Saltworks Opera continues to make waves as one of the region’s most provocative and innovative companies with its presentation of Romeo & Juliet (I Capuleti ei Montecchi) by Vincenzo Bellini. Performances are scheduled for Friday, February 16th at 7:30 and Sunday, February, 18th at 3:30PM. The performances will take place at the Franktown Methodist Church, 7551 Bayside Rd, Franktown.
Critically acclaimed performers from across the US, as well as some local favorites, are performing together to create a fresh take on an old classic. While the performance is using a story more closely based on the original Italian tale, the story is easily recognized and familiar. Tickets are available at The Book Bin in Onley and at Rayfield’s Pharmacy in Nassawadox or can be purchased at the door for $20.
The cast is made up of some of the major and up and coming opera stars from across the country.
Giulietta, Christine Lyons
Praised for being “especially moving” by the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette and as a “sparkling soprano” by the Broad Street Review, Christine Lyons is a dynamic soprano on the rise. This 2017-18 season, Ms. Lyons sings Giulietta in Bellini’s I Capuleti e i Montecchi with Saltworks Opera, Micaëla in Carmen with Opera Ithaca, the title role in Suor Angelica with New York Lyric Opera, and in the summer, joins Teatro Nuovo to sing Amenaide in Tancredi rifatto. Additionally, she will be presented in recital by Vocal Arts DC at the Kennedy Center Millennium Terrace, by Denyce Graves at Wolf Trap and by Renata Scotto at Opera Naples.
In the 2016-17 season, Ms. Lyons sung Donna Anna in Don Giovanni with the Hawaii Performing Arts Festival, Echo in Ariadne auf Naxos with Berkshire Opera Festival, Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 under the baton of Marin Alsop, concerts with Lyric Fest, and was the featured artist on WWFM Classical as a part of their “Celebrating Our Musical Future” live radio program.
Highlights of previous seasons include Fiordiligi in Mozart’s Così fan tutte with the Charleston Symphony Orchestra, Pamina in Die Zauberflöte at Sant’Anna dei Lombardi in Naples, Italy, Manon in Massenet’s Manon at the Liederkranz Foundation and at Carnegie Hall, Konstanze in Mozart’s Die Entführung at Symphony Space and Susanna in Le Nozze di Figaro at Lincoln Center.
Romeo, Megan Case
Mezzo-soprano Megan Case’s rich vocal quality and powerful stage presence have earned her roles including Dorabella (Così fan tutte), Hänsel (Hänsel und Gretel), Rosina (Il Barbiere di Siviglia), Nerone (L’incoronazione di Poppea), Tisbe (Cenerentola), Effie (The Ballad of Baby Doe), and the title character in L’enfant et les sortilèges.
In recent seasons, she has been a young artist with Central City Opera, Emerald City Opera, and Up North Vocal Institute. In concert, she has performed the Berio Folk Songs with chamber orchestra and as a soloist with Northern State University’s Symphony Orchestra. She received her Bachelors of Music Education from Northern State University and her Masters of Music in Vocal Performance from the University of Colorado – Boulder.
Megan is currently a traveling opera singer with upcoming engagements as the alto soloist in Handel’s Messiah, La Frugola (Il tabarro), and Marcellina (Le Nozze di Figaro).
Capellio, Andrew W. Potte
A bass vocalist of increasing demand who towers at an imposing and athletic 6’10”, Andrew Potter is a true Basso who has been welcomed by audiences and critics across the country for a larger-than-life stage presence with a voice to match. “With his huge, all-encompassing bass voice and precise comic timing he nearly stole the show.” (Maria Nockin, Opera Today, February 2017) “Andrew Potter’s tour de force performance would stand tall on any of the biggest and best operatic stages in the world today. His huge, oily, black, genuine bass shook the rafters…” (Larry Kellum, Town Times, March 2016) “Andrew Potter proved to be sensitive and appealing…” (James Sohre, Opera Today, July 2015) “Andrew Potter combines a virile yet spry stage presence with sturdy, responsive and infectious singing. The guy owns the stage.” (Gerald Moshell, The New London Day, March 2016) With years of studying under renowned teachers such as Dr. Wayne Kompelien, Rick Christman, and Braeden Harris; Andrew made a name for himself standing out in mainstage roles at several of the nation’s most prestigious Young Artist programs such as Des Moines Metro Opera, St. Petersburg Emerging Artist Program, and the Tyler Young Artist Program. He has since performed across the country proficiently demonstrating the vocal power and sonority to sing such roles as Mephistopheles in Gounod’s Faust and Sarastro in Die Zauberflöte, the range and physicality to perform buffo roles like Don Bartolo (Il barbiere di Siviglia), Don Alfonso (Così fan tutte), Don Magnifico (Cenerentola); and the flexibility and agility to sing challenging Handelian roles including Zoroastro in Orlando, Ariodate in Serse, and Argante in Rinaldo. Having proven his vocal diversity on stage performing roles spanning from basso roles like Osmin in Die Entführung, to varying Bass-Baritone roles such as Escamillo in Bizet’s Carmen and Scarpia in Puccini’s Tosca; his is truly a vocal range granting incredibly rare versatility – making him stand out among the growing community of low voices. Role debuts in the 2017-18 season include Dr. Dulcamara in L’elisir d’amore, Capellio in I Capuleti e i Montecchi, Michele in Il Tabarro, and Cesare Borgia in the world premiere of The Borgia Infami.
Tebaldo, Andrew Ellis
A young and rising tenor, Mr. Ellis was hailed as “particularly impressive” for his singing as the Armored Man in Die Zauberflöte as a Young Artist with Opera Roanoke. He has performed with Hub Opera Ensemble of Maryland, Mediterranean Opera Studio, and Bel Cantanti Opera in Washington, D.C.
Lorenzo, Richard Williams
Richard Williams is a singing actor noted for his commanding stage presence, varied repertoire, rich bass-baritone voice. With a great enthusiasm for diversematerial – ranging from classical and comic opera, to Broadway musical theater, to folk balladsand art songs – he embraces traditional and contemporary works with equal enthusiasm. His recent roles include Honoré Lachaille in Gigi, Tony in The Most Happy Fella, Fagin in Oliver, Raimondo in Lucia di Lammermoor. Mack the Knife in Three Penny Opera, El Gallo in The Fantastics, Willy Wonka in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Peter in Hansel and Gretel. He is equally comfortable in concert repertoire having performed the bass solos in Handel’s Messiah several times with the Orchestra of the Eastern Shore.
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