Il Postino

By Daniel Catán

Performed at the Lobero Theatre
March 7, 2020 7:30 pmMarch 8, 2020 2:30 pm

His job was to simply deliver the mail. But when the poor and uneducated Mario meets Chilean exile and poet, Pablo Neruda, his life is forever changed. Set in the 1950s on a small island off the coast of Italy, Catán’s stunning score soars against a backdrop of political and spiritual conflict. Mario is in love with a beautiful woman and asks Neruda for help in finding the words to win her heart. The pair develop a friendship and as it grows, so does Mario’s capacity for words–from metaphors about love, to poetry with political gravity. The postman’s devotion to the poet alters the course of this story and the generations to come.

Kostis Protopapas conducts. Crystal Manich, last with OSB for The Cunning Little Vixen, returns to direct. Raúl Melo makes his OSB debut as the poet and Daniel Montenegro last seen in 2011’s Trouble in Tahiti as the titular postman.

Direction

Kostis Protopapas

Kostis Protopapas

Kostis Protopapas was named General Director of Opera Santa Barbara in December 2017, after two-and-a-half seasons as Artistic Director. 

During his time as Artistic Director and principal conductor, Kostis brought a unified vision to OSB’s musical and production values, strengthening the orchestra and chorus, engaging some of the country’s most promising young directors and singers, building a high-performing production team, and increasing focus on contemporary American opera. As General Director Kostis assembled a team of enthusiastic overachievers with a passion for innovation and the desire to strengthen the company’s bond with the community, who consistently deliver programs and communications far greater than what can be expected from the size of the company.

Performance highlights from Kostis’ tenure include grand opera classics like Madama Butterfly, Manon, and Eugene Onegin as well as contemporary works like Daniel Catan’s Il Postino, the mariachi opera Cruzar la cara de la luna,  and Robert Ward’s The Crucible, which the Santa Barbara Independent called “one of the season’s most exciting performances of any kind in Santa Barbara”.

Between March 2020 and June 2021, under Kostis’ leadership Opera Santa Barbara remained active and fully staffed.  It was the first performing arts organization in Santa Barbara to offer streaming programming, and one of only two opera companies in California to present three live operas in the 2020-21 season.  Additionally, Opera Santa Barbara became an advocacy leader for the reopening of the performing arts, and funded live performances by local musicians through “Operation Eurydice”.   

Before coming to Santa Barbara Kostis was the Artistic Director of Tulsa Opera since 2008.  He previously  was an Assistant Conductor with the Lyric Opera of Chicago, LA Opera and Santa Fe Opera. At the Lyric Opera of Chicago, he also served as Assistant Chorus Master under Donald Palumbo for two seasons..

Born in Athens, Greece, Kostis Protopapas studied Archaeology and History of Art at the University of Athens before coming to the United States in 1993, on an Onassis Foundation scholarship, to study piano at The Boston Conservatory and conducting at Boston University. He became an American citizen in 2011.  He loves living in Santa Barbara, and enjoys downtown restaurants, the Funk Zone’s tasting rooms, and sailing on the Santa Barbara Channel.

 

Crystal Manich

Crystal Manich

Crystal Manich is an Emmy Award nominated, versatile Latina international director whose works for stage and screen have been seen across the United States, Argentina, and Australia. She recently won Best First Time Female Filmmaker at the 2021 Toronto International Women Film Festival for her feature film The Copper Queen. She has also directed music videos for singer-songwriter Ivywild.

In Fall 2019, she directed the world premiere stage adaptation of Julia Alvarez’s Return to Sender by Marisela Orta for the Nashville Children’s Theatre about Mexican immigration and its complexities. It has been nominated for several Broadway World regional awards. She also directed the opera adaptation of the Spanish language opera Il Postino for Virginia Opera in a new production that will appear at several companies in the United States.

In January 2020 Crystal directed the musical Bernarda Alba, based on the Spanish play by Federico García Lorca, by Michael John LaChiusa for the Minneapolis company Theater Latté Da in a new production. Her spring season also includes a new Spanish adaptation of Cimarosa’s opera Il Matrimonio Segreto set in 1980’s Little Havana in Miami, as well as André Previn’s A Streetcar Named Desire in Virginia.

Crystal was nominated for a 2021 Chicago/Midwest Regional Emmy Award for Daniel Catán’s Spanish Opera La Hija de Rappaccini. Crystal directed and co-produced this multi-cam production with Chicago Opera Theater and Valhalla Media live from the Field Museum in April 2021.

In June 2022, Crystal will direct the world premiere of the opera Southern Crossings in New York City.

Crystal’s feature film debut for the world premiere opera The Copper Queen was produced by Arizona Opera in collaboration with Manley Films. She also collaborates with singer-songwriter Ivywild and has directed music videos for Willing to Find Out and Longing for You.

Crystal was recently awarded a commission for the new musical play La Llorona now in development with Theater Latté Da. Read about it in American Theatre Magazine.

Stage Director /
The Cunning Little Vixen

March 2017 (debut)

Artists

Raúl Melo

Raúl Melo

Tenor Raúl Melo has enjoyed a career performing some of the most demanding roles of the Italian and French repertoire across four continents. His international career began when he was awarded the prize of “Best Lyric Tenor” in the 1992 Alfredo Kraus Competition, a prize personally bestowed upon Mr. Melo by the late great Spanish tenor. Beginning in the lyric repertoire, Mr. Melo’s repertoire has expanded to embrace the great heroic Verdi and Puccini roles: Carlo DON CARLO, Rodolfo LUISA MILLER, Alvaro LA FORZA DEL DESTINO; des Grieux MANON LESCAUT, Cavaradossi TOSCA, Dick Johnson LA FANCIULLA DEL WEST, and Calàf TURANDOT.

For nine seasons Mr. Melo has been a regularly invited guest artist with the Metropolitan Opera. He made his MET debut in 2005 as Duca RIGOLETTO and was heard in a 2008 Sirius Metropolitan Opera Radio live broadcast as Pinkerton MADAMA BUTTERFLY. His other MET responsibilities have included covering the lead tenor roles in LA DAMNATION DE FAUST, HAMLET, ROMÉO ET JULIETTE, and LA RONDINE, as well as four Verdi titles: LA TRAVIATA, UN BALLO IN MASCHERA, RIGOLETTO, I VESPRI SICILIANI, and DON CARLO, the last of which he covered during the MET’s 2011 tour to Japan. Mr. Melo also joined members of the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra for the 2011 New York premiere of Allen Shawn’s work Hide Not Thy Face.

Mr. Melo has also been a frequent guest with other New York opera companies. For New York City Opera, Mr. Melo has performed such leading roles as Cavaradossi TOSCA, Pinkerton MADAMA BUTTERFLY, and Araquil in Massenet’s rarely-performed yet thrilling LA NAVARRAISE. For Teatro Grattacielo, which presents rarely-heard verismo operas in concert form, Mr. Melo has performed Vassili in Giordano’s SIBERIA, the King in the New York premiere of Franco Alfano’s SAKÙNTALA, Giosta Berling in Zandonai’s I CAVALIERI DI EKEBÙ, Gennaro in Wolf-Ferrari’s I GIOIELLI DELLA MADONNA, and Osaka in Mascagni’s IRIS. In recent seasons, Mr. Melo has displayed impressive stylistic breadth with his role debuts as both Turiddu CAVALLERIA RUSTICANA and Canio PAGLIACCI, performing both in the same evenings (Amarillo Opera). Other North American companies with which Mr. Melo has performed include Washington National Opera, Dallas Opera, Seattle Opera, Palm Beach Opera, Florida Grand Opera, Spoleto Festival USA, Manitoba Opera, and Opéra de Québec.

Daniel Montenegro

Daniel Montenegro

A graduate of San Francisco’s prestigious Adler Fellow Opera Program, American tenor Daniel Montenegro is recognized for his flexible and distinctive voice and a varied repertoire of bel canto, verismo, and contemporary roles.

In 2015, Daniel made his Lyric Opera of Chicago, Houston Grand Opera, and San Diego Opera debuts as Luis (a role he created) in El Pasado Nuca se Termina. Recent seasons include Giovanni (La Hija de Rappaccini) with Gotham Opera and his European opera debut at the Théâtre du Châtelet as Mario in Daniel Catán’s Il Postino along side Plácido Domingo, as well as a number of significant role and company debuts including Roderigo (Otello) with San Francisco Opera under Nicola Luisotti, Alfredo (La Traviata) with New Orleans Opera and Minnesota Opera, Nemorino (L’elisir d’amore) with Washington National Opera, Pang (Turandot) at the Hollywood Bowl conducted by Gustavo Dudamel, Pong (Turandot) with San Francisco Opera and Dallas Opera, Roméo in Roméo et Juliette with Tulsa Opera and the Castleton Festival, and most recently, Mario in Il Postino with Opera Saratoga, Pinkerton in Madama Butterfly with Arizona Opera, and Rafael in Cruzar la Cara de la Luna in his debut with Fort Worth Opera. The 2017-2018 season included a concert of excerpts from La bohème with the Quad City Symphony, Rafael in Cruzar la Cara de la Luna in his debut with both New York City Opera and Houston Grand Opera, and his San Diego opera debut as Arcadio in Florencia en el Amazonas. The 2018-2019 season and beyond sees him as Pinkerton in Madama Butterfly with Opera Columbus, Alfredo in La Traviata with Arizona Opera, Luis in El Pasado Nuca se Termina with Fort Worth Opera, and making a return to San Francisco Opera.

Daniel features on ‘Great Voices Sing John Denver’ alongside Plácido Domingo and many other key operatic names; produced by legendary arranger and music producer Milt Okun, the disc was released on the MRI Associated label in June 2013.

Sarah Vautour

Sarah Vautour

American soprano, Sarah Vautour, is in her second year as a Domingo-Colburn-Stein Young Artist, and returned to the LA Opera stage  in the 19/20 season as Papagena in Mozart’s Die Zauberflöte and covered Musetta in Puccini’s La bohème. In May, Ms. Vautour will sing the role of Barbarina in their new production of Mozart’s Le nozze di Figaro, led by Maestro James Conlon and director James Gray.

This summer Ms. Vautour joins the Aspen Theater and Vocal ARTS program as an inaugural member of the Renée Fleming Young Artist Program. In Aspen, Ms. Vautour will appear in numerous recitals as well as in the role of Erste Dame in their production of Die Zauberflöte, under the baton of Maestro Patrick Summers and the direction of Edward Berkeley.

Last summer, Ms. Vautour joined Teatro Nuovo for their summer season as a Resident Artist to cover the title role in Bellini’s La straniera. Additionally, she made her Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra debut as the soprano soloist in Mahler’s Das klagende Lied with the Cincinnati May Festival Chorus and Maestro James Conlon.

Ms. Vautour made her LA opera debut as the Dew Fairy in Humperdinck’s Hänsel and Gretel under the baton of Maestro James Conlon. Ms. Vautour’s other assignments during the 18/19 season included covering both the Celestial Voice in Verdi's Don Carlos and Gretel in Hänsel and Gretel, and appearing as Zipporah/ Voice of God in the world premiere of Henry Mollicone’s Moses. She came to LA Opera following a summer as an Apprentice Artist at Des Moines Metro Opera, where she covered Adele in Johann Strauss Jr.’s Die Fledermaus.

Ms. Vautour earned her Master of Music from Rice University and a Bachelor of Music from University of Cincinnati’s College-Conservatory of Music. Her notable engagements include the title role in Donizetti’s Maria Stuarda and Morgana in Handel’s Alcina with CCM Opera d’arte, as well as Rose Maurrant in Street Scene with Harrower Summer Opera Workshop. Ms. Vautour made her Aspen Music Festival debut in the role of Mozart and Donna Anna in Stephen Stucky’s The Classical Style, under the baton of Maestro Robert Spano.

In the 2017/2018 season, Ms. Vautour appeared under the baton of Maestro Thomas Jaber as the soprano soloist in Poulenc’s Gloria, and again, later, with the Houston Masterworks Chorus as the soprano soloist in Mendelssohn’s Elijah.

Julia Metzler

Julia Metzler

Los Angeles-based soprano Julia Metzler is an active up-and-coming opera singer and concert soloist. Recent roles include Marcellina in Le Nozze di Figaro with Pacific Opera Project and Blanche de la Force in Dialogues of the Carmelites with San Francisco Conservatory of Music. As a roster member of the Los Angeles Master Chorale, Ms. Metzler can frequently be heard performing at the Walt Disney Concert Hall and the Hollywood Bowl. She has performed as a soloist with both the Los Angeles Philharmonic and with the Chorale, most recently in Bach’s Magnificat and Handel’s Messiah. A frequent opera competitor, Ms. Metzler was a 2018 Metropolitan Opera National Council Awards National Semi-Finalist, after winning First Place in the Western Region finals in January of 2018.Ms. Metzler holds degrees in vocal performance from San Francisco Conservatory of Music and from UCLA.

juliaheronmetzler.com

2019-20 Chrisman Studio Artist

Suzanna Guzman

Suzanna Guzman

Suzanna Guzmán, mezzo soprano, is a native of East Los Angeles. An original Associate Artists of Los Angeles Opera, she has performed with them as a principal artist in over 40 main stage productions including Isaura (Tancredi) Cornelia (Giulio Cesare) Mrs Sedley (Peter Grimes) Mrs. Fox (Fantastic Mr. Fox-world premiere) Marcellina (Marriage of Figaro) La Gitana (El Gato Montes) Suzuki (Madama Butterfly) Empress Maria (Nicolas and Alexandra- world premiere) and working with opera legends Plácido Domingo, Mtislav Rostropovich, Galina Vishneskaya, Marilyn Horne, Alfredo Krouse, Patricia Racette, Renee Fleming, James Conlon, just to name a few.

She made her operatic debut in 1984-85 season with San Diego Opera as Emiia in Verdi's Otello and has worked with many opera companies around the world including Houston Grand Opera, Metropolitan Opera, Washington National Opera, Ludiwigshafen Opera, Seattle Opera, Opera de Geneve, Dresden Opera, Opera Montepelier, Dallas Opera, Seattle Opera, Edinburgh Festival, and Opera de Nice.

Guzmán reached international attention for her portrayal of the title role in Bizet’s Carmen. Hailed by TIME magazine as “A fire-eating singing actress, devastatingly sexy!”, the role became her signature role sung to acclaim in over 200 performances around the globe. A champion of original works, she has created and appeared in lead roles in new operas notably by Jake Heggie, Daniel Catan, Giancarlo Menotti, Ian Krouse, Tobias Picker, Deborah Dratell. Her many awards and honors for music include a Grammy nod for the 2006 Best Classical recording of Carlos Chávez: Volume III with Southwest Chamber and Mexico's Tambuco Percussion Ensemble, a Helen Hayes Award nomination for Best Actress for her portrayal of the Mother in Amahl and the Night Visitor at the Kennedy Center directed by composer Giancarlo Menotti, first place winner of San Francisco competition, Guild Opera and National finalist in the Metropolitan Opera National competition.

An advocate of Arts Education she continues to perform her one-woman show, Don’t Be Afraid; It’s Just Opera! across the United States reaching over 200,000 inner-city students to date, and is widely recognized for her mentorship to California students.

Synopsis

Act I

Di Cosimo, an Italian politician, sings the nationalist anthem of the island of Cala de Soto.  Soon after, it is announced that the exiled Chilean poet, Pablo Neruda, has arrived in Rome and will live on the island.  Mario, a postal worker on Cala de Soto, begins delivering mail to the poet.  He soon falls in love with Beatrice, a waitress at a local café.  Mario begs Neruda for help with poetry so he can win her heart.  Neruda helps the young man, teaching him poetry and metaphors.

Act II

Beatrice, falling in love with Mario, is scolded by her aunt who is displeased with her contact with the young man.  Soon after, Mario and Beatrice embrace and fall in love.  Meanwhile, Neruda continues teaching Mario about poetry and a friendship forms between them.  The act closes with the marriage of Mario and Beatrice.  During the reception, Neruda receives a telegraph informing him that it is safe for him to return to Chile.

Act III

Neruda prepares to return to Chile.  He says goodbye to Mario and departs.  Later, Mario is asked to send Neruda’s remaining items to Chile.  As political tensions increase in Italy, Mario creates a recording for Neruda, collecting the sounds of the Island.  Soon after, Mario begins using his poetic skills, learned from Neruda, to challenge the oppressive Italian government.  He is killed at a rally.  Neruda soon returns and hears the voice of Mario through his recording.

(via danielcatan.com)

Location

Lobero Theatre33 E Canon Perdido StSanta Barbara, CA 93101

Cast & Credits

Direction
Conductor:
Kostis Protopapas

Kostis Protopapas

Kostis Protopapas was named General Director of Opera Santa Barbara in December 2017, after two-and-a-half seasons as Artistic Director. 

During his time as Artistic Director and principal conductor, Kostis brought a unified vision to OSB’s musical and production values, strengthening the orchestra and chorus, engaging some of the country’s most promising young directors and singers, building a high-performing production team, and increasing focus on contemporary American opera. As General Director Kostis assembled a team of enthusiastic overachievers with a passion for innovation and the desire to strengthen the company’s bond with the community, who consistently deliver programs and communications far greater than what can be expected from the size of the company.

Performance highlights from Kostis’ tenure include grand opera classics like Madama Butterfly, Manon, and Eugene Onegin as well as contemporary works like Daniel Catan’s Il Postino, the mariachi opera Cruzar la cara de la luna,  and Robert Ward’s The Crucible, which the Santa Barbara Independent called “one of the season’s most exciting performances of any kind in Santa Barbara”.

Between March 2020 and June 2021, under Kostis’ leadership Opera Santa Barbara remained active and fully staffed.  It was the first performing arts organization in Santa Barbara to offer streaming programming, and one of only two opera companies in California to present three live operas in the 2020-21 season.  Additionally, Opera Santa Barbara became an advocacy leader for the reopening of the performing arts, and funded live performances by local musicians through “Operation Eurydice”.   

Before coming to Santa Barbara Kostis was the Artistic Director of Tulsa Opera since 2008.  He previously  was an Assistant Conductor with the Lyric Opera of Chicago, LA Opera and Santa Fe Opera. At the Lyric Opera of Chicago, he also served as Assistant Chorus Master under Donald Palumbo for two seasons..

Born in Athens, Greece, Kostis Protopapas studied Archaeology and History of Art at the University of Athens before coming to the United States in 1993, on an Onassis Foundation scholarship, to study piano at The Boston Conservatory and conducting at Boston University. He became an American citizen in 2011.  He loves living in Santa Barbara, and enjoys downtown restaurants, the Funk Zone’s tasting rooms, and sailing on the Santa Barbara Channel.

 

Director:
Crystal Manich

Crystal Manich

Crystal Manich is an Emmy Award nominated, versatile Latina international director whose works for stage and screen have been seen across the United States, Argentina, and Australia. She recently won Best First Time Female Filmmaker at the 2021 Toronto International Women Film Festival for her feature film The Copper Queen. She has also directed music videos for singer-songwriter Ivywild.

In Fall 2019, she directed the world premiere stage adaptation of Julia Alvarez’s Return to Sender by Marisela Orta for the Nashville Children’s Theatre about Mexican immigration and its complexities. It has been nominated for several Broadway World regional awards. She also directed the opera adaptation of the Spanish language opera Il Postino for Virginia Opera in a new production that will appear at several companies in the United States.

In January 2020 Crystal directed the musical Bernarda Alba, based on the Spanish play by Federico García Lorca, by Michael John LaChiusa for the Minneapolis company Theater Latté Da in a new production. Her spring season also includes a new Spanish adaptation of Cimarosa’s opera Il Matrimonio Segreto set in 1980’s Little Havana in Miami, as well as André Previn’s A Streetcar Named Desire in Virginia.

Crystal was nominated for a 2021 Chicago/Midwest Regional Emmy Award for Daniel Catán’s Spanish Opera La Hija de Rappaccini. Crystal directed and co-produced this multi-cam production with Chicago Opera Theater and Valhalla Media live from the Field Museum in April 2021.

In June 2022, Crystal will direct the world premiere of the opera Southern Crossings in New York City.

Crystal’s feature film debut for the world premiere opera The Copper Queen was produced by Arizona Opera in collaboration with Manley Films. She also collaborates with singer-songwriter Ivywild and has directed music videos for Willing to Find Out and Longing for You.

Crystal was recently awarded a commission for the new musical play La Llorona now in development with Theater Latté Da. Read about it in American Theatre Magazine.

Stage Director /
The Cunning Little Vixen

March 2017 (debut)

Artists
Pablo Neruda:
Raúl Melo

Raúl Melo

Tenor Raúl Melo has enjoyed a career performing some of the most demanding roles of the Italian and French repertoire across four continents. His international career began when he was awarded the prize of “Best Lyric Tenor” in the 1992 Alfredo Kraus Competition, a prize personally bestowed upon Mr. Melo by the late great Spanish tenor. Beginning in the lyric repertoire, Mr. Melo’s repertoire has expanded to embrace the great heroic Verdi and Puccini roles: Carlo DON CARLO, Rodolfo LUISA MILLER, Alvaro LA FORZA DEL DESTINO; des Grieux MANON LESCAUT, Cavaradossi TOSCA, Dick Johnson LA FANCIULLA DEL WEST, and Calàf TURANDOT.

For nine seasons Mr. Melo has been a regularly invited guest artist with the Metropolitan Opera. He made his MET debut in 2005 as Duca RIGOLETTO and was heard in a 2008 Sirius Metropolitan Opera Radio live broadcast as Pinkerton MADAMA BUTTERFLY. His other MET responsibilities have included covering the lead tenor roles in LA DAMNATION DE FAUST, HAMLET, ROMÉO ET JULIETTE, and LA RONDINE, as well as four Verdi titles: LA TRAVIATA, UN BALLO IN MASCHERA, RIGOLETTO, I VESPRI SICILIANI, and DON CARLO, the last of which he covered during the MET’s 2011 tour to Japan. Mr. Melo also joined members of the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra for the 2011 New York premiere of Allen Shawn’s work Hide Not Thy Face.

Mr. Melo has also been a frequent guest with other New York opera companies. For New York City Opera, Mr. Melo has performed such leading roles as Cavaradossi TOSCA, Pinkerton MADAMA BUTTERFLY, and Araquil in Massenet’s rarely-performed yet thrilling LA NAVARRAISE. For Teatro Grattacielo, which presents rarely-heard verismo operas in concert form, Mr. Melo has performed Vassili in Giordano’s SIBERIA, the King in the New York premiere of Franco Alfano’s SAKÙNTALA, Giosta Berling in Zandonai’s I CAVALIERI DI EKEBÙ, Gennaro in Wolf-Ferrari’s I GIOIELLI DELLA MADONNA, and Osaka in Mascagni’s IRIS. In recent seasons, Mr. Melo has displayed impressive stylistic breadth with his role debuts as both Turiddu CAVALLERIA RUSTICANA and Canio PAGLIACCI, performing both in the same evenings (Amarillo Opera). Other North American companies with which Mr. Melo has performed include Washington National Opera, Dallas Opera, Seattle Opera, Palm Beach Opera, Florida Grand Opera, Spoleto Festival USA, Manitoba Opera, and Opéra de Québec.

Mario Ruoppolo:
Daniel Montenegro

Daniel Montenegro

A graduate of San Francisco’s prestigious Adler Fellow Opera Program, American tenor Daniel Montenegro is recognized for his flexible and distinctive voice and a varied repertoire of bel canto, verismo, and contemporary roles.

In 2015, Daniel made his Lyric Opera of Chicago, Houston Grand Opera, and San Diego Opera debuts as Luis (a role he created) in El Pasado Nuca se Termina. Recent seasons include Giovanni (La Hija de Rappaccini) with Gotham Opera and his European opera debut at the Théâtre du Châtelet as Mario in Daniel Catán’s Il Postino along side Plácido Domingo, as well as a number of significant role and company debuts including Roderigo (Otello) with San Francisco Opera under Nicola Luisotti, Alfredo (La Traviata) with New Orleans Opera and Minnesota Opera, Nemorino (L’elisir d’amore) with Washington National Opera, Pang (Turandot) at the Hollywood Bowl conducted by Gustavo Dudamel, Pong (Turandot) with San Francisco Opera and Dallas Opera, Roméo in Roméo et Juliette with Tulsa Opera and the Castleton Festival, and most recently, Mario in Il Postino with Opera Saratoga, Pinkerton in Madama Butterfly with Arizona Opera, and Rafael in Cruzar la Cara de la Luna in his debut with Fort Worth Opera. The 2017-2018 season included a concert of excerpts from La bohème with the Quad City Symphony, Rafael in Cruzar la Cara de la Luna in his debut with both New York City Opera and Houston Grand Opera, and his San Diego opera debut as Arcadio in Florencia en el Amazonas. The 2018-2019 season and beyond sees him as Pinkerton in Madama Butterfly with Opera Columbus, Alfredo in La Traviata with Arizona Opera, Luis in El Pasado Nuca se Termina with Fort Worth Opera, and making a return to San Francisco Opera.

Daniel features on ‘Great Voices Sing John Denver’ alongside Plácido Domingo and many other key operatic names; produced by legendary arranger and music producer Milt Okun, the disc was released on the MRI Associated label in June 2013.

Beatrice:
Sarah Vautour

Sarah Vautour

American soprano, Sarah Vautour, is in her second year as a Domingo-Colburn-Stein Young Artist, and returned to the LA Opera stage  in the 19/20 season as Papagena in Mozart’s Die Zauberflöte and covered Musetta in Puccini’s La bohème. In May, Ms. Vautour will sing the role of Barbarina in their new production of Mozart’s Le nozze di Figaro, led by Maestro James Conlon and director James Gray.

This summer Ms. Vautour joins the Aspen Theater and Vocal ARTS program as an inaugural member of the Renée Fleming Young Artist Program. In Aspen, Ms. Vautour will appear in numerous recitals as well as in the role of Erste Dame in their production of Die Zauberflöte, under the baton of Maestro Patrick Summers and the direction of Edward Berkeley.

Last summer, Ms. Vautour joined Teatro Nuovo for their summer season as a Resident Artist to cover the title role in Bellini’s La straniera. Additionally, she made her Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra debut as the soprano soloist in Mahler’s Das klagende Lied with the Cincinnati May Festival Chorus and Maestro James Conlon.

Ms. Vautour made her LA opera debut as the Dew Fairy in Humperdinck’s Hänsel and Gretel under the baton of Maestro James Conlon. Ms. Vautour’s other assignments during the 18/19 season included covering both the Celestial Voice in Verdi's Don Carlos and Gretel in Hänsel and Gretel, and appearing as Zipporah/ Voice of God in the world premiere of Henry Mollicone’s Moses. She came to LA Opera following a summer as an Apprentice Artist at Des Moines Metro Opera, where she covered Adele in Johann Strauss Jr.’s Die Fledermaus.

Ms. Vautour earned her Master of Music from Rice University and a Bachelor of Music from University of Cincinnati’s College-Conservatory of Music. Her notable engagements include the title role in Donizetti’s Maria Stuarda and Morgana in Handel’s Alcina with CCM Opera d’arte, as well as Rose Maurrant in Street Scene with Harrower Summer Opera Workshop. Ms. Vautour made her Aspen Music Festival debut in the role of Mozart and Donna Anna in Stephen Stucky’s The Classical Style, under the baton of Maestro Robert Spano.

In the 2017/2018 season, Ms. Vautour appeared under the baton of Maestro Thomas Jaber as the soprano soloist in Poulenc’s Gloria, and again, later, with the Houston Masterworks Chorus as the soprano soloist in Mendelssohn’s Elijah.

Matilde Neruda:
Julia Metzler

Julia Metzler

Los Angeles-based soprano Julia Metzler is an active up-and-coming opera singer and concert soloist. Recent roles include Marcellina in Le Nozze di Figaro with Pacific Opera Project and Blanche de la Force in Dialogues of the Carmelites with San Francisco Conservatory of Music. As a roster member of the Los Angeles Master Chorale, Ms. Metzler can frequently be heard performing at the Walt Disney Concert Hall and the Hollywood Bowl. She has performed as a soloist with both the Los Angeles Philharmonic and with the Chorale, most recently in Bach’s Magnificat and Handel’s Messiah. A frequent opera competitor, Ms. Metzler was a 2018 Metropolitan Opera National Council Awards National Semi-Finalist, after winning First Place in the Western Region finals in January of 2018.Ms. Metzler holds degrees in vocal performance from San Francisco Conservatory of Music and from UCLA.

juliaheronmetzler.com

2019-20 Chrisman Studio Artist
Donna Rosa:
Suzanna Guzman

Suzanna Guzman

Suzanna Guzmán, mezzo soprano, is a native of East Los Angeles. An original Associate Artists of Los Angeles Opera, she has performed with them as a principal artist in over 40 main stage productions including Isaura (Tancredi) Cornelia (Giulio Cesare) Mrs Sedley (Peter Grimes) Mrs. Fox (Fantastic Mr. Fox-world premiere) Marcellina (Marriage of Figaro) La Gitana (El Gato Montes) Suzuki (Madama Butterfly) Empress Maria (Nicolas and Alexandra- world premiere) and working with opera legends Plácido Domingo, Mtislav Rostropovich, Galina Vishneskaya, Marilyn Horne, Alfredo Krouse, Patricia Racette, Renee Fleming, James Conlon, just to name a few.

She made her operatic debut in 1984-85 season with San Diego Opera as Emiia in Verdi's Otello and has worked with many opera companies around the world including Houston Grand Opera, Metropolitan Opera, Washington National Opera, Ludiwigshafen Opera, Seattle Opera, Opera de Geneve, Dresden Opera, Opera Montepelier, Dallas Opera, Seattle Opera, Edinburgh Festival, and Opera de Nice.

Guzmán reached international attention for her portrayal of the title role in Bizet’s Carmen. Hailed by TIME magazine as “A fire-eating singing actress, devastatingly sexy!”, the role became her signature role sung to acclaim in over 200 performances around the globe. A champion of original works, she has created and appeared in lead roles in new operas notably by Jake Heggie, Daniel Catan, Giancarlo Menotti, Ian Krouse, Tobias Picker, Deborah Dratell. Her many awards and honors for music include a Grammy nod for the 2006 Best Classical recording of Carlos Chávez: Volume III with Southwest Chamber and Mexico's Tambuco Percussion Ensemble, a Helen Hayes Award nomination for Best Actress for her portrayal of the Mother in Amahl and the Night Visitor at the Kennedy Center directed by composer Giancarlo Menotti, first place winner of San Francisco competition, Guild Opera and National finalist in the Metropolitan Opera National competition.

An advocate of Arts Education she continues to perform her one-woman show, Don’t Be Afraid; It’s Just Opera! across the United States reaching over 200,000 inner-city students to date, and is widely recognized for her mentorship to California students.