Opera Colorado returns to the Adams State University campus with two productions. The Opera Colorado Young Artists will perform Hansel and Gretel at 7 p.m. Wednesday, March 16; and Carmen at 7 p.m. Thursday, March 17, in Richardson Hall Auditorium. A Master Class with Opera Colorado will be held from 10 a.m. until 12 p.m. on Thursday, March 17. Both performances are directed by Cherity Koepke with Brett Sprague as assistant director.
Hansel and Gretel is the story of two children who wander into the woods and come across a gingerbread house, owned by a witch. The two are captured by the witch, who plans to eat them both. They plot their escape and are reunited with their father.
The cast list for Hansel and Gretel includes Emily Robinson, Gretel; Danielle Lombardi, Hansel; Charles Eaton, Father; William Bryan, Sandman; and Benjamin Werley, Witch.
Bizet’s most famous opera, Carmen, a fiery Spanish rose, loves to live on the edge and uses her feminine wiles to get what she wants – but beware; play with her and you might get burned. The steadfast young soldier Don José falls hard for her charms and rashly leaves his sweetheart Michaela for a life with Carmen. But when Carmen drops him for superstar "Toreador" Escamillo, his jealousy erupts, growing into an emotional storm that could destroy them all. Opera Colorado’s production frames Bizet’s celebrated melodies in a minimalistic setting, allowing for the power of the story and the drama of the characters to take center stage. True to the lure of classic Spain, Carmen will draw you deeply into an unforgettable opera experience.
The cast list for Carmen includes Danielle Lombardi, Carmen; Benjamin Werley, Don José; Emily Robinson, Micaëla; William Bryan, Escamillo; Charles Eaton, Zuniga; and Alaina DeBelleview, accompanist.
Opera Colorado’s Young Artists are post-graduate emerging professional opera singers in an eight-month residency with Opera Colorado. Young Artists play a vital role as the voice and face of Opera Colorado in the community. They perform throughout the season in school and community centers across the State.
Tickets are $5 for adults, including AS&F and Friends of Music, and free for all students, and can be purchased at the door.
For more information, please contact the Adams State Music Department at 719-587-7621.
Opera Colorado’s Young Artists Bios:
Emily Robinson, soprano received her master’s degree from the New England Conservatory. While at New England Conservatory she debuted the role of June Jenkins in Dan Shore’s NOA prize winning opera An Embarrassing Position.
Danielle Lombardi, mezzo soprano, is a recent graduate of Rice University’s The Shepherd School of Music. Lombardi was a Gerdine Young Artist with the Opera Theater of St. Louis. While there, she covered the role of Dorabella in Così fan tutte and sang in the chorus of Carmen, Così fan tutte and Alice in Wonderland.
Benjamin Werley, tenor, completed his master’s in Vocal Performance at the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music. In 2015, Werlye was an Apprentice Artist at the Santa Fe Opera where he performed in La Fille du Regiment, Rigoletto, and the world premiere of Cold Mountain.
Charles Easton, baritone, received his Master of Music degree from the University of Minnesota. In the summer of 2014, Charles sang Belcore (L’elisird’amore) with La MusicaLirica, a program based in Novafeltria, Italy- he returned for a second season in 2015 to perform the role of Taddeo in L’italiana in Algeri.
William Lee Bryan, baritone, completed his Master of Music degree in Vocal Performance at Florida State University. His credits include Utah Festival Opera & Musical Theater, Quad City Symphony, Mill City Summer Opera, and Skylark Opera.
For more information about Opera Colorado and complete bios on Opera Colorado’s Young Artists visit Opera Colorado.
