Download - COUNTING DOWN TO SERENATA 2018 · 2020. 1. 29. · Austin Opera Guild Winter 2018 1 COUNTING DOWN TO SERENATA 2018 by Diana Ferguson and Paula Damore Our annual Serenata Wine Dinner

Austin Opera Guild Winter 2018

1

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!


2

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.


3

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


4

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!


5

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


6

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!


7

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).


8

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