Fall 2018

Featured Member ...2

News & High Notes 3

Membership Notes...4

Applause, Applause..5

Coming Events ...... 7

Dayton Performing Arts Alliance Season Opening Spectacular Backstage with Burt Burt Saidel “Beethoven’s Ninth.” That is a complete sentence. Those two words speak volumes of emotion, of world- wide acceptance, and love. The creations of composer Ludwig van Beethoven and poet Friedrich Schiller fuse together into what has become an epiphany – the sudden realization of meaning and perception. The Ninth is beloved and celebrated. For example, they say that it is performed every day in Japan. Its A Celebration of Beethoven, No. 9 in D minor,” a work that many choral final movement has become the anthem of millions celebrating joy Including a Presentation of his regard as the very apotheosis of Western music. Dayton Opera Artistic Director which is, according to the poem, life. Ninth Symphony, Like None Other Thomas Bankston, Dayton Philharmonic Actually, Schiller’s poem was originally “an Friede, to Freedom.” It The DPAA is thrilled to launch the 2018 Artistic Director and Conductor Neal became, “an Freude, to Joy.” It was the –2019 Vistas Season Gittleman, and “an Friede” that attracted Beethoven's on Saturday, Sept.15, Beethoven's Ninth: Artistic Director Karen Russo interest. 2018, and Sunday, Season Opening Burke together present a Sept. 16, 2018, with a Spectacular moving presentation of vocal We must also deal with the fact that Sept. 15, 8 p.m. Season Opening and orchestral music and dance. this sublime music was never heard by Spectacular program When the program opens, the Beethoven. His deafness was nearly celebrating Ludwig van Beethoven’s live image of the Dayton Philharmonic complete in 1812. It was so profound at monumental contribution to the art of bursts forth on a supersized screen with the the premiere of the Ninth in 1824 that music. Audiences will experience sounds of one of Beethoven’s most he had to be turned around to see the multiple expressions of the great dramatic overtures, “Egmont.” Originally tumultuous ovation that he could not master’s genius: orchestral, solo vocal, conceived as the opener of a musical suite hear. and choral, climaxing with a unique written for a theatrical presentation of We must believe that Beethoven realization of his landmark “Symphony See BEETHOVEN on page 6 See BURT on page 7 Fall 2018 I am a member of the Opera Guild because...Opera Ball …….3 President’s Let- ter………..... 4 Membership Notes ………….7 Coming Events .8

President: Nancy Farkas

Executive Vice President: Margarete Jennings

Managing Vice Presidents: Development: Penny Wolff Carol Prewitt (left) and Penny Wolff attend an American Heart Association event. Education: Kathy Brown Fundraising: Carolyn Szoke and imagination which I believe adds to Assistant Jane Reynolds Featured Member: one’s quality of life. Marketing/Communications: I appreciate the various educational Suzanne Crippen Carol Prewitt programs, unique series of performances Membership: I am a member of the Opera Guild of and exciting volunteer opportunities Diane Buchanan Johnson Dayton because I love people, arts and provided by the Opera Guild. I enjoy Special Events/Hospitality: culture. The arts are a vast subdivision of meeting fellow opera lovers and artists. Betty Holton culture, composed of many creative The members of the Opera Guild are Corresponding Secretary: endeavors and disciplines. The value of committed to excellence and they make Linda Menz arts and culture to people in our society great things happen. Being a member of Board Advisor: is evident by the positive impact on our the Dayton Opera Guild contributes to Sue Falter economy, health and well-being, society the illumination of my inner life and and education. The Opera Guild offers enriches my emotional world. Recording Secretary: Maria Castleman the opportunity of expressive creativity

Treasurer: Dolores Anderson

Members at Large: Barbara Stewart Bostick

Past President: Penny Wolff

Contributors: Suzanne Crippen Nancy Farkas Contribute to the next issue of Opera Notes Pat Langford-Finley Burt Saidel Would you like to share your story about why you joined the Dayton Angela Whitehead Opera Guild? Perhaps you have a knack for writing or would like to

Proofreaders: take photographs at the next Guild function. The Board is on the Sue Falter lookout for volunteers who would be willing to share their time and Patrick Crippen talent to further the cause! Contact Suzanne Crippen at Fall 2018 News & High Notes Opera Ball …….3 President’s Let- Dayton Opera Guild Annual Meeting

The Opera Guild’s Annual Meeting was held on Wednesday, June 13, at Dayton Country Club. President Nancy Farkas recapped a very busy and successful year. Jenell Ross of Bob Ross Automobile Group (left image) was named “Friend of the Year,” and Pam Eyink (center image) was presented the BRAVO! Award. Both have given the Guild many years of remarkable service. Nancy presented Dayton Opera Artistic Director Tom Bankston (right image) a check to complete the Guild’s annual pledge of support. More details and pictures are available on the Guild webpage.

Summer in the Great City of Dayton

There were many arts-related activities in the vibrant downtown Dayton community this summer. We are all lucky to live in such a vibrant community. The Opera Guild of Dayton participated in one of those activities sponsored by the Downtown Dayton Partnership. That was Art in the City on August 3. The weather was perfect, drawing large crowds throughout the many Pagliacci and Musetta impersonating formal opera goers (left), venues strung around the and Suzanne Crippen, Ellen McCloskey and Nora Stang interact with guests during the 2018 Art in the City event (above). downtown area. The Guild was especially fortunate to have space within the Wintergarden at Schuster Performing Arts Center. The Guild Opera Marionettes are looking for some new puppet masters. If you like to make people smile, feel good and incite A Guild Marketing Table drew people who learned about the Guild interaction, consider learning the art of pulling all the right and its many activities. But the real stars were the Opera strings. Contact Nora Stang at 832-3713 or email Marionettes who strolled through the crowd and enticed smiles from [email protected]. young and old alike. They are impassioned ambassadors for opera. Fall 2018 Membership Notes Opera Ball …….3 Opera Guild Garden Party

If you missed this year’s Opera Guild Garden Party, you really missed something very special. Tim and Barbara Haller invited Opera Guild members and friends to a magical afternoon of music, delicious food and lively company! It was held on Sunday, June 24. The weather was gorgeous and lured many to stroll down the paths amid hundreds of hydrangea and hostas. The food and drink were plentiful and superb. And what can be more relaxing than sitting by the pool while chatting with good friends with lively music in the background? To learn more and to see photos, visit the Guild website:

Red Book Updates: New Members, Changes & Corrections NEW MEMBERS 937/902-9317 Ruth Meadow Chun Zhang [email protected] [email protected] Department of Management and Janet A. and Michael Kelly Jackie Machowsky Marketing 2965 Stonewall Drive [email protected] Beavercreek, 45434-6275 300 College Park Barbara Loos Dayton, OH 45402 Carol Prewitt [email protected]

937/838-2352 5501 Corkhill Drive Ken & Mimi Kuntz [email protected] Dayton, Ohio 45424-8720 [email protected]

937/237-1639 (H) Tara King Albert and Susan Asebrook 937/626-8720 (C) [email protected] 3924 Overland Trail [email protected] Myrtis Howard Kettering, OH 45429 [email protected] 937/286-2307 UDPATES Vicky Heuman [email protected] Robert & Anna Bargmeyer [email protected] [email protected] Sandra Barton (Warren) [email protected] Sharon Gratto [email protected] 1280 W. Rahn Road Linda Reed Dayton, Ohio 45459 [email protected] Pam Eyink 937/344-4203 [email protected] Brenda Phillips [email protected] Catherine Clark [email protected] [email protected] Ruth Reveal and George Drake Jr. Edna Vanderkarr 217 Lincoln Park Blvd. Burt Saidel [email protected] [email protected] Kettering, Ohio 45429 Fall 2018 Opera Ball …….3

My hometown is Indianapolis. After Applause! Applause! graduation from Purdue University with a degree in marketing and retailing, I Patricia Langford Finley moved to Dayton. I received my degree in I joined the Opera Guild of Dayton many education from Miami University. years ago, before the Schuster opened, and I have a beautiful daughter, Deandra, who have been a season ticket holder ever since. lives in Indianapolis. In my free time, I I began volunteering with the Guild four served my church as financial secretary years ago at the invitation of Jane Reynolds. for 18 years. I am also 50-year member of I became a board member in 2017. Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.; a Volunteering for the Guild has provided member of the Dayton Healthettes; and a me a host of new friendships and member of As the Page Turns book club. networking opportunities throughout the People would be surprised to know that I community. I especially like to volunteer have worn many career hats. My first for the BRAVO! Champagne Brunch and love was purchasing for Rike’s Fashion Show, the Opera Ball, program Department Store. I later taught fashion advertising, and the annual Garden Party. and interior design at Montgomery My favorite opera is Porgy and Bess by County Joint Vocational School, now George Gershwin. Initially a commercial Miami Valley Career Technology Center, Pat Finley (left) and Jane Reynolds failure, Porgy and Bess later went on to and retired from Dayton Public Schools be considered one of the most important as a teacher and career specialist. Hospital. I also have a following as a American operas of the 20th Century, and I am most proud of what I call my vendor in many local events. My products an American cultural classic. “encore career,” Langford’s Gourmet are “Simply Divine – Irresistibly Good.” I My musical background is playing the Cookies, LLC. Langford’s Gourmet donate my cookies to cast members for piano and the violin. While in high school, Cookies is locally owned and operated by the first “onstage” rehearsal for each I was honored to be a member of the all- me since 2010. I offer a wide variety of production and to various homeless city high school orchestra. Two of my gourmet cookies and cakes, homemade shelters. My business has provided me a sisters and I played for special events as a from scratch. My products have been in means to incorporate all of my skills, trio. One sister played the viola, one the Dorothy Lane Market, Arrow Wine and talents, and experiences. I love it! And I piano, and I played violin. I also performed Gourmet Foods, and are currently in love volunteering with the Opera Guild of my high school plays. Kobrick’s Café at the Miami Valley Dayton.

Gourmet on the Go Presents: Game Day Take some time to relax with your friends and spend time playing your favorite game. Gather a group of four for bridge or six for Mexican Train. How about Scrabble or Trivia? You pick one or more games to enjoy with your friends from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on October 18 at Dayton Country Club. The Club’s extraordinary culinary staff will be preparing lunch for all attendees. Reservations are now being accepted online by clicking here or by sending a check made out the Opera Guild of Dayton to: Charlotte Brown, 6520 Montgomery County Line Road, Englewood, Ohio 45322. The event cost is $35. Online reservations have a small convenience fee. For details, contact Betty Holton at 937/885-4357, or visit the website: www.operaguildofdayton.org/gourmet-go-2/ Fall 2018 Beethoven FROM PAGE 1 Goethe’s play, “Egmont,” the overture will “Ode to Joy” finale. The Dayton Opera newcomer bass-baritone Justin Hopkins, serve much the same purpose here, as it Chorus is directed by Chorus Master who has appeared in recent Dayton portends the drama to follow in our Season Jeffrey Powell. Hank Dahlman, Philharmonic performances of Britten’s Opening Spectacular program. University Professor of Music and War Requiem and Mozart’s Requiem and Director of Choral Studies at Wright State who makes his Dayton Opera debut with Next, soprano soloist Kasia Borowiec University, directs the Dayton this performance. joins the orchestra for the central role in Philharmonic Orchestra Chorus. the heart-wrenching “Ah, perfido” (“Ah, Dayton Opera vocalists will share the stage deceiver”), a concert aria that lays our Four gifted Dayton Opera soloists will join with the Dayton Ballet as Beethoven’s heroine’s emotions bare as she implores this full stage of instrumentalists and Ninth is uniquely imagined with the her lover not to depart forever. The first vocalists to bring this exciting celebration addition of the universal medium of dance. half then concludes with a powerful of Beethoven to life. Soprano Kasia Dayton Ballet Artistic Director Karen choral work from Beethoven’s Borowiec returns to Dayton for this opening Russo Burke and the full company of oratorio “Christ on the Mount of Olives.” production, having last performed with nineteen dancers will deliver the magic of The finale of that work is a hymn of Dayton Opera in the role of Kate Pinkerton dance that will visually enhance the full praise and thanks to the son of God, in the beautiful 2016 production of emotion of Beethoven’s masterpiece. These performed by the Dayton Opera and Madame Butterfly. Dayton Opera also forces all come together for an explosion of Philharmonic Choruses with the dancers welcomes back mezzo-soprano Noragh sounds, motion and imagery, propelling of the Dayton Ballet. Devlin from last year’s The Barber of Beethoven’s vision to a new sphere. Seville, in which she played the role of This is Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 as The Dayton Performing Arts Alliance Berta, Dr. Bartolo’s housemaid. Both Kasia never seen or heard before. The four invites all of Dayton to this magnificent and Noragh are former Dayton Opera incredible movements of this masterwork demonstration of the power of three art Artists-in-Residence, and Dayton Opera is will be performed with precision and forms under one roof and the continuing so pleased to welcome them back to the artistry by the talented musicians of the development of what has almost become Mead Theatre Stage. Joining these two Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra, under an entirely new art form, in and of itself. outstanding vocalists are tenor John Pickle, the baton of Gittleman. Both the Dayton who graces the Mead Theatre Stage for his Tickets for Beethoven’s Ninth: Season Opera Chorus and the Dayton seventh appearance, including last season’s Opening Spectacular are available at Philharmonic Orchestra Chorus will lead tenor in the Season Opening Ticket Center Stage (937) 228-3630 or assemble together on stage to sing this Spectacular Verdi’s Requiem, and online at www.daytonperformingarts.org. magnificent work, including the famed

BRAVO! Champagne Brunch and Fashion Show “Around the World”

Chair Hyacinth Day and her men’s clothing Hyacinth has a BRAVO! Committee have been very partnership with custom clothier J busy working to make this year’s Hilburn. To quote them, “We brunch and fashion show unique and obsessively re-engineered menswear memorable. The event is scheduled to provide men with a custom-made for Friday, September 7, beginning wardrobe that fits - fits his body, fits with a Boutique Shopping at 9:30 his personality, and fits his lifestyle.” a.m. Once again the festivities will For the fifth year, BRAVO! is be at Sinclair Community College’s featuring an array of accomplished Ponitz Center. Community Models who have been actively soliciting votes to This will truly have an international flavor with models from become this year’s favorite. The Guild encourages everyone to many countries and backgrounds. They will be wearing visit their website at www.operaguildofdayton.org read their fashions that reflect that influence as well. Most of the items, biographies and to cast one or many votes at $5 per vote. The some of which are one of a kind, will be from Hyacinth’s own Community Model garnering the most votes by midnight boutique Simply Hyacinth located at the Dayton Mall. For on September 6 will be crowned as this year’s winner. Burt FROM PAGEFall 1 2018 Opera Guild Boutique Opera Ball …….3 composed this incredible symphony Don’t forget to stop by the Opera Guild Boutique President’s Let- unheard, from his very soul. It is to our souls before the Season Opening Spectacular on September ter………..... 4 Membership 15 or 16. The Boutique is also open during that this music grants us this blessing. Notes ………….7 intermission. Chair and Guild President Nancy Farkas My personal relationshipComing with the Events Ninth .8 and her team have gone to the markets to bring you came as a German student at Haverford new and exciting items to buy for yourself or as a gift. College. There, I fell in love with the Schiller poem. I could recite it completely Gourmet on the Go: and used it as “extra credit” on each exam. Viva Italia! It was my experience with the Cleveland Coming up on September 22 is a Orchestra, while in graduate school, that fabulous Mediterranean evening at consummated the relationship. That season, the home of Kathy and Tom Brown. my first as a Cleveland subscriber, ended Besides great food and wine, the with four performances of the Ninth. I event will feature Jerry and Martha attended all of them! Ann Reaper singing selections Now, the great artists that guide the Dayton from The Marriage of Figaro. Performing Arts Alliance have collaborated to Seating is available for only 10 reward the audiences, and me. Ballet Director guests, so make your reservations Karen Russo Burke, Opera Impresario Tom at www.operaguildofdayton.org Bankston and Maestro Neal Gittleman are now. More information is available blazing new trails in musical performance. on the website, or call Kathy at 937/296-0543. Last season, the Opening Spectacular featured Verdi's “Requiem.” It is also my personal favorite. By adding dance and allowing the November 7, 7 p.m. March 2, 8 p.m. COMING EVENTS soloists to move from a static quartet in front of STUDENTS NIGHT @ DRESS March 3, 3 p.m. September 7, 9:30 a.m. the orchestra, they completed Verdi's dream of REHEARSAL THE PIRATES OF PENZANCE BRAVO! FASHION SHOW & presenting it as an opera. The result was an Rigoletto by Giuseppi Verdi BY GILBERT & SULLIVAN CHAMPAGNE BRUNCH unforgettable spectacle! The Benjamin & Marian The Benjamin & Marian Around the World Schuster Performing Arts Schuster Performing Arts Now, doing the same to the Ninth, is another Sinclair Ponitz Center prime example of what a true performance 444 W. Third St. Center Center triumph can be. In the first half of the concert, Dayton, OH 45402 1 W. Second St. 1 W. Second St. following the Egmont Overture, Soprano Dayton, OH 45402 Dayton OH 45402 September 15, 8 p.m. Kasia Borowiec will command the vocal tour September 16, 3 p.m. November 9, 8 p.m. March 23, 10 a.m. de force, Beethoven's concert aria “Ah! SEASON OPENING November 11, 3 p.m. HIGH SCHOOL VOCAL Perfido.” The ballet will perform, with SPECTACULAR: RIGOLETTO BY GIUSEPPI COMPETITION orchestra and chorus, the dramatic “Hallelujah BEETHOVEN’S NINTH VERDI Sears Recital Hall Chorus” from Christ on the Mount of Olives. Take Note performance The Benjamin & Marian University of Dayton, All will share the stage with the orchestra as Begins one hour earlier. Schuster Performing Arts O'Reilly Hall well as artistic video projections including Center The Benjamin & Marian 300 College Park highlighting orchestral artists. The soloists 1 W. Second St. Schuster Performing Arts Dayton, Ohio 45469 for the Ninth are Kasia, joined by Noragh Center Dayton, OH 45402 March 24, 3 p.m. Devlin, John Pickle and Justin Hopkins. All 1 W. Second St. 2019 OPERA STAR RECITAL the soloists have distinguished portfolios. Dayton, OH 45402 Kasia, Noragh, Justin and John with February 7, 11 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Ryan Speedo Green multiple Dayton performances. October 18, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. DAYTON OPERA GUILD The Benjamin & Marian GAME DAY! MEMBERSHIP LUNCHEON Schuster Performing Arts Each soloist will be singing my absolute Dayton Country Club Dayton Country Club Center favorite aria -- yes, they all are my favorites! 555 Kramer Road 555 Kramer Road 1 W. Second St. Each member of the audience will be thrilled Kettering, OH 45419 Kettering, OH 45419 Dayton OH 45402 and delighted. I promise!