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presents IL TROVATORE
BY GIUSEPPE VERDI
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2024 AT 7:30 - THE LOBERO THEATRE
SUNDAY, FEB 11, 2024 AT 2:30 - THE LOBERO THEATRE
CAST
Manrico ....................................................................................................................................
Leonora
Count di Luna
Azucena
Ferrando
Harold Meers
Karin Wolverton
Timothy Mix
Deborah Nansteel º
Andrew Potter
Ines ....................................................................................................................................................
Max Potter *
Ruiz Xavier Prado
PRODUCTION
CONDUCTOR
Kostis Protopapas
STAGE DIRECTOR
Chuck Hudson
SCENIC DESIGN
Steven C. Kemp
LIGHTING DESIGN
Jared Sayeg
HAIR/MAKEUP DESIGN
Heather Sterling
PROP DESIGN
T. Theresa Scarano
COSTUME MANAGER
Stacie Logue
CHORUS MASTER & PRINCIPAL PIANIST
Timothy Accurso
ASSISTANT CONDUCTOR
Alexandra Enyart
PRODUCTION STAGE MANAGER
Kourtni Dale-Noll Mitchiner
ASSISTANT STAGE MANAGERS
Jessica Haroº
Alex Wolfthalº
TECHNICAL DIRECTOR
Todd Jared
HAIR & MAKEUP ARTISTS
Marisol Miller-Wave
Berenice Gallegos
Costumes designed by Glenn Avery Breed. Costumes Provided by Wardrobe Witchery.
º Opera Santa Barbara debut * Alumni of the Chrisman Studio Artist Program
Congratulations to Opera Santa Barbara on its 30th season of bringing world class opera to Santa Barbara
SEASON SPONSOR
Elaine F. Stepanek Foundation
PRODUCTION SPONSOR
Dr. Robert and Sandy Urquhart
ARTIST SPONSORS
Manrico - Christine Holland
Leonora - Joan Rutkowski
Conte di Luna - Daniel and Romy Reicker
Azucena - David Mason
Ferrando - Bella Domani
Conductor - Nancy Golden
SUPERTITLES
Bella Domani
YOU DECIDE TICKETING
Montecito Bank and Trust
WINE
Longoria Wines
Conway Family Wines
Production sponsorships are one of the most important ways opera lovers can help bring works like this to the stage. Under normal circumstances, ticket sales and other earned income typically cover less than 35% of production costs. Sponsors help underwrite these costs allowing us to present hiqh quality operas while keeping ticket prices affordable.
For more information about becoming a sponsor or artist host, contact info@operasb.org or call our office at (805) 898-3890 Ext 1.
Please turn off all cell phones, electronic devices, and watch alarms. Latecomers will be seated at the discretion of the house management. Members of the audience who leave during the performance will not be shown back into the theater until the next intermission. The use of camera and recording equipment is strictly prohibited. Your use of a ticket acknowledges your willingness to appear in photographs taken or videos filmed in public areas of the Granada Theatre, and releases the theater and its lessees and others from liability resulting from use of such photographs or video footage.
SYNOPSIS
COMPOSER
Giuseppe Verdi
SUNG IN ITALIAN
SUPERTITLE TRANSLATION BY Michael
Chadwick, Chadwick Creative Arts
WORLD PREMIERE AT THE TEATRO APOLLO IN ROME ON JANUARY 19, 1853
RUN TIME: 2 HOURS AND 30 MINUTES WITH A 20 MINUTE INTERMISSION
Friday, February 9, 2024 at 7:30 - The Lobero Theatre Sunday, Feb 11, 2024 at 2:30 - The Lobero Theatre
Spain, late 15th century, during the War of the Castilian Succession. Before the opera begins, a Romani woman is burned at the stake for allegedly bewitching one of the old Count di Luna’s sons. In a fit of revenge, her daughter Azucena kidnaps the child with the intention of burning him at the same pyre
Act I
Years later, young Count di Luna, the older brother of the baby who was killed, is the commander of the royalist Aragon troops and is obsessed with Leonora, a noblewoman in the queen’s service. Outside the royal residence, his soldiers keep watch because they have heard an unknown troubadour serenading Leonora at midnight, and the jealous count is determined to capture and punish him. To keep his troops awake, di Luna’s second in command, Ferrando, tells the terrible story he witnessed years before of that Romani woman who was burned at the stake. When the charred skeleton of the di Luna baby was discovered in the ashes, he says, the old count died of grief. The witch’s ghost continues to appear in the night, but her murderous daughter disappeared without a trace. The present Count di Luna has sworn to find her to enact his revenge.
After midnight in the palace gardens, Leonora confides in her companion Ines that she is in love with a mysterious Knight who she met at a joust before the war, and that he is the troubadour who serenades her each night. Defying Count di Luna, whose love she does not return, she says that her destiny cannot be fulfilled unless she is near this troubadour. “If I cannot live for him, I will die for him.” They return to the palace to attend to the queen while di Luna arrives, hoping to catch the lovers together. When the troubadour finally sings, Leonora rushes out to greet her beloved, and in the confusion of the dark night, embraces di Luna instead. The troubadour reveals that he is Manrico, the infamous leader of the rebel forces. Hot with rage, the count challenges him to fight to the death.
Act II
During the duel, Manrico overpowers the count, but some instinct stops him from killing his rival. The war rages on, with the royalist forces victorious in the most recent battle. One year later Manrico is badly wounded, but his mother Azucena finds him on the battlefield and nurses him back to health in their mountain camp.
The nomadic Romani people have joined the rebellion against the royalist army, and now forge weapons for the rebel forces. Azucena is the Romani woman di Luna has vowed to find. Her life is scarred by the memory of her mother’s death and the terrible revenge she exacted. Manrico has never heard the full tale of his grandmother’s death, having left the Romani as a boy to become a soldier. Azucena tells him how she stole the older count’s infant son and, in her vengeful rage, accidentally killed her own child instead. When Manrico demands to know who he truly is, Azucena responds that the mother’s love she has shown him all his life is all he needs to know and urges him to take revenge on the house of di Luna. Ruiz arrives, Manrico’s second in command, with news that Leonora is entering a convent. The royalists believe that Manrico died in battle, and she hopes to escape di Luna’s grasp. Azucena pleads with Manrico to stay, but he resolves to rescue Leonora immediately.
Di Luna and his troops arrive at the convent to seize Leonora, but his attempt is foiled when Manrico, Ruiz and reinforcements from Urgel attack di Luna’s army. In the ensuing chaos, the lovers escape.
Act III
Di Luna lays siege to the fortress where Manrico has taken refuge with Leonora. His soldiers capture a Romani woman wandering nearby and drag her before him. When she hears di Luna’s name, her reaction arouses Ferrando’s suspicion. He recognizes her from many years ago as the murderer of the count’s infant brother. Azucena cries out to Manrico to rescue her, and di Luna realizes that with her capture he now has Manrico in his grasp. He orders a pyre built for Azucena before the walls of the fortress. Mirroring her mother’s fate, he sentences her to be burned at the stake.
Inside the castle, Manrico and Leonora prepare to be handfast until they can wed. She is frightened, but he assures her of his love even in the face of death. When news of Azucena’s capture arrives, Manrico reveals to Leonora that Azucena is his mother. He summons his forces and prepares to attack. Ruiz remains behind to protect Leonora.
Act IV
Manrico’s army is defeated. He and Azucena are held captive in the royal castle. Leonora has escaped and comes to the prison to pray for Manrico’s salvation. Leonora resolves to do what she must to save Manrico. When di Luna orders the execution of Manrico and Azucena at sunrise, Leonora offers herself to him in return for Manrico’s life. Unbeknownst to the count, Leonora drinks a slow-acting poison, sealing her fate.
In their prison cell, Manrico tries to comfort Azucena, who is terrified of the pyre that awaits her. Leonora appears to tell Manrico that he is saved and urges him to escape. Understanding that Leonora has promised herself to di Luna, Manrico denounces her and refuses to flee. Her secret poison is already taking effect, and Leonora dies in Manrico’s arms saying, “Rather than live as another man’s woman, I wanted to die yours.” Witnessing this death, di Luna sends Manrico to his execution and Azucena cries out that her mother is avenged: di Luna has killed his own brother.
Via The Metropolitan Opera with edits by Chuck
Husdon
OPERA SANTA BARBARA
ORCHESTRA
VIOLIN 1
Samuel Fischer, Concertmaster
Steven Zander, Associate Concertmaste
Anna Kostyuchek
Clause-Lise LaFranque
VIOLIN 2
Ji Young An, Principal
Colleen Coomber
Jeanne Ullom
VIOLA
Diane Gilbert, Principal
Karen Long
Briana Bandy
CELLO
Christopher Ahn, Principal
Jacqueline Greenshields
Paula Fehrenbach
BASS
Neil Garber, Principal
FLUTE/ PICCOLO
Gary Woodward, Principal
OBOE
Catherine Del Russo, Principal
CLARINET
Lawrence Hughes, Principal
Patricia Massey
SUPERNUMERARIES
Katja Broomberg
Guillermo Aguilar
Manfred Anaya
Olivia Barker
Alexandra Bass
Nathan Carlin
Ji Yun Choe
Rachel Reich Freed
William Grundler
CHORUS
David Harridge
Ariana Horner Sutherland*
Gaia Hubbard-Kabaretti
Lorenzo Johnson
Rose Kreider
Jonathan Matthews
David McKee
Adrian Melendrez
* Current Member of the Chrisman Studio Artist Program
OPERA SANTA BARBARA
MUSIC STAFF
BASSOON
Duncan Massey, Principal
TRUMPET
John Ernest, Principal HORN
Preston Shepard, Principal
Lacey Waggener
BASS TROMBONE
Steven Suminski, Principal
TIMPANI
Aaron Smith, Principal
PERCUSSION
Jon Nathan, Principal
HARP/ORGAN
Allison Allport, Principal
Jamie Knee
Shannon Moore
Anthony Moresi
Peter Otte
Angeline Petronijevic
Sarah Raines
Adrien Roberts
Arthur Swalley
Orchestral edition by Bryan Higgins, by arrangement with Motet Music Publishing Company
Opera Santa Barbara’s Orchestra musicians are represented by the American Federation of Musicians, Local 308. Stage employees supplied by I.A.T.S.E. 442 Santa Barbara Tri Counties. All editorial materials © Opera Santa Barbara, 2021. The opinions in this program do not necessarily reflect those of Opera Santa Barbara.
CONDUCTOR
Kostis Protopapas
CHORUS MASTER & PRINCIPAL PIANIST
Tim Accurso
ASSISTANT CONDUCTOR
Alexandra Enyart
CHORUS REHEARSAL PIANIST
Sadee Xu
ORCHESTRA MANAGER
Colleen Coomber
SUPERTITLE OPERATOR
Mica Basilici
LOBERO THEATRE STAFF
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
David Asbell
ADMINISTRATIVE DIRECTOR
Marianne Clark
CONTROLLER
Don McGreevy
TECHNICAL DIRECTOR AND PRODUCTION MANAGER
Todd A. Jared
BOX OFFICE MANAGER
Gina Graham
ASSISTANT BOX OFFICE MANAGER
Joshua James
TICKETING SERVICES DIRECTOR
Genevieve Rhiger
CONCESSION MANAGER
Betsy Crai
HOUSE MANAGER
Rick Villa
Eduardo Villa
ARTISTS
Our production of Il trovatore is dedicated to internationally known tenor and long-time Santa Barbara resident Eduardo Villa who passed away in late 2023. Eduardo was born in East Los Angeles and attended Dos Pueblos High School in Santa Barbara where he starred in shows like Oliver, Paint Your Wagon and West Side Story. He then studied voice at USC where he began singing opera.
After winning the Metropolitan Opera Auditions in 1982 he became a repertory singer at the Basel Opera Theater. Shortly after he starred as Don Carlo at the Paris Opera and Munich State Opera. His career then took him to Canada, Germany, France and throughout the US, singing leading roles in many operas such as Ballo in Maschera and Otello.
Our production of Il trovatore is dedicated to internationally known tenor and long-time Santa Barbara resident Eduardo Villa who passed away in late 2023. Eduardo was born in East Los Angeles and attended Dos Pueblos High School in Santa Barbara where he starred in shows like Oliver, Paint Your Wagon and West Side Story. He then studied voice at USC where he began singing opera.
KOSTIS PROTOPAPAS
Conductor
Kostis Protopapas was named General Director of Opera Santa Barbara in December 2017, after two-anda-half seasons as Artistic Director.
During his time as Artistic Director and principal conductor, Kostis brought a unified vision to OSB’s musical and production values, strengthening the orchestra and chorus, engaging some of the country’s most promising young directors and singers, building a high-performing production team, and increasing focus on contemporary American opera. As General Director Kostis assembled Team OSB, a group of enthusiastic overachievers with a passion for innovation and the desire to strengthen the company’s bond with the community, who consistently exceed patrons’ expectations for programs, experiences and communications. Performance highlights from Kostis’ tenure include grand opera classics like Madama Butterfly, Manon, and Eugene Onegin as well as contemporary works like Daniel Catan’s Il Postino, the mariachi opera Cruzar la cara de la luna, and Laura Kaminsky’s As One. In the fall of 2022 the Santa Barbara Independent wrote: “From contemporary work to obscurities from the early 19th century, from staple repertoire to surprise elements, OSB continues to raise the bar on what an opera company can and should be, even in Santa Barbara.”
His Met-sized voice was notable for its Italianate beauty. At the Metropolitan Opera he sang 25 performances of ten different roles. La Gioconda, the title
Between March 2020 and June 2021, under Kostis’ leadership Opera Santa Barbara remained active and fully staffed. It was the first performing arts organization in Santa Barbara to offer streaming programming, and one of only two opera companies in California to present three live operas in the 2020-21 season. Additionally, Opera Santa Barbara became an advocacy leader for the reopening of the performing arts, and funded live performances by local musicians through “Operation Eurydice”. For his work during the pandemic, Kostis was listed among the Santa Barbara Independent’s 2021 Local Heroes.
Before coming to Santa Barbara Kostis was the Artistic Director of Tulsa Opera since 2008. He previously was an Assistant Conductor with the Lyric Opera of Chicago, LA Opera and Santa Fe Opera. At the Lyric Opera of Chicago, he also served as Assistant Chorus Master under Donald Palumbo for two seasons.
After winning the Metropolitan Opera Auditions in 1982 he became a repertory singer at the Basel Opera Theater. Shortly after he starred as Don Carlo at the Paris Opera and Munich State Opera. His career then took him to Canada, Germany, France and throughout the US, singing leading roles in many operas such as Ballo in Maschera and Otello.
His Met-sized voice was notable for its Italianate beauty. At the Metropolitan Opera he sang 25 performances of ten different roles. His roles included Radames in Aida, Enzo in La Gioconda, the title role in Ernani
Born in Athens, Greece, Kostis Protopapas studied Archaeology and History of Art at the University of Athens before coming to the United States in 1993, on an Onassis Foundation scholarship, to study piano at The Boston Conservatory and conducting at Boston University. He became an American citizen in 2011. He loves living in Santa Barbara, sits on the Board of the Santa Barbara University Club, and enjoys sailing on the Santa Barbara Channel.
EDUARDO VILLA, Tenor
CHUCK HUDSON Stage Director
Chuck Hudson is delighted to return to Opera Santa Barbara. Chuck has directed opera productions at major international companies including Cape Town (South Africa), Cincinnati, Florida Grand, Minnesota, Atlanta, Pittsburgh, Austin, Hawaii, Seattle, Wolf Trap, Santa Barbara, and San Francisco Opera Center among others. He has directed award winning theatre productions in New York and regionally, including The Pearl Theatre, The Chester Theater, Cape May Stage, The Children’s Theatre Festival of Houston, New City Theatre, and Chicago’s Fox Valley Shakespeare Festival. Chuck’s work as a director was mentioned in the January 2011 Edition of American Theatre Magazine and the October 2018 Edition of Classical Singer Magazine.
In addition to directing, Chuck continues to focus on work with young professional artists. He was a co-creator of Seattle Opera’s Young Artist Program where he directed productions as well as created and instructed specialized classes on Acting and Movement skills for singers. He has directed productions at San Francisco Opera’s Merola Program, Santa Fe Opera’s Apprentice Artist Program, Florida Grand YAP, Yale Opera, AVA Opera Theater, BU Opera Institute, USC-Thornton Opera, Carnegie-Mellon, Manhattan School of Music, Cincinnati Conservatory, Indiana University, and Music Academy of the West. He was the Artistic Associate of La Lingua della Lirica for two seasons in Italy, a guest artist at S.I.V.A.M. in Mexico City and has been an annual Master Teacher at San Francisco Opera’s Merola and Adler Fellows programs for almost two decades. In 2022, Chuck created a Certificate Training Program for Opera Stage Directors at Ithaca College.
Chuck travels often to Australia to work with singers at The Melba Opera Trust in Melbourne, The Sydney Conservatorium, N.I.D.A., Opera Australia Young Artist Program, the Western Australia Academy of Performing Arts in Perth, and professional singers via the Opera and Arts Support Group. He directed the Australian Premiere of the German Opera by Goetz based on Shakespeare’s The Taming of the Shrew, was a Guest Director at the Melbourne Conservatory of Music’s Opera Training Program, and presented public Showcases for professional singers at the residence of the American Consul General in Sydney for the Opera and Arts Support Group. The Dame Kiri Te Kanawa Foundation also invited Chuck to work with their singers in New Zealand for several seasons.
For 7 years Chuck was Artistic Director of The Immediate Theatre in Seattle: a physically based company committed to the creation of visually exciting dramatic works. Chuck’s specialty in movement comes from a background in gymnastics as well as being one of three Americans to have received a diploma from the Marcel Marceau International School of Mimedrama in Paris. He is the only American to be appointed to teach at Marceau’s School, and he performed with Marceau on his 1991 European Tour and in Klaus Kinski’s film Paganini. Chuck also studied at the Paris School for Theatrical Fencing and was awarded an Honorary Diploma from the French Academy of Arms.
ARTISTS
HAROLD MEERS
Manrico
HOMETOWN: Visalia, CA
LIVES IN: Charleston, SC
PREVIOUSLY AT OSB: Il tabarro (Luigi) 2021, Carmen in your Car (Don Jose) 2020, , Madama Butterfly (Pinkerton) 2019, Manon (Des Grieux) 2017, Carmen (Don Jose) 2016, Rigoletto (Duke) 2007, Gianni Schicchi (Rinuccio) 2006
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS: Otello (Otello) National Theatre Brno Czech Republic, Un Ballo in Maschera (Ricardo) Hessisches Staatstheater Wiesbaden, Katya Kabanova (Boris) Opera North (UK)
UPCOMING ENGAGEMENTS: Executive Artistic Director-Charleston Opera Theater (SC) www.haroldmeers.com
KARIN WOLVERTON
Leonora
HOMETOWN: Roseville, MN
LIVES IN: Minneapolis, MN
PREVIOUSLY AT OSB: Eugene Onegin (Tatyana) 2019, La Rondine (Magda), 2017
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS: Nielsen Symphony No.3 (soprano soloist), Minnesota Orchestra at Carnegie Hall; Riders of the Purple Sage (Jane Withersteen), Arizona Opera; Silent Night (Anna Sørensen), The Minnesota Opera
UPCOMING ENGAGEMENTS: Int’l Women’s Day Recital, The Museum of Russian Art, Minneapolis MN www.karinwolverton.com
TIM MIX
Count Di Luna
HOMETOWN: Fairfax, VA
LIVES IN: Baltimore, MD
PREVIOUSLY AT OSB: Das Reingold (Alberich) 2021
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS: Sibelius’ The Tempest (Caliban), The LA Philharmonic; The Golden Cockerel (Tsar Dodon), The Santa Fe Opera; Dead Man Walking (Joseph De Rocher), Opera Delaware
UPCOMING ENGAGEMENTS: The Elixir of Love (Dulcamara), Annapolis Opera; Gianni Schicchi (Title Role), Amarillo Opera www.timothymix.com
ARTISTS ARTISTS
DEBORAH NANSTEEL
Azucena
HOMETOWN: Havelock, NC
LIVES IN: Havelock, NC
OSB DEBUT
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS: Aida (Amneris), Opera Grand Rapids and Fingerlakes Opera; Florencia en el Amazonas (Paula), Lyric Opera of Chicago; Lucia di Lammermoor (Alisa), Metropolitan Opera
UPCOMING ENGAGEMENTS: Highway 1, USA (Aunt Lou), LA Opera; Die Walküre (Roßweiße) Atlanta Opera; Concert with Russell Thomas, LA Opera www.deborahnansteel.com
ANDREW W. POTTER
Ferrando
HOMETOWN: Lynchburg, VA
LIVES IN: Mansfield, OH
PREVIOUSLY AT OSB: Don Pasquale (Don Pasquale), 2021
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS: Tosca (Cesare Angelotti), Dallas Opera; Rusalka (Vodník), Portland Opera; A Thousand Splendid Suns (Mullah/Sharif/Soldier), Seattle Opera
UPCOMING ENGAGEMENTS: A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Peter Quince), Atlanta Opera; La Bohème (Colline), Pacific Symphony; The Cunning Little Vixen (Harašta), Detroit Opera www.awpotter.com
MAX POTTER
Ines
HOMETOWN: Rockville, MD
LIVES IN: Santa Barbara CA
PREVIOUSLY AT OSB: Carmen (Mercedes), 2023; La Traviata (Flora), 2022; Das Rhinegold (Flosshilde), 2021.
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS: Der Rosenkavalier (Octavian), Pacific Northwest Opera; Mezzo Soloist in Elijah at the Washington National Cathedral; The Mother of Us All (Jenny Reefer), Chautauqua Opera. @maxpottermezzo
XAVIER PRADO
Ruiz
HOMETOWN: Rancagua, Chile
LIVES IN: Los Angeles, CA
PREVIOUSLY AT OSB: La Divina: The Art of Maria Callas, 2023 Gala
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS: Il Viaggio a Reims (Zeffirino), Rossini Opera Festival; L’Italiana in Algeri (Lindoro), Opera San Jose; Don Pasquale (Ernesto cover), Sarasota Opera.
UPCOMING ENGAGEMENTS: Lucia di Lammermoor (Edgardo) Barskaya Independent Co.; Zorro (Zorro) Opera Santa Barbara.
www.xavierprado.com
STEVEN KEMP
Set Designer
HOMETOWN: Houston, TX
LIVES IN: Kansas City, MO
PREVIOUSLY AT OSB: Il Tabarro/El Amor Brujo, 2021; The Crucible, 2019; Eugene Onegin, 2019; A Streetcar Named Desire, 2015; Rigoletto, 2014; Falstaff, 2013.
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS: Cavalleria Rusticana & Pagliacci, Lyric Opera of Kansas City; Candide, Des Moines Metro Opera; Cinderella, Opera San Jose.
UPCOMING ENGAGEMENTS: A Midsummer Night’s Dream, The Atlanta Opera; American Apollo, Des Moines Metro Opera; Lucia di Lammermoor, Sarasota Opera @stevenckempdesign
JARED A. SAYEG
Lighting Designer
HOMETOWN: Los Angeles
LIVES IN: Glendale, CA.
PREVIOUSLY AT OSB: The Crucible, 2019
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS: The Hunchback of Notre Dame (5th Avenue Theatre Seattle), Illusionists (Broadway), Queen of Spades (Teatro Real, Madrid)
UPCOMING ENGAGEMENTS: Ain’t Misbheavin’ (Laguna Playhouse), Beautiful (Phoenix Theatre Company), A new world premiere musical in Riyadh Saudi Arabia
www.jaslighting.com
ARTISTS ARTISTS
HEATHER STERLING
Wig & Makeup Designer
HOMETOWN: Salinas, CA
LIVES IN: San Jose, CA
PREVIOUSLY AT OSB: Carmen (HMU Designer) 2023; The Valkyrie (HMU Designer) 2023; An American Dream (HMU Designer) 2023; La Scala di Seta (HMU Designer) 2022; Tosca (HMU Designer) 2022
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS: Gianni Schicchi Zanetto (WMU Designer), SFCM; Manon (WMU Designer), OSB; Madama Butterfly (WMU Designer), The Atlanta Opera
UPCOMING ENGAGEMENTS: Tiger Style! (Wig Designer), TheaterWorks; Zorro (WMU Designer), Opera Santa Barbara; Proving Up (WMU Designer), San Francisco Conservatory of Music
T. THERESA SCARANO
Prop Designer
HOMETOWN: Roswell, New Mexico
LIVES IN: Southern California
PREVIOUSLY AT OSB: The Valkyrie, The Light in the Piazza, An American Dream, Tosca, As One, Cruzar, La Scala di Seta, La Traviata, Semele, Speed Dating
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS: Scenery Rental Manager/ Director of Operations at San Bernardino Civic Light Opera/The Set Company, Prop Design for Daddy Long Legs Premiere/tour, and exactly what I’m working on at the moment.
UPCOMING ENGAGEMENTS: Crone Creed (Co-Writer & StageManager) CJT Productions
STACIE LOGUE
Costume Manager
HOMETOWN: Southern California
LIVES IN: Ventura, CA
PREVIOUSLY AT OSB: 2004 – present in the costume dept
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS: Opera Santa Barbara Costume Manager 2015 – present; Central City Opera Festival 2016 – 2021; Kingsman Shakespeare Festival 2013 –2015; Music Academy of the West 2005 – 2012
UPCOMING ENGAGEMENTS: OSB 23/24 Season
WHERE CAN WE FIND YOU: in the costume shop
ALEXANDRA ENYART
Assistant Conductor
HOMETOWN: Alexandria KY
LIVES IN: Chicago IL
PREVIOUSLY AT OSB: Die Walküre (Assistant Conductor), La scala di seta (Conductor), Tosca (Assistant Conductor), As One (Conductor)
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS: As One, The Atlanta Opera; Don Giovanni, Mozart in The Knobs; Pelléas et Mélisande, Ouroboros Opera
UPCOMING ENGAGEMENTS: As One, Kentucky Opera; Weight of Light, Chicago Opera Theater; Rusalka, Ouroboros Opera
www.alexandraenyart.com
KOURTNI DALE-NOLL MITCHINER
Production Stage Manager
HOMETOWN: Plano, TX
LIVES IN: Camarillo, CA
PREVIOUSLY AT OSB: PSM for Carmen
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS: Celebrating my 11th season at OSB!
UPCOMING ENGAGEMENTS: Zorro (PSM), Opera Santa Barbara https://cosoc.com/KidKourt13
JESSICA HARO
Assistant Stage Manager
HOMETOWN: Santa Barbara, CA
LIVES IN: Santa Barbara, CA
OSB DEBUT
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS: American Son (PSM), Ensemble Theatre Company; Barlow’s A Christmas Carol (PSM), Ensemble Theatre Company; How to Transcend a Happy Marriage (PSM), The Producing Unit
UPCOMING ENGAGEMENTS: Carmen (ASM), Music Academy of the West; Jesus Christ SuperStar (PSM), Out of the Box Theatre Company www.jessicaharo.com
ARTISTS OPERA SANTA BARBARA
ALEX WOLFTHAL
Assistant Stage Manager
HOMETOWN: East Bridgewater, MA
LIVES IN: San Francisco, CA
OSB DEBUT
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS: Sweeney Todd (ASM), Dayton Opera; Salome (ASM), Tulsa Opera; Lucretia (SM), Merola Opera Program
UPCOMING ENGAGEMENTS: Swan Lake (ASM), Dayton Ballet; Tosca (ASM), Dayton Opera www.linkedin.com/in/alex-wolfthal
TIMOTHY ACCURSO
Principal Pianist & Director of the Chrisman Studio Program
HOMETOWN: Glen Lyon, PA
LIVES IN: Santa Barbara, CA
PREVIOUSLY AT OSB: Joined Team OSB Fall of 2018
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS: La Traviata, Opera Las Vegas; Pirates of Penzance, Utah Opera; The Light in the Piazza, Opera Santa Barbara; Cruzar la Cara de la Luna (conductor), Arlington Theater.
UPCOMING ENGAGEMENTS: Santa Barbara Gay Men’s Chorus (Artistic Director) at First United Methodist Church on December 11th, 2023
TODD A. JARED
Technical Director
HOMETOWN: Hollywood, CA
LIVES IN: Carpinteria, CA
PREVIOUSLY AT OSB: Multiple productions since the company’s birth in 1993.
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS: Technical Director for The Lobero Theatre since 1992.
TEAM OSB
ARTISTIC & GENERAL DIRECTOR
Kostis Protopapas
DIRECTOR OF PRODUCTION
Helena Kuukka
PRINCIPAL PIANIST & DIRECTOR OF THE CHRISMAN STUDIO
Timothy Accurso
INTERIM CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER
Gail Anikouchine
EXECUTIVE ADMINISTRATOR
Jessica Hetrick
ADMINISTRATIVE ASSOCIATE
Julia Lieberman
BOOKKEEPER
Laura Teague
GRAPHIC DESIGN
Karen Kowalski
PHOTOGRAPHY
Zach Mendez
CONSULTANTS
AUDIO RECORDING
Opus 1 Mobile Recording
MARKETING & GRAPHIC DESIGN
Joyce Familara
OPERA SANTA BARBARA
Rodney Baker
Tanner Cassidy
Sarah Chrisman
Brian Galura
Christine Holland
FOUNDERS
Marilyn Gilbert & Nathan Rundlett
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Nicholas Burlett, Chair
Torben von Staden, 1st Vice Chair
Robert Weinman, 2nd Vice Chair
Barbara Burger, Secretary
Monica Williams, Treasurer
Dan Reicker, Member at Large
Dan Hone
Karen Knight
Gregory McMurray
Duncan Mellichamp
Judith Smith
Arthur Swalley
Sandra Urquhart
Takako Wakita
Simon Williams
HONORARY BOARD
Herbert Kendall* Sarah Jane Lind*
Mary Penny
VALUED FORMER BOARD MEMBERS
Richard Aberle*
Susan Aberle
Pat Andersons
James Ballantine
Britt Beauvoix
Peter Bertling
Marlyn Bernard Bernstein*
Sue Birch
Cynthia Brittain
Jim Burkemper*
Christopher Carroll*
Bonnie Corman
Marilyn Crawford
Roger Davidson*
Denise DeBellefeuille
George DeRado*
Josepha DeRado
Patricia Dixon
Mary Tonetti Dorra
Nick DiNapoli*
Jon DuPrau
Leni Fe Bland*
Kenneth Fitzpatrick
Louise Gaylord
Steve Gilbar
Nancy Golden
Mary Hampson
William Jones
Stuart Kart
Mahri Kerley
Jayne Menkemeller
Dylan Minor
Fred Sidon
Carolina Montgomery
A.C. Moore
Martin Moskovits
Eric Oltmann
David Peri
Paksy Plackis-Cheng
William Ramsay*
Ida Rickborn*
Jean Rogers
Joan Rutkowski
J. Gordon Schontzler*
Eric Small
Linda Van Buren
Joann Younger
Named in recognition of the support of Sarah and Roger Chrisman, the Chrisman Studio Artist Program began in 2007 with the purpose of identifying and developing talented young opera performers. For more than a decade, the program has provided singers, as well as coaches, with high-level performance opportunities and valuable training. These performers work with top industry directors, conductors, and coaches in masterclasses, coachings, and public performances including cover and mainstage role assignments. Studio Artists Alumni are in high demand and have performed at companies around the US including the Metropolitan Opera, the San Francisco Opera, Boston Lyric Opera, Houston Grand Opera, Washington National Opera, the Santa Fe Opera, and abroad with the Deutsche Oper Berlin, Teatro Regio, Opernhaus Zürich, Bregenzer Festspiele, Hong Kong Opera, and the Aix-en-Provence Festival.
2023/2024 CHRISMAN STUDIO ARTISTS
Meet our California-based 2023-2024 Chrisman Studio Artists who you will see throughout the season in our mainstage productions and concerts throughout our community.
IMPRESARIO CIRCLE
GRAND IMPRESARIO
($25,000 & ABOVE)
Ann Jackson Family Foundation
Sarah and Roger Chrisman
Elaine F. Stepanek Foundation
Brian and Jana Galura
George H. and Olive J. Griffiths
Charitable Foundation
Cheryl and Michael Goldberg
Fred and Nancy Golden
Green Hills Software
Dan and Donna Hone
John C. Mithun Foundation
Dan and Romy Reicker
Robert & Mercedes
Eichholz Foundation
Joan Rutkowski
The Christopher Carroll Endowment
The Mosher Foundation
The Smidt Family Foundation
Dr. Robert and Sandy Uquhart
Dr. Robert Weinman
Zegar Family Foundation
PLATINUM IMPRESARIO
($24,999 - $10,000)
Mrs. Susan Aberle
Fred and Roxana Anson
Eve Bernstein
Nicholas Burlett and Jessie Dove
Dan and Meg Burnham
Joan H. Davidson
Bella Domani
Mary Tonetti Dorra
Louise Gaylord
Christine and Michael Holland
The Hutton Parker Foundation
Mrs. Lillian Lovelace
Madison Community Foundation
Mr. David Mason
Dick and Marilyn Mazess
Duncan and Suzanne Mellichamp
Montecito Bank & Trust
Music Performance Trust Fund
National Endowment for the Arts
Farrokh and Sally Nazerian
Eric Oltmann and Susan Van Abel
Ms. Jean Rogers
Lee and Linda Rosenberg
Mr. Charles Schweppe & Ms. Ingrid Olsson
Owen Smith
Marc and Pauline Sylvain
The Herbert and Elaine Kendall Foundation
The Towbes Fund for the Performing Arts
Carol Vernon and Robert Turbin
Torben and Lauren von Staden
Takako Wakita
Dana White
Brooke and Monica Williams
Dr. and Mrs. Simon Williams
GOLD IMPRESARIO
($5,000-$9,999)
Todd and Allyson Aldrich
Mrs. Howard Arvey
James and Lisa Ballantine
Hiroko Benko
Dr. & Mrs. Aaron Budgor
Barbara H. Burger
Denise and Ian Burrows
City National Bank
Ms. NancyBell Coe
Dr. Gerhart Hoffmeister
Mrs. Mahri Kerley
Chris Lancashire
Dylan Minor
Omar Rodriguez Baritone
Micihael Segura Baritone
Christina Pezzarossi Mezzo-Soprano
Georgia Jacobson Mezzo-Soprano
Sunwoo Park Soprano Ariana Homer Sutherland Soprano
Kyle Rudolf Tenor
PATRONS OF THE OPERA
Peter Morris
Seniel Ostrow Foundation
The Charitable Foundation
The Hamister Foundation
Drs. Fred and Linda Wudl
SILVER IMPRESARIO
($2,500-$4,999)
Robert F. Adams and Nancy Clare Caponi
Debbie and Mike Bruce
Casa Dorinda
Veronique Chevalier
Linda Di Fiore
Ms. Marilyn Gilbert
Joy Holman
HUB International Insurance Services
Karin Jacobson
Richard and Connie Kennelly
Karen Knight
Sue Larsen
Dr. and Mrs. Ron Latimer
Sizhuang Liang
Shuji and Yuki Nakamura
Performing Arts
Scholarship Foundation
David Reichert
Christine and Stefan Riesenfeld
Mr. Merlin Rossow
Keith and Kay Schofield
Schweickert & Company
Eric Small
Judith Smith
TOArts
*Deceased
Mrs. Anne Towbes
Vista del Monte
Mort and Judy Weisman
Philip Wyatt
IMPRESARIO
($1,500-$2,499)
American Riviera Bank
Rodney Baker and Robert Ooley
John and Caron Berryhill
Dr. Bonnie Corman
Jim Craviotto
Conway Family Wines
Monica Eiler
Bill and Ellie Freudenstein
Natalia and Michael Howe
Gail Lucas
Tracy and Vicki Noll
Donley and Valerie Olson
Oshay Family Foundation
Ms. Staci Richard
Santa Barbara Museum of Art
Santa Ynez Valley Jewish Community
Nancy B. Schlosser
Chuck and Missy Sheldon
Thomas Tunberg
Isabel Wendt
Rideau Vineyard
AFICIONADO
($500-$1,499)
Christina Omdahl
Priscilla Peale
Laurel Rose
Irene and Mel Sahyun
Santa Barbara
Art Collaborative (CAW)
Santa Barbara County Office of Arts & Culture
Santa Barbara
Trust For Historic Preservation
Susan and Jennings Schmidt
Susan Schmidt
Jill and Scott Seltzer
Mr. Steven R. Siegel and Ms. Joan Tapper
Stearns Wharf Business Association
Drs. Michael and Beverly Steinfeld
Mr. Arthur Swalley
Katie Szopa
Frank Tabar
Robert Tuler
Susan J. Van Abel
Sandra Walther
Charles Weis
Parmele Williams
Gary Yencich
Stephanie Ziemer
SUSTAINER
($250-$499)
Tim Accurso
Julia Barnett
Isabel Bayrakdarian
Mr. Robert Benham
Peter and Linda Beuret
Chris Brock
Ms. Agatha Carubia
Artis Chamberlin-Pattison
Sharon and John Dobson
Steve Epstein
Drs. Peter C. Ford and Mary Howe-Grant
Robin Hennessy
Richard Hughes
Lois Kaplan
Peter Kazaras
Bruce Klores
Nick and Voula Konidaris
Dr. and Mrs. Fima Lifshitz
Russ and Pam Lombardo
Mr. John Mithun and Ms. Mercedes Millington & The Mithun Family Foundation
Judith Muller
Pauline Paulin
Lynne Ramsey
Susan Renfrew
Mr. Raymond Riezman
Roger and Dory Rindge
Dr. Paula Rudolph
Albert and Anne Santorelli
Anitra Sheen
Debra Stewart
Irene & Robert Stone
Samantha N. Stout
Mary Jo Swalley
Danae Theofanous
Marylove Thralls and Michael Hackett
CONTRIBUTOR
($100-$249)
Elaine Janson
Nir and Gaja Hubbard Kabaretti
Anonymous
Dr. Ronald Karzel
Harry Kazali
Lynette Klawon
George Konstantinow & Helene Segal
Kate Leary
Christie R. Lloyd
Julie Lopp
Amy Marshall
Kathleen McCabe-Martin
Cecily McDougall
PATRONS OF THE OPERA
Della and Art McKinster
Peggy Merizalde
Ms. Ann Millican
Kerry Mistretta
Mrs. Jean Nell
Diane Noel
Jean Palmer-Daley
Philip Plough
Mr. Kostis Protopapas
Christina Ramsey
Judith Rice
Dr. Daniel Rimkus
Robert E. Ronus
Ray Saturnino
Adrian Spence
Randy Stephens and Darrolyn Fennelly
William & Carlotte Theeringer
Drs. Jack Tiethof and Anita Sy
Bicky Townsend
Raymond and Ursula Tracy
Philip Trevezas
Arthur Turnier
Jeanne Ullom
Marilyn Wales
Ms. Candace White
Mr. & Mrs. James Wolfe
Charles Wylie
Julija Zonic
MacFarlane, Faletti & Co., LLP
FRIENDS
(UNDER $100)
Mrs. Joan Agress
Arlington Financial Advisors, LLC
Liseth Bejar
Megan Bell
James Benham
Daniel & Karen Bergen
Anandamoy Bhattacharjie
John and Hazel Blankenship
Sarah Boyajian
Susan Bredhoff
Ms. Jehanne Brown
Don Broydes
Mary Ann Campbell
Frances L. Casher
Dr. and Mrs. David Chernof
Ms. Marian Chuan
Nichol Clark
Anne Marie Claydon
Mr. Gerald Corrigan
Sharon Crane
Lance Crawford
Telma Dawallo
Cheryl Anne De Bari Schaible
Barbara Dixon
James Dougherty
Marilyn Dove
Nina Dunbar
Marilyn Ebbin
Mr. & Mrs. Bill Felstiner
Maureen Fletcher
Betty Fussell
Mary & Blas Garza
Annette Goena
Ms. Kendra Green
Nancy C Greep
Pamela Gunther
Pam Harman
Ms. Carolyn Holmquist
Mr. & Mrs. David Hybert
Mr. & Mrs. Palmer Jackson Jr.
Elaine Janson
Joan Julius
Nir and Gaja Hubbard Kabaretti
Dr. Ronald Karzel
Harry Kazali
Colleen M. Kelly
Mrs. Lynn P. Kirst
George Konstantinow & Helene Segal
Ms. Vale Laraia
Julie Lopp
Kandy Luria-Budgor
Amy Marshall
Amy Mayfield
Kathleen McCabe-Martin
PATRONS OF THE OPERA
Cecily McDougall
Martin G. McKenzie
Lisa Medlen
Frank Migliazza
Kerry Mistretta
Dr. & Mrs. Mead Northrop
Ms. Mary Orcutt
Ms. Kathryn Organ
Jean Palmer-Daley
Peter Parziale
Dr. Marilyn K. Perry
Philip Plough
Judith Rice
Dr. Daniel Rimkus
Patricia Rodriguez
Omar Rodriguez
Judith and Michael
Florence J. Sanchez
Gabriel Sears
Amy Smiley
Mr. & Mrs. Alan Smith
Douglas Steigerwald
Randy Stephens and Darrolyn Fennelly
Bicky Townsend
Marilyn Wales
Ms. Candace White
John Wilner
Garrett Wiseman
Marjorie Woodruff
Valerie Yoshimura
Listings reflect cumulative donations from July 1, 2022 - January 18, 2024. Kindly notify the Opera office of any errors or omissions.
THANK YOU TO OUR HOUSING DONORS
Rodney Baker
Ed Bookin
Veronique Chevalier
Betsy Gallery
Marilyn Gilbert
Dominique Hannaux at Secret Garden Inn
Christine Holland
Julie Lopp
Robert Ramey
SPECIAL THANKS
Secret Garden Inn
Conway Family Wines
Longoria Wines
Opera Santa Barbara is a proud member of
Time Honored Montecito Living
“Casa Dorinda combines the magic of a historic estate, a lively social scene, and unparalleled private healthcare. Peace of mind has never been so inviting.”
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Local Photographer: Zach Mendez