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Event
Cosi fan tutte
Spotlight Concerts presents concert performances of Mozart's comic opera Cosi fan tutte with music direction by Kristin Roach and Nyle Matsuoka. The opera, produced by Spotlight founder and executive director Cindy Sadler, is performed in Italian with piano accompaniment.
Cosi fan tutte, first performed in 1790, is a two-act comic opera by W. A. Mozart and Lorenzo Da Ponte.Cynical philosopher Don Alfonso encourages his young friends Ferrando and Gugliemo to playfully test the fidelity of their sweethearts, the sisters Dorabella and Fiordiligi. Guided by Don Alfonso and aided by the sassy and world-wise maid Despina, they court the ladies, disguised as "Albanians" --- with hilarious and heart-breaking results.
Featured artists are Natalie Cummings (Fiordiligi), Jacquelyn Matava (Dorabella), Rainelle Krause (Despina), Kevin Bryant (Ferrando), Benjamin Cox (Gugliemo), and Stephen Maus (Don Alfonso). All are Spotlight Concerts Emerging Artists, young singers who have completed or nearly completed their formal studies and are embarking on professional careers.
ABOUT SPOTLIGHT CONCERTS
Spotlight Concerts is a newly formed arts organization with a mission of showcasing professional, emerging, and young artists in semi-staged and concert versions of operas or opera highlights throughout Texas and beyond. Local singers enjoy opportunities to appear in publicized performances of roles that advance their careers, while Spotlight's audiences enjoy high-quality, low-cost opera in an intimate setting. Learn more at spotlightconcerts.com.
ABOUT THE ARTISTS
Kristin Roach (Music Director/Conductor) is also music director of Opera Piccola of San Antonio and conductor of the opera program at Texas State University. She has prepared productions for the San Francisco, San Diego, Tulsa, Utah, and San Antonio operas, among many others. Her many conducting credits include La boheme, Cosi fan tutte, Don Pasquale, and The Medium, and she has recently conducted Dido and Aeneas with Opera Piccola and Gianni Schicchi and Buoso's Ghost at TSU. Ms. Roach's recording of chamber works by Miguel del Aguila with Camerata San Antonio, Salon Buenos Aires, was nominated for two Latin Grammy awards. She holds three degrees from Eastman School of Music.
Nyle Matsuoka (Music Director) enjoys a career as a vocal coach and chamber musician. He is currently principal coach and pianist with Austin Opera, where he has worked on productions of Un ballo in maschera and Roméo et Juliette under the direction of Maestro Richard BuckleyUpcoming engagements with Austin Opera include Don Giovanni, Aida, Of Mice and Men, Il barbiere di Siviglia, and a concert of works by Wagner and Strauss. Nyle has also worked with Arizona Opera, Wolf Trap Opera, and the Butler Opera Center at the University of Texas.
Cindy Sadler (General Director/Founder) is an in-demand mezzo-soprano, offering acclaimed recent performances as Orlovsky in Syracuse Opera's Die Fledermaus, Dinah in Piccolo Opera of San Antonio's Trouble in Tahiti, Gertrude in Austin Opera's Romeo & Juliette, and Marcellina in New Orleans Opera's Marriage of Figaro. She is also a well-known teacher, writer, consultant, and stage director, having directed The Crucible, The Ballad of Baby Doe, and Cavalleria rusticana for Spotlight on Opera. She also directed Gianni Schicchi for Opera Idaho and Little Red Riding Hood for Syracuse Opera's Resident Artists. A regularly contributor to Classical Singer, she is widely recognized for her "Ask Erda" advice column. Ms. Sadler travels the country to consult with singers and give "Business of Singing" lectures at renowned young artist programs such as Des Moines Metro Opera. Learn more at www.cindysadler.com, www.thebusinessofsinging.com, and www.mezzowithcharacter.com.
Natalie Cummings (Fiordiligi) was a district winner in the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions for two years and enjoyed the honor of performing on the Metropolitan Opera stage. Other accomplishments include second place in the Mid-Texas Symphony Vocal Competition, finalist in the Bel Canto Scholarship Foundation competition, the Audience Choice award in the Lois Alba Aria Competition, and semi-finalist in the Dallas Opera Guild Competition. Ms. Cummings holds degrees from Illinois Wesleyan University and the University of Texas.
Jaquelyn Matava (Dorabella) recently sang the title role in Dido and Aeneas with Opera Piccola and Jezebel in Mendelssohn's Elijah at the University of Notre Dame alongside Nathan Gunn. Other roles include Cendrillon, Charlotte (Werther), and Marthe (Faust). She has sung with Opera Saratoga and Tanglewood Music Center and was a Regional Finalist in the 2012-13 Met auditions. Jacquelyn holds degrees from the Indiana University and Vassar.
Rainelle Krause (Despina) recently sang Belinda in Dido and Aeneas with Opera Piccola. She was a finalist in the International Mildred Miller Competition in Pittsburgh, a Regional Finalist with the Metropolitan National Council Auditions in New Orleans and St. Louis, and a semi-finalist in the Licia Albanese-Puccini and Gari Foundation competitions. She trains on aerial silks, and a viral video of her singing the Queen of the Night's famous aria from The Magic Flute while performing with them may be seen here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tlUXBTnrHrQ. She holds bachelor's and master's degrees from Indiana University.
Kevin Bryant (Ferrando) is a junior at Southwestern University in Georgetown, where he previously performed this role, as well as Laurie in Little Women and the Defendant in Trial by Jury. He is an alumnus of Spotlight on Opera and the Mediterranean Opera Studio in Parma, Sicily. Mr. Bryant studies with tenor Nicholas Simpson.
Benjamin Cox (Gugliemo) made his professional operatic debut as Wagner in Faust with Austin Lyric Opera. Other roles have included Tom and John in Opera in The Rock's production of Henry Mollicone's The Face on The Barroom Floor. His roles at the University of Texas included John Sorel in Menotti's The Consul and Frank in Die Fledermaus.
Stephen Maus (Don Alfonso) has performed the title role in Le nozze di Figaro, as well as Golaud in Pelléas et Mélisande, Gasparo in Donizetti's Rita, Leporello in Don Giovanni, and Polyphemus in Acis and Galatea. As an oratorio soloist, his credits include Messiah with the Toledo Masterworks Chorale and the St. John Passion. He is enjoying his third season with Austin Opera and will be performing as a Young Artist with Ash Lawn Opera Festival this summer.
www.SpotlightConcertsTX.com
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LocationUnited Christian Church (View)
3500 West Parmer Lane
Austin, TX 78757
United States
Categories
| Kid Friendly: Yes! |
| Dog Friendly: No |
| Non-Smoking: Yes! |
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