[FAC] SUMMER OPERA FESTIVAL EVENTS

[Diane Nixon]

JOIN THE SUMMER OPERA EXTRAVAGANZA IN FRESNO WITH THE

2008 CALIFORNIA OPERA ARTS & EDUCATION FESTIVAL!


 


"What performers...They give us their souls.... Remarkable vocals, heart-stopping suspense, gripping drama and riotous comedy - You will rarely hear more passionate singing...The drama and music is superb!"


 


"An exquisite, enjoyable experience - even for my husband who normally does not enjoy opera  - he is actually looking forward to the next performance." 

 

"I took my 14 year old daughter who sat spellbound and amazed... her favorite opera experience to date."  

 

AN OVERVIEW OF THIS SUMMER'S OPERA FESTIVAL EVENTS ~

 

The 2008 California Opera Arts & Education Festival couples COA stage veteran's with international and locally renowned newcomers in a community oriented approach to opera education.  This summer's fully staged opera works, under the auspices of General Artistic Director Edna Garabedian, include Bellini's 19th century masterpiece 'Norma' and Puccini's One-Act favorite 'Il Tabarro' meaning 'The Cloak'.  But, created in entirely different centuries, what do these two works have common?  Well, both revolve around a love triangle, of course, and in true operatic style, offer dramatic, tragic endings.  But in the revered opera, Norma, it is the one that SHE loves that yearns for another, while in Il Tabarro, it is the one that HE loves that begs another's attention. Both will be performed in Italian with English supertitles, at Tower Theatre in Fresno.  Both will be free to the public, with donations welcome at the door. 

Conducted by Berkley Opera Director and Metropolitan Opera Maestro Jonathan Khuner, the title role of Norma will be performed by COA stage veteran Diva Soprano Jamie Bonetto.  The role is one of the most demanding of any coloratura soprano.  Critics of the work write "Brava to any Diva that tackles such a beastly difficult role.... The fate of 'Norma' is in her hands, and her voice."  The story unfolds as a secret love unites Norma (Soprano Jamie Bonetto) with Pollione (Tenor and Stage Director Fred Winthrop), 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 (Mezzo-Soprano Sally Muzon). Despite Adalgisa's piety and virtue, she agrees to flee to Rome with Pollione, and innocently tells Norma of her love... You can imagine what happens next... But questions need to really be answered.... What will Norma do about this?  What happens to Adalgisa? What about Norma's children?  How will Pollione ever survive?  Learn the answers to these questions with us through the fully staged production on Sunday July 27th at 2:30 PM in the Tower Theater.  

While in Puccini's Il Tabarro, staged on a barge by New York director Michael Davis and conducted by Resident Maestro Leonard Ingrande, it is the Baritone Michele (Nickolaus Schiffman of Santa Barbara in his premiere at the summer opera festival) whose wife, Giorgetta, yearns for another (Soprano Stephanie Hower of Fresno).  She plans to meet Luigi (COA stage veteran Tenor Zachary Sheely of Lemoore).  She tells Luigi that she will light a match as a signal that it is safe to board the boat.  That night, as Michele reflects on his life together with Giorgetta, he lights his pipe with a match.  Luigi sees this as a sign that it is safe to board the boat.... Uh Oh... So learn what happens next in the fully staged production on Sunday August 3rd at 2:30 PM in Tower Theatre. 

 

Supporting cast members for the summer productions include visiting professors and students of opera from around the world, including  40 adult vocalists and guests from Tawain, and artists from England, Greece, Italy, Armenia, Turkey, Israel, Mexico, Canada, and of course our own national talent, this year representing New York, Alabama, Utah, Nevada, Oregon, and California.  COA members repeat hosting up to 40 children from China this year who will be immersed with our local youth, participating in daily classes refining English and music skills, studying California and US History, touring Yosemite, and participating in Festival events. 

 

Each year, the Fresno based California Opera Association offers a summer Festival that blends international exchange and classroom-based educational opportunities for aspiring stage artists culminating in fully staged opera performances with an array of concert-style opera performances and recitals for the community.  Having completed the opening concerts at Fresno Art Museum ('Opera Espanol') and Temple Beth Israel ('Shalom') during this first 'Meet & Greet' Weekend , we are looking forward to the fully stage productions at Tower Theatre (Sundays at 2:30 PM on July 27th NORMA and August 3rd IL TABARRO)  and the upcoming concert style presentations at the Fresno Art Museum (Friday August 1st  at 7 PM sponsored by  St. George Greek Orthodox Church)  and at St. Therese Catholic Church (Saturdays at 7 PM on July 26th and August 2nd) where the majority of hands-on workshops, master-classes, stage preparation courses, and the annual vocal competition will occur. Annual Festival sponsors include the continued support of the FRESNO ARTS COUNCIL, BANK OF THE WEST, EXXON MOBIL, FRESNO OPERA LEAGUE, and MEMBERS OF THE CALIFORNIA OPERA GUILD, among other businesses, families, and individual OPERA & ARTS LOVERS LIKE YOU! 

 

Through this support, all summer festival performance events are free and open to the public, as suggested donations will be welcome at the doors, and raffle tickets will be sold at each show-the COA Guild offers a $500 gas card raffle prize this year (that's over 100 gallons ~and wouldn't we all want to win that)!   Alternatively, a $60 VIP Opera Pass may be purchased to guarantee priority seating at all events, and includes the 'Meet the Artist" reception series, invitations to 'Behind the Scenes Opera in the Making' and the finals of the 2008 International Voice Competition.  Please call 225-6737 (CAL-OPERA) to purchase a VIP Pass or for additional details on these California Opera Arts & Education Festival summer events. Come on out, bring the family, and have some fun!

 

PLEASE MARK YOUR CALENDARS! 

 

July 26th * Saturday at 7 PM * ST. THERESE CATHOLIC CHURCH 

1410 North Wishon Avenue Across from Tower Theatre

 

Dueling Divas, Tenacious Tenors, and Bellowing Baritones battle it out for the top awards at the 2008 International Vocal Competition Finals.  Three age divisions are represented in this first "in-house" competition of the Festival program.  Artists will be challenged on a variety of musical repertoire. Attending audience members will be able to "vote" for their favorite artists, as a world-wide panel of distinguished judges challenge singers to rise to the top through a grueling appraisal of stage deportment, pitch and voice quality, command of languages, musicality, preparation and readiness, and the appropriateness and fit of selected works with voice category, among other judging factor points.

 

 

 

JULY 27th 

2:30 PM SUNDAY 

TOWER THEATRE 

815 East Olive Avenue at Wishon 

 'NORMA' 

 

August 1st * Friday at 7 PM * FRESNO ART MUSEUM 

2233 North 1st Street Between Clinton & McKinley

 

Sponsored by St. George Greek Orthodox Church, Greek Night features Ioanna Karvelas, from the National Conservatory of Athens, a Greek-American dramatic soprano who has become an ambassador of Greek Classical Music always performing along with her theater engagements a wealth of compositions beginning with the Kennedy Center in Washington DC, Lincoln Center in New York as well as in Germany, Austria, Poland, Bulgaria and the Ukraine. Ioanna is joined by COA youth Constantine, Chrysanthe & Evangelia Pappas in this annual tribute to Greek music and culture.

 

 

August 2nd * Saturday at 7 PM * ST. THERESE CATHOLIC CHURCH

1410 North Wishon Avenue Across from Tower Theatre

 

The Festival Artist Showcase features singers from around the world, highlighting a range of traditional classic and international styles, celebrating the singers' contributions and accomplishments and honoring the visiting Taiwanese professors and outstanding vocal artists attending this summer's festival events.

 

 

 

 

AUGUST 3rd  

TOWER THEATRE 

2:30 PM SUNDAY 

815 East Olive Avenue at Wishon 

 'IL TABARRO' 

 

MARK YOUR CALENDARS:  

Come on out, bring the family, and have some fun!