Volpone: A New Comic Opera
With award-winning artists John Musto (composer) and Mark Campbell (librettist)
World premiere: March 2004 at The Barns at Wolf Trap
Wolf Trap Opera’s
Volpone (2009) was nominated for a Grammy for Best Opera Recording!
About the opera
Volpone (“The Fox”), is a bright, biting comedy inspired by the classic Ben Jonson play of the same name. The wealthy Volpone feigns mortal illness in order to con a group of his so-called “friends” into believing that each of them will inherit his fortune. The lengths to which they go in the name of greed made for an evening of high humor sung to a witty and tuneful score by John Musto with libretto by Mark Campbell. The cast featured an exciting group of singers, including several former members of the Wolf Trap Opera.
Cast and Staff
Artistic Staff
John Musto, composer
Mark Campbell, librettist
Michael Barrett, conductor
Leon Major, director
Erhard Rom, scenic designer
David O. Roberts, costume designer
Robert H. Grimes, lighting designer
Cast
Joshua Winograde (Volpone)
Joseph Kaiser (Mosca)
Ryan Taylor (Voltore)
Wendy Hill (Corvina)
Ross Hauck (Bonario)
Jason Ferrante (Cornaccio)
Sarah Wolfson (Celia)
Adriana Zabala (Erminella)
Mary Gresock (Castrato/Judge)
Karen Mercedes (Epicene/Prison Matron)
William Heim (Police Captain/Judge)
Eugene Galvin (Nano/Judge)
Volpone in the spotlight
Wolf Trap Opera’s 2009 Recording of Volpone was nominated for a Grammy for Best Opera Recording, and the opera was covered by these notable publications:
Joseph McLellan, The Washington Post
March 12, 2004
Tim Smith, The Baltimore Sun
March 12, 2004
Carl Hartman, Associated Press
March 10, 2004
Brian Kellow, Opera News
March 2004
D.C. Culbertson, Baltimore Out Loud
March 2004
Volpone
An opera in 2 acts unfaithfully based on Ben Jonson's comedy recorded live at The Barns at Wolf Trap
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The Inspector: A New Comic Opera
With award-winning artists John Musto (composer) and Mark Campbell (librettist)
World Premiere: April & May 2011 at The Barns at Wolf Trap
About the opera
Between 1925 and 1930, Mussolini dispatched government inspectors to Sicily to rout out local corruption. Their methods involved brutality and torture, but the campaign eventually succeeded in ending Mafia control. In Sicily. Temporarily. The Inspector tells the tale of a domineering mayor and his town thrown into upheaval thanks to a rumored visit by one of these incognito inspectors. Loosely based on Gogol’s 19th century farce, The Government Inspector, John Musto’s witty Italian comedy is filled with political satire, bribery, deception, and a delightfully melodic score.
“[John Musto and Mark Campbell] have discovered a formula for creating small, approachable, appealing, high quality American operas finally capable of reaching the broader audience this genre needs to survive and prosper.”—The Washington Post
Cast and Staff
Artistic Staff
John Musto, composer
Mark Campbell, librettist
Glen Cortese, conductor
Leon Major, director
Erhard Rom, set designer
David O. Roberts, costume designer
Robert H. Grimes, lighting designer
World Premiere Cast
Robert Orth, baritone (Mayor Fazzobaldi)
Sarah Larsen, mezzo-soprano (Sarelda)
Anne-Carolyn Bird, soprano (Beatrice)
Vale Rideout, tenor (Tancredi)
William Sharp, baritone (Cosimo)
Dorothy Byrne, mezzo-soprano (Malacorpa)
Angela Mannino, soprano (Agrippa)
Javier Abreu, tenor (Padre Ruffiano)
Matt Boehler, bass (Adolfo)
Andrea Shokery, soprano (Bobachina)
Hilary Ginther, mezzo-soprano (Bobachino)
The Inspector
A new comic opera by John Musto that premiered at The Barns at Wolf Trap in 2011
Sponsors
Production Underwriters
Jerry and Janet Kohlenberger
Andy and Ed Smith
The Catherine Filene Shouse Education Fund
The Willard Family Fund
Anonymous Contributors (3)
Major Support has also provided by
WAMU 88.5 FM, Official Media Sponsor
The production of The Inspector received funding from OPERA America’s Opera Fund
This project was made possible, in part, by the National Endowment for the Arts