[FAC] CAL OPERA 'NORMA' 7/27 AT TOWER THEATRE

[Diane Nixon]

CAL OPERA FESTIVAL Presents 'NORMA' 
JULY 27, 2008 at 2:30 P.M. 
TOWER THEATRE 815 East Olive Avenue
 
NORMA is a 'tragedia lirica' or opera <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opera>  in two acts by Vincenzo Bellini <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vincenzo_Bellini>  with libretto <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Libretto>  by Felice Romani <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Felice_Romani>  after Norma, ossia L'infanticidio (Norma, or The Infanticide) by Alexandre Soumet <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexandre_Soumet> . First produced at La Scala <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/La_Scala>  on December 26 <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/December_26> , 1831 <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1831> , it is generally regarded as an example of the supreme height of the Bel canto <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bel_canto>  tradition. "Casta diva" was one of the most familiar arias of the nineteenth century. The title role is generally considered one of the most difficult in the soprano <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soprano>  repertoire. It calls for tremendous vocal control of range, flexibility, and dynamics. Dramatically speaking, it covers the wide range of emotions that a woman can experience: conflict of personal and public life, romanticism, maternal love, friendship, jealousy, murderous intent, and resignation. Act 1 A secret love unites Norma with Pollione, the Roman proconsul, by whom she has borne two children. But Pollione has grown tired of the aging druidess and has fallen in love with the youthful Adalgisa. Despite Adalgisa's piety and virtue, she agrees to flee to Rome with Pollione. Adalgisa innocently tells Norma of her love, who curses Pollione for his treachery. Act 2 Norma wants to rid herself of Pollione's children, but her love for them finally confides them to the care of Adalgisa. When Pollione comes to take Adalgisa from the temple, Norma denounces him and he is seized by the Druids. But, Norma proclaims herself equally guilty with him, and resigns with her lover.
 

Conductor and Supertitles, Maestro Jonathan Khuner

Pollione, Stage Director Fred Winthrop (Tenor)

Oroveso, Norma's Father, Roger Smith (Bass-Baritone)

Norma, Jamie Bonetto (Coloratura Soprano)

Adalgisa, Sally Mouzon (Mezzo-Soprano)

Flavio, Pollione's Companion, Zachary Sheely (Tenor)

Clotilde, Norma's Friend, Yu-Ching Hung "Tulip" (Soprano)

Two Children: Zaroohi ("ZZ") Nixon and Elise Mouzon.


Chorus: Dean Ahlberg, Steve Ohlin, Ellen Yeung & Jill Wagoner


 


Support by 2008 Festival Artists & Faculty: Lane  Baxter, Kelsey Barsamian, Katherine Bourne, Chu-chun Chang, Ayelet Cohen, Michael Philip Davis, Christian Duran, Dr. Harvey and Alexandra Edmonds,  Susana & Graciela Esquivel, Sandra Gostanian, Stephanie Hower, Chia-ling Ho, Yi-Sheng Hsu, Fang Rei Hsu, I-Sheng Huang, Yu-ting Huang, Hsiao-Han Huang, Tzu-Ham Hung, Ioanna Karvelas, Samantha Knjoi, April Koyejo, Chung-Chi Lin, Chen Lu (Woo), Natalia Malcolm, Melissa Lee Marsh, Paul and Cindy Martzen, Nanette Miginess, Constantine, Chrysanthe & Evangelia Pappas, Jill Prince, Gerry Anne Prody, Paul Raheb, A.J.  Ramirez, Sharon Rogers and Jhih-Yuan Tseng, and Nickolaus Schiffman, Roy & Annalisa Stevens and Richard Woods with Dancers/ Choreographers Anne Cartwright, Hannah Ozeran, Danielle Banuelos, Aubree Cliff, and featuring Pianist Mila Filatova, Boris Nixon (Cello),  Nora Adachi  & Karin Wells (Woodwind), Alan Busteed & Allison Gigi Dang (Violin). 

 

MAESTRO JONATHAN KHUNER, Music Director of Berkley Opera since 1994 returns in his third summer with the COA Opera Festival. A graduate of U.C. Berkeley, Mr. Khuner is also on the musical staff of the San Francisco Opera and the Metropolitan Opera, has assisted James Levine with Wagner's "Ring" Cycle at the Wagner Festival at Bayreuth, Germany, and has served in a similar capacity at Chicago Lyric Opera, among many others.

 

JAMIE BONETTO, coloratura soprano, graduate of Northwestern University, has also trained in Italy with Magenta at the Giuseppe Verdi Conservatory and the George Shirley Opera Program.  She has entertained audiences all over the United States and in Europe as a leading lady of the operatic and concert stage.  She made her Carnegie Hall debut as the lead soloist with the American Concert Association, performed television broadcasts and has entertained our armed forces overseas.  Her featured operatic roles highlighting COA's Summer Festival have included Violetta in La Traviata, Lucia in Lucia di Lammermoor, Amina in La Sonnambula, and The Queen of the Night in The Magic Flute.  A resident of the Bay Area, Jamie has also dedicated her talents to promoting opera appreciation and enjoyment in Fresno through support of the Fresno Opera League and throughout California via touring productions which were followed by outstanding critical reviews.  Please visit Jamie at www.jamiebonetto.com <http://www.jamiebonetto.com/> .

 

FREDERICK WINTHROP, tenor and stage director, originally from Louisiana, who after serving in United States Air Force, relocated to Los Angeles, starting with major roles in companies such as Opera Pacific, and graduating to the San Francisco Opera stage. "After retiring from the San Francisco Opera, I found that there wasn't a sufficient supply of classical music or opera production to meet the needs of communities. I found that there are many who are very interested in this form of art and became dedicated to providing professional productions with experienced artists who love what they do." He co-founded the San Francisco Lyric Opera, which he directed for seven years then joined the California Opera Summer Festival over the past years in his dual role as both critically acclaimed dramatic tenor and talented stage director.  

SALLY MOUZON, mezzo-soprano, and native of Virginia, made her professional debut at the age of 16 as Cherubino (The Marriage of Figaro) in Washington, DC. Western regional roles include Siebel (Faust) with Sacramento Opera, Little Buttercup (H.M.S. Pinafore) with Eugene Opera, Charlotte (Werther) with San Francisco Lyric Opera, Cherubino with Townsend Opera Players in Modesto, and Adalgisa (Norma) in Davis and with San Francisco Lyric Opera. She created the role of Mrs. Carroll in Robert Arnold Hall's Mrs. Carroll's Alice. Ms. Mouzon made her solo debut at San Francisco Opera as a Fisherwoman in Peter Grimes, and has appeared in numerous other roles with the Company including most recently the Second Priestess (Iphigénie en Tauride), Marguerite and a Coal Gatherer (Louise), Second Bridesmaid (Le nozze di Figaro), and Sister Lillianne in the world premiere of Dead Man Walking. Sally has also shared her talents with our community with Jamie to promote opera appreciation and enjoyment in Fresno through appearances in support of Fresno Opera League.

 

ZACHARY SHEELY, tenor, of Lemoore graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Biology from Westmont College. Zach, building his repertoire and role development through COA since his decision to pursue a serious career in music at age 16, has appeared in a variety of roles including the Rodolfo in Puccini's La Boheme, Duke in Rigoletto, Alfredo in La Traviata, Pinkerton in Madama Butterfly, Rinuccio in Gianni Schicchi, Arturo Buklaw in Lucia di Lammermoor, the Conductor in Pasatieri's La Divina, Brack Weaver in Down in the Valley, the Witch in Hansel and Gretel, Hermes in Victor Kioulaphides's The Silver Swan, Kaspar in Amahl and the Night Visitors and made his international debut in 2006 in Hanzhou, China, as Don Jose and Remendado in Carmen.

 

"TULIP" YU-CHING HUNG, soprano, is an international visitor from the Tunghai University of Taiwan. Tunghai continues a deep respect for the arts and humanities with the addition of a seventh college of Fine Arts and Creative Design that further expands the university's horizon. An accomplished pianist with the organization, Tulip has been studying voice for one year and was recruited by COA General Artistic Director, Ms. Edna Garabedian in April 2008, during her government sponsored tour to promote collaboration between the countries of the US, Taiwan and mainland China. 

 

ROGER SMITH, bass-baritone, possesses a Master and Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree in visual arts from the University of Montana and the California College of Arts and Crafts, which may be why he can so meaningfully fill so many shoes - from grand stage performances to set design, costuming, and graphic design, Roger does it all and with remarkable style.  Art, music and performance have played one of the most significant parts of his life, hailing from a family of singers, musicians and actors. Please visit http://www.rogersmithartandopera.com <http://www.rogersmithartandopera.com/> .

 

 

Administrative, Collaboration and Public Relations: COA Opera Guild and Host Families, led by Anita Edelman, Ray Enscher, Matt Marovich, Kay Schlotthauer, Pat Gebs, Peter Kraemer, Phil Kimble, Paul Saito, the Don Rogers Family, the Ted & Deborah Sheely Family, Nancy Wade & Fresno Opera League members, with Rick Adamson and Roger Smith (Set Design), Diane & Boris Nixon (Development), Larry Barber (Transportation), Roberta Wain-Becker (Golden Gate Opera), Grace Solis (Arte Americas), Father James Pappas (St. George Greek Orthodox Church), Rabbi Robert Ourach (Temple Beth Israel), Tracey Pimentel (San Joaquin Gardens), Msgr. E. James Petersen (Shrine of St. Therese), Erika Morales (Fresno Art Museum), Janna Graham & Jayne Guyer (Fresno Philharmonic Orchestra), FCOE's Larry Powell & Bob Bullwinkle (Fresno County Youth Choir), Elizabeth Laval (Pop Laval Foundation), Larry Balakian (Saroyan Centennial Committee), Donald Munro (The Fresno Bee), Maria Franco, Joyce Aiken and Victor Ramayrat of Fresno Arts Council, Les Graham, Terry and Bill Barrett Piano Service, San Francisco Opera (Music-Sound), Juan Salcedo & Company of Reflections (Hair and Make-Up), Susan Neville and the Abbott Family of Tower Theatre & Technical Lighting by Steve Wall.  

 

LEA McANDREWS of GALLERY LEA "It is best to not try to make sense of my paintings, because there is nothing 'real' about them. Often, they are a flight of fancy - fueled by music that inspires me... the image just comes to me, other times they're from dreams. ..it is all about color, brush strokes, definite use of texture, movement, like dancing on the canvas. Please visit my Paintings in Progress website" at http://www.gallerylea.com <http://www.gallerylea.com/> . Lea is also a Certified Massage Therapist since 1999 in Swedish with Acupressure, Esalen technique, Trigger Point, and Hot Stone. To arrange a private art viewing, or discuss massage, please call Lea at 304-7191.

 

RON and CAROL COVERT, wire artists of Central California have been creating unique one-of-a-kind jewelry since early 2000 and graciously donated to the COA raffle prizes. "Our handmade wire wrapped jewelry are unique artisan pieces from designer cut stones, fossils and shells." Most of the hand-carved stone pieces you see today were created in their own workshop.  Please visit http://www.wirewrapstone.com <http://www.wirewrapstone.com/>  for more information about classes, shows, and their art designs. 

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