The 25th Anniversary Concert
August 27, 2023
25th Anniversary Celebration
August 29, 2023
Join us for an afternoon to remember, featuring works by Delibes, Mozart, Mussorgsky, J. Strauss II and Verdi.
Victoria Hansen, Opera Chorus Coordinator
Victoria Hansen, Opera Chorus Coordinator
starring
Brittany Renee
sponsored by Allan and Gloria Wendt
Hailed for her “luminous tones” and “lush voice,” and praised by Opera News for her “plush soprano bloom,” Grammy Award winning American soprano Brittany Renee is amazing audiences with her finesse and shimmering stage presence.
Last season, Ms. Renee made her Lyric Opera of Chicago debut in the leading role of Destiny/Loneliness/Greta in Terence Blanchard and Kasi Lemmon’s Fire Shut Up in My Bones, of which Chicago Classical Review wrote she "was uniformly excellent from top to bottom…". Earlier in the 21-22, season Ms. Renee made her Metropolitan Opera debut as Evelyn in their own production of the instantly-beloved opera. Praised by critics, her portrayal as Evelyn "offered an uplifting lightness, a lovely, crystalline soprano that was all youthful excitement - more from her, please!" - (Gabrielle Ferrari, Parterre Box), and "masterfully oozed vocal and physical sensuality" - (David Salazar, OperaWire). Renee also performed Annie in the Met’s historic production of Porgy & Bess, which won Best Opera Recording at the 63rd annual Grammy Awards. In summer 2022, Brittany Renee was heard in the Metropolitan Opera’s Summer Recital Series in Central Park, and performed a solo recital with the Florentine Opera as part of their Al Fresco Recital Series.
In the current season, Ms. Renee returns to the Met for performances of Sadie Griffith in a new production of Terrance Blanchard’s Champion, Giannetta in L’elisir d’amore, and Ancella in David McVicar’s new production of Cherubini’s rarely performed Medea, which will open the season. She will also join them for their new production of Don Giovanni, as well as for revivals of Rigoletto and Peter Grimes. The upcoming season will see Renee’s house debut with the San Francisco Opera as Julie in Omar, in addition to her return to the Metropolitan Opera for Carmen.
sponsored by Allan and Gloria Wendt
Hailed for her “luminous tones” and “lush voice,” and praised by Opera News for her “plush soprano bloom,” Grammy Award winning American soprano Brittany Renee is amazing audiences with her finesse and shimmering stage presence.
Last season, Ms. Renee made her Lyric Opera of Chicago debut in the leading role of Destiny/Loneliness/Greta in Terence Blanchard and Kasi Lemmon’s Fire Shut Up in My Bones, of which Chicago Classical Review wrote she "was uniformly excellent from top to bottom…". Earlier in the 21-22, season Ms. Renee made her Metropolitan Opera debut as Evelyn in their own production of the instantly-beloved opera. Praised by critics, her portrayal as Evelyn "offered an uplifting lightness, a lovely, crystalline soprano that was all youthful excitement - more from her, please!" - (Gabrielle Ferrari, Parterre Box), and "masterfully oozed vocal and physical sensuality" - (David Salazar, OperaWire). Renee also performed Annie in the Met’s historic production of Porgy & Bess, which won Best Opera Recording at the 63rd annual Grammy Awards. In summer 2022, Brittany Renee was heard in the Metropolitan Opera’s Summer Recital Series in Central Park, and performed a solo recital with the Florentine Opera as part of their Al Fresco Recital Series.
In the current season, Ms. Renee returns to the Met for performances of Sadie Griffith in a new production of Terrance Blanchard’s Champion, Giannetta in L’elisir d’amore, and Ancella in David McVicar’s new production of Cherubini’s rarely performed Medea, which will open the season. She will also join them for their new production of Don Giovanni, as well as for revivals of Rigoletto and Peter Grimes. The upcoming season will see Renee’s house debut with the San Francisco Opera as Julie in Omar, in addition to her return to the Metropolitan Opera for Carmen.
Ashraf Sewailam
sponsored by Pikes Peak Opera League
The New York Times hailed Ashraf Sewailam’s début at Lincoln Center’s Avery Fisher Hall as a “stand out performance” and Opera News described his voice as “purring and velvety with an easily produced Ramfis-like top range with a majestic tone,” and his stage presence as “strong, mysterious and with mesmerizing intensity.”
This season, Sewailam will perform the roles of Bartolo in Il barbiere di Siviglia with New Orleans Opera, Mustafa in L’italiana in Algeri with Tulsa Opera, Hakim/Driver in A Thousand Splendid Suns with Seattle Opera, Ferrando in Il trovatore with Pittsburgh Opera, and he will feature in Ghosts at San Diego Opera: a new triptych of one-act operas composed by Nicolas Reveles; additionally, Sewailaim will make his directorial debut with Otello at Central City Opera. In concert, Sewailam performs Beethoven's Symphony No. 9 with the South Dakota Symphony. Next season’s engagements include returns to Seattle Opera, Opera San Jose, and New Orleans Opera.
Last season, Sewailam made his main stage Metropolitan Opera debut in The Magic Flute and joined their production of Ariadne auf Naxos. In addition, he returned to Seattle Opera as Colline in La bohéme, joined Tulsa Opera for their production of Salome, took on the title role of Maometto II for Washington Concert Opera, and rejoined Opera Carolina as Commendatore in Don Giovanni. As a director, Sewailam headed Opera Louisiane’s production of Lucrezia. In concert, he was seen at the Denver Philharmonic Orchestra in their performances of Beethoven's Symphony No. 9 and Choral Fantasy.
sponsored by Pikes Peak Opera League
The New York Times hailed Ashraf Sewailam’s début at Lincoln Center’s Avery Fisher Hall as a “stand out performance” and Opera News described his voice as “purring and velvety with an easily produced Ramfis-like top range with a majestic tone,” and his stage presence as “strong, mysterious and with mesmerizing intensity.”
This season, Sewailam will perform the roles of Bartolo in Il barbiere di Siviglia with New Orleans Opera, Mustafa in L’italiana in Algeri with Tulsa Opera, Hakim/Driver in A Thousand Splendid Suns with Seattle Opera, Ferrando in Il trovatore with Pittsburgh Opera, and he will feature in Ghosts at San Diego Opera: a new triptych of one-act operas composed by Nicolas Reveles; additionally, Sewailaim will make his directorial debut with Otello at Central City Opera. In concert, Sewailam performs Beethoven's Symphony No. 9 with the South Dakota Symphony. Next season’s engagements include returns to Seattle Opera, Opera San Jose, and New Orleans Opera.
Last season, Sewailam made his main stage Metropolitan Opera debut in The Magic Flute and joined their production of Ariadne auf Naxos. In addition, he returned to Seattle Opera as Colline in La bohéme, joined Tulsa Opera for their production of Salome, took on the title role of Maometto II for Washington Concert Opera, and rejoined Opera Carolina as Commendatore in Don Giovanni. As a director, Sewailam headed Opera Louisiane’s production of Lucrezia. In concert, he was seen at the Denver Philharmonic Orchestra in their performances of Beethoven's Symphony No. 9 and Choral Fantasy.
Annamarie Zmolek
Sponsored by Dr. Susan Rae Jensen and Tom Trainer
Colorado native Annamarie Zmolek has been described as “memorable and stunning” by the American Record Guide. The soprano sang on the stage of the Metropolitan Opera as a Semi-finalist in the National Council Auditions, having won first place in the Southwest region. One week prior to that competition, she gave a critically acclaimed performance as Violetta in La Traviata with Opera Theatre of the Rockies. Her operatic credits include Pamina in The Magic Flute, Rosalinda in Die Fledermaus, Countess in Le nozze di Figaro, Donna Anna in Don Giovanni, Mimì in La Bohème, and Naiad in Ariadne auf Naxos. Ms. Zmolek spent two summers as an Apprentice Artist with Central City Opera, where she sang the student performances of the title role in Lucia di Lammermoor and Micaëla in Carmen. She also sang Mrs. Anderssen in the mainstage production of Sondheim’s A Little Night Music, where her performance was praised by Opera News for its “sophistication”. Besides operatic credits, her oratorio performances include the soprano solos in Handel’s Messiah, Brahms’ Requiem, Mendelssohn’s Elijah, Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony, Haydn’s Lord Nelson Mass, Vivaldi’s Gloria, Fauré’s Requiem, Orff’s Carmina Burana, Mozart’s Mass in C minor, and Stravinsky’s Les Noces. For many years, Ms. Zmolek has been an active teacher and performer in Houston. She looks forward to any chance to make beautiful music.
Sponsored by Dr. Susan Rae Jensen and Tom Trainer
Colorado native Annamarie Zmolek has been described as “memorable and stunning” by the American Record Guide. The soprano sang on the stage of the Metropolitan Opera as a Semi-finalist in the National Council Auditions, having won first place in the Southwest region. One week prior to that competition, she gave a critically acclaimed performance as Violetta in La Traviata with Opera Theatre of the Rockies. Her operatic credits include Pamina in The Magic Flute, Rosalinda in Die Fledermaus, Countess in Le nozze di Figaro, Donna Anna in Don Giovanni, Mimì in La Bohème, and Naiad in Ariadne auf Naxos. Ms. Zmolek spent two summers as an Apprentice Artist with Central City Opera, where she sang the student performances of the title role in Lucia di Lammermoor and Micaëla in Carmen. She also sang Mrs. Anderssen in the mainstage production of Sondheim’s A Little Night Music, where her performance was praised by Opera News for its “sophistication”. Besides operatic credits, her oratorio performances include the soprano solos in Handel’s Messiah, Brahms’ Requiem, Mendelssohn’s Elijah, Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony, Haydn’s Lord Nelson Mass, Vivaldi’s Gloria, Fauré’s Requiem, Orff’s Carmina Burana, Mozart’s Mass in C minor, and Stravinsky’s Les Noces. For many years, Ms. Zmolek has been an active teacher and performer in Houston. She looks forward to any chance to make beautiful music.
Meet our 25th Anniversary Honorees
|
James Allbritten
Kitty Brilliant Daniel S. Brink Jenny & Robert Cowan Susan & Michael Grace Sally Hybl Donald P. Jenkins Dr. Susan Rae Jensen Steven LaCosse George Preston Libby Rittenberg Herman Tiemens John Watkins Jeanna Wearing Susanne Wheeler Christopher Wilkins |
In Memoriam
Michael Anselmi John Carter Kathleen Fox Collins William Hochman Virginia Snow Beatrice Vradenburg Barbara Webb |
Supported by:
