Opera review: Angela Meade shines brightest among stars at Portland SummerFest's Opera in the Park
Meade and Zeller overcome wind, microphones, and airplanes in outdoor Trovatore
Portland SummerFest Presents Opera in the Park
Portland SummerFest Presents Opera in the Park
IL TROVATORE by Giuseppe Verdi
Libretto: Salvatore Cammarano & Leone Emanuele Bardare
With the Portland SummerFest Chorus & Orchestra - Keith Clark, conductor
Friday, August 6, 2010 at 6pm in the Washington Park Amphitheater
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Leonora
Less than two years after her professional debut, American soprano Angela Meade has quickly become recognized as one of the outstanding vocalists of her generation. The New Yorker hailed her as "a lavishly gifted young soprano who sings across a very wide range with uncommon beauty and strength of tone…this fast rising soprano will undoubtedly have many triumphs". Ms. Meade excels in the most demanding heroines of the nineteenth century bel canto repertoire as well as in the operas of Verdi and Mozart.
Ms. Meade joined an elite group of history's singers when she made her professional operatic debut on the stage of the Metropolitan Opera as Verdi's Elvira in Ernani substituting for an ill colleague in March 2008. Ronald Blum of the Associated Press wrote of the debut, "she showed a vibrant voice with nice color and an assured technique and sang like an old pro from start to finish." She had previously sung on the Met stage as one of the winners of the 2007 Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions, a process that is documented in the film The Audition recently released on DVD by Decca. The New York Times noted Ms. Meade as "an impressive soprano who powered out a 'Casta diva' from Bellini's Norma that left everyone breathless."
Ms. Meade's 2009-10 season included a return to the Metropolitan Opera as Mozart's Countess in Jonathan Miller's production of Le Nozze di Figaro under the baton of Fabio Luisi. She also covered the notoriously difficult title role in Rossini's Armida. Ms. Meade was also at the San Francisco Opera covering Konstanze in Mozart's Die Entführung aus dem Serail. Ms. Meade's summer was highlighted by a return to The Caramoor Festival to perform the iconic title role in Bellini's Norma conducted by Will Crutchfield. She also sang the role at her alma mater, the Academy of Vocal Arts, in concert performance.
Recently Ms. Meade has been adding to her repertoire with initial performances of three of Donizetti's greatest roles, Elisabetta in Roberto Devereux at the Dallas Opera and the title roles of Anna Bolena and Lucia di Lammermoor at AVA. She also recently triumphed in the title role of Rossini's challenging Semiramide at the Caramoor Festival.
Past operatic credits include Agathe in Der Freischütz, the title role in Handel's Agrippina, Fiordiligi in Così fan tutte, Mme. Herz in Der Schauspieldirektor, The Queen of the Night and First Lady in Die Zauberflöte, and Rosalinde in Die Fledermaus. On the concert stage, Ms. Meade recently sang Strauss' Vier letzte Lieder with Symphony in C at Philadelphia's Kimmel Center, Poulenc's Gloria in New York City with The Little Orchestra Society, Rossini's Stabat Mater with the Academy of Vocal Arts, Beethoven's Ninth Symphony with both the Pasadena Symphony and the Monmouth Civic Chorus, Verdi's Requiem and Handel's Messiah with the Pacific Lutheran University Symphony and Vivaldi's Gloria with the Santa Monica Chamber Orchestra.
Il Trovatore is Ms. Meade's debut performance with Portland SummerFest. -
Il Conte di Luna
One of America's leading baritones, Richard Zeller, is internationally acclaimed for his concert and opera roles. He is known for his beautiful dramatic voice and presence as well as his outstanding musicianship. His recent engagements include the roles of Macbeth and Valentin in Faust for Portland Opera, Metropolitan Opera performances of Giordano's Andrea Chenier and Gounod's Faust, and Lyric Opera of Chicago's Boris Godunov and Andrea Chenier. Other appearances have included Marcello in La Bohème with Cincinnati Opera, at the Metropolitan Opera in La Bohème and Tannhäuser, and in Scottish Opera's widely heralded, award-winning production of Macbeth directed by Luc Bondy at its Edinburgh Festival premiere in 1999/2000 and revival at the Vienna Festival. He has performed Gluck's Alceste at the Deutsche Staatsoper Berlin and Gluck's Ipighénie en Tauride in Madrid. Mr. Zeller has frequently performed the role of Germont in Verdi's La Traviata in opera and concert venues that include Hamburgische Staatsoper, San Diego Opera, Scottish Opera, Deutsche Oper am Rhein, Opera Rotterdam and Dublin Opera and he will perform Germont in Portland Opera's upcoming production of La Traviata this fall. Other Verdi baritone roles include Amonasro in Aida with Portland Opera and Florida Philharmonic, the title role in Rigoletto with New York City Opera; and Count di Luna in Il Trovatore with both San Diego Opera and Scottish Opera. Richard Zeller's recordings include Beethoven's Symphony No. 9 for Centaur Records, and Virgil Thompson's Lord Byron and Aaron Copland's The Tender Land for Koch International.
In 2002/03 Mr. Zeller appeared at the Metropolitan Opera in three new productions: as Ernesto in Bellini's Il Pirata with Renée Fleming; in the lead role of Eddie in William Bolcom's opera based on the Arthur Miller play A View From the Bridge; and as Chorebe in Berlioz's Les Troyens, conducted by Maestro James Levine. He also appeared twice with New Jersey Symphony and Zdenek Macal, recording Dvorak's Te Deum and performing Beethoven's 9th Symphony. He sang Beethoven's Missa Solemnis with the St. Louis Symphony and Donald Runnicles and appeared with Keith Lockhart and the Utah Symphony in Walton's Belshazzar's Feast. He performed in the Metropolitan Opera's Concerts in the Parks as Enrico in Donizetti's Lucia di Lammermoor, and sang Fauré's Requiem and Berlioz's Roméo et Juliette with the Cleveland Orchestra conducted by Jahja Ling.
Mr. Zeller has previously appeared with Portland SummerFest in the title role in Verdi's Rigoletto (2007), Lord Enrico Ashton in Lucia di Lammermoor (2008), and Germont in La Traviatta (2009). -
Azucena
Young American artist Anna Jablonski has already attracted attention as a singer with an alluring, distinctive timbre, compelling stage presence, and interpretive depth. Following three years as a resident artist with the Minnesota Opera where she appeared in a number of roles including Rita in the American Premiere of The Handmaid's Tale, Flora in La Traviata, Mary in Der Fliegende Holländer, Maddelena in Rigoletto, Second Lady in Die Zauberflöte, Mercédès in Carmen and Nancy T'ang in Nixon in China. Ms. Jablonski participated in San Francisco Opera's Merola Opera Program, Chautauqua Opera's Studio Artist Program, and appeared with the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment at Glyndebourne Opera. The current season includes appearances with Los Angeles Opera in their production of The Fly, Pittsburgh Opera in their production of The Grapes of Wrath, and the Mozart Requiem with the Savannah Philharmonic Chorus and Orchestra. Last spring, she sang the world premiere of Alessandro Cadario's Cantata for Revival with Musica Sacra at Lincoln Center's Rose Theater. Other concert appearances of note include performances of Honegger's Le Roi David and Stravinsky's Mass with the Oratorio Society of New York at Carnegie Hall, Mozart Requiem with the Tallahassee Symphony, and Elgar's Sea Pictures with the Allegro Sinfonia in Minneapolis.
Additional roles in Ms Jablonski's repertoire include Cherubino, Dorabella, Suzuki, Adalgisa, Mafio Orsini in Lucrezia Borgia, and the title role in La Cenerentola. Notable conductors with whom she has worked include Placido Domingo, Vladimir Jurowski, Antony Walker, John Keenan, Kent Tritle, William Crutchfield, Guido Rumstadt and Helmuth Rilling. Directors include David Cronenberg, Eric Simonson, Christopher Mattaliano, and James Robinson. Ms. Jablonski has been a three-time Regional winner of the Metropolitan Opera Audition including the Outstanding Mezzo award from Ms. Suzanne Mentzer, and First Place in The Schubert Club competition. You can hear Ms. Jablonski in the original cast World Premiere recording of The Grapes of Wrath on PS Classics.
Ms. Jablonski has previously appeared with Portland SummerFest as Berta in The Barber of Seville (2003) and Flora in La Traviatta (2009). -
Manrico
Lyric tenor Mark T. Panuccio is earning sensational international acclaim from both audiences and critics. In 2010, Mr. Panuccio sang with the Cincinnati Chamber Orchestra where the Cincinnati Enquirer hailed him saying "There were moments for the soloists to bask in the spotlight, too, including the opening "E lucevan le stelle" from Puccini's Tosca where Panuccio served notice once again that he is a leading tenor of the first rank…He has it all: a stellar voice, good looks, keen acting skills and the intelligence to handle a major career…With a sheaf of international engagements in his pocket, he may not be heard in Cincinnati as often as he has to date." In 2009, he performed Bégearss in The Ghosts of Versailles with Wexford Festival Opera in which Opera News exalted him saying "As the villain Bégearss, Mark T. Panuccio gave what might well turn out to be a career-making performance…His well-produced tenor made the "Worm" aria a showstopper". In the summer 2008, he made his debut as Edgard in Lucie de Lammermoor with Cincinnati Opera. Opera News said, "Panuccio held the audience in the palm of his hand as he softly yet strongly projected the young hero's dilemma through delicate pianissimos. His warm lyric tenor was a marvel of vocal magic." The Cincinnati Opera also presented Mr. Panuccio in a recital celebrating Italian song. The Cincinnati Enquirer said, "From a roar to a wisp of a tone, Mark Panuccio's voice has a fullness and focus, a startling presence, and a compelling communicative power that electrifies the audience."
Upcoming performances in the 2010 season and beyond include Don José in Carmen with Opera Holland Park, Duke in Rigoletto and Pinkerton in Madama Butterfly both with Grange Park Opera, Des Grieux in Puccini's Manon with Opera Grand Rapids, the title role in Bernstein's Candide with Münchner Philharmoniker, the Electrician in Thomas Adès's Powder Her Face with Teatro Comunale di Bologna and Teatro Rossini in Lugo and Manrico in Il Trovatore with Portland Summerfest.
In 2009 Mr. Panuccio appeared as Edgardo in Lucia di Lammermoor with Florida Grand Opera, Anthony in Sweeney Todd with the Teatro Comunale di Bologna, Teatro Comunale Luciano Pavarotti a Modena, Teatro Rossini a Lugo, and Teatri Comunali di Piacenza, Alfredo in La Traviata with Portland SummerFest, and an Italian Gala Concert with Beijing Symphony in China.In the 2008 Season, Mr. Panuccio made his Lyric Opera of Chicago debut as Des Grieux in Massenet's Manon and covered Pinkerton in Madama Butterfly. Mr. Panuccio also performed Edgardo in Lucia di Lammermoor with Arizona Opera, Rodolfo in La Bohème with Cleveland Opera, Edgard in Lucie de Lammermoor with Cincinnati Opera, Alfredo in La Traviata with Michigan Opera Theatre, Duke in Rigoletto with New Orleans Opera, Prince Karl in The Student Prince with Nashville Opera, Verdi's Requiem with the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra and Beethoven's Symphony No. 9 with the Honolulu Symphony. Mr. Panuccio has collaborated with noted conductors such as Giordano Bellincampi, Giuliano Carella, James Conlon, Andreas Delfs, Stéphane Denéve, Erich Kunzel, Steven Lord, Steven Mercurio, Donald Nally, Emmanuel Plasson, Keith Clark, Robert Porco, John Morris Russell, Patrick Summers, Emmanuel Villaume, Dean Williamson, Martin Wright, and Xian Zhang. -
Ferrando
Bass André Flynn has been an active performer in the Northwest for more than 25 years in opera, oratorio, and concert. His performances with Portland Opera include Don Prudenzio in Il Viaggio a Reims, Dr. Grenvil in La Traviata, Montano in Otello, Angelotti in Tosca and many others. With Eugene Opera he has performed Bonze in Madama Butterfly and Simone in Gianni Schicchi. Mr. Flynn's most recent oratorio performances include Dvorak's Stabat Mater with Boise Master Chorale and Mozart's Requiem with Oregon Repertory Singers. He has been a featured soloist with the Anchorage Symphony Orchestra and the Basically Bach Festival. Mr. Flynn was the winner of the 1981 Alaska District Metropolitan Opera Auditions and the 1979 and 1981 Alaska Biennial Competitions. In addition to his solo performing he has been a member of Portland's Chorale Cross-ties and the Montana Chorale.
Mr. Flynn was a member of the chorus in last year's performance of La Traviata.