Table of CONTENTS 04 Board of Directors 21 Chorus 05 From the Board Chairman 22 The Picture of Giving 07 Welcome from The General 24 Leadership Giving Director & President 28 Annual Giving 09 La bohème 33 Planned Giving 11 Cast 34 Administration 12 Synopsis 35 Up Next: The Love for 14 Program Note Three Oranges 16 Artists 36 2019-2020 Season 20 Orchestra 37 O19 Davide Livermore’s production of Puccini’s La bohème returns to the Academy of Music for the first time since 2012. Photo by Kelly & Massa. Onstage Publications, Advertising: 937-424-0529 | 866-503-1966, [email protected] | onstagepublications.com This program is published in association with Onstage Publications, 1612 Prossser Avenue, Kettering, OH 45409. This program may not be reproduced in whole or in part without written permission from the publisher. JBI Publishing is a division of Onstage Publications, Inc. Contents © 2019. All rights reserved. Printed in the U.S.A. 3 Board of DIRECTORS OFFICERS Peter Leone Chairman of the Board Charles C. Freyer Vice Chair Caroline J. MacKenzie Kennedy Vice Chair Dr. Eugene E. Stark, Jr. Secretary Thomas Mahoney Treasurer David B. Devan* President MEMBERS Benjamin Alexander Sandra K. Baldino Willo Carey Katherine Christiano Don Cooney Ady L. Djerassi, M.D. Carol S. Eicher Mikael Eliasen Allen R. Freedman Charles C. Freyer Alexander Hankin Frederick P. Huff Caroline J. MacKenzie Kennedy Beverly Lange, M.D. Peter Leone Thomas Mahoney Sarah Marshall Daniel K. Meyer, M.D. Immediate Past Chairman Agnes Mulroney Carolyn Horn Seidle Jonathan H. Sprogell Dr. Eugene E. Stark, Jr. Barbara Augusta Teichert Maria Trafton Donna Wechsler Kelley Wolfington HONORARY Dennis Alter MEMBERS H.F. (Gerry) Lenfest † Stephen A. Madva, Esq. Chairman Emeritus Alan B. Miller *Ex officio Alice W. Strine, Esq. † Deceased 4 Charlotte Watts List as of April 2019 From the BOARD OF DIRECTORS Dear Friends, I want to brag on Opera Philadelphia’s upcoming 2019-2020 season. But first, let me acknowledge the debts our production of La bohème owes to other Philadelphia cultural institutions and to the people who make them run. This production of La bohème, which originated here in 2012 and has since been presented in five different cities in the United States and Europe, evokes the Paris of 1896 using paintings that, when Puccini composed the opera, were regarded as beyond avant-garde. Because Dr. Albert Barnes and other Philadelphia collectors were early adopters of impressionism and post-impressionism, and because the staffs of the Philadelphia Museum of Art and the Barnes Foundation, then led by Timothy Rub (PMA) and Derek Gillman (Barnes), worked hard to obtain for Opera Philadelphia the rights to use images of the works, many of the images featured in the production come from those two museums. As we revisit the production, we salute Mr. Rub and PMA’s Board Chair, Leslie Anne Miller; Executive Director Thom Collins of the Barnes and Joseph Neubauer, its Chair; along with the many others who drive these organizations forward. Bryan Hymel, Rodolfo in the 2012 production, and 2012 cast member Jeremy Milner trained at Philadelphia’s Academy of Vocal Arts—as did Vanessa Vasquez, our 2019 Mimì. Evan LeRoy Johnson, our Rodolfo this time, and Ashley Marie Robillard (Musetta) trained at the Curtis Institute of Music. They could do that because of AVA founder Helen Corning Warden and Curtis founder Mary Louise Curtis Bok, and because teachers and administrators grew and sustained these world-renowned voice programs. Thanks to President K. James McDowell and Music Director Christofer Macatsoris at AVA and its chair Rick Pitcairn, President & CEO Roberto Díaz at Curtis, and Curtis Board Chair Mark Rubenstein. My heartfelt congratulations go to Mikael Eliasen, who, after leading Curtis’ vocal studies program for so many years, is taking on increased responsibility as an artistic adviser to Opera Philadelphia. As Danielle Orlando and Eric Owens take over from Mikael, and as Bryan Hymel settles into his role as AVA Vice President, we look forward to seeing many more representatives of these schools on our stages. Finally, we’re sitting in the Academy of Music thanks to the leadership of President & CEO Anne Ewers and Kimmel Center Board Chair Teresa Bryce Bazemore, who were supporters of this season’s Festival O18 and continue to be tremendous partners. All those kudos leave only a little room to highlight Opera Philadelphia’s 2019-2020 season, which is Maestro Corrado Rovaris’ twentieth with the company. So, I will direct you to pages 35-37 of this program, where our upcoming season is detailed. Of course all of this—the extraordinary season that comes to an end with La bohème and the can’t-wait-for-it season that starts in September—is designed and built by Opera Philadelphia’s own inimitable staff and is brought to you by our many donors, without whom our stage would go dark. I hope you will join them and me in supporting your opera company, and I thank you for your continued enthusiasm and patronage of Opera Philadelphia. Peter Leone Chairman 5 6 From the GENERAL DIRECTOR Dear Friends, It is so fitting to conclude this momentous 2018-2019 Season with a beloved revival of Puccini’s La bohème. The artistic leadership at Opera Philadelphia, featuring myself and Jack Mulroney Music Director Corrado Rovaris along with Vice President of Artistic Operations David Levy, Artistic Administrator Michael Eberhard, New Works Administrator Sarah Williams, and artistic advisors Mikael Eliasen and Lawrence Brownlee, have a great love and respect for the operatic canon. At this time last season, we all gathered for a new production of Bizet’s Carmen that brought a fresh vitality to the Academy stage through director Paul Curran’s vision and an important company debut of tenor Evan LeRoy Johnson as Don José. That excitement for “the classics” is again evident in Davide Livermore’s production of La bohème, which first graced our stage in 2012 and has since enjoyed an international tour and become a staple of the Palau de les Arts “Reina Sofía” in Valencia, Spain. The incredible collections from the Barnes Foundation and the Philadelphia Museum of Art provide a rich patina that combines with the lush melodies of Puccini to create new interactions with both art forms. Evan is back with us as Rodolfo opposite the marvelous soprano Vanessa Vasquez in her company debut as Mimì. While the set and costume designs show off the treasured artworks of the museums, these two talented young singers show off two other Philadelphia institutions, the Curtis Institute of Music (where Evan trained) and the Academy of Vocal Arts, where Vanessa recently completed a four- year residency. They are joined by an amazing cast of singers including Troy Cook as Marcello, Opera Philadelphia Emerging Artist Ashley Marie Robillard as Musetta, Will Liverman as Schaunard and Peixin Chen as Colline, and Kevin Burdette in the roles of of Benoit and Alcindoro. It is truly an honor to bring these artists together with the creative talents of the Opera Philadelphia Orchestra and Chorus and the Philadelphia Boys and Girls Choirs, in a production that celebrates this incredible art form and our city. Thank all of you for joining us for this performance and for your continued support of opera in Philadelphia. David B. Devan General Director & President @DDEVAN 7 LA BOHÈME Production of the Palau de les Arts “Reina Sofía” in Valencia, Spain, in 2012 Music / Giacomo Puccini Libretto / Luigi Illica and Giuseppe Giacosa Conductor / Corrado Rovaris Director / Davide Livermore Revival Director / Alessandra Premoli* Set & Costume Design / Davide Livermore Lighting Design / Drew Billiau Original Costume Design / Palau de les Arts Audiovisual / D-Wok Chorus Master / Elizabeth Braden Wig &Make-up Design / David Zimmerman Stage Manager / Lisa Anderson *Opera Philadelphia debut Opera at the Academy is underwritten, in part, by Judy and Peter Leone THE ANNUAL NUMBER OF HEART ATTACKS COULD TAKE YOUR BREATH AWAY. SO COULD JUST ONE HEART ATTACK. Shortness of breath and difficulty breathing are just two warning signs of a heart attack. Call 911 if you experience any warning sign. Learn the other signs at americanheart.org or call us at 1-800-AHA-USA1. © 2002, American Heart Association. 10 CAST Rodolfo / Evan LeRoy Johnson Mimí / Vanessa Vasquez* Marcello / Troy Cook Musetta / Ashley Marie Robillard Schaunard / Will Liverman Colline / Peixin Chen Benoit & Alcindoro / Kevin Burdette Parpignol / Toffer Mihalka Customs House Officer / Jackson Williams Sergeant / Matthew Fleisher Prune Man / George Somerville Child / Chase Shatzman* *Opera Philadelphia debut La bohème SYNOPSIS Act I together. He tells her about himself In a Latin Quarter garret on and his dreams and Mimì replies Christmas Eve, Rodolfo, a poet, with the story of her own modest and Marcello, a painter, burn pages life as a seamstress. The two realize from Rodolfo’s latest manuscript their love for one another and leave to stay warm. Soon they are joined to join his friends. by Colline, a philosopher, and Schaunard, a musician, who brings Pause (6 minutes) food and money earned from his recent brief employment. Their Act II landlord, Benoit, knocks on the door Rodolfo introduces Mimì to his asking for the overdue rent. They friends at the Café Momus and they invite him in for a drink and, made all sit down to dinner. Marcello’s garrulous by the wine, Benoit boasts former girlfriend, Musetta, of his many conquests. The four appears with the wealthy and friends feign indignation over the older Alcindoro. Despite Musetta’s exploits of a married man and throw and Marcello’s attempt to appear him out. indifferent to each other’s presence, it is plain that they are not. In order Marcello, Colline, and Schaunard to gain his attention, Musetta sings leave for Café Momus, while a song boasting about her popularity.