“A godly queen to pay
attention to...”

RECENT PERFORMANCES

It was a very busy spring, with more performing crammed into six months than I have had in recent memory. It just proves that one never knows when the next performance is just around the corner.

An Afternoon of Song. It is not common to have the opportunity to perform a program more than once, but last spring I had the privilege of performing the same program (billed as "An Afternoon of Song") on February 15 and 22 and March 1. The Feb. 15 performance was more or less an open dress rehearsal at Philharmonic Hall (83 Hanover Street, Manchester). Many of my students and friends attended. The following Sunday, we appeared at the Park Avenue Congregational Church in Arlington, MA, and on March 1, at the Bedford Library in Bedford, NH. I was honored to have my colleague (and student) Meegan Gagnon appear as a guest artist, performing the beautiful "Song to the Moon" from Dvořák’s opera Rusalka, and also joining me in two of Dvořák’s Moravian Duets. Other composers represented were Handel, Barber, Vaughn-Williams, Mahler and Brody (yes, Jeffrey!) Please see the Engagements page for a photo of Meegan, Jeffrey and me.

April 17, 18 and 19 – Tippett: A Child of Our Time, Manchester Choral Society. Having the opportunity to perform this unique and stirring oratorio by English composer Michael Tippett three times was a truly thrilling experience. Working with a full orchestra and chorus is what it’s all about for me. Dan Perkins, the talented members of MCS (augmented by many young voices from Plymouth State), and my gifted colleagues who rounded out the solo quartet – Tami Petty, Billy Petty and Steven Small – all contributed to a moving and inspiring production. For future MCS events, please see www.mcsnh.org.

June 5, 6 and 7 – Menotti: The Medium, Longwood Opera, Needham, MA. I have been impressed over the years with Scott Brumit’s work with young singers, and several of my students have appeared in Longwood Opera productions. When I learned from Longwood’s music director (a familiar name on this website, Jeffrey Brody) that Longwood was planning Menotti’s The Medium, I told Jeffrey that I was interested in singing the role of Baba, or Madame Flora, the Medium of the title. This one-hour opera is a gripping tale of deceit and horror, and my experience with Scott, Jeffrey and my talented colleagues (Martha Warren, Sol Kim Bentley, Sara Michale Smith, Chad Flynn and Martha’s son Michael Clark as Toby) was artistically rewarding and lots of fun. Please see www.LongwoodOpera.org for information about future Longwood productions. A photo of Sol Kim and me can be found on the Engagements page (Sol Kim played Monica, my daughter – can you see the family resemblance?)

AN EXCITING STUDIO EVENT

We interrupt this yada-yada-yada about my singing activities with news about an opera scenes program I am calling Opera Shorts. Extended scenes from Mozart’s Magic Flute and Verdi’s Rigoletto will be presented in semi-staged form. The "Magic of Mozart" segment will also include scenes from Cosi fan tutte, Die Entführung aus dem Serail and Don Giovanni. Scenes from other operas include Handel’s Giulio Cesare (Julius Caesar), Gilbert & Sullivan’s Pirates of Penzance and Mikado, and ending with Violetta’s "Ah, forse lui/Sempre libera" and the Drinking song (Libiamo) from Verdi’s La Traviata. The following students will participate: Janet Boutin, Meegan Gagnon, Clia Goodwin, Emily Jaworski, Tania Mandzy, Max McGrath, Anne Orio, Rebecca Pulito, Matt Van Wagner, Melany White and Janet Wittenberg. In addition, two local young singers will join us, Amanda Simeone and Derrick Landano. Last but not least, we will have two distinguished guest artists lending their talents in the tenor and bass category, Steven Carpenter, tenor and Fred Furnari, bass. The wonderful Elizabeth Blood will accompany.

Opera Shorts is scheduled for Saturday, September 12 (7:30 pm) at Philharmonic Hall (83 Hanover Street, 4th floor, in Manchester). Admission is $10, and seating is limited. So please contact me at 801-0649 to reserve a seat. Here is the Opera Shorts logo:

STUDIO NEWS

Congratulations to Tania Mandzy, who won first place in Division 5 of the Boston NATS Song & Aria competition last March. This prestigious event draws singers from all over New England, and Tania won in a field of 24 Division 5 singers (6 of whom went on to the finals). I am also proud of my other two singers who competed in Division 5, Meegan Gagnon and Rebecca Pulito. And last but not least, Anna Maria Dwyer stepped up to the plate to accompany Tania at the last minute when the original accompanist, Elizabeth Blood, was not available to play the finals on Sunday evening. I am proud of you all!

Anne Orio and Janet Wittenberg - Mezzo "Sing Off" - On Sunday, April 26, Mezzo-Sopranos Anne Orio and Janet Wittenberg presented a program of songs and arias at the Bedford Presbyterian Church accompanied by Anna Maria Dwyer in a selection of songs and arias ranging from French melodíe to German Lieder to songs of Samuel Barber and William Bolcom.

March 8, 2009 - An Afternoon of Songs and Arias. Meegan Gagnon, soprano, Tania Mandzy, mezzo-soprano, Matt Van Wagner, tenor and Anna Maria Dwyer, pianist, presented a beautiful program of songs and arias at Philharmonic Hall on Sunday afternoon, March 8. Highlights were duets from Lakme and Le Nozze di Figaro; the sublime trio from Cosí fan tutte, and a hilarious rendition of "Warnung" (Warning) sung by Matt. Meegan reprised her beautiful Rusalka aria, as well as "Je veux vivre" from Gounod’s Roméo et Juliette, and Tania’s "Que fais tu, blanche tourterelle?" (Stefano’s aria) from the same opera was an engaging and lively interpretation of this sweet piece. The ladies ended with two of Dvořák’s Moravian Duets. Please see the Studio page for photographs.

HIGHLIGHTS OF 2008

Mozart’s "The Magic Flute" Opera Workshop. On March 8, the Janice Edwards Workshops presented highlights of Mozart’s delightful "Die Zauberflöte" or "The Magic Flute", with all roles cast from the studio, with the exception of Sarastro. This key role was performed by local bass-baritone Mark Andrew Cleveland. Our wonderful accompanist was Kathryn Southworth, and sound effects were creatively supplied by our lovely Third Lady, Anna Maria Dwyer (pan flute, glockenspiel and thunder from a synthesizer, and a real, honest-to-goodness flute, also played by Anna). My students were in top form and performed like the best professionals I have seen in these roles. Please go to the Workshops page for photos.

"Our American Cousin," Northampton Academy of Music, June 20 & 22. This new opera by composer Eric Sawyer had its premiere in March of 2007 in concert form. On June 20 and 22, 2008, at the Academy of Music in Northampton, MA, we presented two fully staged performances. This is truly a gripping and beautifully written account of the Lincoln assassination as told from the perspective of the actors. I once again sang the role of Lady Mountchessington, who, along with her daughter Gussie, are the only named characters from the actual play. This project was produced under the auspices of the Boston Modern Orchestra Project, Gil Rose, conductor. Opera Boston’s artistic director Carol Charnow was the stage director.

Links to Longwood Opera, Manchester Choral Society and BMOP can be found on my LINKS page.