Opera Company of Middlebury

06/07/2024

🎭💫Join the Stars of Tomorrow for the OCM Young Artist Program production of Rossini's La Scala di Seta TONIGHT!

La Scala in a nutshell, from the desk of the YAP intern: In our production of this one-act farce, the hip, young Giulia sneaks her boyfriend Dorvil into her bedroom each night using a ladder. The only problem? Her godfather Dormont wants her to marry Blansac, a total lady's man! On top of that, her best friend Germano and cousin Lucilla are all up in her business, ruh roh! Throughout the course of the day, the characters of the house come head to head with secret identities, sneaking around, white lies and young love.

The production, stage directed by OCM alum Andy Papas, is set in the 1990s, complete with a sound-track, neon, tie-dye and many other totally radical updates! The cast of eight talented Young Artists hail from around the country and have maintained an incredibly busy schedule under the direction of Sarah Cullins and YAP Music Director Alejandro Roca. You've already seen them in the fabulous ensemble of La Fille du Regiment; come hear their moment in the spotlight!

06/04/2024

🎭 Can you tell Tess and Emily are having fun?

✨TONIGHT ONLY: Come support our incredible understudies ("covers" in opera speak), in our joyous annual tradition of an all-understudy performance of La Fille du Régiment! 🎶 Understudies work just as hard as the main cast preparing to go onstage at a moment's notice. Here is a chance to see them in the spotlight - no tragedy required.

🗓️June 4th, 7pm @ Town Hall Theater

Get your tickets at townhalltheater.org

06/02/2024

Yeah, we're that good. See Jim Lowe's review (attached.) Thanks to Jim for working the arts beat for the entire state.

If you can't get tix -- and there are only a handful left -- consider seeing the cover performance this Tuesday 6/4. Superb young professionals tackling these challenging roles. Always a great night.

Some operas are just plain fun — and it doesn’t hurt if they have some spectacular singing. Gaetano Donizetti’s “La fille du régiment (The Daughter of the Regiment)” is just

06/02/2024

Doug Anderson, the Opera Company of Middlebury's artistic director and founder, is at it again. With producer and stage manager Mary Longey and music director...

06/01/2024

What does the cast, crew, orchestra, staff and board of an opera production do the day after a wildly successful opening night? Celebrate on Lake Dunmore of course! But we’ll be right back at it tomorrow for our second performance of La Fille du Regiment t! Don’t miss it!

05/30/2024

As Broadway opened after the pandemic, we began to hear amazing stories of understudies saving the day when singers became ill. Our Fille du Regiment covers (opera-speak for understudies) have been working extremely hard and are ready to jump on stage at a moment's notice! And they WILL jump on stage for their performance of the opera next Tuesday, June 4 at 7pm with pianist Yihao Zhou as the orchestra . We are incredibly lucky to have this fabulously talented group of truly lovely singers and humans on call, including three singers who are members of our Young Artist Program. Don't miss it!
COVER CAST:
Marie: Theodora Cottarel
Tonio: Marcus Huber
Sergeant Sulpice: Nate Mattingly
Marquise of Berkenfield: Emily Geller
Hortensius: Tess Klibanoff
Corporal: Patrick Connolly
Peasant: Jared Vigue
Actors Angelica McLennan and Jonathan Isham will also perform in the Cover Performance

05/29/2024

LOOK TWICE. That's not the iconic 1932 image of workers during the construction of Rockefeller Center. That's the Town Hall Theater staff dangling on that beam. (I'm the ripped guy.) As steel is going up on our new wing, we couldn't resist borrowing the image for our 2024-25 Membership Drive. With Middlebury below and Snake Mtn. in the distance, doing a great job standing in for 5th Avenue.

05/28/2024

From the YAP Intern's desk: As the cast of La Fille du Régiment prepares to open on Friday, the members of OCM’s Young Artist Program split their time between rehearsals for the mainstage opera and their own production of Rossini’s La Scala di Seta, which goes up on Friday, June 7. Pictured here, Young Artists taking advantage of a breath coaching session with program director Sarah Cullins. A crucial part of singing bel canto style opera is ensuring proper breath support, and these muscles can take years to develop; talk about an ab workout! Then they're off to rehearsals for La Scala di Seta, with a hilariously updated setting based on 1990s pop music. Their fly mastery of this complex Rossini staging, directed by frequent OCM soloist Andy Papas, is totally rad and they are majorly rocking the equally complex musical ensembles, led by Music Director Alejandro Roca. And finally, the YAPs join the chorus for Fille are hard at work in tonight's tech rehearsal, where we all get a preview of what this fabulously inventive production is really going to look like! Young Artists have long, long days and are an essential part of OCM productions, while also preparing a full opera of their own! Get your tickets to see their show: https://townhalltheater.org/event/la-scala-di-seta-the-silken-ladder/.

05/27/2024

Last night's Sitzprobe of La Fille du Regiment was an incredibly exciting culmination of two weeks of rehearsals and the cast, chorus and orchestra performed seamlessly under the masterful baton of Filippo Ciabatti! Today was a much needed day of R&R before launching into tech week and getting ready for opening night of Fille on Friday, May 31! Tickets are selling fast; visit ocmvermont.org to purchase yours today! Under 26? Register for FREE TICKETS to the mainstage production of Fille, the performance of our phenomenal covers (6/4) and the hilarious Young Artist production of La Scala di Seta (6/7)!

05/24/2024

The Opera Company of Middlebury presents an interview with GRAMMY® Award-winning bass Richard Bernstein in advance of the opening of La Fille du Régiment at Town Hall Theater on May 31. Bernstein is interviewed by David Clark, OCM board member. Come see La Fille du Régiment at Town Hall Theater on May 31 and June 2, 6, and 8. Tickets can be found at: https://townhalltheater.org/event/la-fille-du-regiment-the-daughter-of-the-regiment/. Audience members under 26 can register for free tickets to the opera at ocmvermont.org!

Recorded by Dutton Smith 5/21/24. Produced with the support of Middlebury Community Television.

The Opera Company of Middlebury (OCM) presents an interview with GRAMMY® Award-winning bass Richard Bernstein in advance of the opening of LA FILLE DU RÉGIME...

05/22/2024

Opera Company of Middlebury visits Vermont Public's Stetson Studio One for a live performance preview of their upcoming production of Donizetti's comic opera, La fille du régiment (The Daughter of the Regiment)!

Hosted by Walter Parker, featuring director Douglas Anderson, conductor Filippo Ciabatti, Sara LeMesh (soprano), Patrick Bessenbacher(tenor), Emily Geller (contralto), Nathaniel Joseph Mattingly(bass-baritone), and pianist Yihao Zhou.

Tune in Thursday May 23 at 11 a.m.
https://www.vermontpublic.org/2024-05-20/opera-company-of-middlebury

05/21/2024

Join OCM's Young Artists for pop-up operatic appearances in Burlington on Wednesday night, May 22! If you are heading to Trivia Night at the Venetian Soda Lounge or the Jazz Sessions at the 126, you might just catch our ever-so-smart, totally hilarious and definitely sultry performers gracing these fabulous venues! Opera is history. Opera is comedy. Opera is sexy!

venetiansodalounge.com
deli126vt.com

05/16/2024

REGIONAL SPOTLIGHT: Upper Valley Baroque

OCM's own Music Director, Filippo Ciabatti, presents Bach's St. John Passion performed by an talented ensemble of singers, super-star soloists, and orchestral musicians playing on period instruments.

🗓️Saturday, May 18 @ 7 pm
Lebanon Opera House, Lebanon, NH

🗓️Sunday, May 19 @ 3 pm
Chandler Center for the Arts, Randolph, VT

Reserve your tickets now at https://www.uppervalleybaroque.org/concerts

05/14/2024

Get ready to Meet the Singers! 🎶 🎭

Join us this Saturday for Doug Anderson's FAVORITE EVENT OF THE YEAR where the casts of La Fille du Régiment and La Scala di Seta will introduce themselves through song! 🎶 Welcome the artists and enjoy drinks and hors d'oeuvres at Champlain Valley Unitarian Universalist Society, 5pm 🥂

Reserve your tickets online or by calling the Town Hall Theater box office at (802) 382-9222.

04/16/2024

Indulge in Italian Night at ArtsRiot! 🍝🍷 Join us this Thursday, 4/18, 7-9pm for live opera presented by Youth Opera Company of OCM , gourmet dishes, and fine wines! 🎭🍇 Plus, see a Venetian-style glass blowing demonstration at AO Glass Studio!

Dress to impress or come as you are – all are welcome!

RESERVE YOUR SPOT NOW 🎶🔥
https://www.aoglass.com/store/social-club-italian-night-april-18

04/11/2024

Don't miss Youth Opera Company of OCM's performances of A Country Store Opera opening tomorrow!

April 12 - South Burlington
April 13 - Middlebury
April 14 - Waterbury
May 15 - Stowe

Performances are free, donations appreciated!
Learn more here: https://www.ocmvermont.org/youth-opera

04/04/2024

DOUG ANDERSON IS BRUSHING UP his celebrated course on "A History of the American Musical" for another run starting April 15th. Four sessions live in at Town Hall Theater but also available to be streamed all over the world!

Great archival footage, extremely entertaining, and essential for anyone who loves musicals but has no idea how we got here.

SIGN UP NOW AT TOWNHALLTHEATER.ORG

Please enjoy Doug pitching this class, with a little assist from Ethel Merman: https://youtu.be/0yj84-KQ53o

04/02/2024

Thank you Vermont Flannel for the incredibly generous donations of plaid flannel and these super cute t-shirts we will always cherish as part of our Country Store Opera!

04/02/2024

Join our Youth Opera Company of OCM cast for a very Vermont opera this April or May!

Featuring opera scenes and songs from the Italian bel canto tradition, A Country Store Opera showcases the talents of 14 Vermont teen singers from 10 different schools. The original story, written by YOC founder Sarah Cullins, takes place in the local country store of the fictional town of Venice, Vermont. You will meet Addie, the young store owner, Nemo, the townie who is in love with her, Duke, the moonshine kombucha brewer, Bella, the shepherdess who sells fruits and flowers at the farmer’s market, Johnny and Janet, the siblings who work at the store, Alma, their widowed aunt, Mark and Joe, the high school seniors who just came back from a trip abroad to Italy, Tessa and Vicky, the high school girls who are fascinated by their tales of the “real” Venice, and finally, Kat and Tabby, two formerly cranky goth NYC teens who moved to VT during the pandemic and ultimately adopted Vermont as their home. With support and product donation from local businesses such as Vermont Flannel, Vermont Smoke and Cure and the Vermont Teddy Bear Company, this production celebrates Vermont traditions, Vermont products and Vermont talent! Led from the piano by YOC Music Director Mary Jane Austin.

Suggested donation at the door: $20/adults, $10 seniors/youth. Donations support this program and all of Opera Company of Middlebury’s educational and community outreach initiatives!

Learn more: www.ocmvermont.org/events

04/02/2024

It was an incredibly inspiring few days in Boxboro MA with 7 current and past YOC singers participating in the 97th New England Music Festival and working with the truly amazing Anthony Trecek-King!!!!!

03/31/2024

Wishing a wonderful Easter to all who celebrate!

(And who can resist a photo of a singing bunny?! We'd like to think this bunny is singing opera...)

03/30/2024

We have lots of events coming your way this spring, including our mainstage production of THE DAUGHTER OF THE REGIMENT (performed in French with English supertitles) with full orchestra! Learn more about upcoming events, and mark your calendar here:

www.ocmvermont.org/events

03/13/2024

Check out the Orchestra of Donizetti's
THE DAUGHTER OF THE REGIMENT
(LA FILLE DU RÉGIMENT)
directed by Douglas Anderson
Filippo Ciabatti, Music Director & Conductor

Production runs May 31 - June 8, 2024.
Tickets go on sale to OCM members at noon on April 8th and to the general public on April 15th.

(NOTE: This year, all 2023 members will be eligible for early ticket access for FILLE. Our Membership Campaign, typically launched in the early spring, will be launched in June 2024.)

FILLE ORCHESTRA:

Violin
Ira Morris, Concertmaster
Brooke Quiggins, Assistant Concertmaster
Marcia Cassidy, Principal Second
Melanie Dexter
Mary Gibson
Sofia Hirsch
Owen Lenz
Laura Markowicz
Christopher Stork

Viola
Elizabeth Reid, Principal
Ana Ruesink
Stefanie Taylor

Cello
John Dunlop, Principal
Jonathan Brin
Perri Morris

Bass
Lou Kosma

Flute/Piccolo
Melanie Williams

Oboe/English Horn
Michelle Farah

Clarinet
Hyunwoo Chun

Bassoon
Michael Mechanic

Horn
Sel Yargici, Principal
Joy Worland

Trumpet
Mark Emery

Timpani
Nicola Cannizzaro

Percussion
Rosina Cannizzaro

View the full cast lineup here:
https://www.ocmvermont.org/fille

[pictured: soldier graphic by designer Debby Anderson, FIDELIO orchestra photo by David Devine]

03/12/2024

Check out the Ensemble of Donizetti's
THE DAUGHTER OF THE REGIMENT
(LA FILLE DU RÉGIMENT)
directed by Douglas Anderson
Nathaniel Lew, Chorus Master

Production runs May 31 - June 8, 2024.
Tickets go on sale to OCM members at noon on April 8th and to the general public on April 15th.

(NOTE: This year, all 2023 members will be eligible for early ticket access for FILLE. Our Membership Campaign, typically launched in the early spring, will be launched in June 2024.)

FILLE ENSEMBLE:

Lillian Broderick, Soprano + Marie study cover

Cristina Escobedo, Soprano*

George Lane, Soprano*

Wanda Sullivan, Soprano*

Gail Isenberg, Mezzo

Tess Klibanoff, Mezzo*

Lori Marino, Mezzo

Matteo Adams, Tenor*

Brian Clancy, Tenor

Matt DeDiana, Tenor

Francesco DiLello, Tenor*

Anthony Jones, Tenor
Ryan Matos, Tenor

Orlando Montalvo Avalo, Tenor*

Patrick Connolly, Baritone*

Kai Fukuda, Baritone

Richard Isenberg, Baritone

Jonathan Isham, Baritone

Connor Lee, Baritone*

John-Eric Robinson, Baritone

Nathan Stefani, Baritone

Neil Wacek, Baritone

Haozhen Wen, Baritone*

*denotes 2024 Young Artist

***

View the full cast lineup here:
https://www.ocmvermont.org/fille

Stay tuned for an announcement of our orchestra!

[pictured: soldier graphic by designer Debby Anderson, FIDELIO chorus photo by David Devine]

03/11/2024

Meet the Cast of Donizetti's
THE DAUGHTER OF THE REGIMENT
(LA FILLE DU RÉGIMENT)
directed by Douglas Anderson

Production runs May 31 - June 8, 2024.
Tickets go on sale to OCM members at noon on April 8th and to the general public on April 15th.

(NOTE: This year, all 2023 members will be eligible for early ticket access for FILLE. Our Membership Campaign, typically launched in the early spring, will be launched in June 2024.)

View the full cast lineup here:
https://www.ocmvermont.org/fille

Stay tuned for announcements of our ensemble and orchestra!

03/08/2024

Costumes, costumes everywhere!!
5 leads + 5 covers + 24 chorus = lots and lots of costumes

LA FILLE DU RÉGIMENT(The Daughter of the Regiment), Donizetti's comic opera, opens May 31st. Stay tuned for tickets which go on sale in mid-April.

There will be lots of fabulous music... and fabulous costumes, too! (Shout out to costume designer Debby Anderson!)

www.ocmvermont.org/202425

12/20/2023

Highlight’s lineup of New Year’s Eve concerts in Burlington is live! Get your tickets now and spend a special NYE with the Youth Opera Company of OCM, performing at 3:30 in the afternoon.

https://highlight.community/events/?fbclid=IwAR3ReKtqcFXr2RjNX8lCC-Mg5A2wjGemSgTX9wPmLIMP7msbwxS7mQQrf_Q

12/19/2023

This Wednesday (TOMORROW, 12/20!), you have to opportunity to be part of a true adventure on the Amazon River.

The story is simple. A number of characters embark on a trip to Manaus along the Amazon River, all with the goal of seeing the famed Florencia Grimaldi perform at the legendary opera house. Unbeknown to most of the guests, the famed diva is among the passengers. She is on her own personal journey into the past to seek out her lover Cristóbal, a butterfly collector who disappeared in the jungle 20 years earlier.

This is an opera about love and longing. There is a couple falling in love, a couple trying to rekindle the love they once had, and Florencia’s quest for her long-lost lover.

Although written in at the end of the 20th century, the lush, tonal music feels like Puccini and Debussy.

The libretto contains elements of the “magical realism” made popular by the Colombian novelist Gabriel Garcia Márquez. The flora and fauna of the Amazon is one of the stars of this production. Dancers and puppeteers bring the ever-changing river to life.

The powerful cast is headed by Ailyn Pérez, the daughter of Mexican immigrants who finally gets to sing an opera at The Met in Spanish. The last time a Spanish opera was performed at The Met was in 1926. One reviewer writes that, “Pérez gifted the audience with a riveting interpretation of the role of Florencia Grimaldi. Her last aria was one of the most cathartic and riveting moments of any opera all season.”
This is an opera that will make you feel that you are watching something old, as well as something new. If you like Puccini, you will love Florencia en al Amazonas.

“You almost want to applaud the impressive achievement of a score that so thoroughly rejects the galvanic musical developments since the early 1900s, when the opera is set.” (NYT)

“The music glistens like sun on the river; it is graceful and ravishing.” (BachTrack)

RESERVE YOUR SEAT:
www.townhalltheater.org/event/florencia-en-el-amazonas/

VIEW THE 2023/24 MET IN HD LINEUP:
www.ocmvermont.org/met-in-hd

12/18/2023