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Newsletter of the Manatee Guild November 2020

Sarasota Opera Concerts President’s Message

Join Sarasota Opera for favorite opera selections with I hope you are all doing well. Dave piano accompaniment by Jesse Martins and George and I continue to “hang in there.” We Hemcher, featuring principal artists from past do enjoy each other’s company, but do seasons. Tickets are available by clicking here or by wish that we could see you all and calling the box office at 941-366-8450, ext. 1 experience life as it used to be, especially in regard to Manatee Opera ◦ Hanna Brammer, Anna Mandina Guild and Sarasota Opera. Like you, we miss seeing and Caitlin Crabill and having fun with our friends and MOG family. ◦ Andrew Surrena and Samuel Schlievert Sarasota is having an opening this month — a concert ◦ Alexander Boyd featuring some of our favorite Principal Artists. There is ◦ Young Bok Kim a summary of all that SOA is doing to protect the health of attendees in this newsletter. For those still November 13, 2020 $25 - $45 • unconvinced, the concert will be live-streamed so that 7:30PM Live at Sarasota Opera you can enjoy it at home. • November 13, 2020 $25 - $45 7:30PM Live at Sarasota Opera - Internet Thank you to Elizabeth Aversa for an article on Politics streaming $10 and Opera. As we continue to struggle in many areas of life, it’s instructive to learn about prior stuggles as • November 15, 2020 $25 - $45 1:30PM Live at Sarasota Opera inspirations for . • November 17, 2020 $35 The other big news at SOA is the hiring of Marco 5:30PM Sarasota Opera at the Marie Selby Nisticò as Artistic Administrator, taking the essential job Botanical Gardens that was performed so graciously and competently by • November 19, 2020 $35 Greg Trupiano. We know Mr. Nisticò from his work 5:30PM Sarasota Opera at the Gardens at performing on the stage in many roles, and Syble Historic Spanish Point DiGirolamo has interviewed him for a column in this newsletter.

High Definition Films Please jot me a line to let me know what you’ve been • November 22, 2020 , doing during this unusual and unwelcome hiatus from 1:30PM Arabella - normal, everyday life. I would like to use this medium for us all to stay in touch. Imagine that you are at a • December 6, 2020 , MOG meeting. What would you like other MOG 1:30PM - Opera Film members to know about your situation and activities. • December 20, 2020 , 1:30PM The Nutcracker - Ballet Film Still fervently hoping for a safe and effective vaccine Tickets are $20, and can be purchased using the links and treatment… Jeanne above. Sarasota Opera Health and Safety Measures Tributes

Face masks required for all audience members at My gift to MOG is given on the the and at our outdoor concerts. occasion of my 100th Birthday. Please wear a mask at all times while inside the From Dorothy Mae Erikson Opera House complex, and throughout the performance. Our love and very best wishes to Print your tickets at home or receive a ticket on Dottie Erikson for her cheerful your mobile device. Self-scanning as you enter the attitude, amazing energy and theater will limit your contact with our ushers and many years of service to our Guild. staff. CONGRATULATIONS!!!! From the Board and members The box office in the lobby will be closed to limit of MOG crowding. If needed, the main box office in the Pavilion building, under the green awning will be open.

Please do not come to the Opera House if you are feeling ill. Temperature checks will be required Getting to Know Marco Nisticò before you enter the . Syble DiGirolamo Anyone who is running a fever (100.3° F or higher) will not be permitted to enter and your tickets will be HEADLINE: October 13, 2020 — Sarasota, FL refunded. “Executive Director Richard Russell and Artistic Director Victor DeRenzi announced that Marco Nisticò will All seats will be reserved to accommodate become the new Artistic Administrator of Sarasota distanced seating for performances at the Opera Opera beginning December 1, 2020. Mr. Nisticò will fill House, including our HD at The Opera House the position held by the recently deceased Greg movies series. Seating has been spaced so that there Trupiano, who had worked for Sarasota Opera since is one row in between groups and no fewer than 1987.” three seats on either side. To ensure social distancing, you must use your reserved seat and may It’s time for our Guild to get to know Marco Nistico as not switch seats without the assistance of the house he joins the Sarasota Opera family. manager. O u r G u i l d m e m b e r s Opera Club and McCorkle Lounge will be closed a l r e a d y k n o w M a r c o until further notice. Nisticò well as a singer. He has become increasingly Concessions and drinking fountains will be closed more beloved by Sarasota for the HD at the Opera House Movies as well as for audiences since he first the November concerts. As a result, you will be joined the company in allowed to bring your own bottled water in the 2008 as a principal artist theater. s i n g i n g t h e r o l e o f Social distancing rules will be observed at the Francesco Foscari in I due opera house with modifications to lines approaching Foscari. S i n c e t h e n the restrooms and elevators as well as the entrance S a r a s o t a n s h a v e h a d to the theater. opportunities to see him as Figaro and as Dr. Bartolo Sanitizing stations have been installed in the in , as theater and we have optimized the air conditioning Rodrigue in , as system to provide better air flow and filtration. Germont in La Traviata, as Giacomo in Giovanna d’Arco, as Sharpless in Madame Butterfly, in the title role of , as Tonio in Pagliacci, as Amonosaro in 2). Cats. Marco and his wife Marina both love their two , as Malatesta in Don Pasquale, as Manfredo in The cats that share their apartment home. They want to find Love of Three Kings, as Count Gil in Susanna’s Secret, an apartment or condo in Sarasota as they appreciate and as Gaspar in Rita. Most recently in Sarasota we saw downtown living. BTW they chose to move from Italy his work as stage director of Donizetti’s The Elixir of to live in New York because of Marina’s career as a Love. dance critic.

We are accustomed to seeing reviews of his work such 3). Cooking. Marco does a lot of home cooking. as “One of the finest moments on opening night were Sometimes just for himself, as he has frequently provided by Sarasota’s Verdi stalwart, Marco Nisticò, as travelled alone for work. He says that cooking sparks Giacomo. The Italian baritone brought a gravitas, joy. And fresh vegetables are a special delight. unforced eloquence and refined vocalism to his solos, 3). Italian and French Wines. Marco studied wines and with especially touching expression to Giacomo's wine tasting for a few years (some of which he lived in regret at unjustly accusing his daughter, in “Amai, ma Paris). He has a certification as a wine taster. He always un solo istante.” And “Nisticò has had quite an appreciates a good glass of wine. impressive career as a singer. Italian born baritone Marco Nisticò’s impressive combination of beautiful 4). Sunsets on Sarasota beaches. He has been lucky tone, exquisite artistry, and superior stagecraft has enough in some seasons to be assigned housing across delighted audiences throughout North America, South from Lido beach and has often enjoyed a walk on the America, and Europe.” beach at sunset.

When I interviewed Marco this week, I explained that I 5). Cortez Fishing Village. One of the first things that wanted to provide a special “inside-our-Sarasota- Marco and Marina like to do when returning to Sarasota Opera-Family” conversation with him that let our Guild is to go to Star Fish Company at Cortez for a fresh members get to know him as a person. Here are some seafood dinner. He says that his friends tease him of the things Marco appreciates and that bring him joy about the many photos of pelicans at Cortez that he in life. shares with them anew on each visit.

1). Opera & . Marco feels that he is really lucky 6). Helping young singers. to have a life with music. He has been able to have a Mr. Nisticò has served as a successful career, actually getting paid to do something teacher, lecturer, coach, and he loves and is passionate about. His specialty is Italian mentor to many singers. Opera. When Marco was asked by OPERAWIRE if he Since the beginning of the felt that a singer had an advantage in how they pandemic, he has been interpret the music and the text if they are singing in offering free classes online their native language, he answered that he believes to colleagues left jobless at that native speakers can be directly connected to the home. He tells us that some text, and can have the same connection that the of his favorite moments in composer had with the text, Sarasota have been on stage with the Apprentice and can easier understand Artists. One of the special things that Marco does in how the composer put that Sarasota is host a 9:00 am coffee with other singers music on that text. That where all conversation is in Italian. understanding opens up a lot of possibilities for 7). Working with Children. Marco also said that one of different interpretations. The the accomplishments that he was most proud of at more directly connected a Opera on the James was an event with young children singer is to the text and performing poetry with music. He says: “If we want music, the easier it is to opera to continue living, we need to cultivate new make the choices of tone generations of people who know first hand what opera and the different nuances of is.” voice to express the text. 8). The Human Voice. He is absolutely awed by the Politics in Opera - A Topic for Our Time beauty that the singers create with the power and the quality of their voices. He understands that is the talent Elizabeth Aversa that we must encourage and preserve. For politics aficionados on both sides of the aisle the 9). Working with on a . Marco daily news leading up to and following the 2020 describes this process as an intense focus on every election have consumed us. Conventional radio, phrase in the libretto and a discussion of what the television, newspapers, social media, and conversations singer knows at that moment in the opera and the around our actual and virtual dinner tables have emotion the singer should be expressing in that phrase. focused on little else. Those of us addicted to political Marco looks forward to these “Maestro” discussions of intrigue are now in withdrawal, but there is something the operas for upcoming Sarasota seasons. He says: to pique our interest in politics while soothing our souls “This is what I want to do. Go to a place where opera is with the music we love. Politics in opera! created locally, at a high level, for an audience of patrons who feel the need to have live opera in their From the earliest days of opera, politics has provided town.” diverse contexts for both stories and music. Librettists address the political issues of their day while 10). Reading. Marco is currently reading and enjoying Thomas Mann’s Buddenbrooks, a 1901 novel that composers give us motifs foreshadowing battles, chronicles the decline of a wealthy north German political distress, death at enemies’ hands, and merchant family over the course of four generations. occasionally for resolution, peace, and everlasting love. He has also been rereading several classics over the Though there are far too many operas with political summer. themes to mention them all, selections from a short list will provide listening pleasure as we wind down from a And finally, I asked Maestro DeRenzi about Marco. controversial and contentious election season. Maestro’s enthusiastic response was "I’m very happy to have Marco as our new Artistic Administrator. He brings Several operas that are frequently performed have with him a long history with Sarasota Opera. Marco is political aspects. Mozart’s , committed to opera as well as to how we produce Verdi’s , and Puccini’s Tosca are so beloved opera in Sarasota. I look forward to continuing our that they immediately come to mind. Other operas collegial relationship for years to come." that we hear less often deserve mention for they cover I am also excited about nearly four centuries and are set all over the world. Marco Nisticò joining the Here is our list of recommended listening, arranged Sarasota Opera family. And I chronologically. am excited about having you meet him at an upcoming 1. Agrippina (, 1709). Guild meeting as soon as we In this 300-year-old opera, Nero’s mother plots to can get together again. replace Emperor Claudius with her son. Agrippina was I miss you folks. performed this year at The , was shown in theaters as a Met Live in HD selection, and Syble DiGirolamo ended its run on March 7, 2020, just before COVID-19 darkened Lincoln Center.

2. Don Carlo (Guiseppe Verdi, 1867).

A century and a half after Agrippina premiered ’s Don Carlo began its interesting production history. Originally five acts set to a French libretto, this opera was originally destined for the 1867 World Exposition in Paris. Verdi reworked it in Italian, and it premiered in 1867. A second revision appeared their visas. In a notable scene the mother, Magda in 1872, and it was followed in 1884 by the four act Sorel, sings “Papers, Papers,” exuding her frustration “Milan version” that was officially approved by the with a process that is broken. This was Menotti’s first composer. It is said that the opera still exists in seven full length opera; he was both composer and librettist, different versions! Don Carlo, set in 16th century Spain, and The Consul won him the Pulitzer Prize. It cannot has two streams of intrigue: there is a background be appreciated outside the context of the post-World political struggle to liberate the oppressed people of War II political environment. Flanders and to have peace between France and Spain. Looking back in history, we have more than a half- The second is the complicated situation where the King dozen operas set in the period of the French is married to Elisabeth, the woman that his son loves. Revolution. In addition to Umberto Giordano’s Andrea This opera has many beautiful , several duets, and Chènier, there are , Dialogues of the quartets, so regardless of the version you see, Don Carmelites, and Ghosts of Versailles, all 20th century Carlo is at its best. works. It should be noted that many of Verdi’s operas, 5. Billy Budd (Benjamin Britten, 1951). including those based on Shakespeare’s works, have political themes or undertones. Verdi himself was Based on Herman Melville’s novel of the same title, involved in political matters: he was known to be in Billy Budd is set at sea during the French Revolutionary favor of Italian unification, and served, briefly, as an War. In this English language opera old Captain Vere elected official. He was appointed to the Italian Senate looks back at his time with an innocent and loyal sailor, although he was said to have attended rarely. There is Billy Budd. Others on the ship believed Billy to be a some evidence that he had been convinced to “lend troublemaker who might incite mutiny, a prevalent his name” in the political arena at the request of the problem for the navy in revolutionary times. They tried Count of Cavour, a leader of the unification movement. to provoke him to prove their point, but for a while Billy resisted. Finally, when accused in front of Captain Vere, 3. Boris Godunov (Modest Mussorgsky, 1874). he struck out and killed his accuser, Master-at-Arms Although this is the most frequently recorded of all Claggart. For this, Billy is hanged. The old captain Russian operas, it is not one that we often hear. Like considers his role in the incident involving what is right Don Carlo, Boris Godunov is an opera of many versions and wrong under political pressure of the times. This and a complicated production history. It is based on an opera is notable for its all-male cast. 1825 work by Alexander Pushkin, and involves Boris 6. Dialogues of the Carmelites (Francis Godunov’s becoming czar, his murder of Dimitri Poulenc, 1957). Ivanovich, next in line as czar and nephew of Ivan the Terrible, and his subsequent seven-year reign Poulenc was both composer and librettist for this, his (1598-1605). He comes to an unhappy death and the second opera, that premiered in 1957. Written in last music we hear is “Flow, flow bitter tears,” French, the opera has been performed in Italian and foreshadowing the “Time of Troubles.” This opera has English as well. Dialogues tells the story of martyred been described as having themes of “power lust” and Carmelite nuns who were guillotined for their refusal to an accompanying “illusion of success,” the essences of renounce their faith and vocation during the Reign of political intrigue. Terror. At the opera’s ending, where a line of sisters steps up to the guillotine, an eerie “Salve Regina” 4. The Consul (Gian Carlo Menotti, 1950). diminishes in volume as the nun’s are executed one by Taking place in an unnamed eastern European one. Here is a community standing against political totalitarian state, The Consul provides a straightforward power in favor of the spiritual authority. depiction of the frustration of dealing with government bureaucracy. The wheels of officialdom turn painfully slowly as a family attempts, unsuccessfully, to obtain 7. Ghosts of Versailles (, 1983). controversy ensued when the Met scheduled a Live in HD showing of their 2014 production. Met general John Corigliano’s Ghosts of Versailles was manager allowed the live performances to commissioned for the 100th anniversary of The go on but cancelled the movie theatre engagements in Metropolitan Opera but it did not premier until 1991. HD. The opera, with political content to start, The two-act English language work has been called, by continued to stir political controversy in its production the composer, a “grand ” since it is a history. massive production with all the comedy and silly features of the genre. With an opera within the opera Perhaps events of 2020 will provide material for operas and characters from Beaumarchais works like Figaro, yet to be composed. Current politics, the COVID-19 Susanna, and Beaumarchais himself wooing Marie pandemic, environmental issues, and worldwide Antoinette, The Ghosts of Versailles both celebrates responses to these things will surely come to opera and makes fun of opera. The characters, as the title houses across the globe. Meanwhile we listen from suggests, are all ghosts, and ’s home. beheading is a central focus from which the characters To test your knowledge of politics in opera, take an from other operas try to save her. The “They are entertaining quiz at https://operawire.com/opera-quiz- always with me” provides the queen’s sad recollection how-are-politics-leaders-portrayed-in-opera/ of the past. This is at once a hilarious commentary on opera and culture, and a sad remembrance of the To read more about politics in opera, see Anthony French Revolution. Alabaster’s Viva la Libertá: Politics in Opera (Verso, 1992) and the more recent The Politics of Opera: A 8. Nixon in China (John Adams, 1987) History from Monteverdi to Mozart by Mitchell Cohen Nixon‘s opening of China is the setup for this John (2017). Adams opera. review said “John Adams’s opera is concerned not so much with the who- Manatee Opera Guild Membership Form said-and-did-what of the historical event in question – Nixon’s diplomatic visit to the People’s Republic in 1972 Dues are $40 for single, $50 for single sustaining, $60 for couples, and $70 for couples sustaining. – but with the very idea of how history is created.” Synthesizers, saxophones, and modern musical styles Checks should be made out to MOG and sent to were additions that were not universally welcomed by Jeanne Yeagle, 1700 3rd Avenue W, Apt 111, critics who gave mixed reviews of the premiere at Bradenton, FL 34205. Houston Grand Opera. Now, after three decades of Name:______performance in Canada, Europe, and the US, reviews have turned to recognize the contribution of Nixon in Address:______China to American opera. Phone:______9. Death of Klinghoffer (John Adams, 1991) Cell This opera was another collaboration with John Adams Phone:______and librettist Alice Goodman. Like Adams’ and Email:______Goodman’s Nixon in China, this opera recounts contemporary news, this time it is the story of wheel Tributes chair bound Leon Klinghoffer’s death in 1985 at the hands of terrorists from the Palestine Liberation Front Tributes in any amount (check made out to MOG) on the Italian passenger ship Achille Lauro. The opera may be sent to Sheila Varady, 2015 32nd Avenue W, was controversial from the start, with charges of anti- Apt 226, Bradenton, FL 34205. Phone: 729-1680, Semitism and glorification of terrorism, both of which email: [email protected] were denied by the composer and librettist. Later