Company of Middlebury UPDATE Fall 2013

From our Artistic Director Douglas Anderson

A lot of comic opera isn’t very funny. Granted, in the largest sense “comedy” simply means that everything ends well. You know the drill: the good guys win, the bad guys are punished, and they throw in a couple of marriages for good measure. But I like comic opera to be

We received a lot of laughs a few years back with our production of Rossini’s Barber of Seville every day to work with his music. That music—effervescent, irreverent, and faster than all get out—accomplishes a very rare thing. Even if you don’t understand the Italian lyrics, the music makes you laugh. The music alone can carry an audience (and a cast of singers) to a giddy height.

I was determined to get back to Rossini, especially as our recent productions have been in the heavier, more tragic repertory. So next June Maestro Plasson and I will tackle Rossini’s L’Italiana in Algeri (An Italian Girl in Algiers), which to my mind is one of the funniest ever written. Someone once said that if the Three Stooges had written an opera libretto, it would look something like L’Italiana. (Continued on Page 6)

From our Music Director Emmanuel Plasson

Rossini’s operatic music has this wonderful sparkly and bouncy spirit to it that can inspire and excite our audiences. It doesn’t only offer a fantastic showcase for singers but also

L’Italiana in Algeri is one of Rossini’s most accomplished and brilliant comic operas. It offers great bel canto displays among incredibly funny stage situations. This opera is probably one of the most entertaining pieces coming from that era.

Some of my recent and upcoming opera engagements: Over the last two years, I have been fortunate to work closely with Opéra de Montréal, which is a wonderful group of people. In 2012, I conducted a beautiful production of Gounod’s Faust and did a revival of Lakmé in September 2013.

Cendrillon and will be returning next February for a production of Gounod’s Romeo et Juliette. At the Toulon Opéra in France in March 2015, I will conduct Jacques Offenbach’s Tales of Hoffmann.

I look forward to returning to Middlebury in May and June 2014 for L’Italiana.

Editor’s Note: Opera reviewer Nancy Maxwell in the Addison Independent said of Eugene Onegin: “Tchaikovsky and Tatiana triumph at THT.” She added, “The wonderful Emmanuel Plasson returns to conduct the artists who make up the orchestra and bring the gorgeous music to life.” Our 10th Anniversary Celebration - August 2013

OCM marked its 10th anniversary with a recital that celebrated both its past and its future. From , Weiss and Yonghoon Lee to lead off the concert. Yonghoon has gone on to perform at the Met, La Scala and Covent Garden. From our recent They are both on the path to wonderful careers. Ted Taylor, well-known conductor, accompanist, coach and teacher in New York City, provided piano accompaniment. Three spectacular panels painted by artist Fran Bull for our Carmen served as the backdrop for the recital.

We began the recital with a video of highlights from our ten years. At the conclusion of the recital, we watched a video that had a salute to OCM L to R: Ted Taylor, Stephanie Weiss, Yonghoon Lee, from Peter Gelb, General Manager of Bevin Hill, and Branch Fields. the .

Bevin Hill and OCM Board member Chip Malcolm Mya Fields, Nancy Malcom, and Gayl Braisted After the recital, champagne was served in the lobby and the Jackson Gallery, while performers mingled and chatted. The celebration was capped with a dinner at the Swift House Inn.

OCM thanks everyone who supported this anniversary fundraiser. We raised $7,589.55 which Maestro Plasson and Ted Taylor will go toward our next ten years.

Yonghoon Lee, Debby & Doug Anderson Yonghoon Lee and OCM President David Clark at the Swift House Inn. 2 Production Manager and Stage Manager

There’s something about our Mary Longey. First of all, she is both Production Manager and Stage Manager, two roles that in other companies are usually handled by two people. Mary handles both roles, yet she does so much more.

Artistic Director Douglas Anderson says, “You can’t have an opera company—or any kind of theater company—without a Mary Longey.” He adds that in her dual roles she is at the center of everything they do, keeping track of rehearsals, stage business, budgets, the creative staff, and even working out where all the singers stay when they’re in town. It takes a person with a head for details and the ability to multi-task—if by “multi-task” you mean doing a hundred things simultaneously. And doing Mary is seen here with Stephanie Weiss. them all very, very well. That’s Mary, and we simply wouldn’t exist without her.

Stage Technician Dora Greven has worked with Mary in many theater events and says that Mary is the consummate arts. She brings a high level of knowledge, humor, support and experience to all their shows.

Soprano Suzanne Kantorski-Merrill says that Mary is truly one of the most important and extraordinary women she knows. So much so, that she dedicated her OCM performances of Tatiana directly to Mary—a gesture of the most personal kind from a singer, and RARELY ever done.

Follies in 1995 at the high school. She said Oliver! as stage manager. They hit it off, in fact, he refused to direct Chicago managers.

A series of collaborations at the Town Hall Theater ensued. When Anderson declared his intention to start an opera company in Middlebury, he asked Mary to be his Production Manager and Stage Manager. After Carmen and then , Mary was completely hooked on opera.

Her duties expanded as the company grew. As Anderson says, there is no area of the production in which Mary does not take part: from establishing the budget and preparing for auditions in Middlebury and New York, to working on the supervising the movement of percussion instruments from Middlebury College to rehearsal space then to THT. She also oversees travel plans and housing for performers (and helps them relocate if their allergies act up).

She is in charge of all the committees for the show that deal with lights, cues, set-building, props, special technology Matching Grants effects, and “calling the show.” She follows the score, warns and calls cues to lightboard and spotlight operators, and to Some companies offer a matching program for the backstage person for actors’ entrances and curtain up your support of OCM. Some businesses noted show, she turns immediately to striking the show. She has for their generosity are: Aetna, Ben & Jerry’s, been observed loading furniture and other assorted props Boeing, General Electric, Green Mountain Coffee into her SUV and returning them to their rightful owners. Roasters, Goodrich, IBM, Merrill Lynch, Tennant She also edits and proofs playbills and newsletters. place of work about their gift matching program. Mary often says that she would love the theater to be her School do without her! 3 4 Suzanne Kantorski-MerrillasTatiana Jenni BankasFilipievna Darik Knutsen asEugeneOnegin-withensemble to character.” the gamutfrompeasanttoprincessanddosoperfectly, whilealwaysgivingaclue O Nancy Maxwellof performance ofthisgreatwork.” beautifully-playing orchestramembers. Thanks foraverymovingand memorable the spectacularcast,forconductor, andespeciallyforthehard-working to theconsistencyandcohesionofallthem.” in its10-yearhistory.” Headded:“...itwasconsistentvocallyandtheatrically Jim Loweofthe we happilyreadtheravereviewsfromvarioussources. nce againtheliveperformancesofour

Times Argus Photos by Max Kraus Addison Independent Bray Wilkins andDawnPierce asLenskiandOlga : “ Eugene Onegin : Eugene Onegin

provedtobethebestproduction soldout. And, onceagain, OCM 10th Season - Eugene Onegin

See more photos on our website at www.ocmvermont.org – click on Photo Gallery to see photos of all previous productions, .

Lisa Chavez as Madame Larina - with ensemble 5 Artistic Director (cont’d)

Douglas Anderson’s Notes (continued from front page)

The plot revolves around Mustafà, an Algerian king who is bored with his harem. He wants, he needs, he MUST HAVE an Lollobrigida.) Miraculously, a sexy Italian girl shipwrecks on his shore, and Mustafà thinks he has it made. But she’s

All of this is draped in the most delicious music imaginable, with several famous arias and a classic end-of-Act I smash- up in which everyone is totally shocked and dumbfounded, at great speed and at high volume. Chaos never sounded better.

In October we’ll follow Rossini with something very different—a concert staging of Verdi’s . Following the success of our concert staging of , we’re eager to continue to explore classic works in this elegant and surprisingly theatrical format.

So it’s a very rich season for us, our 11th. Hope to see you there.

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Founding Artists Douglas Anderson Carol Christensen Beth Thompson Meredith Parsons McComb Greg Vitercik Board of Directors David Clark, President Joann Langrock, Vice President Michele Brown, Secretary Don Devost, Treasurer Debra Anderson Dana Engel Chris English René Langis James Malcolm Sally Molnar J. Scott Morrison Patricia Mraz Jim Pugh Artistic Director Douglas Anderson Music Director Emmanuel Plasson Production Manager Mary Longey

Opera Company of Middlebury P.O. Box 803 Middlebury, VT 05753 802.388.7432 Newsletter: Marian Wright Photography: Max Kraus

www.ocmvermont.org

6 OCM Board by Joann Langrock OCM Membership

The story goes like this. About 10 years ago, more or less, The other day I was asked why someone would become a group of friends all passionate about opera said, “Let’s a member of the Town Hall Theater. My response was quick and simple, to support the Theater. The same answer board, no by-laws, and no money. Yet, they pulled it off applies to the Opera Company of Middlebury. and presented a charming production of Carmen featuring Unless you live in a locked box in the desert, you will . The public was enchanted. The Opera Company of have heard repeatedly that ticket purchases cover less Middlebury was born. than half the cost of the production. This is true in theaters nationwide. And producing operas, as we do, no matter how frugally we try, is an expensive proposition. Thus the by-laws, members and sponsors, a little money and tons import of contributing memberships. of enthusiasm. Everything, and everyone, however, does Memberships bring with them certain incentives depending governance of the company. Having served a congregate 36 on your level of support: priority ticket purchasing, complimentary tickets, invitations to opera events such as rehearsals and auditions, recognition in playbills and on our Jones has selected Florida for his retirement home. Carol website, with a link to your business if you are a business. Miller and Marian Wright remain in Vermont and pledge to Memberships are also tax deductible. “be there” as needed, but have vacated their board seats. Without membership support, the Opera Company of It is with great, good fortune that we welcome several Middlebury will be hard pressed to continue this rather accomplished people to the Opera Company of Middlebury fantastic opportunity to see live, professional operas in our OCM membership for the 2014 Season. Don Devost grew up in Middlebury. Following graduate school, he moved to California where he worked in Become a Member of the come on the board as our treasurer. Opera Company of Middlebury for the 2014 Season Dana Engel moved to South Burlington from New and on the OCM Website. language and literature at Green Mountain College. Friend $50 Recognition in our playbill went on to a lengthy career with Citicorp. She is an ardent Member $100 Priority booking for OCM events music lover and performer. Chorus $250 One ticket to an OCM performance Maestro $500 Two tickets to an OCM performance Chris English is the new administrative coordinator for the Impresario $2,500 One season ticket to Met Opera Live in HD Town of Middlebury. Previously, he worked at Ilsley Public Two tickets to Meet the Singers Library and co-owned Jackson’s on the River. Four tickets to an OCM performance Angel $5,000 Same as Impresario plus two season tickets to Met Opera Live in HD René Langis recently moved to Vermont from Montreal. A salute from the stage René, whose background is in environmental science, works as a senior environmental scientist with CH2M Hill, You may send checks and/or contributions to: telecommunicating throughout the world. Opera Company of Middlebury, Box 803, Middlebury, VT 05753 See OCM website for more details. Jim Pugh is also relatively new to Vermont. Jim’s business, James Pugh and Associates, assists private www.ocmvermont.org

7 Opera Company of Middlebury P. O. Box 803 US Postage Middlebury, VT 05753 PAID 802.388.7432 Permit No. 176 Middlebury, VT

Opera Company of Middlebury Gioachino Rossini L’Italiana in Algeri May 30 - June 7, 2014

Giuseppe Verdi Photo by Roland Penttila La Traviata Concert Staging October 3 and 5, 2014