Showcase - 7:30 P.M. CT | SEPT. 25, 2020 Available on demand through October 25
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HGO Studio
Showcase
A remarkable evening with the talented artists training
this year with the HGO Studio
7:30 P.M. CT | SEPT. 25, 2020
Available on demand through October 25
HGO Studio Showcase This year’s Studio Showcase takes on a new digital format, but the purpose of the production is very much the same. Studio Showcase provides a sneak peek at some of the finest artists in opera today, all of whom are members of the renowned HGO Studio, and some of whom have just moved to Houston to begin their time with our company and community. Repertoire includes both familiar favorites and new discoveries, selected for the single purpose of presenting these artists in scenes that are suited to their spectacular talents.
HGO Studio Showcase
Program
BIZET: CARMEN RAVEL: L’HEURE ESPAGNOLE
Act II – “Nous avons en tête une affaire” Scenes 9–13 – “Évidemment, elle
me congédie”
Frasquita Raven McMillon *†
Carmen Sun-Ly Pierce *† Conception Sun-Ly Pierce †
Mercedes Lindsay Kate Brown † Ramiro Blake Denson †
Remendado Ricardo Garcia *† Don Inigo Cory McGee †
Dancaire Blake Denson *† Pianist Bin Yu Sanford †
Pianist Bin Yu Sanford *†
MASSENET: WERTHER
DONIZETTI: ANNA BOLENA Act III – “Bonjour, grande soeur… Va! laisse
Act I – “Oh! Qual parlar fu il suo...Tutta in voi couler mes larmes”
la luce mia”
Sophie Elena Villalón †
Giovanna Lindsay Kate Brown † Charlotte Lindsay Kate Brown †
Enrico William Guanbo Su † Pianist Alex Munger †
Pianist Alex Munger †
DONIZETTI: L’ELISIR D’AMORE
MASSENET: DON QUICHOTTE Act I – “Caro elisir!...Esulti pur la barbara”
Act II – “C’est vers ton amour…”
Adina Raven McMillon †
Sancho Nicholas Newton † Nemorino Ricardo Garcia †
Quichotte Cory McGee * † Pianist Kevin Miller
Pianist Kevin Miller
MOZART: DON GIOVANNI
BERG: LULU Act II Finale – “Già la mensa è preparata”
Act I – “Gnädige Frau… Machen Sie auf!...
Auf einmal springt er auf…” Donna Elvira Lindsay Kate Brown †
Don Giovanni Blake Denson †
Lulu Elena Villalón † Leporello Nicholas Newton †
Der Maler Ricardo Garcia † Commendatore William Guanbo Su †
Der Medizinalrat Nicholas Newton † Pianist Bin Yu Sanford †
Pianist Alex Munger †
MONTEVERDI: L’INCORONAZIONE
DI POPPEA
Act III – “Pur ti miro”
Poppea Elena Villalón †
* HGO debut Nerone Sun-Ly Pierce †
† HGO Studio artist Pianist Kevin Miller
Credits
Kristine McIntyre Stage Director Ben Doyle Video Director
Annie Wheeler Stage Manager Molly Dill Producing Director
Jeremy Johnson English Subtitles Brian Speck HGO Studio Director
Dotti Staker Hair & Makeup Miah Im HGO Studio Music Director
Esmeralda DeLeón Costume Realizer Daniel James Producer
Michael James Clark Lighting Designer
Video Production Streaming Partner
HGO Studio Showcase
Who's Who
RAVEN MCMILLON Theatre of Saint Louis as a Gerdine Young Artist and returned to the
(Baltimore, MD) Tanglewood Music Center as a soprano fellow. In the summer of
SOPRANO 2020, she was set to make her Santa Fe Opera debut as First Wood
Sprite in Rusalka, but this was canceled due to COVID-19.
HGO appearances: Rona Richards in The
Impresario (digital); Gretel in Hansel and
Gretel (digital); Peter in The Snowy Day Project LINDSAY KATE BROWN
(digital); Sister Margaretta in The Sound of Music. First-year HGO ( Waterloo, NY)
Studio artist. MEZZO-SOPRANO
Underwriter: Brenda Harvey-Traylor HGO appearances: Gertrud in Hansel and
Gretel (digital); Sister Berthe in The Sound of
Raven McMillon received her bachelor of fine arts in vocal perfor- Music. Third-year HGO Studio artist.
mance at Carnegie Mellon University and completed her graduate
degree at the University of Cincinnati College - Conservatory of Music Previously at HGO: Giovanna in Rigoletto; Second Lady in The
(CCM). Her opera credits include Adele in Die Fledermaus; the title Magic Flute (COVID-19 cancellation). Third prize winner in HGO’s
role in Goldie B. Locks and the Three Singing Bears; Linfea in La 2018 Eleanor McCollum Competition Concert of Arias.
Calisto; and Barbarina in Le nozze di Figaro. In addition to her opera
credits, McMillon has also workshopped new roles such as Mary Underwriters: Mr. and Mrs. James W. Crownover /
in Chiao’s The Secret Codes of Mary Bowser and Lucy in Picker’s Lynn and Henry Gissel
Awakenings. Her recent roles included La Princesse in L’enfant et les
sortilèges with the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra and Papagena in This year Lindsay Kate Brown won first place in the Upper Midwest
Die Zauberflöte at CCM in the summer of 2020, which were canceled Region of The Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions and
due to COVID-19. competed in the national Grand Finals. She earned an artist diploma
at Rice University and made her professional debut with Tri-Cities
Opera in 2014. In summer 2018, she was a young artist at Des
ELENA VILLALÓN Moines Metro Opera, where she reprised the role of Ma Moss
( Austin, TX) in Copland’s The Tender Land and covered the role of Ježibaba
SOPRANO in Dvořák’s Rusalka. In 2019 she sang the role of the Composer in
Ariadne auf Naxos with Wolf Trap Opera. She was set to join The
HGO appearances: Farinelli’s Trainer in Santa Fe Opera as an Apprentice Artist in summer 2020, but that was
Vinkensport (digital); Amy in The Snowy Day canceled due to COVID-19.
Project (digital); Dew Fairy and Sandman in
Hansel and Gretel (digital). Second-year HGO Studio artist.
SUN-LY PIERCE
Previously at HGO: Page in Rigoletto; Woman in selected perfor- (Clinton, NY)
mances of the world premiere of El Milagro del Recuerdo/The Miracle MEZZO-SOPRANO
of Remembering; Inez in La favorite. Audience Choice Award winner
in HGO’s 2019 Eleanor McCollum Competition Concert of Arias. HGO appearances: Hansel in Hansel and
Alumna of HGO’s Young Artists Vocal Academy (2018). Gretel (digital); Sister Sophia in The Sound of
Music. First-year HGO Studio artist.
Underwriters: Dian and Harlan Stai
Previously at HGO: First prize winner in HGO’s 2020 Eleanor
Elena Villalón was a Grand Finals winner of the 2019 Metropolitan McCollum Competition Concert of Arias.
Opera National Council Auditions. She is a recent graduate of the
University of Cincinnati College - Conservatory of Music (CCM)., Underwriters: Charlene and Chuck Nickson/Tracy Maddox
has been a vocal fellow at the Tanglewood Music Center, and is an and John Serpe
alumna of HGO’s 2018 Young Artist Vocal Academy. In summer
2019, she performed Barbarina in The Marriage of Figaro at Opera Originally from Clinton, Chinese American mezzo-soprano Sun-Ly
HGO Studio Showcase
Pierce completed the graduate vocal arts program at the Bard Underwriters: Elizabeth Grimm and Jack Roth/Carolyn Levy/Gloria
College Conservatory of Music and holds a bachelor’s degree in Portela and Dick Evans
vocal performance from the Eastman School of Music. As a winner
of the Marilyn Horne Song Competition, Pierce will perform on Blake Denson was a Grand Finals winner in the 2020 Metropolitan
an international recital tour with pianist Chien-Lin Lu featuring the Opera National Council Auditions and is a 2018 alumnus of HGO’s
premiere of a new song cycle by two-time Grammy Award winning Young Artists Vocal Academy (YAVA). He obtained his bachelor
composer, Jennifer Higdon. The past fall, Pierce joined the Broad of music in voice degree from the University of Kentucky School
Street Orchestra as Dorinda in Handel’s Acis and Galatea. She was of Music and recently completed his master’s degree at Rice
set to return to the Music Academy of the West this summer as a University’s Shepherd School of Music. Denson was a Studio Artist
2020 Vocal Fellow, but this was canceled due to COVID-19. at Wolf Trap Opera in 2018 and was set to return to Wolf Trap
Opera for a second season in the summer of 2020 to perform the
Commander and cover the title role in Eugene Onegin, as well as
RICARDO GARCIA cover the role of Marcello in La bohème, but those productions
(Castro Valley, CA) were canceled due to COVID-19.
TENOR
HGO appearances: Hans Sach’s Trainer NICHOLAS NEWTON
in Vinkensport (digital); The Snowy Day (San Diego, CA)
Project (digital); Suite Española (digital). BASS-BARITONE
First-year HGO Studio artist.
HGO appearances: Daddy/Tim in The
Underwriters: Michelle Beale and Dick Anderson/Dr. Ellen Gritz Snowy Day Project (digital); Giving Voice
and Mickey Rosenau (digital); Terry in Breaking the Waves.
Second-year HGO Studio artist.
Ricardo Garcia recently completed his master’s degree in voice at the
San Francisco Conservatory of Music (SFCM) and holds a bachelor’s Previously at HGO: Monterone in Rigoletto; Second Soldier in
degree from the University of the Pacific. He was a studio artist at Salome (COVID-19 cancellation). Third prize winner in HGO’s 2019
Wolf Trap Opera, where he covered Roméo in Roméo et Juliette and Eleanor McCollum Competition Concert of Arias. Alumnus of Young
Giocondo in La pietra del paragone, and a voice fellow with Music Artists Vocal Academy (2016).
Academy of the West, where he sang Jenik in The Bartered Bride.
Recent roles include Lamplighter/Drunkard in The Little Prince and Underwriters: Nancy and Ted Haywood/Kathy Moore and Steve
Fenton in Falstaff. As a first-year apprentice at Santa Fe Opera, he Homer/Jill and Allyn Risley
covered Parpignol in La bohème and sang Fenton/Normanno in the
Apprentice Scenes Night. Recently, Garcia won the San Francisco Nicholas Newton’s notable performances include the roles of Count
District of the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions and Ceprano in Rigoletto and Capulet (cover) in Roméo et Juliette with
advanced to the region finals in Los Angeles. Wolf Trap Opera, Achilla in Julius Caesar at Rice University, and
L’arbre and Le fauteuil in L’enfant et les sortilèges at the Aspen Music
Festival. Newton was a 2019 national semifinalist in the Metropolitan
BLAKE DENSON Opera National Council Auditions and the first-place winner in the
(Paducah, KY) 2018 Virginia & Susan Hawk Competition. In summer 2019, he
BARITONE sang Monterone in Rigoletto with Opera Theatre of Saint Louis. In
the summer of 2020, he had been set to return to Wolf Trap Opera
HGO appearances: Giving Voice (digital); as Colline in La bohème, but that production was canceled due to
Peter in Hansel and Gretel (digital); Suite COVID-19.
Española (digital); Church Councilman in
Breaking the Waves. First-year HGO Studio artist.
Previously at HGO: 2018 Alumnus of HGO’s Young Artists
Vocal Academy
HGO Studio Showcase
CORY MCGEE ALEX MUNGER
(Stafford, VA) (New Berlin, Wisconsin)
BASS PIANIST/COACH
HGO appearances: Billy in The Snowy Day HGO appearances: Coach for Vinkensport
Project (digital); Giving Voice (digital). (digital); Hansel and Gretel (digital);
First-year HGO Studio artist. The Sound of Music. He will also appear with
HGO Studio singers in recital and other performances. Second-year
Previously at HGO: Second prize winner in HGO’s 2020 Eleanor HGO Studio artist.
McCollum Competition Concert of Arias.
Previously at HGO: Coach for Rigoletto, La favorite, and The Magic
Underwriter: Beth Madison Flute (COVID-19 cancellation).
Cory McGee recently completed his master of music degree at Rice Underwriters: Saul and Ursula Balagura and Trey Yates
University’s Shepherd School of Music. In summer 2019, he joined
Santa Fe Opera as an apprentice artist, portraying the role of the Alex Munger previously served as a staff pianist at the University
Gardener in Ruder’s The Thirteenth Child. In 2018 he was a studio of Illinois, where he helped prepare La bohème and The Rape of
artist with Wolf Trap Opera, where he played La Voce in Mozart’s Lucretia. In 2018, Munger was a fellowship pianist with the Aspen
Idomeneo and Ranger Nat in David Hanlon’s children’s opera, Listen, Opera Center, where he worked on Il barbiere di Siviglia; he returned
Wilhelmina!, and was a soloist in “Bernstein at 100 – A Celebration.” to Aspen in the summer of 2019. He received his master of music
Recent engagements include the title role in Le nozze di Figaro degree in vocal coaching and accompanying from the University
and Pandolfe in Massenet’s Cendrillon (Oberlin Opera Theater) and of Illinois. Previous engagements include the Bay View Music
Leporello in Don Giovanni (Oberlin in Italy). Festival (Carmen), where he returned in 2019 as a faculty pianist
for its two-week opera and art song program. He appeared with
tenor Richard Trey Smagur in a recital of Schumann’s Dichterliebe
WILLIAM GUANBO SU at Houston’s Jones Hall in a program presented by the Houston
(Beijing, China) Symphony. In the summer of 2020, he served as a coaching fellow
BASS at Wolf Trap Opera.
HGO appearances: Bowie Krebs in The
Impresario (digital); Sadistic Sailor in Breaking BIN YU SANFORD
the Waves. Second-year HGO Studio artist. (Seoul, Korea)
PIANIST/COACH
Previously at HGO: Usher in Rigoletto; Fifth Jew in Salome
(COVID-19 cancellation); Second Armored Man in The Magic Flute HGO appearances: Coach for The Impresario
(COVID-19 cancellation). Second place winner in HGO’s 2019 (digital); The Snowy Day Project (digital);
Eleanor McCollum Competition Concert of Arias. Breaking the Waves. She will also appear
with HGO Studio singers in recital and other performances. First-year
Underwriters: Anne and Albert Chao HGO Studio artist.
William Guanbo Su is a Grand Finals Winner of the 2019 Metropolitan Underwriters: Susan and Hiram Davis/Stephanie Larsen and Lynn
Opera National Council Auditions. He has been a Gerdine Young Des Prez/Valerie and Miguel Miro-Quesada
Artist at Opera Theatre of Saint Louis and a voice fellow at the Aspen
Music Festival. He has studied German lieder at the Franz Schubert Bin Yu Sanford has established herself as a solo pianist, vocal coach,
Institute in Vienna, and in 2017 won first prize in the Gerda Lissner and chamber musician. Yu Sanford earned her master of music in
Lieder Competition. During the summer of 2019, he sang Count solo piano performance and an artist diploma in opera coaching at
Ceprano in Verdi’s Rigoletto with Opera Theatre of Saint Louis as the University of Cincinnati College - Conservatory of Music (CCM).
a Gerdine Young Artist. He was scheduled to return to Aspen in Recently, she was selected as one of the vocal piano fellows at Music
summer 2020 to perform the role of Sarastro in The Magic Flute until Academy of the West, where she worked on Jennifer Higdon’s Cold
it was canceled due to COVID-19. Mountain. Since 2017, Yu Sanford has served as a graduate assistant
HGO Studio Showcase
in the opera department at CCM. She was the first prize winner of the Jonathan Dove’s Flight (Pittsburgh Opera, Des Moines Metro Opera,
Pennsylvania MTNA Young Artist Piano Competition. In the summer Austin Opera), Jake Heggie’s The End of the Affair (Lyric Opera
of 2020, she was scheduled to join the Glimmerglass Festival as of Kansas City) and Three Decembers (Des Moines Metro Opera);
an apprentice pianist, however the festival was canceled due to Florencia en el Amazonas (Madison Opera), Elmer Gantry (Tulsa
COVID-19. Opera), Of Mice and Men (Utah Opera, Austin Opera, Tulsa Opera),
the world premiere of Kirke Mechem’s John Brown (Lyric Opera of
Kansas City); new productions of Street Scene, The Tender Land
KEVIN MILLER (Michigan Opera Theater) and Lee Hoiby's Bon Appétit; a staged
(New York, NY) concert version of Vanessa (Toledo Opera) and the world premiere
PIANO of The Canticle of the Black Madonna (Newmark Theater, Portland).
Current projects include new productions of Dead Man Walking,
American pianist and collaborator, Kevin J. Sweeney Todd and Glory Denied, an adaptation of La Voix
Miller is acclaimed for his dynamically artful Humaine and the world premiere of Celka Ojakangas and Amy
performances. Miller has supported HGO Punt's Mirror Game (winner of an Opera America Female Composer
in the musical preparation for The Abduction from the Seraglio Discovery Grant).
(2017). An in-demand recital accompanist, he works regularly with
top vocalists. He has an ongoing partnership with international tenor
Joseph Calleja, with whom he has performed at the Club de musicale
in Quebec City, the Harriman Jewel series in Kansas City, and at the
Jordan Hall in Boston. He accompanied Calleja and Nadine Sierra at
the Supreme Court of the United States, as well as an appearance
with Calleja on NPR’s Tiny Desk Concert series. Kevin Miller prepared
soprano Jessye Norman for performances of Laura Karpman’s
production of Ask Your Mama (Carnegie Hall). He also collaborated
with acclaimed countertenors David Daniels and John Holiday, in
recitals at the Glimmerglass Festival and The John F. Kennedy Center,
respectively. He can be heard on piano on the recording Been in da
Storm So Long, which features baritone Kenneth Overton. Upcoming
engagements include recitals with tenor Lawrence Brownlee at
Carnegie Hall and John Holiday in New York City as part of the
Crypt Series concerts.
KRISTINE MCINTYRE
(San Diego, CA)
STAGE DIRECTOR
Stage director Kristine McIntyre has directed
more than 90 operas across the U.S. with a
focus on new, contemporary, and American
works. Productions include Jake Heggie and Gene Scheer's Moby
Dick (Utah Opera, Pittsburgh Opera, Chicago Opera Theater, Opera
San Jose); Dead Man Walking (Lyric Opera of Kansas City, Des
Moines Metro Opera, Madison Opera); the world premieres of Louis
Karchin's Jane Eyre (Center for Contemporary Opera, New York) and
Mark Lanz Weiser and Amy Punt's The Place Where You Started (Art
Share, LA); new productions of Wozzeck, Billy Budd (regional Emmy
award) and Peter Grimes as well as As One (Kaminsky / Campbell /
Reed), Glory Denied and Soldier Songs (Des Moines Metro Opera),
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