Copyright 2010, Michigan Opera Theatre
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Copyright 2010, Michigan Opera Theatre Copyright 2010, Michigan Opera Theatre Copyright 2010, Michigan Opera Theatre Copyright 2010, Michigan Opera Theatre Copyright 2010, Michigan Opera Theatre Always Classic Michigan Opera Theatre Fairlane Town Center Twelve Oaks Mall Briarwood Lakeside .,~ THE TAUBMAN COMPANY, INC. CHIPS 'N TWIGS/GEOFFREY BEENE Developers, owners and managers of classic retail centers from coast to coast. Copyright 2010, Michigan Opera Theatre MESSAGE FROM THE GOVERNOR October, 1983 Michigan Opera Theatre 350 Madison Avenue Detroit, Michigan 48226 Dear Patrons/Friends: It is a pleasure to welcome you to the 1983-84 SEASON OF EXCELLENCE for the Michigan Opera Theatre. Under the aegis of Michigan Opera Theatre General Director Dr. David DiChiera, the 1983-84 SEASON OF EXCELLENCE promises to be the most important opera theatre season to date for the company since it represents the first phase of a recently completed five-year strategic plan. It is a season filled with many exciting artistic debuts such as the legendary Dame Joan Sutherland and husband Maestro Richard Bonynge in Michigan Opera's first grand opera production set for the Masonic Temple Theatre. It is a season that wi ll celebrate the tenth anniversary of Stephen Sondheim's Broadway musical A LlTILE NIGHT MUSIC featuring Grammy award-winning Cleo Laine and conductor/ husband John Dankworth. Michigan Opera Theatre is also proud to welcome in this new season the debut of Metropolitan Opera star Benita Valente and the first U.S. appearance of the young Greek soprano Jenny Drivala as wel l as the return of the enchanting Wilhelmenia Fernandez. Coinciding with this season of international artists will be the expansion of educational and outreach activities that will include new prog ram s for the handicapped and minority groups, in addition to the annual spring tou r of Michigan Opera Theatre-In-Residence. This year 's residency program marks the return of Michigan Opera Theatre's touring productions of full scale opera to the communities in the Upper Peninsula. The Michigan Opera Theatre is an important cultural institution in the State of Michigan and I urge all residents of Michigan to attend a performance and support this fine musical organization. Sincerely, c1...-.._ /1. .A./ ~ . ?T.-f7#~ JAMES J. BLANCHARD Governor MESSAGE FROM THE MAYOR July 25, 1983 Michigan Opera Theatre .350 Madison Avenue Detroit, Michigan 48226 GREETINGS For a 13th season , the Michigan Opera Theatre wi ll delight Detroit-area residents with its popular, highly rated operas and musicals. The MOT 1983-84 "Season of Excellence" will bring to Detroit four of the most widely ac claimed voices on stage: Benita Valente, Wilhelmenia Fernandez, Cleo Laine, and Dame Joan Sutherland, who last visited our city in 1974. As a testament to MOT being one of the most successful regional opera associations in the nation , it has balanced its 1982-83 budget and has been named recipient of a $250,000 Ford Foundation grant. To all of the members and staff of the Michigan Opera Theatre, I am pleased and proud to say "Congratulations and welcome back for another season." {!ti '" Dett.!. ~ COLEMAN ~~ L( Mayor 07I 5 Copyright 2010, Michigan Opera Theatre Copyright 2010, Michigan Opera Theatre . MESSAGE FROM THE GENERAL DIRECTOR Welcome to the Michigan Opera which comprise the Black Theatre's 1983-84 SEASON OF heritage.) In addition to this EXCELLENCE. We are all very project, Michigan Opera Theatre excited about this season, not only has been a leader in developing because of the musical and programs for the senior citizens theatrical highlights that it and disabled. Within this program, promises, but because it marks an tapes for the blind have been important turning point in the developed providing background company's evolution. This season information on each of our significantly reflects the recently season's productions, and this completed long range plan which year, with a special grant from sets our course for the future. The OPERA America, two strategic planning process, performances of our Faust will be generously funded by the signed for the hearing impaired. Webber Foundation, gave us the Goal three is to provide opportun opportunity to analyze and ities for emerging talents, both evaluate in depth the needs and local and national as well as inter desires of our community, national as we present the North audience, trustees, directors and American debut of the very young management. From this process, and exciting Greek soprano, Jenny an inspiring and simple mission Our second goal is to assure that Drivala. The list of now famous has emerged: to be one of the Michigan Opera Theatre makes its artists who made their debut or outstanding opera companies in work accessible to all segments of received early starts with Michigan the United States serving as a the population in a variety of ways. Opera Theatre is impressive: major cultural resource. Our Indeed, Michigan Opera Theatre is Kathleen Battle, Rockwell Blake, dedi'cation to fulfilling this mission already nationally recognized for Maria Ewing, Leona Mitchell, is guided by our commitment to the many innovative programs it Catherine Malfitano, Neil Schicoff, five important goals. has created in its effort to reach Victoria Vergara and Wilhelmenia Our first goal is to present the out to the broadest possible Fernandez. This season we broadest repertory of opera with constituency. The Opera In Res welcome back Mr. Ron Raines, the highest artistic standards. For idence Program, now in its tenth who in 1976 portrayed Papageno the past twelve years, our year, brings a touring arm of the in the Michigan Opera Theatre audiences have enjoyed in Music company into communities main stage and tour production of Hall 's intimate setting a diversity of throughout the state for week-long Mozart's The Magic Flute. Having works including traditional operas visits which include workshops, recently completed a national tour from the Italian and French reper school assemblies, community and Broadway run as Ravenal in tory, rarely-heard national operas, programs and full length opera Showboat, he returns to play the operettas and musicals. In this productions. A recent grant from role of Fredrik Egerman opposite coming year, we will carry out a the Kellogg Foundation will make it the celebrated Cleo Laine in mandate to present the kind of possible to serve the Detroit Public Sondheim's A Little Night Music. grand opera, at the Masonic School System and to return to the Now in its fifth year, Michigan Temple, whose requirements of Upper Peninsula. Included in this Opera Theatre Young Artists sets, orchestra and international outreach program is the Overture Apprentice Program provides stars cannot be accommodated by To Opera Company, a troupe of through national selection an the stage and orchestra pit of the twenty-five professional singers opportunity for twenty-four aspiring Music Hall. We are especially and pianists, who provide the artists in vocal performance, stage gratified that the incomparable Detroit Metropolitan area year management and direction, Dame Joan Sutherland, one of the round with programs for all ages. design, coachlaccompaniment world's truly great artists, has We are especially excited about and management to work with agreed to come to Detroit and our development of a unique international artists and gain first launch this series, which in model program in Black Studies hand experience with a seasons to come promises such supported by grants from the professional opera company. We works as Aida, Turandot, Tristan Michigan Council for the Arts and and Isolde and Salome. the National Endowment for the Arts. (This program, which compares singing techniques in jazz, rock, gospel and opera, is designed to engender multi-racial appreciation of the musical styles 7 Copyright 2010, Michigan Opera Theatre Copyright 2010, Michigan Opera Theatre are grateful to the Martha Baird Rockefeller Fund for Music, Jacobson's, the Rose Cooper Memorial Fund and to the Detroit Grand Opera Association for supporting this vital program. A fourth goal, that is especially close to my heart, is the confirmation of Michigan Opera Theatre's commitment to American works. Our achievements are already considerable, with two world premieres of works by Pasatieri and Charles Strause in addition to the first major revivals of many American operas including Gershwin's Porgy and Bess and Blitzstein's Regina; two works which have since had numerous productions by many opera companies. Ours is the only Our fifth goal is to assure the At OPERA America's 13th regional company to be repre permanence of Michigan Opera Annual Conference were, left to sented by two nationally televised Theatre by developing broad right, The Honorable John Aird, productions written by Americans: based financial stability. We are Lieutenant Governor of Ontario; Aaron Copland's The Tender/and, indeed grateful for the increased Lotti Mansouri, Vice President of with the composer conducting, support from friends, both old and OPERA America and General and Frank Loesser's Most Happy new, representing individuals, Director of the Candian Opera Fel/a, which enjoyed a Broadway corporations and foundations who Company; Dr. David DiChiera, run. Concurrent with the saw to it that we reached our President of OPERA America company's commitment to fund-raising goal for the 1982-83 and General Director of the American works, Michigan Opera season and thus cleared the way Michigan Opera Theatre; Theatre recently hosted a major to fulfilling the first year require J.E. Mahoney, President of the conference (see page 85) to help ment for a very crucial $250,000 Canadian Opera Company chart the future for new American Ford Foundation Stabilization opera and musical theatre, and Grant. We are continually indicates that both Detroit and improving our working capital cash Michigan Opera Theatre will reserve, and planning for the continue to have an ever increas development of an Endowment ing role in the future of the art Fund.