Copyright 2010, Michigan Opera Theatre Copyright 2010, Michigan Opera Theatre CONTENTS Spring 2009 The Official Magazine WELCOME of the Detroit Opera House L ETTER FROM D AVID DICHIERA .......... .............................. ..... 4 BRAVO is a Michigan Opera Theatre publication. ON STAGE Rebekah Johnson, Editor Mitch Carter, Contributing Editor THE GRAND RAPIDS B ALLET: ALADDIN ................ .. ........ ...... ... 6 Contributors Mitch Carter AMERICAN BALLET THEATRE: R OMEO &: J ULIET ........................ 10 Ron Daniels Rebekah Johnson Steven Marlette THE MICHIGAN OPERA THEATRE CHILDREN'S CHORUS: Roberto Mauro BRUNDIBAR ................ .. ........................ ......... .... .. .. ..... ... 14 Publisher Echo Publications, Inc. THE ELIXIR OF L OVE .... ... ... .. .. .. .......... .. .............. .. ... ... .. 18 Royal Oak, Michigan www.echopublications.com F EATURE STORY : D ONIZETTI AND HIS MIRACLE "ELIXIR" ... .. ..... .......... 20 Tom Putters, president Toby Faber, Advertising Sales Director CARMEN ... .. ... .. ..... .. ..... ... .... .. ... .. ... ..... ............................ 22 Physicians' services provided by fEATURE STORY: A N OTE ON C ARMEN FROM DIRECTOR RON D AN IELS ... 24 Henry Ford Medical Center. Pepsi-Cola is the official so ft drink and juice provider of the Detroit Opera House. MICHIGAN OPERA THEATRE Cadillac Coffee is the official coffee of Artist Profiles .................................... .. ........ ..... ....... .. ... .... .. .. .. ....... 26 the Detroit Opera House. Chorus and Orchestra ..... .... .. ...... .. .. ............................................. 3S Steinway is the official piano of the Education at the Detroit Opera House: Community Detroit Opera House and Michigan Programs and Learning at the Opera House, Dance Education ..... 30 Opera Theatre. Steinway pianos are provided by Hammell Music, exclusive Family Album ..... .......... .. ................ .. ..... .. ...... .. ... .. .. ... ... .... .... .. .. ... 34 representative for Steinway and Sons in Michigan. Board of Directors and Trustees ..... ......... .. ......................... .... ....... 32 President Tuxedo is the official provider of formalwear for the Detroit Administration and Staff. ... .... ...... .. ... .. .... .... ..... ............... ... ... .. .... .. 33 Opera House. Eclipse Creative is the official media CONTRIBUTORS production company of the Detroit Opera House. Avanti Society ........................ .... .. ........................ .. .............. ......... 36 Michigan Opera Theatre is a nonprofit Campaign to Restore the Detroit Opera House ............. ... ............. 37 cultural organization, whose activities are supported in part by the Michigan Michigan Opera Theatre Contributors ...... .................................... 39 Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs, the Endow Your Gift &: Build the MOT Endowment Fund ......... ........ 46 National Endowment fo r the Arts, and other individuals, corporations and foundations. Michigan Opera Theatre is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Volunteer Information .............. ........... .... ... ..... .... ..... ................ .... 4S General Information ............. ....... ..... ...... ..... ..... ... ............. .. ... .... ... 47 ~NATIONAL • ",ich'gm, "''''''.;//''. ENDOWMENT ~ m,mdw/wm/'ff';" FOR THE ARTS A great nation deserves great art. Copyright 2010, Michigan Opera Theatre Detroit Opera House www.MichiganOpera.org BRAVO 3 " Greetings, dear friends, and welcome to Michigan Opera Theatre's 2009 spring season of opera and dance. As we begin this season , let me take One tenor making his this opportunity to thank the countless exciting MOT debut in the individuals who make up the Michigan role of poor and dutiful Opera Theatre family for your generosity. Nemorino is Stephen Whether you have made a donation, Costello, who performed the purchased a ticket for a performance, role of Christian in Cyrano participated in our community outreach with Opera Company of programs, parked in our garage, or Philadelphia. volunteered your time on our behalf, I Our 2008-09 "Casualties want you to know how deeply of Love" season closes with appreciative I am for your support. the return of Carmen to the Despite the challenging economic Detroit Opera House, an climate, we have assembled a season of encore production last world -class opera and dance presentations presented in 2001. An opera that is among the best we have yet offered. classic in every sense of the Our spring season opens with two very word, Carmen is an audience different but equally charming dance favorite for the fiery and productions. On February 28th, the passionate musical score Grand Rapids Ballet Company will present Aladdin which includes "Habanera" and the "Toreador Song." in the neighboring company's third trip to Detroit over The seductive gypsy Carmen will be performed the past three years. The Detroit Opera House is pleased alternately by Kate Aldrich, who performed the role in to present this charming, comical, and magical 2001, and Kendall Gladen, a talented, fresh young production that the entire family can enjoy. And, after a artist in the opera world. The role of Don Jose will be two year hiatus, American Ballet Theatre also returns performed by alternately by Roger Honeywell and in March for their renowned production of Romeo and William Joyner, who will be making his MOT debut. Juliet, a ballet staple performed by an American national As you might imagine, the current economic treasure. An audience favorite performed by ABT since climate has brought about unprecedented challenges 1985, Romeo and Juliet embodies everything that is for the entire cultural community, and Michigan Opera moving and beautiful about a live ballet performance. Theatre is no exception. And, while we have weathered After less than two years in existence, the Michigan economic slowdowns before, this one has really hit Opera Theatre Children's Chorus has grown into a home, especially for so many of our friends and patrons. 50-member group of talented boys and girls. After Our organization, as have the other fine non-profit arts a very successful operatic debut with last year's The organizations in our community, has experienced the Maker of Illusions , the MOTCC has undertaken opera same challenges of downSizing, while maintaining the on an even larger scale this year, mounting Brundibar, world-class standards of opera and dance that you an opera written by Jewish Czech composer Hans Krasa are accustomed to experiencing at The Detroit Opera with libretto by Adolf Hoffmeister. Performed with a House. live orchestra, Brundibar will be performed entirely by Michigan Opera Theatre has been a part of the MOTCC on the Detroit Opera House main stage Michigan's cultural legacy for nearly 40 years, and with professional sets and costumes. As part of our we'd like to remain a viable part of this community commitment to support the efforts of the MOTCC, you and your lives. Please keep Michigan Opera Theatre in will find the program notes for that opera in this very mind for your charitable, tax deductible gifts. No gift program book. is too small - and you can be reassured that every Our spring 2009 opera season is a tribute to opera dollar will be utilized wisely for main stage productions classics that withstand the test of time. First, our spring that you are accustomed to attending, along with our opera season opens with an all-new production of the award winning learning series and community outreach lighthearted Donizetti comedy The Elixir of Love. programs, which we have been prodUCing for audiences Set in Napa Valley prior to World War I, the scenery throughout the state for nearly 40 years. and costumes are a refreshing slice of Americana. Again, thank you for joining us for this exciting Both returning to Michigan Opera Theatre after their season of opera and dance, and enjoy the performance! highly-antiCipated debuts last season, Ailyn Perez and Amanda Squitieri will alternate in the role of Adina. 4 BRAVO Copyright 2010,www.MichiganOpera.org Michigan Opera Theatre Detroit Opera House Copyright 2010, Michigan Opera Theatre Copyright 2010, Michigan Opera Theatre ALADDIN THE CAST SYNOPSIS Aladdin ... .................... .... .........................Alexey Kulpin Act I Jasmine ............... ... ... .... ... .... ... .. .. .... ... .... ... Dawnell Dryja The ballet opens with the Sultan and his daughter Jasmine Genie ...... .... .......................................... Stephen Sanford having a quarrel over whom she is to marry. Not satisfied with Jafar ............................ .... .. ..... ... ... .............. Arion Tanabe the choices her father makes for her, Jasmine decides to escape Sultan ........................................ Gordon Peirce Schmidt from the palace and explore the market, a place she has not Act I been allowed to visit before. Jasmine's Attendants ................................. Katie Brown, At the market Aladdin, a young thief, is stealing his break­ Briana Dean, Oksana Maslova fast from the shopkeepers. Keeping the palace guards busy is Guards ............................................... Anton Kandaurov, a daily JOY for Aladdin and he quickly outsmarts them. While David Schultz, Nicholas Schultz playing this game Aladdin sees a beautiful new face at the market and becomes friends with her. Caught up in their new Market Women ........................................ Chelsea Clow, friendship they don't see the guards sneaking up on them and Kateryna