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The Summer KingMay 12-20, 2018
MUSIC Daniel Sonenberg
LIBRETTO DanielSonenbergandDanielNester,withadditionallyricsbyMarkCampbell
WORLD PREMIERE PittsburghOpera
April29,2017
Daniel Sonenberg
*Co-ProductionwithMichiganOperaTheatreandPittsburghOpera“TheSummerKing”MusicandLibrettoCopyright2017byDanielSonenberg.AllRightsReserved.SundayPerformanceSponsorSaturdayPerformanceSponsor
CONDUCTOR StevenMercurio
STAGE DIRECTOR SamHelfrich
CHORUS MASTER SuzanneMallareActon
SCENERY AND PROPERTY DESIGN AndrewLieberman
COSTUME DESIGN KayeVoyce
VIDEO DESIGN Darrel Maloney
LIGHTING DESIGN RobertWierzel
WIG & MAKE-UP DESIGN JoanneWeaver
ASSISTANT STAGE DIRECTOR ChristopherHazlett
ASSOCIATE LIGHTING DESIGNER
TedBoyce-Smith
REPETITEUR JeanSchneider
STAGE MANAGER KenSaltzman
SUPERTITLES Dee Dorsey
2018 Spring Opera Season Sponsor
20 BRAVO•Spring2018 www.MichiganOpera.org MichiganOperaTheatre
THE SUMMER KING
The Summer King
SYNOPSIS
ACT ISCENE 1: Cut Off Man barbershop, Brooklyn, NY, 1957Boysplayingstickballhitaballintoabarbershop.Whentheradioplays“DidYaSeeJackieRobinsonHitThatBall?”theElderandYoungerBarbersargueabouttheNegroLeagueandthelegacyofJoshGibson.TheElderBarberremembersGibson’sincredibleaccomplishmentsanddescribesthedaythatGibsonhitaballcompletelyoutofYankeeStadium.
SCENE 2: Yankee Stadium, NY, 1930TheElderBarberimaginesaRadioAnnouncerdescribingtheepicbattlebetweenpitcherBroadwayConnieRectorandayoungJoshGibson.
SCENE 3: A park in Homestead, PA, 1930SpectatorsrespondtoJosh’stremendoushomerun.Helen,hisyoungwife,arriveswithblackberrypie.Theylookforwardtotheirfuture(BeautifulAfternoon)andHelentellsJoshthatshe’spregnant.Amusicalinterludeturnsdark.JoshsadlyreflectsonHelen’sdeathgivingbirthtotheirtwinchildrenandhiscommitmenttohisremaininglove—thegameofbaseball.
SCENE 4: Crawford Grill, Pittsburgh, PA, 1935PlayersandfansofthePittsburghCrawfordscelebrateandpraiseMr.GusGreenlee,ownerofboththeCrawfordGrillandtheteam.JosharriveswithHattie.WendellSmith,fromthePittsburgh Courier,introduceshimselftoJosh.Thedailynumberis
called.Graceisthewinner;shebet440,whichwasJosh’sbattingaveragethepreviousseason.Smithsuggeststhatwithnumberslikethat,Joshmightmakehistorybyplayingforawhiteteamandbreakingthecolorbarrier,anideahisteammates,ledbyDoubleDutyRadcliffe,disdain.JoshandhisteammatesscoffatSmith’sidea,butJoshissecretlyintriguedbyit.Gracepersuadeshimtoconsiderit.
SCENE 5: Wendell Smith’s office, Pittsburgh Courier, March, 1938Wendell“Smitty”SmithasksJoshtoconsiderworkingtogethertobreakthecolorbarrier.Smithrecallshisexperiencewithsegregationincollegeandadmitsthathewasnever“lightning”likeJosh.SmithsaysJoshcouldchangeeverything.Joshagreestothinkaboutit.
SCENE 6: Josh’s apartment, Pittsburgh, PA, March 1938JoshandGrace,nowacouple,returnfromanightonthetown.Shescoldshim,describeshisgreatness,andurgeshimtobroadenhisdreams.
SCENE 7: Owner’s office, Griffith Stadium, Washington, DC, April 1940ClarkGriffithandhisnephewmeetwithJoshanddanglethenotionofplayingfortheSenators.Themeetinghasclearlybeensetuptoappeasetheblackpress.AftercomplimentingJosh’sskills,theywarnhimabouttheconsequencesofplayinginthemajors.Theexchangegrowsthreatening(Mensuchaswe).TheGriffithspompouslydescribetheirresponsibilityandtheirforemostconcernwithJosh’sbestinterests,makingitcleartheyhavenointentionofsigninghim.ClarkwalksJoshtothedoorandtellshim,“Boy,there’sacoloredfacilityatthetopofthestairs.”
SCENE 8: Outside the Griffith Office, and Crawford Grill, April 1940Josh,demoralizedandfrustrated,saysallheeverwantedwashiswifeHelenandthegame.HearrivesattheCrawfordGrill,whereplayersarediscussingalucrativeofferfromMexicothathingesonJosh’sparticipation.SmithwantsJoshtostayandfight,butJosheagerlyacceptsthedeal(HelloMexico).Graceagrees,“aslongasit’stemporary.”
CAST(In order of vocal appearance)
Elder Barber:...................................................................NormanShankleYounger Barber:........................................................................ PhillipGayRadio Announcer:............................................................ RaymondVeryHelen Gibson:............................................................... JacquelineEcholsJosh Gibson:........................................................................... LesterLynch Gus Greenlee:.................................................................NormanShankleJudy Johnson:.............................................................. AnthonyMcGlaunCool Papa Bell:.......................................................................... PhillipGayDouble Duty Radcliffe:.......................................................Darius GillardWendell Smith:....................................................................SeanPanikkarHattie:....................................................................................NicoleJosephScribe:.....................................................................................MartinBakariGirlfriend:............................................................................OliviaJohnsonGrace:............................................................................ DeborahNansteelSam Bankhead:.............................................................. KennethKelloggClark Griffith:..................................................................... RaymondVeryCalvin Griffith:................................................................Harry Greenleaf+Senor Alcalde:....................................................................MoisésSalazarMariachi Singer 1:..............................................................JosephLeppekMariachi Singer 2:................................................................SethJohnsonMariachi Singer 3:....................................................MatthewKonopackiBranch Rickey:................................................................... RaymondVeryTrash Talking Player:...........................................................MartinBakariDave Hoskins:.............................................................BrandenC.S.Hood
+MichiganOperaTheatreStudioArtist
MichiganOperaTheatre www.MichiganOpera.org BRAVO•Spring2018 21
THE SUMMER KING
ACT II.SCENE 1: Escambron Stadium, Vera Cruz, Mexico, October 1941DuringacelebrationfeaturingMexicanmusic,JoshisheraldedasplayeroftheyearbySeñorAlcalde.SamtellsJoshaboutanofferfrombackhomematchingtheMexicanpaytheyreceive.Graceisexcitedtoreturnhome,butJoshcelebratesthegoodlifetheplayersenjoyinMexico.Astherevelersleave,GracetellsJoshthatshe’snotstayinginMexico.Hattie,nowwithDoubleDutyRadcliffe,sharesajointwithJoshasheandhisfriendscelebrate“highliving.”Joshcomplainsthathisheadisn’tfeelingsowell,andasthecelebrationbeginstospinoutofcontrol,Joshproclaimshisneedtogohome,andthenloseshisbalanceandcollapses.
SCENE 2: Wendell Smith’s office, Pittsburgh Courier, March 1945BranchRickeytellsSmiththatheisproudlyreadytohireablackplayerfortheBrooklynDodgers.Rickeyneedssomeone“withthespirittofightback,but...thegutsnotto.”SmithtellsRickey,“Imayhaveanameforyou.”
SCENE 3: An empty ballfield, Homestead, PA, October 1945Josh,lookinghaggardandbloated,standsaloneonafieldhittingballs,lamentingthatnothing’schangedforhiminthefouryearssinceMexico,andthenexpressesagonyatsomethingpressedagainsthishead.Players,includingSamBankhead,engageinapickupgame.TrashTalkingPlayertakesaturnatbatwithJoshcatchingbehindhim.Thetwotradeinsults,withJosheventuallygettingthebetterofthesituation.SamurgestheyoungerplayerstorespectJosh,anddescribeshisfamousYankeeStadiumhomerun.WendellSmiththenarrives,excitedlytellingthenewsthatJackieRobinsonhasbeenhiredbytheDodgers.Joshiscrestfallen(Igotmyownleague).
SCENE 4: Crawford Grill (now closed), October 1945JoshhasbustedintotheoldCrawfordGrill,bringinghisownbeercans.GracechidesJoshforbeingtoocaughtupinhis“ownleague,”askinghim,“Youthinkyoucandrinkyourwayintothebigleagues?”Joshtalksofimaginary
conversationswithJoeDiMaggio.Gracetellshimthatherhusbandisreturningfromwar,andthatsheisleaving.Shedescribesthedreamsshehadoftranscendingherdrearyexistenceinalovelessmarriagewithfewmaterialcomforts;sherealizesthatshehastofaceherreallifeandabandonherfantasiesforJosh—fantasieshenevershared.
SCENE 5: Bedroom, Josh’s mother’s house, Pittsburgh, PA, 1947JoshspeaksintentlytoanimaginaryJoeDiMaggio,asking“Youain’tgonnaanswerme?”Joshsaysthathewilldiethatnight.SampayshisrespectstohisdyingfriendandtellshimthatJackieRobinsonisgoingtojointheDodgers.TheylistentothenewsontheradioasJoshwithdrawsintohisowndelirium.Helen’sghostvisitsandthetworemembertheirhopesforabrightfuture(BeautifulAfternoon).Helendisappears.JoshrealizeswhereheisandspeakstoSamabouthisfabledYankeeStadiumhomerun:“Itwentoutalongway...Ihopeyou’llrememberthat.”Joshdies.SamremembersthefallenSummerKing,wholedallNegroLeaguerstothePromisedLand,butwasdeniedentryhimself.Hethencontemplateshisownplight,andthatofhiscontemporaries—playerswhowereeithertooold,ornotgreatenough,toenjoythefruitsofintegration.TheElderBarberextollsJoshGibson’sgreatnessasSamwondersaboutfate,asking“Didweneedtobegreatermenthanourkingtoavoidourking’sfate?”
SCENE 6: Cut Off Man barbershop, Brooklyn, NY, 1957TheElderandYoungerBarberscontinuetheirargumentuntiltheYoungerBarberputson“thedamngame.”
EPILOGUE: Outside Yankee Stadium, NY, 1930ChildrenplaystickballoutsideYankeeStadium.TheRadioAnnouncercallsthelegendaryhomerun.ThebatcracksandtheStreetKidsfreeze,lookingstraightuptothesky,asking“Where’ditgo?Isitfair?”Thekidsscatterandoneboyemergeswiththebaseball(Didyasee?).—Courtesy of Pittsburgh Opera
ARTIST PROFILESMartin Bakari (Scribe, TrashTalkingPlayer)MartinBakari hasbeenpraisedby Opera News asa“vocallycharismaticperformerwithagoldentenor.”TrainedattheJuilliardSchool,TanglewoodMusicCenter,andBostonUniversity,hehasrecentlyappearedwithPittsburghOpera,UtahOpera,PortlandOpera,LAOpera/BethMorrisonProjects,OperaCarolina,MadisonOpera,VirginiaOpera,OperaSaratogaandtheJohnF.KennedyCenterforthePerformingArts.HehasalsoperformedwiththeNewHampshirePhilharmonic,JazzatLincolnCenterOrchestraandNewYorkHarlemProductionsforPorgy & Bess toursinGermany,Italy,andIsrael.Additionallythisseason,Mr.BakarisingsTaminoinOpéraLouisiane’s The Magic Flute, PrinceinOnSiteOpera’sMorningStar,andCastlemaninPittsburghOpera’sThe Long Walk. FutureengagementsincludeCharlieParkerinArizonaOpera’sCharlie Parker’s Yardbird,PetertheHoneyman inSeattleOpera’sPorgy & Bess,PedrilloinLivermoreValleyOpera’sDie Entführung aus dem Serail,andtheVisitorinPortlandOpera’sIn the Penal Colony. Mr.Bakari’srecordingofGrigorySmirnov’sDowson Songs(NaxosRecords)wasrecentlyfeaturedbyOperaNewsasa“Critic’sChoice”album.
Mark Campbell (Co-librettist)MarkCampbell’sworkasalibrettistisattheforefrontofthecurrentcontemporaryoperasceneinthiscountry.Hehaswrittenmorethan15librettos,fiveofwhichpremieredin2017,andtherosterofcomposerswithwhomhehasworkedrepresentsmanyofthemostnotablecomposersofourtime.Hismostknownworkis
22 BRAVO•Spring2018 www.MichiganOpera.org MichiganOperaTheatre
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Silent Night,whichreceivedthe2012PulitzerPrizeinMusicandisoneofthemostfrequentlyperformedoperasinrecenthistory.HisothersuccessfuloperasincludeAs One,Later the Same Evening, Volpone, Bastianello/Lucrezia, The Manchurian Candidate, The Inspector,andmostrecently,The Shining.Awardsinclude:aGrammy®nomination,thefirstKlebanFoundationAwardforLyricist,twoRichardRodgersAwards,aLarsonFoundationAward,aNYFAPlaywritingFellowship,andthefirstDominicJ.PelliciottiAward.Mr.CampbellalsomentorsfuturegenerationsofwritersthroughsuchorganizationsasAmericanOperaProjects,AmericanLyricTheatre,theUniversityofColorado’sNewOperaWorkshop,andWashingtonNationalOpera’sAmericanOperaInitiative.Premieresin2017included:Elizabeth Cree,Dinner at Eight,Some Light Emerges,The Nefarious, Immoral but Highly Profitable Enterprise of Mr. Burke & Mr. Hare,and The (R)evolution of Steve Jobs.(Courtesy Pittsburgh Opera).
Jacqueline Echols (HelenGibson)AnativeofDetroit,lyricsopranoJacquelineEcholshasbeenpraisedforher“dynamicrangeandvocalacrobatics”by Classical Voice intheatersacrosstheUnitedStates.Whenshedebutedas Pip in Moby Dick withtheLosAngelesOpera,herperformancewasdescribedbyOpera Today ashaving“soaredgracefullyoverHeggie’sorchestra,soloistsandchorus.”Recently,JacquelinereprisedtheroleofPipwiththePittsburghOperaandperformed GildaintheNorthCarolinaOpera’sproductionofRigoletto. Lastsummer,shemadeherdebutwiththeBostonSymphonyOrchestraattheTanglewoodMusicFestivalasWoglindeinDas Rheingold. AgraduateoftheYoungArtistsProgramwiththeWashingtonNationalOpera,JacquelinehasperformedwiththeorganizationasMicaëlainCarmen,WoglindeandForestBirdinthefullRing Cycle,theUnicornintheworldpremiereofJeanineTesori’sThe Lion, the Unicorn, and Me,andClorindainLa Cenerentola.
Phillip Gay (YoungerBarber, CoolPapaBell)Americanbass-baritonePhillipGayisanalumnusofthePittsburghOperaResidentArtistProgram,theGlimmerglassYoungArtistsProgram,andaDistrictWinnerinthe2014and2011MetropolitanOperaNationalCouncilAuditions.AnativeofBeaumont,Texas,Mr.GayreceivedhisBachelorofMusicinVocalPerformancefromLamarUniversity,andhisMasterofMusicinVocalPerformancefromUniversityofIllinoisatUrbana-Champaign.RecentengagementsincludedebutingtheroleofCoolPapaBell in The Summer King forPittsburghOperaandperformingthebasketballopera BouncewiththeUniversityofKentucky.HighlightsincludeZunigain CarmenwithSt.PetersburgOpera,Colline in La bohème withSyracuseOpera,HortensiusinDaughter of the RegimentwithIntermountainOpera,andSenecainL’ incoronazione di Poppea withNewYorkLyricOperaTheatre.OtherrolesincludeLodovicoin Otello,GaribaldoinRodelinda, King in Aida,SparafucileinRigoletto,DonQuixoteinMan of La Mancha,BalthazarinAmahl and the Night Visitors, Silvano in La Calisto,andbasssoloistinMozart’sRequiemwiththeEriePhilharmonic.
Darius Gillard (DoubleDutyRadcliffe)Tenor Darius Gillard issteadilygainingmomentumonregionaloperaticcircuits.Praisedforhiswarmlegatoandcharismaticpresence,heexcelsinthelyricrepertoire.Todate,hehasperformedanumberofrolesinoperasrangingfromtheclassicalworksofMozarttotheverismooperasofVerdiandPuccini.HehasappearedinleadingandsupportingroleswithseveralcompaniesincludingtheConnecticutLyricOpera,GreenvilleLightOperaWorks,CapitolOperaRaleigh,andHartfordOperaTheater.HehasalsomadeappearanceswiththeCharlestonChamberOrchestra,
FlintSymphonyOrchestra,andtheDetroitFestivalCamerataasafeaturedsoloistinvariousoratorioworks.Presently,heisconcludingdoctoralstudiesattheUniversityofMichigan.
Harry Greenleaf (CalvinGriffith)Wixom,MichigannativeHarryGreenleafisMichiganOperaTheatreStudio’sresidentbaritone.HemadehisdebutwithMichiganOperaTheatrein2016intheroleofTopin The Tender Land.Previous MOT creditsalsoincludeLeBretin Cyrano,JackWallacein The Girl of the Golden West andMoralesin Carmen.Thisseason,heperformedwithMOTasMarullo in Rigoletto, LeoSteinandManRayinRickyIanGordon’s27 and SciarroneinTosca. HehasbeenaStudioArtistwiththeWolfTrapOperaCompany,anApprenticeArtistwithDesMoinesMetroOperaandaYoungArtistwiththeGlimmerglassFestival.HeholdsaMasterofMusicdegreefromtheUniversityofCincinnatiCollege-ConservatoryofMusicandisanalumnusoftheMichiganStateUniversityCollegeofMusic.
Sam Helfrich (StageDirector)DirectorSamHelfrichmakeshisMichiganOperaTheatredebutwithThe Summer King,afterdirectingitssuccessfulworldpremierewithPittsburghOperalastyear.OperahighlightsincludeHaydn’s Creation,Bach’s St. John Passion andHandel’sMessiah withthePittsburghSymphony;TonyKushner’sAngels in America atNewYorkCityOpera;Mark-AnthonyTurnage’s Greek atBostonLyricOpera;Orpheus in the Underworld andAndrePrevin’s A Streetcar Named Desire atVirginiaOpera;the worldpremiereof BenMoore’s Enemies: A Love StoryatPalmBeachOpera;PhilipGlass’ Kepler andAnthonyDavis’ Amistad atSpoletoFestivalUSA;JohnAdams’ Nixon in China atEugeneOpera;MichaelDellaira’s The Secret Agent atCenter
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forContemporaryOperainNewYork,theArmelOperaFestivalinHungary,andOperaAvignon;and PhilipGlass’ Orphée atvariouscompanies.RecenttheatercreditsincludeArthurMiller’s After The Fall attheNewYorkUniversityTischSchooloftheArtsGraduateActingprogramandoff-Broadwayproductionsof Owned, by JulianSheppard,and Tape,byStephenBelber,aswellasadoublebillofplaysbyGeorgeBernardShawandAlfredDeMussetattheFranklinStageCompany. Upcomingprojectsinclude The Magic Flute withtheIndianapolisSymphonyOrchestraaswellasa worldpremiereindevelopmentwithNewYorkCityOpera.
Branden C.S. Hood (DaveHoskins)BrandenC.S.HoodisafrequentperformerwithMichiganOperaTheatre.HesungtheroleofMr.DashwoodinMOT’s2017productionof Little Women andisamemberoftheMOTChorusandCommunityOutreachPrograms.OtherperformancesincludeFordinFalstaffwithOperaMODOinDetroit,FalstaffinDie lustigen weiber von Windsor,IlConteinLe nozze di FigaroandthetitleroleofDon GiovanniwiththeLyricOperaofWeimarinGermany.HehasattendedtheyoungartistprogramsoftheMartinaArroyoFoundation’sPreludetoPerformance,PineMountainMusicFestival(2010),OperaSaratoga(OutreachArtist2010),andDaytonOpera(2009).Mr.HoodholdsMasterofMusicandspecialistdegreesfromtheUniversityofMichiganandaBachelorofMusicdegreeinOperaEmphasis/VocalPerformancefromtheBostonConservatory.HeisarecipientofThePresserFoundationAwardofEncouragementfromtheMichiganDistrictoftheMetropolitanOperaNationalCouncilAuditionsandtheMarioLanzaInstitute.
Olivia Johnson (Girlfriend)AnativeofNorthCarolina,OliviaJohnsonrecentlyearnedhermaster’sdegreeinvoiceperformanceattheUniversityofMichigan.Thisseason
sheisamemberofMichiganOperaTheatre’sTouringEnsemble.InOctober2017,sheplacedfifthintheAmericanInternationalCzechandSlovakVoiceCompetitioninGreenBay,Wisconsin.ThispastsummershewonfirstplaceinthenationalVocalArtsCompetitionforEmergingArtistssponsoredbytheNationalAssociationofNegroBusinessandProfessionalWomen’sClubs,Inc.ShealsoappearedintheroleofMercédèsinCarmenattheMartinaArroyoFoundation,PreludetoPerformanceinthesummerof2017.SheattendedtheAmericanInstituteofMusicalStudies(AIMS)inGraz,Austriainthesummerof2016.HerpreviousrolesincludeGertrudeinCharlesGounod’sRoméo et Juliette and Dorbella in Cosí fan tuttebyW.A.MozartattheUniversityofMichigan.
Seth Johnson (MariachiSinger2)SethJohnsonisapassionatemusicianwhohasworkedwithnumerousoperaorganizations.InadditiontoMichiganOperaTheatre,hehasworkedwithOperaYouthOutreach,OperaIllinois,Toledo Opera and OhioLightOpera.Inthesegroups,heperformedsuchrolesasNemorinoin L’Elisir d’amore, TaminoinDie Zauberflöte, andArchibaldGrosvenorin Patience.SethwasalsoamemberoftheteachingadministrationfortheGreatLakesLightOpera.SethearnedaBachelorofMusicdegreeinVocalPerformancefromBradleyUniversity,wherehewasthewinneroftheConcerto/AriaCompetitionin2015.
Nicole Joseph (Hattie)SopranoNicoleJoseph,equallyathomeonboththeoperaticandconcertstage,isdelightedtoplayHattiein The Summer King.Followingthecompletionofhermaster’sandspecialistdegreesattheUniversity
ofMichigan,Ms.JosephmadeherprofessionaldebutasBeatriceinJakeHeggie’sThree Decembers withKentuckyOperaandhasrecentlyperformedwithOperaModoinDetroitasTheGovernessinTurn of the Screw, MicaëlainCarmen, and Donna Anna in Don Giovanni. Thispastsummer,NicolewasawardedtheopportunitytoattendAmericanInstituteofMusicalStudies(AIMS)inGraz,Austria.ShewasalsofeaturedwiththeMOTTouringEnsembleastheMiller’sDaughterinRumpelstiltskin andVoluptuainLa Pizza con Funghi. Nicoleisthewinnerofnumerousawardsandcompetitions,includingtheMetropolitanOperaAuditions(MI),JamesTolandVocalArtsCompetition,NicholasLorenVocalCompetition,HaroldHaughLightOperaCompetition,AmericanTraditionsCompetitionandCareerBridgesFoundationaward.OriginallyfromPortland,Oregon,NicolenowresidesinBerkley,Michigan.
Kenneth Kellogg (SamBankhead)WashingtonD.C.bassKennethKelloggmadehisMichiganOperaTheatredebutasCountMonteneroin Rigoletto.HeisreprisingtheroleofSamBankheadin The Summer King,whichheoriginatedwithPittsburghOperain2017.PerformancehighlightsincludeZuniga in Carmen and Don Alfonso in Così fan tutte withWashingtonNationalOpera;MefistofelesinFaustandSarastroin Die ZauberflötewithOperadeLausanne;GremininEugene Onegin withNorthCarolinaOperaandYoungEmileGriffithinTerenceBlanchard’sChampion withOperaParallèle.HeholdsaMasterofMusicdegreefromtheUniversityofMichiganandaBachelorofMusicdegreefromOhioUniversity.HehasalsoservedasaresidentartistattheAcademyofVocalArtsinPhiladelphiaandisanalumnusofWashingtonNationalOpera’sDomingo-CafritzYoungArtistProgram.
THE SUMMER KING
24 BRAVO•Spring2018 www.MichiganOpera.org MichiganOperaTheatre
Matthew Konopacki (MariachiSinger3)BaritoneMatthewKonopacki,anativeofLivoniaMichigan,isanactiveperformerofbothclassicalandcontemporaryworks.Equallycomfortableonboththeoperaticandtheconcertstage,hisrepertoirerangesfromthecantatasofJ.S.BachtothecontemporaryoperaticmusicofKevinPuts.WithMichiganOperaTheatre,hehasperformedtherolesoftheusherin Rigoletto,1stScottishSoldierinPuts’Silent Night,ServoinMacbeth,andwasapartofthefeaturedensemblesinThe Magic FluteandDavidDiChiera’sCyrano.HeisalsoafeaturedsingerontherecentreleaseofDiChiera’slegacyalbum,Letters & Fantasies.Matthewholdsamaster’sdegreeinVocalPerformancefromtheUniversityofHoustonandhas appearedasayoungartistwithPensacolaOperaandtheJaniecOperaCompany.
Joseph Leppek (MariachiSinger1)JosephLeppekisatenororiginallyfromNovi,MichiganandisafrequentperformerwithMichiganOperaTheatreaspartofitschorusandcommunityoutreachprograms.InadditiontoMOT,hehasperformedprofessionally in productionsandconcertsacrosstheUnitedStates,withcompaniessuchasHoustonGrandOperaandOperaSaratoga.HewasalsohonoredthisyeartobeaGreatLakesregionalfinalistfortheMetropolitanOperaNationalCouncilauditions.Josephholdsamaster’sdegreeinVoicePerformancefromRiceUniversity.Thissummer,hewillstarasTonyintheGlimmerglassFestival’snewproductionof West Side Story. Forthe2018-19season,JosephjoinstheLyricOperaofKansasCity’sresidentartistprogram,wherehewillbeseeninanumberofconcertsandperformancesinthearea.
Andrew Lieberman (SetDesign)AndrewLiebermanisasetdesignerwhohasworkedwithoperacompaniesacrosstheworldincludingEnglishNationalOpera,DeutscheOperBerlin,SaarländischesStaatsoper,BostonLyricOpera,PhiladelphiaOperaandOperaTheatreofSaintLouis.HistheaterworksincludeThe Glass Menagerie and Picnic onBroadwayandPoor Beck withtheRoyalShakespeare
Company,amongnumerousotherproductions.HeisaPrincessGrace,USAAwardWinner,andtheHeadofStageDesignatNewYorkUniversity’sTischSchooloftheArts.
Lester Lynch (JoshGibson)BaritoneLesterLynchmakeshisreturntoMichiganOperaTheatrestarringasJoshGibson in The Summer King. He is thesecond
THE SUMMER KING
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singertoperformtherolesinceitsPittsburghOperapremiereinApril,2017.LesterpreviouslyperformedwithMOTinits2003productionof A Masked Ball asRenato.Recognizedforhischarismaticportrayalsandcommandingvoice,LesterisreceivingravereviewsashetacklessomeofVerdi’smostimportantbaritonerolesfromScarpiatoRigoletto toCountdi Luna in Il Trovatore.Highlightsofrecentengagementsincludethetitlerolein Rigoletto withtheCanadianOperaCompany,Geraldin Andrea Chénier withtheBregenzerFestspielefestival,Carbonin Cyrano de Bergerac withSanFranciscoOpera,Heraldin Lohengrin withLyricOperaofChicago,Porgyin Porgy and Bess withWashingtonNationalOpera,andScarpiain Tosca withtheGlimmerglassFestival.AdditionalengagementsincludeleadingroleswithOperaPhiladelphia,LosAngelesOpera,andwiththeClevelandOrchestra,MasterChoraleofWashington,NashvilleSymphony,CincinnatiSymphonyOrchestra,andinconcertatCarnegieHall.
Anthony P. McGlaun (JudyJohnson)AnthonyP.McGlaunisnotedforhisclarityoftone,musicalityandexpressive delivery oftext.Mr.McGlaun,aDetroitnative,receivedaBachelorofArtsdegreeinmusicfromMorehouseCollegeandaMasterofMusicdegreefromtheUniversityofNorthernIowa.UponhisreturntoDetroit,Mr.McGlaunjoinedthefacultyofMarygroveCollegewhereheservedasDirectorofVocalActivitiesandAssistantProfessorofMusicfrom2004-2009.HewasalsomemberoftheMichiganOperaTheatreChorusandwasanapprenticewiththecompanyinthe2008-09season,singingtherolesofUncleYakusideinMadame Butterfly and Remendado in Carmen.Mr.McGlaunisamuchsoughtaftersoloist,recitalist,lecturerandmasterclasspresenter.HespecializesintheNegroSpiritualandtheworkofAfrican-Americancomposers.ThisyearhasincludedmanyrecitalsandrolepremiereofBennyParetinChampionbyTerrenceBlanchardaswellSebastianinThe Little Mermaid.
Stephen Mercurio (Conductor)StevenMercurioisaninternationally-acclaimedconductorandcomposerwhohasconductedmorethan20productionswithMichiganOperaTheatre,includinglastseason’sCyrano.HewasMusicDirectoroftheSpoletoFestivalandPrincipalConductoroftheOperaCompanyofPhiladelphiaforfiveyears.Stevenisalsoasought-aftercollaboratorformanyaward-winningrecordings,arrangementsandfilmprojects,mostnotably“ChristmasinViennawiththeThreeTenors.”Forthestage,hehasconductedmorethan50operasinsevendifferentlanguagesinmanyoftheworld’sbestlovedoperahouses.
Deborah Nansteel (Grace)Mezzo-sopranoDeborahNansteelrecentlymadeherMichiganOperaTheatredébutasLaDuegne in Cyrano and returnsthisseasontoportraytheroleofGraceinThe Summer King. HighlightsfromMs.Nansteel’scareerincludeherLyricOperaofChicagodébutasGertrudein Roméo et Juliette,aworld-premièreperformanceofDouglasPewandDaraWeinberg’snewoperaPenny withWashingtonNationalOpera’sAmericanOperaInitiativeandthecreationoftheroleofLucindainthehighly-anticipatedworldpremièreofthePulitzerPrize-winningcomposerJenniferHigdon’sadaptationofCold MountainatSantaFeOpera,whichshereprisedthisseasonwithNorthCarolinaOpera.Ms.NansteelisagraduateoftheUniversityofCincinnatiCollege-ConservatoryofMusicwheresheearnedanArtistDiplomainOperaandaMasterofMusicinVoice.Thisseason,Ms.NansteelreturnstoLyricOperaofChicagoasSiegruneinDie WalküreandsingstheroleofAlisain Lucia di Lammermoor withtheMetropolitanOpera.
Daniel Nester (Co-librettist)DanielNesterisanessayist,freelancewriter,poet,writingprofessor,literaryjournaleditorandreadingseriescurator.Heistheauthormostrecently
ofthememoirShader: 99 Notes on Car Washes,Making Out in Church, Grief, and Other Unlearnable Subjects.HispreviousbooksincludeHow to Be Inappropriate,acollectionofhumorousnonfiction,andThe Incredible Sestina Anthology, which heedited.Asajournalistandessayist,hisworkhasappearedinavarietyofplaces,suchasSalon,New York Times,Buzzfeed,The Atlantic,andthePoetryFoundationwebsite,andanthologizedinsuchcollectionsasLost and Found,The Best American Poetry,The Best Creative Nonfiction,Third Rail: The Poetry of Rock and Roll,andNow Write! Nonfiction.HispoemshaveappearedinsuchjournalsasCoconut,Shampoo,Taint,Gulf Coast,Barrow Street,jubilat,Crazyhorse,Open City,Slope,Spoon River Poetry Review,andotherplaces.Heistheformereditoroftheonlinejournals Unpleasant Event Schedule and La Petite Zine. He workedasAssistantWebEditorforSestinas for McSweeney’sInternetTendency.HeisanassociateprofessorofEnglishatTheCollegeofSaintRoseinAlbany,NY.(Courtesy Pittsburgh Opera).
Sean Panikkar (WendellSmith)AmericantenorSeanPanikkarreturnstoMichiganOperaTheatreasWendellSmithin The Summer King, a roleheoriginatedwithPittsburghOperaatits2017worldpremiere. He previouslyperformedwithMOTasRodolfoin2015’s La bohème. PerformancehighlightsincludeRodolfeinGuillaume Tell withtheMetropolitanOpera,Shalimarin Shalimar the Clown withtheOperaTheatreofSaintLouis,RodolfoatRoyalAlbertHall,Adamin CO2 withTeatroallaScalaandNadirin Les pêcheurs de perles withPittsburghOpera.Heholdsamaster’sandbachelor’sdegreeinVoicePerformancefromtheUniversityofMichiganandisanalumnusofSanFranciscoOpera’sAdlerFellowshipandthePittsburghOperaResidentArtistsStudio.Mr.PanikkarwillperformDionysusin The Bassarids forhisdebutattheSalzburgFestivalin2018.
THE SUMMER KING
26 BRAVO•Spring2018 www.MichiganOpera.org MichiganOperaTheatre
Moisés Salazar (SenorAlcalde)Californianative,tenorMoisésSalazarmakeshisMichiganOperaTheatredebutasSeñorAlcaldeinThe Summer King.RecentlyMoisésreceivedthirdplaceintheGreatLakesRegionMetropolitanOperaCouncilAudition.LastspringhewasthefeaturedsoloistinGustavMahler’sDas Lied von der Erde inacollaborationwithBowlingGreenStateUniversity.PastrolesincludeBorsainVerdi’sRigolettowithToledoOpera,CamileJolidoninLehar’sThe Merry WidowattheUniversityofToledo,RinuccioinPuccini’sGianni SchicchiandFlaminioinAlessandroScarlatti’s Il trionfo dell’onore performedattheTeatroVerdiinPisawithOperaNetworkFlorence.
Norman Shankle (GusGreenlee,ElderBarber)TenorNormanShanklemadehisMichiganOperaTheatredébutasTaminoinThe Magic FluteandreturnsthisseasonfortheroleofElderBarber/GusGreenleeinThe Summer King,aroleherecentlyoriginatedintheworldpremièrewithPittsburghOpera.Mr.Shankle’scareerhighlightsincludehisDallasOpera House débutasErnestoin Don Pasquale;participationintheMetropolitanOpera’sproductionsofThe Enchanted Island and Parsifal;AlmavivainIl barbiere di SivigliawithEnglishNationalOpera,andDresdenSemperoper;thetitlerole in IdomeneoandDonOttavioin Don GiovanniwithStaatstheaterStuttgart,ArenaOperaFestivalinVerona,andTeatroMunicipaleReggioEmilia.Mr.ShanklebeganhiscareerwithSanFranciscoOperaintheirMerolaOperaProgramandasanAdlerFellow.Thisseason,Mr.ShanklehasperformsthetenorsoloinHandel’sMessiahwithBaltimoreSymphony,IndianapolisChamberOrchestra,andNationalPhilharmonic,wherehesubsequentlysangtheroleof Ferrando in Così fan tutte.
Daniel Sonenberg (Composer)DanielSonenbergisacomposer,performer,andeducatorlivinginPortland,Maine.HeisbestknownasthecomposerofThe Summer King,atwo-actoperaonthelife of Negro League baseballgreatJoshGibson.Theoperareceiveditsconcertworldpremierein2014inaconcertpresentedbyPortlandOvationsandco-sponsoredbytheUniversityofSouthernMaine.MichiganOperaTheatreisthesecondcompanytoproduceThe Summer King,afteritsworldpremierewithPittsburghOperainApril2017.InrecentyearsMr.Sonenberg’smusichasbeenpresentedbyOperaAmerica,theDaCapoChamberPlayers,AmericanOperaProjects,percussionistLynnVartan,FortWorthOpera,membersofthePortlandSymphonyOrchestra,theBackCoveFestivalofContemporaryMusic,thePortlandChamberMusicFestival,andnumerousothers.Inthepastseveralyearshehasalsobeenactiveasarockmusician,releasingasoloalbum,PeaksIslandFerry,in2014,andbothanE.P.(TheBear(2013))andfulllengthalbum(LongOverdue2015))withhisbandLoversofFiction.HeisProfessorofMusicattheUniversityofSouthernMaine,wherehehastaughtsince2004.(Courtesy Pittsburgh Opera).
Raymond Very (RadioAnnouncer,ClarkGriffith,BranchRickey)RaymondVerymakeshisMichiganOperaTheatredebutasBranchRickey,ClarkGriffithandtheRadioAnnouncerinThe Summer King, roles heoriginatedwithPittsburghOpera’sworldpremierein2017.Hisrepertoirespanslyriccharactersaswellasleadingdramaticroles,includingthetitleroleinLa damnation de Faust, AlbertGregorinThe Makropulos Affair,DonJoséinCarmen,Stolzingin Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg, CaptainVereinBilly Budd,andLacaand Števa in Jenůfa. Hehasperformedintheworld’sleadingoperahousesincludingtheMetropolitanOpera,SanFranciscoOpera,HoustonGrand
Opera,SeattleOperaandWashingtonNationalOpera.Internationally,hehasperformedwithpremiercompaniesinLondon,Munich,Florence,Salzburg(SalzburgFestival),Vienna,Oslo,Frankfurt,Berlin(DeutscheOperBerlin),Leipzig,Stuttgart,Amsterdam,Strasbourg,Dresden,ZurichandBilbao.InSeptember2013hedebutedhisdreamrole,thetitleroleofOtello, inCopenhagen,aswellashisfirstCanio in PagliacciinLeipzig.FutureplansincludehisreturntoDüsseldorfandVienna,aswellashisdebutatOperHanover.
Kaye Voyce (CostumeDesign)KayeVoyceisacostumedesignerwhohasworkedwiththeatercompaniesacrosstheworld,includingMcCarter,YaleRep,Goodman,LongWharf,ART,Williamstown,OldGlobe,ShakespeareTheatre,GlimmerglassOpera,RoyalShakespeareCompany,TheatreworksSingapore,OperaBern,TheaterBonnandTheaterBraunschweigaswellasBroadway.Recentcreditsinclude4000 Miles, The Great God Pan, Detroit,theworldpremiereofSamShepard’sHeartless, A Quiet Place andPhilipGlass’operaKepler.
Robert Wierzel (LightingDesign)RobertWierzelisalightingdesignerwhohasworkedintheater,dance,opera,contemporarymusicandmuseumsthroughoutthecountryandoverseas.HisoperacreditsincludeworkwiththePalaisGarnierinParis,FolkOpera(Sweden),ChicagoLyricOpera,FloridaGrandOpera,WolfTrapOperaCompanyandtheGlimmerglassFestival,amongothers.HehasalsoworkedonBroadwayproductionsincludingLady Day At Emerson’s Bar & Grill and David Copperfield: Dreams and Nightmares andnumerousoffBroadwayproductions.HehasalsocollaboratedwithdancecompaniesincludingtheBillT.Jones/ArnieZaneDanceCompanyandAlvinAileyAmericanDanceTheater.
MichiganOperaTheatre www.MichiganOpera.org BRAVO•Spring2018 27
Detroit Tigers Willie HortonAfrican American Legacy Award
Sunday, June 10 at 1:10pm
HONORING FORMER TIGER
16TH ANNUAL
JUNE 8-10
VS
TORII HUNTERwith the
4 BRAVO•Spring2018 www.MichiganOpera.org MichiganOperaTheatre
InApril2017,PittsburghOperapremieredagroundbreakingwork:
The Summer King, anewoperabasedonthelifeofNegro Leagues baseball playerJoshGibson.Whilehemaynotbeahouseholdname,Gibsonwasalegendinhisownright.Asapowerhitterwithabattingaveragehigherthan.350,saidtohitalmost800homerunsinhis17-year-career,somecalledhimthe“BlackBabeRuth.”HewasboundfortheMajorLeagues. Ofcourse,thatisnotwhathappened.In1947,JackieRobinsonbrokethecolorbarriertobecomethefirstAfricanAmericanbaseballplayertoplayforMajorLeagueBaseball.ItwasarealitythatGibsonlivedtosee,heartbrokenthathewasn’ttheonetodoit. WhileRobinsonhasgonedowninthehistorybooks,Gibson,likefartoomanyAfricanAmerican figures,wasexcludedthenarrative.WithThe Summer King, composerDanielSonenbergwantedtochangethat,andsodidMichiganOperaTheatre. InJuneof2017,MOTannouncedTake Me Out to the Opera, a collaborativeinitiativewithagoalofnotonlysharingGibson’sstory,butthestoriesofotherAfricanAmericantrailblazers.Witharangeofcommunitypartners,thecampaignhighlightsfiguresinbothsportsandtheartsandexploreshowthetwohavebeenusedtopromoteracialequityandinclusion. “Oneoftheopportunitiesavailablethroughartsandsportsisanabilitytobringpeopletogether,especiallyacrossracialdivisions,”saidMOTCEOWayneS.Brown.“Weareproudtoworkwithcommunitypartnerstocelebratethoseathletesandartistswho,likeJoshGibson,werecatalystsforchangeintheircommunities.” Throughoutthepastyear,MOThasworkedwiththeDetroitTigers,theCharlesH.WrightMuseumofAfricanAmericanHistory,theDetroitHistoricalSociety,theDetroitPublicLibrary,theJoshGibsonFoundation,
RosedaleParkCommunityHouseandHamtramckStadiumtopresentaseriesofexhibits,panels,performancesandpresentationsonthesethemes. Localfigures,includingGeorgeShirley,thefirstAfricanAmericantenortoperformaleadingroleattheMetropolitanOpera,andRonTeasley,aformerNegroLeaguesbaseballplayerwiththeNewYorkCubansandtheOleanOilers,havesharedtheirexperiencesbreakingracialboundaries.LocalexpertssuchasWayneStateUniversityAssociateProfessorDr.LisaAlexander,aresearcherinAfricanAmericansinpopularculture,andUniversityofMichiganMusicologistMarkClague,alsoaresearcherinAfricanandAfro-AmericanStudies,havediscussedracialrepresentationandinclusioninalargerhistoricalandculturalcontext.AndprogramslikeI, Too, Sing America havecelebratedAfricanAmericanartistsandathletesthroughpoetry,narrative,songandvideo. “Thishasbeenanincrediblyuniqueopportunitytoshinealightontheroleartsandsportshaveplayedinbreakingdownbarriersforpeopleofcolor,”saidEllenHillZeringue,VicePresidentofMarketing fortheDetroitTigers.“WeareexcitedthatthecommunitywilllearnaboutthemovingstoryofNegroLeaguesandHallofFameplayerJoshGibsonthroughtheupcomingDetroitpremiereof“The Summer King.” Theinitiativehasalsofocusedonchildrenthroughresidenciesinlocalschools.Theprogramallowsstudents
tocreatetheirownoperaticpiecewhichrelatesthehistoryofDetroit’sownNegroLeaguesbaseballteamwithmodern-daythemesofequityandinclusion. “KnowingthatHall-of-FamerJoshGibsonplayedbaseballatHamtramckStadiumisahomerunforthehometowncrowd,”saidHamtramckPublicSchoolsSuperintendentTomNiczay.“I’mhopingHamtramckPublicSchoolstudentslearnaboutahistoricalevent,regardingtheprejudiceAfricanAmericans
faced,andthatthelessons learned inwatching The Summer King are relevantin2018.” AsthecampaignwindsdowntoitsculminationoftheMayproductionofThe Summer King,thepublicisinvitedtoparticipateinitsremainingevents,including:April 18,2018: Opera and Jazz: The Summer KingatCliffBell’s:MichiganOperaTheatremusicians,alongwithareajazzartists,offeraneveningofoperaandjazzfromthe1920s-40s,whenJoshGibsonflourishedApril 22, 2018: I, Too, Sing America: ACelebrationofAfricanAmericanArtistsandAthletes:AnafternoonofbeautifulmusicandcompellingconversationinRosedaleParkApril 26, 2018: There Was Always Sun Shining Someplace: Life in the Negro Baseball Leagues attheDetroitOperaHouse:AfilmchroniclingthehistoryofNegroLeaguesbaseballwithrarehistoricalfootageandinterviewswithBlackbaseballgreats,followedbyadiscussionwiththefilmmakersJune 8-10, 2018: Negro Leagues WeekendatComericaPark(aDetroitTigersevent) AdditionaleventscontinuetobeaddedandwillbeupdatedonthecommunitypageoftheMOTwebsitewww.MichiganOpera.org. WhiletheinitiativemayendwithThe Summer King,thegoalofthecampaigndoesnot.MOTinvitesthecommunitytojointhemincontinuingtoidentify,shareandcelebratethosewhohavefoughtforsocialequityandinclusion,past,presentandfuture.
Take Me Out to the Opera: Exploring the Role of Arts and Sports in Social Equity and InclusionByEricaHobbs
28 BRAVO•Spring2018 www.MichiganOpera.org MichiganOperaTheatre
Christine K. Strumbos, Board of Trustees 1991 – 2017ChristineK.StrumboswasalongtimememberoftheMichiganOperaTheatreBoardofTrustees,servingformorethan25years.Herpassionforlifeandfamilyledtoavarietyofendeavorsrangingfrombeingahomemakertoobtainingherrealtor’slicensetocompletingherbachelor’sdegreeinpsychologyinherearly50s.InadditiontoMOT,ChristineandherhusbandGeorgewerestrongsupportersoftheCranbrookAcademyofArt/CranbrookArtMuseum,
theDetroitInstituteofArts,Women’sCommitteeforHospice,UniversityofMichiganCenterforHearingDisordersandmanyotherorganizations.ShewasalsoafoundingmemberoftheModernGreekCulturalAssociation,whichwasresponsibleforthecreationofanendowedchairforClassicalGreekStudiesatWayneStateUniversity.WearegratefulforChristine’slongcommitmenttoMOTandwillmissher.ChristineK.Strumbos,1922–2017.
In Memoriam
SopranoBrandyAdamsClaireChardon
FideliaDarmahkasihSuzanne GroganNicoleJosephMaryMartin
KimberleySandersSchylerSheltrown
GilesSimmerHeidiBowenZook
Alto
CarolAmbrogio-WoodAndrea ApelMystiByrnes
Yvonne FridayHelen Hass
MadisonMontambaultKristinaReigle
TiffanieWaldronTamaraWhitty
ChantelWoodard
TenorFranciscoBedoyFredBuchalterMichaelFowler
RichardJackson,Jr.SethJohnsonAdrianLeskiwBradley MillerBrandonMotz
BraunOldenkampJeffWilkinson
Bari/Bass
BentonDeGrootJosephEdmonds
KurtFrankGlenn Healy
BrandenC.S.HoodMatthewKonopackiMiroslavManovskiBrandonSpencer
JacobSurzynDavidTwigg
April 14 & 17AbigailArmstrong
ShilohBeatonBrookeBugajewski
MalloryChildsCavelleDoucetLefebvre
Gabrielle DusoSoleilGarcia-Johnson
SarahfayHendinSelga JansonsEmilyJohnson
ChloeLeeBrendanLockhartRebeccaLucksom
MiaMartinNatalieNikolajevsAmberOhlssonEmmaPalmerMcKaylaPrewEmelineRiceLaura RosalesAnnaSchultz
BreahMarieWillyBrigitteZook
April 11 & 16
AlexandraBeckAmeliaBorys
PortteiaDavidsonMeganDuRocher
TylerEdwardsEdwardEichenhorn
JaedenFootittJehnyaFootittNinaGeorgeff
AnnelieseIngrahamKhalanIsbellEmilyKinaiaMolly Levin
KathrynMigrinNatalieNikolajevs
BeatrixReillySkylarReynoldsKevyn RoesslerPiper TeasdleArshWasnik
GraceWatsonNatalieWatson
ClaireWolfe
SopranoBrandyAdamsAlainaBrown
ClaireChardonRebeccaEaddy
Suzanne GroganSandra Periord
KimberleySandersMoniqueYoung
AltoAndrea Apel
Yvonne FridayRachelAnnGirty
Helen Hass
OliviaJohnsonKristinaRiegle
TiffanieWaldronTamaraWhitty
ChantelWoodard
TenorFranciscoBedoyDenzel DonaldMichaelFowler
RichardJackson,Jr.SethJohnson
JosephLeppekBrandonMotz
BrettThompson
Bari/BassBentonDeGroot
KurtFrankBrandenC.S.HoodMatthewKonopacki
MarcusPetersonBrandonSpencerTerrenceStewart
JacobSuryzynGregoryStinson
ChildrenShilohBeatonMalloryChilds
PortteiaDavidsonTylerEdwardsAnikaLopesZairePolk
JaylahFowlerBennettVesprini
Eva VespriniIsabella VespriniMariaPanikkar
MICHIGAN OPERA THEATRE CHORUS — TOSCA
MICHIGAN OPERA THEATRE CHORUS — THE SUMMER KING
Michigan Opera Theatre Children’s Chorus
MichiganOperaTheatre www.MichiganOpera.org BRAVO•Spring2018 29
Principal Cello Nadine Deleury
Principal Viola John Madison
MichiganOperaTheatrePrincipalCelloNadineDeleuryknewfromayoungagethatshewantedtobeaprofessionalcellist.BorninFrance,Nadinebeganstudyingcelloattheageof10,eventuallystudyingattheParisConservatory.ShemovedtoDetroitinthe1980swhenherhusbandandfellow-cellist,HadenMcKay,joinedtheDetroitSymphonyOrchestra.Shortlythereafter,in1985,shewonthePrincipalCellopositionatMOTandhasbeenwiththeorchestraeversince. ShesaidthemostmemorablemomentofhertimewithMOTwasthegrandopeningoftheDetroitOperaHousein1996. “OuryearsofthecrowdedpitsandbackstagesoftheFisherTheatreandMasonicTemplewereover!”shesaid.“Wenowhadthismagnificenthall!”
OutsideofMOT,NadinerunsChamberMusicattheScarabClub,aperformanceseriesshefoundedwithMOTcolleagueVeldaKellyin1998.Shealsoenjoysresearchingforgottencomposers,aninterestthathasledtomeetingtheirfamiliesandcreatingrecordingsoftheirmusic. Inrecentyears,shehasbeeninvolvedassistingrefugeefamiliesfromSyriasettleintotheirnewhomesinWindsor,Canada,whereshehaslivedforthepast11years. “Ienjoyimmenselymeetingdifferentpeople,”shesaid,“andseeingthechildrenadapttoschoolsandtotheirnewcountry.”
MichiganOperaTheatrePrincipalViolaJohnMadisonisamanofmanytalents.Asaviolist,hehasbeenplayingfornearly50years,manyofwhichhavebeenwithMOT.JohnfirstplayedwithMOTfrom1982-84whileingraduateschoolattheUniversityofMichigan.Hereturnedtothecompanyin1996afterwinningthePrincipalViolapositionandhasheldthetitleeversince. JohnalsoperformswiththeDetroitSymphonyOrchestraandteachesintheWayneStateUniversityDepartmentofMusic.HesaidoneofhisfavoriteperformanceexperienceswasplayingintheThreeTenorsconcertatthefinalperformanceintheoldTigerStadiumin1999.Hesaidhehassinceseenmanychangesinthecity.
“ThebestpartaboutperforminginDetroitisbeingrightinthemiddleofthisgreatcity’scomeback,”hesaid. Outsideofmusic,Johnisamastergardenerandenjoysspendingtimebothgardeningandlandscaping.Hehasalsobeenahospicevolunteerformorethan20years,specializinginterminalchildren.Hesaidheeventuallywantstoopenhisownhospicecenterandcareforpatientsfull-time. “Ifeelcalledtodoit,it’saverypersonalthing,”hesaid.“Thepassioncomesfromjustbeingabletohelpsomeonethroughthegreatesteventoftheirlifeandbeabletoletthemknowit’sok.”
Deleury
Madison
PROFILES FROM THE PIT:
MichiganOperaTheatre www.MichiganOpera.org BRAVO•Spring2018 31