The Experience Will Move You! INDIANAPOLIS OPERA i '98-'99 Season Fl\OM THE All UfflC D IPvECTOP. Dear Friends: Welcome to Indianapolis Opera's 1998-1999 Season! We have several exciting opportunities for you as well as a few not so small Table of Contents challenges for us in the coming months. Board of Directors' Welcome 2 We begin with one of the great classics -- Rossini's The Executive Director's Message 5 Barber of Seville. This pro­ duction is one that is sure to Facility Information 7 delight and entertain the entire Indianapolis Opera Guild 8 family with its lovable characters, humorous libretto, and sparkling music. LO. Production History 11 Next we venture into the world of German Opera Entree 17 opera with our first-ever Wagner production, The Flying Dutchman. The visual and musical spectacle of this piece will make it a memorable LO. Education Outreach 19 event and one that you surely won't want to miss. Memorials and Honor Gifts 20 Our third offering of the season will be a delightful pair of comedies: Puccini's Gianni Schicchi, and a brand new piece, Michael Ching's Orchestra Roster 21 Buoso's Ghost. This double bill is bound to have you in stitches and humming tunes as you leave the theater. So, don't miss the opportunity "What to Talk About" 23 to see and hear one of the funniest pieces in all of opera, AND one of the first sequels! Verdi's Macbeth will conclude our season. This is the Upcoming Production 24 well known Shakespeare tale set to Verdi's glorious music. It is a truly fitting way to end an already exciting year of opera. The Cast 25 As always, you will hear many of your favorite artists from past The Composer 26 productions, as well as many exciting new performers. The Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra and the Indianapolis Chamber The Story 27 Orchestra will be joining me in the pit, and our wonderful Opera Chorus will be adding its usual strong support throughout the season. Acknowledgements 28 Artist Profiles 29 I am very excited about this year's productions, and hope that you will join me often to share in the excitement. There is something for Production Information 32 everyone; so make opera a regular event in your cultural and entertainment life! Thank you for coming. I hope that you enjoy this Annual Fund Drive 34 evening's performance. LO Individual Contributors 37 Sincerely, LO. Corporate Contributors 43 Index of Advertisers 48 'IUh (%nkA— 1998- I999 5EA50N l Jeffrey O. Lewis OAP.D OF VII\ECTOI\5 PRESIDENT Edmund Burke EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT Dear Friends of Indianapolis Opera: Nancy Thompson Welcome to the center of cultural excitement in Indianapolis this year VICE PRESIDENT — Qowes Memorial Hall and Indianapolis Opera! Our splendid " season of firsts" for 1998-99 will build on last season's remarkable financial Douglas L. Tillman and artistic successes. Four of the five operas we will perform on our main VICE PRESIDENT stage this year are Indianapolis premieres. The Flying Dutchman is our first Wagner opera, as well. Maestro James Caraher continues to expand Ralph G. Nowak our boundaries, just as in last season's triumphant production of The Rake's TREASURER Progress. John S. Hayford Among the "firsts" which mark this season's main stage are debut ASSISTANT TREASURER performances for IO favorites and internationally renowned stars: -Tim Noble's first performance as the famed Dutchman, -Bob Orth's first Gianni Schicchi & Buoso's Ghost, and Mark Chestnut -Nova Thomas' first Lady Macbeth portrayal. SECRETARY We are honored by their faith in us, in Maestro Caraher's leadership and in the discernment and enthusiasm of Indianapolis audiences. Margaret J. Bannister We are also honored by your faithful support of our endeavors, and Dean Barnhard we offer you our heartfelt appreciation and thanks. Michael Barth, Jr. James F. Bash Not only are we excited by this season's prospects, but by the future Jeffrey T. Bennett as well. Next season marks our participation in the international collaboration Robert L. Bowen of Hansel and Gretel, as seen through the eyes of artist and storyteller Victoria T. Broadie Maurice Sendak. We promise you that this will be a significant event Pamela Fanning Carter in the cultural life of our city, as well as a great deal of fun for the family. The following season, 2000-2001, is our 25th anniversary, and we plan to E. M. Cavalier make it a special year of growth, featuring expanded and exciting Elizabeth R. Dietz programming and celebrations. Phyllis C. Feigenbaum Richard E. Ford Indianapolis Opera has a clear vision of who we are and what we Carolyn Pugh Foust want our future to be. We strive to be a national model, both financially Mary DePrez Harris and artistically, for mid-size regional opera companies, and we are Scott Himsel beginning to succeed in this effort. This year's season demonstrates Caroline N. Hodowal our commitment to this task and the faith of the artists themselves in Susan Kleinman our future. Further evidence of this national recognition can be found in James A. Madura a significant "Next Stage" grant awarded by Opera America for our Norma Oman upcoming mainstage production of Buoso's Ghost and by the national recognition received from Opera America and others for our innovative Edith Owings MUSIC! WORDS! OPERA! program and our Education Director Patty Dorit S. Paul Harvey. Chris W. Pfeifle Deborah Roccaforte We have much to celebrate as we look backward and as we plan the J. A. Rosenfeld future. We have a clear vision and an achievable plan. We have a Bob St. Claire growing endowment, and the beginnings of a substantial operating John D. Termine, Ph.D. reserve. Our professional staff and our volunteer board are strong and Roberta Walton dedicated. We hope our excitement is Norma Winkler contagious to you, our audience. It's a great Joan W. Wolf time to be a part of our family. Join us, but remember to "buckle up"! HONORARY MEMBERS Sincerely, Patricia D. Curran Arnold C. Hanish Robert D. Knapp Bonnie A. Reilly Jeffrey O. Lewis Mary M. Sutherland President, Board of Directors Douglas P. Zipes 2 4> INDIANAPOLIS OPERA Historic Preservation WE BELIEVE Habitat for Humanity IN A DIFFERENT KIND OF CORPORATE CULTURE. Our corporate philosophy has always been to support the cultural life of our people and our community. To us, it's one of our most important policies. & INDIANAPOLIS LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY ___! WE HELP OUR MARKETING RESOURCES CLIENTS SELL! ~^5i3^*'^ _ And we do it so well that we are ranked # 1 iss. "• by the Indianapolis Business Journal! h 1/ & V..* V,*.N1,-" f iff _________^^*"^^^i__p8B9 tSu **'_ __P£ ~ r H ; - P-t L 3 R^ 2, SB YYl: lij.^tJiis. * Mndel/lnformatinn Center Signs i r* iTi * Amenity & Dire&ttonal Signs Uot Signs * Street Signs * Banners/Hags * Hail Boxes * Site Tables MARKETING RESOURCES * Address Plaques * Wall Mounted 30 Lagos 8641 E. 30th Street * Wall Mounted Displays Indianapolis, Indiana 46219 (317) 899-0099 800-893-3417 Fax: (317) 899-9168 www.essigns.com 65,000 SQ. FT. OF PRODUCTION FACILITIES MILT STEWART- PRESIDENT Welcome opera fans! INDIANAPOLIS OPERA Certainly a highlight of my first year as Executive Director came last fall when tenor Gran Wilson turned to a The Mission of Indianapolis Opera is to produce and present group of Indianapolis Opera opera in performances of the highest quality, and to develop supporters and said, "Tom audiences for opera, serving Indianapolis, the state of Indiana Rakewell is a very important and the region. role for my career. I am so lucky to be able to do it here first. To come to a safe place and take this risk means a lot. Our ultimate goal is to become one of the leading regional Having Jim Caraher in the pit and your hospitality make opera companies in the United States based on quality, this a wonderful, growing artistic experience!" consistency, and integrity. This aspiration will be achieved ... Stiavinsk/s The Rake's Progress was that for our company also! With a clearly articulated product vision, communicated to as It is no accident that this season renowned singers many constituents as possible; Timothy Noble, Nova Thomas and Robert Orth have all chosen to make debut performances in major roles with With a strong financial position, supported by a solid us. Nor is it an accident that a mid-sized opera company is organizational structure and a clear operating plan; able to put together solid ensembles with singers such as Arthur Woodley, Sheila Smith, Don Davis, Dianna Heldman and Thomas Potter. Artistic success is a tribute With a reputation as an outstanding arts organization to our artistic leadership, to our company and to our presenting performances of artistic excellence and community. programmatic variety on a year round basis, attracting national recognition and audiences from the city, state OPERA America, our national service organization, is and region. - giving special notice to Indianapolis Opera because of the unique manner in which we are approaching our With an expanded young artist program, embodied in educational mission. Our partnership with Butler the IO Ensemble, operating as a "second company" with University, through the dynamic MUSIC! WORDS! a high artistic profile, enabling IO to expand its audience OPERA! program, is unique in the opera world. Over 1,000 students and teachers in six middle and high base through an effective outreach program; schools will partner with us this season. The Indianapolis Opera Ensemble not only introduces more With an opera education program nationally recognized than 50,000 students a year to the art form, but is proving to as a leader in scope and innovation; be an excellent training ground for opera singers.