2017-2018 season at a glance · 2017-2018 season at a glance by melysa rogen ... generous...
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Austin Opera Guild Fall 2017
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2017-2018SEASONATAGLANCEbyMelysaRogen
AustinOpera’s2017-2018Seasonisfilledwiththrillingopera,infamousheroinesandfabulousperformers!Joinusforthreeof themost celebratedoperas in the repertorywhereworld-classartistswillcometogetherwiththetalentedAustinitesthatmake up Austin Opera’s chorus and orchestra in order toprovideanoperaticexperiencecompletelyuniquetoAustin.
The Season begins with a gritty and seductive new take onBizet’s Carmen, starring the stunning mezzo-soprano SandraPiques Eddy. Piques Eddy has been praised for her “dark,sensuous mezzo and charming stage presence” (Opera
Magazine).Thissizzlinghotproductionplacestheclassicstoryoflove,betrayal,andultimatelydeath,in1970.JoiningPiquesEddyonstageistenor,ChadShelton,asDonJosé,thenaïvesoldierwhosuccumbstoCarmen’sadvancestoatragicend.BaritoneNormanGarrettwillstormthestageinhisAustinOperadebutastheToreador.
InJanuary,theOperacontinuestheirsalutetostrongwomenasdueling sopranos Alexandra LoBianco and Jeni Houser retellRichard Strauss’ Ariadne auf Naxos in a whimsical newproduction conceived by Glimmerglass Festival Director,FrancescaZambello.JointheAustinOperaastheytellthestoryofawealthymanwhoassemblestwogroupsofperformersinhis home – a group of opera singers preparing for a seriousopera and a troupe of comedians scheduled to perform anItaliancomedy.Astimegrowsshort, thepatrondemandstheopera and the comedy be performed together, leading to anarrayofunexpected–andultimatelyverysatisfying–results.
Season31closeswithaclassicproductionofVerdi’smostheart-wrenching tale, La traviata, starring Marina Costa-Jackson.Costa-Jackson,whotookfirstplacein2015intheMetropolitanOpera’sNationalCouncilAuditions,willtakethestageinAustinforthefirsttimeasViolettaValéry-acourtesanwhofallsinlovewith the handsome Alfredo. As often happens in opera, theirhappinesscannotlast.
These carefully curated ensembles featuring company debuts,roledebuts,andreturnengagementshavebecomeahallmarkof
RichardBuckley’s13-year tenureatAustinOpera.AstheSarahandErnestButlerArtisticDirectorandPrincipalConductorhehasearnedareputationforidentifyingsomeofthefield’sfinestsingersearlyonintheircareers,providingcareerforgingopportunitiesalongsideexperiencedandestablishedstars.
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NORMANGARRETTBRINGSHISTEAXS-SIZEBARITONETOCARMENbyMichaelSolomon
Texas-bornbaritoneNormanGarrettmakeshisAustinOperadebutinCarmenas Escamillo, the magnetic bullfighter whose charisma instantly captivatesCarmenandwhosepassionultimatelyleadstohertragicdownfall.
EscamilloisbecomingasignatureroleforGarrett,whohasperformedtheroleatWolfTrapOpera,atOperaColumbus,andinhisnativeLubbock.
“Ilovesingingthisrole,”hetellsTheLibretto.“Nootherroleinoperahashiskind of instant impact.When I makemy entrance, charging into the roomsingingthefamous‘ToreadorSong,’theaudienceknowseverythingaboutme.AndhopefullyIseducethem,alongwithCarmen!”
Garrett,whohasbeenprofiledinOperaNewsasarisingstar,beganhiscareeratTexasTechUniversity,wherehemajoredinvocalperformance,followedby
study at the University of Cincinnati’s College-Conservatory of Music (CCM) and in the young-artistprogramsatTheGlimmerglassFestivalandWashingtonNationalOpera.HiscareerhastakenhimasfarastheprestigiousWexfordFestivalinIreland,wherehestarredinthetitleroleinFrederickDelius‘srarelyperformedoperaKoangatothunderousinternationalacclaim.
Butdespitehisglobaltravels,hisheartremainsinhishomestate.“AustinismyfavoritecityinTexas,”hesays.“IhavealotoffamilyinAustin,andAustinwasalwaysavacationspotforuswhenIwasgrowingup.I’m really looking forward to comingbackonmyown termsandexploring. This time I’ll bring a littleEscamillotothescene.”
So,itseemsthatAustinOperaaudiencesshouldlookoutforthatNormanGarrettswaggerbothonandoffthestage.
10/8 NewMemberParty Melanson-NokonahPartyRoom10/21 KickOffParty John&CorneliaWood11/1 Carmen Enrichment CurbyConoley11/11 Carmen OpeningNightDinner KodoskyLounge12/2 HolidayParty Roger&MaryEllenBorgelt1/17 AriadneaufNaxos EnrichmentEvent Hugh&CathyCollins1/27 AriadneaufNaxos OpeningNightDinner KodoskyLounge2/17 SerenataWineDinnerandAuction FairmontHotelAustin4/18 Latraviata EnrichmentEvent Steve&PollyBarbaro4/28 Latraviata OpeningNightDinner KodoskyLounge5/20 SpringAwardsParty Stuart&PaulaDamore
GuildCalendar2017-2018
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JEANETTEANDFERRISNASSOUR–ALASTINGLEGACYbyAngieBonnici
JeanetteandFerrisNassourweredevotedtomakingAustinamorevibrantcitythroughtheirsupportofthearts.Aslong-timeAustinresidentsandfoundingmembersofAustinLyricOpera,theNassoursweregeneroussupporters,sponsoringmanyproductionsovertheyearsanddevotingtheirtimeandtalentsasmembersoftheAustinLyricOperaGuild.
OneofJeanette’sgreatestcontributionstoAustinwasherexceptionaleyeforbeautifulthings–makinghertheperfectpartyplanner.Overtheyears,withherdearestfriendEllenKing,SheservedasCo-VPofspecialeventsfortheGuild,co-chairingnumerousSeasonOpeningNightDinners,theOperaBall,andtheDivas,Dinners&Diversionsseries.ShealsoparticipatedinAnnualFundphonathons,GuildmembershipdrivesandthePresident’sCouncilcommitteeactivities.Ferris,inhiskindandgentleway,wasalwaysbyherside,lendingsupportandencouragement.
Appreciativeofhervolunteerefforts,theGuildpresentedJeanettea1992BravoAwardforherservicesasoutstandingGuildmemberoftheyear.ShealsoreceivedaPartnersinExcellenceAwardfromOperaGuild’s International in 1998, which is presented to outstanding guild members in opera companiesthroughoutthecountry.
Jeanette and Ferris Nassour’s support during their lifetime helpedmake Austin Opera the successfulcompanyitistoday.AustinOperaisextremelyhumbledthattheNassourschosetoleavethecompanytheylovedalastinglegacythroughanincredibleestategiftofover$1.7milliondollars,thelargestgiftever received in the company’s history. This unrestricted donationwill enable AustinOpera to fundinnovationandexpansioninourprogrammingscopeoverthenextseveralseasons.
It is the Austin Opera’s privilege to dedicate the 2017-2018 Season to the Nassours, and because ofJeanette’s love of entertaining, to permanently name the pre-opera dinners The Jeanette NassourOpeningNightDinnerSeries.
You can earn donations for Austin Opera when you shop at Amazon.com. Simply go tosmile.amazon.comanduseyourAmazonlog-in.Onceyoulog-in,selectAustinOperaasthecharityyouwanttosupportand0.5%ofyourtotalwillgotoAustinOperaasadonation.There’snodifferenceinshoppingatsmile.amazon.comversusamazon.comandthereisnoadditionalcosttoyou!
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SERENATA2018:SAVETHEDATE!byDianaFerguson
The2017-2018Seasonisabouttoopen,andtheWineDinnercommitteeisalreadyhardatworkpreparingforthisseason’smajorfundraiser,ourannualSerenataWineDinnerandAuction,aneventthatcouldeasilynetAustinOperamorethan$250,000.
Thisyear’seventwillbeheldonSaturday,February17,atthefabulous,newFairmontHotelAustinwhichboastsaballroomlargeenoughtoaccommodatemoregueststhanwe’vebeenabletoseatatpastevents.
Thisyear’sthemeisLibiamo!thefamousdrinkingsongfromLatraviata,thisyear’sthirdopera.ThelookwillbeItalian,sleek,andlinear,withicebluebeingthethemecolor.So,Ladies,beginlookingforyourdressnow!
HonoreeswillbeourownWendiKushner(PastChairmanoftheAustinOperaBoard)andhusbandBrian,whohavecontributedsomuchtoAustinOperaandourcommunity.
Wehopeyou’llwanttoparticipateinhelpingmakethisyear’seventastunningsuccess.Weneedalotofwillinghandstohelpcollectauctionitems,prepareinvitationsformailing,decorate/cleanup,andworkthefloorthenightoftheevent.Truly,thereissomethingforeveryGuildmembertodo.PleasecontacteitherMarilynDavisorCarolLogantofindouthowyoucanhelpmakethisyear’seventasmashingsuccess.
And,wehopeyou’llmakeacontributiontoAustinOperabyattending.Therewillbesomethingforeveryonetoenjoy:gourmetdinnerwithexcitingwinepairingsbyTwinLiquors,theliveandsilentauctions,entertainmentandastunningvenuefewAustiniteshaveseenyet.ItwillbeaneveningbefittingAustinOpera.Please,getthisonyourcalendarandjoinus!
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HEROESHAILEDATGUILDPARTYbyLissaAnderson
TheAustinOperaGuildclosedoutthe30thAnniversarySeasonwithalovelypartyonMay21atthegorgeoushomeofPollyandSteveBarbaro.Theparty’shighlightwas thepresentationofawards to outstanding Guild members. Lissa acknowledged the list had been considerablywhittleddownfrompreviousyears,butthatdidn’tmeanthecontributionsofmany,manyothervolunteersarenotappreciated,becausetheyare.
Totheawards:LissacharacterizedtherecipientsofCertificatesofAppreciationasatriumvirateofparty-givingorthepartypossebecausetheydon’tmessaround;theyjustgetitdone.
• MaryLenznotonlyorganizesthebuffet,butshe’llmeetyouatthedoorwithtapeandSharpie tomake sure your name is on the bottomof your dish. She helpswheneverthere’saneed.
• SueHoke isanotherbuffetbosswhocansolvewhatevercrisisoccurs.Yearafteryear,she’stheretomakesureoureventsrunsmoothly.
• EricBrennerisalwaysavailabletotendbarandtohelpinotherways—whetherthat’sintheboxofficeorelsewhere.
• CathyCollinswaspraisedfortakingcareofallthepartydetailsthathadpreviouslykeptLissaawakeat3:00AM.Shealsoco-chairedthesilentauctionforSerenata.
• LarryBjorkmanhaulschairsacrosstown,washesglasses,anddeliverswhateverneedstobesomeplaceelse.Larryalsocontributestothebestartists’welcomebagsinthebusinessandmakingsureallthevisitingartistsareshuttledaboutefficiently.
ThePresident’sSpecialRecognitionawardwenttoKatharineShields.LissadescribedhowshefirstmetKatharinealmost20yearsagowhenshecametoherclassroomandbroughtoperatosomeextremelyrough-edgedstudents.SincethenshehasbeenGuildPresidentandanadvisor.ShehasfulfilledanimportantroleinguidingthediscussionsatourEnrichmentevents—providingcontext,connections,andvaluableinsights.SheevenhadthechutzpahtoarguewithGarnettBruceaboutwhetherPinkertonactuallylovedButterfly!
TheBravoAwardwenttoDianaFerguson.LissaintroducedtheBravoAwardbystatingthatthemost important thing we do is bring music, specifically opera, to thousands of area schoolchildrenandsomeoftheirparents—manyofwhomhadneverattendedaconcertofclassicalmusic,muchlessanopera,intheirlives.Thisseason,thanksinlargeparttoDiana’sskillsandtalents, we have expanded that outreach dramatically and into new communities, includingSpanish-speaking parents. Diana also writes and edits for the Libretto, serves as an operaambassador,andvolunteersatthewinedinner.
Finally,theGinaDuclouxawardwenttoSuzanneBreitbach.CindyStonedescribedthepersonwhodeservessuchasignificantaward--someonewhoisalwaysanenthusiasticsupporteroftheopera,whobringsnewpeople intotheoperacommunity,whohascontributedinmanywaysover theyears,andwhorepresents theoperacommunitywith styleandgrace.SuzannewasunabletoattendthepartybutreceivedhercrownandscepterattheBoard’stransitionmeetingonJune4.
Congratulationstoalltheawardwinners!Yourcontributionsaredeeplyappreciated.
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VOLUNTEEROPPORTUNITIESWITHGUILDbyMackLindsey
Lookingtovolunteer?That’swhattheGuildisherefor,andwevalueyourhelpinmanydifferentways!Doyouhaveexpertise,creativity,orjustalittletime?Wehaveneedsthatinvolveactivitywithgroups,athome,attheOperaoffice,inthecommunity,andatevents,evenoperaperformances.Andweneedyourhelpinseveraldifferentfunctionalareas.Forthese,checkoutaustinopera.org/guild/volunteer.
Tolearnmoreaboutanyoftheseopportunities,ortofindoutaboutupcomingneeds,[email protected]@gmail.org.
EDUCATIONALOUTREACHNEEDSYOU!byPaulaDamoreandDianaFerguson
ThescopeofwhatEducationalOutreach(EO)doesisexpanding.And,weneedeverymemberwhohasanyinterestinhelpingAustinOperareachouttotheAustincommunitytobuildawareness.
UnderthecapablehandsofDebraErck,DirectorofEducation,EOnowhandles4needs,3ofthemnew:
Ongoingneed:
Docentsforpresentationsinschools.Foreachpresentation,weneedateamoftwo:
Presenter(weneedonebilingualperson,please)
Support person toman the PowerPoint presentation and assist thepresenter
Teamsmustbeavailableduringnormal schoolhours&beadeptatworkingwithkids.
Newneeds:
Ambassadors forAccessOpera,Masterclassevents, andanyother similarevent.Mostlyeveningandweekendwork.Beabletomeetandgreetattendeeswithease.
Caretakers of Austin Opera ‘s “Treasure Chests” (travel-trunk sized chests filled with materials forteacherstouseintheclassroom)TwohoursmonthlyintheAustinOperaofficesduringregularhours.Inventory&replenisheachchest.
EducatorAppreciation.WorkwithDebratodevelopaprogramtorecognize&thankteacherswhohavebroughtstudentstoAccessOpera.Threetimesyearly(aftereachopera)intheAustinOperaofficesduringregularhours.Goodwritingskillsespeciallyneeded.
IfyouwishtohelpAustinOperareachsuccessfully intothecommunity,pleasejoinus. ContacteitherPaulaDamoreorDianaFergusonandletthemknowhowyou’dliketohelpAustinOperagainaudienceshare.
Want toknowmore aboutanupcomingopera? Takea lookat theEducation sectionofAustinOpera’snewwebsitetoseethematerialsDebraErckiscreatingforeachopera.Theyrunthegamutfrombeginnertoadvancedlevels.Carmenisupnow,andthematerialsareespeciallystunning.Takealook!
Makeahabitofreviewingthissectionbeforeeveryproduction.Wethinkyou’llbegladyoudid!
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AUSTINOPERASTAFF–NEWFACESAROUNDTHEOFFICE
NathanDePoint joinedtheAustinOperastaffasDirectorofOperations inJanuary.HecametoAustinOperafromtheFortWorthOperaastheirDirectorofArtisticAdministration.HesupportstheGeneralDirectorandCEOandArtisticDirector,overseeingthecompanyoperations.
Melysa Rogen joined the Austin Opera staff as the Director of Marketing and Communications inFebruary. She came toAustin from the FortWaynePhilharmonic in FortWayne, Indiana, holding thepositionofDirectorofMarketingandPR.Rogenoverseesallmarketingandcommunications.
JenniferDubinjoinedtheAustinOperastaffastheChiefDevelopmentOfficerinApril.DubinpreviouslyservedastheDirectorofIndividualGivingatOperaPhiladelphiaandhasnineyearsofexperienceinoperaadministration.SheoverseesAustinOpera’scontributedincomeoperations.
MichaelSolomonjoinedtheAustinOperastaffasDirectorofAudienceExperienceonSeptember.Thisisanewposition for theAustinOpera,dedicated toadvancing theoverall patronexperience forOperaattendees.SolomonpreviouslyworkedasSeniorPressRepresentativefortheJohnF.KennedyCenterforthePerformingArts,withhischiefclientbeingtheWashingtonNationalOpera,forwhomhemanagedpressforsixseasons.
LauraCarrisosajoinedtheAustinOperastaffasCommunicationsAssociateonSeptember.ShewillhandledaytodayoperationsofAustinOpera’ssocialmediaanddigitalcommunications,aswellasassistwithothermarketingandboxofficeneeds.CarrisosapreviouslyworkedforFacebookandMexic-ArteMuseum.
SharonSparlinjoinedtheAustinOperastaffasAnnualFundManagerinSeptember.SparlinwillhandleAustinOpera’sannualfundcampaignsandcollaborateinotherdevelopmentdepartmenteventsandtheoperations.ShepreviouslyworkedforCASAofTravisCountyandBatConservationInternational.
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LetterfromMarcyMelanson,GuildPresident2017-2018
DearfellowGuildmembers,prospectivemembers,andalloperalovers,
IamsolookingforwardtoourSeason31!Bizet’sCarmen,RichardStrauss’sAriadne auf Naxos and Guiseppe Verdi’s La traviata. We can all revel inanotherfabulousseason.
Guildmemberssharethebondofloveofopera,plusthedesiretoenrichitsmembership in learningmoreaboutoperaandencourageappreciationoftheartforminourcommunity.Weoffermanyandvariedexperiences—alldrivenbyvolunteereffort.Herearesomeexamples:
• Parties-TheGuildhoststhree-partieseachseasonforitsmembers,designedforgettingtoknowoneanotherandfosteringenthusiasmandfun.
• JeanetteNassourOpeningNightDinnerSeriesarebeautifulaffairsorganizedandexecutedbyaGuildcommittee.TheyraisefundsforAustinOperaandareoftensoldout.
• EnrichmentEvents-Eachoperaisprecededbyawonderfuleventhostedinamember’shome.Itis a discussion/interview with the Director to learn about and discuss facets of the opera.Volunteersco-ordinatefood,wine,andsetup.Itisagraciouswaytolearnabouttheup-comingproduction.
• SupportServiceVolunteerspickupoursingers/starsattheairport,welcomingthemintoAustinaswell as ourwarmopera family and provide gift bags of basic needs.We are told that ourwelcomebagsarethebestinthebusiness!
• EducationalOutreachProgramInconjunctionwiththeAustinOperastaff,wehaveaveryactiveprogramtointroducetheartformtochildren—bypresentinginschoolsandbybringingyoungpeopletoattendthedressrehearsalattheLongCenter.
• TheOperaAmbassadorprogramaddsalovelypersonaltouchtotheexperienceoftheevening.Guild members volunteer at each performance to welcome and engage opera-goers inconversation,answeranyquestions,andofferafriendlyexchange.
• Volunteer/staffliaison-organizevolunteersforAustinOperastaff,suchasstuffingenvelopes.
• Serenata,ourannualgala,isthepiècederésistancefortheAustinOperaGuild.Itisanelegantevening,featuringafour-coursedinnerwithwinepairings,intimateoperaperformance,andanirresistibleauctionofpremiumwinesandotherluxuryitems.ItisthebiggesteventthattheGuildputs on. There are lots of wonderful volunteer opportunities leading up to and during thisfabulous event. All this and more…. Wonderful support for Austin Opera and wonderfulenjoymentfortheGuildmembers.Iamlookingforwardtogettingtoknoweverymember.
Manythanks,MarcyMelanson