From the Mississippi Opera Board of Directors President | 4 From the General/Artistic Director | 5 Mississippi Opera Board of Directors 2018-2019 | 7 Past Presidents Board of Directors | 7 Title Page/ Cast of Characters | 8 Creative/Production Staff | 9 La Bohème Synopsis | 10 Meet the Composer | 12 Cast Biographies | 15 Chorus | 21 Orchestra | 22 Contributors | 23 Mississippi Opera Association Diamond Jubilee Society | 24 Mississippi Opera Guild Past Presidents | 25 ADVERTISING Onstage Publications 937-424-0529 | 866-503-1966 e-mail: [email protected] www.onstagepublications.com This program is published in association with Onstage Publications, 1612 Prosser Avenue, Kettering, OH 45409. This program may not be reproduced in whole or in part without written permission from the publisher. JBI Publishing is a division of OnStage Publications, Inc. Contents © 2019. All rights reserved. Printed in the U.S.A. FROM THE BOARD PRESIDENT e are concluding our 73rd Mississippi WOpera season with one of the five most frequently performed opera in the U.S. and internationally, Giacomo Puccini’s La Bohème. We last performed this opera in 2007. Take time to appreciate what is going on, all at the same time—the vocals, the orchestra, the chorus, the choreography, costumes and props, and the tale being told—this is what makes opera the most inclusive of the musical arts. This has been a busy season. We started our season with our sixth John Alexander National Vocal Competition, and the Winners’ Concert in September. Our Cabaret at Duling Hall series consisted of four musical theater productions scattered throughout the season. We also had a performance of The Hilarious World of Gilbert & Sullivan in November and Amahl and the Night Visitors in December. And, here we are with tonight’s major spring production. That’s seven performances in all for this season. We can thank our artistic director Jay Dean and Tippy Garner for pulling all this together for us. We also thank our donors who are mentioned in this program for enabling us to have opera here in Mississippi. Like all opera companies, our ticket sales only cover a fraction of the operating and production costs. Culturally cognizant, community minded individuals, businesses and other entities do their part to fill the gap with their donations. Do yourself a favor that has a double-barreled benefit—give money in support of your opera company, and (1) that will make you feel good about yourself, and, (2) the resulting tax deduction will lessen your 2019 taxes. Your opera company is part of what makes life good in Jackson and Mississippi, and we owe a debt of gratitude to you who support us. Please join with our supporters and help us keep going strong. Thank you again for coming and supporting Mississippi Opera. Elbert Bivins Board President Mississippi Arts Commission 2017 Governor’s Arts Awards Recipients The Mississippi Opera Association–Artistic Excellence 4 MISSISSIPPI OPERA ARTISTIC/GENERAL DIRECTOR Dear Opera Friends, Welcome to our performance of the world’s most famous opera, La Bohème! This evening you will see and hear some of the best opera singers that our country has to offer. We are so glad that you are with us tonight. Beginning in 1945, as the Jackson Opera Guild, Mississippi Opera enjoys a long and distinguished history. Mississippi Opera is different from most major American opera companies because it was founded by local residents who had a common cultural interest, opera. These culturally minded citizens wanted to create an arts organization for the city, but Mississippi Opera has now become more than that; we are a true regional opera company. Also, one of our rare qualities as an organization is our multi-generational connection: some of our audience members, chorus members, board and Guild members have Mississippi Opera ties that go back several generations. Our mission is to enhance Mississippi’s cultural and economic development by presenting high quality opera performances in an accessible manner; to identify and develop regional operatic artists; and to promote the understanding and appreciation of Opera through education, outreach, and audience development. Thus, we are committed to the professional presentation of traditional operas as well as advancing the art form by embracing new venues and programming. We also place a great deal of value on education and community outreach, and it is our goal to expose every citizen in Mississippi, young and old, to this great art form called opera. As we collectively shape the future of Mississippi Opera, we should keep in mind that great things do not happen by themselves; they happen because of dedicated people. No great work of art was ever created by accident; it was the vision and work of a talented, dedicated human being whose time and effort created that work. Just like the individual, no great organization will ever be successful by accident, its success will be because of the collective work of the people who create, execute, and support the vision of that organization. We want you to be part of our vision. Thank you for being here, and thank you for being our ambassadors. We are proud to have you as a part of the Mississippi Opera family. Sincerely, Jay Dean General and Artistic Director MISSISSIPPI OPERA 5 2018-2019 BOARD OF DIRECTORS Elbert Bivins, President Hogan Allen, Treasurer Anthony Cloy, Secretary Matt Allen Scott Newton Wendy Thompson Lynn Wentworth Sid Davis Bob Soukup David Trigiani Megan West Mark Henry Barbara Travis Shannon Warnock Jane Woosley Sharon Pratt Mary Acthley, Mississippi Opera Guild President PAST PRESIDENTS Founder Mrs. John T. Caldwell, Jr. Chairman in Perpetuity Dr. Samuel B. Johnson H. M. Addkison, Jr. Richard M. Fountain Earle F. Jones Mrs. Alexander S. J. Michael Ainsworth A. Spencer Gilbert, III Mrs. H. K. Kent Payne John Alexander Dr. Guy Gillespie, Jr. Mrs. Edward J. Don Potts Hogan Allen Mrs. William F. Killelea James L. Robertson Elbert Bivins Goodman, Jr. Mrs. Dorothy H. W. Albert Simmons Kitchings Kim Breese P. N. Harkins, III Mrs. Heber Simmons Mrs. Wilbur H. Robert E. Hauberg, Jr. Patsy Tolleson George Bria Knight Mrs. Robert Hearin Mrs. T. Arnold Carroll Brinson Gus Leep Ralph Hester, Jr. Turner, Jr. Sandra Person Burns J. Jasper Lowe John R. Hutcherson O. Edward Wall Mrs. Frank Cabell Lee Ann Mayo Mrs. Peggy B. Mrs. Cecile Wardlaw Mrs. John T. Charles J. McCool Caldwell, Jr. Johnson Louis H. Watson Jack W. McDaniel M. L. Cashion, Jr. A. Charles Jackson, Joshua J. Wiener M.D. Mrs. E. B. McGehee Chandler Clover Jonell B. Williamson Mrs. Samuel B. Charles L. Mortimer Richard B. Wilson, Jr. Mrs. Armand Coullet Johnson Lamar Nesbit James W. Woolridge Eric Eaton Dr. Samuel B. W. L. Norton Johnson Monroe M. Wright MISSISSIPPI OPERA 7 G IACOMO P UCCINI L A B OHÈME Saturday, April 27, 2019 Thalia Mara Hall Jackson, Mississippi Opera in four acts Italian libretto by Luigi Illica and Giuseppe Giacosa Based on Henri Murger’s novel Scènces de la Vie de Boheme Sung in Italian with projected English translations First performed at the Teatro Regio in Turin, Italy February 1, 1896 Marcello, a painter TRAVIS SHERWOOD Rodolpho, a poet MICHAEL BOLEY Colline, a philosopher STEFANOS KORONEOS Schaunard, a musician ANDRÈ CHIANG Benoit, a landlord ALEX ADAMS-LEYTES Mimi, a seamstress ASHLEY BELL Parpignol, a vendor of toys ADAM MESHEJIAN Musetta, a girl of the Latin Quarter MICHELLE LANGE Alcindoro, an admirer of Musette ALEX ADAMS-LEYTES Customs guards, & habitants of the Latin Quarter, merchants, shopgirls, students, vendors, soldiers, waiters. Latin Quarter of Paris About 1830 8 MISSISSIPPI OPERA CREATIVE PRODUCTION STAFF Conductor/General Director .................................................................................Jay Dean Stage Director .....................................................................................................JJ Hudson Assistant Conductor .............................................................................Richard Nechamkin Executive Director ..........................................................................................Tippy Garner Mississippi Opera Office Staff ........................................................................Susan Perkins Chorusmaster, Mississippi Opera .................................................................. Andrew Head Costume Coordinators ..................................................................................Grace Denton Tabitha Bass Mississippi Opera Chorus Manager .............................................................Merina Hansen Assistant Chorus Manager .............................................................................Anthony Cloy Pianist Mississippi Opera Chorus ....................................................................... Tim Moak Stage Manager ...........................................................................................Maggie Saunders Scenic Designer ................................................................................................Wes Hansen Production Manager/Props .............................................................................Harlan Mapp Marketing/PR ..........................................................................................Vidal Blakenstein Scott Sexton with the St. Andrews Episcopal School Chorus Student Artists from the University of Mobile Opera & Musical Theatre program. ST. ANDREWS EPISCOPAL SCHOOL CHORUS Tai Harris Kate Morrison Abby Ireland Joscelyn Scott Isaac