the summer king · martin bakari (scribe, trash talking player) martin bakari has been praised by...

The Summer KingMay 12-20, 2018

MUSIC Daniel Sonenberg

LIBRETTO DanielSonenbergandDanielNester,withadditionallyricsbyMarkCampbell

WORLD PREMIERE PittsburghOpera

April29,2017

Daniel Sonenberg

*Co-ProductionwithMichiganOperaTheatreandPittsburghOpera“TheSummerKing”MusicandLibrettoCopyright2017byDanielSonenberg.AllRightsReserved.SundayPerformanceSponsorSaturdayPerformanceSponsor

CONDUCTOR StevenMercurio

STAGE DIRECTOR SamHelfrich

CHORUS MASTER SuzanneMallareActon

SCENERY AND PROPERTY DESIGN AndrewLieberman

COSTUME DESIGN KayeVoyce

VIDEO DESIGN Darrel Maloney

LIGHTING DESIGN RobertWierzel

WIG & MAKE-UP DESIGN JoanneWeaver

ASSISTANT STAGE DIRECTOR ChristopherHazlett

ASSOCIATE LIGHTING DESIGNER

TedBoyce-Smith

REPETITEUR JeanSchneider

STAGE MANAGER KenSaltzman

SUPERTITLES Dee Dorsey

2018 Spring Opera Season Sponsor

20 BRAVO•Spring2018 www.MichiganOpera.org MichiganOperaTheatre

THE SUMMER KING

The Summer King

SYNOPSIS

ACT ISCENE 1: Cut Off Man barbershop, Brooklyn, NY, 1957Boysplayingstickballhitaballintoabarbershop.Whentheradioplays“DidYaSeeJackieRobinsonHitThatBall?”theElderandYoungerBarbersargueabouttheNegroLeagueandthelegacyofJoshGibson.TheElderBarberremembersGibson’sincredibleaccomplishmentsanddescribesthedaythatGibsonhitaballcompletelyoutofYankeeStadium.

SCENE 2: Yankee Stadium, NY, 1930TheElderBarberimaginesaRadioAnnouncerdescribingtheepicbattlebetweenpitcherBroadwayConnieRectorandayoungJoshGibson.

SCENE 3: A park in Homestead, PA, 1930SpectatorsrespondtoJosh’stremendoushomerun.Helen,hisyoungwife,arriveswithblackberrypie.Theylookforwardtotheirfuture(BeautifulAfternoon)andHelentellsJoshthatshe’spregnant.Amusicalinterludeturnsdark.JoshsadlyreflectsonHelen’sdeathgivingbirthtotheirtwinchildrenandhiscommitmenttohisremaininglove—thegameofbaseball.

SCENE 4: Crawford Grill, Pittsburgh, PA, 1935PlayersandfansofthePittsburghCrawfordscelebrateandpraiseMr.GusGreenlee,ownerofboththeCrawfordGrillandtheteam.JosharriveswithHattie.WendellSmith,fromthePittsburgh Courier,introduceshimselftoJosh.Thedailynumberis

called.Graceisthewinner;shebet440,whichwasJosh’sbattingaveragethepreviousseason.Smithsuggeststhatwithnumberslikethat,Joshmightmakehistorybyplayingforawhiteteamandbreakingthecolorbarrier,anideahisteammates,ledbyDoubleDutyRadcliffe,disdain.JoshandhisteammatesscoffatSmith’sidea,butJoshissecretlyintriguedbyit.Gracepersuadeshimtoconsiderit.

SCENE 5: Wendell Smith’s office, Pittsburgh Courier, March, 1938Wendell“Smitty”SmithasksJoshtoconsiderworkingtogethertobreakthecolorbarrier.Smithrecallshisexperiencewithsegregationincollegeandadmitsthathewasnever“lightning”likeJosh.SmithsaysJoshcouldchangeeverything.Joshagreestothinkaboutit.

SCENE 6: Josh’s apartment, Pittsburgh, PA, March 1938JoshandGrace,nowacouple,returnfromanightonthetown.Shescoldshim,describeshisgreatness,andurgeshimtobroadenhisdreams.

SCENE 7: Owner’s office, Griffith Stadium, Washington, DC, April 1940ClarkGriffithandhisnephewmeetwithJoshanddanglethenotionofplayingfortheSenators.Themeetinghasclearlybeensetuptoappeasetheblackpress.AftercomplimentingJosh’sskills,theywarnhimabouttheconsequencesofplayinginthemajors.Theexchangegrowsthreatening(Mensuchaswe).TheGriffithspompouslydescribetheirresponsibilityandtheirforemostconcernwithJosh’sbestinterests,makingitcleartheyhavenointentionofsigninghim.ClarkwalksJoshtothedoorandtellshim,“Boy,there’sacoloredfacilityatthetopofthestairs.”

SCENE 8: Outside the Griffith Office, and Crawford Grill, April 1940Josh,demoralizedandfrustrated,saysallheeverwantedwashiswifeHelenandthegame.HearrivesattheCrawfordGrill,whereplayersarediscussingalucrativeofferfromMexicothathingesonJosh’sparticipation.SmithwantsJoshtostayandfight,butJosheagerlyacceptsthedeal(HelloMexico).Graceagrees,“aslongasit’stemporary.”

CAST(In order of vocal appearance)

Elder Barber:...................................................................NormanShankleYounger Barber:........................................................................ PhillipGayRadio Announcer:............................................................ RaymondVeryHelen Gibson:............................................................... JacquelineEcholsJosh Gibson:........................................................................... LesterLynch Gus Greenlee:.................................................................NormanShankleJudy Johnson:.............................................................. AnthonyMcGlaunCool Papa Bell:.......................................................................... PhillipGayDouble Duty Radcliffe:.......................................................Darius GillardWendell Smith:....................................................................SeanPanikkarHattie:....................................................................................NicoleJosephScribe:.....................................................................................MartinBakariGirlfriend:............................................................................OliviaJohnsonGrace:............................................................................ DeborahNansteelSam Bankhead:.............................................................. KennethKelloggClark Griffith:..................................................................... RaymondVeryCalvin Griffith:................................................................Harry Greenleaf+Senor Alcalde:....................................................................MoisésSalazarMariachi Singer 1:..............................................................JosephLeppekMariachi Singer 2:................................................................SethJohnsonMariachi Singer 3:....................................................MatthewKonopackiBranch Rickey:................................................................... RaymondVeryTrash Talking Player:...........................................................MartinBakariDave Hoskins:.............................................................BrandenC.S.Hood

+MichiganOperaTheatreStudioArtist

MichiganOperaTheatre www.MichiganOpera.org BRAVO•Spring2018 21

THE SUMMER KING

ACT II.SCENE 1: Escambron Stadium, Vera Cruz, Mexico, October 1941DuringacelebrationfeaturingMexicanmusic,JoshisheraldedasplayeroftheyearbySeñorAlcalde.SamtellsJoshaboutanofferfrombackhomematchingtheMexicanpaytheyreceive.Graceisexcitedtoreturnhome,butJoshcelebratesthegoodlifetheplayersenjoyinMexico.Astherevelersleave,GracetellsJoshthatshe’snotstayinginMexico.Hattie,nowwithDoubleDutyRadcliffe,sharesajointwithJoshasheandhisfriendscelebrate“highliving.”Joshcomplainsthathisheadisn’tfeelingsowell,andasthecelebrationbeginstospinoutofcontrol,Joshproclaimshisneedtogohome,andthenloseshisbalanceandcollapses.

SCENE 2: Wendell Smith’s office, Pittsburgh Courier, March 1945BranchRickeytellsSmiththatheisproudlyreadytohireablackplayerfortheBrooklynDodgers.Rickeyneedssomeone“withthespirittofightback,but...thegutsnotto.”SmithtellsRickey,“Imayhaveanameforyou.”

SCENE 3: An empty ballfield, Homestead, PA, October 1945Josh,lookinghaggardandbloated,standsaloneonafieldhittingballs,lamentingthatnothing’schangedforhiminthefouryearssinceMexico,andthenexpressesagonyatsomethingpressedagainsthishead.Players,includingSamBankhead,engageinapickupgame.TrashTalkingPlayertakesaturnatbatwithJoshcatchingbehindhim.Thetwotradeinsults,withJosheventuallygettingthebetterofthesituation.SamurgestheyoungerplayerstorespectJosh,anddescribeshisfamousYankeeStadiumhomerun.WendellSmiththenarrives,excitedlytellingthenewsthatJackieRobinsonhasbeenhiredbytheDodgers.Joshiscrestfallen(Igotmyownleague).

SCENE 4: Crawford Grill (now closed), October 1945JoshhasbustedintotheoldCrawfordGrill,bringinghisownbeercans.GracechidesJoshforbeingtoocaughtupinhis“ownleague,”askinghim,“Youthinkyoucandrinkyourwayintothebigleagues?”Joshtalksofimaginary

conversationswithJoeDiMaggio.Gracetellshimthatherhusbandisreturningfromwar,andthatsheisleaving.Shedescribesthedreamsshehadoftranscendingherdrearyexistenceinalovelessmarriagewithfewmaterialcomforts;sherealizesthatshehastofaceherreallifeandabandonherfantasiesforJosh—fantasieshenevershared.

SCENE 5: Bedroom, Josh’s mother’s house, Pittsburgh, PA, 1947JoshspeaksintentlytoanimaginaryJoeDiMaggio,asking“Youain’tgonnaanswerme?”Joshsaysthathewilldiethatnight.SampayshisrespectstohisdyingfriendandtellshimthatJackieRobinsonisgoingtojointheDodgers.TheylistentothenewsontheradioasJoshwithdrawsintohisowndelirium.Helen’sghostvisitsandthetworemembertheirhopesforabrightfuture(BeautifulAfternoon).Helendisappears.JoshrealizeswhereheisandspeakstoSamabouthisfabledYankeeStadiumhomerun:“Itwentoutalongway...Ihopeyou’llrememberthat.”Joshdies.SamremembersthefallenSummerKing,wholedallNegroLeaguerstothePromisedLand,butwasdeniedentryhimself.Hethencontemplateshisownplight,andthatofhiscontemporaries—playerswhowereeithertooold,ornotgreatenough,toenjoythefruitsofintegration.TheElderBarberextollsJoshGibson’sgreatnessasSamwondersaboutfate,asking“Didweneedtobegreatermenthanourkingtoavoidourking’sfate?”

SCENE 6: Cut Off Man barbershop, Brooklyn, NY, 1957TheElderandYoungerBarberscontinuetheirargumentuntiltheYoungerBarberputson“thedamngame.”

EPILOGUE: Outside Yankee Stadium, NY, 1930ChildrenplaystickballoutsideYankeeStadium.TheRadioAnnouncercallsthelegendaryhomerun.ThebatcracksandtheStreetKidsfreeze,lookingstraightuptothesky,asking“Where’ditgo?Isitfair?”Thekidsscatterandoneboyemergeswiththebaseball(Didyasee?).—Courtesy of Pittsburgh Opera

ARTIST PROFILESMartin Bakari (Scribe, TrashTalkingPlayer)MartinBakari hasbeenpraisedby Opera News asa“vocallycharismaticperformerwithagoldentenor.”TrainedattheJuilliardSchool,TanglewoodMusicCenter,andBostonUniversity,hehasrecentlyappearedwithPittsburghOpera,UtahOpera,PortlandOpera,LAOpera/BethMorrisonProjects,OperaCarolina,MadisonOpera,VirginiaOpera,OperaSaratogaandtheJohnF.KennedyCenterforthePerformingArts.HehasalsoperformedwiththeNewHampshirePhilharmonic,JazzatLincolnCenterOrchestraandNewYorkHarlemProductionsforPorgy & Bess toursinGermany,Italy,andIsrael.Additionallythisseason,Mr.BakarisingsTaminoinOpéraLouisiane’s The Magic Flute, PrinceinOnSiteOpera’sMorningStar,andCastlemaninPittsburghOpera’sThe Long Walk. FutureengagementsincludeCharlieParkerinArizonaOpera’sCharlie Parker’s Yardbird,PetertheHoneyman inSeattleOpera’sPorgy & Bess,PedrilloinLivermoreValleyOpera’sDie Entführung aus dem Serail,andtheVisitorinPortlandOpera’sIn the Penal Colony. Mr.Bakari’srecordingofGrigorySmirnov’sDowson Songs(NaxosRecords)wasrecentlyfeaturedbyOperaNewsasa“Critic’sChoice”album.

Mark Campbell (Co-librettist)MarkCampbell’sworkasalibrettistisattheforefrontofthecurrentcontemporaryoperasceneinthiscountry.Hehaswrittenmorethan15librettos,fiveofwhichpremieredin2017,andtherosterofcomposerswithwhomhehasworkedrepresentsmanyofthemostnotablecomposersofourtime.Hismostknownworkis


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Silent Night,whichreceivedthe2012PulitzerPrizeinMusicandisoneofthemostfrequentlyperformedoperasinrecenthistory.HisothersuccessfuloperasincludeAs One,Later the Same Evening, Volpone, Bastianello/Lucrezia, The Manchurian Candidate, The Inspector,andmostrecently,The Shining.Awardsinclude:aGrammy®nomination,thefirstKlebanFoundationAwardforLyricist,twoRichardRodgersAwards,aLarsonFoundationAward,aNYFAPlaywritingFellowship,andthefirstDominicJ.PelliciottiAward.Mr.CampbellalsomentorsfuturegenerationsofwritersthroughsuchorganizationsasAmericanOperaProjects,AmericanLyricTheatre,theUniversityofColorado’sNewOperaWorkshop,andWashingtonNationalOpera’sAmericanOperaInitiative.Premieresin2017included:Elizabeth Cree,Dinner at Eight,Some Light Emerges,The Nefarious, Immoral but Highly Profitable Enterprise of Mr. Burke & Mr. Hare,and The (R)evolution of Steve Jobs.(Courtesy Pittsburgh Opera).

Jacqueline Echols (HelenGibson)AnativeofDetroit,lyricsopranoJacquelineEcholshasbeenpraisedforher“dynamicrangeandvocalacrobatics”by Classical Voice intheatersacrosstheUnitedStates.Whenshedebutedas Pip in Moby Dick withtheLosAngelesOpera,herperformancewasdescribedbyOpera Today ashaving“soaredgracefullyoverHeggie’sorchestra,soloistsandchorus.”Recently,JacquelinereprisedtheroleofPipwiththePittsburghOperaandperformed GildaintheNorthCarolinaOpera’sproductionofRigoletto. Lastsummer,shemadeherdebutwiththeBostonSymphonyOrchestraattheTanglewoodMusicFestivalasWoglindeinDas Rheingold. AgraduateoftheYoungArtistsProgramwiththeWashingtonNationalOpera,JacquelinehasperformedwiththeorganizationasMicaëlainCarmen,WoglindeandForestBirdinthefullRing Cycle,theUnicornintheworldpremiereofJeanineTesori’sThe Lion, the Unicorn, and Me,andClorindainLa Cenerentola.

Phillip Gay (YoungerBarber, CoolPapaBell)Americanbass-baritonePhillipGayisanalumnusofthePittsburghOperaResidentArtistProgram,theGlimmerglassYoungArtistsProgram,andaDistrictWinnerinthe2014and2011MetropolitanOperaNationalCouncilAuditions.AnativeofBeaumont,Texas,Mr.GayreceivedhisBachelorofMusicinVocalPerformancefromLamarUniversity,andhisMasterofMusicinVocalPerformancefromUniversityofIllinoisatUrbana-Champaign.RecentengagementsincludedebutingtheroleofCoolPapaBell in The Summer King forPittsburghOperaandperformingthebasketballopera BouncewiththeUniversityofKentucky.HighlightsincludeZunigain CarmenwithSt.PetersburgOpera,Colline in La bohème withSyracuseOpera,HortensiusinDaughter of the RegimentwithIntermountainOpera,andSenecainL’ incoronazione di Poppea withNewYorkLyricOperaTheatre.OtherrolesincludeLodovicoin Otello,GaribaldoinRodelinda, King in Aida,SparafucileinRigoletto,DonQuixoteinMan of La Mancha,BalthazarinAmahl and the Night Visitors, Silvano in La Calisto,andbasssoloistinMozart’sRequiemwiththeEriePhilharmonic.

Darius Gillard (DoubleDutyRadcliffe)Tenor Darius Gillard issteadilygainingmomentumonregionaloperaticcircuits.Praisedforhiswarmlegatoandcharismaticpresence,heexcelsinthelyricrepertoire.Todate,hehasperformedanumberofrolesinoperasrangingfromtheclassicalworksofMozarttotheverismooperasofVerdiandPuccini.HehasappearedinleadingandsupportingroleswithseveralcompaniesincludingtheConnecticutLyricOpera,GreenvilleLightOperaWorks,CapitolOperaRaleigh,andHartfordOperaTheater.HehasalsomadeappearanceswiththeCharlestonChamberOrchestra,

FlintSymphonyOrchestra,andtheDetroitFestivalCamerataasafeaturedsoloistinvariousoratorioworks.Presently,heisconcludingdoctoralstudiesattheUniversityofMichigan.

Harry Greenleaf (CalvinGriffith)Wixom,MichigannativeHarryGreenleafisMichiganOperaTheatreStudio’sresidentbaritone.HemadehisdebutwithMichiganOperaTheatrein2016intheroleofTopin The Tender Land.Previous MOT creditsalsoincludeLeBretin Cyrano,JackWallacein The Girl of the Golden West andMoralesin Carmen.Thisseason,heperformedwithMOTasMarullo in Rigoletto, LeoSteinandManRayinRickyIanGordon’s27 and SciarroneinTosca. HehasbeenaStudioArtistwiththeWolfTrapOperaCompany,anApprenticeArtistwithDesMoinesMetroOperaandaYoungArtistwiththeGlimmerglassFestival.HeholdsaMasterofMusicdegreefromtheUniversityofCincinnatiCollege-ConservatoryofMusicandisanalumnusoftheMichiganStateUniversityCollegeofMusic.

Sam Helfrich (StageDirector)DirectorSamHelfrichmakeshisMichiganOperaTheatredebutwithThe Summer King,afterdirectingitssuccessfulworldpremierewithPittsburghOperalastyear.OperahighlightsincludeHaydn’s Creation,Bach’s St. John Passion andHandel’sMessiah withthePittsburghSymphony;TonyKushner’sAngels in America atNewYorkCityOpera;Mark-AnthonyTurnage’s Greek atBostonLyricOpera;Orpheus in the Underworld andAndrePrevin’s A Streetcar Named Desire atVirginiaOpera;the worldpremiereof BenMoore’s Enemies: A Love StoryatPalmBeachOpera;PhilipGlass’ Kepler andAnthonyDavis’ Amistad atSpoletoFestivalUSA;JohnAdams’ Nixon in China atEugeneOpera;MichaelDellaira’s The Secret Agent atCenter


forContemporaryOperainNewYork,theArmelOperaFestivalinHungary,andOperaAvignon;and PhilipGlass’ Orphée atvariouscompanies.RecenttheatercreditsincludeArthurMiller’s After The Fall attheNewYorkUniversityTischSchooloftheArtsGraduateActingprogramandoff-Broadwayproductionsof Owned, by JulianSheppard,and Tape,byStephenBelber,aswellasadoublebillofplaysbyGeorgeBernardShawandAlfredDeMussetattheFranklinStageCompany. Upcomingprojectsinclude The Magic Flute withtheIndianapolisSymphonyOrchestraaswellasa worldpremiereindevelopmentwithNewYorkCityOpera.

Branden C.S. Hood (DaveHoskins)BrandenC.S.HoodisafrequentperformerwithMichiganOperaTheatre.HesungtheroleofMr.DashwoodinMOT’s2017productionof Little Women andisamemberoftheMOTChorusandCommunityOutreachPrograms.OtherperformancesincludeFordinFalstaffwithOperaMODOinDetroit,FalstaffinDie lustigen weiber von Windsor,IlConteinLe nozze di FigaroandthetitleroleofDon GiovanniwiththeLyricOperaofWeimarinGermany.HehasattendedtheyoungartistprogramsoftheMartinaArroyoFoundation’sPreludetoPerformance,PineMountainMusicFestival(2010),OperaSaratoga(OutreachArtist2010),andDaytonOpera(2009).Mr.HoodholdsMasterofMusicandspecialistdegreesfromtheUniversityofMichiganandaBachelorofMusicdegreeinOperaEmphasis/VocalPerformancefromtheBostonConservatory.HeisarecipientofThePresserFoundationAwardofEncouragementfromtheMichiganDistrictoftheMetropolitanOperaNationalCouncilAuditionsandtheMarioLanzaInstitute.

Olivia Johnson (Girlfriend)AnativeofNorthCarolina,OliviaJohnsonrecentlyearnedhermaster’sdegreeinvoiceperformanceattheUniversityofMichigan.Thisseason

sheisamemberofMichiganOperaTheatre’sTouringEnsemble.InOctober2017,sheplacedfifthintheAmericanInternationalCzechandSlovakVoiceCompetitioninGreenBay,Wisconsin.ThispastsummershewonfirstplaceinthenationalVocalArtsCompetitionforEmergingArtistssponsoredbytheNationalAssociationofNegroBusinessandProfessionalWomen’sClubs,Inc.ShealsoappearedintheroleofMercédèsinCarmenattheMartinaArroyoFoundation,PreludetoPerformanceinthesummerof2017.SheattendedtheAmericanInstituteofMusicalStudies(AIMS)inGraz,Austriainthesummerof2016.HerpreviousrolesincludeGertrudeinCharlesGounod’sRoméo et Juliette and Dorbella in Cosí fan tuttebyW.A.MozartattheUniversityofMichigan.

Seth Johnson (MariachiSinger2)SethJohnsonisapassionatemusicianwhohasworkedwithnumerousoperaorganizations.InadditiontoMichiganOperaTheatre,hehasworkedwithOperaYouthOutreach,OperaIllinois,Toledo Opera and OhioLightOpera.Inthesegroups,heperformedsuchrolesasNemorinoin L’Elisir d’amore, TaminoinDie Zauberflöte, andArchibaldGrosvenorin Patience.SethwasalsoamemberoftheteachingadministrationfortheGreatLakesLightOpera.SethearnedaBachelorofMusicdegreeinVocalPerformancefromBradleyUniversity,wherehewasthewinneroftheConcerto/AriaCompetitionin2015.

Nicole Joseph (Hattie)SopranoNicoleJoseph,equallyathomeonboththeoperaticandconcertstage,isdelightedtoplayHattiein The Summer King.Followingthecompletionofhermaster’sandspecialistdegreesattheUniversity

ofMichigan,Ms.JosephmadeherprofessionaldebutasBeatriceinJakeHeggie’sThree Decembers withKentuckyOperaandhasrecentlyperformedwithOperaModoinDetroitasTheGovernessinTurn of the Screw, MicaëlainCarmen, and Donna Anna in Don Giovanni. Thispastsummer,NicolewasawardedtheopportunitytoattendAmericanInstituteofMusicalStudies(AIMS)inGraz,Austria.ShewasalsofeaturedwiththeMOTTouringEnsembleastheMiller’sDaughterinRumpelstiltskin andVoluptuainLa Pizza con Funghi. Nicoleisthewinnerofnumerousawardsandcompetitions,includingtheMetropolitanOperaAuditions(MI),JamesTolandVocalArtsCompetition,NicholasLorenVocalCompetition,HaroldHaughLightOperaCompetition,AmericanTraditionsCompetitionandCareerBridgesFoundationaward.OriginallyfromPortland,Oregon,NicolenowresidesinBerkley,Michigan.

Kenneth Kellogg (SamBankhead)WashingtonD.C.bassKennethKelloggmadehisMichiganOperaTheatredebutasCountMonteneroin Rigoletto.HeisreprisingtheroleofSamBankheadin The Summer King,whichheoriginatedwithPittsburghOperain2017.PerformancehighlightsincludeZuniga in Carmen and Don Alfonso in Così fan tutte withWashingtonNationalOpera;MefistofelesinFaustandSarastroin Die ZauberflötewithOperadeLausanne;GremininEugene Onegin withNorthCarolinaOperaandYoungEmileGriffithinTerenceBlanchard’sChampion withOperaParallèle.HeholdsaMasterofMusicdegreefromtheUniversityofMichiganandaBachelorofMusicdegreefromOhioUniversity.HehasalsoservedasaresidentartistattheAcademyofVocalArtsinPhiladelphiaandisanalumnusofWashingtonNationalOpera’sDomingo-CafritzYoungArtistProgram.

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Matthew Konopacki (MariachiSinger3)BaritoneMatthewKonopacki,anativeofLivoniaMichigan,isanactiveperformerofbothclassicalandcontemporaryworks.Equallycomfortableonboththeoperaticandtheconcertstage,hisrepertoirerangesfromthecantatasofJ.S.BachtothecontemporaryoperaticmusicofKevinPuts.WithMichiganOperaTheatre,hehasperformedtherolesoftheusherin Rigoletto,1stScottishSoldierinPuts’Silent Night,ServoinMacbeth,andwasapartofthefeaturedensemblesinThe Magic FluteandDavidDiChiera’sCyrano.HeisalsoafeaturedsingerontherecentreleaseofDiChiera’slegacyalbum,Letters & Fantasies.Matthewholdsamaster’sdegreeinVocalPerformancefromtheUniversityofHoustonandhas appearedasayoungartistwithPensacolaOperaandtheJaniecOperaCompany.

Joseph Leppek (MariachiSinger1)JosephLeppekisatenororiginallyfromNovi,MichiganandisafrequentperformerwithMichiganOperaTheatreaspartofitschorusandcommunityoutreachprograms.InadditiontoMOT,hehasperformedprofessionally in productionsandconcertsacrosstheUnitedStates,withcompaniessuchasHoustonGrandOperaandOperaSaratoga.HewasalsohonoredthisyeartobeaGreatLakesregionalfinalistfortheMetropolitanOperaNationalCouncilauditions.Josephholdsamaster’sdegreeinVoicePerformancefromRiceUniversity.Thissummer,hewillstarasTonyintheGlimmerglassFestival’snewproductionof West Side Story. Forthe2018-19season,JosephjoinstheLyricOperaofKansasCity’sresidentartistprogram,wherehewillbeseeninanumberofconcertsandperformancesinthearea.

Andrew Lieberman (SetDesign)AndrewLiebermanisasetdesignerwhohasworkedwithoperacompaniesacrosstheworldincludingEnglishNationalOpera,DeutscheOperBerlin,SaarländischesStaatsoper,BostonLyricOpera,PhiladelphiaOperaandOperaTheatreofSaintLouis.HistheaterworksincludeThe Glass Menagerie and Picnic onBroadwayandPoor Beck withtheRoyalShakespeare

Company,amongnumerousotherproductions.HeisaPrincessGrace,USAAwardWinner,andtheHeadofStageDesignatNewYorkUniversity’sTischSchooloftheArts.

Lester Lynch (JoshGibson)BaritoneLesterLynchmakeshisreturntoMichiganOperaTheatrestarringasJoshGibson in The Summer King. He is thesecond

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SUPPORTING THE ARTS

singertoperformtherolesinceitsPittsburghOperapremiereinApril,2017.LesterpreviouslyperformedwithMOTinits2003productionof A Masked Ball asRenato.Recognizedforhischarismaticportrayalsandcommandingvoice,LesterisreceivingravereviewsashetacklessomeofVerdi’smostimportantbaritonerolesfromScarpiatoRigoletto toCountdi Luna in Il Trovatore.Highlightsofrecentengagementsincludethetitlerolein Rigoletto withtheCanadianOperaCompany,Geraldin Andrea Chénier withtheBregenzerFestspielefestival,Carbonin Cyrano de Bergerac withSanFranciscoOpera,Heraldin Lohengrin withLyricOperaofChicago,Porgyin Porgy and Bess withWashingtonNationalOpera,andScarpiain Tosca withtheGlimmerglassFestival.AdditionalengagementsincludeleadingroleswithOperaPhiladelphia,LosAngelesOpera,andwiththeClevelandOrchestra,MasterChoraleofWashington,NashvilleSymphony,CincinnatiSymphonyOrchestra,andinconcertatCarnegieHall.

Anthony P. McGlaun (JudyJohnson)AnthonyP.McGlaunisnotedforhisclarityoftone,musicalityandexpressive delivery oftext.Mr.McGlaun,aDetroitnative,receivedaBachelorofArtsdegreeinmusicfromMorehouseCollegeandaMasterofMusicdegreefromtheUniversityofNorthernIowa.UponhisreturntoDetroit,Mr.McGlaunjoinedthefacultyofMarygroveCollegewhereheservedasDirectorofVocalActivitiesandAssistantProfessorofMusicfrom2004-2009.HewasalsomemberoftheMichiganOperaTheatreChorusandwasanapprenticewiththecompanyinthe2008-09season,singingtherolesofUncleYakusideinMadame Butterfly and Remendado in Carmen.Mr.McGlaunisamuchsoughtaftersoloist,recitalist,lecturerandmasterclasspresenter.HespecializesintheNegroSpiritualandtheworkofAfrican-Americancomposers.ThisyearhasincludedmanyrecitalsandrolepremiereofBennyParetinChampionbyTerrenceBlanchardaswellSebastianinThe Little Mermaid.

Stephen Mercurio (Conductor)StevenMercurioisaninternationally-acclaimedconductorandcomposerwhohasconductedmorethan20productionswithMichiganOperaTheatre,includinglastseason’sCyrano.HewasMusicDirectoroftheSpoletoFestivalandPrincipalConductoroftheOperaCompanyofPhiladelphiaforfiveyears.Stevenisalsoasought-aftercollaboratorformanyaward-winningrecordings,arrangementsandfilmprojects,mostnotably“ChristmasinViennawiththeThreeTenors.”Forthestage,hehasconductedmorethan50operasinsevendifferentlanguagesinmanyoftheworld’sbestlovedoperahouses.

Deborah Nansteel (Grace)Mezzo-sopranoDeborahNansteelrecentlymadeherMichiganOperaTheatredébutasLaDuegne in Cyrano and returnsthisseasontoportraytheroleofGraceinThe Summer King. HighlightsfromMs.Nansteel’scareerincludeherLyricOperaofChicagodébutasGertrudein Roméo et Juliette,aworld-premièreperformanceofDouglasPewandDaraWeinberg’snewoperaPenny withWashingtonNationalOpera’sAmericanOperaInitiativeandthecreationoftheroleofLucindainthehighly-anticipatedworldpremièreofthePulitzerPrize-winningcomposerJenniferHigdon’sadaptationofCold MountainatSantaFeOpera,whichshereprisedthisseasonwithNorthCarolinaOpera.Ms.NansteelisagraduateoftheUniversityofCincinnatiCollege-ConservatoryofMusicwheresheearnedanArtistDiplomainOperaandaMasterofMusicinVoice.Thisseason,Ms.NansteelreturnstoLyricOperaofChicagoasSiegruneinDie WalküreandsingstheroleofAlisain Lucia di Lammermoor withtheMetropolitanOpera.

Daniel Nester (Co-librettist)DanielNesterisanessayist,freelancewriter,poet,writingprofessor,literaryjournaleditorandreadingseriescurator.Heistheauthormostrecently

ofthememoirShader: 99 Notes on Car Washes,Making Out in Church, Grief, and Other Unlearnable Subjects.HispreviousbooksincludeHow to Be Inappropriate,acollectionofhumorousnonfiction,andThe Incredible Sestina Anthology, which heedited.Asajournalistandessayist,hisworkhasappearedinavarietyofplaces,suchasSalon,New York Times,Buzzfeed,The Atlantic,andthePoetryFoundationwebsite,andanthologizedinsuchcollectionsasLost and Found,The Best American Poetry,The Best Creative Nonfiction,Third Rail: The Poetry of Rock and Roll,andNow Write! Nonfiction.HispoemshaveappearedinsuchjournalsasCoconut,Shampoo,Taint,Gulf Coast,Barrow Street,jubilat,Crazyhorse,Open City,Slope,Spoon River Poetry Review,andotherplaces.Heistheformereditoroftheonlinejournals Unpleasant Event Schedule and La Petite Zine. He workedasAssistantWebEditorforSestinas for McSweeney’sInternetTendency.HeisanassociateprofessorofEnglishatTheCollegeofSaintRoseinAlbany,NY.(Courtesy Pittsburgh Opera).

Sean Panikkar (WendellSmith)AmericantenorSeanPanikkarreturnstoMichiganOperaTheatreasWendellSmithin The Summer King, a roleheoriginatedwithPittsburghOperaatits2017worldpremiere. He previouslyperformedwithMOTasRodolfoin2015’s La bohème. PerformancehighlightsincludeRodolfeinGuillaume Tell withtheMetropolitanOpera,Shalimarin Shalimar the Clown withtheOperaTheatreofSaintLouis,RodolfoatRoyalAlbertHall,Adamin CO2 withTeatroallaScalaandNadirin Les pêcheurs de perles withPittsburghOpera.Heholdsamaster’sandbachelor’sdegreeinVoicePerformancefromtheUniversityofMichiganandisanalumnusofSanFranciscoOpera’sAdlerFellowshipandthePittsburghOperaResidentArtistsStudio.Mr.PanikkarwillperformDionysusin The Bassarids forhisdebutattheSalzburgFestivalin2018.

THE SUMMER KING


Moisés Salazar (SenorAlcalde)Californianative,tenorMoisésSalazarmakeshisMichiganOperaTheatredebutasSeñorAlcaldeinThe Summer King.RecentlyMoisésreceivedthirdplaceintheGreatLakesRegionMetropolitanOperaCouncilAudition.LastspringhewasthefeaturedsoloistinGustavMahler’sDas Lied von der Erde inacollaborationwithBowlingGreenStateUniversity.PastrolesincludeBorsainVerdi’sRigolettowithToledoOpera,CamileJolidoninLehar’sThe Merry WidowattheUniversityofToledo,RinuccioinPuccini’sGianni SchicchiandFlaminioinAlessandroScarlatti’s Il trionfo dell’onore performedattheTeatroVerdiinPisawithOperaNetworkFlorence.

Norman Shankle (GusGreenlee,ElderBarber)TenorNormanShanklemadehisMichiganOperaTheatredébutasTaminoinThe Magic FluteandreturnsthisseasonfortheroleofElderBarber/GusGreenleeinThe Summer King,aroleherecentlyoriginatedintheworldpremièrewithPittsburghOpera.Mr.Shankle’scareerhighlightsincludehisDallasOpera House débutasErnestoin Don Pasquale;participationintheMetropolitanOpera’sproductionsofThe Enchanted Island and Parsifal;AlmavivainIl barbiere di SivigliawithEnglishNationalOpera,andDresdenSemperoper;thetitlerole in IdomeneoandDonOttavioin Don GiovanniwithStaatstheaterStuttgart,ArenaOperaFestivalinVerona,andTeatroMunicipaleReggioEmilia.Mr.ShanklebeganhiscareerwithSanFranciscoOperaintheirMerolaOperaProgramandasanAdlerFellow.Thisseason,Mr.ShanklehasperformsthetenorsoloinHandel’sMessiahwithBaltimoreSymphony,IndianapolisChamberOrchestra,andNationalPhilharmonic,wherehesubsequentlysangtheroleof Ferrando in Così fan tutte.

Daniel Sonenberg (Composer)DanielSonenbergisacomposer,performer,andeducatorlivinginPortland,Maine.HeisbestknownasthecomposerofThe Summer King,atwo-actoperaonthelife of Negro League baseballgreatJoshGibson.Theoperareceiveditsconcertworldpremierein2014inaconcertpresentedbyPortlandOvationsandco-sponsoredbytheUniversityofSouthernMaine.MichiganOperaTheatreisthesecondcompanytoproduceThe Summer King,afteritsworldpremierewithPittsburghOperainApril2017.InrecentyearsMr.Sonenberg’smusichasbeenpresentedbyOperaAmerica,theDaCapoChamberPlayers,AmericanOperaProjects,percussionistLynnVartan,FortWorthOpera,membersofthePortlandSymphonyOrchestra,theBackCoveFestivalofContemporaryMusic,thePortlandChamberMusicFestival,andnumerousothers.Inthepastseveralyearshehasalsobeenactiveasarockmusician,releasingasoloalbum,PeaksIslandFerry,in2014,andbothanE.P.(TheBear(2013))andfulllengthalbum(LongOverdue2015))withhisbandLoversofFiction.HeisProfessorofMusicattheUniversityofSouthernMaine,wherehehastaughtsince2004.(Courtesy Pittsburgh Opera).

Raymond Very (RadioAnnouncer,ClarkGriffith,BranchRickey)RaymondVerymakeshisMichiganOperaTheatredebutasBranchRickey,ClarkGriffithandtheRadioAnnouncerinThe Summer King, roles heoriginatedwithPittsburghOpera’sworldpremierein2017.Hisrepertoirespanslyriccharactersaswellasleadingdramaticroles,includingthetitleroleinLa damnation de Faust, AlbertGregorinThe Makropulos Affair,DonJoséinCarmen,Stolzingin Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg, CaptainVereinBilly Budd,andLacaand Števa in Jenůfa. Hehasperformedintheworld’sleadingoperahousesincludingtheMetropolitanOpera,SanFranciscoOpera,HoustonGrand

Opera,SeattleOperaandWashingtonNationalOpera.Internationally,hehasperformedwithpremiercompaniesinLondon,Munich,Florence,Salzburg(SalzburgFestival),Vienna,Oslo,Frankfurt,Berlin(DeutscheOperBerlin),Leipzig,Stuttgart,Amsterdam,Strasbourg,Dresden,ZurichandBilbao.InSeptember2013hedebutedhisdreamrole,thetitleroleofOtello, inCopenhagen,aswellashisfirstCanio in PagliacciinLeipzig.FutureplansincludehisreturntoDüsseldorfandVienna,aswellashisdebutatOperHanover.

Kaye Voyce (CostumeDesign)KayeVoyceisacostumedesignerwhohasworkedwiththeatercompaniesacrosstheworld,includingMcCarter,YaleRep,Goodman,LongWharf,ART,Williamstown,OldGlobe,ShakespeareTheatre,GlimmerglassOpera,RoyalShakespeareCompany,TheatreworksSingapore,OperaBern,TheaterBonnandTheaterBraunschweigaswellasBroadway.Recentcreditsinclude4000 Miles, The Great God Pan, Detroit,theworldpremiereofSamShepard’sHeartless, A Quiet Place andPhilipGlass’operaKepler.

Robert Wierzel (LightingDesign)RobertWierzelisalightingdesignerwhohasworkedintheater,dance,opera,contemporarymusicandmuseumsthroughoutthecountryandoverseas.HisoperacreditsincludeworkwiththePalaisGarnierinParis,FolkOpera(Sweden),ChicagoLyricOpera,FloridaGrandOpera,WolfTrapOperaCompanyandtheGlimmerglassFestival,amongothers.HehasalsoworkedonBroadwayproductionsincludingLady Day At Emerson’s Bar & Grill and David Copperfield: Dreams and Nightmares andnumerousoffBroadwayproductions.HehasalsocollaboratedwithdancecompaniesincludingtheBillT.Jones/ArnieZaneDanceCompanyandAlvinAileyAmericanDanceTheater.


Detroit Tigers Willie HortonAfrican American Legacy Award

Sunday, June 10 at 1:10pm

HONORING FORMER TIGER

16TH ANNUAL

JUNE 8-10

VS

TORII HUNTERwith the


InApril2017,PittsburghOperapremieredagroundbreakingwork:

The Summer King, anewoperabasedonthelifeofNegro Leagues baseball playerJoshGibson.Whilehemaynotbeahouseholdname,Gibsonwasalegendinhisownright.Asapowerhitterwithabattingaveragehigherthan.350,saidtohitalmost800homerunsinhis17-year-career,somecalledhimthe“BlackBabeRuth.”HewasboundfortheMajorLeagues. Ofcourse,thatisnotwhathappened.In1947,JackieRobinsonbrokethecolorbarriertobecomethefirstAfricanAmericanbaseballplayertoplayforMajorLeagueBaseball.ItwasarealitythatGibsonlivedtosee,heartbrokenthathewasn’ttheonetodoit. WhileRobinsonhasgonedowninthehistorybooks,Gibson,likefartoomanyAfricanAmerican figures,wasexcludedthenarrative.WithThe Summer King, composerDanielSonenbergwantedtochangethat,andsodidMichiganOperaTheatre. InJuneof2017,MOTannouncedTake Me Out to the Opera, a collaborativeinitiativewithagoalofnotonlysharingGibson’sstory,butthestoriesofotherAfricanAmericantrailblazers.Witharangeofcommunitypartners,thecampaignhighlightsfiguresinbothsportsandtheartsandexploreshowthetwohavebeenusedtopromoteracialequityandinclusion. “Oneoftheopportunitiesavailablethroughartsandsportsisanabilitytobringpeopletogether,especiallyacrossracialdivisions,”saidMOTCEOWayneS.Brown.“Weareproudtoworkwithcommunitypartnerstocelebratethoseathletesandartistswho,likeJoshGibson,werecatalystsforchangeintheircommunities.” Throughoutthepastyear,MOThasworkedwiththeDetroitTigers,theCharlesH.WrightMuseumofAfricanAmericanHistory,theDetroitHistoricalSociety,theDetroitPublicLibrary,theJoshGibsonFoundation,

RosedaleParkCommunityHouseandHamtramckStadiumtopresentaseriesofexhibits,panels,performancesandpresentationsonthesethemes. Localfigures,includingGeorgeShirley,thefirstAfricanAmericantenortoperformaleadingroleattheMetropolitanOpera,andRonTeasley,aformerNegroLeaguesbaseballplayerwiththeNewYorkCubansandtheOleanOilers,havesharedtheirexperiencesbreakingracialboundaries.LocalexpertssuchasWayneStateUniversityAssociateProfessorDr.LisaAlexander,aresearcherinAfricanAmericansinpopularculture,andUniversityofMichiganMusicologistMarkClague,alsoaresearcherinAfricanandAfro-AmericanStudies,havediscussedracialrepresentationandinclusioninalargerhistoricalandculturalcontext.AndprogramslikeI, Too, Sing America havecelebratedAfricanAmericanartistsandathletesthroughpoetry,narrative,songandvideo. “Thishasbeenanincrediblyuniqueopportunitytoshinealightontheroleartsandsportshaveplayedinbreakingdownbarriersforpeopleofcolor,”saidEllenHillZeringue,VicePresidentofMarketing fortheDetroitTigers.“WeareexcitedthatthecommunitywilllearnaboutthemovingstoryofNegroLeaguesandHallofFameplayerJoshGibsonthroughtheupcomingDetroitpremiereof“The Summer King.” Theinitiativehasalsofocusedonchildrenthroughresidenciesinlocalschools.Theprogramallowsstudents

tocreatetheirownoperaticpiecewhichrelatesthehistoryofDetroit’sownNegroLeaguesbaseballteamwithmodern-daythemesofequityandinclusion. “KnowingthatHall-of-FamerJoshGibsonplayedbaseballatHamtramckStadiumisahomerunforthehometowncrowd,”saidHamtramckPublicSchoolsSuperintendentTomNiczay.“I’mhopingHamtramckPublicSchoolstudentslearnaboutahistoricalevent,regardingtheprejudiceAfricanAmericans

faced,andthatthelessons learned inwatching The Summer King are relevantin2018.” AsthecampaignwindsdowntoitsculminationoftheMayproductionofThe Summer King,thepublicisinvitedtoparticipateinitsremainingevents,including:April 18,2018: Opera and Jazz: The Summer KingatCliffBell’s:MichiganOperaTheatremusicians,alongwithareajazzartists,offeraneveningofoperaandjazzfromthe1920s-40s,whenJoshGibsonflourishedApril 22, 2018: I, Too, Sing America: ACelebrationofAfricanAmericanArtistsandAthletes:AnafternoonofbeautifulmusicandcompellingconversationinRosedaleParkApril 26, 2018: There Was Always Sun Shining Someplace: Life in the Negro Baseball Leagues attheDetroitOperaHouse:AfilmchroniclingthehistoryofNegroLeaguesbaseballwithrarehistoricalfootageandinterviewswithBlackbaseballgreats,followedbyadiscussionwiththefilmmakersJune 8-10, 2018: Negro Leagues WeekendatComericaPark(aDetroitTigersevent) AdditionaleventscontinuetobeaddedandwillbeupdatedonthecommunitypageoftheMOTwebsitewww.MichiganOpera.org. WhiletheinitiativemayendwithThe Summer King,thegoalofthecampaigndoesnot.MOTinvitesthecommunitytojointhemincontinuingtoidentify,shareandcelebratethosewhohavefoughtforsocialequityandinclusion,past,presentandfuture.

Take Me Out to the Opera: Exploring the Role of Arts and Sports in Social Equity and InclusionByEricaHobbs


Christine K. Strumbos, Board of Trustees 1991 – 2017ChristineK.StrumboswasalongtimememberoftheMichiganOperaTheatreBoardofTrustees,servingformorethan25years.Herpassionforlifeandfamilyledtoavarietyofendeavorsrangingfrombeingahomemakertoobtainingherrealtor’slicensetocompletingherbachelor’sdegreeinpsychologyinherearly50s.InadditiontoMOT,ChristineandherhusbandGeorgewerestrongsupportersoftheCranbrookAcademyofArt/CranbrookArtMuseum,

theDetroitInstituteofArts,Women’sCommitteeforHospice,UniversityofMichiganCenterforHearingDisordersandmanyotherorganizations.ShewasalsoafoundingmemberoftheModernGreekCulturalAssociation,whichwasresponsibleforthecreationofanendowedchairforClassicalGreekStudiesatWayneStateUniversity.WearegratefulforChristine’slongcommitmenttoMOTandwillmissher.ChristineK.Strumbos,1922–2017.

In Memoriam

SopranoBrandyAdamsClaireChardon

FideliaDarmahkasihSuzanne GroganNicoleJosephMaryMartin

KimberleySandersSchylerSheltrown

GilesSimmerHeidiBowenZook

Alto

CarolAmbrogio-WoodAndrea ApelMystiByrnes

Yvonne FridayHelen Hass

MadisonMontambaultKristinaReigle

TiffanieWaldronTamaraWhitty

ChantelWoodard

TenorFranciscoBedoyFredBuchalterMichaelFowler

RichardJackson,Jr.SethJohnsonAdrianLeskiwBradley MillerBrandonMotz

BraunOldenkampJeffWilkinson

Bari/Bass

BentonDeGrootJosephEdmonds

KurtFrankGlenn Healy

BrandenC.S.HoodMatthewKonopackiMiroslavManovskiBrandonSpencer

JacobSurzynDavidTwigg

April 14 & 17AbigailArmstrong

ShilohBeatonBrookeBugajewski

MalloryChildsCavelleDoucetLefebvre

Gabrielle DusoSoleilGarcia-Johnson

SarahfayHendinSelga JansonsEmilyJohnson

ChloeLeeBrendanLockhartRebeccaLucksom

MiaMartinNatalieNikolajevsAmberOhlssonEmmaPalmerMcKaylaPrewEmelineRiceLaura RosalesAnnaSchultz

BreahMarieWillyBrigitteZook

April 11 & 16

AlexandraBeckAmeliaBorys

PortteiaDavidsonMeganDuRocher

TylerEdwardsEdwardEichenhorn

JaedenFootittJehnyaFootittNinaGeorgeff

AnnelieseIngrahamKhalanIsbellEmilyKinaiaMolly Levin

KathrynMigrinNatalieNikolajevs

BeatrixReillySkylarReynoldsKevyn RoesslerPiper TeasdleArshWasnik

GraceWatsonNatalieWatson

ClaireWolfe

SopranoBrandyAdamsAlainaBrown

ClaireChardonRebeccaEaddy

Suzanne GroganSandra Periord

KimberleySandersMoniqueYoung

AltoAndrea Apel

Yvonne FridayRachelAnnGirty

Helen Hass

OliviaJohnsonKristinaRiegle

TiffanieWaldronTamaraWhitty

ChantelWoodard

TenorFranciscoBedoyDenzel DonaldMichaelFowler

RichardJackson,Jr.SethJohnson

JosephLeppekBrandonMotz

BrettThompson

Bari/BassBentonDeGroot

KurtFrankBrandenC.S.HoodMatthewKonopacki

MarcusPetersonBrandonSpencerTerrenceStewart

JacobSuryzynGregoryStinson

ChildrenShilohBeatonMalloryChilds

PortteiaDavidsonTylerEdwardsAnikaLopesZairePolk

JaylahFowlerBennettVesprini

Eva VespriniIsabella VespriniMariaPanikkar

MICHIGAN OPERA THEATRE CHORUS — TOSCA

MICHIGAN OPERA THEATRE CHORUS — THE SUMMER KING

Michigan Opera Theatre Children’s Chorus


Principal Cello Nadine Deleury

Principal Viola John Madison

MichiganOperaTheatrePrincipalCelloNadineDeleuryknewfromayoungagethatshewantedtobeaprofessionalcellist.BorninFrance,Nadinebeganstudyingcelloattheageof10,eventuallystudyingattheParisConservatory.ShemovedtoDetroitinthe1980swhenherhusbandandfellow-cellist,HadenMcKay,joinedtheDetroitSymphonyOrchestra.Shortlythereafter,in1985,shewonthePrincipalCellopositionatMOTandhasbeenwiththeorchestraeversince. ShesaidthemostmemorablemomentofhertimewithMOTwasthegrandopeningoftheDetroitOperaHousein1996. “OuryearsofthecrowdedpitsandbackstagesoftheFisherTheatreandMasonicTemplewereover!”shesaid.“Wenowhadthismagnificenthall!”

OutsideofMOT,NadinerunsChamberMusicattheScarabClub,aperformanceseriesshefoundedwithMOTcolleagueVeldaKellyin1998.Shealsoenjoysresearchingforgottencomposers,aninterestthathasledtomeetingtheirfamiliesandcreatingrecordingsoftheirmusic. Inrecentyears,shehasbeeninvolvedassistingrefugeefamiliesfromSyriasettleintotheirnewhomesinWindsor,Canada,whereshehaslivedforthepast11years. “Ienjoyimmenselymeetingdifferentpeople,”shesaid,“andseeingthechildrenadapttoschoolsandtotheirnewcountry.”

MichiganOperaTheatrePrincipalViolaJohnMadisonisamanofmanytalents.Asaviolist,hehasbeenplayingfornearly50years,manyofwhichhavebeenwithMOT.JohnfirstplayedwithMOTfrom1982-84whileingraduateschoolattheUniversityofMichigan.Hereturnedtothecompanyin1996afterwinningthePrincipalViolapositionandhasheldthetitleeversince. JohnalsoperformswiththeDetroitSymphonyOrchestraandteachesintheWayneStateUniversityDepartmentofMusic.HesaidoneofhisfavoriteperformanceexperienceswasplayingintheThreeTenorsconcertatthefinalperformanceintheoldTigerStadiumin1999.Hesaidhehassinceseenmanychangesinthecity.

“ThebestpartaboutperforminginDetroitisbeingrightinthemiddleofthisgreatcity’scomeback,”hesaid. Outsideofmusic,Johnisamastergardenerandenjoysspendingtimebothgardeningandlandscaping.Hehasalsobeenahospicevolunteerformorethan20years,specializinginterminalchildren.Hesaidheeventuallywantstoopenhisownhospicecenterandcareforpatientsfull-time. “Ifeelcalledtodoit,it’saverypersonalthing,”hesaid.“Thepassioncomesfromjustbeingabletohelpsomeonethroughthegreatesteventoftheirlifeandbeabletoletthemknowit’sok.”

Deleury

Madison

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