Copyright 2010, Michigan Opera Theatre Copyright 2010, Michigan Opera Theatre Oakland University College of Arts and Sciences The Official Magazine of the Detroit Opera House Michigan Opera Theatre's 2000-2001 Season is lovingly dedicated to the memory of Lynn A. Townsend and Robert E. Dewar BRAVO IS A MICHIGAN OPERA THEATRE PUBLICATION Dr. David DiChiera, General Director Laura Wyss, Editor Kristen L. Shank, Associate Editor CONTRIBUTORS. Charlene Baldridge Pascal Blanchet R~berto Mauro Michigan 9pera Theatre Staff PUBLISHER Live Publishing Company Frank Cucciarre, Design and Art Direction Chuck Rosenberg, Copy Editor Toby Faber, Director of Advertising Sales ON THE COVER Celebrating 30 years of great performances. Photos courtesy of Michigan Opera Theatre. Design by Frank Cucciarre, Blink Concept &. Design. Michigan Opera Theatre would like to thank Harmony House Records for donating season recordings and videos. Michigan Opera Theatre's 2000-2001 subscription and single tickets have been graciously sponsored by Hunter House, Harmonie Park. Physicians' service provided by Henry Ford Medical Center. Pepsi-Cola is the offi cial soft drink and juice provider for the Detroit Opera House. Starbucks Coffee is the oJ[icial coffee of the Detroit Opera House. Steinway is the official piano of the Detroit Opera House and Michigan Opera Theatre. Steinway pianos are provided by Hammel Music, exclusive representative for Steinway and Sons in Michigan. President Tuxedo is the official provider of formal wear for the Detroit Opera House. Michigan Opera Theatre is a nonprofit cultural organizatiOn whose activities are supported in part by the Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs, the National Endowment for the Arts, and other individuals, corporations and foundations. Michigan Opera Theatre is an Equal Opportunity Employer. ~ City of Detroit www,otus,oakland,edu/mtd Cultural Affairs ;t ', j~ett ~m~;i L Department Detroit Opera House Copyright 2010,www.MichiganOpeTa.oTg Michigan Opera Theatre BRAVO 3 MICHIGAN 2001 Spri g eason MESSAGE From the General Director .. .... .. ... ........ ... 7 IN MEMORIAM Lynn A. Townsend &: Robert E. Dewar ........ ..... .. .. 8 Jane Leszynski Walker Easton &: Clara Knudsen VanderKloot . 9 30TH ANNIVERSARY....... .... .... ... ...... 10 ON STAGE La Traviata. 13 Story of La Traviata ....... .... .. .... .... ... .... .. 14 Falstaff. .. .. .. ... .. .. .... .... ... .. 21 Story of Falstaff . ..... ... .. .. .. ... ... .. 22 The Tal es of Hoffmann . ..... ..... .... 29 Story of The Tales of Hoffmann . ... ... ... ................. 30 The Joffrey Ballet of Chicago . .. ..... .. .. .... 38 ORCHESTRA Michigan Opera Theatre Orchestra and Chorus . .... .. .. 36 MICI-IIGAN OPERA THEATRE Board of Directors and Trustees .. .. .. .. ....... 40 OUTREACH & EDUCATION Community Programs .. ... .. ... .. ... .... .. .. .. ... 44 CONTRIBUTORS Avanti Society . .... .. ... .. ...... 46 New Century Fund . .. ... ... .. .. ... ... .. ...... 48 Named Gifts .................. .. ... .. .. .. .. 49 Michigan Opera Theatre Contributors . .. ... .. ....... ... 50 MICHIGAN OPERA THEATRE Administration and Staff.' . ... ... .. .... .. ... .. .. 53 General Information .. .. .. .. ....... ... ... .... 54 4 BRAVO Copyright 2010,www.MichiganOp Michiganera.org Opera Theatre Detroit Opera House -------- Flagstar Bank is a proud partner with Classical Music Detroit. com Copyright 2010, Michigan Opera Theatre Our cars are not the only things that can really move you. DaimlerChrysler salutes Michigan Opera Theatre for bringing thirty years of memorable and moving performances. Join us in celebrating the 30th gala anniversary season at one of Metro Detroit's premiere cultural resources. DAIMLERCHRYSLER www.daim le rchrys ler.com Copyright 2010, Michigan Opera Theatre I MESSAGE Michigan Opera Theatre !Celebrating Thirty Years It is my great pleasure to welcome you Corporation for sponsoring our spring to Michigan Opera Theatre's Thirtieth opera season and to DaimlerChrysler Anniversary Spring Season. Fund for making possible the 2000-2001 Nostalgia is a wonderful thing. As you DaimlerChrysler Dance Series, continuing view pages 10 and 11 in this book, I the solid and longtime support Michigan hope that the names of the artists and Opera Theatre has received over the past productions bring back a flood of those thirty years from the major automotive bUf!1ished memories of unforgettable corporations in the Detroit area. Our emotional heights. Regardless of how long thanks also to Hudsons, which is soon to become Marshall Field's, for sponsoring you have b~en attending Michigan Opera Theatre performances, you .should feel a our production of La Traviata. great sense of pride in this Companys Michigan Opera Theatre has thrived accomplishments. " during its three decades due to the g enthusiasm, talent and support of many, It is true, Michigan Opera Theatre has, ~ in relative terms, quickly risen to rank many people. I am extremely proud of <:; our accomplishments to date and look among the top ten opera companies o in the nation. The triumphs we have f forward with renewed excitement to the achieved together are certainly a point the Armenian national opera Anoush, challenges that lie ahead. You will be of pride and warrant warm reflection. which received its American premiere on hearing much in the coming months However, the continued success of this the Michigan Opera Theatre stage in about our future plans. Meanwhile, I Company is greatly due to our ability 1982. Next, we will present two works thank you for being a part of this very to look forward. new to our repertoire, Verdi's dramatic special anniversary season and for Otello and Leo Delibes' enchanting Lahme, continuing to provide the love, support An important part of the maturation which has never before been seen in and enthusiasm that have allowed process for any opera company of nation­ Detroit. Michigan Opera Theatre to reach this al and international repute is the combi­ very significant milestone. Your presence Still to come, however, is a most excit­ nation of mounting new works and intro­ next season in this theater will ensure ing spring season, which begins Saturday, ducing new repertoire to its audiences. many more anniversaries to come. We hope you will enjoy the voyage of April 2l-a date that coincides preCisely exploration into the lar-ger body of superb with the fifth anniversary of the grand It is truly a speCial occasion to share opera works not yet seen on the Michigan opening of the Detroit Opera House.That with you our thirtieth season. Opera Theatre stage. Our next season, night, we will continue our year-long commemoration of the 100th anniversary which we recently announced, is certainly Enjoy the performance! proof of our commitment to artistic of the death of Giuseppe Verdi with La growth. In 2001-2002, we will present Traviata , one of his most famous operas. our most challenging and, we hope, That will be followed in May with fascinating season to date. First, the Falstaff, Verdi's final opera The spring Company will mount new productions of season concludes ·in June with The Tales of three beloved favorites: Carmen, starring Hoffmann by Jacques Offenbach. David DiChiera Detroits own Irina Mishura; Mozarts I wish to extend my most sincere Founder and General Director incomparable The Maniage of Figaro; and appreciation to General Motors Michigan Opera Theatre Detroit Opera House Copyright 2010,WW\v.Mic Michiganhi ganOpera.org Opera Theatre BRAVO 7 IN MEMORIAM ROBERTE."DEWAR 1923-2000 While Michigan Opera Theatre marks its 30th season since the On September 7, 2000, Michigan Opera Theatre was deeply sad­ launching of its first season in 1971 , the activities of the preceding dened by the passing of Robert (Bob) E. Dewar, Chairman of the Board decade provided the foundation for the establishment of the Opera of Directors and TlUstees. Company Like Lynn and Ruth Townsend, Robert and Nancy tlUly loved opera In 1963, the Detroit Grand Opera Association invited David and joined the Michigan Opera Theatre Board of TlUstees in 1973, two DiChiera, then a newly anived professor of music at Oakland years after the Company was founded. He joined the Board of Directors University, to take over an educational initiative called "Overture to in 1975 . In 1980, when Lynn Townsend stepped down, there was no Opera." He quickly expanded the program to fully produced scenes doubt in anyone's mind that Robert Dewar was the logical successor. from the operas presented in Detroit by the Metropolitan Opera His love for opera, together with his stature in the community as Company Ruth Townsend, our Chairman of the Overture to Opera Chailman of the Board of Kmart and his community-wide esteem as a Committee, organized a network of volunteers representing each of man of integrity and commitment, made him the natural choice . the communities where the perfOlmances of Overture to Opera took David DiChiera talked about Mr. Dewar's contribution in his program place. Ruth's early leadership was nurtured further by her husband dedication from the Gala Opening of the Detroit Opera House (1996): Lynn ; CEO and Chainnan of Chrysler Corporation. Together "vith "How lucky we were that Bob was in the wings, ready to take up the their committee vol unteers, they dedicated themselves to the success mantle, and how lucky I have been - blessed by the continuity of his of Overture to Opera. leadership and unswerving loyalty to the vision of an opera company Ruth and Lynn also helped galvanize