GianniGiacomo Puccini, Schicchi composer -and- Buoso’s Ghost Michael Ching, composer Saturday, February 29 at 7:30 pm Sunday, March 1 at 2:30 pm at the Macomb Center for the Performing Arts Message from Wayne S. Brown Message from William Wood We are delighted to return to the Macomb Center Being a leader in the arts for southeast Michigan, the for the Performing Arts for our productions of Gianni Macomb Center for the Performing Arts is committed Schicchi and Buoso’s Ghost. This performance builds to providing meaningful arts experiences that entertain, upon a six-year partnership, following productions of educate, enrich our lives and enhance our community. Frida, The Tender Land, Little Women, 27 and Candide. Today we share our stage with Michigan Opera Theatre Community is at the foundation of our goals at (MOT) because they share our commitment. We are Michigan Opera Theatre. While we are proud of our proud to partner with one of the region’s premier opera elegant Detroit Opera House, it is also important for companies on these performances. us to bring opera to venues outside of our theater This year we are thrilled to present Gianni Schicchi and Buoso’s Ghost. and to reach audiences across the region. Opera is an These fantastic works include “O mio babbino caro,” one of Puccini’s best incredible art form, and making it more easily accessible to those who wish to known and one of opera’s most beloved arias. These promise to be truly experience it is important to us. marvelous performances. This special double bill is representative of MOT’s artistic goals: presenting Our collaborations with community partners like MOT are vital to insuring beloved classics as well as exciting new works. Giacomo Puccini’s Gianni a strong and dynamic cultural community in this region. They insure that Schicchi, written in 1918, is the composer’s only comedy and is famous for its Macomb Community College is able to offer cultural and artistic diversity beautiful aria “O mio babbino caro.” Michael Ching’s Buoso’s Ghost, written in that is crucial for a vibrant community. It also allows us to bring world class 1996, is a sequel to the story, with beautiful odes to the original music as well performers and performances to the people of Macomb County. as a continuation of the comedic twists so well-loved in the first performance. We appreciate you joining us for the production and for your support of the We are thrilled to have the composer join us this weekend to experience our Macomb Center and Macomb Community College. production of his work. This production features members of our MOT Studio Young Artist Program, representing some of the best up-and-coming talent in the industry. William R. Wood Our resident baritone Darren Drone and tenor Edward Graves lead as Director of Cultural Affairs and Community Engagement Gianni Schicchi and Rinuccio, respectively, with our resident soprano Avery Macomb Community College Boettcher as Lauretta. We also welcome the return of former MOT Studio Artists Joseph Michael Brent as Gherardo and Harry Greenleaf as Marco. The MOT Studio was launched in 2015 with a major grant from the William Davidson Foundation, which has been generous in its continued support for MOT. We are grateful for our long-term partnership with the Davidson Foundation as we continue to bring world-class opera and dance to the COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP region. We also thank Cadillac, our 2020 Spring Opera Sponsor, the Knight Foundation and the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation for sponsoring this production and for their ongoing support of MOT as well as the Community Foundation of Southeast Michigan for their generous support of MOT The Macomb Center for the Performing Arts (MacombCenter.com) is a Community Programs. community enrichment program of Macomb Community College dedicated Following Gianni Schicchi and Buoso’s Ghost, our 2019-20 opera series to providing a diverse range of cultural enrichment experiences, and to continues with Champion (March 28 – April 5) and Pagliacci (May 9-17). We inspire and encourage artistic expression through education, performance hope you will join us for future performances at our historic Detroit Opera and volunteer opportunities. Hosting more than 100,000 visitors annually, House. the Macomb Center presents high-quality professional performances, offers educational outreach in the arts, provides a performance venue for community-based arts organizations, and, in partnership with the adjacent Wayne S. Brown Lorenzo Cultural Center, creates unique opportunities for multifaceted President and CEO of Michigan Opera Theatre cultural programming. 2 GIANNI SCHICCHI AND BUOSO’S GHOST MichiganOpera.org Michigan Opera Theatre FEBRUARY/MARCH 2020 3 BOARD OF TRUSTEES 2019-2020 Contents July 1, 2019 - June 30, 2020 Kenn and Liz Allen Kenneth and Stephan and Mary Anne Stella 2-3 Robert and Frances Eisenberg Marian Loginsky Ronald F. Switzer and Welcome Margaret Allesee Marianne Endicott Mary Alice Lomason Jim F. McClure Sarah Allison Alex Erdeljan Alphonse S. Lucarelli Lorna Thomas Pernilla Ammann Fern R. Espino and Denise Lutz C. Thomas and 4-5 Lourdes V. Andaya Thomas Short Donald Manvel Bernie Toppin BOARD OF DIRECTORS 2019-2020 Harold Mitchell Paul and Mary Sue Florine Mark James G. Vella Boards of Directors July 1, 2019 - June 30, 2020 Arrington Ewing Ronald and Jesse and and Trustees Beverly Avadenka Margo Cohen Zvezdana Martella Yesenia Venegas Lee and Floy Barthel Feinberg and Robert Jack Martin and Marilyn Victor Ethan Davidson Mark and Caprice Feinberg Bettye Arrington- Bradley Wakefield and CHAIR Baun Oscar and Dede Martin Meghann Rutherford 6 Debra Bernstein- Feldman Dexter Mason R. Jamison and Michigan Opera Theatre Studio Joanne Danto Siegel Carl and Benjamin Meeker and Karen Williams VICE-CHAIR Joseph and Barbra Mary Ann Fontana Meredith Korneffel Joan Young and Elaine Fontana Peter Oleksiak Bloch Phillip D. and Dawn Thomas L. Barbara Frankel and Minch Schellenberg 7 VICE-CHAIR Gene P. Bowen Ron Michalak Ali Moiin and Mary Lou Zieve A Sequel 78 Years in the Making: Betty J. Bright Ankur Rungta Richard and Herman and William Kupsky Ellen Hill Zeringue A Q&A with Buoso’s Ghost VICE-CHAIR Joanne Brodie Sharon Frankel Donald and Dean and Aviva Composer Michael Ching Elizabeth Brooks Antoinette Morelock TRUSTEES EMERITI Wayne S. Brown Robert Brown and Friedman E. Michael and Marcia Applebaum PRESIDENT/CEO Geraldine Ford- Barbara Garavaglia Dolores Mutchler Agustin Arbulu Brown Yousif and Mara Allan and Joy Preston and Mary 8-12 Gene P. Bowen Wayne S. Brown Ghafari Nachman Happel Gianni Schicchi SECRETARY and Brenda Kee Richard and Aurora Juliette Okotie-Eboh Pat Hartmann Goetz Peter Oleksiak and Buoso’s Ghost Enrico Digirolamo Charles D. Bullock Robert and Wally Michael and Mary Carolyn Gordon Linda Orlans Klein TREASURER Chirco Samuel and Richard and William and Toby Haberman R. Jamison Williams James and Elizabeth Debra Partrich Marjorie Sandy Alice Berberian 12-19 IMMEDIATE PAST CHAIR Ciroli Spencer and Roberta Starkweather Artist Profiles Gloria Clark Haidostian Myrna Partrich Amelia H. Wilhelm Avern and Lois Cohn John and Kristan Hale Daniel and Margaret Allesee John P. Hale Thomas Cohn Eugene and Margaret Pehrson FOUNDING Pernilla Ammann Devon Hoover Donna Hartwig 20 Françoise Colpron Sara Pozzi MEMBERS Lee Barthel Danialle Karmanos William and Kelly Doreen Hermelin Waltraud Prechter Lynn† and Ruth† MOT Orchestra Richard A. Brodie Barbara Kratchman Connell Derek and Karen Paul and Amy Ragheb Townsend Elizabeth Brooks Thomas M. Krikorian Peter and Shelly Hodgson John and Terry Avern and Joyce† Robert Brown Alphonse S. Lucarelli Cooper Devon Hoover Rakolta Cohn Joanne Danto Alan and Eleanor Ruth F. Rattner John and Mardell De 21 James Ciroli Donald Manvel Israel Françoise Colpron Ali Moiin and Arnold Roy and Maureen Carlo Education & Community Weingarden Una Jackman Roberts † Julia Donovan Darlow Donald Morelock David and Karen V. Programs Helen Daoud Don Jensen Patricia H. Rodzik DiChiera Kevin Dennis Sara Pozzi Julia D. Darlow and and Leo Dovelle David and Aaron† and Bernice† Shauna Ryder Diggs Paul Ragheb John C. O’Meara Kent and Amy Jidov Jacqueline Roessler Gershenson 22 Sonal Dubey Ruth Rattner Jerry and Gary and Gwenn Audrey Rose Donald† and Cameron Duncan Terry Shea Maureen D’Avanzo Johnson Anthony and Josephine Graves† Administration and Staff Michael Einheuser Matthew Simoncini Lawrence and George Johnson Sabrina Rugiero John and Gwendolyn† Marianne Endicott Richard Sonenklar Dodie David Jill Johnson Ankur Rungta and Griffin † † Paul E. Ewing Lorna Thomas Ethan and Ellen Kahn Mayssoun Bydon Harry and Jennie Gretchen Davidson Peter and Jones Barbara Frankel C. Thomas Toppin Hershel and Kevin Dennis and Danialle Karmanos Dorothy Sandberg Wade† and Dores † Herman Frankel Jesse Venegas Jeremy Zeltzer Stephanie Germack Donald and Kim McCree Michigan Opera Theatre Dean Friedman Ellen Hill Zeringue Cristina DiChiera Kerzic Schmidt Harry J. Nederlander† 1526 Broadway Richard G. Goetz Karen V. DiChiera Michael and Mark and Lois E. Harwood Rydholm† Lisa DiChiera Barbara Kratchman Shaevsky Neil and Phyllis Snow Detroit, MI 48226 DIRECTORS EMERITUS Shauna Ryder Diggs Thomas and Arlene Shaler Richard† and Beatrice† Box Office: 313.237.7464 Shelly Cooper Enrico and Deborah Krikorian Terry Shea Strichartz Melvin A. Lester † † Marjorie M. Fisher Kathleen Digirolamo Matthew and Robert and Clara Administration: 313.961.3500 Debbie Dingell Linda Dresner Levy Mona Simoncini “Tuttie” VanderKloot michiganopera.org