LE NOZZE DI FIGARO
Cast
Taryn Holback as Countess Almaviva
Maryland native, Taryn Holback, is a soprano studying with Fred Carama in New York City and Phyllis Bryn-Julson at the Peabody Institute of The Johns Hopkins University . She recently earned a Bachelor's of Music degree from the Manhattan School of Music where she studied with Cynthia Hoffmann.
This summer, Ms. Holback will sing Contessa Almaviva with the Chicago Summer Opera in the festival's inaugural production of Mozart's Le Nozze di Figaro.
While a student at the Peabody Institute, Ms. Holback performed Violetta Valery in a concert production of La Traviata, portrayed Helena in a scene from Britten's A Midsummer Night's Dream as well as Arabella in a scene from Richard Strauss' Arabella, and was selected to sing for world renowned baritone Thomas Hampson's masterclass.
In 2009, Ms. Holback was the youngest participant in an acting workshop with the acclaimed soprano, Lauren Flanigan. As an undergraduate at the Manhattan School of Music, Ms. Holback sang scenes from Don Giovanni (Donna Elvira), The Merry Wives of Windsor (Mrs. Ford) and Le Nozze di Figaro (Contessa). Additionally, Ms. Holback has been a participant in several summer programs including the Bay Area Summer Opera Theatre Institute (BASOTI), Opera on the Avalon, and the OperaWorks Emerging Artist Program. At BASOTI, Ms. Holback sang La Zelatrice in Suor Angelica as well as scenes from Cosi fan Tutte (Fiordiligi), Der Frieschütz (Agathe) and Street Scene (Rose).
This summer, Ms. Holback will sing Contessa Almaviva with the Chicago Summer Opera in the festival's inaugural production of Mozart's Le Nozze di Figaro.
While a student at the Peabody Institute, Ms. Holback performed Violetta Valery in a concert production of La Traviata, portrayed Helena in a scene from Britten's A Midsummer Night's Dream as well as Arabella in a scene from Richard Strauss' Arabella, and was selected to sing for world renowned baritone Thomas Hampson's masterclass.
In 2009, Ms. Holback was the youngest participant in an acting workshop with the acclaimed soprano, Lauren Flanigan. As an undergraduate at the Manhattan School of Music, Ms. Holback sang scenes from Don Giovanni (Donna Elvira), The Merry Wives of Windsor (Mrs. Ford) and Le Nozze di Figaro (Contessa). Additionally, Ms. Holback has been a participant in several summer programs including the Bay Area Summer Opera Theatre Institute (BASOTI), Opera on the Avalon, and the OperaWorks Emerging Artist Program. At BASOTI, Ms. Holback sang La Zelatrice in Suor Angelica as well as scenes from Cosi fan Tutte (Fiordiligi), Der Frieschütz (Agathe) and Street Scene (Rose).
Ingrid Israel Mikolajczyk as Countess Almaviva
Soprano Ingrid Israel Mikolajczyk has been featured in Villa-Lobos’ Bachianas Brasilieras No.5, Handel’s Messiah, Fourth Presbyterian Church of Chicago’s Noonday Concert Series, and the Musicians Club of Women Award Winners in Concert Classical Mondays Series at Chicago Cultural Center’s Preston Bradley Hall. Favorite roles include Adina L’elisir d’amore, Najade Ariadne auf Naxos, and Silberklang Der Schauspieldirektor. Ms. Israel is prize winner of the 2009 Musicians Club of Women Annemarie Gerts Award, Arizona-Utah and Illinois NATS, Regional (Nevada) and National (Texas) MTNA competitions, Miriam L. Wolfe Award, and the Henry-Charles Memorial Concerto-Aria competition. A Chicago Symphony Chorus member, Ms. Israel was honored to perform in Orff’s Carmina Burana under Riccardo Muti for the 2012 Carnegie Hall Opening Night Gala. A GECC chorister from age 8, she was privileged to work and record with Decca Records London and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and Chorus under Solti, Eschenbach, and Wolfe; State Philharmonic of Bialystok, Poland at Carnegie Hall; Spoleto Festival dei Due Mondi; the Vatican; and WFMT-Chicago. Ingrid Israel holds a Master of Music degree from Arizona State University, a Bachelor of Music degree from Illinois Wesleyan University, and completed studies in Vienna, Alaska, and Italy. Ms. Israel studies with Maria Lagios.
Sam Cotten as Count Almaviva
Baritone Samuel Cotten is proud to perform Count Almaviva with Chicago Summer Opera, a role he first performed a year ago with Vancouver Summer Opera. Past engagements include the Sacristan and Sciarrone in Tosca with Main Street Opera, Ignacio in William Bolcom’s Lucrezia, Pandolfe in Cendrillon, and Don Alfonso in Così fan tutte. In addition, he recently covered the role of Uncle John in the Chicago Premiere of Ricky Ian Gordon’s The Grapes of Wrath at Northwestern University, a role performed by renowned baritone, Robert Orth, who had previously originated the role. Mr. Cotten has also appeared in Il Barbiere di Siviglia with Winter Opera in St. Louis and scenes from Trouble in Tahiti, Gianni Schicchi, Don Giovanni, Carmen, and Rigoletto. Having recently received his Master’s in Voice & Opera from Northwestern University, he studies with W. Pamela Hinchman, Stephen Smith, Alan Darling, and Richard Boldrey.
Brad Whaley as Count Almaviva
Baritone Brad Whaley has already made an impressive career mark in opera, oratorio, and recital repertoire. Mr. Whaley is thrilled to be a part of Chicago Summer Opera. His professional engagements include the role of King Melchior in Menotti’s Amahl and the Night Visitors for Main Street Opera (Chicago), Mr. Peachum in Britten’s The Beggar’s Opera, for North Park Opera (Chicago), Egeus in Michael Ching’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream for Opera America (New York,) Thomas Putnam in Ward's The Crucible for Chamber Opera Chicago, and the lead role of Misfit in the premiere of David Volk's A Good Man Is Hard to Find at Wise Opera Theatre (Virginia). Earlier roles include Dr. Gregg in Moore's Gallantry for Opera Moda (Chicago), Thomas Putnam (The Crucible) and King Melchior in Menotti’s Amahl and the Night Visitors, both for East Carolina Opera. Mr. Whaley has performed recitals and concerts in the Midwest, and throughout the Carolinas and Virginia. He has been soloist in performances of Bach’s Magnificat, Haydn’s Missa Sancti Nicolai, and Fauré’s Requiem. More recently, Mr. Whaley appeared as baritone soloist in Brahms’ Ein deutsches Requiem with the North Park University Symphony Orchestra. In the spring of 2009, he was the recipient winner of The North Shore Musicians Club Scholarship Competition. In the summer of 2009 Mr. Whaley was a member of Opera New Jersey’s Young Artist Apprentice Program as a Studio Artist.
Mr. Whaley has studied and coached with a number of distinguished artists and
teachers, including John Wustman, Richard Stilwell, Tracy Watson, Kit Bridges, Karen Bauer, Francesco Milioto, Sharon Munden, Harold Bauer, and Michael LaTour. He studied at the Centro Puccini Scuola in Viareggio, Italy in 2005. He earned a Bachelor’s Degree at East Carolina University and a Master’s Degree at North Park University in Chicago.
Mr. Whaley has studied and coached with a number of distinguished artists and
teachers, including John Wustman, Richard Stilwell, Tracy Watson, Kit Bridges, Karen Bauer, Francesco Milioto, Sharon Munden, Harold Bauer, and Michael LaTour. He studied at the Centro Puccini Scuola in Viareggio, Italy in 2005. He earned a Bachelor’s Degree at East Carolina University and a Master’s Degree at North Park University in Chicago.
Samuel Thompson as Figaro
Baritone, Samuel Thompson is currently a masters student at DePaul University School of Music. A St. Paul native, he began his studies at the Minnesota Opera Center before earning a Bachelor of Music from DePaul. Recently he has performed the roles of The Vicar in Britten’s Albert Herring, The Forester in Janáček’s The Cunning Little Vixen, title role in Mozart’s Le nozze di Figaro, and appeared with Haymarket Opera, Chicago’s new and exciting baroque opera company, for a production of Dido and Aeneas. Upcoming engagements include Mr. Peachum in Kurt Weil’s Three Penny Opera, and Schaunard in Puccini’s La Boheme with DePaul Opera Theatre.
Kristen Bigham as Susanna
Kristen Bigham, Soprano, is a native of Fort Worth, Texas. Her Mozart operatic roles include Servilia in La Clemenza di Tito, Despina in Cosi Fan Tutte, Madame Goldentrill in The Impresario, and the First Lady in Die Zauberflöte with such ensembles as the University of North Texas Opera, Abilene Collegiate Opera, and Hardin-Simmons University. In 2010 she sang the role of Marenka in Smetana’s Prodana Nevesta with the UNT Opera and the Czech Association Cultural Tour of Texas. She has also sung several contemporary operatic roles including The Princess in Thomas Pasatieri’s The Goose Girl with the Fort Worth Opera Institute, Helen in Ned Rorem’s Three Sisters Who Are Not Sisters, and covered the role of The Flier in Daren Hagen’s Amelia with the Chicago College of Performing Arts. In 2011 she was awarded Fourth Prize in the Czech and Slovak International Music Competition held in Montreal. Ms. Bigham received a Bachelor of Music degree in Vocal Performance from the University of North Texas and recently completed her Master of Music degree in Vocal Performance at Roosevelt University where she studied with Matthew Chellis.
Elyse Kakacek as Susanna
Elyse Kakacek is a dedicated young soprano with an open-minded, curious, and fearless approach to performing. She has been seen in various stage roles including Adele and Ida in Die Fledermaus, Despina, Gretel, Zerlina, Papagena, Poppea, Yumyum and Peep-Bo in The Mikado, and Sieglinde Lessing in Music in the Air. She also joined the cast of Spirit of the Dance in Niagara Falls as a featured soloist for Spirit Productions this past January. Elyse has performed with Music by the Lake, Petite Opera Productions, American Chamber Opera Company, The Gilbert and Sullivan Company of Chicago, The Savoyaires and the DePaul Opera Theatre. She made her musical theatre debut at age seventeen as Dari in a middle-eastern pop-opera Sitaram with Lookingglass Theatre. Elyse is thrilled to be performing the role of Pamina in The Magic Flute with American Chamber Opera Company and Susanna in Le Nozze di Figaro with Chicago Summer Opera this August. In the fall, she will sing Frasquita in American Chamber Opera Company's Carmen. On the concert stage, she has appeared as soloist in Beethoven's Choral Fantasy at the International Beethoven Festival in Chicago, Mendelssohn's Elijah (The Youth), and in Schubert's Mass in G. Elyse was a Finalist in both Chicago's Opera Idol Competition and in the Opera Professional division for The American Prize: Virginia Schorr Memorial Award in 2013. Miss Kakacek is honored to be a member of the Black Box Acting Studio family where she has completed four levels of study in the Sanford Meisner Method. She has participated in several summer training programs including Operaworks, The Amalfi Coast Music Festival and the Opera Training Institute of Chicago. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Vocal Performance from DePaul University and currently studies voice with Winifred Faix Brown in Chicago.
Marissa Simmons as Cherubino
Originally from Chicago, Marissa Simmons is currently studying under Dr. Esther Jane Hardenbergh at the University of Miami Frost School of Music where she recently performed the roles of Hänsel in Humperdinck’sHänsel and Gretel, Tisbe in Rossini’s La Cenerentola, the Third Spirit in Mozart's Die Zauberflöte, Valetto (L'incorronatione di Poppea), Cupid (Venus and Adonis by John Blow) and Soap Opera Director in the world premier of Dr. Charles Mason's Entanglements. This past summer she sang the roles of Lucretia (The Rape of Lucretia), Cenerentola (La Cenerentola), La Maestra delle Novizie (Suor Angelica), and La Natura (La Calisto) in San Francisco with the Bay Area Summer Opera Theatre Institute. Not only is she an accomplished opera singer, but Simmons is also an emerging young composer. She had the world premier of one of her orchestral compositions in Austria when she was only 15. Simmons has been singing professionally since age 11.
Elena Snow as Cherubino
Elena Snow is a young mezzo soprano and a graduate of DePaul University in Chicago. While studying at DePaul, she had extensive experience as a member of several choirs, where she was also a frequent soloist in large choral works. Elena is an active member of the Chicago Symphony Chorus where she has worked with conductors Ricardo Muti, James Conlon and Seymon Bychkov. This last year, she advanced to the final round and received fourth place in the Bel Canto Competition. Her most recent operatic roles include Nancy from Benjamin Britten's "Albert Herring" and Prince Orlofsky in American Chamber Opera’s production of “Die Fledermaus." She is humbled to be a part of Chicago Summer Opera and excited to play the role of Cherubino.
Margot Kinscherff as Marcellina
Margot Kinscherff discovered her love of opera shortly after moving to Chicago in 2006, and singing soon became an all-consuming passion. After earning a bachelor’s degree in Visual and Critical Studies from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, she immediately began pursuing a second bachelor’s degree in vocal performance at Northeastern Illinois University, where she currently studies. She has recently performed in NEIU’s productions of A Christmas Carol, Street Scene, and Sweeney Todd as well as scenes performances and several recitals. Miss Kinscherff has studied with Chicago teachers Sandra Benedict, Dr. Stephen Swedish, and Dr. Phyllis Hurt. This is her first performance with Chicago Summer Opera, and she is thrilled to be a part of one of her favorite operas. Miss Kinscherff will begin graduate studies at Longy Conservatory of Bard College this fall.
Claire Weber as Marcellina
British-American mezzo soprano Claire Weber received her Bachelors from Bard College where she had the fortune of performing Britten’s Quatre chansons françaises with the American Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Leon Botstein. She also starred in the college’s production of Dido and Aeneas and was featured multiple times as a soloist with the Chamber Singers’ seasonal concerts. Since Bard she has performed scenes with New England Conservatory’s summer program as Angelina, Cenerentola, and Fidalma in Cimarosa’s Il matrimonio segreto. She has just returned from one month with the Lyric Opera Studio Weimar in Germany where she took on the roles of Dritte Dame and Dritte Knabe in the production of Die Zauberflöte as well as singing Carmen in the famous sextet “Nous avons en tête une affaire” with the Thüringer Symphoniker Saalfeld-Rudolstadt. This fall she is looking forward to starting a Masters in Music at Peabody Conservatory in Baltimore.
Joshua Poucher as Bartolo
Native to the North Chicago suburbs, bass-baritone Joshua Poucher is thrilled to be performing the role of Bartolo in his first production of Le Nozze di Figaro. A recent graduate of DePaul University, he last appeared in DePaul Opera Theatre’s productions of La Boheme and The Threepenny Opera while freelancing in the Chicago area, notably performing as chorus member in the Grant Park Music Festival, as Leon in DaCorneto Opera’s U.S. premiere of the Filipino opera Noli me Tangere, and as the Page in Fullscore Chamber Orchestra’s concert production of Amahl and the Night Visitors. While his love of music and singing brought Joshua to Chicago Summer Opera, he enjoys performing in mediums outside of opera as well under the guidance of teacher Marc Embree, recently appearing as the Narrator in Igor Stravinsky’s Histoire du Soldat earlier this year with DePaul Chamber Music. Coming up, Joshua will again be narrating, this time in Sergei Prokofiev’s Peter and the Wolf, while studying and auditioning in and around Chicago. Many thanks to: family, friends, Professor Embree at DePaul, and teacher Pat Jamison at the Zion Conservatory of Music for starting me off on this path, for constantly pushing me to strive to be better, and teaching me to always make art.
Ryan Douglas as Basilio/Don Curzio
Ryan Douglas Wells has been a Chicagoan since 2006, when he arrived from Ohio to do his graduate work at Northwestern University, where he earned his Master of Music degree. Ryan's previous work centers mainly on opera, having sung La Traviata, Die Fledermaus, Le nozze di Figaro, Cosi fan tutte, A Midsummer Night's Dream, The Medium, Les Contes d’Hoffmann and others throughout Illinois, Wisconsin, and Ohio. He has also performed extensively in the concert repertoire, as a soloist in Mozart's Requiem, Brahms' Liebeslieder Waltzer, Händel's Messiah and Judas Maccabaeus, Bach's Weihnnachts-oratorium, and others. Recently, he has made his first foray into musical theater, with Brigadoon and The Rocky Horror Show. He is currently touring Chicago area schools with Chicago Opera Playhouse, appearing in Cinderhood, an educational musical theater piece designed to introduce our youngest generation to sung theater.
Meghan Klinkenborg as Barbarina
Meghan Klinkenborg, soprano, recently graduated with her Masters of Music this May from the University of Minnesota Duluth. Her previous teachers include Dr. Regina Zona, Alice Pierce, and Dr. Kimberly Roberts. From Des Moines, Iowa, Meghan attended Simpson College where she graduated Suma cum laude with a Bachelor of Music degree.
During her undergraduate, Meghan participated in many opera productions, including the role of Olimpia in Arthur Benjamin’s Prima Donna and Susanna in Le nozze di Figaro, as well as roles in opera scenes programs, including Amy from Little Women, Stella from A Streetcar Named Desire, Rosina from Il barbiere di Siviglia, and Frasquita from Carmen.
Meghan also participated in the Italian Operatic Experience in 2007 where she performed in two opera productions and a scenes program, including the role of Suor Dolcina in Suor Angelica.
During her time at University of Minnesota Duluth, Meghan participated in the opera studio, most recently playing the role of Flaminia in Haydn’s The World of the Moon. She also covered the role of Despina in Cosi fan tutte, and played numerous roles in the opera scenes program including Marie from La fill du régiment, Norina from Don Pasquale, and Blöndchen from Die Entführung aus dem Serail.
During her undergraduate, Meghan participated in many opera productions, including the role of Olimpia in Arthur Benjamin’s Prima Donna and Susanna in Le nozze di Figaro, as well as roles in opera scenes programs, including Amy from Little Women, Stella from A Streetcar Named Desire, Rosina from Il barbiere di Siviglia, and Frasquita from Carmen.
Meghan also participated in the Italian Operatic Experience in 2007 where she performed in two opera productions and a scenes program, including the role of Suor Dolcina in Suor Angelica.
During her time at University of Minnesota Duluth, Meghan participated in the opera studio, most recently playing the role of Flaminia in Haydn’s The World of the Moon. She also covered the role of Despina in Cosi fan tutte, and played numerous roles in the opera scenes program including Marie from La fill du régiment, Norina from Don Pasquale, and Blöndchen from Die Entführung aus dem Serail.
Victoria Watts as Barbarina
Victoria Watts is excited to make her debut with Chicago Summer Opera as Barbarina in Le Nozze di Figaro. Past roles include Laetitia in The Old Maid and the Thief and Nerone in L’incoronazione di Poppea. Ms. Watts is a proud graduate of Millikin University, where she earned a Bachelor of Music degree and performed with the world-renowned Millikin University Choir under the direction of Dr. Brad Holmes. She continued her education under a scholarship at Northern Illinois University, obtaining a Master’s degree in vocal performance. In 2012 Victoria performed as a chorus member in Main Street Opera’s production of Tosca. She also appears regularly with the Canterbury Singers, a professional choir in Dixon, Illinois. Ms. Watts currently studies with respected bass Myron Myers, and has participated in his summer opera workshop in Chicago, Voices of the Millennium. Later this fall, Victoria will join the cast of Suor Angelica in Main Street Opera’s 2013 season.
Eric Mason as Antonio
Eric Mason completed his masters degree in vocal performance at DePaul University in 2009. In 2011 he performed as MacGregor in Music by the Lake's 2011 summer production of Brigadoon and the Gilbert and Sullivan Opera Company as the Notary in the company's 2011 production of the Sorcerer. In 2010 he performed the role of Pooh-Bah in the G&S Company's production of the Mikado. Eric played a plethora of characters in his time with DePaul Opera Theater. These roles included the Mikado, Plutone from L'Orfeo, and Maestro Spinelloccio from Gianni Schicchi.
He has been described as an athletic singing actor who possesses a warm timbre.