insidewhat’s 2018-2019 SEASON

Letter from Chairman 9 Artists 34 Board of Directors 10 Creative Team 39 General Director’s Welcome 11 Production Staff 41 Co-Producer Society & Palm Beach Chorus 42 Program Sponsors 12 Palm Beach Opera Orchestra 44 27 Benenson Young Artists 46 Cast of Characters 28 Apprentice Artists 47 Director’s Notes 29 Orpheus Legacy Society 54 Synopsis 30 Supporters 56 Production Team 32 Palm Beach Opera Staff 62

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PALM BEACH OPERA 5

LETTER FROM THE CHAIRMAN

DEAR PALM BEACH OPERA PATRONS, On behalf of the Palm Beach Opera Board of Directors, welcome to our first opera weekend of the 2019 Season. ’s La Traviata is rightfully one of the world’s most beloved and I’m confident you will enjoy this performance! Those of you who were at our A night of…Rising Stars & Classic Melodies concert in December were surely impressed with the performance of our Benenson Young Artists. These extraordinary emerging artists along with star mezzo- Denyce Graves and the Palm Beach Opera Orchestra conducted by Greg Ritchey brought the house down! This season, we have 8 Young Artists and 10 Apprentice Artists…the largest group ever. Palm Beach Opera and the Board of Directors are committed to continuing our focus on being a leader in Young Artist training, and we are all deeply grateful to Gladys Benenson and The Edward H. Benenson Foundation for renewing their generous $1 million dollar gift to ensure the Benenson Young Artist Program continues for the next few years. We have a memorable season planned for you and I hope you will join us again for our film noir inspired production of Don Giovanni in February, as well as the delightful Die Fledermaus in March. Another not-to-be-missed event will be our Gala showcasing the accomplished American . The last two Galas were sold out, so I encourage you to reserve your seat early! Our main objective has always been to create a sustainable Opera Company. I’m happy to report that thanks to your attendance, patronage and generous support, Palm Beach Opera ended last season once again with a small surplus. This allowed us to start a Board Designated Reserve Fund, which we hope to grow over the next few years to create even more solid financial reserves. Our future programming has been designed to continue growing our subscriber base, to provide exciting sponsorship opportunities, and to build community support for the Opera Company in Palm Beach and the surrounding neighborhoods. My personal objective has been to have our season completely funded prior to our first production. We have been close to this and with your continued support, I am confident we can reach this goal! Another key objective is to continuously focus on growing membership on our various leadership groups. To accomplish this goal, we rely on your participation. We welcome fresh ideas. I invite you to get more involved and take an active role in shaping the future of Palm Beach Opera by joining our Board, our Guild, our Co-Producer Society, or our Young Friends. Thank you very much for your ongoing enthusiasm and support and for joining us this weekend at the Opera. Enjoy the performance, I look forward to seeing you again at Don Giovanni.

Dennis K. Williams Chairman PAST CHAIRS Marc S. Solomon (2008-2012) William D. Chalek (1977-1979) James W. Beasley, Jr. (2005-2008) Dr. Warner Earle Fusselle (1976) Robert M. Montgomery (1986-2005) James Nemec (1973-1975) Shannon Ginn (1984-1985) Mrs. Carleton R. Dodge (1973) Herb Benn (1982-1983) William K. de Veer (1972) Dr. Elwood Groves (1977-1979)

PALM BEACH OPERA 9 BOARD OF DIRECTORS

OFFICERS DIRECTORS EMERITI Dennis K. Williams Sanford M. Baklor Hans D. Baumann Chairman Dr. Robert Biscup Dr. Elizabeth Bowden Nathan Leventhal David Brodsky Claire Chasanoff* President Annette Y. Friedland Denerstein Ann Fromer John Domenico Jeffrey H. Alderton Paul A. Goldner Leon Fassler* Vice President Ronnie Isenberg Arlette Gordon Gladys Benenson Florence Kaufman Chuck Hardwick Vice President John J. Pohanka Dr. David I. Kosowsky* William G. Brown Marc Solomon Howard Lester* Vice President Ed Streim Longo Marc E. Wise Charlotte Miller Sanford Fisher Sunny Miller Vice President LEGAL COUNSEL Robert M. Montgomery* David Genser Jeffrey I. Pheterson Helen K. Persson* Vice President M. Mac Schwebel* Muriel Shapiro* Charles Gottesman Vice President Reneé Silvester* Dr. John Strasswimmer Dr. Marsha Laufer Barbara Weimer Vice President Sy Ziv* Ari Rifkin Vice President Peter A. Hoffman Secretary & Treasurer *In Memoriam

LIFETIME GIVING CONTRIBUTORS

With special thanks to the following individuals who have made cumulative contributions to Palm Beach Opera of $1,000,000 or more.

Anonymous Mrs. Lorraine Friedman Palm Beach Opera Guild Mrs. Cornelia T. Bailey*, Mr. Eugene* & Mrs. Helen K. Persson* The Cornelia T. Bailey Mrs. Ronnie Isenberg Mrs. Lois B. Pope Charitable Trust Mr. Robert* & Mr. M. Mac Schwebel* Mrs. Gladys Benenson, Mrs. Mary Montgomery The Edward H. Benenson Foundation *In Memoriam

PALM BEACH OPERA 10 GENERAL DIRECTOR’S WELCOME

GREETINGS, DEAR PALM BEACH OPERA FRIENDS!

A most happy, healthy, and joyful New Year to all of you. I’m delighted to welcome you to our Season Opening production of Giuseppe Verdi’s La Traviata, and I thank you for having decided to experience live opera today. I’d like to especially welcome you if you are joining us for the first time, and look forward to getting you know you better throughout the season.

Providing Community Engagement and Education Programs as well as Artist Training are two of the three pillars of our mission. Since arriving at the beginning of November, our Apprentice have already performed over 40 Concerts in the Classroom, ANIMA programs, Story Time Series programs, as well as Community Concerts such as the one at the Boca Museum of Art. Our Benenson Young Artists in turn have sung at the Tangerine Theater in Hobe Sound, and were most recently featured in our one-time only A night of…Rising Stars & Classic Melodies concert at the Kravis Center. Alumni of the Benenson Young Artist Program now sing at many major opera houses in the world, including at the , Chicago Lyric Opera, , Washington National Opera, Vienna State Opera, Berlin Deutsche Oper, and National Dutch Opera in Amsterdam. We are most grateful that thanks to the ongoing support from The Edward H. Benenson Foundation, Inc., the Program is assured for the next five years and will continuously enable us to train future opera stars.

The third, or really first pillar, of the mission of course are our fully staged opera productions. I hope all of you will join us again in February for our much anticipated film noir inspired production of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s Don Giovanni, conducted by our Chief Conductor David Stern. Mo. Stern leads an ensemble of accomplished Mozart singers, including Andrei Bondarenko as Don Giovanni, Caitlin Lynch (last season’s Countess in Le nozze di Figaro) as Donna Anna, and Joshua Bloom as Leporello. Kristine McIntyre’s production has been called “a stunning success, capturing the essence of this opera’s power and moral struggle” (Sarah Young – KC Metropolis). It transports the action to the 1950’s and lives from unified black-white color design with wonderful shadow play, and an urban environment. An ideal way to explore the morally corrupt Don Juan and his (un)-doing.

Your continued support is making all our impact in the community possible, and we are most grateful to you for your generosity! We would be thrilled if you decided to get more involved, joined our Palm Beach Opera Guild, our Board, or our Young Friends, and we’re happy to hear your ideas about how to continuously improve and strengthen Palm Beach Opera. For today, I thank you again for having joined us, and wish you a emotional performance experience.

Daniel Biaggi, General Director

PALM BEACH OPERA 11 12

La traviata PALM BEACH OPERA BEACH PALM IN LOVING MEMORY OF CORNELIA BAILEY T. PRODUCTION UNDERWRITER PRODUCTION THE CORNELIA BAILEY TRUST, CHARITABLE T. Palm Palm Beach Opera most gratefully acknowledges Cornelia to Bailey’s immense Palm support Beach Opera’s beautiful of appreciation her and repertoire, of variety broad a for love her productions, productions and programs. Mrs. scenery and Bailey’scostumes led her to Palm become Last Beach an year, Executive keen Producer. interest in Palm a as legacy Her supporter. gracious friend and this dear loss of the mourned Opera another on rises curtain the time every continue will supporter and patron Opera Beach production. opera mainstage Palm Palm Beach Opera acknowledges with gratitude and appreciationthe generous Co-Producers whose designated contributions underwrite productioncosts, and possible. productions season’s this in making instrumental are of 1/11/2019 as 2019 season, current to the Contributions

CO-PRODUCERSOCIETY EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS

MR. & MRS. WILLIAM G. BROWN Die Fledermaus

MRS. RONNIE ISENBERG, IN LOVING MEMORY OF EUGENE ISENBERG Don Giovanni

Palm Beach Opera is deeply grateful to Ronnie Isenberg for her magnanimous support in memory of Gene. Ronnie and Gene have alternately been on the Board of Directors for the past 20 years, and have always been among the leaders of Palm Beach Opera. After Gene’s passing, Ronnie significantly increased her support to show their love for grand productions. “He introduced me to opera,” Ronnie said. “I enjoy listening and seeing all operas.” With the formal establishment of the Co-Producer Society, Ronnie became an Executive Producer of in 2017, continued as an Executive Producer of in 2018, and was awarded the board designated “Lifetime Grand Patron Award” for her many years of leadership.

PALM BEACH OPERA 13 CO-PRODUCER PRODUCERS SOCIETY

BLOOMBERG PHILANTHROPIES Rising Stars Concert, La traviata, Don Giovanni, Die Fledermaus

Palm Beach Opera is sincerely grateful for the generous support provided by Bloomberg Philanthropies as a season Producer. Bloomberg Philanthropies focuses on five key areas for creating lasting change: public health, environment, government, innovation, and arts & culture. These five areas encompass the issues Mike Bloomberg and his team are most passionate about, and where they believe the greatest good can be achieved.

MRS. ARI RIFKIN Chief Conductor Sponsor, Don Giovanni & Die Fledermaus

Philanthropist and Palm Beach Opera Executive Committee member Ari Rifkin has always enjoyed opera and classical music, in particular orchestral music and the solo violin. “I especially love the beautiful melodies in classical operas,” said Ari Rifkin. Her love for the arts also includes movies, visual arts, and photography. “Opera is a wonderful combination of orchestral, vocal, visual, and dramatic arts, all inspired during the performance by the conductor.” Palm Beach Opera is most grateful to Ari Rifkin for her continued Chief Conductor Sponsorship.

PALM BEACH OPERA 14 PRODUCERS

TONI & MARTIN SOSNOFF Role Sponsors, Violetta, Alfredo, Germont, La traviata

TRIPLE CO-PRODUCERS

ISANNE & SANFORD FISHER Rising Stars Concert, Denyce Graves’ Appearance Sponsors, & Die Fledermaus

PALM BEACH OPERA 15

Die Fledermaus Don Giovanni & Rising Stars Concert traviata & La MR. NATHAN LEVENTHALMR. NATHAN DRS. MARSHA & HENRY LAUFER 16 Don Giovanni

La traviata & PALM BEACH OPERA BEACH PALM MR. & MRS. DENNIS K. WILLIAMS La traviata La La traviata La DOUBLE CO-PRODUCERS DOUBLE Opening Night Sponsors, IN LOVING MEMORY OF HOWARD LESTER MS. ARLENE KAUFMAN MRS. PATRICIA LESTER, MRS. PATRICIA MR. SANFORD BAKLOR &

CO-PRODUCERSOCIETY CO-PRODUCERS

DR. & MRS. HANS MR. & MRS. MRS. FLORENCE MRS. INGRID D. BAUMANN DOUGLAS DAFT, KAUFMAN KOSOWSKY, IN Die Fledermaus THE DAFT FAMILY Die Fledermaus LOVING MEMORY FOUNDATION OF DR. DAVID Director Sponsor, Fabio KOSOWSKY Ceresa, La traviata Don Giovanni

MR. MARC S. MR. & MRS. SOLOMON, ED STREIM SOLOMON FAMILY Don Giovanni FOUNDATION TRUST La traviata

ASSOCIATE CO-PRODUCERS

MRS. ANNETTE Y. FRIEDLAND MR. & MRS. ELLIS J. PARKER Die Fledermaus La traviata

MR. & MRS. ROBERT FROMER MR. & MRS. JOHN POHANKA La traviata Die Fledermaus

MR. & MRS. PAUL GOLDNER MRS. KAREN TELL Die Fledermaus Production to be determined

MR. & MRS. CHARLES GOTTESMAN Concertmaster Sponsor, La traviata, Don Giovanni & Die Fledermaus

PALM BEACH OPERA 17 ASSISTANT CO-PRODUCERS

MR. & MRS. JEFFREY H. ALDERTON MR. & MRS. SCOTT LAURANS Don Giovanni La traviata

DR. & MRS. ROBERT BISCUP MR. MICHAEL MCCAFFERTY & Production to be determined MR. JOSEPH HORTON Die Fledermaus MR. & MRS. DAVID BRODSKY La traviata DR. & MRS. JOHN STRASSWIMMER Production to be determined MR. & MRS. PAUL EFRON Don Giovanni MR. & MRS. JAMES TAKATS Don Giovanni MR. & MRS. DAVID GENSER La traviata MRS. SIEGLINDE WIKSTROM Production to be determined MS. BARBARA GREIS & MR. HOWARD GOTTLIEB MR. MARC E. WISE & La traviata MR. MARIANO MORALES Production to be determined MR. & MRS. JERRY KAUFMAN Don Giovanni

SEASON CLOSING CELEBRATION SPONSOR

SPECIAL EVENT AND RECEPTION HOSTS

Palm Beach Opera is sincerely thankful to the following individuals for their commitment to furthering our mission through hosting events for the company.

MR. & MRS. JEFFREY H. ALDERTON DRS. MARSHA & HENRY LAUFER MR. SANFORD BAKLOR & TONI & MARTIN SOSNOFF MS. ARLENE KAUFMAN MR. & MRS. DENNIS K. WILLIAMS

PALM BEACH OPERA 18 PALM BEACH OPERA 19 GALA HOST COMMITTEE SPONSORS AND UNDERWRITERS Palm Beach Opera is sincerely thankful to the following individuals and corporations for their support and commitment to the success of our 2019 Gala.

Contributions to the 2019 Gala, current as of 1/11/2019

PLATINUM SPONSORS Drs. Marsha & Henry Laufer

MAJOR SPONSORS DINNER HOSTS & DÉCOR UNDERWRITERS GALA CHAIRMEN Mr. Sanford Baklor & Lee Ann and Jeffrey H. Alderton Ms. Arlene Kaufman

IMMEDIATE PAST COCKTAIL RECEPTION GALA CHAIRMEN UNDERWRITERS Joan and David Genser Mr. & Mrs. Sidney Kohl, The Kohl Family Foundation GALA COUNCIL Mr. & Mrs. Jeffrey H. Alderton GOLD SPONSORS Mrs. Veronica Atkins Mr. & Mrs. Jeffrey H. Alderton Mr. Sanford Baklor & Ms. Arlene Kaufman Dr. & Mrs. Robert Biscup Dr. & Mrs. Robert Biscup Mr. & Mrs. Randell Doane Mr. & Mrs. Randell Doane Mr. & Mrs. David Genser Mr. & Mrs. Sanford Fisher Mrs. Ari Rifkin Mr. & Mrs. David Genser Mr. & Mrs. Dennis K. Williams Mr. & Mrs. Sidney Kohl Drs. Marsha & Henry Laufer SILVER SPONSORS Dr. Frayda Lindemann Ms. Anne Bazik Mrs. Ari Rifkin Mr. & Mrs. William G. Brown Mr. & Mrs. Martin Sosnoff Mr. & Mrs. Allan Greenblatt Mr. & Mrs. Dennis K. Williams EVENING MUSIC AND GRAND GALA ENTERTAINMENT UNDERWRITER UNDERWRITERS Mrs. Veronica Atkins Mr. & Mrs. Robert Fromer

MATTHEW POLENZANI GOLD ARIA UNDERWRITERS UNDERWRITERS Isanne & Sanford Fisher Dr. & Mrs. Sander Abend

ANTHONY V. MANOLI HOST COMMITTEE UNDERWRITERS RECEPTION UNDERWRITERS Toni & Martin Sosnoff Mr. & Mrs. Jeffrey H. Alderton ESCADA BENENSON YOUNG Mr. & Mrs. Martin Sosnoff & APPRENTICE ARTISTS UNDERWRITER Dr. Frayda Lindemann

PALM BEACH OPERA 20 GALA KEEPSAKE Mrs. Arlette Gordon UNDERWRITERS Mr. & Mrs. Charles Gottesman Mr. Michael McCafferty & Mr. & Mrs. David Herwitz Mr. Joseph Horton Mr. & Mrs. Peter Hoffman Mr. & Mrs. Eric Jorgensen BRONZE SPONSORS Mrs. Florence Kaufman Mr. & Mrs. John Connor Mr. & Mrs. Jerry Kaufman Mrs. Hermé de Wyman Miro Mr. & Mrs. Scott Laurans Mr. & Mrs. Gerald Fineberg Mr. & Mrs. Doug McMillen Mrs. Miriam Flamm Mr. & Mrs. Charles Mooney Mrs. Annette Friedland Mr. & Mrs. Louis Nicozisis Mr. Nathan Leventhal & Mr. & Mrs. Ellis J. Parker Ms. Katherine E. Brown Mr. & Mrs. John Shalam Mrs. Ingrid Kosowsky Mr. Fred Tepperman & Dr. & Mrs. Morton Mandell Mrs. Barbara Goldfarb Tepperman Mr. & Mrs. John Pohanka Mr. Mark Walter & Mr. Lawrence Jarema Mr. Marc S. Solomon Mr. Marc E. Wise & Mr. Mariano Morales Mr. & Mrs. Ed Streim Ms. Melissa Sullivan PATRON SPONSORS Ms. Rona Forstadt COUPLE’S SPONSORS Mrs. Anka Palitz Ms. Naomi Alexandroff-Brest & Mr. David M. Kaplan CORPORATE BRONZE Mr. & Mrs. Ken Brodlieb SPONSORS Mr. & Mrs. David Brodsky Mr. Daniel Cochran & Mr. Gregory Sutphin Dr. Louise Cohen Mr. & Mrs. Elliott Eisen CORPORATE IN-KIND Mr. & Mrs. Louis Feher SPONSOR Ms. Nancy Feldman & Mr. Mike Chefetz Mr. James Finkel & Ms. Liane Strauss

PALM BEACH OPERA 21 YOUNG ARTIST & APPRENTICE ARTIST PROGRAM SPONSORS

Palm Beach Opera acknowledges with sincere appreciation the generous major donors whose designated contributions have been instrumental in building the next generation of opera stars through our Benenson Young Artist Program and our Apprentice Artist Program. These extraordinary programs provide a vital stepping stone to a successful career for post-graduate and emerging singers.

MRS. GLADYS BENENSON Benenson Young Artist Program Palm Beach Opera extends our deepest gratitude to Gladys Benenson and The Edward H. Benenson Foundation for their ongoing generous support of the Benenson Young Artist Program. Gladys Benenson has been on the Palm Beach Opera Board of Directors since joining the opera family in 2014. Gladys and her late husband, Eddie, shared a passion for opera and enjoyed opera performances all over the world. Gladys Benenson turned her childhood love of singing into her mission to help young singers succeed in their careers. For many years, Gladys sponsored a prize in the Palm Beach Opera Vocal Competition before establishing the Benenson Young Artist Program.

“Being associated with Palm Beach Opera and seeing these wonderful young artists grow has given me a great amount of joy.” -GLADYS BENENSON

PALM BEACH OPERA 22 BENENSON YOUNG ARTISTS SPONSORS

The Benenson Young Artist Program is generously sponsored by The Edward H. Benenson Foundation, Gladys Benenson, President

MR. & MRS. WILLIAM MR. & MRS. L. DAVID DRS. MARSHA & G. BROWN CALLAWAY HENRY LAUFER Sylvia D'Eramo Natalie Rose Havens Joanna Latini & Ben Schaefer

MRS. LOIS POPE MRS. ROSEANNE Robert Stahley WILLIAMS Ted Allen Pickell

APPRENTICE ARTIST SPONSORS

MS. ANNE BAZIK MERRILL & CHARLES MR. & MRS. ALLAN MRS. RONNIE Suzannah Waddington GOTTESMAN GREENBLATT ISENBERG Christopher Carbin Pavel Suliandziga Robert Gerold

DRS. MARSHA & TEEDA & SALVATORE THE GLADYS & SY ZIV HENRY LAUFER NUZZO FOUNDATION Jenny Anne Flory Anthony Ciaramitaro Apprentice Artist Program

PALM BEACH OPERA 23 EDUCATION & COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PROGRAMS

Palm Beach Opera is most grateful to The V. Atkins Foundation for its generous support of all Palm Beach Opera educational and community engagement as well as artist training efforts on behalf of opera and classical vocal arts. GOLDNER CENTER FOR CHILDREN’S EDUCATION

Palm Beach Opera acknowledges with deep appreciation the generous major donors whose designated contributions have been instrumental in making possible, and furthering the mission of Palm Beach Opera’s Goldner Center for Children’s Opera Education. The Goldner Center for Children’s Opera Education aims to bring opera to children through interactive programs, and strives to make a difference in the lives of children by sharing the magic of opera.

MR. & MRS. PAUL A. GOLDNER Goldner Center for Children’s Opera Education

DELPHINE & DOUGLAS DAFT, DAFT FAMILY FOUNDATION Goldner Center for Children’s Opera Education

CONCERTS IN THE CLASSROOM Sponsored by the Alvin and Louise Myerberg Family Foundation

PALM BEACH OPERA STUDIO Sponsored by the Palm Beach Opera Guild and Suzanne L. Niedland

OPERA REHEARSAL 101 Sponsored by the Palm Beach Opera Guild and The Honorable & Mrs. Roger H. Lourie

PALM BEACH OPERA 24 CHILDREN’S PERFORMANCE SPONSORS

Palm Beach Opera would like to thank the following for their generous support of Children’s Performance: The Revenge of the Bat

GRAND PRODUCTION SPONSOR Ms. Marie A. Iandoli

PRODUCTION SPONSOR Ms. Hermine Drezner in loving memory of Mr. Jan Winkler

LIEDERABEND SPONSORS

Palm Beach Opera would like to thank the following for their support of our Liederabend concert featuring our Apprentice Artists.

MR. & MRS. PETER HOFFMAN MRS. HERMÉ DE WYMAN MIRO ANN VAN NESS

LA TRAVIATA

An opera performed in 3 acts Sung in Italian With English Supertitles

Music by Giuseppe Verdi by Francesco Maria Piave Based on the play La Dame aux Camélias by Alexandre Dumas fils

First Performance Teatro La Fenice, Venice March 6, 1853

Last Palm Beach Opera Performance 2013

LA TRAVIATA CO-PRODUCERS

PRODUCTION UNDERWRITER CO-PRODUCERS The Cornelia T. Bailey Charitable Trust, Mr. & Mrs. Douglas Daft, The Daft Family Foundation, in loving memory of Cornelia T. Bailey Director Sponsor, Fabio Ceresa Mr. Marc S. Solomon, Solomon Family PRODUCERS Foundation Trust Bloomberg Philanthropies Toni & Martin Sosnoff, Role Sponsors, Violetta, ASSOCIATE CO-PRODUCER Alfredo, and Germont Mr. & Mrs. Robert Fromer Merrill & Charles Gottesman, Season Concert DOUBLE CO-PRODUCERS Master Sponsor Mr. Sanford Baklor & Ms. Arlene Kaufman, Opening Night Sponsors ASSISTANT CO-PRODUCER Dr. Marsha & Henry Laufer Mr. & Mrs. David Brodsky Mrs. Patricia Lester, Mr. & Mrs. David Genser in loving memory of Howard Lester Ms. Barbara Greis & Mr. Howard Gottlieb Mr. & Mrs. Dennis K. Williams ADDITIONAL SPONSORS Palm Beach Opera Guild, Supertitles Sponsor

PALM BEACH OPERA 27 CAST OF CHARACTERS

Conductor: Antonello Allemandi Director: Fabio Ceresa* Choreographer: Colleen Smith*

In order of vocal appearance Violetta Valéry: Kristina Mkhitaryan* / January 25, 27 Jacqueline Echols* / January 26 Flora Bervoix: Natalie Rose Havens*+ Marquis D’Obigny: Ted Allen Pickell*+ Baron Douphol: Ben Schaefer*+ Doctor Grenvil: Eric Jordan Gastone: Brian Wallin+ Alfredo Germont: Alexey Tatarintsev / January 25, 27 Derrek Stark# / January 26 Annina: Emily Blair*+ Giuseppe: Pavel Suliandziga*^ Giorgio Germont: Massimo Cavalletti* Messenger: Robert Gerold*^ Flora’s Servant: Christopher Carbin*^

Scenic, Prop, and Costume Designer: Desmond Heeley* Lighting Designer: Stuart Duke Hair and Make-up Designer: Kathy Waszkelewicz Associate Conductor & Chorus Master: Gregory Ritchey Music Staff: Timothy Cheung Anna Fateeva Ksenia Leletkina* Cassie Makeeff Ben Malensek Assistant Stage Director: Joshua Miller* English Supertitles: Sonya Friedman

Dancers appear courtesy of Ballet Palm Beach.

This production is owned by Lyric Opera of Chicago and is a generous and deeply appreciated gift of the Gramma Fisher Foundation of Marshalltown, Iowa. Original production staged by Frank Galati. Production design by Desmond Heeley. Scenery constructed by Messmore & Damon, Inc., New York. Costumes executed by Grace Costumes Ltd., New York. Millinery by Arnold S. Levine, New York. Men’s Formal Wear provided by Tommy’s Tuxedos, Miami.

*Palm Beach Opera Debut #Former Benenson Young Artist +Benenson Young Artist ^Apprentice Artist

PALM BEACH OPERA 28 DIRECTOR’S NOTES

I remember one night, as a child, being seated at a big walnut table which, at that time, was as tall as my nose. I glanced at a stack of magazines which had accumulated amidst the fruit and the silverware. One of the glossy periodicals displayed on its cover the latest celebrity showgirl, gracefully reclining on a pillow of red velvet, her hair hanging loose, her hands covering her breasts, and she was stark naked. My grandfather must have deemed the image unsuitable for a child of my age, because he hastened to whip the magazine off the table, exchanging a mischievous look with my grandmother. “Grandma,” – I asked – “who’s that woman?” “She’s…” – she answered – “let’s say she’s a coquette.” The tone of her voice was charged with meaning. I didn’t know that coquette was the synonym for another word, “prostitute” – a word too crude for my young ears. At that moment, I was satisfied with her answer. I don’t think I was able to look at that photo for more than an instant, but I was obsessed with the image of the girl with the red velvet for years after. In spite of the ingenuity of the portrait – the contrived pose, the mouth with its delightful little pout, the leg artfully positioned to cover what the eye was not supposed to see – something struck a chord in me, deeply. It was as if the eyes of the woman communicated a frightened embarrassment, a gasp of modesty. Her whole features were veiled with the shadow of regret. The elements clashed so much that the overall effect was enhanced: what I saw in front of me was the image of beauty itself. It didn’t matter how many others had set eyes upon her skin: what I had seen in between the folds of the paper was something which could have been the soul itself. One day I would certainly meet her. When I grew up I would certainly marry her. That afternoon, I fell in love for the first time. Today I find myself staging La traviata, and I have this hazy memory to thank, because it was in remembering that old photograph that Violetta began to take shape before my eyes. Suddenly, all around her was the red velvet, and that velvet turned into curtains, sofas, jewels, perfumes, big mirrors, and shimmering light bulbs. I imagined peering inside her parlour on the evening of a big dinner party. In my head I can see the lights of a whole Parisian district, the frenzied shimmer of diamonds, fashionable clothes, hundreds of gloved women giggling away amidst the gold, drowning their dreams in glittery bubbles of champagne. A crystal glass is lifted in the delicate fingers of the most desired woman in the capital. This is my Violetta, with her sad eyes. This is where the coquette of my childhood has been hiding, sensuously glancing at me, asking me to play out on stage the story of my feelings from that evening long ago. I like to think that Alfredo fell in love the way I did. Maybe he saw that face one night at the theatre, half-concealed in a nearby box, and it set his heart aflame. Maybe he too would have recognized in those eyes the same sadness, and he would have decided to save that woman from the world, protecting her like a candle flame with the palm of his hand. He would have gone to the theater every night, with the hope of seeing her again, waiting for her outside when everyone was leaving, bribing the porters, asking his friends, until he finally crashes her party to find a chance to speak to her. I imagine that all of this is happening at the moment the opera starts, until the instant when, like it was for me, someone more experienced brushes all these silly fantasies away. I hope that I will never see that magazine photograph again. Today, I know the word my grandmother could not tell me, and I would blush at my naiveté. The outdated hairstyle would make me chuckle. I would recognize that woman and realize she has grown into an old lady, and in her gaze I would not be able to trace more than a clumsy attempt at sensuality. I prefer to remember her through the feelings I experienced that evening. Violetta is a woman that a child had better not look at for too long. Beautiful though she may be, in the eyes of an adult she is still a coquette.

PALM BEACH OPERA 29 SYNOPSIS

THE STORY ACT I. In her Paris salon, the courtesan Violetta Valéry welcomes her guests, among them; Flora Bervoix, Marquis d’Obigny, Baron Douphol and Gastone, who introduces a new admirer, Alfredo Germont. The latter, confessing that he has adored Violetta from afar, offers a toast at her request; she joins him in the salute to pleasure. As her guests move into the ballroom, Violetta, suddenly feeling faint, remains behind. Alfredo returns, concerned about her,and ardently declares his love. At first, Violetta protests that love means nothing to her, but Alfredo’s sincerity touches her, and she gives him a camellia, her symbol, promising that he may return to see her when the flower has withered. After her guests have gone, Violetta wondersif Alfredo could be the man to fulfill her dream of love. Dismissing this as folly, she asserts her need for freedom, as Alfredo’s voice is heard outside, repeating his paean to love.

INTERMISSION ACT II. Some months later, in a country villa near Paris, where he now lives with Violetta, Alfredo muses upon his contentment. When the maid, Annina, reveals that Violetta has been selling her belongings to pay their expenses, Alfredo is filled with shame. Resolving to settle their affairs at his own cost, he departs for the city. Violetta comes looking for him and finds an invitation from Flora to a party that night. She puts it aside, having given up her former life. Alfredo’s father appears unexpectedly, demanding that Violetta renounce his son; the scandal of Alfredo’s liaison threatens his sister’s engagement. Violetta at first refuses, but when Germont suggests that the fleeting charms of youth are her sole appeal for Alfredo, she agrees to make the sacrifice. After Germont departs, Violetta sends a message accepting Flora’s invitation, then beginsa farewell note to Alfredo. He enters suddenly, surprising her; hiding the note, she tearfully reaffirms her love, then rushes away. Before long, a messenger brings her letter toAlfredo. Germont returns to console his despairing son with recollections of family life in Provence. But Alfredo, seeing Flora’s invitation, concludes that Violetta has abandoned him for another lover and determines to confront her.

BRIEF PAUSE

At her soirée, Flora learns from the Marquis that Violetta and Alfredo have parted ways. The floor is cleared for a band of fortune-telling Gypsies and dancers. Gastone and a group of men dressed as bullfighters offer a song about a matador and his coy sweetheart. Alfredo arrives, gambling recklessly and making bitter comments about love. Violetta, nervous and pale, enters on the arm of her old admirer, Baron Douphol, who proceeds to lose a small fortune to Alfredo. When the guests file into an adjoining room for supper, Violetta intercepts Alfredo, imploring him to leave before he further angers the baron. Misinterpreting her apprehension as concern for her new protector, he asks whether she loves Douphol. Bound by her promise to Germont, she replies that she does. Alfredo, mad with jealousy, calls the other guests to witness that he has repaid the money she squandered on him, then hurls his winnings at her feet. The guests rebuke him. Germont enters and berates his son, who is stricken with remorse, and Douphol challenges his rival to a duel.

INTERMISSION

PALM BEACH OPERA 30 ACT III. In Violetta’s bedroom, Dr. Grenvil tells Annina her mistress hasn’t long to live. Tuberculosis is consuming her. When she awakens, Violetta rereads a letter from Germont telling her the baron was only wounded in his duel with Alfredo, who knows of her sacrifice and is on his way to ask her pardon. Sensing that it is too late, Violetta bids farewell to her past. After Mardi Gras revelers pass by outside, Alfredo arrives. The lovers dream of a new life away from Paris, but Violetta falters and cries out against approaching death. Germont comes in with the doctor, as Violetta gives Alfredo a small portrait of herself, urging him to give it to the woman he will marry. Seized with a last resurgence of strength, she rises, crying out that she feels life returning, then falls dead.

THE BACKGROUND

As he neared the age of forty, Verdi could look back on a series of successes, culminating in and . With a commission from the Teatro La Fenice in Venice, the composer looked not to another heroic, patriotic subject or large-canvas melodrama but to a play on a contemporary theme, La Dame aux Camélias, by Alexandre Dumas fils, taken from the playwright’s earlier novel. The character of Violetta was based on the real-life courtesan Rose Alphonsine Plessis, known as Marie Duplessis in the demimonde she inhabited.

The premiere, on March 6, 1853, was a fiasco, due in part to the work’s realistic social theme. Verdi felt betrayed by the production, which was not set in the contemporary period he intended. The singers were no help: the soprano was overweight, the tenor in bad voice and the dissatisfied with his role.

In a different production, at another Venetian theater a year later, the work triumphed. It reached the U.S. at the New York Academy of Music on December 3, 1856. Marcella Sembrich was the Metropolitan Opera’s first Violetta, under the baton of Auguste Vianesi, in 1883, the company’s opening season.

© Copyright 2012 The Metropolitan Opera Guild, Inc. Reprinted with permission.

PALM BEACH OPERA 31 ANTONELLO ALLEMANDI Conductor Born in Milan, Antonello Allemandi made his conducting debut at the Maggio Musicale Fiorentino in Florence when he was just twenty-one years old. Recent and future highlights include Rigoletto at the Opernhaus Zürich; La cenerentola, Il barbiere di Siviglia, Il trovatore and Guillaume Tell at the Bayerische Staatsoper in Munich; L’elisir d’amore and at Teatro Municipal in Santiago de Chile; at Théâtre du Capitole de Toulouse; Aïda and Werther at Teatro Lirico di Cagliari, La sonnambula for the Royal Opera Muscat; and Il barbiere di Sivligia for the New National Theatre in Tokyo. Maestro Allemandi has an established international career working in the world’s most prestigious opera houses and concert halls, including Vienna State Opera(L’elisir d’amore, , La traviata Il barbiere di Siviglia and Il trovatore); Deutsche Oper Berlin (Aïda, Il pirata, Tosca, Il trovatore, and Werther); Bayerische Staasoper (L’italiana in Algeri, La traviata, La cenerentola); Staatsoper Berlin (L’elisir d’amore, Il turco in Italia, and Madama Butterfly); Opéra National de Paris ( and Tosca); Teatro alla Scala (L’italiana in Algeri); Metropolitan Opera (La cenerentola); Royal Opera House, Covent Garden (Il barbiere di Siviglia); Madrid (Don Carlo); Gran Teatre del Liceu () and Rossini Opera Festival in Pesaro (La gazzetta and Il turco in Italia). During the Centennial celebrations of Verdi’s death he conducted the Maratona Verdiana – from to – at the Festival of San Sebastian, and Nabucco at the Arènes de Nîmes. From 1992 to 1997, Maestro Allemandi was the Musical Director of the Orchestre Colonne in Paris and has also worked with the Nouvelle Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France, Ensemble Orchestral de Paris, Orchestre National de Lille, Orchestre de Monte-Carlo, Orchestre des Pays de la Loire, Orchestra RAI Torino, Orchestra of the Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia, and Orchestra Sinfonica Giuseppe Verdi. His discography includes the world première recording of Donizetti’s Alina, Le convenienze e le inconvenienze teatrali, and ; Mercadante’s ; Rossini’s Il turco in Italia; and Verdi’s and . In Bilbao, where Maestro Allemandi has conducted over thirty opera productions, he received the Médaille d’or on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of Bilbao Opera.

FABIO CERESA Director Considered one of the most promising stage directors of his generation, Fabio Ceresa is the winner of the 2016 International Opera Award for Best Young Director. His upcoming projects include a new production of Vivaldi’s Dorilla in Tempe for Venice’s La Fenice, new productions of I pagliacci and Cavalleria rusticana for Theater Kiel, and La traviata for his American debut with Palm Beach Opera. Fabio Ceresa began his career at Milan’s Teatro alla Scala, collaborating with many of the most important contemporary directors, including Luca Ronconi, Deborah Warner, Patrice Chéreau, Dmitri Tcherniakov, Pierluigi Pizzi, Peter Stein, Eimuntas Nekrosius and Richard Jones, as well as participating in the restaging of historical productions by Giorgio Strehler, Franco Zeffirelli, and Jean-Pierre Ponnelle.

PALM BEACH OPERA 32 Following these formative years with Italy’s preeminent theater, Fabio Ceresa gained international acclaim for his direction of Madama Butterfly with the Teatro del Maggio Musicale in Florence, and his new production of I puritani with Teatro Regio di Torino. Important engagements continued with the Wexford Festival for Mascagni’sGuglielmo Ratcliff and Donizetti’s , and he was soon in demand to direct at other major theaters around the world, including new productions of Vivaldi’sOrlando furioso for Venice’s La Fenice, La clemanza di Tito for Opéra de Lausanne, Un ballo in maschera for the Hungarian State Opera, Guillaume Tell and Rigoletto for Theater Kiel, and Vivaldi’s Orlando finto pazzo for the Korean National Opera. In addition to his work as a stage director, Fabio Ceresa is also an accomplished librettist. With composer , he has written La ciociara, commissioned by San Francisco Opera, and Miseria e nobiltà, commissioned by in Genoa. Other works include Marco Polo for Daniele Zannettovich, performed at the Teatro Nazionale Fiume; Re Tuono for Daniela Terranova, which won first prize in the Children’s Opera competition sponsored by the Comitato Nazionale Italiano Musica; Mannaggia a Bubbà! for Daniela Terranova, which won the Gianni Bergamo Award for Composition in 2010; andIl vascello incanto for Marco Taralli, which has been performed at the Teatro Carlo Felice and Teatro Comunale di Bologna.

COLLEEN SMITH Choreographer Colleen Smith is the founder and artistic director of Ballet Palm Beach and its ballet school, Ballet Palm Beach Academy. Before establishing Ballet Palm Beach, Smith taught for the Kansas City Ballet School in Kansas City, Missouri; served as Ballet Mistress for New Dance Ensemble in Cleveland, Ohio; began the dance department of Trinity Methodist Fine Arts School in Palm Beach Gardens and taught for numerous south Florida schools. Smith has danced with Ballet Met in Columbus, Ohio; New Dance Ensemble in Cleveland, Ohio and Tulsa Ballet Theatre in Tulsa, Oklahoma. She trained in Florida with Joan Miller, Brenda Gooden and Cuca Martinez; at the Washington School of Ballet under Mary Day, Choo San Gohand William Buckner and with the Joffrey Ballet in New York City. Her teaching mentors are Brenda Gooden, Victoria Leigh and Ruth C. Petrinovic. As Artistic Director Colleen enjoys creating new works for the professional company and enriching the community through outreach performances. As head of Ballet Palm Beach Academy, she delights in being a part of young people’s lives and cultivating dancers for successful careers of their own.

PALM BEACH OPERA 33

, at Rigoletto Rigoletto for her debut Carmen at the Ninth Symphony Carmen, Woglinde Siegfried, and Sister , the Dutch with the Memphis at North Carolina Opera. , and the Grand Théâtre de Gianni Schicchi Messiah La traviata with Munich’s Bavarian La traviata at Washington National Eliogabalo , all with Washington National Opera; La traviata 34

at the Glyndebourne Festival. at the Glyndebourne La cenerentola, Micaëla in Il . She is a winner of the 2017 Operalia Symphony, and Beethoven’s with Ann Arbor Symphony. Career Highlights: Recent performances include appearances Opera, Handel’s Hamburg State Opera, Micaëla in in Armida and Garden, Covent House Opera Royal Rinaldo JACQUELINE ECHOLS Violetta Valéry January 26 Soprano (Detroit, Michigan) This Season: Violetta in January 25/27 Russia) Soprano (Moscow, This Season: Violettain State Opera and Muscat, Oman’s Lauretta in Royal Opera at House the Metropolitan Opera, Gilda in KRISTINA MKHITARYAN KRISTINA Violetta Valéry Götterdämmerung, Forest Bird in PALM BEACH OPERA BEACH PALM Moby Dick with Los Angeles Opera, Dallas Opera, and Dead Man Walking and La bohème, and Violetta in Die Zauberflöte at the Glimmerglass Festival; and Gilda in Das Rheingold in Genève as Isifile in Cavalli’s Neue Stimmen Competition. Competition, 2013 Queen Sonja International Competition, and 2013 as Pip in Heggie’s Pittsburgh Opera; Clorinda in Helen in Heggie’s National Opera as in Cavalli’s Career Highlights; A noted Violetta at Deutsche Oper Berlin, Glyndebourne Festival, and Teatro dell’Opera di Roma, other recent performances include Gilda at the Sydney Opera House, Micaëla at London’s Royal Opera Palau House, de and les debuts at Arts the in Valencia as Medora in Verdi’s Musetta in Pamina in

ARTISTSLA TRAVIATA ALEXEY TATARINTSEV Alfredo Germont January 25/27 Tenor (Tambov, Russia) This Season: Ernesto in and Belfiore in Il viaggio a Reims at Moscow’s Bolshoi Theatre, and Lensky in Eugene Onegin and Duca in Rigoletto at Moscow’s Novaya Opera. Career Highlights: Recent performances include Alfredo in La traviata and Italian Singer in Der Rosenkavalier at the Bolshoi Theater; Don Ramiro in La cenerentola at St. Petersburg’s Mariinsky Theatre; Lensky in Eugene Onegin with Teatro Regio Torino; Duca in Rigoletto with Malmö Opera; Yasha in Fénelon’s La Cerisaie with Opéra National de Paris; and Roméo in Roméo et Juliette, Rodolfo in La bohème, Almaviva in Il barbiere di Siviglia, Tamino in Die Zauberflöte, Edgardo in Lucia di Lammermoor, and Nemorino in L’elisir d’amore at Novaya Opera. He has been recognized as an Honored Artist of the Republic of North Ossetia-Alania, and is the winner of two major Russian National Opera Prizes – the “Golden Mask” and the “Onegin” Award. Company Appearances: Duca in Rigoletto (debut, 2017).

DERREK STARK Alfredo Germont January 26 Tenor (Bath, New York) This Season: Italian Singer in Der Rosenkavalier at Opernhaus Zürich, Carmina Burana with Milwaukee Symphony, and Giasone in Medea in Corinto at Teatro Nuovo. Career Highlights: Recent performances include Rodolfo in La bohème at Opera San Antonio and Miami Lyric Opera; the title role in Idomeneo with Opera Fuoco in Paris; Harry in La fanciulla del West with The Santa Fe Opera; Remendado in Carmen and the Huntsman in Rusalka with Lyric Opera Kansas City, and Carmina Burana with Boise Philarharmonic Orchestra. He is a winner of a 2018 Sullivan Foundation Award. Company Appearances: Governor/Grand Inquisitor/Ragotski in Candide (debut, 2018). He was a member of the Benenson Young Artist Program from 2016-2018, covering Pinkerton in Madama Butterfly, Duca in Rigoletto, and the title role in Candide.

PALM BEACH OPERA 35

, , all Manon Don Carlo Il barbiere di Il barbiere , Enrico Carmen, La fille du regiment , Lescaut in Il barbiere di Siviglia Bon Appétit with the with Miami Music Festival; at Teatro Regio di Torino and Hydrogen Jukebox and Pastore La bohème; the Teatro alla Scala as L’elisir d’amore 36 Il trovatore

at di Salerno, and Il conte di , Escamillo in Escamillo Manon Lescaut, Le nozze di Figaro nozze Le Monteverdi’s Orfeo at Chautauqua Opera; at New York’s Merkin Hall. Lescaut, and Francesco in Verdi’s Siviglia Luna in NATALIE ROSE HAVENS Flora Bervoix Mezzo-Soprano (Pompano Beach, Florida) This Season: Julia Child in Hoiby’s Baritone (Lucca, Italy) Baritone (Lucca, This Season: Belcore in at Milan’s Teatro alla Scala, Figaro in Fiorentino. Teatro del Maggio Musicale Career Highlights: Recent performances include appearances at the Savannah Music Festival. Career Highlights: Recent performances The Magic Flute include with Orchestra Third Miami; Mezzo soloist Lady in Glass’ in in Marquise de Berkenfeld in MASSIMO CAVALLETTI MASSIMO Giorgio Germont Simon Boccanegra, Figaro in PALM BEACH OPERA BEACH PALM , Paolo in Cavalleria rusticana Falstaff Lucia di , Lammermoor and Marcello in Metropolitan Opera as Lescaut in Lescaut as Opera Metropolitan in Ford in Escamillo, and Marcello; Ford at the New National Theatre in Tokyo; Escamillo Tokyo; in Theatre National New the at Ford Marcello; and Escamillo, at the Arena di Verona and the Gran Teatre del Liceu in Barcelona; Figaro at the Opéra National de Paris; Belcore at Opernhaus Zürich; Posa in at the Staatsoper Unter den Linden dell’Opera di Roma, Teatro di San in Carlo in , Teatro Regio di Torino, and Berlin; and Marcello at the the Bavarian State Opera in Munich. Teatro with Opera North; Cherubino in and Lola in

ARTISTSLA TRAVIATA BRIAN WALLIN Gastone Tenor (New Brighton, Minnesota) This Season: Count Almaviva in Corigliano’s The Ghosts of Versailles with the Glimmerglass Festival, Bach’s Saint Matthew Passion with Shreveport Symphony, and Abe Attell/Ben Short in the world premiere of Puckett’s The Fix with Minnesota Opera. Career Highlights: Recent performances include Pasek in The Cunning Little Vixen with the Glimmerglass Festival; Editor Daily in The Cradle will Rock with Opera Saratoga; Carmina Burana with Atlanta Ballet; King of El Dorado in Candide with Opéra National de Bordeaux and Théâtre du Capitole Toulouse; Remendado in Carmen, Gastone in La traviata, and the Reporter in the world premiere of Little’s JFK with Fort Worth Opera. Company Appearances: Vanderdendur in Candide (2018) and Spoletta in Tosca (debut, 2018).

BEN SCHAEFER Baron Douphol Baritone (Des Moines, Iowa) This Season: Figaro in Corigliano’s The Ghosts of Versailles and Yeletsky in The Queen of Spades with the Glimmerglass Festival. Career Highlights: Recent performances include Fiorello in Il barbiere di Siviglia with the Glimmerglass Festival, Postiglione in La faniculla del West with Des Moines Metro Opera, John Brooke in Adamo’s Little Women at Rice University, and Count Almaviva in Le nozze di Figaro at Simpson College.

PALM BEACH OPERA 37

Fidelio Madama The Pirates The Pirates at Northwestern at San Francisco Opera; with San Francisco Opera’s with the Firebird Alliance.

La traviata, and the Bonze with The Aspern Papers at The Dallas Le nozze di Figaro with Opera Grand Le nozze di Figaro Le nozze at Deutsche Oper am Rhein. 38 La bohème (2009) and Rocco in Samson et Dalila Samson et

Billy Budd with Des Moines Metro Opera; and University. He is a winner of the Competition, Loren Zachary and a regional winner of the of Penzance with San Diego Opera; Arthur Jones in Figaro in Merola Opera Program; Samuel in Doctor Grenvil California) -Baritone (Davis, This Season: Bartolo in Rapids and Opera Carolina, and Jesus in Saint John Passion Bach’s Bass-Baritone (El Dorado Hills, California) Bass-Baritone Career Highlights: Recent performances include Father Truelove in The Rake’s Progress ERIC JORDAN Career Highlights: Performances include the Butterfly Bonze in with Atlanta Opera; Ferrando in TED ALLEN PICKELL ALLEN TED Marquis D’Obigny Il trovatore with Utah Argento’s Opera; the Painter in , Doctor Grenvil in PALM BEACH OPERA BEACH PALM Falstaff Der fliegende Holländer (debut, 2008). Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions. Metropolitan Opera National Opera; Pistola in ; Abimelech in and Daland in Company Appearances: Colline in

ARTISTSLA TRAVIATA CREATIVE TEAM

DESMOND HEELEY Scenic, Prop & Costume Designer The productions and costumes of designer Desmond Heeley have been seen on the stages of many of the world’s most important theatre, opera, and ballet companies. Mr. Heeley began working in theatre at the Royal Shakespeare Company in Stratford-upon-Avon, England, and he first gained acclaim for his costume and set designs for Peter Brook’s legendary 1955 production of Titus Andronicus with Sir Laurence Olivier. Over the following decades, he became particularly associated with the Stratford Festival in Ontario, designing over 40 productions. His extensive work in opera includes productions for the Glyndebourne Festival, the Royal Opera House Covent Garden, Teatro alla Scala, Vienna State Opera, Lyric Opera of Chicago, and New York City Opera. For the Metropolitan Opera, he designed well- known productions of Norma, Don Pasquale, Manon Lescaut and Pelléas et Mélisande. He also designed for American Ballet Theatre, Houston Ballet, Australian Ballet, and the Stuttgart Ballet. Mr. Heeley is a three-time Tony Award winner for his costume and set design ofRosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead and for his costumes in the recent Broadway revival of The Importance of Being Earnest. This production of La traviata was created for Lyric Opera of Chicago, and has since been seen at Houston , Cincinnati Opera, Pittsburgh Opera, and Dallas Opera.

STUART DUKE Lighting Designer Stuart Duke debuted with Palm Beach Opera last season as lighting designer for Tosca. He recently designed the lighting for the world premiere of the Kurt Vonnegut opera Happy Birthday Wanda June, the Off-Broadway premiere of Orwell in America, Fun Home at the Weston Playhouse, and The Importance of Being Earnest and Matilda for Walnut Street Theatre in Philadelphia. He has designed more than twenty Indianapolis Opera productions including Madame Butterfly, Rigoletto, Otello, The Magic Flute, Orfeo, Don Giovanni, and The Crucible, as well as Porgy & Bess, Eugene Onegin and La traviata for Opera Company of Philadelphia, and concert lighting for Kathleen Battle at Carnegie Hall. Mr. Duke’s New York theatre credits include The Rothschilds, Cast of Characters, Little Me, The Matchmaker and jon & jen. Regionally he has designed The Night Seasons, written and directed by Horton Foote, Rags for Paper Mill Playhouse, Death of a Salesman starring Christopher Lloyd, Conrack at Ford’s Theatre, and Beauty and the Beast for the Alabama Shakespeare Festival. Other credits include Indianapolis Symphony’s Yuletide Celebration, Opera Memphis, Huntington Theatre, Goodspeed Musicals, Weston Playhouse, Northern Stage, The Studio Theatre, Geva Theatre, and The Folger Shakespeare Theatre. Mr. Duke has been nominated three times for the Helen Hayes Award for Outstanding Lighting.

PALM BEACH OPERA 39 CREATIVE TEAM

KATHY WASZKELEWICZ Hair and Make-up Designer Since 1981 Kathy has worked with over 20 different opera companies. She was the winner of the William Zauder Award for outstanding makeup at the NCA National Show Case in Las Vegas. Kathy has been a makeup artist for the Tony Awards and the Kennedy Center Honors, and has toured with Disney’s National Tour ofBeauty and the Beast as their head makeup and prosthetic artist. Kathy has been with Palm Beach Opera since 1993 and became the resident wig and makeup designer in 1999. Kathy participated with Palm Beach Opera’s Swing & Sings summer camp for kids, and especially enjoys Children’s Performance days.

GREGORY RITCHEY Associate Conductor & Chorus Master A versatile musician on the podium and at the keyboard, conductor Gregory Ritchey has held positions with companies both in the U.S. and internationally including the Wexford Opera Festival, Palm Beach Opera, the Amalfi Coast Music Festival and Opera Theatre of Saint Louis. Most notably in recent seasons, he has conducted productions of Le nozze di Figaro, Così fan tutte, The Turn of the Screw, Gianni Schicchi, Ariadne auf Naxos, and a workshop of Terence Blanchard’s opera, Champion. As the newly appointed Music Director of Gulfshore Opera, he has led performances of Madama Butterfly and Rigoletto, returning this season to conduct Don Pasquale and La traviata. He has also been for several years Associate Conductor at Palm Beach Opera, where after a recent performance on the Waterfront Concert series, for which he served as conductor and Music Director, the Palm Beach Arts Paper noted, “Mr. Ritchey is to be congratulated for leading such massive forces in a splendid and stirring performance. The audience rose to their feet with acclaim.” During his time at PBO he has also been Chorus Master for more than thirty-five productions. A graduate of the Juilliard School of Music, Mr. Ritchey maintains an active chamber music, collaborative and solo piano career, performing throughout the United States and Europe. In a recent recital at the Wexford Festival, noted that Mr. Ritchey “partnered superbly at the piano.” Mr. Ritchey has previously held music staff positions with companies across the U.S. including the Dallas Opera, Central City Opera, Des Moines Metro Opera, Bard Music Festival, Virginia Opera, and Sarasota Opera. He has also been a faculty member at the University of North Texas, Louisiana State University, and Texas Christian University. In addition to the MM degree from the Juilliard School of Music, he also earned a BM degree from the University of North Texas.

PALM BEACH OPERA 40 PRODUCTION STAFF

Director of Artistic Operations: Scott Guzielek Director of Production: Jeff Bruckerhoff Assistant Director of Artistic Operations: James Barbato Costume Director: Nuria Carrasco Dominguez Artistic & Production Assistant: Lylliette Borrajero

Production Stage Manager: Bryce Bullock Technical Director: Jason Barroncini Assistant Stage Director: Joshua Miller Assistant Stage Managers: Hayley Hunt, Rachel Merryman Properties Supervisor: Kaitie Hughes Assistant Lighting Designer: Mikaela Baird Supertitles Manager: Ksenia Leletkina

Production Head Carpenter: Michael Moore Production Carpenters: Mitch Cohen, James Normandale Production Electrician: George Benckenstein Head of Wardrobe: John Tully Wardrobe Supervisor: David Whittaker Draper/Cutter: Sarah Persteins

Production Steward: Gary Millar Head Electrician/Programmer: Russ Barron Head Flyman: Jeff Whitehead Head of Properties: Richard Howarth Head Projectionist: Kevin Mackenzie Head Audio: Jeff Curtis Head Wardrobe Mistress: Maureen Ruskin

Palm Beach Opera is pleased to engage the talented skills of Local 500 for all of our stage employee labor.

PALM BEACH OPERA 41 PALM BEACH OPERA CHORUS

GREGORY RITCHEY Associate Conductor & Chorus Master

SOPRANO Elizabeth Korkosz BASS Christina Clements Janet Perez David Asch Michelle Dillon Lisa Pitman John Boulanger Anette Glaser Nancy Saint Pierre Christopher Carbin* Sooyeon Kang* Kelly Weaver Robert Gerold* Samantha Leibowitz Fernando Gonzalez Nana Morimoto TENOR Ardean Landhuis Sarah Rogers Michael Anderson* Darren Littman Suzannah Waddington* Matthew Bischoff Michael Miller* Abbey Ward Anthony Ciaramitaro* Martin Poock Jennifer Wilson Evan Ferrar David Presler Lyonel Fils-Aime Mario Rodriguez MEZZO-SOPRANO Andrew Struhar Maire Carmack* Pavel Suliandziga* *Palm Beach Opera Jenny Anne Flory* Christopher Waite Apprentice Artist Gerri Kinley

PALM BEACH OPERA 42 SUPERS

Wayne McLead, captain Robert Scarborough Alex Sans Bryan Wohlust

DANCERS

Dancers appear courtesy of Ballet Palm Beach Colleen Smith, Founding Artistic Director Brittany Bonefas Danielle Glynn Madeleine Miller McKeely Borger Aurélio Guimarães Adriana Salazar Sunny Hsieh

BALLET PALM BEACH

Ballet Palm Beach is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) professional ballet company dedicated to preserving the art of classical ballet, cultivating new choreographic visions, impacting the next generation, and enriching the community through this universal art form.

Colleen Smith began Ballet Palm Beach in 2001 as a small civic company, under the name Florida Classical Ballet Theatre. Her aim was to give dance students in Palm Beach County the opportunity to perform in full-scale classical ballets through this new organization.

From 2001 to 2012 the company underwent incredible change to become a professional ballet company. Professional dancers and trainees were hired and given the opportunity to lead the ranks of students as audience support continued to grow. Invaluable staff members were added one by one, first as volunteers and then as paid employees. These changes behind the scenes gave way to thrilling development on stage as productions continued to see a rise in technique, expression, and popularity.

In 2013, Florida Classical Ballet Theatre became Ballet Palm Beach, a company of fifteen dancers: six student trainees and nine professionals. The name change symbolized a new era of productivity and twelve years of finding its footing in a wonderfully supported community.

Currently, Ballet Palm Beach performs five main-stage performances each season and has welcomed guest choreographers and répéteurs such as Leslie Peck from the Balanchine Trust, Christopher Huggins of Alvin Ailey, and Roger Van Fleteren from Alabama Ballet to set pieces on the company. Artistic Director Colleen Smith has led the company in creative directions, choreographing five full-length ballets based on literature such as Wonderland, Gatsby, and Snow White.

PALM BEACH OPERA 43 PALM BEACH OPERA ORCHESTRA

DAVID STERN Chief Conductor VIOLIN I BASS TROMBONE Emma Steele, Mik Groninger* Stephen Rawlins* Concertmaster Martha Spangler Hugh Harbison Laura Hilgeman Miller, Jeffrey Adkins James R. Lehman Co-Concertmaster Scott Davis Rafael Elvira, CIMBASSO Associate Concertmaster FLUTE Kenneth Amis* Rebecca Lautar Karen Fuller* Antonio Rincón Beth Larsen TIMPANI Dina Kostic Andrew Proctor* Monica Cheveresan PICCOLO Aleksandr Zhuk Beth Larsen Dilyana Tsenov PERCUSSION Ekaterina Gorkhover Scott Crawford* OBOE Neel Shukla Eric Ohlsson* VIOLIN II Kendra Hawley Dale D. Sandvold* HARP Ruby Berland** Kay Kemper Wade P. Brandon ENGLISH HORN Carole D. Simmons Kendra Hawley ORCHESTRA Renata Guitart LIBRARIAN Asy Alisade CLARINET Dale D. Sandvold Kevin Seto Michael Forte* Joe Adkins Scott G. Ellington ORCHESTRA STAGE MANAGERS VIOLA BASSOON Kay Kemper Scott Rawls* Eric Van der Veer Varner* Stojo Miserlioski Karen Hebermehl** Laura Winters Susan Padgitt Schwab *Principal Diane Weisberg HORN **Assistant Principal Elizabeth Bonta Moll David Peel* Gregory Perrin Amy Maloveczky Jacob DiEdwardo CELLO Julia McAlister Christopher Glansdorp* Jessie Mersinger Cornelia Brubeck** Jody Yanow TRUMPET Susannah Kelly Richard Stoelzel* Aaron Merritt Brian Stanley Scott E. Crowley

PALM BEACH OPERA 44 PALM BEACH OPERA 45 BENENSON YOUNG ARTIST PROGRAM

The Benenson Young Artist Program is generously funded by The Edward H. Benenson Foundation, Gladys Benenson, President.

The Benenson Young Artist Program at Palm Beach Opera is a stepping stone to a successful career as an opera singer for post-graduate and emerging singers. During their five-month residency, artists develop and polish essential stagecraft and performance skills, aidedby musical and career guidance from Palm Beach Opera’s experienced artistic staff. In addition to performing in Palm Beach Opera productions, the Benenson Young Artists will also appear in exciting concert performances throughout the season.

ROBERT STAHLEY Tenor EMILY BLAIR Sponsored by Soprano Mrs. Lois Pope

BRIAN WALLIN SYLVIA D’ERAMO Tenor Soprano Sponsored in part by Sponsored by Ms. Carol O’Malley & Mr. & Mrs. William G. Brown Mr. Nick Harry

JOANNA LATINI BEN SCHAEFER Soprano Baritone Sponsored by Sponsored by Drs. Marsha & Henry Laufer Drs. Marsha & Henry Laufer

NATALIE ROSE HAVENS TED ALLEN PICKELL Mezzo-Soprano Bass-Baritone Sponsored by Sponsored by Mr. & Mrs. L. David Callaway Mrs. Roseanne Williams

PALM BEACH OPERA 46 APPRENTICE ARTIST PROGRAM

The Apprentice Artist Program is sponsored in part by the Gladys and Sy Ziv Foundation.

The Apprentice Artist Program is an opportunity for recent college graduates to gain valuable experience at the professional level. During their five-month residency in Palm Beach, they are Palm Beach Opera’s community ambassadors, performing in education and community engagement events throughout the region. The Apprentice Artists further their artistic development through regular coaching, and add strength to all mainstage production choruses.

ANTHONY CIARAMITARO Tenor SOOYEON KANG Sponsored by Soprano Teeda & Salvatore Nuzzo

SUZANNAH WADDINGTON PAVEL SULIANDZIGA Soprano Tenor Sponsored by Sponsored by Ms. Anne Bazik Mickey & Allan Greenblatt

ROBERT GEROLD MAIRE THERESE Baritone CARMACK Sponsored by Mezzo-Soprano Mrs. Ronnie Isenberg

JENNY ANNE FLORY Mezzo-Soprano Sponsored by MICHAEL MILLER Drs. Marsha & Henry Laufer Baritone

CHRISTOPHER CARBIN Bass-Baritone MICHAEL ANDERSON Sponsored by Tenor Merrill & Charles Gottesman

For sponsorship opportunities or to get involved, please contact David Walker at 561.835.7558 or [email protected].

PALM BEACH OPERA 47 EDUCATION & COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PROGRAMS

Palm Beach Opera is most grateful to The V. Atkins Foundation for its generous support of all Palm Beach Opera educational and community engagement efforts on behalf of opera and classical vocal arts. GOLDNER CENTER FOR CHILDREN’S OPERA EDUCATION

Palm Beach Opera’s education programs bring live opera to our community, inspire life-long interest in the arts, and present thoughtful, engaging education programs for learners of all ages. Through the following education programs, the Goldner Center for Children’s Opera Education fulfills Palm Beach Opera’s educational mission to engage children in opera’s timeless tales and awaken their musical curiosity.

The Goldner Center for Children’s Opera Education is graciously funded by Sandra and Paul Goldner, with additional support provided by The Daft Family Foundation.

CONCERTS IN THE CLASSROOM (K-12) Sponsored by the Alvin and Louise Myerberg Family Foundation Apprentice Artists present interactive programs that turn the classroom into a stage.

PALM BEACH OPERA STUDIO (9-12) Sponsored by the Palm Beach Opera Guild and Suzanne L. Niedland Developing the next generation of singers in an eight-month training program for local high school students.

OPERA REHEARSAL 101 (6-12) Sponsored by the Palm Beach Opera Guild and The Honorable & Mrs. Roger H. Lourie Middle and high school students and their teachers are invited to attend a working dress rehearsal and catch a glimpse of the production process.

STORY TIME SERIES (PreK-5) A sing-along storytelling adventure where children are brought into the pages of opera’s famous tales.

OPERA DISCOVERY CONCERTS (K-12) Palm Beach Opera’s Benenson Young Artists and Apprentice Artists present a selection of opera’s famed arias, duets, and ensemble numbers.

OPERA OUT LOUD Uncovering real world connections between opera and the LGBTQ community.

Questions? For more information, contact Abbey Ward, Education & Community Engagement Associate, at 561.835.7566 or [email protected].

To support or sponsor a program, contact David Walker, Managing Director, at 561.835.7558 or [email protected].

PALM BEACH OPERA 48 COMMUNITY EVENTS & ADULT ENGAGEMENT

SUMMER OPERA NIGHTS Sponsored by Olive and Michael Schaeffer Palm Beach Opera’s unique summer series offers the opportunity to experience opera in a relaxed setting at West Palm Beach’s Elizabeth Avenue Station. Summer Opera Nights features live opera, drinks, games, and fun for the whole family with a different opera-inspired theme for each event!

HAPPY HOUR SERIES Cheers to opera! Enjoy a delightful “cocktail” of education, conversation, and pop-up arias with the Palm Beach Opera Benenson Young Artists. This will be a wonderful opportunity to experience opera arias in an intimate, informal setting that is sure to educate and entertain while you mix and mingle with our singers and other patrons. Even if you don’t know much about opera, you are sure to enjoy this unique and fun series. Be sure to check our website for updates.

ANIMA Animate the soul. ANIMA (pronounced AH-nee-mah) brings opera to people who would otherwise be unable to experience the art form in the theatre, so that their lives can be animated and their spirits uplifted.

ANIMA brings the artist and the audience together through songs and personal story-telling. Unlike traditional community concert programs, ANIMA focuses on the heart of opera, exploring why each artist sings and uncovering their personal connections to the art form. Advance reservation required.

CURTAIN WARMERS Before the red velvet rises. Curtain Warmers provide the audience with insider information about the operas, the composers, the music, and the company, from the perspective of the Associate Conductor.

Curtain Warmers show the casual side of Palm Beach Opera, allowing patrons to sit anywhere in the theatre during the program and listen to information delivered in a colloquial and entertaining way. Curtain Warmers take place inside the theater, one hour prior to the performance start time.

SUNDAY Q&A Curious? Sunday Q&A offers Sunday matinee guests the exhilarating chance to talk with Palm Beach Opera artists immediately following their final performance. This program is often light- hearted, humorous, and always enlightening. Sunday Q&A affords participants the opportunity to get to know the artists, to hear their stories, and dive into their artistic choices. Sunday Q&A takes place in the theater, immediately following the matinee performance.

LUNCH & LEARN Join us for a unique blend of education and opera at Lunch & Learn. You’ll enjoy a delicious meal with a glass of wine followed by a musical program presented by Palm Beach Opera’s Benenson Young Artists and artistic staff.

CONVERSATIONS Conversations highlights the inner workings of an opera company through personal conversations with Opera staff, guest artists, and lecturers. Conversations is bolstered by historical context and, when possible, musical interludes performed by Benenson Young Artists and Apprentice Artists.

For more information on community engagement, contact James Clements, Education & Community Engagement Manager, at 561.835.7577 or [email protected].

PALM BEACH OPERA 49 PALM BEACH OPERA STUDIO

Palm Beach Opera Studio is an eight-month training program that fosters the skills high school students will need to pursue a successful music career in college and beyond. The Studio program is rigorous, the learning experience is exceptional, and participants are held to high professional standards.

Performance Track: singers engage in private voice instruction, vocal coachings, masterclasses, and workshops led by a faculty of opera and music professionals. Participants are invited to attend working rehearsals, mainstage performances, and are given performance opportunities.

Arts Administration Track: members engage in one-on-one meetings with Palm Beach Opera Directors and Managers to discover how an opera company functions year round. Participants complete a series of projects relevant to their interests and are invited to attend working rehearsals and mainstage performances.

Studio is part of a unique three-tiered training system at Palm Beach Opera that includes the Apprentice Artist Program and the Benenson Young Artist Program.

Palm Beach Opera Studio is sponsored by the Palm Beach Opera Guild and Suzanne L. Niedland.

2018-2019 Palm Beach Opera Studio

Emma Beers, Gabriella Pizzi, Jupiter Christian School A.W. Dreyfoos School of the Arts Isabella Caggiani*, Hope Sears, A.W. Dreyfoos School of the Arts A.W. Dreyfoos School of the Arts Zaryah Gourgel, James Seton, A.W. Dreyfoos School of the Arts Suncoast Community High School Abby Guido, Shayna Singer*, Park Vista Community High School North Broward Preparatory School Jacqueline Kaskel, Mckayla Williams, A.W. Dreyfoos School of the Arts Park Vista Community High School Emily Mandell, Katherine Zeda*, Boynton Beach Community High School A.W. Dreyfoos School of the Arts

*2nd Year Studio Member

PALM BEACH OPERA 50 PBO YOUNG FRIENDS

PBO Young friends is a dynamic group of young professionals between the ages of 21 and 39 who are interested in supporting Palm Beach Opera, meeting new people, and experiencing opera at an exceptional price.

Membership is $25 per year and includes the following benefits:

Special ticket and subscription prices Receive discounted subscription and ticket rates, like our special $50 subscription package — a $165 value! Single tickets are also available at a discounted rate of just $25.

Champagne at the performance Toast to a night out at the opera with a complimentary drink at each performance.

Backstage tours See behind the curtain and book a backstage tour before any Saturday night or Sunday matinee performance.

Social and networking events From happy hours to networking opportunities, meet at tailored Young Friends events throughout the year.

PBO Young Friends on Facebook and Opera Insider subscription Keep in touch with PBO Young Friends on Facebook, and stay up to date on Palm Beach Opera happenings with our curated e-newsletter, Opera Insider.

Join today at at pbopera.org/youngfriends. For more information, contact Adina Antonucci, Marketing & PR Associate Manager, at 561.835.7575 or [email protected].

OPERA INSIDER | OPERA FOR YOUR INBOX!

Learn more about our upcoming production and stay informed of events, ticket offers, and the latest Palm Beach Opera news with our monthly e-newsletter, Opera Insider. Sign up at pbopera.org/signup.

PALM BEACH OPERA 51 PALM BEACH OPERA 52 PALM BEACH OPERA GUILD

Join the Palm Beach Opera Guild at the 17th Annual Luncheon and Opera Interlude

January 29, 2019 At a private club in Palm Beach. $295

Special performance by soprano Jacqueline Echols, who sings the title role of Violetta in Palm Beach Opera’s La traviata.

The Palm Beach Opera Guild is a group of women and men dedicated to supporting Palm Beach Opera by raising funds for Palm Beach Opera Studio and Opera Rehearsal 101.

Palm Beach Opera Studio is an eight-month training program that fosters the skills high school students will need to pursue a successful music career in college and beyond. The Palm Beach Opera Studio program is demanding; the learning experience is exceptional and participants are held to a high professional standard.

Opera Rehearsal 101 is a unique opportunity for middle and high school students to catch a glimpse of the opera production process during a live working rehearsal before opening night.

For further information on the Annual Luncheon, or to become a part of the PBO Guild, contact Ann Baskind at 561.835.7569 or email [email protected].

PALM BEACH OPERA 53 THE ORPHEUS LEGACY SOCIETY

Palm Beach Opera thanks the following donors who, through their foresight and generosity, have included the Opera in their wills or estate plans. You are invited to join other opera lovers by leaving a legacy gift to Palm Beach Opera. Named for the mythological poet who charmed the gods with his music, the Orpheus Legacy Society recognizes those forward thinking individuals.

MEMBERS Dr. & Mrs. Hans D. Baumann Mrs. Mary M. Montgomery Mr. Norman Burwen* Mrs. Rose Marie Morton Mr. Richard Crone & Mr. Andre Manzi Mr. & Mrs. Frank J. Pannizzo Mrs. Charlotte Kimelman* Mrs. Helen K. Persson* Dr. David* & Mrs. Ingrid Kosowsky Mrs. Rose Price Mr. Nathan Leventhal Mr. Conrad Schmitt & Mr. Andrew P. Payti Dr. & Mrs. Michael* and Virginia Longo Mrs. Marjorie Shields Mrs. Chris Marden Mrs. Rosalie W. Stone* Mrs. Harriet Mertz* Mr. & Mrs. Gladys and Sy Ziv* *In Memoriam

“Having served as president of Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts for 17 years, I know that the mission of any great opera company is not only to present the highest standards of opera performance, but also to work ceaselessly to bring the love of opera to new generations through educational programs and to train opera singers of the future. The extraordinary quality of Palm Beach Opera’s performances, and its position of national leadership in the community, educational and training programs, makes me proud to be a member of the Orpheus Legacy Society to help ensure that their programs continue long into the future.” MR. NATHAN LEVENTHAL President, Palm Beach Opera Board Double Co-Producer, Don Giovanni & Die Fledermaus Orpheus Legacy Society Member

WHAT IS YOUR PLAN? The Orpheus Legacy Society recognizes those individuals who are supporting Palm Beach Opera in their wills or estate plans. When you join, you make a lasting mark on your community. To learn more about the Orpheus Legacy Society or to inform Palm Beach Opera of a planned gift you have already made, please contact Natalie Parker, Individual and Planned Giving Manager, at 561.835.7554 or [email protected].

PALM BEACH OPERA 54 JOIN THE PALM BEACH OPERA FAMILY

Every gift to Palm Beach Opera is instrumental to producing world class live opera inour community, and to enriching the lives of thousands of adults and children through our education and community engagement programs. Join our STAR CIRCLE or BENEFACTOR SOCIETY today, and experience the impact that your support has on our community. You will also enjoy the benefits of recognition, membership, ticket concierge service, parking privileges, premium access, and more. For more information, please contact Natalie Parker, Individual and Planned Giving Manager, at 561.835.7554 or [email protected], or visit our website.

WHY WE SUPPORT PALM BEACH OPERA “We support the Palm Beach Opera because of the great quality of its productions, its ability to attract excellent talent and its programs to nurture young singers from top schools in their budding careers. The Palm Beach Opera is a great addition to the cultural life in this area.” RITA AND MARVIN GINSKY

Please mail form to 1800 S. Australian Avenue, Suite 301, West Palm Beach, FL 33409

THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING PALM BEACH OPERA PAYMENT INFORMATION Check enclosed for $

NAME Visa MasterCard AmEx

ADDRESS CITY STATE ZIP Card #

PRIMARY PHONE SECONDARY PHONE Exp. Date

EMAIL Signature

Palm Beach Opera is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit corporation and all gifts made to the Opera are tax- I would like to make my gift in honor of or in memory of: deductible to the extent provided by state and federal law. 100% of such gifts are retained by the Opera to support its operations. We will reach out to you for the appropriate mailing address to notify the individual(s) and/or their families above of your honor/memorial gift. Thank you for sharing your love of opera! A COPY OF THE OFFICIAL REGISTRATION (#CH1153) AND FINANCIAL INFORMATION MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE DIVISION OF CONSUMER SERVICES BY CALLING TOLL- FREE WITHIN THE STATE OF FLORIDA, 1-800-435-7352. REGISTRATION DOES NOT IMPLY ENDORSEMENT, APPROVAL OR RECOMMENDATION BY THE STATE.

PALM BEACH OPERA 55 THANK YOU TO OUR SUPPORTERS

Palm Beach Opera is sincerely thankful to the following individuals whose donations supports live, world-class opera, as well as educational and community engagement programs that enrich and meaningfully impact our community. Individual contributions are listed cumulatively with support comprised of Co-Producer Society gifts, Young and Apprentice Artist sponsorships, Education and Community Engagement sponsorships, annual gifts, Gala support, corporate matches, and in-kind donations. Contributions to the 2019 season, current as of 1/11/2019

MAJOR SPONSORS & SUPPORTERS

($250,000 AND ABOVE) Mr. & Mrs. Ellis J. Parker The V. Atkins Foundation Mrs. Lois Pope The Cornelia T. Bailey Charitable Trust, Mr. Marc S. Solomon, in loving memory of Cornelia T. Bailey Solomon Family Foundation Trust Mrs. Gladys Benenson, Mr. Ed Streim The Edward H. Benenson Foundation Mrs. Roseanne Williams Mr. & Mrs. William G. Brown Mrs. Ronnie Isenberg, ($15,000 - $24,999) in loving memory of Eugene Isenberg Dr. & Mrs. Sander M. Abend Dr. & Mrs. Robert Biscup ($100,000 - $249,999) Mr. & Mrs. L. David Callaway Mr. & Mrs. Randell Doane Drs. Marsha & Henry Laufer Mrs. Annette Y. Friedland Palm Beach Opera Guild Mr. & Mrs. Barry W. Gray Mrs. Ari Rifkin Mr. & Mrs. Peter A. Hoffman Toni & Martin Sosnoff Mr. & Mrs. Sidney Kohl Mr. Michael McCafferty & ($75,000 - $99,999) Mr. Joseph Horton Isanne & Sanford Fisher Mr. & Mrs. Salvatore Nuzzo Mr. & Mrs. John J. Pohanka ($50,000 - $74,999) Mr. Sanford Baklor & Ms. Arlene Kaufman ($10,000 - $14,999) The Daft Family Foundation Mr. Roy Bartolomei & Mr. & Mrs. Paul A. Goldner Mr. Peter Wronsky Mrs. Patricia Lester, in loving memory Mr. & Mrs. Stephen Bent of Howard Lester Mr. & Mrs. David Brodsky Mr. Nathan Leventhal Mr. & Mrs. Paul Efron Mrs. Karen Tell Mrs. Arlette Gordon Mr. & Mrs. Dennis K. Williams Ms. Barbara Greis & Mr. Howard Gottlieb ($25,000 - $49,999) Mr. & Mrs. Jerry Kaufman Mr. & Mrs. Jeffrey H. Alderton Mr. & Mrs. Scott Laurans Dr. & Mrs. Hans D. Baumann Alvin & Louise Myerberg Ms. Anne Bazik Family Foundation Mr. & Mrs. Robert Fromer Suzanne L. Niedland Mr. & Mrs. David Genser Mr. & Mrs. Meyer Sapoff Merrill & Charles Gottesman Dr. & Mrs. John Strasswimmer Mr. & Mrs. Allan Greenblatt Mr. & Mrs. James Takats Mrs. Marie A. Iandoli Mrs. Sieglinde Wikstrom Mrs. Martha R. Ingram Mr. Marc E. Wise & Mrs. Florence Kaufman Mr. Mariano Morales Mr. & Mrs. Amin Khoury Mrs. Ingrid Kosowsky, in loving memory of Dr. David I. Kosowsky Dr. Frayda Lindemann

PALM BEACH OPERA 56 THANK YOU TO OUR SUPPORTERS

BENEFACTOR SOCIETY STAR CIRCLE GRAND BENEFACTOR PATRON ($7,500 - $9,999) ($1,000 - $2,499) Anonymous Mr. & Mrs. Richard Abedon Dr. Elizabeth M. Bowden Mr. Alan Adams Ms. Hermine Drezner, in loving memory of Jan Winkler Mr. & Mrs. Stephen & Madeline Anbinder Mr. & Mrs. Eric Jorgensen Mr. Stanley Applebaum Mr. & Mrs. John & Jeanette Staluppi Mr. David Auerbach & Ms. Ariane Csonka-Camstock Mrs. Hermé de Wyman Miro Dr. Philip Barenfeld & Ms. Barbara Hulnick Mr. & Mrs. Richard Behr PRINCIPAL BENEFACTOR Mr. & Mrs. Roger Beutner ($5,000 - $7,499) Dr. Allen H. Bezner Mr. & Mrs. John Connor Walter & Hildi Black & Suzan Grandt & Stanley Kaplan Mr. & Mrs. Gerald Fineberg Mrs. Arlene Blau Mrs. Miriam Flamm Dr. Rachael Bloomfield Mr. Roy L. Furman Ms. Roxanne Brandt Mr. & Mrs. Stanley N. Gaines Mr. & Mrs. Henry Breyer Mr. Stanley Goldstein Mr. Charles Buchner The Honorable & Mrs. Roger H. Lourie Mr. & Mrs. Robert Calman Dr. & Mrs. Morton Mandell Mrs. Nancy H. Canary & Mr. William Sullivan Mr. & Mrs. Harold Oelbaum Mr. & Mrs. Carl Chernoff The Honorable & Mrs. Samuel Raia Mr. & Mrs. Phil Corso Mrs. Beverly Sommer Mr. Richard Crone & Mr. Andre Manzi Ms. Melissa Sullivan Mr. & Mrs. Harold Danenberg Mr. & Mrs. Albert Togut Mr. Dominick DiBona Mrs. Ann Van Ness Mrs. Joan K. Eigen Mrs. Maureen P. Wilkens Ms. Tibisay Ellis & Dr. Joseph Peterseil Mrs. Jo Ann Engelhardt & Mr. George Elder BENEFACTOR Mr. & Mrs. Stephen & Linda Epstein ($2,500 - $4,999) Mrs. Barbara Fisher Ms. Naomi Alexandroff-Brest & Mr. David Kaplan Dr. Stephanie Flicker Mr. & Mrs. Theodore & Ruth Baum Mr. & Mrs. Charles Foster Ms. Jane Beasley Mr. & Mrs. David Frisbie Daniel Biaggi & David Espinosa Mr. & Mrs. Alan Fuirst Mr. & Mrs. David Bigelow Mrs. Joan Galison Mr. & Mrs. Ken & Andrea Brodlieb Mrs. Gail Galli General Carter Clarke & Ms. Irene Athans Mr. & Mrs. George & Sandy Garfunkel Mr. John Coats Dr. & Mrs. Donald Giddon Mr. Daniel Cochran & Mr. Gregory Sutphin Mr. & Mrs. Marvin Ginsky Dr. Louise Cohen Mrs. M.A. Graham-Mulach Mr. & Mrs. Ronald Early Mr. & Mrs. Anthony Graziano Mr. & Mrs. Elliott Eisen Mrs. Lisa L. Huertas Mr. Alfonso Fanjul Mr. & Mrs. Theodore Hyde Mr. & Mrs. Louis Feher Mrs. Lyn Ianuzzi Ms. Nancy Feldman & Mr. Mike Chefetz Mr. Julio Iguchi Mr. & Mrs. Joel Freedman Ms. Sheila Josephberg Mr. Eugene F. Gaughan & Ms. Margaret Duffy Mr. & Mrs. Henry Kaufman Mr. & Mrs. Dan L. Goldwasser Dr. Judith Kayloe Mr. Charles Gradante Mr. & Mrs. Paul Kozloff Mr. & Mrs. Herbert P. & Marylou Gray Mr. & Mrs. Charles Kramer Mr. & Mrs. Ross Hechinger Mrs. Jill L. Leinbach Mr. & Mrs. David Herwitz Mr. David Leiman Mr. & Mrs. Ashley Hoffman Mrs. Shirley Levy Mr. & Mrs. Thomas Holien Mrs. Virginia Longo Mr. & Mrs. Peter Lunder Mr. William Lough & Ms. Barbara Pinaire Mr. & Mrs. Doug McMillen Mr. & Mrs. George Mann Mr. & Mrs. Charles Mooney Mr. & Mrs. John J. McDonald Mr. Victor Moore & Mr. John Tatooles Mrs. Sheila Mondry Mrs. Elayne Mordes Mrs. Cynthia Pappas Mr. & Mrs. Louis Nicozisis Mr. & Mrs. Samuel S. Polk Mrs. Anka Palitz Mrs. Victoria Preuss Mr. & Mrs. Tony Petrarca Mrs. Sondra Radvanovsky & Mr. Duncan Lear Mr. & Mrs. Harland A. Riker, Jr. Mr. Michael Ramos Mr. & Mrs. Michael Schaeffer Mrs. Rosalyn Regal Mr. Conrad Schmitt & Mr. Andrew P. Payti Mr. & Mrs. Bruce Riley Jane and John Shalam Mr. & Mrs. Irwin Robinson Dr. & Mrs. Charles Tager Mr. Russell Robinson Barbara & Fred Tepperman Mr. Vincent Ruisi & Mr. Shawn Cherry Mr. & Mrs. Jay M. Wilson Mrs. Mary Rumy

PALM BEACH OPERA 57 THANK YOU TO OUR SUPPORTERS

Mr. & Mrs. Howard Ruskin Mr. Lawrence Uhlick Mr. & Mrs. S. Lyon Sachs Mr. & Mrs. Roger Yaseen Dr. & Mrs. Charles Saunders Mr. Christian C. Yegen Ms. Barbara C. Sidell, Esq. Mr. Martin Zubatkin Aimee & Ozzie Stewart Mrs. Ruth Summers CONTRIBUTOR Mr. Eugene Ungar ($250 - $499) Mr. & Mrs. James Walker Mr. John Beaton Mr. & Mrs. Andrew Watson Mrs. Ingrid Blau-Meegan Mr. & Mrs. Morton Weber Mr. Hartman Blanchard Dr. & Mrs. Jeffrey Wolff Mr. Murray Brenner Drs. Melisande J. Wolff-Mankevich & Mr. Richard Cardozo Claudio Mankevich Mr. Anthony F. Cassa Dr. Mona Beth Wolpe Dr. & Mrs. Edgar Covarrubias Mrs. Joan Denton SUPPORTER Mr. William Deskin ($500 - $999) Ms. Violet DiGioia Anonymous Mrs. Margaret Donnelley Anonymous Ms. Catherine G. Edgar Mr. Irving Anton Mr. & Mrs. Mark Eisenberg Mr. & Mrs. V.J. & Diedad Benincasa Mr. & Mrs. Joseph P. Flanagan Mrs. Polly U. Champ Mr. & Mrs. Ralph & Audrey Friedner Mrs. Mary Cirillo-Goldberg Mrs. Joan Galiardo Mr. Steve Cohen Dr. & Mrs. Stanley Ginsberg Mr. Fred Corrado Dr. & Mrs. Martin Greenberg Dr. & Mrs. Charles Dale Mr. Joseph Guidetti Dr. Clare L. Dana Mr. James Gustafson Mr. David Derr Ms. Jeanne Gutkin Mrs. Estelle Fassler Mr. Taylor Hagood Mr. David Fitzgerald & Ms. Gloria Culver Mr. Marvin Hartstein Mrs. Vally Flint Peter & Barbara Hilleband Mr. & Mrs. John D. Geberth Mr. & Mrs. Gerald Krasker Mr. & Mrs. Marc Goldberg Ms. Phoebe Kurtz Ms. Rona Goldstein Mr. & Mrs. David Lagnado Dr. Mari G. Jureit-Beamish & Mr. William Beamish Mr. Edward Levitt & Ms. Ellen Livingston Dr. & Mrs. Eugene Kalnitsky Ms. Miriam Lieff Mr. Eugene Kelly Mrs. Rhoda Malamut & Mr. Marvin Goldstein Mr. Sol D. Kugler Mr. Michael Mattingly Ms. Isabelle R. Leeds Mr. David Moscow Mr. Darren Littman Alice and Allan Mostoff Hannah, Barbara, & Eric Malkin Ms. Loretta Neff Ms. Marjorie J. Marks Mrs. Heidi Niblack Ms. Anita Meltzer Mr. & Mrs. Sidney Packer Mr. Randolph Michener Mrs. John Payson Mr. Richard Nadeau Mr. Louis Perretta Dr. Richard J. & Mrs. Maureen W. Saab Mr. & Mrs. William J. Pittler Mr. & Mrs. Ralph Saltzman Dr. Henry Rabinowitz Mr. & Mrs. Robert Schneider Stanley & Helenan Robin Mr. Arnold Schulberg Mr. & Mrs. Murray Schneider Ms. Lora Schwab Mr. & Mrs. Frank Seuss Mr. Charles Schwartz Mr. Raymon Sterman Mrs. Susan Schwartz Mr. & Mrs. David T. Sullivan Ms. Jean Sharf Mr. Richard Viens & Mrs. Patricia Werhahn Mr. & Mrs. Alfredo Siani Dr. Andrew Lloyd Von Gelt Mr. & Mrs. Mark Smith Mr. Robert Weisman Mr. & Mrs. David Spokely Dr. Joan Perry Wilcox Mr. & Mrs. Rudolf Stalder Mr. & Mrs. Richard Zeckhauser Ms. Elizabeth Starr Mrs. Gail Theodoracopulos Mr. & Mrs. Jerome Trautschold

PALM BEACH OPERA 58 IN HONOR OF Donations from 01/01/2018 to 1/11/2019

In honor of Lee Ann & Jeffrey Alderton In honor of Mr. & Mrs. Peter Hoffman Mr. & Mrs. Randell Doane Mr. & Mrs. Herbert P. Gray Mr. & Mrs. Edward Kean Mr. & Mrs. Louis Nicozisis In honor of Drs. Marsha & Henry Laufer Dr. Mark Staitman In honor of Daniel Biaggi Monique and Axel Stepan In honor of Mr. Nathan Leventhal Mr. Steve Cohen In honor of Mrs. Estelle Fassler Ms. Anita Elias In honor of Mrs. Elayne Mordes Mrs. Betty Steinberg Dr. & Mrs. Robert Burger Mrs. Bernice Weinrib In honor of Mrs. Ari Rifkin In honor of Joan and David Genser Dr. & Mrs. Louis M. Rogow Mr. & Mrs. Theodore Baum In honor of David Walker In honor of Merrill Gottesman’s Birthday Mrs. Hermé de Wyman Miro Mr. & Mrs. Marc Goldberg In honor of Kelly Weaver In honor of Allan & Mickey Greenblatt Ms. Barbara Sidell, Esq. Dr. Philip Barenfeld & Ms. Barbara Hulnick Mr. & Mrs. Irwin Robinson

IN MEMORY OF Donations from 01/01/2018 to 1/11/2019

In memory of In memory of Howard Lester Mr. Edward H. Benenson Mrs. Patricia Lester Mrs. Gladys Benenson In memory of Robert Kurtz In memory of Herbert & Ms. Phoebe Kurtz Edythe F. Benjamin Mr. & Mrs. Peter Hoffman In memory of Sarah A. Merrill Ms. Galina Kogan In memory of Ted Chichak Mr. Russell Robinson In memory of Harriet Gould Mertz The Harriet Mertz Trust In memory of Jessica Marulli Cridle Ms. Sylvia Chilli In memory of Dmitri Nabokov Ms. Ariana Csonka-Comstock In memory of Mrs. Virginia Furey Gerrie Aurre In memory of Mary O’Boyle Connor Camille Babusik Mr. & Mrs. John Connor Katy DiGioia Tess Lindsay In memory of Muriel A. Shapiro Karen Reinhart Ms. Leslie Adams Ms. Pamela Metzger In memory of Mr. Eugene Isenberg Mr. Martin Zubatkin Mrs. Ronnie Isenberg In memory of Marshal Wilcox In memory of Mr. Claude Jacquemin Dr. Joan Perry Wilcox The Jacquemin Family Foundation In memory of Mr. Jan Winkler In memory of Dr. David I. Kosowsky Ms. Hermine Drezner Mrs. Ingrid Kosowsky In memory of Gladys and Sy Ziv The Gladys and Sy Ziv Foundation

PALM BEACH OPERA 59 THANK YOU TO OUR SUPPORTERS

Palm Beach Opera is sincerely thankful to the following corporations, foundations, and government entities whose donations support live world-class opera, as well as educational and community engagement programs, that enrich and meaningfully impact our community.

PRESTO ($100,000+)

The Cornelia T. Bailey The Edward H. Benenson Charitable Trust Foundation

VIVACE ($25,000 – $99,999)

Daft Family Foundation The Gladys and Sy Ziv Foundation

VELOCE ($10,000 – $24,999)

Alvin and Louise Myerberg Foundation

ALLEGRO ($7,500 – $9,999)

PALM BEACH OPERA 60 THANK YOU TO OUR SUPPORTERS

Palm Beach Opera is sincerely thankful to the following corporations, foundations, and government entities whose donations support live world-class opera, as well as educational and community engagement programs, that enrich and meaningfully impact our community.

ANDANTE ($5,000 – $7,499)

GE Foundation The Ruth Nelson Kraft Foundation

ADAGIO ($2,500 – $4,999)

Mae Cadwell Rovensky Foundation

LARGO (UP TO $2,499)

Lawrence and Marjorie Stoll Foundation The Scout Guide Palm Beach

Signature sponsorship opportunities and custom packages are available to Corporate Partners who choose to designate their funds for a specific opportunity that involves the entire season, a single performance within the season, or a specific program such as Education and Community Engagement. Contact Loren Varvarigos, Special Events and Corporate Relations Manager, at 561.835.7557 or [email protected] to learn more about our unique partnership opportunities..

PALM BEACH OPERA 61 PALM BEACH OPERA STAFF

DANIEL BIAGGI General Director INSTITUTIONAL Jennifer Isola ARTISTIC & ADVANCEMENT Audience Services Manager PRODUCTION David Walker Adina Antonucci Scott Guzielek Managing Director Marketing & PR Associate Manager Director of Artistic Operations Natalie Parker Abbey Ward Jeff Bruckerhoff Individual & Planned Education & Community Director of Production Engagement Associate Giving Manager James Barbato Alexandra Richter Dennis Perry Assistant Director of Individual Giving & Grants Manager Audience Services Associate Artistic Operations Loren Varvarigos Ann Baskind Lylliette Borrajero Special Events & Corporate Guild & Patron Relations Liaison Artistic & Production Assistant Relations Manager FINANCE & David Stern Rick Zullo ADMINISTRATION Chief Conductor Marketing & PR Manager Joe Cremona Greg Ritchey Associate Conductor and James Clements Director of Finance & Education & Community Chorus Master Administration Engagement Manager Stephanie Troughton Office Manager

VOLUNTEERS Grace Barrett Marianne Guiliani Laura Santamaria Brigette Clements Jose Hernandez Esther Sanchez-Zeda Sheryne Glicksman Maxwell Houseman David Zeda Kat Grosek Christine Rogers

HOSPITALITY COMMITTEE

Roger and Claude Lourie, chairs Rita Ginsky Amy Bernstein Franck Meunier Tom and Felicie Brett Michael and Olive Schaeffer Jean Doyen de Montaillou Alan and Sharon Weinstein

PALM BEACH OPERA 62