90683_Boheme:B 1/18/10 1:31 PM Page 1 By Giacomo Puccini February 26, 28, & March 2, 2010 Always NEAL S. BLAISDELL CONCERT HALL HAWAII OPERA T HEATRE 091224_Aria_Ad_Flanders.pdf 1/4/2010 2:40:01 PM Timeless design with a New Cast C M Y CM MY CY CMY K philpotts.net 808 523 6771 90683_Boheme:B 1/13/10 12:07 PM Page 3 HOT Founders Alexander & Baldwin Mr. & Mrs. John V. Higgins Mrs. Ruth Ballard Bruce & Pegge Hopper Bank of Hawaii Mrs. Cecily F. Johnston Mr. & Mrs. Robert E. Black Dr. Arthur & Libbie Kamisugi Mr. & Mrs. Robert Brilliande Mr. & Mrs. Peter A. Lee Anniversary Message Mr. & Mrs. Elliott H. Brilliant Galen & Didi Leong from the Board President Mr. & Mrs. Robert B. Bunn Dr. & Mrs. Michael J. Meagher Cades, Schutte, Fleming & Wright Mr. & Mrs. T. Clifford Melim, Jr. by Jim McCoy Mr. & Mrs. J. Russell Cades Mr. & Mrs. James F. Morgan Mr. & Mrs. Donn W. Carlsmith Mr. & Mrs. Arthur Murray Dr. & Mrs. Percival Chee Dr. & Mrs. Nobuyuki Nakasone It is my great pleasure to welcome you to Hawaii Opera Mr. & Mrs. Henry B. Clark, Jr. Mr. & Mrs. Edward A. O’Neill Theatre’s 50th Anniversary Season. It’s incredible to think Mr. & Mrs. Hal Connable Orthopedic Associates of Hawaii, Inc. that 50 years ago a fledgling opera company was gearing Mr. & Mrs. Conrad G. Conrad III Mrs. Arthur E. Orvis up for the first performance in its history, Madama Mr. & Mrs. Richard A. Cooke, Jr. Mr. & Mrs. Elmer Patman Butterfly at McKinley High School. A lot has changed Mr. & Mrs. James M. Cribley Dr. & Mrs. G. Manning Richards over these past five decades - a small company with a Cronin, Fried, Sekiya, Hale & Kekina James K. Schuler board that worked backstage and behind the scenes has Edward C. Dolbey Mr. & Mrs. Clarence R. Short given way to a fully professional company featuring some Ernst & Whinney Dr. & Mrs. Arthur Y. Sprague Mr. & Mrs. Edward Eu Dr. & Mrs. E.C. Sterling of the greatest voices of our time. Dr. & Mrs. John Henry Felix Kosta Stojanovich, M.D. Over 400 people work directly on the productions that Mrs. Gerald W. Fisher Mr. & Mrs. Clifton D. Terry you will see in this season. Many of those are paid Robert S. Flowers, M.D. Mrs. C. W. Trexler Mr. & Mrs. James F. Gary Mr. & Mrs. Thurston Twigg-Smith professionals hailing from all areas of the globe… Mrs. L.A.R. Gaspar Dr. & Mrs. Kazuo Ugajin directors, conductors, designers, artists and musicians… Mr. & Mrs. Richard L. Griffith Mr. & Mrs. Charles R. Wichman all at the height of their craft. Another very large cadre of Mr. & Mrs. Ernest C. Hickson Juliet Rice Wichman this number will be made up of community volunteers, from the chorus and supernumeraries on the stage to the hospitality, wig and makeup, and security detail Tom and Gloria Huber backstage. HOT has a long tradition of volunteers filling Ray Galas key roles during the season activities and we believe it is Estate of Marguerite E. one of the greatest assets of the company. The sense of Gonsalves ohana that has come from this close-knit, committed Daniel and Jane Katayama group is truly extraordinary as well. Visiting artists often Anonymous Evelyn Lance call years in advance to be considered for a return trip to Steve and Linn Alber Estate of Mireille Leitich Estate of Ruth Ballard Tom and Natalie Mahoney the HOT stage… not only because they want to work Estate of Nancy Bannick Peter and Luanna McKenney with our world-class artists and musicians, but also Nanna Bradford Margaret Montgomery because HOT hospitality is legendary in the opera field. Dr. Roger and Felice Brault Estate of Leon J. Munson Robert & Patsy Bunn Marita L. Nelson, Ph.D. As we pass this milestone we believe our future is brighter Henry Clark Norma Nichols than ever. Many of you know we moved into new Estate of Conrad G. Conrad, III Joyce Quigley headquarters on Beretania Street this past spring. If you Michael Dabney Sarah Richards have not had a chance to see the newly minted Hawaii Luryier Diamond Jean E. Rolles Opera Plaza (HOP) and the opera offices, please drop by; Estate of Hope Doyle Major General Cecil A. Ryder, Jr. it’s a wonderful space. We also have plans to continue our Sally Edwards Stephen and Dana Wilson expansion at HOP with a new rehearsal hall that will be Suzanne Engel built on the roof of the existing parking structure. It’s an Legacy Society gifts help to secure the artistic and financial exciting new chapter as we embark upon our next 50 strength of Hawaii Opera Theatre for future generations. If opera years… and of course, all of these exciting projects and has been a part of your life, make it a part of your legacy. Ask productions could not take place without all of you, our your financial advisor about the significant tax benefits of including HOT in your estate plans. HOT staff can also patrons and donors. recommend confidential consultation with an estate planning We have always enjoyed great support from this expert who can answer your questions about planned giving. community and have worked hard to make sure that the Opera Legacy Society benefits include: dollars you graciously offer to support us are used wisely. • Exclusive Annual Legacy Society Brunch and other special We would not be here today without you, our volunteers programs and event invitations. • Recognition, with your approval, in the HOT annual report and and board, our artists and staff… and all of those who in season programs, Aria. played each of those roles before. For more information, contact Karen Tiller, Executive Director of Thank you all and enjoy this season’s performances! Hawaii Opera Theatre at 596-7372 x 201. LA BOHEME 3 90683_Boheme:B 1/18/10 1:31 PM Page 4 by Giacomo Puccini Presented in Italian with English Supertitles World Premiere: Turin, February 1, 1896 Performed by Hawaii Opera Theatre at Neal S. Blaisdell Concert Hall February 26, 28 and March 2, 2010 Conductor . .Mark D. Flint Director . .Karen Tiller Scenic Designer . .Ercole Sormani SPONSORS Lighting Designer . .Peter Dean Beck Production: Commercial Data Systems Scenery . .provided by the Seattle Opera Orchestra: The Cades Foundation Costumes . .provided by Malabar Limited Set Transportation: Horizon Lines Costumer . .Helen E. Rodgers Wig and Make-up Designer . .Richard Stead Costume Transportation: Air Canada Cargo Stage Manager . .Gretchen Mueller Supertitles: Alexander & Baldwin Coach/Rehearsal Pianist . .Beebe Freitas Foundation English Supertitles . .Matthew Lata Conductor: Physicians for Opera Costumes: AIA Architects for Opera CAST Meet the Stars Party: Louis Vuitton Mimi . .Olga Chernisheva Official Airline: Continental Airlines Roldolfo . .Derek Taylor Hotel Co-Sponsors: Aston Hotels & Resorts Musetta . .Evelyn Pollock Hawaii Prince Hotel Waikiki Marcello . .Etienne Dupuis Hospitality: Honolulu Club Schaunard . .Leon Williams Colline . .John Marcus Bindel Lanai Lectures: First Insurance Company Benoît/Alcindoro . .Laurence Paxton of Hawaii, Ltd. Parpignol . .Kaweo Kanoho* Season Rehearsal: ALTRES A Customs Sergeant . .Elika Santos* Wine: The Wine Stop Season Finale: Tod’s HOT CHORUS _ Chorus Co-Directors: Beebe Freitas & Nola A. Nahulu Chorus Coordinator: Moana Sanders Women Men Marlise Ahuna Ken Aronowitz Scelto Ensemble Natalie Capino* Dan Barnett Mia Aamodt Kaulana Kintz Karyn Castro Fred Cachola Elyse Chai Jordan Lee Lauren Kanoelani Chang Melvin K. Chang Haley Faringer Tiffany O’Neill Sarah Eggleston Richard Cheney Athena Iokepa Kaila Wang Becky Giles* Clayton Ching Taylor Ishida Caroyln Yee Phyllis Stahl Haines Dean Conching Jamie Kahalewai Carlynn Yoshina Bai He* Phil M. Hidalgo Mälia Kä’ai Barrett* Kaweo Kanoho* Jan Tamiko Kamiya Les Loo Blythe Kelsey Renson Madarang Supernumeraries Debbie Kelsey Käwika McGuire* Cathryn Masuda* Elika Santos* Beth E. Barry Gus Gustafson Patricia Pongasi-Goldson* Paul J. Schwind Robert Bessara Michael Riordan Moana Sanders Ryan Souza* Kalani Chong Larry Silverthorn Kristin Stone* Stelio Ed Chow Richard Trujillo Heidi K. Thomas Douglas K. Stiles Eliana Crestani Rico Tudor Robyn Toy Theo Voudouris* Chiho Villasenor* Larry J. Whitson Chris Walsh Chad Williams* Larry Wong *Mae Z. Orvis Opera Studio member 4 01_206,3x276,2_ee:p05 1/13/10 11:19 AM Page 1 Honolulu Ala Moana Center (808) 947-3789 Royal Hawaiian Center (808) 922-5780 Hermes.com WINTER AT LAST ! 90683_Boheme:B 1/13/10 12:12 PM Page 6 Director’s Notes by Karen Tiller One of the most popular operas in the repertoire, La Bohème is a wonderful treat for the novice as well as the most sophisticated opera patron. It is also always a delight to direct for all of the reasons that make it so beloved. The entire spectrum of emotions are on David & Verne Takagi display here…humor, passion, poignant loss… it makes us want salute the more. We want to turn the next page and see how these characters cope with all that we have experienced thus far. Hawaii Opera Theatre I would argue that La Bohème was the “Friends” of its time. The relationships are in its 50th season, painted with much humor and genuine warmth… The boisterous boys calling up to Rodolfo as he realizes his feelings for Mimi, the fire that grows within Marcello as he inspiring us with works watches Musetta behaving badly, the stark and painful conversation Rodolfo has with of the highest caliber Marcello about Mimî’s illness, Colline’s gift of his beloved coat… The beauty of this opera and helping to make is that it all seems heartfelt, honest, real. Our Bohemians become people through the poetry of music and word and we don’t want the story to end. Honolulu the There are only two moments where I feel a bit pushed into belief- certainly the artistic center instantaneous attraction between Rodolfo and Mimi is believable, but undying love in ten minutes or less? Of course, opera fans are asked for much more suspension of disbelief in of the Pacific.