counting down to serenata 2018 · 2020. 1. 29. · austin opera guild winter 2018 1 counting down...
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Austin Opera Guild Winter 2018
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COUNTINGDOWNTOSERENATA2018byDianaFergusonandPaulaDamore
OurannualSerenataWineDinnerandAuctiontakesplaceonSaturday,February17intheGrandBallroomoftheJWMarriottAustin.Thisyear’sthemeisLibiamo,anodtothefamousdrinkingsongfromAustinOpera’sspringproductionofLatraviata.ForthoseofyounewtotheGuild,Serenata
isourmajorfundraiser,bringinginmorethan$200KannuallytoAustinOpera.
WhatdoesourWineDinnerCommitteehaveplannedforthemorethan300guestsexpectedtoattend?Aneveningtoremember!
ThisyearwepayspecialtributetoWendiandBrianKushner,whohavebeentirelesssupportersofAustinOpera.WendirecentlycompletedhertermasChairmanoftheBoardofTrusteesofAustinOpera.
Theevening,whichwillbeemceedbyRonOliveira,beginsat6:00withachampagnereceptionandviewingoftheSilentAuction.Anelegantseateddinnerfollowsat7:00,withwinepairingsspeciallyselectedforeachcoursebyTwinLiquors.IssachahSavage,ourRadamèsfromAidatwoseasonsago,willserenadeusduringdinner.
Inadditiontoexclusivewines,morethan130itemswillbeavailableinourLiveandSilentAuctions.Oneofthisyear’sfeatureditemsisticketsfor2couplestothefour-dayBregenzFestivalheldintheAustrianAlps,adonationmadebyBoardChairmanElisabethWaltzandherhusbandSteffen.
Followingthebidding,guestswillhitthedancefloortomusicofReunion,abandheadedbyourBoardPresident,StephenJeffrey.
ForthoseofyouwhohavenotyetpurchasedticketsweinviteyoutosupportAustinOperabyattending!Youcangoto501Auctions.com/Serenata2018toregisteronline,orcallAngieBonniciat512-610-7668tomakeyourreservationsbyphone.
Onceyou’vemadeyourreservations,youmayreviewtheitemsupforbidonline.Newthisyear,biddingwillbedoneusing501Auctionmobilebidding,sopleasebesuretobringyoursmartphones.VolunteerswillalsobeonhandwithiPadstohelpbidders.
WelookforwardtoseeingyouatSerenataonFebruary17!
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ARIADNEAUFNAXOSDIRECTOR’SNOTEbyJenniferWilliams
Whatdooperaandpopculturehaveincommon?Morethanyoumightthink.FrancescaZambello’svibrantproductionofAriadneaufNaxos(ARE-EE-ODD-NAYOWFKNOCK-SOSE)bringsintofocusthecultureclashthatunexpectedlyyieldsastoryaboutthetransformativepoweroflove.
Updatedtoourpresentday,thestorytakesplaceataduderanch–notunlikeRanchoCortez.TheconflictisbetweenclassicalmusiciansfromtheeliteconservatoryofUTandagarishrockband.Theirworldscollidewhentheirpatrondemandstheyperformtheirradicallydifferentpiecessimultaneously.Chaosensuesastheunlikelycollaboratorstrytofindacommonlanguage.Shelteredbyherslickagent,theyoung,fieryComposerdesperatelyattemptstoprotectthedebutofherbrilliant–thoughesoteric–masterwork.Shediscoversthathernemesis–theflashydancer,Zerbinetta–mayactuallybehersoulmate.Intheperformanceof“AriadneaufNaxos”that
follows,themythicalAriadne’strajectorymirrorsthatoftheComposer:shechoosestocastasideherfearoftheunknownandembracethethrilling,andterrifying,transformativepoweroflove.
TroyHourie’sdazzlingsetevokestheposhworldofaluxuryranch.Mirroringthestory,wewatchittransformpoeticallyfromaliteralspaceintoafigurativeone.ErikTeague’ssteampunk-inspiredcostumesbringallthestory’svibrantpersonalitiestolife:theglamorousPrimadonna,thenarcissisticTenor,theflamboyantZerbinettaandhercolorfulboyband,thechicyoungComposer;thesnarkyRanch-hand;andmanymore.TheclashoflanguagesinKelleyRourke’swittyadaptationbringstotheforegroundtheclashofvaluesbetweentheclassicalmusicians(whosinginGerman)andtherockband(whointerrupttheminEnglish).Theaudiencehasthegreatjoyofwatchingthesecharactersseekcompromisedespitespeakingdifferentlanguages–literallyandfiguratively.AndrewHarper’schoreographybringsanunexpectedelementtotheAustinOperastage:Zerbinettaandherband’swilddancenumbersjustmightstealtheshow!
Thisunforgettableproductionremindsuswhywecometotheopera:towitnessthetransformationofthehumanspirit–andtohaveagreattime!
The2017-2018seasonisdedicatedtoJeanette&FerrisNassouringratitudefortheirtransformationalestategifttoAustinOpera
ToallGuildmembers:AdonationisneededtobuywinesfortheGuildWineBaskettobeincludedtheLiveAuctionatSerenata.
PleasesendanydonationtoGuildPresidentMarcyMelansonat901W9thStreet,#201,Austin,Texas78703.
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ALEKSROMANO,MEZZOMETEORONTHERISEbyMichaelSolomon
Afterarareturninadress,risingstarmezzo-sopranoAleksRomanoishappilybackinpants.Sortof.
InAustinOpera’sproductionofAriadneaufNaxos,originallyproducedbyTheGlimmerglassFestival,thecharacteroftheComposerisreimaginedasawoman.Soit’snottheconventional“pants”roleusuallyfoisteduponmezzos.
ThisisgoodnewsforAustinOperaaudiences,sinceAleksRomanoisnotaconventionalsinger.SheismakingherAustinOperadebutrightasshe’senteringapeakperiodinheryoungcareer.Sherecentlymadeaverywell-receivedroledebutasCarmenatMadisonOpera,alandmarkroleforanymezzoandonethatwillfigureprominentlyinhercareer,iffutureengagementsareanymeasure.“Carmenhasalwaysbeenmyfavoriteopera,soitwasarealdream-coming-trueexperiencetofinallysingitonstage!”shetellsTheLibretto.“Workingsocloselywiththedirector,E.LorenMeeker,Idiscoveredsomuchmoreaboutthedepthofmycharacter.She’sendlesslyfascinating.Gettingtoknowherisgoingtobealifelongjourneyforme.”
PriortohertriumphasCarmen,AleksspentthesummeratGlimmerglass,makingherroledebutalongsideLeahCrocettoinDonizetti’srarelyperformedTheSiegeofCalais,wheresheshoneintheroleofAurelio,arealshowcaseforamezzo(inpants,ofcourse).Previously,AlekswasaYoungArtistfortwoseasonsatGlimmerglass,andalsocompletedtwoseasonsinWashingtonNationalOpera’sDomingo-CafritzYoungArtistProgram.AftercompletingtheWashingtonprogram,shewasinvitedbacktosingonthemainstageinperhapstheultimatepantsrole,CherubinoinTheMarriageofFigaro.
Andnow,inherseasonofroledebuts,shetakesonStrauss’sbeleagueredbutultimatelyloveboundComposerforthefirsttime.“Strauss’smusicissojoyous,andIamenjoyingdelvingintoallofitsintricacies,”shesays.“Singingtheline‘Musicisagiftfromthegods’isanhonorforanysingerluckyenoughtosingthisrole.”
Aleksalsofeelsluckytobeinourfaircity.“ThisisalsomyfirsttimeinAustin,andwhileI’mreallyenjoyingrehearsal,Ican’twaittogooutandexplorethiscity.Andeat.Andgoshopping.Ican’tleavetownwithoutanewpairofboots!”
And,onehopes,anewpairofpants,too.
GuildCalendar2018Wednesday1/17 AriadneaufNaxosEnrichmentEvent HomeofHugh&CathyCollins
Saturday1/27 AriadneaufNaxosOpeningNightDinner KodoskyLounge
Saturday2/17 SerenataWineDinnerandAuction JWMarriottAustin
Wednesday4/18 LatraviataEnrichmentEvent HomeofPolly&SteveBarbaro
Saturday4/28 LatraviataOpeningNightDinner KodoskyLounge
Sunday5/20 SpringAwardsParty HomeofPaula&StuartDamore
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WINTERMEMBERSHIPPARTYbyCathyCollins
Morethan100GuildmembersandtheirguestscelebratedthebeginningoftheholidayseasononDecember2ndatthefestivelydecoratedhomeofMaryEllenandRogerBorgelt.
Thepartybeganwithourever-loyalvolunteersgreetingparty-goerswiththeirnametags,acceptingtheiryummytreats,and,ofcourse,fillingtheirglasseswithwineorsparklingwine.TheAustinOperacommunitycannotthankTwinLiquorsenoughfortheirongoingandverygeneroussupporttohelpmakeallpartiesasuccess.
Afterthepartywaswellunderway,GuildPresidentMarcyMelansonwelcomedtheguestsandthankedourhostsforopeningtheirhome.Shethenintroducedouresteemedmaestro,RichardBuckley,whoreiteratedhisthanksforalltheGuilddoestomakeAustinOperatheworld-classorganizationthatitis.Hisremarksgeneratedaroundofapplauseaseachpersonpresentknowsthistobetrue.AllGuildmemberswhodonatetheirtime,money,andeffortsdosowithagivingattitude,andwedoitbecausewereceivesomuchinreturn.
Theeveningcontinuedwithashortnotefromournew-no-longerGeneralDirector,AnnieBurridge.Shehasbeenwithusoneyearnow,andlookhowfarwehavecome!SheintroducedAustin’sownJuliaTaylor,whosangthepartofFrasquitainthemostrecentproductionofCarmen.Ms.Taylorperformedseveralbeautifularias,beginningwithamesmerizing“AveMaria”andendingwithaholidaysingalong.NyleMatsuoka,AustinOpera’sPrincipalCoachandPianist,accompaniedherontheBorgelt’sbeautifulgrandpiano.
Whenitwastimetosaygood-bye,ourveryimportantvolunteerclean-upcrewsprangintoaction.TheMembershipCommitteethanksyouforquicklyputtingthehousebackintothepre-partycondition.Ifyouhavenotvolunteeredforanypartyjob,pleaseconsiderdoingso;it’sawonderfulwaytogettoknowpeople.
OnbehalfoftheGuildmembership,wewishyouandyourfamilyahealthyandprosperousNewYear.
VOLUNTEEROPPORTUNITIESWITHTHEGUILDbyMackLindsey
Lookingtovolunteer?That’swhattheGuildisherefor,andwevalueyourhelpinmanydifferentways!Doyouhaveexpertise,creativity,orjustalittletime?Wehaveneedsthatinvolveactivitywithgroups,athome,attheOperaoffice,inthecommunity,andatevents,evenoperaperformances.Andweneedyourhelpinseveraldifferentfunctionalareas.Forthese,checkoutaustinopera.org/guild/volunteer.
Tolearnmoreaboutanyoftheseopportunities,ortofindoutaboutupcomingneeds,[email protected]@gmail.com.
You can earn donations for Austin Opera when you shop at Amazon.com. Simply go tosmile.amazon.comanduseyourAmazonlog-in.Onceyoulog-in,selectAustinOperaasthecharityyouwanttosupportand0.5%ofyourtotalwillgotoAustinOperaasadonation.There’snodifferenceinshoppingatsmile.amazon.comversusamazon.comandthereisnoadditionalcosttoyou!
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CARMENSUCCEEDSINWOWINGSTUDENTSbyDianaFergusonandPaulaDamore
Morethan1,200OperaAccessstudentspouredintotheLongCentertoseethedressrehearsalofCarmen.Whenthecurtaincamedowntwohourslater,theroarfromthestudentssoundedmorelikethecheersforamuch-neededfootballtouchdown.It’sthiskindofsuccessthatbuildsaudiencesforthefuture–thegoaloftheEducationandCommunityEngagementCommittee(ECE).
Fallisalwaysaslowtimeduetoschoolactivities,andCarmeniswellknown,sojust3presentationsweremade.ThanksgotoDianeIngram,LissaAndersonandBillWallaceformakingthose
presentationstogroupsthatrangedfromelementary/middleschoolstoretireesatTheConservatory.
With10membersnowonourDocent/Assistantsteam,we’rebusyestablishingaprocessthatpreparesourmemberstogivethemosteffectivepresentationspossible.
InadditiontoAccessOperaanddocentwork,committeemembersservedasambassadorsforvariouscommunityeventsrelatedtoCarmen,whichwerearrangedbyAustinOperaDirectorofEducation,DebraErck.
Ifyouwouldliketoparticipateinourworkofintroducingpeopletooperaandhelpingguestsfeelwelcomeatevents,pleasecontacteitherDianaFergusonorPaulaDamore.There’saspotforeveryoneonEducationandCommunityEngagement!
Austin’s Cap10K run is coming up April 8, 2018 – be sure to joinAustin Opera Runner’sGroup!Participatewithusandcheckthisoffyour“AustinBucketList.”AustinOperawould love tohaveagroupof25ormorerunners(orwalkers!)sowecanhaveanAustinOperatentatthefinishline.Foryour$40registrationfee,youwillreceiveanofficialCap10Kt-shirt,afinisher’smedal,andanAustinOperat-shirt.Formoreinformation,[email protected].
AUSTINOPERACONGRATULATESTWINLIQUORSONTHEIR80THANNIVERSARYANDTHEOPENINGOFTHEIRNEWTWINLIQUORSMARKETPLACEONSOUTHLAMAR
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DININGWITHTHEGUILD–JEANETTENASSOUROPENINGNIGHTDINNERSbyLissaAnderson
WineandbubblygenerouslyprovidedbyTwinLiquors!Appetizerstoteaseyourtongue!AmenuworthyofAustin’sbestrestaurants!Glamoroustablesettingsandsurroundings!Schmoozingwithfriendsoldandnew!What’snottoloveabouttheAustinOperaGuild’sJeanetteNassourOpeningNightDinnerSeries?
OperafanshavelongenjoyedtheelegantdinnerintheLongCenter’sKodoskyLoungethatprecedesthecurtainonopeningnight.Buthowdoestheeventtakeshape?Whatplansmustbemadetoensureasuccessfulevening?Theanswersrequireinputregardingtheopera’ssetting,budgetlimits,previoushitsandmisses,andwhatthecaterercanmanageunderchallengingcircumstances.Thatlastitemisparticularlytricky,becausetheLongCenterdoesnothaveafullkitchen.Therefore,thecaterer—theexcellentSterlingEvents—mustworkmiracleswithinstrictfoodpreparationguidelinesandsafetylaws.Sterling’sPresidentLarryKilleandDirectorofSalesLilyWhitedoaremarkablejobofguidingtheirtalentedchefstoperformthedifficultfeatofdeliveringastellarmeal.Sterling’sFloral/Décor/EventPlanner,ElenaValdes,enhancestheeveningwithbeautifultablescapesandlighting.
Forsomedinners,determiningthethemeiseasierthanothers.Iftheoperaissetinaspecificcountryatacertaintime,themenuanddecorationsfollowsmoothly.Butwhatiftheearly20th-centuryoperacontainselementsofancientGreekmyth,theGermanlanguage,arockband,andaranchinTexas?SuchisthecasewithAriadneaufNaxos.Thesolution?Callameeting!CommitteemembersLissaAnderson,MarciaToprac,AnneClark,ChristineDuval,MaryEllenBorgelt,andJudyWallingmettowranglethepossibilities..So,sendinyourreservationassoonasyoureceivetheinvitation,andyouwillbeassuredofadeliciousmealandamemorableevening.
NEWMEMBERPARTYbyMarcyMelanson
TheannualNewMemberpartywasheldattheNokonahCondopartyroomonOctober8th.
Therewere23attendees-12newmembersand8Guildboardmembers.Also,weweregracedtohaveAngieBonnici,SharonSparlinandMollyAndersonjoinusastheluminariesfromAustinOpera.
Everyoneintroducedthemselvesandeachcommitteegaveapresentationontheirdutiesandansweredanyquestions.
AswithallGuildfunctions,weateanddrankandalovelytimewashadbyall!
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AUSTINOPERAGUILDSUPPORTSERVICESbyLaurenceBjorkmanandStacyBrunson
AustinOperaGuildSupportServices“meetsandgreets”artistscomingtoperformatAustinOpera.Wecoordinateairport-to-lodgingtransportationforsingersarrivinginAustin,andprovideaheftybagofgoodiestogreeteachone.
TheProductionCoordinatorRebeccaGraham-ForbisattheOperaofficecommunicatestheflightschedulesofcastmemberstoSupportServicesapproximatelythreeweeksbeforerehearsalsbegin.Membersofthecastarriveondifferentflightsoverthespanofafewdays,andSupportServicescreatesascheduletoensurethateachartistismetbyanOperaGuildvolunteer,andthentransportedtoarentalcarfacilityoutsideoftheairport[wherelessexpensiveratesareavailable,]ortohisorherlodging.Artistswhoarrivetheafternoonoreveningbeforerehearsalsbeginaretypicallynotinterestedindiningorsocializing,butmostappreciateasidetriptoagrocerystoreonthewaytotheirlodging.
SupportServicesprovidesthedrivervolunteerswhopickupthecastmembers.Volunteershave“Welcome”giftbasketsforthecastmembers,fromAustinOperaGuildmembersandlocalbusinessdonations,stockedwithsnacks,water,giftcertificatestolocalrestaurants,AustinOperamemorabilia,localmagazines,books,andotherarticlesthatareheavilyAustin-themed.Thebagsalsocontaineachartist'srehearsalschedule.
Pleaseconsiderdonatinggoodsorgiftcertificatestothesebaskets!
CARMEN’SENRICHMENTPARTYbyEvelynS.Meditz
Wineflowedamiddelectableheavyhorsd'oeuvresatCarmen’sOctoberEnrichmentparty.HostedatthegorgeoushomeofpastGuildpresidentCurbyConoley,theeventfeaturedOpera’sownspeaker,KatharineShields,andareturnoftalenteddirectorMichaelCavanagh(alsoknownfromhisworkonAustinOpera'sToscain2014).
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LetterfromMarcyMelanson,GuildPresident2017-2018
Helloagain!Hopeeveryonehadalovelyholiday!
WehavestartedtheseasonwithlotsofvigorandactivityincludingtheNewMembersPartyattheNokonah,Kick-offPartyheldatCorneliaandJohnWood’sbeautifulhome,andtheEducationandCommunityEngagementCommitteegavepresentationstoschoolsandretirementcommunities.IhopeeveryonehadchancetoseethewildlysuccessfulpresentationofBizet’sCarmen.TheGuild’smanyactivitiessurroundingtheoperawentbeautifully:
• Thesingerswerechauffeuredfromtheairportandweresuppliedwithwelcomebaskets
• EducationandCommunityEngagementCommitteegavepresentationstoschoolsandretirementcommunities
• Kick-offPartyatCorneliaandJohnWood’shomeEnrichmentevent–CurbyConoley’shome
• JeanetteNassourOpeningNightDinnerSeries• AmbassadorswelcomedgueststotheLongCenterateach
performanceContinuingtheeventstheWinterMembersPartywasheldatMaryEllenandRogerBorgelt’sbeautifulGeorgianhomeandmemberspromotedtheoperaattheArmadilloChristmasBazaar.WenowlookforwardtoourmanyactivitiesforStrauss’sAriadneaufNaxosandthejewelofourGuildActivities:
TheSerenataWineDinner&AuctiononSaturday,February17attheJWMarriottAustin
HonoringWendiandBrianKushnerforalltheyhavedonetoensureAustinOpera’ssurvivalandcontinuedgrowth.Thankyoutoboth!
Itisabeautifulevening,featuringafour-coursewinepaireddinnerwithentertainmentandLiveandSilentAuctionsofrarewines,trips,jewelry,art,andmuchmore.
Manythankstoour225membersfortheirenthusiasm,vigor,andpassionwhichhasledtoaverysuccessfulanddelightfulseason.
Pleasekeepvolunteering,attending,andlovingourAustinOpera.
Thankyou,
MarcyMelanson