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Home , Brian Asawa, Brian Jagde, Los Angeles Opera, Lysistrata (opera), Madama Butterfly, Minnesota Opera

Madame Butterfly Artist Biographies

Joseph Beutel (the Bonze)

Joseph Beutel, , joins Minnesota ’s Resident Artist program after spending the summer as a Apprentice Artist, where he covered Méphistophélès in Faust and the Catholic Priest in The Last Savage. Previous roles have included the Impresario/Direttore in the young artist production of Viva La Mamma! at ; Benoit and Alcindoro in La bohème for South Texas Lyric Opera; Sarastro in Die Zauberflöte, Mustafà in L’italiana in Algeri, Simone in , Le Roi in Cendrillon and Herr Reich in Die lustigen Weiber von Windsor for IU Opera Theatre; and the Sergeant in Pirates of Penzance for Western Michigan University.

Mr. Beutel was a district finalist of the National Council Auditions in 2011, won the Sullivan Foundation Career Development Award in November and received the Palm Beach Opera Competition Encouragement Award in 2010 and 2011. For Minnesota Opera this season, he will appear as the British Major in Silent Night, Le Bailli in , Raimondo in Lucia di Lammermoor and the Bonze in . This summer he sings Lamoral in for Santa Fe Opera.

Arturo Chacón-Cruz (Pinkerton) – performs April 14, 17, 19, 21

Born in Mexico, in recent seasons lyric Arturo Chacón-Cruz has made many important international debuts in theaters including the Berlin State Opera, , Cologne Opera, Opera, Teatro Comunale in Bologna, Teatro San Carlo, Naples, Teatro la Fenice, Venice, Teatro Regio di Turin, Palau de la Reina Sofia in Valencia, Opéra de Montpellier, L’Opéra de Lyon and at the Festival de Radio France in Montpellier. In North America, he has appeared with the Washington Opera, , Houston Opera, Michigan Opera Theatre, Florida Grand Opera and many others.

Arturo Chacón-Cruz began the 2011–2012 season with his debut in

Stockholm as Rodolfo in La bohème. He subsequently debuted at the

Teatro alla Scala in the title role of Les contes d’Hoffmann. Other engagements for the season included his return to Moscow in performances of Werther and La bohème at the Stanislavsky Theatre. He then sang the title role in Roméo et Juliette for Palm Beach Opera, Alfredo in La traviata in Mexico City, and will sing Madame Butterfly for the Minnesota Opera as well as his first with the Florentine Opera. In the spring of 2011, Chacón-Cruz sang his first performances of Massenet’s Werther for the Opéra de Lyon in a new production which marked the directorial debut of Rolando Villazon. Highlights of the 2010–2011 season also included Les contes d’Hoffmann for the Aichi Arts Center in Japan and for his debut in Moscow, where he was also heard as Werther. Chacón-Cruz made his Norwegian debut as the Duca in Rigoletto for Den Norske Opera in , and his Swedish debut at the Malmo Opera in Hoffmann. He also returned to the Opera Royal de la Wallonie for La bohème. During the summer of 2011, he sang Rossini’s Stabat mater at the Festival de Saint-Denis conducted by Myung Whun Chung.

A protégé of Ramón Vargas and recipient of the Ramón Vargas Opera Development Scholarship and of the Plácido Domingo Scholarship, Arturo Chacón-Cruz was also a prize winner of 2005. Chacón- Cruz is a graduate of the Houston Grand Opera Studio, where he appeared in productions of several works including Madame Butterfly, Roméo et Juliette, , the world premiere of and Mozart’s Idomeneo.

In the fall of 2006, Chacón-Cruz appeared at the Washington Opera as Pinkerton in Madame Butterfly and subsequently made his Italian stage debut as Rodolfo in La bohème at the Teatro Comunale, Bologna. This was followed by appearances as Rinuccio in Gianni Schicchi at the Teatro San Carlo in Naples. His Spanish debut was in Valencia where he appeared as Christian in Alfano’s Cyrano de Bergerac opposite Plácido Domingo in the title role. Chacón-Cruz sang the title role in Gounod’s Roméo et Juliette to his repertoire for Michigan Opera Theatre in the spring of 2007. He then was heard at the Festival de Radio France in Montpellier as Marcello di Bruges in Donizetti’s Il duca d’Alba. Arturo Chacón-Cruz began his 2007–2008 season with a concert of the Verdi Requiem, presented by the Los Angeles Opera and conducted by Plácido Domingo. He subsequently returned to the Washington Opera as Rodolfo in La bohème, a role he also performed for his stage debut with the Los Angeles Opera, with Opera Pacific and for his German operatic debut at the Staatsoper Berlin in February 2008 under Gustavo Dudamel. He made his debut with the Teatro la Fenice in Venice in January 2008 as Ruggero in Puccini’s . Chacón-Cruz returned to the Michigan Opera Theatre for his first Alfredo in La traviata and appeared with the company in La rondine as well. He then debuted with the Cincinnati Opera in Catán’s and joined and the Montreal Symphony for Verdi’s Requiem at the Festival de Lanaudiere.

Arturo Chacón-Cruz began his 2009–2010 season as Rodolfo in La bohème with the Portland Opera and then debuted in this role with the Cologne Opera and subsequently made his debut with the

Hamburg State Opera as Pinkerton in Madame Butterfly. He also returned to the Berlin State Opera in La bohème and also appeared as the Duca in Rigoletto with the Opera de La Wallonie, Liege and with the Florentine Opera in Milwaukee. He opened his 2008–2009 season at the Washington Opera in La traviata. He added the title role in Offenbach’s Les contes d’Hoffmann to his repertoire for his debut at the Teatro Regio in Turin followed by his first Faust for L’Opera de Montpellier. He also made his Austrian stage debut in a new production of La bohème in Graz. Chacon Cruz added the Duca in Rigoletto to his repertoire in Mexico City, where he has also been heard as Lensky in Eugene Onegin. Other engagements included his debut with the Florida Grand Opera in Madame Butterfly and Verdi’s Requiem with the Colorado Symphony.

Michael Christie (conductor) – conducts April 14, 15, 17, 18, 19, 21

Michael Christie becomes the music director of the Minnesota Opera in September 2012 after eight years as the Virginia G. Piper Music Director of the Phoenix Symphony. Whilst leading the Phoenix Symphony he concurrently was music director of the Brooklyn Philharmonic from September 2005 to 2010. He served as the first chief conductor of the Queensland Orchestra (Brisbane, Australia) from 2001 to 2004. With his orchestras, he has embarked on a series of ambitious projects focusing on interdisciplinary collaborations with visual artists, dance companies and theater groups, as well as contemporary composers such as Gorecki, Ligeti, Adams, Golijov and Tan Dun. He is also music director of the Colorado Music Festival (Boulder, Colorado), where he has been much praised for his innovative programming and where festival audiences are at an all- time high and growing in each of his 12 seasons in Boulder. His relationship with the Colorado Music Festival was recently extended to the 2016 season.

Over his sixteen year career, he has conducted the Los Angeles Philharmonic, St. Louis Symphony, National Symphony Orchestra,

Dallas Symphony, Atlanta Symphony, Hous- ton Symphony, the St.

Paul Chamber Orchestra, the Minnesota Orchestra, Oregon Sym- phony, Indianapolis Symphony and the Cincinnati Symphony, among many others. Christie made his New York Philharmonic debut in March 2007, stepping in for an ailing Riccardo Muti.

Michael Christie has also established an excellent reputation as an opera conductor, starting with his operatic and ballet performances at the Opernhaus Zürich. That special relationship began in the 1997– 1998 season and continued for many seasons with his highly successful debut conducting performances of Romeo and Juliet and a new production of Hansel and Gretel. Most recently, extraordinary critical response has surrounded his Opera Theatre of St. Louis productions of John Corigliano’s and ’ and his Minnesota Opera productions of Verdi’s La traviata, Bernard Herrmann’s Wuthering Heights and Kevin Puts’ new opera Silent Night.

After Minnesota’s Madame Butterfly, Michael returns to the Opera Theatre of St. Louis to conduct the North American premiere of Unsuk Chin’s Alice in Wonderland.

Mr. Christie has also worked at the Wexford Festival Opera conducting the European premiere of Corigliano’s The Ghosts of Versailles. This production, a collaborative effort with the Opera Theatre of St. Louis and directed by James Robinson, won the 2010 Irish Times Irish Theatre Award for Best Opera. He conducted the opera again at the Aspen Music Festival in August 2010.

Michael Christie earlier worked with the Finnish National Opera, the Queensland Opera (Australia) and in the Netherlands, conducting John Adams’ The Death of Klinghoffer.

Michael Christie first came to international attention in 1995 when he was awarded a special prize for “Outstanding Potential” at the First International Sibelius Conductors’ Competition in Helsinki. Following the competition, he was invited to become an apprentice conductor with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and subsequently worked with Daniel Barenboim in Chicago and at the Berlin State Opera during the 1996–1997 season.

Subsequently, he spent much of his time in Europe with engagements including the DSO Berlin, Orchestre National de Lille, Swedish Radio Symphony, Netherlands Radio Symphony, City of Birmingham Symphony, Orchestre National du Capitole de Toulouse, Lausanne Chamber Orchestra, NDR Hannover Orchestra and the Czech Philharmonic.

Australia has been a favorite musical destination for Michael. In addition to his tenure in Brisbane, he has also conducted the Sydney Symphony, Tasmanian Symphony and the Western Australian Symphony in Perth.

Michael graduated from the Oberlin College Conservatory of Music with a bachelor’s degree in performance. He met and married Alexis, a physician, in Australia and they have a daughter, Sinclair, born in 2008.

Robert Denton (lighting designer)

Past designs for Robert Denton include (Maryland Opera Studio), Caroline, or Change (Court Theatre, Chicago) La bohème (Opera Theatre of Saint Louis), Samson et Dalila (Florida Grand Opera) and Madame Butterfly (Opera Theatre of Saint Louis and Arizona Opera). Robert recently returned to school in pursuit of his MFA at University of Maryland studying under five-time Tony Award winning lighting designer Brian MacDevitt.

E. Reed Fisher (stage director)

E. Reed Fisher made his directing debut with a new production of at Florentine Opera. Since then, directing credits include new productions of The Marriage of Figaro for Opera Roanoke, The Daughter of the Regiment for Todi Music Fest, Amahl and the Night Visitors for Milwaukee Opera Theatre and a live PBS broadcast performance of Mozart i Salieri with Virginia Symphony Orchestra. He has been an assistant director at The Santa Fe Opera, Houston Grand Opera, Pittsburgh Opera, Florida Grand Opera and Glimmerglass Opera. Mr. Fisher was also the assistant director in Minnesota for the original Colin Graham production of in 2004, and directed the show when it was presented at Arizona Opera and Opera Theatre of Saint Louis. Once a stage manager, he has been resident at Virginia Opera, Florentine Opera and Glimmerglass Opera. Other companies for which he has worked include Boston Lyric Opera, Amarillo Opera, Cleveland Opera, , Opera Pacific, New Orleans Opera and Opera Birmingham.

A. J. Glueckert (Official Registrar)

Tenor A. J. Glueckert is a Minnesota Opera Resident Artist who recently sang the Kronprinz in Silent Night and Arturo in Lucia di Lammermoor. Previously, he has been seen as Dr. Caius in Falstaff at Utah Opera where he was a resident artist last year and the Simpleton in Boris Godunov at . Other roles include the Tambor-Major in and Sextus in Harrison’s Young Caesar for Ensemble Parallèlle, Wolfram in Les contes d’Hoffmann for Santa Fe Opera, where he was an Apprentice Artist, Tybalt in Roméo et Juliette and Arturo in Lucia di Lammermoor for San Francisco Lyric Opera, El Remendado in for Festival Opera of Walnut Creek and Carl Magnus in A Little Night Music for SFCM Musical Theater Ensemble.

Mr. Glueckert performed a number of roles at his alma mater, the San Francisco Conservatory of Music where he studied with Cuban tenor Cesar Ulloa, including Tamino in Die Zauberflöte, Dema in Cavalli’s L’Egisto, the title role in Orpheus in the Underworld, Flute in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, the Witch in Hansel and Gretel and Don Basilio/Don Curzio in Le nozze di Figaro. He is a first place winner of the YES Stewart Brady Competition. At the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions, A. J. won an encouragement award in 2009 and district competitions in 2010 and 2011. He received the encouragement award in the 2010 regional auditions and took second place in 2012.

Levi Hernandez (Sharpless) – performs April 14, 17, 19, 21

With a velvety tone and a stage presence which exudes confidence and charm, Levi Hernandez is gaining momentum as a sought after artist on the operatic stage. Mark Thomson Ketterson of declared of his principal debut with Lyric Opera of Chicago as Dandini in La Cenerentola, “Young baritone Levi Hernandez’s intelligent Dandini displayed a most impressive knack for subtle text-painting within a pristinely negotiated coloratura line …”

Recently the El Paso native made his Houston Grand Opera debut as Sharpless in Madame Butterfly next to Ana Maria Martinez and ; he also joined the rosters of and the

Metropolitan Opera in their productions of Puccini’s and . Last season marked his European debut in Komishe

Oper Berlin of Pique Dame in the role of Tomski. Additionally he sang Sharpless in Madame Butterfly with Virginia Opera, Lake George Opera and Cedar Rapids Opera. Last summer he made his Opera Theatre of St. Louis as Leporello in Don Giovanni, and returned to Opera North as Dandini in La Cenerentola. In the 2011–2012 season Levi sings Tobias Mill in Rossini’s La cambiale di matrimonio with Opera Omaha and will reprise the role of Sharpless in Madame Butterfly with Minnesota Opera and Intermountain Opera Bozeman.

Other recent engagements include Valentin in Faust with The Kalamazoo Symphony and his return to Los Angeles Opera as Don Lucas in Luisa Fernanda. Engagements for the 2007–2008 season included Marcello in San Antonio Opera’s La bohème, Schaunard in Lyric Opera of Chicago’s La bohème, appearances with Cheyenne Symphony for the Messiah, and Sciarrone in and Crébillon in La rondine with Los Angeles Opera. Engagements for 2008–2009 included Yamadori in Madama Butterfly with , a return to Los Angeles for Spinelloccio in Gianni Schicchi and a concert appearance at the Metropolis Performing Arts Centre.

A recent alumnus of the Lyric Opera Center for American Artists, Mr. Hernandez made his Lyric Opera mainstage debut during the 2004– 2005. During his tenure at the Lyric he was also seen as Marullo in Rigoletto, Sciarrone in Tosca, the Innkeeper in Manon Lescaut and the Bartender in the world premiere of William Bolcom’s A Wedding. A versatile actor as well as a fine singer Hernandez portrayed the title role in Puccini’s Gianni Schicchi at the 2004 Grant Park Music Festival. Other career highlights include Marcello La bohème for El Paso Opera, Papageno with Madison Opera in their Die Zauberflöte, performances in Boston Lyric Opera’s productions of Carmen and Il barbiere di Siviglia, and Count Ceprano in Rigoletto, Moralès in Carmen and Haly in L’italiana in Algeri, all with Opera Company of Philadelphia.

Mr. Hernandez has been seen on the concert stage as a soloist in Handel’s Messiah with Charlotte Symphony and Orff’s Carmina burana with the Pennsylvania Ballet. A 2002 Metropolitan Opera National Council Awards finalist, his many awards include a - Puccini Foundation grant as well as being a 2002 OPERALIA competition finalist. After receiving his undergraduate degree at Westminster Choir College. Mr. Hernandez attended the prestigious Academy of Vocal Arts in Philadelphia, where he performed a number of leading roles including Figaro in Il barbiere di Siviglia, Marcello in La bohème, Ford in Falstaff, Gugliemo in Così fan tutte, Sharpless in Madama Butterfly, Vicar in Albert Herring and Falke in .

Brian Jagde (Pinkerton) – performs April 15, 18, 20, 22

Lyric tenor is a break-through artist who made his American tenor debut singing Rodolfo in Puccini's La bohème for Syracuse Opera. His European debut in the title role in Massenet’s Werther was followed by a portrayal of Macduff in Verdi’s in March 2010 for Teatr Wielki Opera Poznan in Poland. Brian performed Pinkerton in Virginia Opera’s 2011 production of Madama Butterfly and Rodolfo for a production of La bohème at Maestro ’s Castleton Festival, where he covered Luigi and performed L'amante in their revival of Il tabarro. In 2012 he will debut at Minnesota Opera and Intermountain Opera Bozeman as Pinkerton, as well as make his Santa Fe Opera debut in productions of Tosca and Arabella.

In the summer of 2009, Brian joined the prestigious Merola Opera Program, where he covered the title role in L’amico Fritz. Now entering his second year as a Fellow in San Francisco Opera’s Adler Program, Brian has covered Pinkerton in Madama Butterfly and Christian from Alfano’s Cyrano de Bergerac. Mainstage appearances include Joe in La fanciulla del West, Janek in Janácek’s Makropulos Case opposite Karita Mattilla and Il messaggero in Aïda. This year, Brian will cover Froh in , Don José in Carmen, Dan Hill in the world premiere of Christopher Theofanidis’ Heart of a Soldier, and has been cast as Vitellozzo in with Renée Fleming.

Previously, Brian has performed with such companies as Opera New

Jersey, Chautauqua Opera, Opera Company of the Highlands and Des Moines Metro Opera. He holds Bachelor and Master of Music Degrees in Voice and Opera Studies from The Purchase College-Conservatory of Music.

Kelly Kaduce (Cio-Cio-San) – performs April 14, 17, 19, 21

Kelly Kaduce is a with a warm and rich voice, stunning beauty, and superb acting ability. For her creation of the title role in Anna Karenina, Opera News proclaimed her "an exceptional actress whose performance was as finely modulated dramatically as it was musically … and her dark, focused sound was lusty and lyrical one moment, tender and floating the next." For her Boston Lyric Opera debut in the title role of Thaïs, Opera News observed, "Kaduce sings with -like purity and silvery sweetness, and she suspends her legato with an effortless, sensual spin. A born actress, Kaduce is also a masterful illuminator of text."

Kelly Kaduce's 2011–2012 season currently includes singing as Nedda in I with the Arizona Opera Company, Portland Opera and also with Cincinnati Opera; the title role in with Opéra de Montréal; Cio-Cio-San in Madama Butterfly with Minnesota Opera; Patricia Nixon in Nixon in with Eugene Opera; and as guest soloist in Verdi's Requiem with Crane Orchestra and Chorus (NY). In the 2010–2011 season she sang as Rusalka with Opera Colorado,

Mimì in La bohème in a return to Michigan Opera Theatre, and Violetta in La traviata with Opera Tulsa. 2012–2013 season engagements include singing as Liù in in a return to Minnesota Opera.

Recent successes include Nedda in I pagliacci with the Teatro Municipal de Santiago (Chile), Mimì in La bohème with Portland Opera; the Countess in Le nozze di Figaro with Eugene Opera; Nedda in I pagliacci with both Opera Omaha and Florida Grand Opera; the title role in , also with Florida Grand Opera; Princess Lan in Tan Dun's Tea with Opera Company of Philadelphia; Donna Elvira in Don Giovanni with Michigan Opera Theatre; Cio-Cio-San with Santa Fe Opera; her Kentucky Opera debut as Desdemona in Verdi's ; a return to Malmö Opera as Violetta in La traviata; to Florida Grand Opera as the Countess in Le nozze di Figaro, to Opera Theatre of Saint

Louis in the title role in and singing in an evening of arias with the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra.

Other season highlights include her debut with Opera Pacific as Mimì and her returns to Malmö Opera as Marguerite in Faust, to Minnesota Opera in the title role of Rusalka and to Opera Theatre of Saint Louis as Cio-Cio-San. She performed the title role in Suor Angelica at Teatro Municipal de Santiago in Chile; appeared in recital with the Santa Fe Chamber Music Festival at St. Olaf College and (with baritone Lee Gregory) at Bates College; and sang the role of Princess Lan in Tea in a re-engagement with Santa Fe Opera. She has received high praise for her returns to Boston Lyric Opera to perform Cio-Cio-San, to Minnesota Opera to sing Rosasharn in the world premiere of Ricky Ian Gordon's The Grapes of Wrath and to Florida Grand Opera and Opera Theatre of Saint Louis as the title role in the world premiere of

Carlson's Anna Karenina.

She has appeared as Mimì with Opera Grand Rapids, Florida Grand Opera, Minnesota Opera and Opera Delaware, and in the Los Angeles production of Baz Luhrmann's La bohème. She returned to Opera Theatre of Saint Louis in the title role of Michael Berkeley's Jane Eyre; performed the title role in with Orlando Opera; Marguerite in Faust with Nashville Opera, Florida Grand Opera and Austin Lyric Opera; Caroline in the world premiere of Margaret Garner with Michigan Opera Theatre, also with Opera Company of Philadelphia; Cio-Cio-San with Minnesota Opera; Micaëla in Carmen with Nashville Opera; Birdie Hubbard in Regina at Bard's SummerScape Festival; Juliette in Gounod's Roméo et Juliette with Lyric Opera of Kansas City; Donna Elvira with Florida Grand Opera; the title role in Suor Angelica with Opera Theatre of Saint Louis; and Pamina in Die Zauberflöte with Atlanta Opera. For Glimmerglass Opera she created two roles in the trilogy Central Park. She made her Santa Fe Opera debut as the Chinese Actress and ZiZhen in the world premiere of Bright Sheng's Madame Mao, and her Opera debut as Gretel in Hänsel und Gretel, which she also sang with Opera Colorado.

Among her concert credits are Mahler's Symphony No. 2, Barber's

Prayers of Kierkegaard, Berg's Seven Early Songs, and Argento's Casa Guidi. She has also appeared with the Florida Philharmonic Orchestra as soloist in Beethoven's Egmont, and in Britten's War Requiem and Beethoven's Symphony No. 9 with the Boston University Symphony Orchestra at Symphony Hall.

Kelly Kaduce is a graduate of both St. Olaf College and Boston University, and was a winner of the 1999 Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions.

Yunah Lee (Cio-Cio-San) – performs April 15, 18, 20, 22

Lyric Soprano Yunah Lee is thrilling audiences in the United States, Europe and Asia with her “handsomely colored full lyric sound” (Opera News) and “picture perfect” acting (Berkshire Fine Arts). Recent performances in the title role of Madama Butterfly were hailed in Germany as “a revelation … [her] voice unites the girlish innocence and the wistful sensuality [of Cio-Cio-San]” (Online Musik Magazin). “… thoroughly captivating, above all thanks to Yunah Lee, who is utterly convincing in mood and presentation … a commanding and touching performance revealing the highs and lows of Butterfly’s emotions.” (Das Opernglas).

During the past two years, she has performed Cio-Cio-San with The Dallas Opera, Central City Opera, Kentucky Opera, , De Vlaamse Opera in Belgium and Theater St. Gallen in Switzerland. Elsewhere, she has performed this role in Europe with the Stadttheater Bern in Switzerland, in Braunschweig, Germany and Opera Ireland, and in the U.S.A., with Boheme Opera and Opera Roanoke, Virginia Opera, Longview Opera, Lyric Opera of San Antonio, Grand Rapids Opera, Kentucky Opera, Duluth Festival, Lake George Opera and Westfield Symphony. This season, she sings the Countess for Kentucky Opera, and Cio-Cio-San for the Minnesota Opera and for Opera Carolina. Next season, she will sing the same role for Boston Lyric Opera, Pamina in Die Zauberflöte for Opera Carolina, Countess

Almaviva in Le nozze di Figaro with Virginia Opera and as soloist in

Mahler's Symphony No. 2 at the Rose Theater in .

Other notable roles in her repertoire include Mimì in La bohème [New York City Opera, Cleveland Opera, Boheme Opera, Opera Roanoke, Aspen Music Festival, São Paolo (Brazil) and Korea National Opera], Micaëla in Carmen (New York City Opera, Fort Worth Opera, El Paso Opera, Boheme Opera and in Tokyo), Liù in Turandot (Minnesota Opera and Orlando Opera), Marguerite in Faust (Minnesota Opera, Toledo Opera, El Paso Opera, Natchez Opera), Adina in L’elisir d’amore (Orlando Opera and Virginia Opera), Leïla in Les pêcheurs des perles (Opera Cleveland) and Elvira in Don Giovanni (Palm Beach Opera, Westfield Symphony, Opera on the James), Pamina in Die Zauberflöte (Kalamazoo Symphony), Nedda in I pagliacci

(Intermountain Opera) and Juliette in Gounod’s Roméo et Juliette

(Opera Roanoke).

As an active concert singer, Ms. Lee has performed as soprano soloist in Handel’s Messiah, Mozart’s Requiem, Haydn’s The Creation and Bach’s St. Matthew with the New York Oratorio Society at Carnegie Hall, and Verdi's Requiem with the National Chorale at Avery Fisher Hall. Ms. Lee was invited to appear as a soloist in the Great Mountain Music Festival, where she performed works of Rodrigo, Villa Lobos, Handel, Earl Kim and George Crumb, and she has appeared with the Hiroshima Symphony performing Mahler's Symphony No. 2, in the memorial concert of the 60th year after the Atomic Bomb in Hiroshima. She sang a solo recital in Los Angeles at USC’s Newman Hall, KMF Virtuoso Concert at Alice Tully Hall with pianist Warren Jones, and her European concert debut was with the Pablo Picasso Orchestra in Malaga, Spain.

Ms. Lee made her solo recital debut at the Carnegie Hall and Ho-Am Recital Hall in Seoul, Korea followed by a national tour in five cities in South Korea. Ms. Lee was also featured in the Christmas Concert with Beijing National Symphony in China and in her recital with Shanghai Symphony and Seoul Arts Center and in Concert with Tokyo City Orchestra. Ms. Lee's has recorded of “Four Seasons in Korea” with I Musici.

Born in Daegu, Korea, Ms. Lee is a former member of Juilliard Opera Center and earned her master's degree at The Juilliard School and bachelor's degree from Hanyang University as a full scholarship student. Ms. Lee also studied at the New England Conservatory of Music. Ms. Lee received First Prize in the Competition and in the Opera Competition and was a finalist at the Belvedere Competition in Vienna, Austria.

John Robert Lindsey (Goro)

Colorado native tenor John Robert Lindsey is a recent graduate of the University of Colorado at Boulder where he earned his Master of Music in vocal performance under the tutelage of Julie Simson. Past engagements include Tenor Soloist in the Messiah by Handel, Sam Polk in Susannah by Floyd, the character of Stage Manager in Our Town by Rorem and Don Ottavio in Don Giovanni by Mozart. Mr. Lindsey was met with numerous successes in competitions in the recent past. He was a regional finalist in the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions for the past two years, as well as taking third place in 2010 and first place in 2011 at the prestigious Denver Lyric Opera Guild competition.

For Minnesota Opera’s 2011–2012 season, Mr. Lindsey will appear as Jonathan Dale in Silent Night, Schmidt in Werther, Normanno in Lucia di Lammermoor and Goro in Madame Butterfly. He will also sing a concert of Carmen highlights with the Mankato Symphony. Next season he returns as Ismaele in , Hervey in and Pang in Turandot.

Mark McCullough (original lighting designer)

Mark McCullough maintains a highly successful career with opera and theater companies in the United States and abroad. He has lit productions for the Metropolitan Opera (The Marriage of Figaro), (Cyrano de Bergerac), Madrid’s Teatro Real (Luisa Miller), Strasbourg's Opéra National du Rhin (The Beggar's Opera), House, Covent Garden (The Queen of Spades), Opera North (Eugene Onegin), The Dallas Opera (’s Thérèse Raquin/world premiere), as well as productions with Boston Lyric Opera, Washington National Opera, Glimmerglass Opera, New York City Opera, Seattle Opera and San Francisco Opera including the full

Ring Cycle directed by Francesca Zambello. Among his successes in theater have been the Broadway productions of Jesus Christ Superstar (revival); the Roundabout Theatre Company’s After Ms. Julie; Manhattan Theatre Club’s The American Plan and the upcoming production of Rebecca. McCullough's work has also been seen Off- Broadway and in regional theater companies nationwide including the Shakespeare Theatre; Court Theatre; La Jolla Playhouse; Mark Taper Forum; Long Wharf; Hartford Stage; The Old Globe; Oregon Shakespeare Theatre; Guthrie Theater; Steppenwolf and Center Stage. His international theater credits include the West End production of Whistle Down the Wind (Aldwych Theatre, London); the UK tour of Jesus Christ Superstar; numerous productions at the Royal Shakespeare Company and the Gate Theatre. Upcoming engagements include La traviata at the Bolshoi Theater (Russia) and The Tales of

Hoffmann at the National Centre for the Performing Arts (NCPA) in Beijing. The American designer is an alumnus of the North Carolina School of the Arts and holds a Master of Fine Arts degree from the Yale School of Drama.

Angela Mortellaro (Kate Pinkerton)

Soprano Angela Mortellaro returns to the Minnesota Opera's Resident Artist program for a second season, singing the roles of Despina in Così fan tutte, Madeleine in Silent Night, Sophie in Werther, the title role in the second cast of Lucia di Lammermoor and Kate Pinkerton in Madame Butterfly. Last season, she was seen as Amore in Orpheus and , Clorinda in Cinderella and Annina in La traviata . Ms. Mortellaro has sung the role of Gretel in Hansel and Gretel with both PORTOpera and Sarasota Opera. She was a Caramoor Opera Bel Canto Young Artist and a Chautauqua Opera Apprentice Artist, where she sang Edith in and Anna Gomez in . For Orlando Opera Company, Ms. Mortellaro sang Sister Genovieffa in Suor Angelica, Sally in Die Fledermaus and Clorinda in La Cenerentola. The soprano also appeared as Clorinda for Aspen Opera Theatre as well as Frasquita in its production of Carmen. Internationally, she has performed Susanna in Le nozze di Figaro for Operafestival di Roma.

Ms. Mortellaro has a master of music degree in vocal performance from Rice University (Houston, Texas), where she sang Diana in La Calisto, Gretel in Hansel and Gretel, Sandrina in La finta giardiniera and the Governess in The Turn of the Screw. She completed her bachelor of music degree at the University of Wisconsin (Whitewater).

Neil Patel (set designer)

Neil Patel is a New York City based scenic designer who works in theater, opera, dance and film. He has designed Oleanna, Sideman, [title of show], ‘Night Mother, Wonderland and Ring of Fire for Broadway. Off-Broadway, his credits include productions at Second Stage, Manhattan Theater Club, Roundabout Theatre Company, BAM, New York Theater Workshop, Vineyard Theater and Playwrights Horizon, having designed productions of By the Way, Meet Vera Stark, This Beautiful City, The Beard of Avon, Living Out, Here Lies Jenny, Dinner with Friends, The Long Christmas Ride Home, Quills and The

Grey Zone. His regional work has been seen at the Guthrie Theater, The Kennedy Center, Center Theater Group, McCarter Theater, Arena Stage, Center Stage, Steppenwolf, Chicago Shakespeare, among many others. His work with Anne Bogart and the SITI Company has been seen throughout the world, including the Holland Festival, Edinburgh International Festival, Exit Festival in Paris and BAM. Opera credits New York City Opera, Santa Fe Opera, Montreal Opera, Boston Lyric Opera, Florida Grand Opera, Opera Theater of St. Louis, Tokyo Nikikai Opera Theater, Houston Grand Opera, Chicago Lyric Opera and the Minnesota Opera (Madame Butterfly, Orazi e Curiazi, Donizetti's Tudor Trilogy). Tokyo: Candide, Bent, Torch Song Trilogy and Take Flight at Parco Theater. London credits include Sideman and Underneath the Lintel (West End), A Question of Mercy (Bush Theater) and Henry IV (RSC). Dance: Shadowland (Pilobolus) – Madrid premiere and European tour. Television and Film: In Treatment (HBO), The Feiffer Dancer Films. Awards include the Helen Hayes Award, the 2000 EDDY Award, numerous Drama Desk and Hewes nominations and the 1996 and 2001 Obie Awards for sustained excellence in set design.

Gabriel Preisser (Prince Yamadori)

Praised for his powerful voice and stage presence by the Houston Chronicle, Gabriel Preisser originally hails from the small town of Apopka, Florida. He was recently praised for his “richly voiced” Albert in Werther and received rave reviews for his performance of Lt. Gordon in the world premiere of Kevin Puts’ Silent Night, a role he will be reprising with the Opera Company of Philadelphia. He is truly comfortable on any stage and in a wide range of repertoire, having performed over 25 operatic and musical theater roles including Figaro in Il barbiere di Siviglia, Prince Ottokar in Der Freischütz, Danilo in The Merry Widow, the title role in Don Giovanni, Papageno in Die Zauberflöte, Achille in , Ubalde in Lully’s Armide, Pooh- bah in , Mars in Orpheus in the Underworld and Larry

Foreman in The Cradle will Rock, with such companies as Des Moines

Metro Opera, Utah Festival Opera, Pensacola Opera, Kentucky Opera and others. Opera News made note of his “beautifully sung and beautifully portrayed” Yamadori for Kentucky Opera’s Madama Butterfly last fall, and his Masetto at Utah Festival Opera this past summer was played “with a delicious mixture of jealous outrage and bewilderment … commanding the spotlight with vocal talent.” Upcoming, he can be seen as Bob Baker in Wonderful Town with Skylark Opera, as Marullo in Rigoletto with the Minnesota Orchestra and will debut as baritone soloist in Orff’s Carmina burana with the Mississippi Valley Orchestra.

Mika Shigematsu (Suzuki) – performs April 14, 17, 19, 21

A graduate of San Francisco Opera's prestigious Merola and Adler Programs, Mika Shigematsu made international headlines when she sang Elvira in the North American premiere of Bellini's I puritani (the Malibran version) for Boston Lyric Opera. Born in Osaka, Japan, she won the first prize in that country's most prestigious international music competition.

Past engagements include Rosina in Il barbiere di Siviglia for Boston

Lyric Opera, San Francisco Opera, New National Theatre, Tokyo and

Canadian Opera Company; Suzuki in Madama Butterfly for Opéra National de Lyon, Boston Lyric Opera, Fort Worth Opera, Westfield Symphony, Opera Company of North Carolina, and for a production directed by David Freemanin , London; Angelina in La Cenerentola for Opera Colorado and San Francisco Opera; Madrigal Singer in Puccini's Manon Lescaut for Opéra National de Paris, Bastille; Agnese in Beatrice di Tenda for a VARA Radio Orchestra broadcast from the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam; Charlotte in Werther for Teatro Carlo Felice in Genoa and Boston Lyric Opera; and Cherubino in Le nozze di Figaro for Seattle Opera.

Ms. Shigematsu has sung Beethoven's Symphony No. 9 with Yomiuri Symphony Orchestra conducted by Gerd Albrecht, which was recorded for subsequent CD release; A Midsummer Night's Dream by

Mendelssohn with Kurt Masur; Sea Pictures by Elgar; several concerts and recitals in Tokyo and Osaka, one of which is to be broadcast nationwide in Japan by NHK; a Gala Concert at the Montreal Opera; concerts with Santa Barbara Symphony Orchestra; Duruflé's Requiem and El sombrero de tres picos by de Falla in Tokyo and solo recitals in Geneva (Grand Théâtre de Genève), Lyon (Opéra National de Lyon), San Francisco, Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka; duo recitals with Brian Asawa in San Francisco and Lyon (with Christophe Rousset on the harpsichord at the Opéra National de Lyon).

Previous and upcoming engagements include Angelina in La Cenerentola with San Francisco Opera; Rosina in Minnesota Opera’s production of Il barbiere di Siviglia, Suzuki in Madama Butterfly with Opéra de Montpellier, New York City Opera, San Diego Opera, Opera

Pacific with Houston Grand Opera, Kentucky Opera, Central City

Opera, Opera Columbus and Berkshire Opera, Palm Beach Opera and

Cincinnati Opera. Also at New York City Opera she sang Teodata in Handel’s Flavio. Ms. Shigematsu has sung the role of Romeo in a concert of I Capuleti ed I Montecchi with the Tros Radio 4 Orchestra in Hilversum, Netherlands; she sang in The Three Cornered Hat by de Falla with the Japan Philharmonic in Tokyo under the baton of Jesus Lopez-Corbos and the Verdi Requiem with the Kyoto Symphony Orchestra. Recently, she sang the Mozart Mass in C Minor and C.P.E. Bach’s Magnificat with the National Chorale at Avery Fisher Hall and a solo recital at the Ishihara Hall Recital Series in Osaka, Japan. Ms. Shigematsu sang Suzuki with Cincinnati Opera.

Recently, she has sang Suzuki with Michigan Opera Theatre, Boheme Opera and at Lake George Opera Festival, Opera Memphis, Central City Opera and Kentucky Opera. She also made her debut with Santa Fe Opera as the Chinese Women in the world premiere of The Letter.

Clinton Smith (assistant conductor) – conducts April 20, 22

Clinton Smith returns to Minnesota Opera for a fourth season as assistant/cover conductor and chorusmaster, conducting performances of Madama Butterfly after making his successful debut conducting a performance of La traviata last season. He has been the cover conductor and chorusmaster for productions of Così fan tutte, Silent Night, Werther, Lucia di Lammermoor, Il trovatore, Die Entführung aus dem Serail, Faust, The Adventures of Pinocchio, Il barbiere di Siviglia, Les pêcheurs de perles, Casanova's Homecoming, , La bohème, Salome, , La Cenerentola, , La traviata and Wuthering Heights with The St. Paul Chamber Orchestra and the Minnesota Opera Orchestra. This season Clinton will guest conduct the St. Cloud Symphony Orchestra, conduct Skylark Opera's production of Mademoiselle Modiste and coach for the National University of Tainan, Taiwan and Ash Lawn Opera. Recently, he was assistant conductor/chorusmaster for San Francisco Opera's Merola Program and Glimmerglass Opera, conducted Madama Butterfly for Hamline University, guest conducted the Wayzata Symphony Orchestra and led a workshop of Kevin Puts' commissioned opera Silent Night for the Minnesota Opera's New Works Initiative.

Past positions include assistant conductor/coach for Glimmerglass Opera (Tolomeo, The Tender Land); conductor for the Canadian Operatic Arts Academy at Western Ontario University; conductor and coach with Opéra du Périgord in Périgueux, France (La vie parisienne, La Périchole and La belle Hélène), Austrian-American Mozart Opera Academy in Salzburg, Austria (Le nozze di Figaro, Zaïde, Der Schauspieldirektor, Die Zauberflöte and Bastien und Bastienne); and University of Michigan Opera Theatre (The Bartered Bride, La bohème); assistant conductor and coach at the International Institute of Vocal Arts in Chiari, (La bohème); music director of the University of Michigan Life Sciences Orchestra; music director of the University of Michigan Society (The Mikado, HMS Pinafore, Patience, The Yeomen of the Guard and The Sorcerer); assistant conductor of the University of Michigan Symphony, Philharmonia and Campus Orchestras; music director of the Starlight Symphony Orchestra; conductor of the University of Texas Undergraduate Opera (Le nozze di Figaro, Der Schauspieldirektor and Bastien und Bastienne); and assistant conductor of the University of Texas Butler Opera Theatre (Suor Angelica, Gianni Schicchi).

Victoria Vargas (Suzuki) – performs April 15, 18, 20, 22

Mezzo-soprano Victoria Vargas recently completed her master of music degree from Manhattan School of Music, where she appeared as Euryclée in Fauré's Pénélope, and the Beggar and Mrs. Peachum in The Beggar's Opera. Other credits include Marcellina in Le nozze di Figaro for Ash Lawn Opera and 's Prelude to Performance; the Witch in Hansel and Gretel, the title role in Carmen and Dorabella in Così fan tutte for Hillman Opera; Madame Armfeldt in A Little Night Music for Lyric Arts International; and Miss Todd in The Old Maid and the Thief for Fredonia Opera Theater.

Ms. Vargas recently sang a concert of Carmen excerpts with the Mankato Symphony. She has been a young artist at both Sarasota Opera and Chautauqua Opera, where she covered the role of Mamma Lucia in . At Chautauqua, she won the opera company’s Guild Studio Artist and Apprentice Artist Awards, performing Laura in Luisa Miller and the Second Lady in Die Zauberflöte. In 2011, she also received an encouragement award at the Metropolitan Opera district competition. As a Minnesota Opera Resident Artist, Ms. Vargas appeared as Tisbe in Cinderella, Anna in Mary Stuart, Flora in La traviata, Nelly in Wuthering Heights and Alisa in Lucia di Lammermoor. She returns next season as Fenena in Nabucco and Smeton in Anna Bolena.

Andrew Wilkowske (Sharpless) – performs April 15, 18, 20, 22

Andrew Wilkowske – when singing a “virile, sturdy Marcello” or a “garrulous yet endearing” Papageno – displays an engaging combination of musical talent and masterful stage presence. Wilkowske, whose voice has been described as “nimble,” with an “impressively open top,” is one of the most versatile performers on the stage today. A gifted actor as well as singer, Wilkowske's recent performance in The Emperor of Atlantis with Boston Lyric Opera "hit the mark dead center, capturing both the absurd performance of political demagoguery and the primal human bewilderment in the face of death" according to Opera News.

This season he returns to Skylight Opera Theatre for the world premiere of Kirke Mechem’s The Rivals, playing the role of Prussian Mercenary Baron von Hakenbock. He will also create the role of Ponchel in the world premiere of Kevin Puts’ and Mark Campbell’s Silent Night at Minnesota Opera. Later this season, Wilkowske will debut as Belcore in L'elisir d'amore with Utah Opera and and returns to Minnesota Opera as Sharpless in Madama Butterfly.

Widely known for his expertise in modern repertoire, Wilkowske recently premiered Our Basic Nature, a solo New Music Theater piece by John Glover and Kelley Rourke with American Opera Projects and Nautilus Music Theater. He also recently reprised the role of Noah in The Grapes of Wrath with the Collegiate Chorale at Carnegie Hall. As a member of the Minnesota Opera world premiere cast in 2007, he was featured on Garrison Keillor’s A Prairie Home Companion radio show and the complete recording of the opera available on P.S. Classics. In addition, he recently covered the role of Casanova in Minnesota Opera’s 25th Anniversary production of ’s Casanova’s Homecoming, sang the role of Geppetto in Jonathan Dove’s The Adventures of Pinocchio, Henry Kissinger in and Ponchel in Silent Night with Minnesota Opera; and sang in performances of the North American premiere of ’s The Fly at Los Angeles Opera, conducted by Plácido Domingo.

Other recent engagements include Carmina burana with the Minnesota Orchestra, under the baton of Osmo Vänksä; Figaro in Il barbiere di Siviglia with Opera on the James; Bummerli in The Chocolate Soldier with Bard Summerscape; Emperor Overall in the critically acclaimed production of The Emperor of Atlantis with Boston Lyric Opera; and Dandini in La Cenerentola with Minnesota Opera. Wilkowske’s experiences are documented in his award-winning “A Year of Figaro” blog.

Active on the musical theater stage, Wilkowske’s performance in Jacques Brel is Alive and Well and Living in Paris was called “chilling” and “deeply moving” by the St. Paul Pioneer Press, and his performance in the world premiere of Sleeping Beauty with the Ensemble Theatre of Cincinnati earned him a nomination for a Cincinnati Entertainment Award.

Wilkowske has participated in the Merola Opera Program, Glimmerglass Opera’s Young American Artist Program and the Minnesota Opera Resident Artist Program. He is a graduate of the University of Cincinnati, College-Conservatory of Music (CCM) and the University of Minnesota Duluth.

David C. Woolard (costume designer)

David Woolard’s many Broadway credits include , directed by Arthur Laurents, Jane Fonda’s costumes for 33 Variations, Dividing the Estate, The Farnsworth Invention by Aaron Sorkin, Old Acquaintance, Ring of Fire, All Shook Up, 700 Sundays with Billy Crystal, The Smell of the Kill at the Helen , Are Ringing, The Rocky Horror Show (2001 Tony Award nomination, Hewes Award) at Circle in the Square Theater, Voices in the Dark, Marlene, Wait Until Dark, The Young Man From Atlanta, Sally Marr … and Her Escorts, Damn Yankees!, The Who’s Tommy (1993 Tony and Olivier Award nominations) and A Few Good Men, among others. Opera credits include Death and the Powers at Opéra de Monte Carlo; A Dream Play, Così fan tutte and Madame Mao at Santa Fe Opera; Gloriana at Opera Theatre of St. Louis; Madame Butterfly and Aida at Minnesota Opera; Così fan tutte at San Francisco Opera; Don Giovanni at New York City Opera, Pittsburgh Opera and Opera Pacific; and Sweeney Todd at the Kennedy Center. He has designed for almost every major theater company in America, including The Donkey Show at the ART, A Midsummer Night’s Dream at La Jolla Playhouse and Romance at Bay Street Theatre, and won a second Hewes Award for The Orphan Home Cycle at Signature Theatre in New York. Other projects include The Stendahl Syndrome with Isabella Rossellini and Richard Thomas; The Day Emily Married with Estelle Parsons and King Henry Part 2 for the Oregon Shakespeare Festival.