher Trapani, Tenor Addio, fiorito asil MADAMA BUTTERFLY Puccini Di rigori armato il seno DER ROSENKAVALIER Strauss, R. Ohime! Dove son io ELISABETTA, REGINA Rossini Pourqoui me reveiller D'INGHILTERRA Massenet Salut! demeure chaste et pure WERTHER Gounod FAUST 31. Mary Evelyn Hangley, Soprano Nun eilt herbei DIE LUSTIGEN WEIBER VON WINDSOR Nicolai Je dis que rien ne m’épouvante CARMEN Bizet Dove sono LE NOZZE DI FIGARO Mozart Das war sehr gut, Mandryka ARABELLA R. Strauss Ain’t it a pretty night? SUSANNAH Floyd

32. Benjamin C. Taylor, Baritone Hai già vinta la causa LE NOZZE DI FIGARO Mozart Per me giunto...Io Morro DON CARLO Verdi Cruda, funesta smania LUCIA DI LAMMERMOOR Donizetti Avant de quitter ces lieux FAUST Gounod Robert's Aria IOLANTA Tchaikovsky

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Upper Midwest Region and Minnesota District Auditions Supporters

The Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions are made possible through your generous donations to the Minnesota District and the Upper Midwest Region Auditions. Your gifts provide Winners and Encouragement Awards, and cover expenses of accompanists, hall rental, and judges. We encourage you to donate today, and to consider a planned gift to support opera in the future. We thank the following organizations and individuals for their contributions, made by February 4, 2017:

Organizations

Judson and Barbara Bemis – Upper Midwest Region Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions Fund of The Minneapolis Foundation United Healthcare University of Minnesota School of Music Twin Cities Opera Guild, Inc. Twin Cities Opera Guild Arleen Carlson Memorial Award Twin Cities Opera Guild Jean Lemberg Memorial Award

Individual Contributors Arlene Alm William & Bonnie Frels Sydney M. Phillips Jerold Bahls Connie Fullmer & Jimmy Longoria Ken & Nina Rothchild Carl & Betsy Bergmann Shirley Hetherington Georgiana Ruzich Dorothy N. Brewer Lucy R. Jones Jay & Kathryn Severance Dan Buivid Art & Martha Kaemmer Wendy & Steven Shaler Charlene & Paul Burck Geoffrey Kolb Frank & Lynda Sharbrough Christine Carvell R. William & Diane Kotrba Monika Stumpf Julia W. Dayton Elliot Long Dan & Erika Tallman Tim & Lynn Dennis Patricia McGowan Harry M. Walsh Cheryl Dickson & Jim Smith Mary Manlove Marguerite P. Wilson Maurice & Signe Dysken James R. Nash Dorie Finn Holace Nelson Helga E. Parnell

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UPPER MIDWEST REGION FINALS

Singers who have advanced from the Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota- Manitoba and Wisconsin Districts will compete in the Upper Midwest Region Finals held tomorrow, February 19, 2017, at 12:00 p.m. in Benson Great Hall at Bethel University. Tomorrow’s Region Finals winners will compete on the Metropolitan Opera stage at the National Semi-Finals.

MASTER CLASS

The Auditions weekend will end on a high note with a Master Class held at the University of Minnesota’s Ultan Recital Hall (2106 4th St. So., Minneapolis, MN 55455), on Monday, February 20, 2017, from 9:30 a.m.-12:00 p.m. Five Minnesota District singers will perform and receive individual artistic coaching from Maestro Thomas Muraco of the famed Manhattan School of Music. The master class is sponsored by Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions – Upper Midwest Region, Twin Cities Opera Guild, and University of Minnesota School of Music.

All events are free and open to the public.

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