Richard Strauss: Der RosenkavalierINFINITY HALL, HartfordDec. 4, 2014

Fully Staged Opera Production
with the Connecticut Lyric Opera

In commemoration of the 150th anniversary of the birth of Richard Strauss, Connecticut Lyric Opera and the Connecticut Virtuosi Chamber Orchestra present the Connecticut premiere of Der Rosenkavalier. The bittersweet comic opera by Richard Strauss and librettist Hugo von Hofmannsthal muses over the passing of time and love, and contains some of the composer’s most lyrical and enchanting music. Featuring the Connecticut Virtuosi Chamber Orchestra conducted by Adrian Sylveen, stage direction by Christopher Browner, and lavish costumes and scenery. Sung in German with projected English supertitles.

Octavian – Kerry Gotschall
The Marschallin – Kathleen Callahan-Hardman
Baron Ochs – Christopher Grundy
Sophie von Faninal – Katrina Holden
Herr von Faninal – Samuel Bowen
Marianne – Christi McLain
Annina – Heather Petri
An Italian singer – Daniel Juarez
Valzacchi – Steven P. Hoagland
A notary – Dean Murphy
Three noble orphans – Heather O’Connor, Allison Lindsay, Emily Hueske
A milliner – Schauntice Marshall
A vendor of pets – Spencer Hamlin
An innkeeper – Brendan Buckley
Faninal’s Major-Domo – Fred Goff
A police inspector bass – David Cannedy
The Marschallin’s Major-Domo – Fred Goff

Artistic Director & Conductor – Adrian Sylveen
Executive Director – Matthew Thomas Burry

Creative Team:
Artistic Director – Adrian Sylveen
Production Manager, Matthew Thomas Burry
Dramatic Consultant – Christopher Stephen Browner
Set Designer, Adrian Sylveen & Chris Podkowiak
Props Master & Stage Manager – Ruth O’Connor
Chorusmaster, Dara Blackstone
Rehearsal Pianists, Nathaniel Baker, Blake Hansen

CT Lyric Opera Chorus:
soprano: Mary Pereira , Cecile Thompson, Heather O’Connor, Allison Lindsay, Janani Sridhar
alto: Dianne Bachmansky, Rebecca Batista, Emily Hueske, Isabella Zagare
tenor: Chris Browner, Fred Goff
bass: John Deredita,James Fagin, Blake Hansen

Kerry Gotschall , is excited to return this season with CLO after performing as Der Trommler in Der Kaiser von Atlantis. This past summer she was seen as Elizabeth Adams in the premiere of The Boston Tea Party Opera at The Fringe Festival in NYC. Ms. Gotschall was seen recently with Bronx Opera in La Gazza Ladra (Lucia) and in Opera Slavica’s Iolanta (Marta). With Seagle Music Colony she has performed Little Women (Jo) and Cosi von tutte (Dorabella). She was also recently involved in Madama Butterfly with Kansas Concert Opera (Suzuki). NYC credits include productions with dell’Arte Opera Ensemble as well as New York Lyric Opera Theatre (Witch in Hansel and Gretel; La Principessa in Suor Angelica; Le prince charmant in Cendrillon). Originally from Houston, Texas, she received her Masters degree at University of Kansas where she performed in L’enfant et les sortileges (L’enfant), Street Scene (Mrs. Olsen), La Traviata (Annina), Patience (Lady Saphir), and various scenework. She also holds a BM from LSU and has most recently studied under Caroline Worra and Joyce Castle.

Kathleen Callahan-Hardman is delighted to sing the role of the Feldmarschallin in CLO’s 2014 production of “Der Rosenkavalier. Recently, Kathleen sang the role of Cio-Cio San in CT Lyric Opera’s production of “Madama Butterfly”. The 2013-2014 season also included a recital “The Songs I first Loved” at St. Cyril’s of Methodius in Hartford, being the featured soprano with the Opera Theater of CT’s Wine, Women and Song Gala. In October, Kathleen was soprano soloist in Mozart’s “Requiem” with the CT Virtuosi Orchestra at St. Joseph’s Cathedral. Kathleen has performed at Carnegie Hall as the soprano soloist in Mozart’s “Requiem” and Rutter’s “Magnificat”, conducted by John Rutter. She has sung holiday concerts with the New Haven Symphony Orchestra, The Santa Fe Opera, and The Juilliard Holiday Club. Kathleen was the soprano soloist in Faure’s “Requiem” at the Hofkirche St. Leodegar in Lucerne. She has sung concerts with the Richard Tucker Foundation, the Santa Fe Opera, the Metropolitan Opera Guild, the Licia Albanese- Puccini foundation, the Gotham City Chamber Opera and the Ferris-Burtis Foundation. Ms. Callahan-Hardman performed the Brahms’ “Liebeslieder Waltzes” with the renowned piano duo, Popov and Vona. A lover of art song, Kate had the pleasure of premiering “The Emily Dickenson Songs” by Larry Alan Smith at the Woodstock Fringe Festival. Ms. Callahan-Hardman has performed with many opera companies, including the Santa Fe Opera, Aspen Opera Theater, Connecticut Lyric Opera, Opera Theater of Connecticut, Connecticut Grand Opera, Harrisburg Opera, Opera Maine, Longview Opera and the Juilliard Opera Theater. In July of 2013 she was the soprano soloist with the Vallis Musicae Choir on a tour of Ireland. In recent years, Kate was the featured soloist in the West Hartford Symphony Orchestra’s Christmas Gala as well as the soprano soloist in Beethoven’s “Chorale Fantasy” with the WHSO and the Eastern CT State University Choir. Among other first place awards, awards, Kate was the Top Prize winner in the prestigious Gerda Lissner Competition. Ms. Callahan-Hardman was the second place winner of the New York Region, Metropolitan Opera Council Auditions. Kate was the recipient of the Santa Fe Opera grant for “promising apprentice”. Kathleen received a B.M. from Eastman and an M.M. from Juilliard. Kathleen studied Art Song at the Marlboro Music Festival with the late Swiss tenor, Ernst Haeffliger and Ken Noda of the Metropolitan Opera. She apprenticed with Santa Fe Opera for 2 years and spent 2 summers at the Aspen Music Festival. Future engagements include soprano soloist in the West Hartford Symphony’s Christmas Gala and the role of Mimi in CT Lyric Opera’s production of “La Boheme”. Kathleen is a voice teacher and the cantor/choral section leader at St. Thomas the Apostle Church in West Hartford where she lives with her husband, Ray Hardman and their 2 darling boys.

Christopher Grundy, baritone, has been hailed as a “rising star…who brought eloquence and musicality to the performance.” (reichelrecommends.com) A magnetic performer, as Don Giovanni he “made an impact in the part, vocally and dramatically.” (Bloomington Herald-Times) Other operatic roles include Count Danilo (Merry Widow), Aleko (Aleko), Alfieri (View from the Bridge), Smirnov (The Bear), Dr. Falke (Die Fledermaus) and Dr. Gachet (Vincent—world premiere). On one week’s notice he learned the lead baritone role for the world premiere of Decameron with the International Opera Theater of Philadelphia: “the baritone Christopher Grundy, stepping in just days before the premiere, in the lover roles, sometimes with lengthy soliloquy, gives no less than a heroic performance.” (Philadelphia Edge) Christopher performed the baritone solos in an 11/11/11 memorial concert of Benjamin Britten’s War Requiem alongside tenor Stanford Olsen and soprano Carol Vaness with the American Festival Orchestra and Chorus in Salt Lake City. His other concert appearances include Handel Esther (Amor Artis), Duruflé Requiem, Bach Magnificat and Vaughan Williams Fantasia on Christmas Carols (Fairfield County Chorale), the 30th Anniversary “Colonial Concert” (Orchestra New England), Haydn Große Orgelsolomesse (Great Neck Choral Society) and Charpentier Te Deum (St. Patrick’s Cathedral, New York) and Mahler Kindertotenlieder. A passionate advocate of song and chamber music, Christopher has given frequent recitals across the United States of repertoire spanning seven centuries. He is currently collaborating with composer and pianist Neely Bruce in a series of recitals of the songs of Neely Bruce, and will premiere “The North Ship,” Bruce’s new work for baritone, flute and string quartet. He performs often with pianist William Braun with programs including Schubert’s Schwanengesang and mélodies of Debussy and Poulenc. Christopher has a particular interest in music of the 20th Century, and champions the vocal works of Ferruccio Busoni, Alban Berg, Othmar Schoeck and Georgii Sviridov. Christopher holds an M.M. from Indiana University, where he studied with Wolfgang Brendel, and a B.A. from Yale University, where he was the Assistant Conductor of the Yale Russian Chorus and the Yale Glee Club. Before attending graduate school, Christopher was a professional helicopter pilot and flight instructor. He has experience in Sikorsky, Eurocopter, Bell and Robinson helicopters.

Katrina Holden blends a silvery lyric voice with a love of words that permeates her performances. Described as a “dramatic” performer with a “strong voice” by The Boston Theatre Review, she performs extensively throughout New England in opera and in recitals throughout the country. Katrina has appeared with numerous companies, including Boston Lyric Opera, Odyssey Opera, MetroWest Opera, Opera del West, Boston Opera Collaborative, and La Musica Lirica. Her performance in the title role of Massenet’s Cendrillon with MetroWest Opera was praised as “mesmerizing” and “impossible to ignore” (dedereviewsmusic.com). Previous recent seasons saw Katrina on the Boston stage in the tragic role of Beth in Mark Adamo’s opera Little Women, and reprising the role of Musetta in La Bohème after having first performed it in Novafeltria, Italy. Other stage roles include Frasquita in Carmen, Countess Charlotte in A Little Night Music, Mlle Silverpeal in The Impresario, (cover), and Mabel in The Pirates of Penzance. She has also toured in Austria as Erste Dame in a concert version of Die Zauberflöte with the AIMS Festival Orchestra under the baton of Edoardo Müller.
Katrina has a special love for German lieder and has sung numerous German-focused recitals as part of the “Music in the Woods” recital series in Danvers, MA, as well as in the Schumann Liederfest Series of Jamaica Plain, MA. She also has extensive experience in early consort music, and in 2010, she toured as soprano soloist with the chamber group “Night’s Blackbird” in a recital series featuring the work of Renaissance composer John Dowland. In sacred work, highlights include the soprano solos in Handel’s Messiah, Bach Christmas Oratorio, and upcoming this season, in Britten’s Ceremony of Carols. Born and raised in Woodbridge, CT, Katrina was a 2012 Finalist in the Jenny Lind competition in Bridgeport, CT. Katrina graduated with her Master of Music in Vocal Performance from The New England Conservatory. She received her Bachelor of Arts in Music and English from Muhlenberg College where she was the recipient of the Dorothy and Dexter Baker Foundation Award in the Performing Arts and won first place in the Class of 1969 Recital Competition. She currently studies with Elisabeth Phinney. Off the stage, Katrina is married to tenor Brendan P. Buckley, and they frequently perform together in concert. For more information, please visit: www.katrinaholden.com.

Samuel-Bowen – bio

Soprano Christi McLain will be making her New England debut this Fall as Marianne in Strauss’ Der Rosenkavalier with Connecticut Lyric Opera and was recently selected as a finalist for Connecticut Concert Opera’s American Opera Idol competition. Before relocating to Connecticut, Dr. McLain received her Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Voice Performance from Arizona State University, where her research primarily focused on musical settings of Willa Cather’s texts by composer Libby Larsen. Dr. McLain received her Bachelor of Music degree from the University of Nebraska—Lincoln where she sang numerous roles including Papagena (Die Zauberflöte), Gianetta (L’Elisir d’Amore) and covered the role of Sr. Constance (Dialogues des Carmélites). Most recently, she was the featured soloist with the Phoenix Symphony during the 2012-2013 season. She was also featured in Brahms’ Ein Deutsches Requiem with the ASU Symphony & Combined Choruses. In 2011, she sang the role of Susanna in ASU’s production of Le Nozze di Figaro and also participated in Arizona Opera’s cover study program, singing the role of Liù in Turandot. Dr. McLain has performed throughout Europe including Germany, Austria, Ireland, and Luxembourg.

American contralto, Heather Petrie performs and records frequently with choral ensembles in Manhattan, including Musica Sacra, Voices of Ascension, and Sacred Music in a Sacred Space. In addition to Etherea’s debut CD, Ceremony of Carols, Heather’s discography includes Joyful!, a gospel/jazz interpretation of the Psalms by Pete Malinverni, and Sure On This Shining Night, an album of Morten Lauridsen’s choral pieces recorded with Voce at the request of the composer. On the opera stage, Heather has portrayed the Witch in Hansel and Gretel, Marcellina in Le nozze di Figaro, Flora in La Traviata, Larina in Eugene Onegin, Miss Todd in The Old Maid and the Thief, Baba in The Medium, and Arnalta in L’incoronazione di Poppea. She has also toured South Korea extensively with her husband, guitarist and producer David Veslocki. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Voice from Bard College and a Master of Music in Opera Performance from SUNY Purchase Conservatory.

Tenor Daniel Juárez is becoming well known to New England opera audiences, having appeared in the past few seasons with Connecticut Lyric Opera, MetroWest Opera, Western Connecticut State University Opera Studio, and in various recital and concert venues throughout the region. The Day of New London, CT said of his performance of Erik in The Flying Dutchman: “Juárez almost stole the show Saturday, his full-throated tenor filing the hall with anger and frustration…” The Town Times of Middletown, CT said of his Don Jose in Carmen: “…the real revelation of the evening was tenor Daniel Juárez as Don Jose… he flooded the theater with big, burnished, baritonal sounds, a powerful top, and plenty of gut-wrenching passion…” The Day of New London, CT described his performance in Carmen as “a riveting evening of musical drama by tenor Daniel Juárez” and further noted, “His growing vocal ardor, a smooth and powerful tenor well-suited to this French material, and stagecraft through the final two acts . . . were character development writ large. From the Act 2 aria “La fleur que tu m’avais jetée” through the impassioned duets that followed to the finale, Juárez was the evening’s emotional epicenter.” Mr. Juárez has also been featured as the tenor soloist in a number of oratorio and concert performances, including Handel’s Messiah, Mozart’s Requiem and Vesperae Solennes de Confessore, J.S. Bach’s Magnificat, Ariel Ramirez’ Misa Criolla, Schütz’ Sieben Worte Jesu Christi am Kreuz. Of a performance of Rossini’s Stabat Mater the New Canaan News said: “The most spectacular of the arias was “Cujus Animam,” which takes the tenor soloist to a stratospheric high d-flat. Dan Juárez made it look easy. He has a full dramatic sound, somewhat dark, but flexible, undaunted by Rossini’s demands that took him all over his range.” Mr. Juárez is a graduate of the Yale University School of Music. He is a former Minnesota Opera Studio Artist and former finalist in the Southwest Region Metropolitan Opera National Council auditions. Mr. Juárez will return to the CLO stage later this season as the poet Rodolfo in Puccini’s La Bohème.

Steve Hoagland is a Tenor based outside New York City. A 2009 graduate of SUNY Fredonia, he most recently appeared as Tamino in the Connecticut Virtuosi Summer Music Institute’s presentation of Mozart’s, Die Zauberflotte. Steve was also a Chorister with San Diego Opera in their 2013-2014 season consisting of Pagliacci, L’Elisir d’Amore, Un Ballo in Maschera, Don Quichotte, and Verdi’s Requiem. Steve also worked as a Chorister with New York City Opera in their final season (2013) appearing in Mosè in Egitto, La Périchole as well as the North American premier of Turnage’s , Anna Nicole. Steve has also been a featured soloist in several churches in the Danbury area. Most notably in the role of San Ignacio in the Connecticut premier of Domenico Zipoli’s, San Ignacio de Loyola: Opera de las misiones jesuiticas. This marks Steve’s first appearance with Connecticut Lyric Opera.

Dean Murphy, a baritone from Maynard, MA, graduated from The Hartt School in May 2014 with a Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance. At Hartt, he has sung Tobias in The Hotel Casablanca, Frank in Die Fledermaus, and, most recently, Frank Maurrant in Street Scene, an American opera. In June 2013, he made his debut with Hartford Opera Theater as Gideon March/Mr. Dashwood in Little Women. In November 2013, he sang Brighella in The Little Harlequinade with Connecticut Concert Opera, where he is a Resident Artist. Dean was a participant in Martina Arroyo’s Prelude to Performance Young Artist Program, where he covered the role of Belcore in L’elisir d’Amore.

American soprano Heather O’Connor has been described as having a luminous voice, and brilliant stage presence. She has sung extensively in oratorio and opera, and has performed through out New England with various opera companies, and symphonies. Performed in such concert halls as Carnegie Hall, Symphony Hall, Tanglewood, and Jordan Hall. Recent performances have included; Handel’s Messiah, Bizet’s Carmen, Puccini’s Suor Angelica, Beethoven’s Missa Solemnis, Porgy and Bess, La Belle Dame sans Merci, and Magic Flute. Ms. O’Connor has performed all over New England in, Boston, New York, Vermont, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Pennsylvania, and Connecticut. Her recent opera credits includes Frasquita with the Connecticut Lyric opera, Lay Sister in the New York Lyric Opera Theater’s Suor Angelica, La Belle in La Belle Dame san Merci for the Hartford Opera Theater, and Empress Matilda for the Troupers Light Opera Company. Heather O’Connor has been the soprano soloist for the Torrington Symphony Orchestra, multiple Handel’s Messiahs, Vivaldi’s Beatus vir with the Nashua Symphony Orchestra, and Faure’s Requiem. Ms. O’Connor is a returning soloist for the Mort and Ray Production Company in New York. Recently she sang at a tree lighting ceremony in Little Italy with Actor Tony Danza. Heather has also performed Verdi’s Requiem with the Monadnock Chorus where she was the rehearsal soloist. Ms. O’Connor has had the pleasure of working with conductors such as Charles Dutoit, Kurt Masur, Bramwell Tovey, Keith Lockhart, John Greer, Carroll Lehman, John Oliver, and Don Baldini. Jenny Lind Finalists in 2011, and a Merritt Scholarship recipient at the New England Conservatory. Heather was a N.A.T.S finalist in the 2009 competition, as well as vocalist of the year at Keene State also in 2009. Ms. O’Connor completed her Master’s in Vocal Performance at the New England Conservatory of Music, Boston Massachusetts. She holds a Bachelors degree from Keene State College, where she studied with Dr. Carroll Lehman. Her major voice teachers include Mark St. Laurent, Carroll Lehman, and Tay Cope. Ms. O’Connor has also studied under John Moriarty, Cameron Stowe, John Greer, Tim Steele, Greg Smucker, Michael Strauss, Damien Francoeur- Krzyzek, and Daniel Wyneken.

Allison Lindsay is a classical vocalist, both performer and teacher, specializing in concert and operatic repertoire. She holds degrees from both Hofstra University and The Boston Conservatory. Currently, Ms. Lindsay teaches voice and basic piano lessons at Company ‘N Tempo Music, Theater, and Dance Center in Cromwell, CT. In addition, she is currently a Young Artist with Connecticut Lyric Opera for their upcoming season. Ms. Lindsay has a very diverse artistic background, and has experience in working both on and off the stage. An avid dancer in her younger years, she has been a choreographer for multiple musicals and operas. Ms. Lindsay has also had experience with directing. Along with her current position at Company ‘N Tempo, she is the Assistant Director for the studio’s upcoming production of High School Musical. Ms. Lindsay currently resides in Middletown, CT.Long and short program biographies as well as resume and other materials are available under Materials/Media. Ms. Lindsay is also a painter, and selections from her portfolio can be seen under Fine Art.

Schauntice Marshall

SPENCER HAMLIN is a senior at the University of Connecticut studying Vocal Performance with Dr. Constance Rock. He was named a 2011 New England Scholar. His roles while at UConn include Dr. Blind in Die Fledermaus, Mopsa in The Fairy Queen, The Crook in Candide, Frederic in Pirates of Penzance (partial), covering Fritz in last year’s production of The Grand Duchess of Gerolstein, and Judge Danforth in The Crucible.

Tenor Brendan P. Buckley is quickly gaining a reputation as a skilled and sought-after performer. Brendan was recently seen as George Gibbs in Monadnock Music’s production of Ned Rorem’s Our Town and as Howard Boucher in the New England premiere of Jake Heggie’s Dead Man Walking. Brendan has also played the title role in Boston Opera Collaborative’s production of Orpheus in the Underworld as well as covering the title role in Opera Boston’s production of Béatrice et Bénédict. Other notable performances include Fenton in Falstaff and Laurie in Little Women with BOC and Tamino in The Magic Flute with MetroWest Opera. Past performances include Don Basilio in Le nozze di Figaro, Remendado in Carmen and Monostatos in The Magic Flute with BOC, First Tenor in The Seven Deadly Sins with the Five College Opera Project and Alfred in Die Fledermaus with Opera del West. Concert performances include engagements with the Nashua Symphony, Greater New Bedford Choral Society, Choral Art Society of the South Shore, and MIT Symphony Orchestra. A versatile actor and musician, Brendan is at home in both classical and contemporary works. He has premiered a number of new roles, including Dr. Singleton in Rudolf Rojan’s We Are Sons with Guerilla Opera, John in RE: with Juventas! and OperaHub, and Monsieur de Kock in System of Soothing by composer Frank Pesci. Brendan also premiered Music for the Journey, a cantata composed by John Kramer for the Winchester Unitarian Society. Mr. Buckley is a passionate educator, with ten years of experience teaching both adults and children. Brendan is currently a visiting lecturer of voice at Plymouth State University. Outside of Plymouth State, Brendan maintains active studios in the Boston area and serves on the Board of the Boston chapter of the National Association of Teachers of Singing. He also has worked as a Boston Lyric Opera Teaching Artist, and regularly appears on the radio waves as a guest judge for the WERS All A Capella Live! competition. Former students have continued studies at Penn State, Northeastern University, Salem State University, Florida Southern College, and CAP21. Brendan received a Master’s degree in Voice Performance and Pedagogy from The Pennsylvania State University. He received his Bachelor’s degree, cum laude, in Music at The University of Massachusetts-Amherst, with further study at the Scuola Italia in Urbania, Italy. Brendan studies with Elisabeth Phinney. For more information, please visit www.brendanpbuckley.com.

past performances:

November 7, 2014 | Trinity-On-Main Arts Center, New Britain
November 9, 2014 | MHS Performing Arts Center, Middletown
November 14, 2014 | Garde Arts Center, New London