Media and Newsroom
Contact: Graham Binder, (703) 255-1917 or grahamb@wolftrap.org
Camille Cintrón, (703) 255-4096 or camillec@wolftrap.org
**ALL ANNOUNCED PERFORMANCES GO ON SALE MARCH 16
FOR THE GENERAL PUBLIC**
Vienna, VA— Wolf Trap Opera Company, one of America’s top residency programs for emerging professionals in the operatic industry, is proud to announce its 2013 summer season and the line-up of Filene Young Artists and Studio Artists. The diverse roster includes 36 up-and-coming singers selected in a comprehensive nationwide audition tour. The season will feature three new productions, including Verdi’s masterpiece La traviata. The Company, joined by the National Symphony Orchestra, will celebrate the composer’s bicentennial birthday with a new production featuring a video projection-based scenic design created specifically for the Filene Center, Wolf Trap’s outdoor 7,028 capacity amphitheater. This is the first Wolf Trap Opera Company produced La traviata at the Filene Center since 1977 and was made possible in part through generous philanthropic support from Wolf Trap Foundation Board member Dan D’Aniello and his wife, Gayle, as well as through the generosity of other loyal Wolf Trap Opera Company supporters. The Company will also present original productions of Rossini’s The Journey to Reims and Verdi’s Falstaff at its summer home, The Barns at Wolf Trap.
“The Wolf Trap Opera experience is stronger than ever for this year’s roster of Filene Young Artists and Studio Artists, highlighted by uniquely specialized academic and apprentice training,” said Arvind Manocha, Wolf Trap Foundation President and CEO. “We are committed to helping a rising generation of singers achieve their career goals, and we look forward to showcasing our talented roster by way of three full-length productions, created specifically for Wolf Trap Opera. We are especially thrilled to be able to showcase grand opera at the Filene Center through our production of La traviata featuring the National Symphony under the direction of Grant Gershon.”
The 2013 opera season features three new productions created specifically for Wolf Trap Opera.—
Verdi's La traviata will be performed one night only, July 19 at the Filene Center at Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts. The new production will be conducted by Grant Gershon—fresh from conducting LA Opera’s Madame Butterfly this past November and December—and directed by José Maria Condemi, in their Wolf Trap Opera debuts. Gershon has received critical acclaim for his exceptional work as Music Director of the Los Angeles Master Chorale and as Resident Conductor of the LA Opera. Likewise, Condemi is well-known for his directorial accomplishments at some of the most well-respected opera houses in North America. The production’s video projections will be designed by debut artist Aaron Rhyne and lighting will be designed by returning artist Mark Stanley.
Rossini's bel canto comedy The Journey to Reims (Il viaggio a Reims) will be presented at The Barns at Wolf Trap and will be directed by debut artist David Gately. The three performances feature returning conductor Gary Thor Wedow, who last conducted at Wolf Trap in 2011. The new production features scenic design by Evan Adamson and costumes by Paul Carey, both making company debuts, with lighting design by returning artist Robert H. Grimes.
Verdi's comedy Falstaff will be presented for four performances at The Barns at Wolf Trap and will be led by returning artist Dean Williamson, who conducted the Company’s 2012 performance of The Rake's Progress. The new production will be led by the returning artistic team who created last season's production of Don Giovanni, including director Tomer Zvulun, set designer Erhard Rom, costume designer Vita Tzykun and lighting designer Robert H. Grimes.
In addition, Filene Young Artists will perform intimate recitals at The Barns and in the community, including Wonders To Wander To: Songs and Stories of Faraway Lands with GRAMMY Award-winning pianist and vocal coach Steven Blier; Aria Jukebox, an interactive showcase of opera highlights; and Vocal Colors, a partnership with The Phillips Collection in Washington, D.C. that combines music and visual art.
Meet the Singers
The 2013 Wolf Trap Opera Company artists were chosen through a nationwide search with more than 1,000 applicants and over 500 live auditions. The highly competitive process resulted in the selection of 36 exceptional young singers for admission into the six- to 10-week residency program. They represent the top young artist training and academic programs in the country. From May through August, singers will receive unique, individualized mentoring and performance-based instruction in all aspects of the art, craft, and business of developing and maintaining a career as a professional classical vocalist.
The 2013 roster features 20 Filene Young Artists, who will perform principal and supporting roles in the Company’s mainstage opera productions, including: Mireille Asselin, soprano; Benjamin Bliss, tenor; Andrea Carroll, soprano; Brandon Cedel, bass-baritone; Craig Colclough, bass-baritone; Tracy Cox, soprano; Juan José de Léon, tenor; Kiri Deonarine, soprano; Ying Fang, soprano; Norman Garrett, baritone; Ryan Speedo Green, bass-baritone; Matthew Grills, tenor; Suzanne Hendrix, mezzo-soprano; Steven LaBrie, baritone; Maya Lahyani, mezzo-soprano; Nicholas Pallesen, baritone; Brenton Ryan, tenor; Aaron Sorensen, bass; Carolyn Sproule, mezzo-soprano; and Corinne Winters, soprano.
The Company will be enhanced by 16 Studio Artists, who will perform supporting and ensemble roles in the productions, including: Anush Avetisyan, soprano; Vanessa Becerra, soprano; Nicholas Brownlee, bass-baritone; Alec Carlson, tenor; Ben Edquist, bass-baritone; Harry Greenleaf, bass-baritone; Shannon Jennings, soprano; Courtney Johnson, soprano; Emily Moses, mezzo-soprano; Chaazi Munyanya, mezzo-soprano; Miles Mykkanen, tenor; Grace Newberry, mezzo-soprano; Alexandra Rodrick, mezzo-soprano; Brandon Russell, tenor; Brian Vu, baritone; and Brian Yeakley, tenor.
The Repertoire
Opera at the Filene Center:
La traviata at the Filene Center at Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts
Friday, July 19, 8:15 p.m.
One of the world’s most beloved and frequently performed operas will be presented at the Filene Center in a new production featuring a video projection-based scenic design. New production performed in Italian with English supertitles.
Conductor – Grant Gershon
Director – José Maria Condemi
Projections Design – Aaron Rhyne
Costume Design – TBD
Lighting Design – Mark Stanley
Violetta Valéry – Corinne Winters
Alfredo Germont – Benjamin Bliss
Giorgio Germont – Nicholas Pallesen
with
Annina – Courtney Johnson
Flora Bervoix – Alexandra Rodrick
Gastone – Miles Mykkanen
Giuseppe – Brandon Russell
Baron Douphol – Harry Greenleaf
Marquis d’Obigny – Brian Vu
Doctor Grenville – Nicholas Brownlee
Opera at the barns:
The Journey to Reims
Il viaggio a Reims at The Barns at Wolf Trap
Friday, June 21, 8 p.m.; Sunday, June 23, 3 p.m.; Saturday, June 29, 7 p.m.
Rossini’s comedy The Journey to Reims features a group of international travelers who converge on one tiny spa hotel en route to the coronation of Charles X. This new production is designed and built specifically for The Barns and features a large ensemble cast. New production performed in Italian with English supertitles.
Conductor – Gary Thor Wedow
Director – David Gately
Scenic Design – Evan Adamson
Costume Design – Paul Carey
Lighting Design – Robert H. Grimes
Corinna – Andrea Carroll
Madame Cortese – Kiri Deonarine
La Contessa di Folleville – Ying Fang
La Marchesa Melibea – Maya Lahyani
Il Conte di Libenskof – Juan José de Léon
Il Cavaliere Belfiore – Brenton Ryan
Don Alvaro – Steven LaBrie
Dr. Prudenzio – Norman Garrett
Lord Sidney – Brandon Cedel
Don Profondo – Ryan Speedo Green
Il Barone di Trombonok – Aaron Sorensen
with
Delia – Tracy Cox
Maddalena – Shannon Jennings
Modestina – Suzanne Hendrix
Zelfirino – Benjamin Bliss
Luigino – Brian Yeakley
Antonio – Ben Edquist
Ensemble – Studio Artists
Falstaff at The Barns at Wolf Trap
Friday, August 9, 8 p.m.; Sunday, August 11, 3 p.m.; Wednesday, August 14, 8 p.m.; and Saturday, August 17, 7 p.m.
Verdi only wrote two comedies: one at the beginning of his career (King for a Day, seen at The Barns in 2008), and this one, written at the very end of his illustrious life. Falstaff will be performed in the soloistic orchestral reduction created by composer Jonathan Dove. New production performed in Italian with English supertitles.
Conductor – Dean Williamson
Director – Tomer Zvulun
Scenic Design – Erhard Rom
Costume Design – Vita Tzykun
Lighting Design – Robert H. Grimes
Sir John Falstaff – Craig Colclough
Alice Ford – Tracy Cox
Nannetta – Mireille Asselin
Meg Page – Carolyn Sproule
Dame Quickly – Suzanne Hendrix
Fenton – Matthew Grills
Dr. Caius – Juan José de Léon
Bardolfo – Brenton Ryan
Ford – Norman Garrett
Pistola – Aaron Sorensen
Ensemble – Studio Artists
Concert & Recital:
Wonders To Wander To
Songs and Stories of Faraway Lands
Recital with Steven Blier at The Barns at Wolf Trap
Saturday, July 6, 3 p.m.; Sunday, July 7, 3 p.m.
Steven Blier and four Filene Young Artists will present musical fables by Porter, Bolcom, Coward, Schumann and others, performed in the round at The Barns in an intimate seating arrangement created specifically for this recital.
Steven Blier, pianist & host
Mireille Asselin, soprano
Carolyn Sproule, mezzo-soprano
Brenton Ryan, tenor
Craig Colclough, bass-baritone
Aria Jukebox at The Barns at Wolf Trap
Sunday, July 14, 3 p.m.
The artists sing favorite opera highlights, chosen by the audience before the performance.
Kim Pensinger Witman, pianist
with the entire roster of Filene Young Artists
Vocal Colors at The Phillips Collection in Washington, D.C.
July 25, 6:30 p.m.
Filene Young Artists craft a concert inspired by visual art from The Phillips Collection. The performance takes place in the Music Room and features projected images of the paintings.
Andrea Carroll, soprano
Maya Lahyani, mezzo-soprano
Brenton Ryan, tenor
Steven LaBrie, baritone
2013 FILENE YOUNG ARTISTS:
Mireille Asselin,
soprano
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Training: Canadian Opera Company, Glimmerglass Festival, Yale University, Royal Conservatory of Music, Britten-Pears Young Artist Program
Benjamin Bliss, tenor
Prairie Village, KS
Training: Chapman University, Los Angeles Opera Domingo-Thornton YAP
*Andrea Carroll, soprano
Bethesda, MD
Training: Houston Grand Opera Studio, Wolf Trap Opera, Manhattan School of Music, Glimmerglass Festival, Seagle Music Colony
Brandon Cedel, bass-baritone
Hershey, PA
Training: Curtis Institute of Music, Music Academy of the West, Chautauqua School of Music
*Craig Colclough, bass-baritone
Claremont, CA
Training: Florida Grand Opera, Johnston Center for Integrated Studies
Tracy Cox, soprano
Dallas, TX
Training: Los Angeles Opera Domingo-Thornton YAP, Music Academy of the West, Wolf Trap Opera, UCLA
Juan José de Léon, tenor
Corpus Christi, TX
Training: Pittsburgh Opera, I Sing Beijing, Glimmerglass Festival, Southern Methodist University, University of North Texas
Kiri Deonarine, soprano
Fair Lawn, NJ
Training: Lyric Opera of Chicago Ryan Opera Center, Houston Grand Opera Studio, Santa Fe Opera Apprentice Program, Indiana University, Baylor University
Ying Fang, soprano
Ningbo, China
Training: The Juilliard School, Shanghai Conservatory
Norman Garrett, baritone
Lubbock, TX
Training: Washington National Opera Domingo-Cafritz YAP, Glimmerglass Festival, Academy of Vocal Arts, Philadelphia Center City Opera, Kentucky Opera Brown-Forman Artist, Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music
Ryan Speedo Green, bass-baritone
Suffolk, VA
Training: Metropolitan Opera Lindemann Young Artist Development Program, Opera Colorado Young Artist, Florida State University, University of Hartford
Matthew Grills, tenor
Sandy Hook, CT
Training: Portland Opera Resident Artist Program, Santa Fe Opera Apprentice Program, Eastman School of Music, Seagle Music Colony, Boston Conservatory
Suzanne Hendrix, mezzo-soprano
Charles City, IA
Training: Santa Fe Opera Apprentice, San Francisco Opera Merola Program, Des Moines Metro Opera, University of Missouri Kansas City, University of Northern Iowa
Steven LaBrie, baritone
Dallas, TX
Training: Academy of Vocal Arts, Glimmerglass Festival, Crested Butte Music Festival
Maya Lahyani, mezzo-soprano
Hod-HaSharon, Israel
Training: San Francisco Opera Adler Fellow, San Francisco Opera Merola Program, Seattle Opera YAP, Mannes College of Music
Nicholas Pallesen, baritone
Riverside, CA
Training: Juilliard Opera Center, Santa Fe Opera Apprentice Program, Opera Theatre of Saint Louis Gerdine YAP, University of Florida
Brenton Ryan, tenor
Sedalia, MO
Training: Rice University, DePaul University, Music Academy of the West, Aspen Music Festival
*Aaron Sorensen, bass
Omaha, NE
Training: Yale University, Wolf Trap Opera, Glimmerglass Festival, University of Houston
Carolyn Sproule, mezzo-soprano
Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Training: Houston Grand Opera Studio, San Francisco Opera Merola Program, Aspen Music Festival, Rice University, The Juilliard School
*Corinne Winters, soprano
Frederick, MD
Training: Academy of Vocal Arts, Opera Theatre of Saint Louis Gerdine YAP, Peabody Conservatory
*returning artist
About the Wolf Trap Opera Company
Established in 1971, the Wolf Trap Opera Company continues to earn national and international recognition for its mission to discover and encourage outstanding emerging talent in the opera field, serving singers of exceptional achievement and potential who are ready to make the transition to full-time professional careers. In addition to the young professional singers, the company also features the work of emerging designers, directors, and conductors; and provides opportunities for aspiring stage managers, administrators, coaches, and technical theatre professionals.
Tickets go on sale at 10am on March 16 for Wolf Trap Opera Company performances and can be purchased online at www.wolftrap.org, by calling 1(877) WOLFTRAP or at the Wolf Trap Box Office located at Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts at 1551 Trap Road, Vienna, Virginia. For more information, call Wolf Trap at (703) 255-1868.
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