Tenor Marcello Giordani Performs in Dayton March 11th
Dayton Opera presents Metropolitan Opera tenor
Marcello Giordani in Recital
March 11 at 3 p.m.Dayton Opera offers an extraordinary opportunity to hear the international opera star Marcello Giordani in recital on Sunday, March 11.
Hailed by Opera News in its March 2008 issue as “the greatest leading tenor of his generation,” Mr. Giordani maintains a heroic schedule of engagements at the world’s top opera houses. He comes to Dayton following a series of acclaimed performances at Lyric Opera of Chicago in Aida and at the Met in Madame Butterfly (photo above) and Ernani.
His Ohio appearance will take place at Dayton’s acclaimed Schuster Center, built in 2003 and renowned for its acoustics and patron amenities. Mr. Giordani will be joined by soprano Melissa Zapin and pianist Katherine Olsen.
Cincinnati Opera is pleased to share with you a special offer from our friends at Dayton Opera: a 20% discount on tickets. Regular prices $36-$92. Buying is easy! Purchase online at www.daytonopera.org or call(888) 228-3630. Use the code “Music Hall” for your discount.
Marcello Giordani Star Gala
Sunday, March 11 at 3 p.m.Schuster Performing Arts Center
1 West 2nd Street
Dayton, OH 45402Call (888) 228-3630 or visit www.daytonopera.org.
MusicalAmerica.com Launches New Blog by Conductor James Conlon
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Renowned Conductor 
Ian Ramirez wins Constance Eberhardt Memorial Award in the National Opera Association Voice Competition
CCM Opera is proud to announce Ian Ramierz (MM, tenor) placed 3rd in the Scholarship Division at the National Opera Association Voice Competition on January 7th in Memphis, TN. Ian competed with eight other finalists from around the country and was chosen to receive the Constance Eberhardt Memorial Award.
Congratulations Mr. Ramirez!
Opera Fusion: New Works – Performance venue change – Patricia Corbett Theater 8:00pm, Nov.12th
The Opera Fusion: New Works performance venue has been moved from Werner Recital Hall to Patricia Corbett Theater.
Reminder – 2011 S. Livingston Mather Scholarship Competition for Male Voice Students
The DEADLINE for the Twenty-second Annual S. Livingston Mather Scholarship Competition for Male Voice Students is October 21st.
Gentlemen, the competition is relatively close, you need to submit audio files AND it is open to full-time & part-time undergraduates and graduates.
The finals are November 13th in Cleveland.
Application – 2011 S. Livingston Mather Scholarship Competition for Male Voice Students
Fred Plotkin’s WQXR Radio Blog
This is an opera blog from my friend Fred Plotkin. Please visit!
Robin
CCM Promotional and Archival Photo Schedule 2011-12
Please see the links below for the Promotional & Archival Photo Schedule for the entire 2011-12 CCM production season.
2011-12 CCM Productions Photo Call Schedule.PDF
Student resources from Paulette Maria Penzvalto, President, UC Graduate Student Governance Association
Students in need of travel funds may apply for funding from GSGA (up to $400 a year). These funds are consistently available, so I encourage CCM students to exhaust their department funds prior to applying to us. http://www.uc.edu/gsga/StudentAwards.html
Also, please take a moment check out the Freesource (http://freesource.wikispaces.com/) for more ideas about how graduate students, as well as undergraduates, can access free resources to help improve quality of life during their tenure at UC. I hope that you will share this with all students who may approach you expressing financial need.
Thirdly, the GSGA is partnering with the Center for Community Engagement to establish UC’s first graduate student-dedicated volunteerism platform, called GAPS (Graduates Assisting Public Scholarship). GAPS would be a terrific asset to CCM by giving students the opportunities to perform in the community, in an outreach setting. http://www.uc.edu/cce/student/GAPS.html
There are links to all of these services on the Freesource.
Kind regards,Paulette
–
Paulette Maria Penzvalto
President, Graduate Student Governance Association
683 Steger Student Life Center
ML 0193
2011-12 Cincinnati Opera Auditions
Dear colleagues,
The application deadline for Cincinnati Opera’s Young Artist and Education Touring Programs is this Sunday, October 2. Please forward this information to anyone who may be interested.
2012 Summer Season
I Pagliacci/Gianni Schicci
Porgy and Bess
La Traviata.
In order to be considered for our Education Touring Programs, applicants must fill out the online application form.
2012 Education Touring Programs
Opera Redux: Porgy and Bess (Winter 2012)
Little Red Riding Hood (Spring 2012)
http://www.cincinnatiopera.org/about-us/employment-auditions/
Immediately following the October 2 deadline, singers interested in a chorus-only audition may call to sign up for that audition. No application or fee is necessary for chorus-only auditions.
Auditions will be October 26, 28, 29, and 30 in Cincinnati, and October 27 in Lexington, KY.I am happy to answer any questions.
Thank you,
Lauren Bailey
______________________________
Lauren Bailey
Cincinnati Opera
Artistic Coordinator
1243 Elm Street, Cincinnati OH 45202
(513)768-5568
http://www.cincinnatiopera.org/
The Mildred Miller International Voice Competition – Deadline Oct. 7th
(Click this image to enlarge)
We want to draw your attention to Opera Theater of Pittsburgh’s new Mildred Miller International Voice Competition. This is a fantastic opportunity for young singers, with prizes up to $7,500. They have just extended their application deadline to October 7th.
All CCM Opera students are encouraged to apply.
Opera Theater of Pittsburgh’s Mildred Miller International Voice Competition.pdf
More information visit
www.operatheaterpittsburgh.org/miv
Audition Seminar, Friday Sept. 23rd 6:30pm in MEH 3250
TO: CCM OPERA STUDENTS
AUDITION SEMINAR with Nic Muni
Open to all interested CCM Voice students.
This seminar is recommended but not required.
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 23 from 6:30-9:30 in Room 3250 (The Master Class room)
This seminar is being offered by Nic Muni and will cover auditioning soup to nuts.
Please read the Audition Seminar Checklist if you are planning on attending.
We are looking for 3-4 volunteers who would like to present an audition and work with Nic on particulars.
Any interested parties must bring their own accompanist and be in touch with Nic in advance by email at nicmuni@hotmail.com
Coachings Applications due SEPTEMBER 23rd
TO: ALL CCM OPERA STUDENTS
Coaching applications will be due September 23rd.
Coaching forms are located in the “scrounge” (vending machine area/study lounge in the Dieterle Vocal Arts Center).
AD students need to get their forms to Professor TERRY LUSK as soon as possible even if it’s only a request by email.
Thank you,
CCM Opera
Beginning of the Year Opera Department Meeting – 3:30pm – 9/21/11 DVAC 300
This is a confirmation of the beginning of the year CCM Opera department meeting.
Wednesday September 21st
DVAC 300
3:30pm
This is for all students planning to audition for opera. Information about classes, coachings and auditions for the coming school year will be discussed.
The costume shop will be present to take measurements!
Thank you,
CCM Opera
Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions
Dear Colleagues, Audition season is just around the corner. We hope you’ll encourage your Our 42 District and 14 Region auditions take place beginning in October We look forward to hearing another extraordinary group of young artists Gayletha Nichols, Director |
Auditions for (Vocal) Solos with CCM Choral/Orchestra and Orchestral Works 2011-2012
Download information for Auditions for Solos Choral/Orch 2011-12 at CCM.
Summary of Performances for the 2011/12 CCM Choral/Orch Season (see below)
Fall Quarter 2011:
• El Amor Brujo
Performances Friday/Saturday, November 4 and 5, 2011 Patricia Corbett Theater For mezzo-soprano or soprano (with a substantial low range)
• J.S. Bach St. Matthew Passion (sung in German; staged performance in collaboration with CCM Opera Dept.)
Performance: Sunday, November 20, 2011
St. Peter in Chains Cathedral
Aria Solos for Soprano, Alto (mezzo), Tenor, and Bass (Baritone, Bass-Baritone, and Bass); Evangelist, Pilate, and Jesus roles have already been cast.
• Strauss Four Last Songs Performance: Tuesday, November 22, 2011 Corbett Auditorium For soprano and orchestra
Winter Quarter 2012:
• Berlioz La Damnation de Faust (sung in French)
Performance: Saturday, February 25, 2011
Corbett Auditorium
Marguerite: Mezzo-soprano (or soprano with a fine low register, or mezzo or alto with a fine top register)
Faust: Tenor
Brander: Bass-Baritone or Bass
(Role of Mephistopheles has been cast.)
Spring Quarter 2012:
• Orff Carmina Burana
• Finzi Requiem da Camera
• Vaughan Williams Serenade to Music
Performance: Saturday/Sunday, April 21/22, 2012
Corbett Auditorium
Orff: Soprano, Tenor, Bass (Baritone, or Bass-Baritone)
Finzi: Baritone
Vaughan Williams: 16 solo singers (4S, 4A, 4 T, 4B)
Opera Resource Site: www.operastuff.com
FYI: This site looks like a nice resource for young artist programs and other auditions.
If you have not heard of it, you should bookmark it and check it every one in a while for information.
Home Page – http://operastuff.com
Young Artist Programs Link – http://www.operastuff.com/Singer_Resource/Young_Artist_Programs/index.html
Enjoy,
CCM Opera
Review of Encompass New Opera Theater Production, Angel of the Amazon
Encompass New Opera Theater’s world premiere of Angel of the Amazon featured two CCM Opera students, Caitlin Mathes and José Rubio. Click here to read the previous blog post from March which previewed this production.
OPERAGASM EXCLUSIVE REVIEW: ANGEL OF THE AMAZON
from http://operagasm.com
05/16/11
by Sarah Heisler
Since its inception in 1975, Encompass New Opera Theatre has tried to champion contemporary American opera and develop new audiences for the medium, and its world premiere production of Angel of the Amazon, a new music drama by Evan Mack has done just that. The two-act work is based on the life of Sister Dorothy Stang , who lived and worked among the indigenous farmers of Brazil, fighting for the protection of the Amazonian Rainforest before she was brutally murdered in 2005 by emissaries of the logging companies. Using forty years of letters as source material, Mack manages to craft an interesting and affecting narrative as the action skips from the “present day” of Sr. Dorothy’s death back and forth through time, starting with her first day in the jungle in 1969.
The intimate Jerome Robbins Theatre in the beautiful Baryshnikov Arts Center seems ideally suited to new works; the resident company in the theatre is the famed and innovative Wooster Group. The production design of John Michael Deegan and Sarah Conly enhanced the minimal set with the steady use of projections onto an inverted V of 4 wings of muslin or scrim and a cyclorama. An additional moveable screen provided a frame for clarifying year and place supertitles (think Les Miserables’ time-traveling supertitles). The projections transported the audience from the rain forest to the office of a bishop to the inside of a small hut to the Capitol building all without feeling contrived; it was so masterfully executed as to make opera aficionados wonder why one couldn’t simply replace the monstrous “machine” of the current Met Ring cycle with this more effective and less troublesome projection concept.
Director Nancy Rhodes, who is also Artistic Director of the company, guided the company through one of the most affecting and nuanced productions imaginable. While the singing and acting was generally quite good, it was the confident directing that created much of the emotional impact and brought the composer’s vision to the audience. There was not a moment that was lazy or had not been thought out, yet there was nothing manipulative about the experience. No one was bludgeoned with meaning; the material simply spoke for itself.
Caitlin Mathes as Sister Dorothy Stang in Encompass New Opera Theatre’s Angel of the Amazon. Photo by Richad Termine.
With a new work there it is always interesting to listen as the composer introduces his musical language. The sections of the story in the “present” time were full of long sustained stringers and atmosphere, which made an interesting contrast with the thicker textures, harmonies, and native rhythms of the flashbacks. Musical theater lovers might hear echoes of Jason Robert Brown’s introspective power, Stephen Sondheim’s peerless narrative style, and even Andrew Lloyd Webber’s unflinching use of chromaticism. However to say that Mack’s work is anything but his own would be to do him a disservice. This music is new and inspiringly brave in its breadth, and yet it is easily accessible to an audience that might have been wary of “modern opera.” The true joys were the Act One quintet and the frequent choral numbers, which were written with an obvious understanding of how voices work together to create something bigger. Mack’s truly beautiful libretto was refreshingly strong. Luiz’s Act Two aria was particularly poignant in its expression of anguished doubt. “What does it take to live the life that you wanted?” He rails at God, “I’ve seen what you did to your only son… what will you do to my dream?”
In the title role of Sister Dorothy, mezzo-soprano Caitlin Mathes possessed a bright and engaging voice with penetrating focus that was shown to its best in the upper range when she opened up and supported. Her acting was truly remarkable; never did one question that this fresh and pretty twenty-something singer was a nun living out her life from her late thirties till her death at seventy three. At times, however, more vocal gravitas would have been welcome; occasionally she simply sounded too young.
The standout performance came from baritone José Rubio as the passionate farmer Luiz. His commanding voice had a depth and presence that was enhanced by natural and crisp diction. His handsome sound was consistent through his generous range. This is a role that star baritones should clamor to sing. Bass-baritone Elex Lee Vann made an strong impression in his multiple roles of gunman, logging company representative, and native farmer. His hearty yet chilling opening solo prepared the way for an evening of evenly beautiful and sturdy singing. Baritone Justin Ryan used his instrument with authority and style in his dual roles of the Bishop and the second gunman. Tenor Adam Russell did not fare as well in his roles of multi-generational landowners. His sizeable tenor was occasionally throaty and tight and turned strident at the top.
The orchestra, ably led by Music Director Mara Waldman, was comprised of marimba, guitar, violins, celli, and two pianos and the amazingly textured sound makes it hard to imagine telling this story with any other grouping. Ultimately this work is almost a love letter to Sr. Dorothy; she is portrayed as such a saint that it is sometimes hard to see with her as a real person. Still, this exciting music gives a voice to a truly important story and Encompass New Opera Theatre has given a voice to a truly important new composer.
Ravinia Engages Pianist Kevin Murphy as Director of the Vocal Program at its Summer Conservatory, the Steans Music Institute
HIGHLAND PARK, IL—North America’s oldest and most programmatically diverse music festival, Ravinia, has named renowned pianist, music administrator and educator Kevin Murphy director of the festival’s summer music conservatory, the Steans Music Institute. He replaces Brian Zeger, who steps down in August after six years in the position. Murphy’s duties will include selecting 15 singers and five pianists from a worldwide pool of applicants to participate in the program each summer as well as securing faculty who will work with these artists over an intensive three-week residency. In consultation with the faculty, he will program four concerts of art song and three master classes each summer.
Kevin Murphy remains director of music administration at the New York City Opera, a position he has held since September of 2008. Before that time, he was director of musical studies at the National Opera of Paris. In 1992 he was the first pianist invited by Maestro James Levine (former Ravinia music director) to participate in the Metropolitan Opera’s Lindemann Young Artist Development Program and continued as an assistant conductor from 1993 through June of 2006. In addition to his on- and off-stage partnership with his wife, soprano Heidi Grant Murphy, he has collaborated in concert and recital with many of today’s leading artists including Steans Music Institute alumna Michelle DeYoung; Nathan Gunn; Bryn Terfel; Placido Domingo; Renee Fleming; and others, including performances of Mozart operas with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra at Ravinia.
“I can think of no better fit for Ravinia and the Steans Music Institute than Kevin, a truly respected and talented pedagogue who will spark and inspire the young professional musicians who will study with him,” said Ravinia Festival Music Director James Conlon. “Kevin is a friend, and I look forward to having him as a festival colleague.”
“I would like to thank Welz Kauffman for asking me to become the next director of the vocal program at the Steans Music Institute, and Maestro Conlon for his musical leadership and confidence in me,” Murphy said. “Having performed at Ravinia several times, I’ve always admired the high level of work and performance in the vocal program under the leadership of Brian Zeger. The collaboration between singer and pianist is uniquely intimate and expressive, and I’m honored to have the opportunity, along with distinguished colleagues, to guide the very best young vocal talent as they study, rehearse and perform the art song literature.”
“When Brian Zeger told me that his increasingly busy schedule would leave me faced with the daunting task of filling his shoes, I turned to an international array of advisors as well as local leaders who are invested in our music institute, and they all came up with one name: Kevin Murphy,” Welz Kauffman said. “Ravinia’s staff director of the Steans Music Institute, Anthony Roberts, and I can’t wait to roll up our sleeves with Kevin. As rewarding as it is to make music, it’s even more fascinating to make musicians.”
Murphy joins Steans Music Institute faculty leaders Miriam Fried, who is director of the piano and strings program; and David Baker, who is director of the Jazz program. Ravinia Festival Trustee leaders of the Steans Music Institute are Robert Krebs, Lois and Harrison Steans, Betsey Pinkert and Harry Bernbaum, who consulted with Kauffman during the hiring process.
The summer conservatory of Ravinia Festival, the Steans Music Institute offers fully paid fellowships to about 70 world-class young artists from around the world who audition for these coveted slots in the vocal program, a jazz program and a piano and strings program. The Steans Music Institute, similar to programs at the Aspen, Marlboro and Tanglewood festivals, focuses on turning skilled and trained musicians into stage-commanding performers. In addition to working with the esteemed Steans Music Institute faculty, they also work with artists who frequent the festival and participate in master classes which are open to the public. Steans participants also perform concerts at Ravinia throughout the annual summer season, which regularly programs more than 100 separate events to audiences exceeding 600,000 people.
“Kevin Murphy is in the vanguard for Americans who have turned song
accompaniment into an art. The pianism was so absorbing, the singer’s entry
seemed like an intrusion. There can be no finer compliment.”
—The San Francisco Examiner
KEVIN MURPHY BIOGRAPHY
Pianist Kevin Murphy has been director of music administration at the New York City Opera since September 2008. Prior to joining the New York City Opera staff, he was appointed by Gerard Mortier as the directeur des etudes musicales at the Opéra National de Paris. In 1992 he was the first pianist invited by Maestro James Levine to participate in the Metropolitan Opera’s Lindemann Young Artist Development Program, and he continued as an assistant conductor from 1993 through June 2006. He has played continuo harpsichord with the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra in productions of Così fan tutte, La Cenerentola, Le nozze di Figaro, Don Giovanni, La Clemenza di Tito and Idomene, and traveled with the company on tour in Japan.
In addition to his on- and off-stage partnership with his wife, soprano Heidi Grant Murphy, he has collaborated in concert and recital with many of today’s leading artists. He is also respected for his work in master classes and as a private coach, and has performed in chamber music collaborations with the Zukerman ChamberPlayers as well as members of the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra and New York Philharmonic.
He has appeared on The Today Show with soprano Renée Fleming, Good Morning America with soprano Cecilia Bartoli, and The Tonight Show with tenor Gary Lakes. He has been musical assistant and played continuo harpsichord for the Seiji Ozawa Opera Project in Japan, at the Tanglewood Music Festival and Verbier for James Levine and worked with Esa-Pekka Salonnen at La Jolla’s SummerFest. Additional festival appearances have included Music@Menlo, Bellingham Festival of Music and Vin et Musique in Burgundy. Murphy has been in residence with the Canadian Opera Company and the Vocal Arts Program at The Juilliard School. He is a regular adjudicator for the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions and will collaborate with members of the Merola Opera Program at the San Francisco Opera in May.
A native of Syracuse, New York, Murphy received his bachelor of music in piano performance from Indiana University and master of music in piano accompaniment from The Curtis Institute. Kevin Murphy makes his home in New York, NY with his wife and their four children.
CCM Opera students perform world premier opera with Encompass New Opera Theater
Caitlin Mathes (AD) and José Rubio (AD) will be preforming with Encompass New Opera Theater in the world premier of Evan Mack’s opera Angel of the Amazon. The production runs May 6th – 22nd and will be performed at the The Jerome Robbins Theater at Baryshnikov Arts Center, 450 West 37th Street, NYC.
Click these links for more information about Encompass New Opera Theater or the opera Angel of the Amazon.
WQRX’s launches opera blog: WQX-Aria
FRED PLOTKIN, one of America’s foremost experts on opera has begun contributing to WXQR’s new opera blog, WQX-Aria.
Click here to read the first post: Opera in Every Sense.
HGO Studio Finals Update
CCM Opera is pleased to announce that both Noel Bouley (A.D.) and Mark Diamond (M.M.) have advanced to the final round of the Houston Grand Opera 23rd Annual Eleanor McCollum Competition for Young Singers. Noel and Mark will now both participate in the Concert of Aria on Cullen Theater stage at the Wortham Theater Center in Houston, Texas.
Congratulations Mr. Bouley and Mr. Diamond!
Good luck Thursday Night!
Toi, toi, toi!
Important Announcement about CCM Spoleto Auditions at CCM
Dear CCM Opera Students, the February 6 auditions for CCM Spoleto are already over capacity!
In order to ensure that all CCM students have an opportunity to audition, and to also better accommodate the CCM performance schedules, we have added several additional dates.
January 31 – singers or instrumentalists
7 pm – 10 pm
Watson Hall
February 7 – instrumentalists
7 pm – 10 pm
Watson Hall
February 16 – singers
7 pm – 10 pm
Watson Hall
To switch your date, please visit this link: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/CCMInHouse
Even if you prefer to keep the national date of Feb. 6, we would appreciate it if you could indicate this by visiting the link above. This will help us make sure that everyone gets the date they want.
Please feel free to visit us in DVAC 119 if you have any questions.
Thank you,
CCM Spoleto
2011 Summer Plans for CCM Opera Students
This summer students from the CCM Opera program will make a significant contribution to various summer festivals. Here are just a few of their accomplishments we would like to announce here on our blog.
Marco Cammarota (MM)
Crested Butte Opera
Davia Bandy (MM)
- Cincinnati Opera
Christopher Allen (AD)
- Cincinnati Opera
Melissa Harvey (MM)
- Cincinnati Opera
Alisa Jordheim (MM)
- Cincinnati Opera
Frederick Ballentine (BM)
- Wolftrap Opera & Des Moines Metropolitan Opera
Tim Bruno (MM)
- Cincinnati Opera
Paulette Penzvalto (AD)
- Des Moines Metropolitan Opera, Indianapolis Opera
Abigail Paschke (MM)
- Cincinnati Opera, Opera Saratoga
Jackie Echols (MM)
- Cincinnati Opera
John Holiday (MM)
- Santa Fe Opera
Jose Rubio (AD)
- The Music Academy of the West
Jill Phillips (MM)
- Wolftrap Opera
Yoongeong Lee (MM)
- Tanglewood Music Festival
Danielle Messina (MM)
- Opera Saratoga
Ian Ramirez (MM)
- Cincinnati Opera, Central City Opera
Hillary Ginther (MM)
- Cincinnati Opera
Kate Tombaugh (MM)
- Santa Fe Opera
Deborah Nansteel (AD)
- San Francisco Opera Merola Program
Mark Diamond (MM)
- San Francisco Opera Merola Program
Xi Wang (AD)
- San Francisco Opera Merola Program
CCM Alumna Tamara Wilson interview from Washington National Opera
CCM alumna Tamara Wilson shares her thoughts in an interview with Washington National Opera. This past September she sang the role of Amelia with WNO and this week she is reprising the role with Teatre Principal de Maó.
