Doris Yarick Cross · artistic director

Yale Opera

Robert Blocker, Dean

HIGH NOTES2015–2016 season

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Matthew Polenzani’s 2015–2016 season opens with his return to the Opéra national de Paris as Ottavio in Michael Haneke’s acclaimed Don Giovanni. The tenor is Werther at the Bayerische Staatsoper in Munich and again at the Vienna Staatsoper. The Metropolitan Opera in New York has been, and continues to be his artistic home, and he returns there to star in two new productions. He will sing Nadir in Les Pêcheurs de Perles and sings the title role in Roberto Devereux, in a production by Sir David McVicar, with both operas being featured on the Met’s Live in HD series. Mr. Polenzani also makes his debut at the Gran Teatre del Liceu, Barcelona, singing Rodolfo in Puccini’s La bohème. In concert, Mr. Polenzani essays Die schöne Müllerin at Northwestern University as part of the opening season in the new Mary B. Galvin Recital Hall, with Alan Darling at the piano. He will reprise the work with Julius Drake in a Liederabend in Frankfurt at Oper Frankfurt.

Sara Jakubiak will make her Bayerische Staatsoper (Munich) debut as Eva in a new production of Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg alongside Jonas Kaufman’s Walter and under the baton of music director Kirill Petrenko. This fall she debuted as Marie in Die tote Stadt at the Hamburg Opera. This summer she recorded Janáček’s Glagolitic Mass with the Bergen Philharmonic conducted by Edward Gardner for Chandos. Last season, Ms. Jakubiak returned to Semperoper Dresden as Agathe in a new production of Der Freischütz, conducted by music director Christian Thielemann, which will be released commercially as a DVD by Unitel. She continues as a member of the ensemble at Oper Frankfurt for the 2015–2016 season where she will be seen as Lina in a new production of Stiffelio, Marie in Die tote Stadt, and Gutrune in Götterdämmerung.

Featured in the September issue of Opera News as one of the 25 rising stars in opera, David Pershall makes his Metropolitan Opera debut this season starring as Figaro in The Barber of Seville. He will also sing performances of Schaunard in La bohème and Lord Cecil in Maria Stuarda at the Met as well. He will return to the Vienna State Opera to sing Sebastian in The Tempest, Belcore in The Elixir of Love, and Lescaut in Manon Lescaut. He rounds out his season with additional performances of Figaro in Il barbiere di Siviglia with Florida Grand Opera. This past summer he sang Rodrigo in Don Carlos with Oper Burg Gars and Sebastian in The Tempest with the Vienna State Opera.

Matthew Polenzani ’94

David Pershall ’11

Sara Jakubiak ’06

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This season, bass-baritone Christian Van Horn returns to the Lyric Opera of Chicago, where he performs the roles of Alidoro in La Cenerentola and Frère Laurent in Roméo et Juliette; the Metropolitan Opera in November and December singing Colline in La bohème; and the Canadian Opera Company for Escamillo in Carmen. He also makes his debut at Rome Opera as Il Prefetto in Linda di Chamonix, and sings Handel's Messiah at the National Arts Centre in Ottawa.

This season, mezzo-soprano Tamara Mumford returns to the Metropolitan Opera as Smeaton in Anna Bolena. She also appears on tour in the U.S. and Europe with the Gustavo Dudamel and the Los Angeles Philharmonic in performances of Mahler Symphony No. 3, makes her debut with the Netherlands Radio Philharmonic in performances of John Adams’ The Gospel According to the Other Mary, and returns to the Utah Symphony for performances of Mahler Symphony No. 8. This past summer she appeared as Baroness Pannonica de Koenigswarter in the world premiere of Charlie Parker's Yardbird at Philadelphia Opera, and as Pèlerin in L’Amour de Loin with Opéra de Québec.

Bass-baritone Patrick Carfizzi opens the 2015–2016 season with his return to the Metropolitan Opera as the Mandarin in Franco Zeffirelli’s production of Puccini’s Turandot under the baton of Paolo Carignani, and as Cecil in Sir David McVicar’s production of Donizetti’s Maria Stuarda under the baton of Riccardo Frizza. He also makes his company and role debut as Zeta in Lehár’s The Merry Widow with Lyric Opera of Chicago opposite Renée Fleming and Thomas Hampson, directed by Susan Stroman and conducted by Sir Andrew Davis. Mr. Carfizzi continues his season with a return to Lyric Opera of Kansas City as Dulcamara in Donizetti’s L’elisir d’amore, and he makes his Austin Lyric Opera debut as Dr. Bartolo in Rossini’s Il Barbiere di Siviglia. He returns to the Hessisches Staatstheater in Wiesbaden, Germany as Dulcamara in a new production of L’elisir d’amore, and as Fra Melitone in gala performances of Verdi’s La forza del destino. Patrick Carfizzi ’99

Christian Van Horn ’03

Tamara Mumford

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Mireille Asselin ’10 This season, Mireille Asselin returns to the Metropolitan Opera as the cover for Adele in Die Fledermaus, conducted by James Levine, and sings the role of Celia in Opera Atelier’s acclaimed production of Mozart’s Lucio Silla, which returns to Toronto after great successes at the Salzburg Festival and La Scala. On the concert stage she will join the Royal Conservatory Orchestra for Mahler’s Fourth Symphony, the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra for Mahler’s Eighth Symphony, and will present recitals in New York City with the Casement Fund and in Toronto with the RCM.

Eric Barry ’11Eric Barry’s current and future engagements include a leading role with Opera Colorado, Pinkerton in Madama Butterfly for the Florentine Opera Company, Lensky in Eugene Onegin for the North Carolina Opera, the tenor soloist in Beethoven’s Missa Solemnis for Orchestra Iowa, and Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 for Utah Symphony, as well as the featured soloist on Minnesota Orchestra’s concert Inside the Classics, Fritz in L’amico Fritz for Boston Midsummer Opera, and Prince Hal in At the Boar’s Head for the Beethoven Easter Festival in Warsaw.

Jennifer Black ’04 This season Jennifer Black can be seen as Donna Elvira in a concert performance of Don Giovanni at the Baltimore Symphony, soprano soloist in Orff ’s Carmina Burana at Southwest Florida Symphony, Lida in La battaglia di Legnano with Sarasota Opera, and Strauss’ Four Last Songs with the Ridgefield Symphony. She also returns to the Metropolitan Opera for La donna del Lago.

Zach Borichevsky ’08 This season Zach Borichevsky makes his house debut as Edmondo in Manon Lescaut for the Metropolitan Opera under Fabio Luisi, and his English National Opera debut as Rodolfo in La bohème under Xian Zhang. Further highlights this season in- clude a return to the Santa Fe Festival for his role debut as Anatol in a new production of Vanessa, and a role debut as Eisenstein in Die Fledermaus with Cincinnati Opera. On the concert platform Zach joins the Minnesota Orchestra for Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 under Osmo Vänskä, returns to the Netherlands Radio Philharmonic Orchestra to reprise the role of Lazarus in John Adams’ The Gospel According to the Other Mary.

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Jeremy Bowes ’10 In the 2015–2016 season he concentrates his operatic energies on Canada’s west coast, where he will be heard as the Bonze in Madama Butterfly for Vancouver Opera, and Lodovico in Otello and Flowers in a tour of Mary’s Wedding for Pacific Opera Victoria. His concert engagements take him to the Winnipeg Symphony for Messiah and for the Windsor Symphony, he sings Colline in a concert performance of La bohème.

Teresa Buchholz ’98This season Teresa Buchholz will perform the role of Mrs. Lovett in Sweeney Todd with Opera Roanoke and will sing Hansel in Hansel and Gretel with Diamond Opera Theatre. She will appear in concert with Bard College Orchestra singing Berlioz’s Les nuits d’été.

Heather Buck ’96Heather Buck’s 2015–2016 season currently includes the role of Ku in Gilgamesh with Beth Morrison Projects. In the 2014–2015 season she returned to Nashville Opera as Musetta in La bohème, and to Florentine Opera as Isabella Linton in Carlisle Floyd’s Wuthering Heights. She sang Dominick Argento’s Miss Havisham’s Wedding Night with Odyssey Opera of Boston and was soloist in Felder’s Les Quatre Temps Cardinaux and Saariaho’s Leino Songs with the Center for 21st-Century Music. She will appear with the Spoleto Festival in Charleston next summer with The Little Match Girl.

Erin Caves ’95Recent highlights for American tenor Erin Caves include his much acclaimed role debut as Tristan in Tristan und Isolde at Oper Stuttgart under the baton of Sylvain Cambreling and the same role at the Opéra national de Bordeaux conducted by Paul Daniel. He will return to Stuttgart for Tristan and is scheduled to sing the part at the Badische Staatstheater Karlsruhe and in concert with the Yomiuri Nippon Symphony Orchestra in Tokyo. Further forthcoming engagements are the role debuts of Don José in Carmen and Herman in Pique Dame, both at Oper Stuttgart.

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Michael Chioldi ’94This summer Michael Chioldi performed the title role in Macbeth with Chautauqua Opera. His upcoming engagements this season include Scarpia in Tosca with Utah Opera, the title role in Rigoletto with Filarmonica de Jalisco, Gianni Schicchi with Chicago Opera Theatre, Macbeth with Michigan Opera Theater, and Conte di Luna in Il trovatore with Hawaii Opera Theater.

Steven Condy ’90 This season, Steven Condy will delight audiences with his performances in the title role of Don Pasquale at Opera Naples and Opera on the James; and appearances as Falstaff with Opera Delaware and Baltimore Concert Opera. This past summer he appeared as Dulcamara in L’elisir d’amore with Portland Opera.

James Creswell ’99This summer James Creswell made his début with Bordeaux Opera as Oroveso in Norma. This season he sings several roles with the English National Opera including Padre Guardiano in La forza del destino, Oroveso in Norma, and Sarastro in Die Zauberflöte. In the spring of 2016 James will sing Fasolt and Hunding in Wagner’s Ring Cycle for Opera North.

Adam DiegelThis season, Adam Diegel’s engagements include appearances in two of his signature roles: Pinkerton in Madama Butterfly at Opera San Antonio, and Don José in Carmen at Arizona Opera. Diegel will also sing the title role in Verdi’s Don Carlo in a debut at Lithuanian National Opera. His 2014–2015 season included his debut at Seattle Opera as Cavaradossi in Tosca under the baton of Julian Kovatchev and appearances as Pinkerton in Madama Butterfly in Atlanta Opera productions led by musical director Arthur Fagen, and the Perth International Arts Festival, led by David Parry.

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Jeffrey Dowd ’86 In the 2015–2016 season, Jeffrey Dowd continues as a member of the ensemble for Theater Essen where he appears as Manolios in Martinů’s The Greek Passion, Florestan in Fidelio, and Erik in Der fliegende Holländer. He will also sing the title role in Parsifal with Theater Chemnitz and Badisches Staatstheater Karlsruhe.

Jane Dutton ’95 This year Jane Dutton performed the roles of Irene in Rienzi and Senta in Der fliegende Holländer with the Kiel Opera House. Future engagements include her first Brünnhilde in Die Walküre in both Germany and England.

Gala El Hadidi ’10 Mezzo-soprano Gala El Hadidi is a principal artist with the Sächsische Staatsoper in Dresden for the 2015–2016 season, where her roles include Rosina (Il barbiere di Siviglia), Dorina (Dorina e Nibbio), Medoro (Orlando), Prince Orlofsky (Die Fledermaus), the title roles in Carmen and Prince Bussel, Cherubino (Le nozze di Figaro), Flora Bervoix (La traviata), Maddalena (Rigoletto), Hansel (Hansel and Gretel), Second Maid (Elektra), and Second and Third Lady (The Magic Flute). In addition, El Hadidi will perform this season in the German premiere of The Great Gatsby and in a new production of Der Kaiser von Atlantis.

Jennifer Feinstein ’11 Future engagements include her theater and role debut as Santuzza in Cavalleria Rusticana with Theater Münster, a return to Pfalztheater Kaiserslautern to sing Olga in Eugene Onegin, and a role debut as Carmen with St. Petersburg Opera (Florida). She will also be covering the role of Agave in The Bassarids for Teatro dell’opera di Roma. This summer she appeared as a soloist Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony with the Orchestra at St. Luke’s for the opening night of the 2015 Caramoor Festival.

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Amanda Hall ’10 In summer 2015, Amanda Hall sang The Maid in Thomas Adès’ Powder Her Face with Boston’s Odyssey Opera and Rosalinda in Die Fledermaus in a return to Opera Theater of Connecticut. Her 2015–2016 season includes singing the Marschallin’s final scene with the Charleston Symphony Orchestra. This past season she was soloist in Beethoven’s Missa Solemnis with the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra and New York’s New Choral Society; Mendelssohn’s Incidental Music from A Midsummer Night’s Dream with the Waterbury Symphony Orchestra; Cantaloube’s Chants d’Auverne with the New Haven Symphony Orchestra; Bach’s Mass in B minor and Cantata No. 4 with the Grand Rapids Symphony; Mendelssohn’s Elijah with the South Dakota Symphony Orchestra; Vaughan Williams’ A Sea Symphony with the Modesto Symphony Orchestra; and Verdi’s “Defiant” Requiem with the Defiant Requiem Foundation.

Leah Hawkins ’15Mezzo-soprano Leah Hawkins joins Washington National Opera’s Domingo-Cafritz Young Artist Program for her first season in the fall of 2015 where she will appear in November as Mrs. Dorsey and Viola Lee in the world premiere of the revised version of Appomattox. This past summer she was a Studio Artist with Chautauqua Opera, where she covered the role of Madame Larina in Eugene Onegin.

Kelly Hill ’13This summer Kelly Hill sang the role of Mrs. Sedley in Peter Grimes with Madison Lyric Stage, followed by the role of Prince Orlofsky in Die Fledermaus with the Opera Theater of Connecticut. Last spring, she performed the role of Mrs. Gobineau in Menotti’s The Medium in the first opera produced at the Yale Cabaret. She'll return to the Cab this fall (Nov. 19, 20, and 21) to star as Dinah in Bernstein’s Trouble in Tahiti.

Jihee Kim ’11Soprano Jihee Kim is on the roster of the Metropolitan Opera for the 2015–2016 season where she covers Barbarina in Le nozze di Figaro. At the Met last season she sang the role of the Crowned Child in Macbeth, and covered Dew Fairy in Hansel and Gretel and Zerlina in Don Giovanni. This summer she performed Murasame in Matsukaze with Theatre Kiel.

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Alison King ’14This summer Alison King was an Apprentice Artist with Chautauqua Opera, where she covered the role of Tatiana in Eugene Onegin. Ms. King was a 2015 winner of the Boston District Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions. In January 2015 she performed with Susan Graham at Carnegie Hall as part of Marilyn Horne’s Song Celebration. This fall, she joins Frankfurt Opera.

David Leigh ’14As winner of the 2015 Eastern Region of the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions, David Leigh sang on the Met stage in March as a National Semifinalist. This past summer David was a Gerdine Young Artist with the Opera Theatre of St. Louis, and was at the Ravinia Stearns Music Institute. Engagements this season include performing at the Metropolitan Opera National Council 2016 launch event as a soloist, and performing Fafner in Act II of Siegfried with Queen City Chamber Opera.

Samuel Levine ’12 Levine is a first-year Artist Diploma student in Opera Studies at the Juilliard School, where he is featured this season as Le Mari in Les mamelles de Tirésias and First Armed Guard in Die Zauberflöte. Recent engagements include Don Ottavio in Don Giovanni with Boston Lyric Opera, Don José in Carmen with Savannah Voice Festival, and Fenton in Sir John in Love with Odyssey Opera. Future seasons include engagements with Opera Philadelphia and a return to Boston Lyric Opera.

Ryan MacPherson ’00 Ryan MacPherson’s engagements this fall include performing the title role in Lucio Silla with Chicago Opera Theatre in September and October, singing Don José in Carmen with Shreveport Opera in October, and Gérald in Lakmé with Calgary Opera. In 2016 he will also sing the roles of Curley in Of Mice and Men (Austin Lyric Opera), Camille in The Merry Widow (Pensacola Opera), Nanki Poo in The Mikado (Anchorage Opera), and Fenton in Falstaff (Opera Delaware). This past summer he sang Alfredo in La traviata with Central City Opera.

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Jamilyn Manning-White ’12This past summer Jamilyn Manning-White debuted as Musetta in La bohème with Utah Festival Opera and Musical Theatre and appeared as a soloist in Carmina Burana (Craig Jessop conducting) with the American Festival Chorus in the summer of 2015. She appeared as Phoebe in the Broadway promotional cast for A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder in nationwide performances from January through September 2015, and in the 2014–2015 season she was the soprano soloist for Mahler’s Fourth Symphony with the Hartford Symphony Orchestra. Her 2015–2016 season includes Musetta in La bohème with the Bangor Symphony Orchestra, the title role in Lucia di Lammermoor with Heartbeat Opera, and Ethel Toffelmeier in The Music Man with Yale Musical Theatre.

Nicholas Masters ’08Nicholas Masters’ 2015–2016 season will see returns to English National Opera as Colline in La bohème and the Metropolitan Opera to cover Sir Walter Raleigh in Roberto Devereux. Recent engagements include Ashby in Girl of the Golden West with the English National Opera, singing the roles of Gremin in Eugene Onegin and Sarastro in Die Zauberflöte with Arizona Opera, and covering the role of the Keeper of the Madhouse in The Rake’s Progress in his Metropolitan Opera debut.

Sarah Jane McMahon ’04This season Sarah Jane McMahon participates in the world premiere of Mark Adamo’s Becoming Santa Claus with Dallas Opera as the cover for Queen Sophine. She also appears with Tulsa Opera as Stella in A Streetcar Named Desire.

Cameron McPhail ’12Highlights of Cameron McPhail’s 2015–2016 season include appearing as baritone soloist in Carmina Burana for the Winnipeg Symphony, Christus in Bach’s Matthäus-Passion for Vancouver Bach Choir, and his debut for Calgary Opera as Frédéric in Lakmé. Recent engagements include performances with Against the Grain Theatre as the lead in Uncle John, a contemporary version of Mozart’s Don Giovanni; Jack Worthing in the Victor Davies/Eugene Benson operetta, Earnest, the Importance of Being with Toronto Operetta Theatre.

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Nathan Milholin ’13This past summer Nathan Milholin was a Young Artist at the Glimmerglass Festival, where he participated in The Magic Flute and and Macbeth. This year he continues with the Academy of Vocal Arts, where his roles have included Méphistophélès in Faust, Colline/Benoit in La bohème, and Haly in L’italiana in Algeri.

Liam Moran ’05Recently Liam Moran was featured with Washington Concert Opera as Lorenzo in Bellini’s I Capuleti e i Montecchi. He debuted with Madison Opera as Don Fernando in Fidelio and the Kansas City Symphony in The Messiah, and returned to the Metropolitan Opera for Don Carlo. This season he will return to Madison Opera as Colline in La bohème.

Nikhil Navkal ’14This past summer Nikhil Navkal appeared as a Bel Canto Young Artist at the Caramoor Festival, where he sang First Commissioner in Poulenc’s Dialogues des carmélites and covered Fernand in Donizetti’s La favorite. This January through March, Nikhil will star as Nadir in Bizet’s Les pêcheurs de perles at the iconic Syndney Opera House in a new production directed by Michael Gow.

Abigail Nims ’07 Abigail Nims’ engagements during the 2015–2016 season include appearing as a soloist Mozart’s Requiem with the Midland-Odessa Symphony, and the Messiah and Bach’s St. Matthew Passion with the Boulder Philharmonic Orchestra.

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Edward Parks ’08 Edward Parks’ 2015–2016 season will include debuts with Virginia Opera as Marcello in La bohème and Des Moines Metro Opera as Ford in Falstaff, a return to Atlanta Opera as Mercutio in Roméo et Juliette, a performance of the music of composer Ben Moore with The Cliburn, and his return to the Metropolitan Opera to cover Schaunard in La bohème. He was awarded third prize in Placido Domingo’s 2015 Operalia Competition and will be presented in the organization’s “The Voices of 2015” concert in Hungary this year. Last season saw Mr. Parks return to the Metropolitan Opera for productions of La bohème, Die Zauberflöte, and Don Carlo. He also sang the role of Laurent in Chicago Opera Theater and Long Beach Opera’s co-production of Tobias Picker’s Thérèse Raquin, joined the American Repertory Theater as the cover of Walt Whitman in Crossing, returned to Carnegie’s Zankel Hall to perform in recital with Susan Graham for the Marilyn Horne Foundation, and sang Orff ’s Carmina Burana with the Prague Proms International Music Festival and the Czech National Symphony Orchestra.

Damien Pass ’09 Future engagements for Damien Pass include Selim (Il turco in Italia) with Opera of Dijon, Pallante (Agrippina) with Theatre an der Wien, Dédale (Monstre du labyrinthe) with Opera of Lille, and recitals at the Amphitheater of Opera Bastille and Opera of Lille.

Mary Phillips ’93 This season Mary Phillips returns to the roster of the Metropolitan Opera. Performances in 2015 include Gertrude in Hamlet with Opera Birmingham and Princess Eboli in Don Carlos with Sarasota Opera.

David Pittsinger ’86 David Pittsinger begins the 2015–2016 season with his role debut as Robert E. Lee and Edgar Ray Killen in a new production of Philip Glass’ Appomattox at Washington National Opera directed by Tazewell Thompson and conducted by Dante Anzolini. He also makes role debuts this season as Fred Graham in Cole Porter’s Kiss Me, Kate at the Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris, the title role in Stephen Sondheim’s Sweeney Todd with Portland Opera, and Reverend Hale in Robert Ward’s Pulitzer Prize-winning operatic adaptation of The Crucible at the Glimmerglass Festival. Mr. Pittsinger also returns to The Dallas Opera as the Comte des Grieux in Manon under the baton of Graeme Jenkins and to Pittsburgh Opera as Nick Shadow in The Rake’s Progress.

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Matthew Plenk ’06 This season, tenor Matthew Plenk returns to the Lyric Opera of Kansas City as Don Ottavio in Don Giovanni and to the Opera Theater of St. Louis as Macduff in Macbeth. He also sings Handel’s Messiah with the UMS in Ann Arbor and with the Minnesota Orchestra, and appears at Carnegie Hall with the Oratorio Society of New York in a performance of Filas’ Requiem. This past summer he appeared as Steuermann in Der fliegende Höllander with the Ravinia Festival.

Rebecca Ringle ’06 In the 2015–2016 season, Rebecca Ringle will join the Brevard Symphony for Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony, the Midcoast Symphony Orchestra for Verdi’s Requiem, and the Omaha Symphony for Handel’s Messiah. She also returns to the Metropolitan Opera roster in Elektra as the Third Maid/ Schleppträgerin (cover). This summer she starred in Loft Opera’s staged production of Berlioz’s Les nuits d’été.

Aleksandra Romano ’14This season Aleksandra Romano returns as a Domingo-Cafritz young artist to Washington National Opera, where she will per- form Mercédès in Carmen, Hänsel in Hansel und Gretel, and in Kurt Weill’s Lost in the Stars, as well as covering the role of Wellgunde in Das Rheingold. Additional engagements include performing the title role in scenes from Carmen with the Apollo Orchestra, and Mariam in a workshop of A Thousand Splendid Suns with American Opera Projects. This past summer she re- turned to The Glimmerglass Festival to sing Second Lady in The Magic Flute, Dinah in Trouble in Tahiti, and Marzia (cover) in Vivaldi’s Catone in Utica. Future seasons will see a return to Washington National Opera.

Annie Rosen ’12 For the 2015–2016 season Annie Rosen joins the Chicago Lyric Opera's Ryan Opera Center Ensemble, where she will make her mainstage debut as Tisbe in La Cenerentola alongside fellow Yale Opera alumnus Christian van Horn. Annie will also appear in Lyric Opera of Chicago’s world premiere production of Jimmy López’s Bel Canto (based on the novel by Ann Patchett) as Edith Thibault. In December she will perform as mezzo soloist in Handel’s Messiah with the Virginia Symphony.

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Claudia Rosenthal ’14This season, Claudia Rosenthal joins the Pittsburgh Opera as a member of its Resident Artist Program. There she will perform Amy in Adamo's Little Women, Berta in Rossini’s The Barber of Seville, and she will cover Anne Truelove in Stravinsky’s The Rake's Progress. Recently, she was an Eastern Region Finalist and the recipient of the 2015 Rohatyn Great Promise Award at the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions. She also won First Prize and the Irene Patti Memorial Award (for an exceptional soprano) at Florida Grand Opera’s Young Patronesses of the Opera National Voice Competition. This past summer, she appeared as a Young Artist with Opera on the Avalon, where she starred as the Governess in Britten’s The Turn of the Screw.

Galeano Salas ’13 This past summer Galeano Salas was an apprentice artist with Santa Fe Opera, where he performed the role of Borsa in Rigoletto. Galeano is in his third year at the Academy of Vocal Arts and will appear in L’amore dei tre re in February. His roles with AVA have included Rodolfo in La bohème, Alfredo in La traviata, and Herman in Pique Dame. This fall he won the American Prize in the Collegiate/University Division and First Prize in the Altamura Caruso Competition.

Rolando Sanz ’03 This season, Rolando Sanz joins the roster of The Metropolitan opera for Bartlett Sher’s anticipated new production of Otello, sings Alfredo in La traviata at Ash Lawn Opera, and joins Toledo Opera for a gala concert. Recently, he returned to Florentine Opera and Finger Lakes Opera as Nemorino in L’elisir d’amore, joined Baltimore Concert Opera for the U.S. premiere of Franco Faccio’s Amleto, and made his Virginia Opera début as Alfredo in La traviata.

Michael Scarcelle ’04This year Michael Scarcelle made his Carnegie Hall debut as Masolino in American Symphony Orchestra’s performance of Schillings’ Mona Lisa, returned to Anchorage Opera to perform Papageno in The Magic Flute and sang both Duruflé’s and Fauré’s Requiems with Manhattan Concert Productions, again at Carnegie Hall. Upcoming engagements include the title role Le nozze di Figaro with Opera Theater of Pittsburgh.

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Chad Shelton ’97 In the 2015–2016 season, Chad Shelton returns to Houston Grand Opera singing Cavardossi in Tosca and to create the role of Charles II in the world premiere of Carlisle Floyd’s Prince of Players. He also makes his Metropolitan Opera debut as Rodrigo in a Bartlett Sher’s new production of Otello and also joins the company for Elektra. Later this season, he returns to one of his most frequently performed roles, Alfredo in La traviata, with Pensacola Opera.

Jenna Siladie ’13 This summer Jenna Siladie made her company and role debut singing Laurie Moss in Opera North’s production of The Tender Land, where she also covered Maria in West Side Story. Highlights of this past season include Susanna in Le nozze di Figaro with Bronx Opera, and starring in two Martinů operas — as Armanda in Alexandre Bis and Popelka in Comedy on the Bridge — with Gotham Chamber Opera.

Tyler Simpson ’10 The 2015–2016 season will see Tyler Simpson return to the Metropolitan Opera, where he will sing the role of Jailer in Tosca and cover the role of Servant in Lulu. He also returns to Fort Worth Opera as Basilio in Il barbiere di Siviglia as well as debuts with Hawaii Opera Theatre as Snug in A Midsummer Night’s Dream and North Carolina Opera as Dr. Bartolo in Il barbiere di Siviglia. This past summer Tyler performed in L’heure espagnol and Roméo et Juliette with the Castleton Music Festival.

Aaron Sorensen ’12This season Aaron will appear at Huntsville Symphony Orchestra as Osmin in Die Entführung aus dem Serail and Neptune/Antinoo in Il Ritorno d’Ulisse in Patria with West Edge Opera. Last season Sorensen returned to Gotham Chamber Opera for productions of Comedy on the Bridge and Alexandre bis; débuted with Huntsville Symphony as Judge Barnett/Officer Jimmy in the world première of Gregory Vajda’s Georgia Bottoms: A Comic Opera of the Modern South, based on the best-selling novel by Mark Childress; sang Osmin in Die Entführung aus dem Serail at Peabody Opera Theatre and with Houston Symphony Orchestra; and débuted with Nashville Opera as the Sergeant of Police in Pirates of Penzance.

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Christoph Späth ’89Tenor Christoph Späth continues to sing with the Komische Oper Berlin this season, performing roles Basilio in The Marriage of Figaro, Pickering in My Fair Lady, the Dean in Cendrillon, and Triquet in Eugene Onegin, among others.

Tadeusz Szlenkier ’09 Tenor Tadeusz Szlenkier’s upcoming engagements this season include singing the role of Pinkerton in Madama Butterfly with the Polish National Opera in Warsaw, and Barinkay in Der Zigeunerbaron and Jontek in Halka with Opera Nova in Bydgoszcz. He will appear as the tenor in Terrence McNally’s play, Master Class.

Peter Tantsits ’04 Highlights from this past season include returning to the Bavarian State Opera for Die Soldaten; his debuts with both LA Opera and Fort Worth Opera as Pat in Dog Days, and his Carnegie Hall debut as the tenor soloist in Carmina Burana with the New York Oratorio Society. This month he returns to the Brooklyn Academy of Music for Nathan Davis’s Hagoromo. Other engage-ments for his 2015–2016 season include the title role in the German premiere of Dusapin’s Perelà at the Staatstheater Mainz, Andres in Wozzeck at the Concertgebouw Amsterdam, and Michael in Donnerstag aus Licht with Theater Basel.

Kenneth Tarver ’92This season tenor Kenneth Tarver appears as Arbace in Mozart’s Idomeneo with the Bach Academy in Stuttgart. He also will sing the role of Count Almaviva in Il barbiere di Siviglia with Opera Australia in Sydney. This summer he performed with the Belcanto Opera Festival in Wildbad as Contareno in Rossini’s Bianca e Falliiero. In February, Sony Classical released a recording of Così fan tutte starring Mr. Tarver as Ferrando, a performance that has garnered glowing reviews from critics: “It is not just that he has a voice for which Mozart’s music might have been tailor-made: in addition to that quality, Mr. Tarver knows how to sing the role, shaping every phrase with a naturalness and grace that elude even very accomplished Mozarteans. Ferrando’s Act One aria ‘Un'aura amorosa’ is one of Mozart’s most gorgeous inspir- ations, and it has never been more lovingly and gracefully sung on records than by Mr. Tarver in this performance” (Voix Des Arts, Feb. 2015).

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Eva Vogel ’02Eva Vogel’s engagements this season include singing Hänsel in Hänsel und Gretel with Angers-Nantes Opéra in France as well as a tour as the mezzo soloist in Beethoven’s 9th Symphony with the Berlin Philharmonic under the baton of Sir Simon Rattle with appearances in New York (Carnegie Hall), Vienna, Paris, Tokyo, and Taipei.

Brian Vu ’15This season baritone Brian Vu is a member of the Resident Artist Program at Pittsburgh Opera where he will perform the title roles in Il barbiere di Siviglia as well as Fiorello, John Brooke in Little Women, and Leo Stein in Ricky Ian Gordon’s 27. This past summer he was a Young Artist with the Glimmerglass Festival where he appeared in Trouble in Tahiti as the Jazz Trio Baritone and covered the roles of Maximilian, Martin, the Baron, James, and Father Colonel in Francesca Zambello’s new production of Candide. Future engagements include debuts with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra and Eastern Connecticut Symphony Orchestra.

Brad Walker ’15Brad Walker has been selected as a 2016 Adler Fellow with the San Francisco Opera, where he will appear in roles and concerts with the San Francisco Opera. This past summer he participated in the Merola Opera Program, where he sang the role of Betto in Gianni Schicchi.

Chrystal E. Williams ’10This past summer’s engagements included a concert with the Cairo Symphony Orchestra in Cairo, Egypt; her debut with Opera Philadelphia as Rebecca Parker in Charlie Parker's Yardbird, a new commission by Daniel Schnyder; and singing Rosina in Il barbiere di Siviglia with Pine Mountain Music Fes- tival in Michigan. Upcoming performances this season include a concert with Norrköpings Symfoniorkester in Sweden, a debut with Washington National Opera as Elizabeth Keckley/Coretta Scott King in Philip Glass’s Appomattox, Hansel in Hänsel und Gretel with Knoxville Opera, and a recital with Portsmouth Community Concerts, Inc. in Virginia.

18 | High Notes

Lisa Williamson ’12This past season Lisa Williamson returned to Washington National Opera to sing The Rose in Rachel Portman’s The Little Prince. She also made debuts with Connecticut Concert Opera as Lauretta in Gianni Schicchi and with Salt Marsh Opera as Barbarina in Le nozze di Figaro, with additional engagements with Opera Theater of Connecticut as Musetta in La bohème and at the Sanibel Music Festival in An Evening with Rodgers and Hammerstein. This summer she returned to Opera Theater of Connecticut singing Adele in Die Fledermaus. In November she will appear as a soprano soloist with the New Haven Symphony Orchestra for their “Brothers in Arts” concert.

Leah Wool ’03Leah Wool’s 2015–2016 season sees a return with Boston Baroque as Holofernes in Juditha Triumphans, and a debut with the Nashville Symphony in Mozart’s Requiem. Last season season was met with anticipated returns with two companies: the San Francisco Symphony, for Handel’s Messiah, and the Utah Opera, for Dorabella in Così fan tutte.

p.o. box 208246 new haven, ct 06520-8246203 432-2690

music.yale.edu/opera

Yale Opera

Doris Yarick Cross, artistic director, Yale Opera

Erika Niemi Heltzel, manager, Yale Opera

February 19—21, 2016 Shubert Theater

Tickets $19-50, available at www.shubert.com or 203-562-5666