Media Release Embargoed for Release: Sunday, April 23, 2017 Contact: Edward Wilensky Phone: 619.232.7636 x248 [email protected]

San Diego Opera’s 2017-2018 Season 

The Pirates of Penzance Gilbert and Sullivan’s delightful comic opera about a duty-bound pirate coming of age October 14, 17, 20, and 22 (matinee), 2017 (San Diego Civic Theatre)

 As One Laura Kaminsky's exploration of transgender identity in an intimate chamber opera. November 10, 11, and 12 (matinee, 1PM), 2017 (The Joan B. Kroc Theatre)

 Maria de Buenos Aires Ástor Piazzolla’s sultry tango opera about seduction and redemption in the City of Buenos Aires. January 26, 27, and 28 (matinee), 2018 (Lyceum Theatre)

1



Turandot Puccini’s classic opera returns starring soprano Lise Lindstrom in the title role and the Company debuts of tenor Carl Tanner as Calàf and soprano Angel Joy Blue as Liù. February 24, 27, March 2, and 4 (matinee), 2018 (San Diego Civic Theatre) 

Florencia en el Amazonas Daniel Catán’s ode to the magical realism of Gabriel García Márquez about an opera singer returning home and trying to recapture her first true love. March 17, 20, 23, and 25 (matinee), 2018 (San Diego Civic Theatre)

“One Amazing Night” - René Barbera and Lise Lindstrom in Concert with the San Diego Symphony



May 5, 2018 (The Balboa Theatre) 

Full Season Subscriptions Starting at $189

San Diego, CA – Bold productions, timeless classics, and topical and relevant operas comprise San Diego Opera’s diverse 2017-2018 season. The Company will continue to present three main stage operas at the San Diego Civic Theatre and will expand the theaters it performs in for the dētour Series which premiered last year and is dedicated to exploring lesser known operas and works. The Company’s Main Stage season starts October 14, 2017 with The Pirates of Penzance and continues on February 18, 2018 with Turandot. The Main Stageseason will close after performances of Florencia en el Amazonas which opens March 17, 2018. The Company’s dētour Series will open on November 10, 2017 with As One at the the Joan B. Kroc Theatre. The series continues in the new year on January 26, 2018 at the Lyceum Theatre with Maria de Buenos Aires and closes with a special one-night-only

2

concert at the Balboa Theatre with tenor René Barbera and soprano Lise Lindstrom with the San Diego Symphony on Saturday May 5, 2018. San Diego Opera’s ongoing commitment to presenting the best singers in the world continues with the debuts of many important singers including tenor Carl Tanner, soprano Angel Joy Blue, bass Brian Kontes, soprano Elaine Alvarez, mezzo-soprano Audrey Babcock and mezzo-soprano Adriana Zabala. Returning singers include bassbaritone Greer Grimsely, soprano Lise Lindstrom, bass Patrick Carfizzi, and tenor René Barbera. Conductors for the season include Valerio Galli, Evan Rogister, and Bruce Stasyna in their house conducting debuts, and Joseph Mechavich in a return to the podium. Stage directors include Candice Evans and Kyle Lang in their Company directing debut, and the return of stage directors Seán Curran and Keturah Stickann. “This is the first season I’ve planned in its entirety as General Director of San Diego Opera,” shares David Bennett. “And in doing so, I believe I’ve programmed a season that builds on the Company’s traditions and embarks on a new chapter of discovery with exciting and relevant works. The Main Stage season opens with the Company’s first foray into operetta with Gilbert and Sullivan’s beloved and family-friendly Pirates of Penzance, featuring the return of local favorite Greer Grimsley in the role of the Pirate King. This time he will be joined by his real-life wife Luretta Bybee as Ruth and their daughter Emma Grimsley as Mabel, both performing in San Diego for the first time,” continues Bennett. “The season will move to a new theater, the Joan B. Kroc Theatre in the Rolando district of San Diego, for the first offering of our dētour Series: As One, an important new chamber opera that is being performed around the world that looks at the current issue of transgender identity with honesty, grace, humor and beautiful singing. The dētour Series continues with performances of Ástor Piazzolla’s tango opera Maria de Buenos Aires at the Lyceum Theatre. Maria tells a story of a woman who is seduced by the underworld of Buenos Aires where the boundaries of religion, dance and redemption blur with the pulse of tango. It’s an opera I’ve wanted to bring to San Diego since I came here and I am delighted to introduce it to local audiences. The Main Stage season continues with Puccini’s masterpiece Turandot, in a production that is totally new to local audiences. We’re happy to welcome the return of the world’s preeminent Turandot, Lise Lindstrom. She’ll be joined by tenor Carl Tanner as her Calàf and local soprano Angel Joy Blue as Liù in long anticipated Company debuts. The Main Stage season will conclude with a welcome return of the work of late MexicanAmerican composer Daniel Catán as we present Florencia en el Amazonas, his ode to the romance and magic realism of the great author Gabriel García Márquez. San Diego Opera was the first North American Company to present Catán’s work with his first opera, Rapaccini’s Daughter, so we are delighted to now present his most-performed opera,

3

filled with lush melodies reminiscent of Puccini, with an all-Spanish-speaking cast of incredible singers. The season ends with a special one-night-only concert of operatic favorites with soprano Lise Lindstrom and tenor René Barbera and members of the San Diego Symphony at the Balboa Theatre. With it, we honor old friends such as Ms. Lindstrom, and welcome back newer friends like Mr. Barbera who made his debut with us during our 50th Anniversary Celebration and returned in 2016 for his North American Recital debut.” The Main Stage season opens on Saturday, October 14, 2017 at 7 PM at the Civic Theatre with Gilbert and Sullivan’s comic opera The Pirates of Penzance which tells the story of a duty-bound pirate coming of age after a 21-year apprenticeship, or perhaps not, since he was born on leap day. The Pirates of Penzance features the return of San Diego Opera favorite bass-baritone Greer Grimsley as the Pirate King. He will be joined by his real-life wife, the mezzo-soprano Luretta Bybee, in her Company debut as Ruth. The two of them will be joined by their real-life daughter, soprano Emma Grimsley, also in her Company debut, as Mabel. Returning bass-baritone Patrick Carfizzi, last seen as Henry Kissinger in 2014’s Nixon in China, returns as Major-General Stanley. Stage Director Seán Curran returns to stage the production and conductor Evan Rogister makes his Company debut leading the orchestra. The Pirates of Penzance will be sung in English with English text projected above the stage. Additional performances are October 17, 20, and 22 (matinee), 2017. The season continues on Friday, November 10, 2017 at 7 PM at the Joan B. Kroc Theatre with Laura Kaminsky’s beautiful chamber opera, As One, as part of the dētour Series. This contemporary opera explores Hannah’s transgender identity using two voices – a baritone and a mezzo-soprano – as well as humor and empathy. The libretto follows Hannah’s youth and the challenges she faces growing up in a small town and her struggles with her family, to her discovery of a larger transgender community and the ultimate acceptance of her true self. Baritone Kelly Markgraf makes his Company debut in the role of Hannah Before. He is joined by mezzo-soprano Blythe Gaissert, also in a Company debut, in the role of Hannah after. Making his San Diego Opera directing debut is Kyle Lang and making his San Diego Opera conducting debut is Bruce Stasnya, the Company’s current Chorus Master. As One will be performed in English with English text above the stage. Additional performances are Saturday, November 11 and Sunday, November 12 (matinee), 2017. Please note: the matinee on Sunday, November 12 starts at 1 PM. San Diego Opera moves to the Lyceum Theatre for its second offering of the dētour Series of the season when it presents Ástor Piazzolla’s tango opera Maria de Buenos Aires which opens on Friday, January 26, 2018 at 7 PM. Maria de Buenos Aires tells the story of Maria, born in the slums “on a day when God was drunk.” Maria de Buenos Aires tells the story of Maria, born in the slums “on a day when God was drunk.” Seduced by the underworld of Buenos Aires and the music of tango, Maria’s physical and spiritual worlds unite in a surrealist blur as she searches for redemption.

4

Mezzo-soprano Audrey Babcock makes her Company debut as Maria and is joined by baritone Paul La Rosa, last seen as Enrique in 2015’s El Pasado Nunca se Termina, who returns as Payador. Making his Company stage director debut is John de los Santos who will bring his expertise of choreography to this tango influenced production. Maria de Buenos Aires will be performed in Spanish with English translations above the stage. Additional performances are Saturday, January 27 and Sunday, January 28 (matinee), 2018. The Company’s Main Stage season will continue on Saturday, February 24, 2018 at the Civic Theatre with Puccini’s Turandot. Turandot is tale of mystery, intrigue and ultimately the triumph of love set in Imperial China and marks the anticipated return of soprano Lise Lindstrom in her signature role as princess Turandot, a role performed here in 2011 and on all the world’s leading stages. Joining her in a Company debut is Carl Tanner as Calàf. Also joining the cast in Company debuts are mezzo-soprano Angel Joy Blue as Liù and bass Brian Kontes as Timur. Valerio Galli, recently named “Best Italian Conductor Under 40” by La Stampa newspaper, makes his Company conducting debut for these performances. Stage director Keturah Stickann stages the drama. Turandot will be sung in Italian with English translations above the stage. Additional performances are February 27, March 2, and March 4 (matinee), 2018. San Diego Opera is proud to present the Company premiere of Daniel Catán’s Florencia en el Amazonas on Saturday, March 17, 2018 as the final opera of the Main Stageseason at the San Diego Civic Theatre. San Diego Opera was an early supporter of Mr. Catán, producing his opera Rappacini’s Daughter in 1994, making it the first Mexican opera produced by a professional opera company. These performances here in San Diego led Houston Grand Opera to commission Florencia en las Amazonas, an ode to magic realism that follows an opera singer’s return to her home town. As she journeys on the Amazon, she hopes to be reacquainted with her true love who has since vanished. An all-Spanish speaking cast brings this opera to life and marks a series of important Company debuts including soprano Elaine Alvarez as Florencia Grimaldi, soprano Maria Fernanda Castillo as Rosalba, mezzo-soprano Adriana Zabala as Paula, and baritone Luis Alejandro Orozco as Riolobo. Tenor Daniel Montenegro makes his welcome return as Arcadio, last seen as Luis in 2015’s El Pasado Nunca se Termina. Conductor Joseph Mechavich makes his return to the podium for these performances that are directed by Candace Evans in her house debut. Florencia en el Amazonas will be sung in Spanish with English translations above the stage. Additional performances are March 20, 23, and 25 (matinee), 2018. The 2017-2018 Season comes to a close with a special one-night-only celebration concert called “One Amazing Night” on Saturday, May 5, 2018 at the Balboa Theatre with soprano Lise Lindstrom and tenor René Barbera as they perform a selection of opera favorites and romantic duets with the San Diego Symphony. “While this season we branch out to new neighborhoods through performances and outreach efforts, it is equally important that we offer our performances at prices the community can afford,” adds David Bennett. “That is why there will be no price increase

5

this season, with tickets as low as $25 for the dētour Series and $38 for our Main Stageoperas. This means an entire season of five operas and a concert can be seen for as little as $189.” Only subscriptions to the 2017-2018 season are now on sale. A subscription for the three Main Stageoperas begins at a low $114. A subscription for the three dētour Series events start at $75. Subscriptions start at $189 for a full series including the three Main Stageoperas (The Pirates of Penzance, Turandot, and Florencia en el Amazonas), and the dētour Series (As One, Maria de Buenos Aires, and René Barbera and Lise Lindstrom in concert). Single tickets will go on sale later in the summer. Casts and repertoire are subject to change. Senior citizen discounts of 15% are available to the Main Stage series on Tuesday and Friday subscription packages. Senior citizen discounts of 15% are available to the dētour Series on Saturday subscription packages. Military discounts (active and retired) of 50% are available to the Main Stage series on Tuesday and Friday subscription packages. Military discounts of 50% are available to the dētour Series on Saturday subscription packages. Pre-production artwork is available online at: https://sandiegoopera.smugmug.com/SanDiego-Opera-20172018-Preproduction-Artwork/ Purchasing Tickets Only subscriptions to the 2017-2018 season are now on sale. A subscription for the three Main Stageoperas begins at a low $114. A subscription for the three dētour Series events starts at $75. Subscriptions start at $189 for a full series including the three Main Stageoperas and the dētour Series operas and concert. Single tickets will go on sale in the summer. Casts and repertoire are subject to change. Senior citizen discounts of 15% are available to the Main Stage series on Tuesday and Friday subscription packages. Senior citizen discounts of 15% are available to the dētour Series on Saturday subscription packages. Military discounts (active and retired) of 50% are available to the Main Stage series on Tuesday and Friday subscription packages. Military discounts of 50% are available to the dētour Series on Saturday subscription packages. For information about single tickets please visit www.sdopera.org. Single ticket prices will be announced in the summer. www.sdopera.org

6

San Diego Opera 2017-2018 Season Performance Schedule The Pirates of Penzance Gilbert and Sullivan San Diego Civic Theatre Main Stage Series Saturday Tuesday Friday Sunday

October 14, 2017 October 17, 2017 October 20, 2017 October 22, 2017

7:00pm 7:00pm 7:00pm 2:00pm

As One Laura Kaminsky The Joan B. Kroc Theatre dētour Series Friday Saturday Sunday

November 10, 2017 November 11, 2017 November 12, 2017

7:00pm 7:00pm 1:00pm

Maria de Buenos Aires Ástor Piazzolla The Lyceum Theatre dētour Series Friday Saturday Sunday

January 26, 2018 January 27, 2018 January 28, 2018

7:00pm 7:00pm 2:00pm

Turandot Giacomo Puccini San Diego Civic Theatre Main Stage Series Saturday Tuesday Friday Sunday

February 24, 2018 February 27, 2018 March 2, 2018 March 4, 2018

7:00pm 7:00pm 7:00pm 2:00pm

Florencia en el Amazonas Daniel Catán San Diego Civic Theatre Main Stage Series Saturday Tuesday

March 17, 2018 March 20, 2018

7

7:00pm 7:00pm

Friday Sunday

March 23, 2018 March 25, 2018

7:00pm 2:00pm

René Barbera and Lise Lindstrom in Concert with the San Diego Symphony The Balboa Theatre dētour Series Saturday

May 5, 2018

7:00pm

###

The Pirates of Penzance Arthur Sullivan and W.S. Gilbert Sung in English with English text above the stage Production from The Atlanta Opera Main Stage Series at the San Diego Civic Theatre Saturday, October 14, 17, 20, and 22 (m), 2017 Major-General Stanley: Patrick Carfizzi The Pirate King: Greer Grimsley Ruth: Luretta Bybee* Mabel: Emma Grimsley*

Conductor: Evan Rogister* Director: Seán Curran

*San Diego Opera debut Select cast biographies for The Pirates of Penzance Greer Grimsley, Pirate King American bass-baritone Greer Grimsley made his San Diego Opera debut as Telramund in Lohengrin in 2000, returned for Pizarro in Fidelio in 2003, The High Priest of Dagon in Samson and Delilah in 2007, Scarpia in Tosca in 2009 and 2016, Méphistophélès in Faust in 2010, and in 2012 as Jochanaan in Salome. He made his Metropolitan Opera debut as Captain Balstrode in Peter Grimes and has returned as Escamillo in Carmen, Jochanaan, Scarpia, Telramund, and Amfortas in Parsifal. Recent engagements include Wotan in Seattle Opera’s Ring Cycle, Don Pizarro in Fidelio with Opera Company of Philadelphia, Portland Opera and the Portuguese National Opera, Kurwenal in Tristan und Isolde at Lyric Opera of Chicago, John the Baptist with the companies of Santa Fe, Vancouver and San Francisco and Scarpia with L’Opera de Montréal, Opera Colorado and Lyric Opera of Kansas City. Other roles include The Flying Dutchman in Lithuania and Seattle Opera, the title role of Macbeth with Vancouver Opera, Amonasro in Aida with Portland Opera, Méphistophélès in Faust with New Orleans Opera, and the title role of Sweeney Todd with Vancouver Opera. A frequent singer in Europe, Grimsley has performed leading roles at Deutsche Oper Berlin, Teatro Comunale di Bologna, Royal Danish Opera, Prague National Theatrer, Aarhus-Den Jyske Opera in Denmark, the Scottish Opera and the Stadttheater Basel in Switzerland, among others.

8

Patrick Carfizzi, Major-General Stanley American bass-baritone Patrick Carfizzi made his Company debut in 2014 as Henry Kissinger in Nixon in China. Notable engagements include the Mandarin in Turandot and Cecil in Maria Stuarda at the Metropolitan Opera, Zeta in The Merry Widow at Lyric Opera of Chicago, Dulcamara in The Elixir of Love with Lyric Opera of Kansas City and Hessisches Staatstheater in Wiesbaden, Dr. Bartolo in The Barber of Seville for Austin Lyric Opera, Mustafa in The Italian Girl in Algiers with Lyric Opera of Kansas City, Music Master and Truffaldino in Ariadne auf Naxos at Seattle Opera, the Speaker in The Magic Flute for Houston Grand Opera, title role of Don Pasquale with the Hessisches Staatstheater, Henry Kissinger at San Francisco Opera, Paolo in Simon Boccanegra for San Francisco Opera, Metropolitan Opera, and Houston Grand Opera, Belcore in The Elixir of Love for Santa Fe Opera, Don Magnifico in Cinderella for Seattle Opera and Houston Grand Opera, Dr. Bartolo in The Barber of Seville at Seattle Opera, Houston Grand Opera, Opera Theatre of St. Louis, Central City Opera, and Canadian Opera Company, Taddeo and Mustafa in L’Italiana in Algeri for The Dallas Opera and Houston Grand Opera, respectively, Papageno in The Magic Flute for Houston Grand Opera and The Dallas Opera, and Dulcamara in The Elixir of Love with the Opera Theatre of St. Louis. He enjoys a good relationship with Oper Köln, where he made his European debut with the company as Leporello in Don Giovanni and returned to sing Fra Melitone in La forza del destino. He made his Metropolitan Opera debut in 1999 and has performed over 300 times with the company in a variety of roles, including Schaunard in La bohème, the Jailer in Dialogues des Carmélites, Masetto in Don Giovanni, Haly in L’Italiana in Algeri, Brander in La damnation de Faust, Peter Quince in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and Frank in Die Fledermaus. Other Met productions include The Marriage of Figaro, Turandot, and Gianni Schicchi. His concert work includes performances of Handel’s Messiah with the San Francisco Symphony, Donizetti’s Maria Stuarda with the Washington Concert Opera, and Janáček’s Glagolitic Mass with Seattle Symphony. He has performed under the auspices of The Opera Orchestra of New York, Washington Concert Opera, and the Mostly Mozart Festival. Mr. Carfizzi is a graduate of the Yale University School of Music and the winner of several prestigious awards including the Richard Tucker Career Grant Award, the George London Award, the Sullivan Foundation Award, The Richard F. Gold Career Grant from The Shoshana Foundation, and the Sergio Franchi Memorial Scholarship from the National Italian American Foundation. He also participated in the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions where he was the Connecticut District Winner. Luretta Bybee, Ruth San Diego Opera debut. American mezzo-soprano Luretta Bybee received international recognition when she sang the title role in the world tour of Peter Brook’s The Tragedy of Carmen. She has performed the role for over 25 opera companies throughout the world. Notable appearances include Mrs. Lovett in Sweeney Todd with Glimmerglass Opera, New Orleans Opera, and Vancouver Opera; Madame de la Haltière in Cendrillon with New Orleans Opera; Mary in The Flying Dutchman with Opera Carolina and Seattle Opera; Dame Marthe in Faust with Arizona Opera and Houston Grand Opera, Madame Armfeldt in A Little Night Music with the Pine Mountain Music Festival, Little Buttercup in H.M.S. Pinafore at Shreveport Opera, and Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 with Seattle Symphony and San Antonio Symphony. She made her Seattle Opera debut as Princess Maria in Prokofiev’s War and Peace, and returned as a house favorite as Mary in The Flying Dutchman, Paula in Florencia en el Amazonas, Amanda in the world première of Amelia, Klytämnestra in Elektra, Waltraute in Die Walküre, Second Norn in Götterdämmerung, and Fricka in both Das Rheingold and Die Walküre. She appeared in Seattle Opera’s Der Ring des Nibelungen in 2005, 2009, and 2013. Other appearances have included Herodias in Salome at the Arizona Opera, Orlando Opera, and Cleveland Opera, Ulrica in A Masked Ball with Opera Memphis, the title role in The Rape of Lucretia for Opéra de Montréal, and Delilah in Samson and Delilah with Memphis Opera.

9

Emma Grimsley, Mabel San Diego Opera debut. American soprano Emma Grimsley is a champion of new works and recently performed the roles of Young Alyce in Glory Denied with Nashville Opera, Johanna in Sweeney Todd with New Orleans Opera, Tzeitel in Fiddler on the Roof with Shreveport Opera, and Little Red in Into the Woods with St. Petersburg Opera Company. She also took part in a workshop in American Lyric Theatre of The Halloween Tree, and sang the role of Barbara Conti in the Off-Broadway show Figaro! 90210. Recent engagements include Johanna at Eugene Opera, Papagena in The Magic Flute with Pacific Music Works in Seattle, Cunegonde in Candide for Ash Lawn Opera, Gretel in Hänsel und Gretel and Guenevere in Camelot at the Seagle Music Colony, the Queen of the Night in The Magic Flute at the Louis J. Roussel Performance Hall in New Orleans, Mabel in Pirates of Penzance at Belfast Maskers, and Minette in the West Coast premiere of The English Cat at the University of Southern California. Ms. Grimsley made her professional debut as Lucia in Vespertine Opera Theater’s production of The Rape of Lucretia. Séan Curran, Director American choreographer and stage director Seán Curran made his Company debut in 2012 directing Salome and returned in 2015 as the choreographer for Nixon in China. He is Artistic Director of the Seán Curran Dance Company based in New York City. As an Opera Director, he recently directed Salome for the San Francisco Opera and Opera Theatre of St. Louis and The Pirates of Penzance for The Atlanta Opera. Other recent work includes choreography for Nixon in China and Street Scene at Opera Theatre of St. Louis; choreography for the New York City Opera productions of L'Etoile, Alcina, Turandot, and Haroun and the Sea of Stories. He is noted in the dance world as a former leading dancer with the Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Dance Company. He received a New York Dance and Performance Bessie Award for his performance in Secret Pastures. A graduate and guest faculty member of New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts, Curran was an original member of the New York City cast of the Off-Broadway percussion extravaganza Stomp, performing in the show for four years. He has performed his solo evening of dances at venues throughout the United States as well as at Sweden’s Danstation Theatre and France’s EXIT Festival. Evan Rogister, Conductor San Diego Opera debut. German American conductor’s recent engagements include The Marriage of Figaro at Malmö Opera, Verdi's Ernani for his debut at Théâtre du Capitole de Toulouse, Tchaikovsky’s Eugene Onegin for the Spoleto Festival USA, Rienzi and Tannhäuser at Deutsche Oper Berlin, Lohengrin for Royal Swedish Opera, Salome at The Dallas Opera, a double bill of Bartok’s Bluebeard’s Castle and Schoenberg’s Erwartung for Göteborg Opera and Seattle Opera, Szymanowski’s King Roger for Santa Fe Opera, Otello in Berlin and Luxembourg, A Streetcar Named Desire for Lyric Opera of Chicago and Los Angeles Opera, and the opening production of Washington National Opera’s 60th Anniversary Season, Carmen. Equally at home on the concert platform, in the 2016-17 season, he led the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra and Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra. Recent appearances include The National Symphony Orchestra, l’Orchestre Philharmonique du Luxembourg, the Bochum Symphoniker, the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra and the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra. His debut recording with Deutsche Grammophon, Follow, Poet, was released in January of 2015 and features new works by the composer Mohammed Fairouz, with Rogister conducting the Ensemble LPR. The Houston Grand Opera's music director Patrick Summers created the position of Conducting Fellow especially for Rogister and he made his professional debut at HGO in 2008 with Hänsel and Gretel. He served in the position of Kapellmeister from 2009-2011 at Deutsche Oper Berlin where he conducted a broad repertoire from Mozart to Wagner, including productions of Don

10

Giovanni, The Magic Flute, The Barber of Seville, Manon Lescaut, La bohème, Carmen, Otello, Hänsel and Gretel and Tannhaüser.

As One Laura Kaminsky Sung in English with English text above the stage New San Diego Opera Production dētour Series at The Joan B. Kroc Theatre November 10, 11, and 12 (matinee, 1PM), 2017 Hannah Before: Kelly Markgraf* Hannah After: Blythe Gaissert*

`

Conductor: Bruce Stasyna* Director: Kyle Lang*

Select cast biographies for As One Kelly Markgraf, Hannah before San Diego Opera debut. American baritone Kelly Markgraf has sung major roles with Brooklyn Academy of Music, Aspen Music Festival, Austin Opera, Madison Opera, Apollo’s Fire Baroque Orchestra, Kentucky Opera, Hawaii Opera Theatre and Pittsburgh Opera, as well as internationally with Opéra de Lausanee, Switzerland. He has worked with the San Francisco Symphony under Michael Tilson Thomas, the Los Angeles Philharmonic under Gustavo Dudamel, the Boston Symphony Orchestra under Charles Dutoit, and the New York Philharmonic under Alan Gilbert. He has performed the role of Hannah before with Opera Colorado and at the Brooklyn Academy of Music. Other notable roles include Heathcliff in Wuthering Heights with Florentine Opera, Don Pizarro in Fidelio and the title role of Don Giovanni with Madison Opera. Blythe Gaissert, Hannah after San Diego Opera debut. American mezzo-soprano Blythe Gaissert’s recent engagements include Hannah after with Opera Colorado, Mother Marie in Dialogues of the Carmelites for Des Moines Metro Opera, Maddalena in Rigoletto with Lyrique en Mer Festival, Orlofsky in Die Fledermaus with Sarasota Opera, the Verdi Requiem with Duluth Symphony, workshop performances at American Opera Projects and the world premiere at the Brooklyn Academy of Music of As One, Hansel in Hansel and Gretel for Tulsa Opera, and the title role of Carmen with Lake George Opera. On the concert stage, she has appeared with the Asheville Symphony Orchestra in El Amor Brujo, Cincinnati Symphony for Zemlinsky's Psalm 83, Colonial Symphony in Candide, Florence Symphony and the Garden State Philharmonic for Handel's Messiah, and World Symphony Orchestra in Beethoven's Symphony No. 9. She has participated in a number of notable programs for young artists, including San Francisco Opera's Merola Program, Cincinnati Opera, Lake George Opera, Sarasota Opera, Aspen Opera Theatre Centre. She is the 2010 Winner of the First Prize of the National Opera Association. Kyle Lang, Stage Director

11

San Diego Opera Directing Debut. Mr. Lang has been an assistant director for the Company starting with La bohème in 2015 and in that capacity worked on Nixon in China, Don Giovanni, Tosca, and Falstaff. His directing credits include La bohème for Virginia Opera, The Bear for Wexford Festival Opera, Don Quixote and the Duchess for Central City Opera, L’enfant et les sortilèges and Gianni Schicchi for Simpson College, Dead Man Walking for Opera Fayetteville, Apprentice Showcase for Santa Fe Opera, The Face on the Barroom Floor for Tulsa Opera, and Short Works for Central City Opera. His choreographic credits include Vanessa for Wexford Festival Opera, The Merry Widow for Boston Lyric Opera and Utah Opera, La traviata for Fort Worth Opera, Des Moines Opera, and Lyric Opera of Baltimore, Jenůfa for Des Moines Metro Opera, The Last Savage for Indiana University, Sweeney Todd for Virginia Opera, Ariadne auf Naxos for Virginia Opera, Carmen for Opera Omaha, Falstaff and The Marriage of Figaro for Virginia Opera, and Die Fledermaus for Opera Memphis. He is privileged to have danced as a soloist and in the corps de ballet with ZviDance, the Metropolitan Opera, Lyric Opera of Chicago, Washington National Opera, Santa Fe Opera, and with Christopher K. Morgan, performing in countries across Europe, South America, and the Middle East. Bruce Stasyna, Conductor San Diego Opera Conducting debut. Bruce Stasyna has been on the conducting rosters of the New York City Opera, Boston Lyric Opera, and Sugar Creek Opera, and has held positions as Chorus Master for New York City Opera, Minnesota Opera, Wolf Trap Opera and Des Moines Opera. He was Artistic Director and Principal Conductor for the Green Mountain Opera Festival, and Head of Music and Director of the Young Artist Program at Palm Beach Opera. He has collaborated on many notable North American premieres including Anna Nicole, The Handmaid’s Tale, Orazi e Curiazi, and Joseph Merrick dit Elephant Man. As a pianist he has concertized with such artists as Marcello Giordani, Deborah Voigt, J’nai Bridges, Irene Roberts, Marina CostaJackson, and Richard Troxell. The Canadian born conductor is currently the Chorus Master and Music Administrator for San Diego Opera, Chorus Master and Assistant Conductor for Washington Concert Opera, and Music Director of Vero Beach Opera.

Maria de Buenos Aires Ástor Piazzolla Sung in Spanish with English text above the stage New San Diego Opera Production dētour Series at The Lyceum Theatre January 26, 27 and 28 (matinee), 2018 Maria: Audrey Babcock* El Payador: Paul La Rosa

Director: John de los Santos Conductor: Bruce Stasyna *San Diego Opera debut

Select cast biographies for Maria de Buenos Aires Audrey Babcock, Maria San Diego Opera debut. American mezzo-soprano Audrey Babcock is known for her portrayal of Carmen. In this role, she made her French debut with the Festival Lyrique-en-Mer and has performed the role with Florentine Opera, Nashville Opera, Florida Grand Opera, New York City

12

Opera, San Antonio Opera, Knoxville Opera, Opera Delaware, Toledo Opera, Utah Festival Opera, and Anchorage Opera. Notable recent engagements include Rosette in Manon with The Dallas Opera, Donna Elvira in Don Giovanni with New Orleans Opera, Maddalena in Rigoletto with Palm Beach Opera, Boston Lyric Opera, Opera Omaha, Tulsa Opera, Florentine Opera and Nashville Opera, Erika in Vanessa for Sarasota Opera, Suzuki in Madama Butterfly for Tulsa Opera, Jo in Little Women with Utah Opera and Syracuse Opera, Second Lady in The Magic Flute with the Spoleto Festival, Dorabella in Così fan tutte with Opera Idaho, Lola in Cavalleria rusticana with Utah Festival Opera and Washington Concert Opera, Flora in La traviata with Cincinnati Opera, and Carmen in The Tragedy of Carmen with Opera Delaware, Opera on the James, and Florida Grand Opera. Her symphonic concert and recital engagements have included Verdi’s Requiem with Charleston Symphony and the West Virginia Symphony, Beethoven’s 9th Symphony with Eugene Symphony Orchestra, and Mahler’s Symphony No. 2 with National Symphony Orchestra of Costa Rica. Her musical theater works include Aldonza/Dulcinea in Man of La Mancha with Shreveport Opera, Lyric Opera of San Diego and Utah Festival Opera, Mrs. Lovett in Sweeney Todd for Wolf Trap Opera and the music of Kurt Weill with the World Premier of Lily; her life, his music for Dicapo Opera, a one-woman fictional melodrama written and produced by Ms. Babcock. Paul La Rosa, El Payador American baritone Paul La Rosa made his San Diego Opera debut as Enrique in 2015’s El Pasado Nunca Se Termina (The Past is Never Finished) a role he also performed at the Lyric Opera of Chicago and Houston Grand Opera. Other notable engagements include Cascada in The Merry Widow with Lyric Opera of Chicago, Mercutio in Roméo et Juilliette with the Castleton Festival, Maximilian in Candide with the Boston Symphony Orchestra debut at the Tanglewood Festival and the Los Angeles Philharmonic, Falke in Die Fledermaus with Lyric Opera of Kansas City, Jud Fry in Oklahoma at Lyric Opera of Chicago, and Jack Rance in La fanciulla del West at the Castleton Festival and with the Orquesta Sinfónica de Galicia. Mr. La Rosa was a member of the Ryan Opera Center at the Lyric Opera of Chicago, where he appeared as Papageno in The Magic Flute and Hermann in The Tales of Hoffmann. During his time in Chicago he was also noted for his portrayals of Morales in Carmen, Kuligin in Káta Kabanová, and Cascada in The Merry Widow. As a member of the Juilliard Opera Center Mr. La Rosa appeared as the boxer Ochsenschwanz in Schwergewicht oder die Ehre der Nation, Ford in Falstaff, Rambo in The Death of Klinghoffer under the baton of the composer, and Raimbaud Le Comte Ory. He has been heard in Britten’s The Rape of Lucretia at the Castleton Festival, in Handel’s Giulio Cesare at Glimmerglass Opera, and as Dandini in Cinderella during a summer residency with the San Francisco Opera Merola Program. John de los Santos, Director Director/choreographer John de los Santos made his choreography debut in 2016 with Great Scott. He has staged a range of productions that include opera, musicals, plays, ballet, concerts, and workshop readings. His productions include the world premiere of The Astronaut Love Show at the Kraine Theater, The Rose and the Knife and Le Comte Ory for LoftOpera, La Cage Aux Folles for Skylight Music Theatre, The Daughter of the Regiment for Arizona Opera, Carousel for Ashlawn Opera, Maria de Buenos Aires for Lexington Philharmonic, and Green Sneakers for the Southside Theatre. He choreographed the world premiere of Jake Heggie and Terrence McNally’s Great Scott, directed by Jack O’Brien, for The Dallas Opera. His choreography has also been seen at the Washington National Opera, Florida Grand Opera, Opera Philadelphia, Des Moines Metro Opera, Utah Festival Opera, and Austin Lyric Opera. As a librettist he worked with composer Clint Borzoni for When Adonis Calls, which was selected for inclusion in Fort Worth Opera’s Frontiers showcase, and then performed in concert by operamission in New York. John’s new collaboration with Borzoni, The Copper Queen, won the top prize at Arizona Opera’s

13

commission program, Arizona SPARK. He was then commissioned by Washington National Opera’s American Opera Initiative to create a new original work with composer Christopher Weiss. The resulting piece, Service Provider, premiered at The Kennedy Center in 2015. In 2003, he became the resident choreographer for the Fort Worth Opera, where his choreography has been seen in Rigoletto, Salome, La traviata, Amahl and the Night Visitors, and the world premieres of Frau Margot and Before Night Falls. John then made his directing debut with the company with a 2009 production of Carmen, followed by The Mikado and The Pearl Fishers. In 2010 he made his choreographic debut for The Dallas Opera with Don Giovanni. John has served on the directing faculty of the Seagle Music Colony in Schroon Lake, NY, where his productions have included Anything Goes, Crazy for You, The Medium, The Fantasticks, The Mikado, La bohème, Guys & Dolls, Brigadoon and L’Italiana in Algeri. John has also coached young artists with the Washington National Opera, Arizona Opera, Fort Worth Opera, and Des Moines Metro Opera, and served on the faculty of the KD Conservatory of Film and Dramatic Arts in Dallas.

Turandot Giacomo Puccini Sung in Italian with English translations above the stage Main Stage Series at the San Diego Civic Theatre February 24, 27, March 2, and 4 (matinee), 2018 Turandot: Lise Lindsrom Calàf: Carl Tanner* Liù: Angel Joy Blue* Timur: Brian Kontes* Ping: Marco Nisticò* Pang: Joseph Gaines* Pong: Joel Sorensen

Conductor: Valerio Galli* Director: Keturah Stickann

* San Diego Opera debut Select cast biographies for Turandot Lise Lindstrom, Turandot American soprano Lise Lindstrom was last seen with the Company as a soloist during the 50 th Anniversary Celebration Concert in 2015. Prior to this she was heard in the title role of Salome in 2012 and made her Company debut in the title role of Turandot, a role that marked her Metropolitan Opera debut in 2009. She is well known for her Turandot having performed it at all the world’s leading stages including the Royal Opera, Covent Garden, The Dallas Opera, Vienna Staatsoper, Deutsche Oper am Rhein, the National Center for the Arts in Beijing, Bayerische Staatsoper, Arena di Verona, De Nederlandse Opera, La Scala in Milan, Festival Ópera de Coruña, Deutsche Oper Berlin, Opera Hong Kong, Palm Beach Opera, Kentucky Opera, Orlando Opera, Cleveland Opera, Opera Grand Rapids, Mobile Opera and the Savonlinna Festival, among others. Other notable performances include Brünnhilde in the Ring Cycle for Opera Australia, Senta in The Flying Dutchman with Warsaw’s Teatr Wielki Opera Narodowa and New Orleans Opera, the title role of Salome for Opera di Genova and Vienna Staatsoper, the title role of Tosca with Glimmerglass Opera, Elisabeth and Venus in Tannhäuser with Greek National Opera and the title role of Suor Angelica with Opera Tampa. Other roles in her repertoire include Amelia in

14

A Masked Ball, Ariadne in Ariadne auf Naxos, Giulietta in The Tales of Hoffmann, Lady Rich in Gloriana and Magda in The Consul. Her concert work has brought her to the Washington National Cathedral, San Francisco Symphony, the Brattleboro Festival, and New York’s Bard College, among others. Carl Tanner, Calàf San Diego Opera debut. American tenor Carl Tanner appears regularly at La Scala, the Metropolitan Opera, Royal Opera, Covent Garden, Opéra National de Paris, Washington National Opera, the New National Theatre of Tokyo, Deutsche Oper in Berlin, Maggio Musicale Fiorentino, Teatro Real de Madrid, and Liceu de Barcelona, among others. Notable roles in his repertory include the title roles in Otello and Andrea Chénier, Radames in Aida, Manrico in Il trovatore, Pollione in Norma, Don José in Carmen, Canio in I Pagliacci, Turiddu in Cavalleria rusticana, Calàf in Turandot, Des Grieux in Manon Lescaut, Dick Johnson in La fanciulla del West, Cavaradossi in Tosca, and Pinkerton in Madama Butterfly. Recent engagements include the title role of Otello with Opera Hong Kong, Radamès with L'Opéra de Massy and Opera Colorado, Manrico with Hawaii Opera Theatre, Luigi in Il Tabarro with Royal Opera, Covent Garden, and Turiddu and Canio with the Metropolitan Opera. Angel Joy Blue, Liù San Diego Opera debut. Soprano Angel Joy Blue’s notable engagements include the title role of Tosca with Opera San Jose, Violetta in La traviata with Seattle Opera, Clara in Porgy and Bess at La Scala, Lyric Opera of Chicago, and Seattle Opera, Mimì in La bohème and Myrtle Wilson in The Great Gatsby at Sächsische Staatsoper, Mimì at English National Opera and Palau de les Arts Reina Sofia, Musetta in La bohème at English National Opera, Third Norn in Götterdämmerung for Oper Frankfurt, and Giulietta in The Tales of Hoffmann for Theater an der Wien. She has made concert appearances with the Leipzig Gewandausorchester, the Southwest Florida Symphony Orchestra, Israel Philharmonic Orchestra, Berlin Philharmonic, and Cincinnati Symphony. She made her Royal Albert Hall debut this season as a featured guest at the "Classic FM Live" concert in April 2015. She was a finalist in Operalia 2009, receiving 1st place in the Zarzuela competition, and 2nd place in the Opera competition. She was then honored to be a part of the 17th Annual Verbier Festival in Verbier, Switzerland in July 2010. She received a Masters of Music degree in Opera Performance from UCLA, a Bachelors of Music from the University of Redlands, and is alumni to the prestigious Los Angeles County High school for the Arts. She is also a graduate of the Palau de les Arts Young Artist Program in Valencia, Spain and the Canadian Vocal Arts Institute, University of Montreal in Montreal, Canada. Keturah Stickann, Stage Director American stage director Keturah Stickann made her Company debut as the choreographer in Pagliacci in 2008, returning for Rigoletto, Peter Grimes, Romeo and Juliet, Moby-Dick and Cruzar la Cara de la Luna. She directed 2014’s performance of Don Quixote for the Company. Other directing credits include Pagliacci and Die sieben Todsunden for Virginia Opera, La traviata for Chautauqua Opera Festival, Tosca, Il trovatore, The Tales of Hoffmann, La traviata and Manon for Knoxville Opera, Macbeth for Kentucky Opera, Rigoletto for Opera Memphis, La clemenza di Tito for Opera in the Heights, Madama Butterfly at Opera Colorado and Opera Santa Barbara, The Pearl Fishers at Sarasota Opera (for which she was also the choreographer), The Tragedy of Carmen at Brevard Music Institute, and The Marriage of Figaro, Suor Angelica, and The Old Maid and the Thief at Emerald City Opera. She was the movement director and choreographer for Jake Heggie's Moby-Dick and It’s A Wonderful Life, and associate director and choreographer for Cruzar la Cara de la Luna. She recently remounted Michael Hampe's production of Tannhaüser at the Teatro Municipal in Santiago, Chile, and at the Nikikai Opera in Otsu, Japan. Trained as a classical and contemporary dancer, she received her

15

degree in choreography from Columbia College in Chicago, and her choreography has been seen at Arizona Opera, The Dallas Opera, Chicago Opera Theater, Virginia Opera, Atlanta Opera and Florida Grand Opera, among others. Valerio Galli, Conductor San Diego Opera debut. Italian conductor Valerio Galli’s was recently named “Best Italian Conductor Under 40” by La Stampa newspaper. His recent engagements include Carmen at Michigan Opera Theatre, La bohème at Teatro San Carlo and Teatro Regio, Don Carlo and Fedora at Teatro Carlo Felice, Pagliacci in Verona, Adriana Lecouvreur for Macedonian Opera and Ballet in Skopje, Zanetto and Cavalleria rusticana for Teatro Goldoni, La rondine for Fresno Grand Opera, Madama Butterfly for Teatro Muicipale in Picenza and Teatro Carlo Felice, Turandot with Theater Zhuhai Huafa in China, Michigan Opera Theater, and Teatro Verdi, La forza del destino at Teatro Verdi, Tosca at Teatro Coccia in Novara, Teatro Sociale in Trento, Teatro Verdi, and Teatro Sociale in Rovigo, Il Campanello and Gianni Schicchi at Teatro Carlo Felice, Rigoletto at Teatro Comunale, Carmen at Teatro Coccia, and La traviata at Teatro Sociale in Mantua. He is well known for his concert work with performances at the XXII Kecskeméti Tavaszi Festival in Hungary, the International House of Music in Moscow, Teatro Goldoni in Livorno, Teatro Pavarotti in Modena, Teatro Carlo Felice in Genoa, the New Year’s Day Concerts at Teatro del Giglio in Lucca and Teatro Verdi in Pisa, symphonic concerts with the San Marino Symphony Orchestra and inaugurated the 57th Santander Festival with soloists Eva Mei and Giacomo Prestia.

Florencia en el Amazonas Daniel Catán Sung in Spanish with English translations above the stage Production by Indiana University Main Stage Series at the San Diego Civic Theatre March 17, 20, 23, and 25 (matinee), 2018 Florencia: Elaine Alvarez* Rosalba: Maria Fernanda Castillo* Paula: Adrianna Zabala* Arcadio: Daniel Montenegro Riolobo: Luis Alejandro Orozco* Alvaro: Levi Hernandez* Capitán: Hector Vasquez

Conductor: Joseph Mechavich Director: Candace Evans

*San Diego Opera debut Select cast biographies for Florencia en el Amazonas Elaine Alvarez, Florencia Grimaldi San Diego Opera debut. Cuban-American Soprano Elaine Alvarez’s notable engagements include Mimì in La bohème with Lyric Opera of Chicago, Opera National de Bordeaux, Teatro Carlo Felice, Virginia Opera, and Arizona Opera, the title role of Katya Kabanova with Boston Lyric Opera, Elvira in Ernani for the Royal Opera de Wallonie, Magda in La rondine with Opera Frankfurt and Lithuania’s Pazaislis Music Festival, Micaela in Carmen for Florida Grand Opera and Lyric Opera of Chicago, the Countess in The Marriage of Figaro with Opera Cleveland, La

16

Comtesse de Breville in The Greater Good for Glimmerglass Opera, Violetta in La traviata for Theater St. Gallen and Bayerische Staatsoper, and the title role of Rappaccini’s Daughter for Gotham Chamber Opera. As a resident ensemble artist with Oper Leipzig, she was heard as Mimì, Violetta and Pamina in The Magic Flute, and was featured in productions of La rondine and Don Giovanni in the role of Donna Anna. A dedicated recital and concert artist, Ms. Alvarez was a Grand Prize Winner of the Marilyn Horne Foundation Competition, making her New York recital debut under the auspices of the Foundation. She then went on to perform as a featured artist in the Marilyn Horne Foundation Gala Recital at Carnegie Hall in 2010. Other notable recital engagements have included New York’s ¡Sí Cuba! Festival, a full-length recital with Orchestra Miami, and a Kennedy Center recital debut with the prestigious Vocal Arts Society. On the concert stage, she has appeared as a featured guest artist with the New World Symphony for Pulse 2.0, integrating electronic music, lighting installations and modern stage-craft, to bring classical music to new audiences. Other distinguished concert credits include Mozart’s Mass in C minor with the Gewandhaus Orchestra at Hong Kong’s Cultural Performing Arts Center and a tour of Rossini’s Stabat Mater with the Orchestra e Coro del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino. María Fernanda Castillo, Rosalba San Diego Opera debut. Mexican soprano María Fernanda Castillo has performed in Rockefeller Center, the Canadian Vocal Arts Institute, the Israeli Opera House, and the Ópera de Bellas Artes in Mexico City, among many others. Ms. Castillo’s repertoire includes such roles as Mimì in La bohème, Inès in Il trovatore, Baucis in Philemon und Baucis, La bergère in L’enfant et les sortilèges, and roles in various zarzuela galas. She has also sung complete works, such as Berlioz’s Les Nuits d’été and Bruckner’s Te Deum. She started her operatic career in 2010 after winning awards at several important international competitions. Castillo received an International Society of Mexican Arts Talents (SIVAM) scholarship for operatic studies, the scholarship for the Advanced Opera Workshop of the SIVAM, and she participated in the Estudio de Ópera de Bellas Artes (EOBA) workshop, all in Mexico City. She recently won the Promising Young Artist Award as well as third place and the PROA Prize in the Carlo Morelli National Singing Competition, the most prestigious singing competition in Mexico. She also won third place, as well as the Bellas Artes prize in successive years, in the Sinaloa International Singing Competition, and first place and the Audience Choice award in the Canadian Vocal Arts Institute Competition in Montréal, Canada. Daniel Montenegro, Arcadio American tenor Daniel Montenegro’s made his Company debut in the 2015 season as Luis in El Pasado Nuca se Termina (The Past Is Never Finished) which he also performed at the Lyric Opera of Chicago and Houston Grand Opera. Notable engagements include Giovanni in Rappaccini’s Daughter with Gotham Chamber Opera, Mario in Il Postino at Théâtre du Châtelet, Roderigo in Otello with San Francisco Opera, Alfredo in La traviata with New Orleans Opera and Minnesota Opera, Nemorino in The Elixir of Love with Washington National Opera, Pang in Turandot at the Hollywood Bowl conducted by Gustavo Dudamel, Pong in Turandot with San Francisco Opera and The Dallas Opera, Roméo in Roméo and Juliette with Tulsa Opera and the Castleton Festival, Mario with Opera Saratoga, and Pinkerton in Madama Butterfly with Arizona Opera. As a San Francisco Opera Adler Fellow and former Resident Artist of the Minnesota Opera, Daniel has sung a wealth of roles including Liverotto and Rustighello in Lucrezia Borgia, Remendado and Dancaïro in Carmen, Tamino in The Magic Flute, Nick in The Handmaid’s Tale, and Flavio in Norma. Additionally, he has sung the role of the Steersman in The Flying Dutchman with both Portland Opera and Arizona Opera and the Shepherd in Oedipus Rex at the Sydney Festival and the Los Angeles Philharmonic. An ongoing collaboration with Los Angeles Opera has brought appearances in several productions including the world premiere of Lee

17

Holdridge’s Concierto para Mendez, La traviata, Carmen, Luisa Fernanda, L 'Incoronazione di Poppea, and Il tabarro. Candace Evans, Stage Director San Diego Opera debut. Notable work by American stage director and choreographer Candace Evans includes Three Decembers for Fort Worth Opera, L’Italiana in Algeri for Opera Southwest, La Viuda Alegre for Teatro Colón, The Merry Widow, Don Pasquale, and La Wally for The Dallas Opera, Carmen and Eugene Onegin for Madison Opera, Pagliacci and Cavalleria rusticana for Cedar Rapids Opera Theatre, Florencia en el Amazonas and Werther for Indiana University Opera, Lucia di Lammermoor for Opera San Jose, Hansel and Gretel and Norma for Knoxville Opera, Little Women for Madison Opera, Carmen for Opera Grand Rapids, La bohème for Opera Grand Rapids, and Akhnaten for Indianapolis Opera and Indiana University Opera. Joseph Mechavich, Conductor American Conductor Joseph Mechavich made his Company debut in the 2012 season leading the performances of Moby-Dick, retuning in 2015 for Nixon in China and in 2016 for Great Scott. He is the Principal Conductor and Music Director for Kentucky Opera, where he has conducted La bohème, The Marriage of Figaro and Carmen. Recent performances include Romeo and Juliet for Florida Grand Opera, Susannah for The Florentine Opera, The Barber of Seville at Washington National Opera, Porgy and Bess at Deutsche Oper Berlin, Madama Butterfly at New York City Opera, La bohème at Dayton Opera and Cendrillon at the Aspen Music Festival. Mechavich was the Principal Conductor for Opera Birmingham from 2004-2010, conducting Turandot, Madama Butterfly, La bohème, La traviata, Lucia di Lammermoor, The Elixir of Love, Aida, La Cenerentola and The Barber of Seville. He has also presided over highly-recognized productions for Calgary Opera, Utah Opera, Tulsa Opera, Des Moines Metro Opera, Sugar Creek Festival, Pine Mountain Music Festival, Oberlin Opera Theatre, Lake George Opera Festival, Virginia Opera, Fargo-Moorhead Opera and Spokane Opera. Others companies with which he has collaborated include Austin Lyric Opera, New Orleans Opera, Mobile Opera, Nevada Opera and Berkshire Opera.

“One Amazing Night” - René Barbera and Lise Lindstrom in Concert with the San Diego Symphony dētour Series at The Balboa Theatre May 5, 2018 René Barbera, Tenor Tenor René Barbera made his Company debut as part of our 50th Anniversary Celebration Concert and was quickly engaged again for a solo recital in 2015, which marked his American recital debut. He is a graduate of Lyric Opera of Chicago’s Patrick G. and Shirley W. Ryan Opera Center, has swiftly established himself as a young artist on the rise. At Plácido Domingo’s Operalia 2011 in Moscow, he was awarded First Prize for Opera, First Prize for Zarzuela, and the Audience Prize. He is the first artist to be the sole recipient of all three awards since the competition began in 1993. Recent engagements include Tonio in The Daughter of the Regiment in Austin, Alfredo in La traviata in Palermo, his debut at the Metropolitan Opera as Lindoro in L’italiana in Algeri, the Duke of Mantua in Rigoletto with Piedmont Opera, Almaviva in The Barber of Seville with the San Francisco Opera, The Italian Tenor in Der Rosekavalier with Lyric Opera of Chicago, Don Ramiro in Rossini’s Cinderella with Teatro Massimo di Palermo, and Almaviva in Teatro Comunale di Bologna’s production of The Barber of Seville. He also

18

returned to the Rossini Opera Festival in Pesaro for his role debut of Narciso in Il Turco in Italia. Other notable engagements include Almaviva in The Barber of Seville with Opera National de Paris, Ramiro in San Francisco Opera’s production of Cinderella, Tonio in The Daughter of the Regiment with Greensboro Opera, and Almaviva with Los Angeles Opera. Mr. Barbera has made several important company debuts throughout North America. He recently made his company and role debut as Elvino in La sonnambula with Washington Concert Opera, followed by his debut with Michigan Opera Theater as Almaviva, and his return to Lyric Opera of Chicago for his role debut as Ernesto in Don Pasquale. He sang performances of Don Ramiro in Cinderella in his debuts with Seattle Opera and Los Angeles Opera, and was heard as Almaviva at the Stanislavsky Music Theatre in Moscow. In the summer of 2013, he made his Santa Fe Opera debut as Rodrigo in Rossini’s La donna del lago. He recently released a recording of William Bolcom’s Canciones de Lorca / Prometheus on the Naxos label. Lise Lindstrom, Soprano American soprano Lise Lindstrom was last seen with the Company earlier this season in the title role of Turandot and prior to that was heard as a soloist during the 50th Anniversary Celebration Concert in 2015. She sang the title role of Salome in 2012 and made her Company debut in the title role of Turandot, a role that marked her Metropolitan Opera debut, in 2009. She is well known for her Turandot having performed it all the world’s leading stages including the Royal Opera, Covent Garden, The Dallas Opera, Vienna Staatsoper, Deutsche Oper am Rhein, the National Center for the Arts in Beijing, Bayerische Staatsoper, Arena di Verona, De Nederlandse Opera, La Scala in Milan, Festival Ópera de Coruña, Deutsche Oper Berlin, Opera Hong Kong, Palm Beach Opera, Kentucky Opera, Orlando Opera, Cleveland Opera, Opera Grand Rapids, Mobile Opera and the Savonlinna Festival, among others. Other notable performances include Brünnhilde in the Ring Cycle for Opera Australia, Senta in The Flying Dutchman with Warsaw’s Teatr Wielki Opera Narodowa and New Orleans Opera, the title role of Salome for Opera di Genova and Vienna Staatsoper, the title role of Tosca with Glimmerglass Opera, Elisabeth and Venus in Tannhäuser with Greek National Opera and the title role of Suor Angelica with Opera Tampa. Other roles in her repertoire include Amelia in A Masked Ball, Ariadne in Ariadne auf Naxos, Giulietta in The Tales of Hoffmann, Lady Rich in Gloriana and Magda in The Consul. Her concert work has brought her to the Washington National Cathedral, San Francisco Symphony, the Brattleboro Festival, and New York’s Bard College, among others.

###

19