DETROIT OPERA HOUSE • HOME OF MIC~ PERA TH'AT~ October 23~31, 2004 November 13-21, 2004 Copyright 2010, Michigan Opera Theatre No one can guarantee su ccess . But knowin g ho w to rehears e for it certain Iy helps . With over 250 relationship managers dedicated to one-on -one se rvice, a full array of the latest financial products, and an emphasis on helping local businesses succeed, the Standard Federal Commercial Banking team makes sure your needs are always front and center. For more information, call 1-248-822-5402 or visit standardfederalbank.com . True Possibility. Standard Federal Bank ABN AMRO standardfederalbank.com © 2003 Standard Federal Ban k NA Copyright 2010, Michigan Opera Theatre OHROIT OP£RA HOUSE . HOME Of tillC"''' .. N OPI.A flt(UR( 2004 The Official Magazine of the Detroit Opera House BRAVO IS A MICHIGAN OPERA THEATRE P UBLICATION Fall C ONTRIBUTORS Dr. David DiChiera Laura Wyss Karen VanderKloot DiChiera Season John Willett Michigan Opera Theatre Staff WELCOME Dave Blackburn, Editor Letter from David DiCh iera .... ..... .. ... .. .. ... 2 PUBLI SH ER Live Publishing Company ON STAGE Frank Cucciarre, Design and Art Direction Blink Concept &: Design, Inc. Production THE N ATIONAL BALLET OF CANADA .. ... .... ... 5 Chuck Rosenberg, Copy Editor The Four Seasons .......... .. ...... .. ........ ... .. 6 Toby Faber, Director of Advertising Sales The Firebird . .. .. ... .... .. .. ..... .. .. ... .. .... 6 Physicians' service provided by Henry Ford Medical Center. RIGOLETTO .... ... .. ... .. .. .. .. .... ... 9 Setting ...... ... .. ... ... ... .. ... .. .. 10 Pepsi-Cola is the official soft drink and juice Q &: A with Mario Corradi . .. .. ... 12 provider for the Detroit Opera House. Cadillac Coffee is the official coffee of the FAUST ....... ... .. ... ... 15 Detroit Opera House Setting .... .... .... ... ..... .. ... .. 16 Steinway is the official piano of the Detroit A Devil of a Faust .. .. ........... ....... .. ........ 18 Opera House and Michigan Opera Theatre. Steinway pianos are provided by Hammel Music, exclusive representative for Steinway and Sons in Michigan. ARTIST PROFILES .. ..... .... ...... .. .. .. .... 20 President Tuxedo is the official provider of formal wear for the Detroit Opera House. MICHIGAN OPERA THEATRE Michigan Opera Theatre is a nonprofit cultural Michigan Opera Theatre Orchestra . ......... .. .. ... 22 organization, whose activities are supported in part by the Michigan Council for Arts and Chorus . .. .. .. 22 Cultural Affairs, the National Endowment for Administration and Staff. ....... .. ..... .. ... .. 23 the Arts, and other individuals, corporations Board of Directors and Trustees ...... .. ..... ... .. 24 and foundations. Michigan Opera Theatre is an Equal Opportunity Employer. CONTRIBUTORS Avanti Society . ........ .. .. .......... ........ .. 25 New Century Fund . .... .. .. .. .. ... .. ... .. .. 27 Michigan Opera Theatre Contributors ...... ... .. .. .... .. 27 MICHIGAN OPERA THEATRE City of Detroit Volunteers . .. ..... .. .... 32 Cultural Affairs Department \9J Community Programs . ... ...... ........ .. 32 «arts and.,_"~ culfural affai rs Barbara Gibson Young Artist Apprentice Program .... ... 34 General Information .. ...... .. .... ... .. ... .. 35 Made possible with the support of the Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs, a partner agency of the National Endowment for the Arts Copyright www.Mi2010,c higanOpMichiganera.org Opera Theatre BRAVO 3 Renew your passion Welcome to Michigan Opera Theatre~ Fall Opera Season! Dear Friends, Department, under the directi on of On behalf of Michigan Opera Theatre, Karen DiChiera, and better serve the it is my great pleasure to welcome you to needs of our "Learning at the Opera the Detroit Opera House. We hope that House" program. The Ford Center for you have enjoyed your summer, and Arts and Learning will contain: the look forward to sharing with you another DaimlerChrysler Theatre, an experimen­ extraordinary season of world-class opera tal, black-box performance space for inti­ and dance. mate presentations; The Margo V Cohen Center for Dance, which will serve as the In the summer months the Detroit nerve center for all dance related educa­ Opera House, once again, bustled with tional activities at the Detroit Opera the award-winning Learning at the Opera House; the David and Marion House program and a variety of youth­ Handleman Studio, a high-technology based programs, including American media studio deSigned for inter-active Ballet Theatre's summer dance intensive, classroom programming and long dis­ which was attended by students from tance learning; the Lee and Floy Barthel around the nation. Costume Shop, a state-of-the-art costume The past few months have also allowed shop and classroom space; the Allesee us to continue the ongoing restoration of and ornamental trees and streetlights. Dance &: Opera Resource library, which the Detroit Opera House. Specifically, will house an extensive collection of We, having just completed our you will notice major enhancements in music scores, tapes, records, CD's , books, Crowning Achievement campaign, will the auditorium. Restoration artists were videos and reference materials; and a embark on two extraordinary projects busy all summer repairing plaster, apply­ much-needed street level retail space, that will serve not only as improvements ing decorative paint to the back of the which will feature boutique items, gifts, to our neighborhood, but will provide house and applying historically accurate libretti and much more. our community with invaluable resources wallpaper in the balcony. I hope you will and convenience. Of course, it is through the successful take a moment to revel in the exquisite completion of The Crowning FollOwing the run of "The Nutcracker" beauty and warm, rich glow of our beau­ Achievement campaign that we have in December we will close the Opera tiful auditorium. been able to undertake these monumen­ House Garage on Broadway. This outdat­ The 1996 opening of our Opera House tal projects. I join everyone at Michigan ed garage has simply outlived its lifespan. became the catalyst for the revitalization Opera Theatre in extending my deepest Demolition will begin in December, and of the sports and entertainment district gratitude to the many generous individu­ in its place will emerge a state-of-the-art that surrounds Grand Circus Park and als, corporations and foundations that garage with better access, improved exits, Harmony Park. We are inordinately have committed their support to our wider parking spaces, brighter lighting proud of our role in the development of vision and made this dream-more than and updated elevators. Entrances and this area and enjoy the success of the 30 years in the making-a reality exits will be on Grand River and John R new businesses, restaurants and stadi­ Streets, rather than Broadway. Thank you, and enjoy the perfor­ ums. With the transformation of mance! Madison Avenue well underway, we now I am espeCially proud of the fact that tum our focus to Broadway. As you may we will also begin construction this fall have noticed, the City of Detroit has on the Ford Center for Arts and Learning in the six-story tower on the Broadway undertaken major streetscape improve­ David DiChiera Street side of the Detroit Opera House. ments on the Broadway Street side of the Founder and General Director This exciting project will allow us to Detroit Opera House, which include Michigan Opera Theatre wider sidewalks, new curbs and gutters expand the Community Programs 4 BRAVO Copyright 2010,www.Mic MichiganhiganOpera.org Opera Theatre Detroit Opera House Copyright 2010, Michigan Opera Theatre I I THE BEST INVESTMENTS often have nothing to do with money. PRIVATE CLIENT GROUP Stock indexes and asset allocations are one thing. But in the end, what really matters are the investments we make in the lives of those around us. At the Private Client Group, we help people manage, grow and preserve their weal th . So they can provide for those they care about most. We offer expertise in trust, investment management, estate administration and philanthropic endeavors; providing insightful strategies that help you achieve your goals. Take sixty minutes to learn about us . It could be one of the best investments you'll ever make. Call AI Kantra at 248-901-2098. National City. 10200.:1, National Citv Clllpcration:.>; Copyright 2010, Michigan Opera Theatre DAIMLERCHRYSLER Production Sponsor Detroit Opera House Copyright 2010,www. MiMichiganchiganOpera Opera.org Theatre BRAVO 7 ON STAGE The National Ballet of Canada THE FOUR SEASONS THE FIREBIRD Choreography ... .. ... James Kudelka Choreography ... ... .............. ....... James Kudelka Conductor . ... ... ....... ........... .. ................... Ormsby Wilkins Conductor ...................... Ormsby Wilkins Music ....... ....... Antonio Vivaldi, The Four Seasons Music ......... ........ ... .. .. Igor Stravinsky, The Firebird Costume Design .... .... TRAC COSTUME: Carmen Alie and Reduced orchestration by Henning Brauel based on the 1945 version . Used by arrangement with European American Music Distributors Denis Lavoie LLC, sole U.S. and Canadian agent for Schott Musik International, Lighting Design .. ..... David Finn publisher and copyright owner. Projections and Scenic Effects .... ... ..... .... Chris Wise Set and Costume Design ......... .... .. .., .... .... .. ... Santo Loquasto Violin Soloist ...... ....... .............. ............ ..... ..... Fujiko Imajishi Lighting Design. ..............