Welcome to our latest AVAround the World blog post, where we take a look at the many accomplishments AVA alumni are achieving across the globe. The holidays are often a busy time for opera singers, from starring in lead roles, to making opera house debuts and performing in concerts, so here’s our wrap-up of what some of our alumni were up to in December.
Many AVA alumni starred in productions of La bohème, which is especially exciting as AVA is preparing for our own production of Puccini’s beloved classic this February. Ticket information can be found by clicking here.
Soprano Joyce El-Khoury (’08) starred as Musetta in the Dutch National Opera’s production of La bohème to glowing reviews. A Dutch news outlet, Cultureelpers, hailed her as taking her role to ‘the extra mile, buzzing like a glass of champagne [and] stimulating all the sense from the first second that she takes to the stage.’
Soprano Ailyn Perez (’06) performed as Mimi in La bohème with Hamburgische Staatsoper in Germany, Dec. 2-16, 2014. Ailyn also sung the role of Mimi opposite Stephen Costello (’07) in AVA’s 2005 production of La bohème.
Two AVA alumni starred together in San Francisco Opera’s production of La bohème. Soprano Ellie Dehn (’06) sang the role of Musetta, and tenor Michael Fabiano (’09) sang Rodolfo.
Michael also performed the role in The Metropolitan Opera’s production of La bohème, to which The New York Observer stated that “a star is born” after his arresting performance. He was also named one of Voix des Arts “Best Artists of 2014” and was included in the “Best of Opera 2014” list by The Arts Desk for his performance as Alfredo in La Traviata with the Glyndebourne Festival. This capped a year that also saw him take the Richard Tucker Award – the fifth AVA alumni to take the award in the past six years.
Stephen Costello, himself a Tucker Award winner, also portrayed Alfredo in December, making his house role debut with The Metropolitan Opera.
Baritone Zachary Nelson ('13) made a warm debut this December in The Kingdom of Bahrain singing the title role in Le nozze di Figaro. Look for him next season in San Francisco singing Escamillo in Carmen.
Many AVA soprano alumni were also busy this month. Shelley Jackson (’14) performed as Maid Marian in Robin Hood with Opernhaus Zurich and Chloe Moore (’14) was the soloist in Vivaldi’s Gloria with the NSymphony in C (NJ). Colleen Daly (’09) was a featured soloist with the Maryland Symphony Orchestra for their “Home for the Holidays” concert.
Angela Meade (’09) sang the role of Matilde from Guglielmo Tell with the Teatro Regio Torino Orchestra and Chorus in several cities including Chicago and New York. The New York Times said that her “sumptuous, powerful voice...cut through the sound of the entire orchestra and chorus.”
AVA’s alumni baritones performed in Europe and the US this past month. Musa Ngqungwana ('14) sang in a production of Carmen with the Norwegian National Opera. Christopher Bolduc (’10) made his role debut as Figaro in Il Barbiere di Siviglia at Hessisches Staatstheater Wiesbaden. Todd Thomas (’87) performed with the Florida Grand Opera’s production of Madama Butterfly as Sharpless. Todd also held a concert titled “Home for the Holidays,” featuring both opera classics and holiday-themed songs to benefit his scholarship program, which awards a high school musician each year.
James Morris ('71) made an "unexpected" return to the Metropolitan Opera where "the pre-eminent Wagnerian bass-baritone of recent decades" reprised the role of Hans Sachs in Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg for the last time. "I look upon this as a gift, to be able to do this one more time," he told the New York Times.
Steven LaBrie (’12) performed in a production titled “The Wanderer” featuring music from Schubert’s Die Schöne Müllerin at the Brooklyn Academy of Music. He was also named one of Voix des Arts ‘Best Artists of 2014’, along with fellow alum Michael Fabiano.
Mezzo-soprano Joyce DiDonato (’95) played the title role in Maria Stuarda with Gran Teatre del Liceu. This isn’t Joyce’s first time playing this role; she dazzled in this role this past summer at the Royal Opera House.
Earlier this month, mezzo-soprano Olivia Vote (’12) starred in vocal recital at St. Mary’s College of Maryland titled ‘Lost in the Stars.’
Tenor Bryan Hymel (’08) was busy this December, as he made his Lyric Opera of Chicago debut as Percy in Anna Bolena to excellent reviews. AVA was on hand for a special evening in Chicago with Bryan, second-year soprano Anush Avetisyan and the AVA Worldwide Ambassadors.
Be on the lookout for more alumni news and performances with our AVAround the World series!
If you have any alumni news you would like to share, please let us know at [email protected].
Compiled by AVA Marketing Staff including Camille Mola, Samantha van Adelsberg, Daniel Pantano and Richard A. Doran. If we missed you, it's unintentional - just let us know!
Photo credits: Costello/Pérez La bohème (AVA/Paul Sirochman); Fabiano La bohème (New York Observer); Meade (New York Times); DiDonato (ResMusica.com); Hymel/Avetisyan in Chicago (AVA/Robert W. Lyon)
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