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Past Performances - The Marriage of Figaro 2010
Matrimony, Mayhem, Mozart!
Mozart’s masterpiece and one of the world’s most beloved comic operas was the high point of Rogue Opera’s 2009-2010 Season. In a break from Rogue Opera's past, it was be performed in the original Italian,with English translation in supertitles, and it featured professional opera singers from across the country, a full orchestra and chorus, with beautiful costumes and sets. The Marriage of Figaro includes the characters we loved in The Barber of Seville, all grown up, with grown up problems that have to be resolved in one crazy day. Throw in a teenager with a major crush, a tipsy gardener, and schemers and dreamers looking for love and you have one of Mozart’s finest and funniest operas!
The cast featured singers from across the country and Europe as well as our local musical community and includes:
Countess Almaviva- Dawn Clare
Count Almaviva - Daniel Cilli
Figaro - Kreshnik Zhabjaku
Susanna - Jacquelynne Fontaine
Cherubino- Wendy Parker
Dr. Bartolo - Don Matthews
Marcellina - Charis Peden
Basilio, Don Curzio - Andrew Brock
Barbarina - Marian Horton
Antonio - Dan Gibbs
Serving Girls - Leoni Lanzas and Natali de Assis
  
  
  
  
(From the upper left: Andrew Brock, Marian Horton, Wendy Parker, Kreshnik Zhabjaku, Charis Peden, Dawn Clare, Don Matthews,
Daniel Cilli, Jacquelynne Fontaine , Leoni Lanzas, Natali de Assis, Dan Gibbs)
Noel Koran - Rogue Opera General Director and The Marriage of Figaro Stage Director
In an international theatrical career that has spanned over three decades, Noel Koran has established himself as a stage director with extensive credentials in Opera, Operetta and Shakespeare, having directed productions by such diverse composers and playwrights as Britten, Lehar, Mozart, Puccini, Shakespeare, Smetana, Tchaikovsky and Verdi. Prior to becoming a stage director he appeared on the stage more than 1,000 times in a variety of theatrical and musical genres that include Opera, Operetta and Musicals, as well as Shakespeare, Restoration Comedy, French Farce, 19th Century Melodrama, 20th Century Naturalistic Drama and Theatre of the Absurd. His extensive theatrical experience gives him a unique perspective as a stage director. He’s got an exceptionally broad range and is comfortable with many styles. Noel’s sophisticated, yet emotionally honest approach to directing produces an evening of music drama that is both accessible and satisfying to the public. His dramatic instinct, combined with his understanding of the music, creates a beautifully atmospheric production that achieves that very difficult balance between the necessities of the libretto and the intent of the music.
For more on Dr. Koran, please visit: http://www.noelkoran.com/
Sam McCoy - Conductor
Samuel McCoy is thrilled to be making his Rogue Opera debut with Le Nozze di Figaro. He is currently Principal Conductor of Puget Sound Concert Opera, where he has led performances of Cosi fan Tutte, Cendrillon, Simon Boccanegra and Suor Angelica. Samuel recently served as chorusmaster for the University of Washington's production of Eugene Onegin, as well as conducting scenes from Rigoletto, Un Ballo in Maschera, Turn of the Screw, Die Zauberflˆte, and Die lustigen Weiber von Windsor with the UW Opera Workshop. Currently a resident of Brooklyn, NY, Samuel has served as co-conductor for C4: Choral Composer/Conductor Collective and assistant conductor for the New Amsterdam Singers Chamber Chorus. Upcoming operatic engagements include Dido and Aeneas and scenes from the Fairy Queen with Puget Sound Concert Opera, and Gianni Schicchi with dell’Arte Opera Ensemble in New York.
Francoise Papillon - Coach and Repetiteur
French Canadian pianist Françoise Papillon, a native of Montréal, has performed as a recitalist and participated in music festivals in Canada, the United States, Russia, the British Isles, Ireland, and most countries on the European continent, appearing in such venues as the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam, the National Concert Hall in Dublin and the Villa Bertramka in Prague. She has studied at the École de Musique Vincent-d'Indy, the Université de Montréal, the Manhattan School of Music in New York (with Ruth Laredo), and the Royal Irish Academy of Music in Dublin (with John O’Conor). She has received scholarships from several organizations, including the Fonds Québécois de la recherche sur la société et la culture (FQRSC), the Conseil des Arts et Lettres du Québec, the Canada Council for the Arts, the Canadian Federation of University Women (Dr. Alice E. Wilson Award) and the University of Washington, where she recently held a graduate assistantship (2006-2009) while completing her doctorate degree in piano performance in the studio of Craig Sheppard. In addition to concentrating on the solo repertoire, Françoise works extensively with singers and instrumentalists, as an accompanist, vocal coach and opera repetiteur, including services for Opera Ireland and Wexford Opera Festival (2004-2005), University of Washington Opera (2006-2009) and AIMS in Graz, Austria (2009). Françoise Papillon is currently based in Seattle, where was recently featured as soloist performing Beethoven Fourth Piano Concerto in Meany Theater with UW Symphony and Seattle Symphony conducted by Gerard Schwarz. She was also finalist of the Seattle International Piano Competition.
Wendy Parker - Cherubino
Wendy Parker makes her Rogue Opera debut this season as Cherubino in The Marriage of Figaro. Last season, Ms. Parker sang over 30 performances as Cenerentola in Rossini’s La Cenerentola with Portland Opera, on the Portland Opera-to-Go tour. With Opera Theater of Oregon, she played Mrs. Nolan in their wildly successful production of The Medium, and in February 2010 Ms.Parker sang the role of Lady Psyche in the Sudbury Savoyards production of Gilbert and Sullivan's Princess Ida. Wendy began her career as a soprano, singing the roles of Lady Billows in Albert Herring, Fiordiligi in Così fan tutte, and Donna Elvira in Don Giovanni, and later developed into a mezzo-soprano. She has appeared as a concert soloist in the Yuletide Spectacular 2007 (Oregon Symphony), Beethoven’s Mass in C, Bach’s Magnificat, and Vivaldi’s Gloria (University of Portland Orchestra), Handel's Messiah (San Francisco Conservatory Orchestra), Bach’s Wedding Cantata, and Haydn’s Lord Nelson Mass (Redding Symphony). Her musical theater roles include Maria in West Side Story, Josephine in HMS Pinafore, and Rapunzel in Into the Woods. Wendy Parker completed her Master of Music at San Francisco Conservatory of Music, and trained at OperaWorks in Los Angeles, and the American Institute for Musical Studies in Austria. She was a member of the Portland Opera Chorus and taught voice for five years at the University of Portland. She has recently returned to her native Massachusetts to pursue performing, teaching and songwriting.
Daniel Cilli - Count Almaviva
During the 2009 - 2010 season, fourth-year Opera San Jose resident artist Daniel Cilli appears as Lescaut (Manon), Dandini (La Cenerentola), and Count Almaviva (The Marriage of Figaro.) Last season, Mr. Cilli appeared in the title role of Eugene Onegin, Belcore (The Elixir of Love), Guglielmo (Così fan tutte) and Escamillo (Carmen). Other OSJ roles performed include Enrico (Lucia di Lammermoor), Albert (Werther), Marullo (Rigoletto), Papageno (The Magic Flute), Mercutio (Roméo et Juliette), Figaro (Il barbiere di Siviglia), Baron Douphol (La traviata), and Sharpless (Madama Butterfly).
Mr. Cilli has participated in training programs at the Aspen Opera Theatre Center, Houston Grand Opera Studio, Central City Opera, Utah Symphony & Opera, Des Moines Metro Opera and the Tanglewood Music Center. He received a Master of Music Degree from the New England Conservatory of Music and a Bachelor of Music Degree from Stetson University.
Click here for more about Daniel
Dawn Clare - Countess Almaviva
Dawn Clare, soprano, makes her Rogue Opera debut this season as Countess Almaviva in The Marriage of Figaro. Ms. Clare has been lauded as “one who can make a strong impression on stage and who possesses a large voice with a unique quality, rich color of sound, and an easy upper register.” She started her singing career at age sixteen at the Interlochen Arts Academy in a program sponsored by the University of Michigan. There she won first prize in the program’s academic/performance scholarship competition. Ms. Clare went on to attend the University of Texas at Austin and earn a Bachelor of Music degree in Applied Voice. She later earned a Master of Music degree in Voice Pedagogy and Performance from Westminster Choir College.
A versatile performer, Ms. Clare has sung diverse styles and roles. She has delighted audiences with performances of Tosca; Turandot; Manon Lescaut; Mimi (La Bohème); Magda (La Rondine); The First Lady (The Magic Flute); Vitellia (La Clemenza di Tito); Giulietta (Tales of Hoffman); The Prima Donna (Le Convenienze Teatrali); Rosalinda (Die Fledermaus); Laurie (The Tender Land); Nedda (I Pagliacci); The Foreign Woman (The Consul); and Manon. She has performed with Des Moines Metro Opera, Austin Lyric Opera, The University of Texas Opera Theater, and Westminster Opera Theater.
Equally at home in concert repertoire, Ms. Clare has sung great orchestral and oratorio works in the repertoire. Some of these include The Messiah (Handel); The Creation (Haydn); The Ninth Symphony(Beethoven); Elijah(Mendelssohn); Requiem,(Duruflé); and Mass in B Minor(Bach).
She was apprentice artist finalist with Houston Grand Opera, the Lyric Opera of Chicago, and Central City Opera. Ms. Clare was also winner of the NATS Competition, Westminster Graduate Voice Competition, University of Texas Academic/Competitive Scholarship, and a National Finalist in the YWCA Studio Club Vocal Competition.
She currently resides in New York City and studies with renowned voice teacher, Lorraine Nubar.
Kreshnik Zhabjaku - Figaro
Kreshnik Zhabjaku began his singing career at the age of four. When he was twelve, he won First Prize in the "Young Voices" competition in his native Albania. In 1993, he graduated from the artistic lyceum Jordan Misja. He received his Bachelor’s Degree in Vocal Performance from Tirana's Academy of Fine Arts in 1997 and his Master’s Degree in Vocal Performance from the Mannes College of Music in New York, 2003. Among his many distinctions and honors, Mr. Zhabjaku performed by special invitation in concerts at the Music University of Vienna and at the Annecy Festival in France; he participated in master classes on old Andalusian Music in Marseilles; he won First Prize as "Best Young Singer" in Albania's Art Song Performance competition and he was winner of the prestigious Arleen Auger Memorial Fund Scholarship for 2001.
Mr. Zhabjaku has performed with many outstanding orchestras in Europe and appeared regularly in France, Italy and Austria.
Mr. Zhabjaku sang his first Aeneas in a new production of Purcell's Dido and Aeneas with the One World Symphony and gave a "command performance" at the German
Consulate in New York of Beethoven's six-song cycle An die ferne Geliebte. He made his US concert début as soloist in Händel's Messiah with the Duluth-Superior Symphony Orchestra under the direction of Maestro Markand Thakar, and was enthusiastically acclaimed for his stirring performances in the all-Schumann programs at New York's Weill Recital Hall. He sang Belcore in Donizetti's L'Elisir d'amore in his company début with Houston's Opera in the Heights and was enthusiastically praised when he returned to sing his first Don Giovanni in the United States. He made his company début with L'Opéra Français de New York as the Grand Priest in Rameau's Castor et Pollux with Maestro Yves Abel conducting and he also performed in Bel Canto at Caramoor, 2005 and 2007.
Please Click here for a more complete Bio and Resume at Mr. Zhabjaku's website
Charis Peden - Marcellina
Mezzo soprano Charis Peden made her debut as Marcellina in Le nozze di Figaro at the 2009 Bay View Music Festival (MI), which she will reprise this summer as a young artist with Sugar Creek Symphony and Song (IL). A recent graduate of Indiana University Jacobs School of Music, Peden performed as Mdm. de la Haltière in Cendrillon under the baton of Ronald Zollman and Candace in the collegiate premiere of A Wedding. Other operatic roles include Miss Todd in The Old Maid and the Thief (ExArt, IN), La Principessa in Suor Angelica (Abilene Christian University, TX), and Zita in Gianni Schicchi (understudy). She was recently a finalist of the Lake Regions Opera Company New Hampshire Opera Idol competition. Committed to the art of the song recital, Peden has participated in Wolf and Schumann Liederabends with pianist Casey Robards, as well as the IU Student National Association of Teachers Singing Chapter's Living Composers Forum recital with William Bolcom and Joan Morris. This fall, in addition to returning to Indiana University for doctoral studies, Peden will present a guest recital and master class at the Universidad del Norte in Barranquilla, Colombia with collaborative pianist Kimberly Carballo.
Don Matthews - Dr. Bartolo
Currently a voice teacher in the Rogue Valley, Don was a student of the great French baritone, Martial Singher. He received his Masters in Vocal Performance from the University of Southern California and sang for several seasons with the San Francisco Opera. Don is a member of the Music department of Southern Oregon University and is also the host of JPR's Saturday Morning Opera with Don Matthews.
Don has appeared in numerous Rogue Valley productions including Rogue Music Theatre's South Pacific as 'Emile de Becque' and Kiss Me Kate 'Petrucchio'.
Click Here for more on Don Matthews
Andrew Brock - Basilio, Don Curzio
Originally from Santa Cruz, CA, Andrew earned his undergraduate degree in music education from the University of Oregon and moved to the Rogue Valley in 1996, to begin a career as a general music teacher, choral director, and part-time performer. In 2005, Andrew completed Master’s Degrees in Voice and Music Education from the University of Oregon. Go Ducks!
As a scholarship recipient, Andrew attended the Aspen Music Festival and School in the summer of 2003, where he worked with tenor, Vinson Cole, and Julliard director, Edward Berkeley. In 2007, again a scholarship winner, Andrew participated in the extensive four-week vocal camp OperaWorks in Los Angeles, where he was featured in the original work, My Other, My Selves, directed by Ann Baltz and Eli Villanueva. In 2008-2009 season, Andrew sung the tenor role in Bach’s Coffee Contata and the roasting swan in Orff’s Carmina Burana with the Rogue Valley Symphony under the baton of Arthur Shaw. Other recent local appearances include, Tamino, in Rogue Opera’s The Magic Flute, and as Archibald Craven in Camelot Theatre’s production of The Secret Garden.
Regional company appearances include roles with: Eugene Opera, Eugene Symphony, Rogue Opera, Obsidian Opera (Bend), University of Oregon Opera Ensemble, Rogue Valley Chorale, Rogue Valley Symphony, Siskiyou Singers, Rogue Music Theatre, and the Camelot Theatre (Talent).
Andrew currently teaches general music and choir at Walker Elementary in Ashland, Oregon, and is an instructor of voice at Southern Oregon University.
Dan Gibbs – Antonio
Dan Gibbs is a student at SOU majoring in music with an emphasis on Vocal Performance. He is a two-time Oregon State Bass Champion, and two-time National Association of Teachers of Singing Cascade Chapter Pre-College Male Champion. He was selected for the 2005 ACDA National High School Honor Choir in Los Angeles and the 2005 MENC All-Northwest High School Honor Choir in Bellevue, Washington. Dan was an Armed Man and chorister in Rogue Opera’s production of The Magic Flute in 2007 and played Dr. Cajus in RO's 2008 production of The Merry Wives of Windsor. He sang in the past two year’s Voices from the Valley Opera Scenes Concerts as Alidoro in Cenerentola, Bottom in A Midsummer Nights Dream and Jupiter in Orpheus in the Underworld. He will sing the part of Figaro in both The Barber of Seville and Le Nozze di Figaro, as well as Frank in Die Fledermaus in this year's Voices Concerts.
Jacquelynne Fontaine - Susanna
In a recent review, soprano Jacquelynne Fontaine was hailed "elegantissima… piena dipassione [full of passion]" for her portrayal of Donna Anna in Don Giovanni, in Viterbo, Italy.
Miss Fontaine is a Southern California native, performing with orchestras ranging from the the Orchestra di Roma del Lazio, the Glendale Symphony, the Conejo Pops, and numerous Symphony Orchestras in Orange County.
Among her operatic lead roles Miss Fontaine is found most performing Mozart heroines: Pamina in The Magic Flute, Donna Anna and Donna Elvira in Don Giovanni, and Ilia in Idomeneo, the two former with the Tuscia Operafestival in Viterbo, Italy, and the latter USC Opera at the Thornton School of Music. At home on both the operatic and concert stage, Miss Fontaine was called "a soprano new to us, and all the more wondrous for that" by Alan Rich in his review of her Jacaranda Concert Series debut. Recent awards include: Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions Western Regional Finalist and District Winner, 4th place in the Palm Springs Opera Guild Competition, Rio Hondo Symphony "Young Artist of the Year", and the National Association of Teachers of Singing, Los Angeles, "Singer of the Year". In 2007, Miss Fontaine was crowned Miss California, and placed in the top ten at Miss America 2007, also winning the talent award for her performance of Puccini’s "Vissi d’arte". She spent the year traveling the state speaking to children and adults on the importance of Diabetes Awareness. She is a second year doctoral student at the Thornton School of Music, studying with Gary Glaze.
Visit Jacquelynne's website for more information
Marian Horton - Barbarina
Marian Horton has been a featured performer throughout the Rogue Valley. A graduate of Linfield College, she has made a name for herself as a diverse performer, doing roles from musicals, operas and plays, most notably with Camelot Theater (A Little Night Music, Fahrenheit 451), Rogue Opera (Opera in the Schools 2005 and 2006, The Magic Flute, Pirates of Penzance), and Rogue Music Theater (AnythingGoes, Crazy for You). Additionally, Marian has been a featured soloist with Southern Oregon Repertory Singers, Siskiyou Singers and several area churches. Marian made her European debut performing the role of Helene in Hindemith’s Hinund Zurueck at the Kurt Weill Festival in Dessau.
Leoni Lanzas - Serving Girl
Originally from Honolulu, HI, Leoni began voice lessons at the age of 14. After participating in Rogue Opera's complete singer workshop, Leoni discovered her love of opera and decided to focus on a music performance major with the intent to pursue a career in opera performance. Leoni has appeared locally for three seasons in Rogue Valley Opera's Opera Scenes Workshops with Willene Gunn as well as singing in the opera chorus for Rogue Opera's The Magic Flute, Merry Wives of Windsor and La Boheme. She has been vice-president of the student chapter of MENC and has participated in the OMEA conferences for two years. Leoni was recently honored by the Ashland Chapter of the American Association of University Women as SOU's most accomplished music department performance graduate this year. Having completed her BA in music performance, Leoni plans to continue her vocal studies with her current teachers Ellie Murray and Laurie Hunter in preparation for auditions for young artist programs and Graduate programs in performance. Leoni thanks her voice teachers Ellie Murray and Laurie Hunter, and a big mahalo to Mom, Dad and Cindy.
Natali de Assis - Serving Girl
Natali Lais de Assis graduated Cum Laude from the University of Oregon with a Bachelor of Arts in Theater in 2008. She has appeared at the UO as Kathy in Company, Helen in The Trojan Women, in the LCC summer musical as Marian in The Music Man, and Fiona in Brigadoon at the Hult Center in Eugene. Her previous Rogue Opera performances were in Voices of the Valley opera workshop, in the chorus of La Boheme, and as a performer in the Opera in the Schools program. She appeared in Cabaret and The Secret Garden at the Camelot Theater in Talent, and sings in various jazz groups around Ashland.
Performances were Sunday, May 9 at 3 PM at the Grants Pass Performing Arts Center
and
Friday May 14 at 8 PM and Sunday May 16 at 3 PM at the Craterian Ginger Rogers Theater in Medford
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