The Magic Flute (DIE ZAUBERFLÖTE)
by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
July 18, 2018 at 7:30 PM & July 19, 2018 at 7:30 PM
Performed in German with projected English translations
Stan Mansion
2408 N Kedzie Blvd, Chicago, IL 60647
Creative Team
Stage Director: Dylan Evans
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Conductor: Codrut Birsan
Assistant Conductor: Marcoantonio d’Arbelles |
Assistant Stage Director: Margaret Jumonville
Musical Preparation: Chao Gao |
July 18, 2018
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July 19, 2018
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Synopsis
A beautiful princess is imprisoned by a powerful ruler. A brave prince with a goofy sidekick takes on an impossible quest. A wicked queen uses her magic to lure the hero into evil. And every now and then, someone breaks into song. Sounds like the perfect Disney musical, doesn't it? Actually, long before Mickey Mouse graced the silver screen, Austrian composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart showed the world how great a song-filled magical adventure can be, with his 1791 opera Die Zauberflöte, known in English as The Magic Flute.
Unlike many operas, in which all dialogue is sung, The Magic Flute alternates musical numbers with spoken dialogue, much like a contemporary Broadway musical. This style of opera is called a singspiel, and it makes The Magic Flute very accessible to first-time opera goers,
Unlike many operas, in which all dialogue is sung, The Magic Flute alternates musical numbers with spoken dialogue, much like a contemporary Broadway musical. This style of opera is called a singspiel, and it makes The Magic Flute very accessible to first-time opera goers,
Cast
Tamino - Cody Arthur
Cody Arthur, a native of Memphis, TN, is quickly establishing a career as a young tenor in concert, operatic, and professional choral singing. He recently made his solo oratorio debut with Ars Lyrica and Bach Society Houston singing First Israelite in Handel’s Esther. Since beginning his Masters degree at the University of Houston last fall, Cody has sung the Prince in Prokofiev’s The Love for Three Oranges, Federico in L’amico Fritz, and Lindoro in L’italiana in Algeri. As a Young Artist, his credits include Le Chevalier Danois in Gluck’s Armide and Ferrando cover in Così fan tutte with Opera NEO, and Samuel Parris in The Crucible with Miami Music Festival. Additional operatic credits include the title roles in Albert Herring and Der Schauspieldirektor, Le petit vieillard in L’enfant et les Sortilèges, and Osric in Van de Vate’s Hamlet with the University of Mississippi.
Tamino - Kevin Adamik
Kevin Adamik, tenor, is an emerging artist from the Pittsburgh, PA area. Mr. Adamik holds degrees from Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania and Cleveland Institute of Music. While at CIM, he was featured in productions of Berlioz’s Béatrice et Bénédict (Bénédict), Mozart’s La clemenza di Tito (Tito), Handel’s Alcina (Oronte), and Mozart’s Le nozze di Figaro (Basilio, Don Curzio). In the role of Bénédict, Mr. Adamik was praised for “singing with warmth and stamina,” by Dan Hathaway of Cleveland Classical. Mr. Adamik performed the title role in Britten’s Albert Herring, and Veditore in Puccini’s Il Tabarro as an Emerging Artist at Opera in the Ozarks. He also attended NAPA Music Festival in Napa, CA where he performed the roles of Frantz, Spalanzani and Pitichinaccio in Offenbach’s The Tales of Hoffmann. Mr. Adamik is a member of the Pittsburgh Opera’s chorus; he has participated in productions of Aida, Le nozze di Figaro, Moby Dick, and L’elisir d’amore. His most recent performance was with Chatham University performing Giudice and Servo d’Amelia in Verdi’s Un Ballo in Maschera.
Papageno - Jeremiah Strickler
Jeremiah Strickler, baritone, lives in Chicago, IL and is excited to be making his debut as Papageno with Chicago Summer Opera. Having performed with numerous companies, including Chicago Vocal Arts Consortium, Indianapolis Opera, Heartland Sings, and the Muncie Civic Theater, he is grateful for the opportunity to collaborate with other Chicago musicians for this production.Mr. Strickler has most recently performed the role of Nardo in Mozart’s La finta giardiniera with Chicago Vocal Arts Consortium. His other stage credits include Masetto/Don Giovanni, Top/The Tender Land, Cinderella’s Prince/Into the Woods, Emile de Becque/South Pacific, Dr. Neville Craven/The Secret Garden, and Aeneas/Dido and Aeneas. His solo concert works feature Handel’s Messiah, Beethoven’s Choral Fantasy, and Bach’s Gott der Herr ist Sonn und Schild.Mr. Strickler is pursuing his Master’s degree in Vocal Performance from Roosevelt University’s Chicago College of Performing Arts under the instruction of countertenor Mark Crayton. He received his Bachelor’s degrees in Music and Marketing from Indiana Wesleyan University.
Papageno - Eli Glick
Baritone Eli Glick is a senior in the Bachelor of Music Vocal Performance and Communication Arts and Sciences programs at The Pennsylvania State University. He studies voice with Heldentenor Graham Sanders, as well as professor Jennifer Trost. This past summer, Eli performed the role of Publio in Mozart’s La Clemenza di Tito with the Chicago Summer Opera Program. His past roles with Penn State Opera Theatre include Guglielmo in Mozart’s Cosi fan Tutte this past fall as well as, Arkel in Debussy’s Impressions of Pelléas (an adaptation of Pelléas et Mélisande by Peter Brooks) and Un Doganiere in Puccini’s La Bohème. In the summer of 2015, he studied Italian at the Mediterranea University of Reggio Calabria in Italy. Eli wishes to thank his family for all of their support, especially during the past four years.
Pamina - Mary Arendt
Soprano Mary Arendt, (Green Bay,WI) is a vocalist living in Chicago, IL. Ms. Arendt graduated with her Master's in Vocal Performance in June of 2016 from the DePaul School of Music within the studio of Elizabeth Byrne. Ms. Arendt was most recently seen in DePaul Opera Theatre as ‘Euridice’ in Monteverdi's L'orfeo, ‘Pamina’ in Mozart’s The Magic Flute, and as ‘Night’ in Purcell’s The Fairy Queen at the Madison Early Opera Workshop. She was a semi-finalist in the 2017 American International Czech & Slovak competition, as well as the first place recipient of the 2013 Kleinman Vocal Competition.Orchestral engagements include the Mozart and Faure Requiems with the DePaul Symphonic choir, Handel's Messiah with the UW-Green Bay Festival Orchestra, and as a featured soloist for Christmas at DePaul. A passionate advocate of Baroque and Early Music, she was awarded a 2016 scholarship from the Early Music America organization, was selected to perform in the 2015 and 2016 McGuckin Harpsichord recitals with harpsichordists Ketil Haugsand and Alexander Weimann, respectively, and spent the summer of 2015 with Dame Emma Kirkby at the Ringve Music Festival in Trondheim, Norway.In February of 2018, Ms. Arendt was a soloist in the Chamber Music Hawaii Barqoue concert series.
Pamina - Simone Brown
Simone Brown is a Maryland native and a recent graduate of Peabody with a Master of Music studying with Denyce Graves. She graduated magna cum laude from Xavier University of Louisiana. At Xavier, Simone was seen as Laeticia in Old Maid and the Thief and participated in both Concert and University Choirs as a soloist and section leader. In her time at Peabody Simone participated in the Opera Outreach production of Papageno! singing the role of Pamina. She also had the opportunity to participate in the Opera Etudes premiere of Meeting at the Fence singing the role of Yolanda. In her second year at Peabody Simone participated in the main stage production of Le Nozze di Figaro singing the role of Barbarina. Outside of Peabody Simone had the opportunity to sing Monica with Bel Cantanti Opera company's production of The Medium. Recently Simone performed the role of Frasquita in a concert version of Carmen with Opus Concert Theater and had the opportunity to perform at the Italian Embassy with Maryland Lyric Opera. Simone is looking forward to singing the role of Pamina this summer with Chicago Summer Opera.
The Queen of the Night - Catherine Psarakis
Soprano Catherine Psarakis grew up in Melbourne, Florida, where she first learned to play piano and violin, began studying Byzantine Chant at her Greek Orthodox Church, and started voice lessons with Mr. Mark Baker. She received a BA from Rollins College in 2016, where she double majored in Chemistry and Music, and performed senior recitals on voice and violin, studying with Ms. Arisa Kusumi and Ms. Joni Roos. At Rollins she received the Presser Undergraduate Scholar Award in Music, and won First Place at the NATS Competition in Central Florida. She is currently pursuing her Masters in Music- Vocal Performance at New England Conservatory in Boston, where she is studying with Ms. Lisa Saffer. Catherine participated in Music Theater Bavaria in Oberaudorf, Germany under the direction of Mr. Richard Owens, where she performed scenes in German including the role of Zdenka from Arabella. She also was a part of “Si parla, si canta” in Urbania, Italy under the direction of Mr. Benton Hess, where she performed scenes from Italian and English roles including Adina from L’elisir d’amore, Violetta from La Traviata, Nannetta from Falstaff, Lucia from Lucia di Lammermooor, and Cunegonde from Candide. At Rollins, Catherine performed as Papagena from The Magic Flute, and at NEC performed scenes as Naiad from Strauss's Ariadne auf Naxos and as Fanchette from Offenbach's Le mariage aux lanternes. She recently began her concert career, serving as the soprano soloist for Handel's Messiah with the Messiah Choral Society in Orlando, FL. In addition to her love of opera, oratorio, and concert repertoire, Catherine greatly enjoys chamber music and art song for its intimate musical and sonic possibility. She has a passion for studying music theory which was kindled by Dr. Daniel Crozier at Rollins College, and plans to continue theoretical pursuits and connect them with her performance endeavors. Additionally, she hopes to connect her musical passion with her love of science through outreach and interdisciplinary venues, as she did in 2015 when she composed an original string quartet and performed as a violinist at the Atlanta Science Festival for the Center for Chemical Evolution.
The Queen of the Night - Rebekah Lampman
Soprano Rebekah Lampman first experienced the professional stage as a young violinist when she performed under the baton of composer Michael Kamen with the Palm Beach County Youth Symphony Orchestra. Growing up listening to Kamen’s music developed into a deep love for film scores and video game music in addition to traditional classical repertoire. This summer, Rebekah will perform the role of Queen of the Night in Die Zauberflöte with Chicago Summer Opera. Other roles include the title role in Janacek’s The Cunning Little Vixen, Grace in the world premiere of The Blind Date (Jenkins), La Princesse (L’enfant et les sortileges), Susanna (Le Nozze di Figaro), Anne Page (The Merry Wives of Windsor), and Yum-Yum (The Mikado). A Florida native, Rebekah holds degrees from Florida State University and Roosevelt University. She lives in Chicago and spends her time cooking, reading, learning new music, gaming, and teaching.
Papagena - Alexandra Billhartz
An artist with a love for opera and Baroque music, soprano Alexandra Billhartz is a native of New Baden, IL. She is thrilled to be spending her summer with Chicago Summer Opera for the 2018 season! Recent operatic performances include Nella (Gianni Schicchi), A Novice/Lay Sister/Sister Dolcina (Suor Angelica), and Lakmé (Lakmé “Flower Duet”) with Ball State Opera Theatre. She was also the soprano soloist in a performance of Bach’s Aus tiefer Not BWV 38 at Ball State University. A winner of the Vukovich Concerto Competition, she performed with the University of Evansville Symphony Orchestra in April 2017. Also in 2017, Ms. Billhartz presented her literature review on opera adaptation at the Michigan Music Conference. Ms. Billhartz has participated in Rose Rock Opera Institute (Young Artist, 2017), Land of Enchantment Opera (Studio Artist, 2016), and SongFest (Studio Artist, 2015). She is a member of Sigma Alpha Iota, Pi Kappa Lambda, and Phi Kappa Phi. Ms. Billhartz earned her BM in Vocal Performance from the University of Evansville in 2016, graduating summa cum laude. Currently, she is pursuing her MM in Vocal Performance at Ball State University, studying with Dr. Jon Truitt.
Papagena - Melissa Hartman
A native of Jericho, New York, soprano Melissa Hartman is a third-year master’s student at the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music, studying with Andreas Poulimenos. With IU Opera Theatre, Melissa has appeared as Adza in Emmanuel Chabrier’s L’étoile, and in the chorus of Gaetano Donizetti’s Lucia di Lammermoor. Last year, she was a member of and soloist in NOTUS, under the direction of Dominick DiOrio. Other operatic highlights include Marie (La Fille du Régiment), Pamina (Die Zauberflöte), Spirit (Cendrillon), Lakmé (Lakmé), Second Spirit (Die Zauberflöte), Bastienne (Bastien und Bastienne), and Betty (Salieri’s Falstaff). This summer, she is thrilled to be making her debut with Chicago Summer Opera as Papagena in Die Zauberflöte. Melissa earned her Bachelor of Music in Choral Music Education at the University of Michigan School of Music, Theatre, and Dance, where she studied under the tutelage of Martha Sheil.
Monostatos - Keanu Aiono-Netzler
Operatic tenor, Keanu Aiono-Netzler, is in his fourth year at the University of Utah pursuing a Bachelors Degree In Vocal Performance studying under Dr. Seth Keeton(Bass-Baritone). He recently made his Professional/Utah Opera debut singing the Role of Tashtego in Jake Heggie’s Moby Dick. Keanu, has also made his role debut as Jacob Marley in A Christmas Carol by Michael Leavitt. Other previous roles include: Fezziwig in the world premiere of A Christmas Carol(M. Leavitt/A. Buck) King Kaspar, Amahl and the Night Visitors(Menotti), Frank, Die Fledermaus(J. Strauss). All done with the University of Utah Lyric Opera Ensemble. Keanu, has also been a Young Artist with La Musica Lirica where he performed Gastone, La Traviata(Verdi), and the Chaplain of the Monastery, Dialogues of the Carmelites(Poulenc), Participated in the SOARS program with the Bayview Music Festival, he has also been a featured Young Artist with the Utah Lyric Opera Company. He will also be making his role Debut as Tamino in Die Zauberflöte with the Blooming Voce Summer Opera Workshop. As well as, Monastatos in Die Zauberflöte with the Chicago Summer Opera Company this upcoming summer.
Monostatos - Zico Shaker
Zico started singing as a boy soprano with Doctor Stuart Ward in London, England. His performances as a boy included 1st boy and later 3rd boy in The Magic Flute at Royal Opera House Covent Garden, Miles in the Turn of the Screw with Dutch Reisoper, English Touring Opera, and The Shepherd Boy with English National Opera. Zico continued his singing studies at The Royal Academy of Music in London and following graduation performed Tudor songs for BBC2. Married in 2016 Zico moved to Chicago to be with his wife Addison and has performed with The Gilbert and Sullivan Opera Company of Chicago, The Floating Opera Company and CVAC. He is very excited to be performing with Chicago Summer Opera.
Speaker of the temple & Armoured Man - Robert Feng
Robert Ellsworth Feng, Bass-Baritone, is a committed performer. Described as having a commanding darkness and thickness to his tone, Robert is a dynamic performer and his energy as he performs is infectious and full of life. Mr. Feng will fully involve himself in the text, music, dramatic context, and knowledge about the composer in order to bring out the most in a role or song. Mr. Feng is always ready to take on the next challenge and is constantly seeking new styles of vocal repertoire including opera, contemporary, early music, and more. Robert has performed operas and concerts with many companies and venues including Hawaii Opera Theatre, Meyerhoff & Strathmore with the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, the Model Lyric, Beth El Congregation, Berlin Opera Academy, Bel Cantanti Opera Company, Peabody Institute, the Walter's Art Museum, and the Neil S. Blaisdell Center. Previously, Robert has performed the roles of Le Philosophe from Massenet’s Chérubin, 1st Spirit from Purcell’s The Tempest, the Israelitish Messenger from Handel’s Judas Maccabeus, Capellio from Bellini’s I Capuleti e i Montecchi, Brendan from The Place Where You Started and Antonio and Bartolo from Le Nozze di Figaro. Mr. Feng has performed under award winning composer Tony Small with Smithsonian and Artiste in his latest operetta Qadar. Robert has also performed the world premieres of composer Nicholas Bentz’s Mikylvxka Hllupo for bass-baritone and pierrot ensemble, and Terrence J. Martin’s song cycle Projections. Before attending the Peabody Institute, Robert had the privilege of singing with the Punahou School Chorale where he earned the National Choral Award in 2014, and the Hawaii Opera Theatre Chorus where he performed in Puccini’s Turandot and Leoncavallo’s I Pagliacci. Other notable performances include singing at the Peace Bell of Oahu and the Ho’Olokahi Choral Festival. Robert is honored and privileged to be studying with esteemed baritone William Sharp at the Peabody Institute. Prior to singing under Mr. Sharp, Robert took lessons with Ms. Catherine Goto, and world-renowned Baritone, Quinn Kelsey. Later this year, Mr. Feng will be performing the roles of Sprecher, Speaker of the Temple, and the Armored Man from Mozart’s Die Zauberflöte, and Khan Konchak from Borodin’s Prince Igor.
First Lady - Julie Jarosz
Soprano Julie Jarosz is pleased to be returning to Chicago Summer Opera for another season, having performed the role of Mary Warren in their production of The Crucible in 2017. Additionally, Ms. Jarosz has been seen in such roles as Alice Ford (Falstaff), La Principessa (La bella dormente nel bosco), Second Lady (Die Zauberflöte), Princess Zara (Utopia, Limited), and Lauretta (Gianni Schicchi). She has participated in opera programs such as the Midwest Institute of Opera, the Miami Summer Music Festival, and the American Singers’ Opera Project, and has been featured as a soloist in the Naperville Chorus’s performance of Vivaldi’s Magnificat. Ms. Jarosz holds a bachelor’s degree in music education and a master’s degree in vocal performance. A Chicago native, she has spent the last several years teaching general music as well as piano and voice lessons in the city and suburbs, but is looking forward to beginning her pursuit of a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in vocal performance at the University of Illinois this fall.
First Lady - Ashley McKinstry
Ashley McKinstry is a Chicago based soprano originally from Sioux Falls, SD. Her operatic roles include: Lady Liberty/The Proposal with Opera Steamboat, First Lady/Die Zauberflöte with Chicago Summer Opera, Arminda/La finta giardiniera with Chicago Vocal Arts Consortium, Ruth Putnam/The Crucible with Chicago Summer Opera, Ashley Phelps/Get Trump’d: We’re Making Opera Great Again with OperaWorks, La Fortuna/L'incoronazione di Poppea & Jeannie/The Reformed Drunkard with CCPA, Roosevelt University, & Mrs. Gobineau/The Medium with USD Opera. McKinstry’s operatic choral performances include: Respighi/La bella dormente nel bosco with CCPA, Roosevelt University & Die Zauberflöte featuring Samuel Ramey & Die Fledermaus with the Sounds of South Dakota. Her professional choral performances include Verdi/Defiant Requiem: Verdi at Terezín with Chicago Philharmonic, Beethoven/Symphony No. 9 with Chicago Sinfonietta, Mendelssohn/A Midsummer Night’s Dream with Chicago Civic Orchestra, Vaughan Williams/A Sea Symphony, Video Games Live, Mozart/Requiem, & Holst/The Planets with Sioux City Symphony. McKinstry soloed in Britten/Rejoice in the Lamb with the USD Concert Choir. Ashley works with Fourth Coast Ensemble as their administrative assistant. McKinstry has attended the Chicago Summer Opera program (2017-18) & the OperaWorks: Advanced Artist Program (2016). She will also attend Opera Steamboat (2018). Ashley holds a Master’s Degree in Vocal Performance from the Chicago College of Performing Arts, Roosevelt University, where she served as the 2016 President of Mu Phi Epsilon, Alpha Omicron Chapter, & a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education from the University of South Dakota. She also trains with Forte Chicago, an all-female operatic improv troop. McKinstry currently studies with Allan Glassman.
Second Lady - Megan Law
Megan Law, mezzo soprano, graduated with a B.M in vocal performance, summa cum laude at Valparaiso University, and just recently graduated from Arizona State University with a M.M. opera performance degree. During her studies, she was a finalist for the Valparaiso University’s Concerto Competition, a member of Pi Kappa Lambda, and has done many roles, including Sorceress from Dido and Aeneas, Hata in Bartered Bride, and The Abbess in Suor Angelica. Megan is thrilled to be with Chicago Summer Opera for the first time, and is excited to continue growing in her passion.
Second Lady - Danielle Krispin
Danielle Krispin (Second Lady) is a Chicago area classical mezzo. This will be her second time singing with Chicago Summer Opera and she is thrilled to be back. Previously, she was seen in Chicago Summer Opera’s Dido and Aeneas (Sorceress) and La clemenza di Tito (Annio cover). Before that, she performed in another La clemena di Tito (Vitellia) with Ignite Opera, a self-produced performance. She hopes to finish composing some of her own work soon.
Third Lady - Andrea Palma
Andrea Palma, a New York City native, is a mezzo soprano who has a passion for music. She’s had the honor of singing alongside world renowned singers such as René Pape, Bryn Terfel, Barbara Frittoli, and Anna Netrebko while singing as part of a professional choir known as the Master Voices. She has spent several summers performing in music festivals such as the Verbier Music Festival, and the Salzburg Music Festival where she toured with the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra and Thomas Hampson. She holds a Bachelors in Music Education from the Crane School of Music, a Masters of Music from the Chicago College of Performing Arts, and recently finished her first year as a teaching artist with Chicago Opera Theater, combining her love of music education and performance. This is her first time performing with Chicago Summer Opera, and is excited to be debuting her role as third lady.
Third Lady - Ashlyn Brown
Ashlyn Brown is a junior perusing a BM in vocal performance under Carlos Montané at Indiana University Jacobs School of Music. Born in Palm Springs, California, this mezzo soprano has attended the Saarburg International Music Festival and the Sankt Goar International Music Festival. Ashlyn has been seen in the Indiana University Opera Theater choruses of “Florencia en el Amazonas” by Daniel Catàn, “Peter Grimes” by Benjamin Britten, and “Lucia di Lammermoor” by Gaetano Donizetti. She has also been in the chorus of the University Gilbert and Sullivan Society’s “Pirates of Penzance.” Ashlyn has had roles as Mad Margaret in the University Gilbert and Sullivan Society’s “Ruddigore,” Maschinka in “Zehn Mädchen und Kein Mann” by Franz von Süppe at the Saarburg International Music Festival, Aloès in the Indiana University Opera Theater’s production of “L’Étoile” by Emmanuel Chabrier, and Ursula in “The Little Mermaid Jr.” by Alan Menken with Children’s Playtime Productions.
Spirit 1 - Arianna Denning
Arianna Denning, Soprano, is very excited to be making her debut at the Chicago Summer Opera! Currently, she is a sophomore at York Community High School in Elmhurst, Illinois. Ari sings in the high school choir and most recently has been cast in Tuck Everlasting. She is very active in the high school theater scene and also has been cast in West Side Story. Ari has been taking voice lessons from Brenda Lualdi at Elmhurst College since she was nine years old. She has continued her voice training during the summers at Blue Lake Fine Arts camp, which culminated in a spectacular summer experience singing with its International Choir in France and Germany. Ari is very passionate about singing and all aspects of the Arts. She is an enthusiastic dancer, taking Ballet since she was six years old and performing in the Nutcracker at Dupage Dance Academy. Ari is an accomplished artist and has taken piano lessons since she was seven. She also enjoys acting, horseback riding, Speech Team, and Hapkido (martial arts). Ari is an avid reader and really enjoys spending time with her older brother, Max, and her big fat cat, Boo. She is grateful for this opportunity to learn and perform in the The Magic Flute with the Chicago Summer Opera.
Spirit 1 - Frannie Barrows
Frannie Barrows, recently graduated with a BM in vocal performance from the University of Arizona. With UA Opera theater she has performed in Orphee aux enfers as Cupid and in the chorus of Dialogues of the Carmelites and L’enfant et les sortileges. She has performed in scenes as characters such as Susanna, Fiordiligi, Alice Ford, and Lakme. Last summer Frannie studied in Salzburg, Austria with Elizabeth Futral. This fall she will start her MM in vocal performance at the University of Arizona, studying with Dr. Kristin Dauphinais.
Spirit 2 - Katlyn Iacovino
Soprano, Katlyn Iacovino is pursuing her Masters of Music in Voice Performance from Roosevelt University's Chicago College of Performing Arts. She is currently a student of Allan Glassman. She was most recently featured as Sandrina in Chicago Vocal Arts Consorium's production of La finita giardiniera (2018). She was previously seen in Bowling Green State University's Opera Theater productions of Street Scene as Mae Jones (2017) and The Gondoliers as Fiametta (2016). In Chicago Summer Opera, Katlyn will be performing the roles of Laurentia in Beautiful Bridegroom as well as First Spirit and Pamina (cover) in Die Zauberflöte.
Spirit 2 - Clara Imon Pedtke
Clara Imon Pedtke, soprano, is a native of Evanston, Illinois. She received her Bachelor of Music Degree in Vocal Performance and Music Education with a minor in Pedagogy from Lawrence University. At Lawrence, she performed the role of Mrs. Coaxer in The Beggar’s Opera by Benjamin Britten, which won first prize for Best Opera Production at the National Opera Association in 2016. She also sang the role of Amore in Paride ed Elena by C.W. Gluck in Tuscany with the Oberlin in Italy summer program. She is excited to debut with Chicago Summer Opera as Second Spirit in Mozart’s Die Zaubeflöte, and is thrilled by the opportunity to perform with such amazing musicians.
Cover First Lady - D'Arcy Blunston
Soprano D’Arcy Blunston is a member of the UBC Opera Ensemble. She is currently working towards her Master’s degree in Opera Performance at the University of British Columbia, where she studies with tenor J. Patrick Raftery. She completed her Bachelor of Music degree at Mount Allison University under the tutelage of Dr. Vicki St. Pierre.Upcoming engagements include reprising the role of La Ciesca in UBC Opera’s June 2018 double-bill of Puccini’s Il Tabarro and Gianni Schicchi. D’Arcy has previously portrayed the role of Micaela in Bizet’s Carmen and La Ciesca in Gianni Schicchi (Halifax Summer Opera Festival), Le Prince in Viardot’s Cendrillon (Mount Allison Opera Workshop), Eternita in La Calisto (Centre for Opera Studies in Italy), Sorceress in Dido and Aeneas (Mount Allison Opera Workshop), and Susanna (partial role/scenes) in Le Nozze di Figaro (Mount Allison Opera Workshop). In the fall of 2016 she was also the soprano soloist for Haydn’s Missa Brevis in F with the New Brunswick Choral Federation. She is also an avid performer of art song.D’Arcy looks forward to covering the role of First Lady in Mozart’s Die Zauberflöte this summer with Chicago Summer Opera.