Austin Opera Guild Fall 2017

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2017-2018SEASONATAGLANCEbyMelysaRogen

AustinOpera’s2017-2018Seasonisfilledwiththrillingopera,infamousheroinesandfabulousperformers!Joinusforthreeof themost celebratedoperas in the repertorywhereworld-classartistswillcometogetherwiththetalentedAustinitesthatmake up Austin Opera’s chorus and orchestra in order toprovideanoperaticexperiencecompletelyuniquetoAustin.

The Season begins with a gritty and seductive new take onBizet’s Carmen, starring the stunning mezzo-soprano SandraPiques Eddy. Piques Eddy has been praised for her “dark,sensuous mezzo and charming stage presence” (Opera

Magazine).Thissizzlinghotproductionplacestheclassicstoryoflove,betrayal,andultimatelydeath,in1970.JoiningPiquesEddyonstageistenor,ChadShelton,asDonJosé,thenaïvesoldierwhosuccumbstoCarmen’sadvancestoatragicend.BaritoneNormanGarrettwillstormthestageinhisAustinOperadebutastheToreador.

InJanuary,theOperacontinuestheirsalutetostrongwomenasdueling sopranos Alexandra LoBianco and Jeni Houser retellRichard Strauss’ Ariadne auf Naxos in a whimsical newproduction conceived by Glimmerglass Festival Director,FrancescaZambello.JointheAustinOperaastheytellthestoryofawealthymanwhoassemblestwogroupsofperformersinhis home – a group of opera singers preparing for a seriousopera and a troupe of comedians scheduled to perform anItaliancomedy.Astimegrowsshort, thepatrondemandstheopera and the comedy be performed together, leading to anarrayofunexpected–andultimatelyverysatisfying–results.

Season31closeswithaclassicproductionofVerdi’smostheart-wrenching tale, La traviata, starring Marina Costa-Jackson.Costa-Jackson,whotookfirstplacein2015intheMetropolitanOpera’sNationalCouncilAuditions,willtakethestageinAustinforthefirsttimeasViolettaValéry-acourtesanwhofallsinlovewith the handsome Alfredo. As often happens in opera, theirhappinesscannotlast.

These carefully curated ensembles featuring company debuts,roledebuts,andreturnengagementshavebecomeahallmarkof

RichardBuckley’s13-year tenureatAustinOpera.AstheSarahandErnestButlerArtisticDirectorandPrincipalConductorhehasearnedareputationforidentifyingsomeofthefield’sfinestsingersearlyonintheircareers,providingcareerforgingopportunitiesalongsideexperiencedandestablishedstars.

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NORMANGARRETTBRINGSHISTEAXS-SIZEBARITONETOCARMENbyMichaelSolomon

Texas-bornbaritoneNormanGarrettmakeshisAustinOperadebutinCarmenas Escamillo, the magnetic bullfighter whose charisma instantly captivatesCarmenandwhosepassionultimatelyleadstohertragicdownfall.

EscamilloisbecomingasignatureroleforGarrett,whohasperformedtheroleatWolfTrapOpera,atOperaColumbus,andinhisnativeLubbock.

“Ilovesingingthisrole,”hetellsTheLibretto.“Nootherroleinoperahashiskind of instant impact.When I makemy entrance, charging into the roomsingingthefamous‘ToreadorSong,’theaudienceknowseverythingaboutme.AndhopefullyIseducethem,alongwithCarmen!”

Garrett,whohasbeenprofiledinOperaNewsasarisingstar,beganhiscareeratTexasTechUniversity,wherehemajoredinvocalperformance,followedby

study at the University of Cincinnati’s College-Conservatory of Music (CCM) and in the young-artistprogramsatTheGlimmerglassFestivalandWashingtonNationalOpera.HiscareerhastakenhimasfarastheprestigiousWexfordFestivalinIreland,wherehestarredinthetitleroleinFrederickDelius‘srarelyperformedoperaKoangatothunderousinternationalacclaim.

Butdespitehisglobaltravels,hisheartremainsinhishomestate.“AustinismyfavoritecityinTexas,”hesays.“IhavealotoffamilyinAustin,andAustinwasalwaysavacationspotforuswhenIwasgrowingup.I’m really looking forward to comingbackonmyown termsandexploring. This time I’ll bring a littleEscamillotothescene.”

So,itseemsthatAustinOperaaudiencesshouldlookoutforthatNormanGarrettswaggerbothonandoffthestage.

10/8 NewMemberParty Melanson-NokonahPartyRoom10/21 KickOffParty John&CorneliaWood11/1 Carmen Enrichment CurbyConoley11/11 Carmen OpeningNightDinner KodoskyLounge12/2 HolidayParty Roger&MaryEllenBorgelt1/17 AriadneaufNaxos EnrichmentEvent Hugh&CathyCollins1/27 AriadneaufNaxos OpeningNightDinner KodoskyLounge2/17 SerenataWineDinnerandAuction FairmontHotelAustin4/18 Latraviata EnrichmentEvent Steve&PollyBarbaro4/28 Latraviata OpeningNightDinner KodoskyLounge5/20 SpringAwardsParty Stuart&PaulaDamore

GuildCalendar2017-2018

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JEANETTEANDFERRISNASSOUR–ALASTINGLEGACYbyAngieBonnici

JeanetteandFerrisNassourweredevotedtomakingAustinamorevibrantcitythroughtheirsupportofthearts.Aslong-timeAustinresidentsandfoundingmembersofAustinLyricOpera,theNassoursweregeneroussupporters,sponsoringmanyproductionsovertheyearsanddevotingtheirtimeandtalentsasmembersoftheAustinLyricOperaGuild.

OneofJeanette’sgreatestcontributionstoAustinwasherexceptionaleyeforbeautifulthings–makinghertheperfectpartyplanner.Overtheyears,withherdearestfriendEllenKing,SheservedasCo-VPofspecialeventsfortheGuild,co-chairingnumerousSeasonOpeningNightDinners,theOperaBall,andtheDivas,Dinners&Diversionsseries.ShealsoparticipatedinAnnualFundphonathons,GuildmembershipdrivesandthePresident’sCouncilcommitteeactivities.Ferris,inhiskindandgentleway,wasalwaysbyherside,lendingsupportandencouragement.

Appreciativeofhervolunteerefforts,theGuildpresentedJeanettea1992BravoAwardforherservicesasoutstandingGuildmemberoftheyear.ShealsoreceivedaPartnersinExcellenceAwardfromOperaGuild’s International in 1998, which is presented to outstanding guild members in opera companiesthroughoutthecountry.

Jeanette and Ferris Nassour’s support during their lifetime helpedmake Austin Opera the successfulcompanyitistoday.AustinOperaisextremelyhumbledthattheNassourschosetoleavethecompanytheylovedalastinglegacythroughanincredibleestategiftofover$1.7milliondollars,thelargestgiftever received in the company’s history. This unrestricted donationwill enable AustinOpera to fundinnovationandexpansioninourprogrammingscopeoverthenextseveralseasons.

It is the Austin Opera’s privilege to dedicate the 2017-2018 Season to the Nassours, and because ofJeanette’s love of entertaining, to permanently name the pre-opera dinners The Jeanette NassourOpeningNightDinnerSeries.

You can earn donations for Austin Opera when you shop at Amazon.com. Simply go tosmile.amazon.comanduseyourAmazonlog-in.Onceyoulog-in,selectAustinOperaasthecharityyouwanttosupportand0.5%ofyourtotalwillgotoAustinOperaasadonation.There’snodifferenceinshoppingatsmile.amazon.comversusamazon.comandthereisnoadditionalcosttoyou!

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SERENATA2018:SAVETHEDATE!byDianaFerguson

The2017-2018Seasonisabouttoopen,andtheWineDinnercommitteeisalreadyhardatworkpreparingforthisseason’smajorfundraiser,ourannualSerenataWineDinnerandAuction,aneventthatcouldeasilynetAustinOperamorethan$250,000.

Thisyear’seventwillbeheldonSaturday,February17,atthefabulous,newFairmontHotelAustinwhichboastsaballroomlargeenoughtoaccommodatemoregueststhanwe’vebeenabletoseatatpastevents.

Thisyear’sthemeisLibiamo!thefamousdrinkingsongfromLatraviata,thisyear’sthirdopera.ThelookwillbeItalian,sleek,andlinear,withicebluebeingthethemecolor.So,Ladies,beginlookingforyourdressnow!

HonoreeswillbeourownWendiKushner(PastChairmanoftheAustinOperaBoard)andhusbandBrian,whohavecontributedsomuchtoAustinOperaandourcommunity.

Wehopeyou’llwanttoparticipateinhelpingmakethisyear’seventastunningsuccess.Weneedalotofwillinghandstohelpcollectauctionitems,prepareinvitationsformailing,decorate/cleanup,andworkthefloorthenightoftheevent.Truly,thereissomethingforeveryGuildmembertodo.PleasecontacteitherMarilynDavisorCarolLogantofindouthowyoucanhelpmakethisyear’seventasmashingsuccess.

And,wehopeyou’llmakeacontributiontoAustinOperabyattending.Therewillbesomethingforeveryonetoenjoy:gourmetdinnerwithexcitingwinepairingsbyTwinLiquors,theliveandsilentauctions,entertainmentandastunningvenuefewAustiniteshaveseenyet.ItwillbeaneveningbefittingAustinOpera.Please,getthisonyourcalendarandjoinus!

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HEROESHAILEDATGUILDPARTYbyLissaAnderson

TheAustinOperaGuildclosedoutthe30thAnniversarySeasonwithalovelypartyonMay21atthegorgeoushomeofPollyandSteveBarbaro.Theparty’shighlightwas thepresentationofawards to outstanding Guild members. Lissa acknowledged the list had been considerablywhittleddownfrompreviousyears,butthatdidn’tmeanthecontributionsofmany,manyothervolunteersarenotappreciated,becausetheyare.

Totheawards:LissacharacterizedtherecipientsofCertificatesofAppreciationasatriumvirateofparty-givingorthepartypossebecausetheydon’tmessaround;theyjustgetitdone.

• MaryLenznotonlyorganizesthebuffet,butshe’llmeetyouatthedoorwithtapeandSharpie tomake sure your name is on the bottomof your dish. She helpswheneverthere’saneed.

• SueHoke isanotherbuffetbosswhocansolvewhatevercrisisoccurs.Yearafteryear,she’stheretomakesureoureventsrunsmoothly.

• EricBrennerisalwaysavailabletotendbarandtohelpinotherways—whetherthat’sintheboxofficeorelsewhere.

• CathyCollinswaspraisedfortakingcareofallthepartydetailsthathadpreviouslykeptLissaawakeat3:00AM.Shealsoco-chairedthesilentauctionforSerenata.

• LarryBjorkmanhaulschairsacrosstown,washesglasses,anddeliverswhateverneedstobesomeplaceelse.Larryalsocontributestothebestartists’welcomebagsinthebusinessandmakingsureallthevisitingartistsareshuttledaboutefficiently.

ThePresident’sSpecialRecognitionawardwenttoKatharineShields.LissadescribedhowshefirstmetKatharinealmost20yearsagowhenshecametoherclassroomandbroughtoperatosomeextremelyrough-edgedstudents.SincethenshehasbeenGuildPresidentandanadvisor.ShehasfulfilledanimportantroleinguidingthediscussionsatourEnrichmentevents—providingcontext,connections,andvaluableinsights.SheevenhadthechutzpahtoarguewithGarnettBruceaboutwhetherPinkertonactuallylovedButterfly!

TheBravoAwardwenttoDianaFerguson.LissaintroducedtheBravoAwardbystatingthatthemost important thing we do is bring music, specifically opera, to thousands of area schoolchildrenandsomeoftheirparents—manyofwhomhadneverattendedaconcertofclassicalmusic,muchlessanopera,intheirlives.Thisseason,thanksinlargeparttoDiana’sskillsandtalents, we have expanded that outreach dramatically and into new communities, includingSpanish-speaking parents. Diana also writes and edits for the Libretto, serves as an operaambassador,andvolunteersatthewinedinner.

Finally,theGinaDuclouxawardwenttoSuzanneBreitbach.CindyStonedescribedthepersonwhodeservessuchasignificantaward--someonewhoisalwaysanenthusiasticsupporteroftheopera,whobringsnewpeople intotheoperacommunity,whohascontributedinmanywaysover theyears,andwhorepresents theoperacommunitywith styleandgrace.SuzannewasunabletoattendthepartybutreceivedhercrownandscepterattheBoard’stransitionmeetingonJune4.

Congratulationstoalltheawardwinners!Yourcontributionsaredeeplyappreciated.

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VOLUNTEEROPPORTUNITIESWITHGUILDbyMackLindsey

Lookingtovolunteer?That’swhattheGuildisherefor,andwevalueyourhelpinmanydifferentways!Doyouhaveexpertise,creativity,orjustalittletime?Wehaveneedsthatinvolveactivitywithgroups,athome,attheOperaoffice,inthecommunity,andatevents,evenoperaperformances.Andweneedyourhelpinseveraldifferentfunctionalareas.Forthese,checkoutaustinopera.org/guild/volunteer.

Tolearnmoreaboutanyoftheseopportunities,ortofindoutaboutupcomingneeds,contactLorieImkenatla.imken@gmail.comorMackLindseyatmclindsey75@gmail.org.

EDUCATIONALOUTREACHNEEDSYOU!byPaulaDamoreandDianaFerguson

ThescopeofwhatEducationalOutreach(EO)doesisexpanding.And,weneedeverymemberwhohasanyinterestinhelpingAustinOperareachouttotheAustincommunitytobuildawareness.

UnderthecapablehandsofDebraErck,DirectorofEducation,EOnowhandles4needs,3ofthemnew:

Ongoingneed:

Docentsforpresentationsinschools.Foreachpresentation,weneedateamoftwo:

Presenter(weneedonebilingualperson,please)

Support person toman the PowerPoint presentation and assist thepresenter

Teamsmustbeavailableduringnormal schoolhours&beadeptatworkingwithkids.

Newneeds:

Ambassadors forAccessOpera,Masterclassevents, andanyother similarevent.Mostlyeveningandweekendwork.Beabletomeetandgreetattendeeswithease.

Caretakers of Austin Opera ‘s “Treasure Chests” (travel-trunk sized chests filled with materials forteacherstouseintheclassroom)TwohoursmonthlyintheAustinOperaofficesduringregularhours.Inventory&replenisheachchest.

EducatorAppreciation.WorkwithDebratodevelopaprogramtorecognize&thankteacherswhohavebroughtstudentstoAccessOpera.Threetimesyearly(aftereachopera)intheAustinOperaofficesduringregularhours.Goodwritingskillsespeciallyneeded.

IfyouwishtohelpAustinOperareachsuccessfully intothecommunity,pleasejoinus. ContacteitherPaulaDamoreorDianaFergusonandletthemknowhowyou’dliketohelpAustinOperagainaudienceshare.

Want toknowmore aboutanupcomingopera? Takea lookat theEducation sectionofAustinOpera’snewwebsitetoseethematerialsDebraErckiscreatingforeachopera.Theyrunthegamutfrombeginnertoadvancedlevels.Carmenisupnow,andthematerialsareespeciallystunning.Takealook!

Makeahabitofreviewingthissectionbeforeeveryproduction.Wethinkyou’llbegladyoudid!

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AUSTINOPERASTAFF–NEWFACESAROUNDTHEOFFICE

NathanDePoint joinedtheAustinOperastaffasDirectorofOperations inJanuary.HecametoAustinOperafromtheFortWorthOperaastheirDirectorofArtisticAdministration.HesupportstheGeneralDirectorandCEOandArtisticDirector,overseeingthecompanyoperations.

Melysa Rogen joined the Austin Opera staff as the Director of Marketing and Communications inFebruary. She came toAustin from the FortWaynePhilharmonic in FortWayne, Indiana, holding thepositionofDirectorofMarketingandPR.Rogenoverseesallmarketingandcommunications.

JenniferDubinjoinedtheAustinOperastaffastheChiefDevelopmentOfficerinApril.DubinpreviouslyservedastheDirectorofIndividualGivingatOperaPhiladelphiaandhasnineyearsofexperienceinoperaadministration.SheoverseesAustinOpera’scontributedincomeoperations.

MichaelSolomonjoinedtheAustinOperastaffasDirectorofAudienceExperienceonSeptember.Thisisanewposition for theAustinOpera,dedicated toadvancing theoverall patronexperience forOperaattendees.SolomonpreviouslyworkedasSeniorPressRepresentativefortheJohnF.KennedyCenterforthePerformingArts,withhischiefclientbeingtheWashingtonNationalOpera,forwhomhemanagedpressforsixseasons.

LauraCarrisosajoinedtheAustinOperastaffasCommunicationsAssociateonSeptember.ShewillhandledaytodayoperationsofAustinOpera’ssocialmediaanddigitalcommunications,aswellasassistwithothermarketingandboxofficeneeds.CarrisosapreviouslyworkedforFacebookandMexic-ArteMuseum.

SharonSparlinjoinedtheAustinOperastaffasAnnualFundManagerinSeptember.SparlinwillhandleAustinOpera’sannualfundcampaignsandcollaborateinotherdevelopmentdepartmenteventsandtheoperations.ShepreviouslyworkedforCASAofTravisCountyandBatConservationInternational.

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LetterfromMarcyMelanson,GuildPresident2017-2018

DearfellowGuildmembers,prospectivemembers,andalloperalovers,

IamsolookingforwardtoourSeason31!Bizet’sCarmen,RichardStrauss’sAriadne auf Naxos and Guiseppe Verdi’s La traviata. We can all revel inanotherfabulousseason.

Guildmemberssharethebondofloveofopera,plusthedesiretoenrichitsmembership in learningmoreaboutoperaandencourageappreciationoftheartforminourcommunity.Weoffermanyandvariedexperiences—alldrivenbyvolunteereffort.Herearesomeexamples:

• Parties-TheGuildhoststhree-partieseachseasonforitsmembers,designedforgettingtoknowoneanotherandfosteringenthusiasmandfun.

• JeanetteNassourOpeningNightDinnerSeriesarebeautifulaffairsorganizedandexecutedbyaGuildcommittee.TheyraisefundsforAustinOperaandareoftensoldout.

• EnrichmentEvents-Eachoperaisprecededbyawonderfuleventhostedinamember’shome.Itis a discussion/interview with the Director to learn about and discuss facets of the opera.Volunteersco-ordinatefood,wine,andsetup.Itisagraciouswaytolearnabouttheup-comingproduction.

• SupportServiceVolunteerspickupoursingers/starsattheairport,welcomingthemintoAustinaswell as ourwarmopera family and provide gift bags of basic needs.We are told that ourwelcomebagsarethebestinthebusiness!

• EducationalOutreachProgramInconjunctionwiththeAustinOperastaff,wehaveaveryactiveprogramtointroducetheartformtochildren—bypresentinginschoolsandbybringingyoungpeopletoattendthedressrehearsalattheLongCenter.

• TheOperaAmbassadorprogramaddsalovelypersonaltouchtotheexperienceoftheevening.Guild members volunteer at each performance to welcome and engage opera-goers inconversation,answeranyquestions,andofferafriendlyexchange.

• Volunteer/staffliaison-organizevolunteersforAustinOperastaff,suchasstuffingenvelopes.

• Serenata,ourannualgala,isthepiècederésistancefortheAustinOperaGuild.Itisanelegantevening,featuringafour-coursedinnerwithwinepairings,intimateoperaperformance,andanirresistibleauctionofpremiumwinesandotherluxuryitems.ItisthebiggesteventthattheGuildputs on. There are lots of wonderful volunteer opportunities leading up to and during thisfabulous event. All this and more…. Wonderful support for Austin Opera and wonderfulenjoymentfortheGuildmembers.Iamlookingforwardtogettingtoknoweverymember.

Manythanks,MarcyMelanson