Peter Grimes: The Divided Self
Benjamin Britten: Peter Grimes (Complete, uncut)
Semi-staged with 55+ member full symphony orchestra
Sung Jin Hong, Artistic Director & Conductor
Rod Gomez, Stage Director
| SOLOISTS | Jan 25, 2008 | Jan 27, 2008 |
| Peter Grimes: | Caleb Stokes | Jon Morrell |
| Ellen Orford: | Heather Meyer | Katherine Wessinger |
| Captain Balstrode: | Jack White | Shannon Devine |
| Auntie: | Melissa Gerstein | Ainsley Ryan |
| Niece 1: | Rebekah Beaver | Lucretia Fleury |
| Niece 2: | Nina Moe | Elizabeth Eiel |
| Mrs. Sedley: | Joanna Dionis | Leslie Middlebrook |
| Swallow: | Mischa Frusztajer | Darren Walker |
| Bob Boles: | Emanuel Mora | Ransom Bruce |
| Rev. Horace Adams: | Oliver Söhngen | Frank Martinez |
| Ned Keene: | Martin Hirsch | James Trainor |
| Hobson: | John Wahl | Jonathan Keeley |
| John: | Thomas Sternglass | Max Ferrari |
Villagers of Borough: Michelle Adessa*, James Brooks, Nina Camp, Marnie Golden, Carrie Jaquith, Grace Long, Teri Maiorca, Anita Moore, Andrea Pinyan*, Lauren Porsch, Ed Rodriguez, Lawrence Rush, Ann Stedman, Mechelle Tippets*, Alex Weaver
*Covers
Sung Jin Hong is the artistic director, composer, and conductor of One World Symphony. Mr. Hong has guest conducted in Europe, such as Stadt Wien Konservatorium Orchester in Vienna, Austria, Lyrique-en-mer Festival in Brittany, France, and The Royal Northern Conservatory of Music in Manchester, UK. In the U.S, he has guest conducted the Tulsa Symphony Orchestra, Tulsa Ballet Company, Manhattan School of Music Symphony, Mannes Orchestra, San Francisco Symphony Youth Symphony, Bard College Orchestra, Illinois Wesleyan New Music Players, Western Illinois University Cello Choir, Bradley University Wind Ensemble, Great Music For A Great City at CUNY, Wayne State University Symphony, the Prospect Chamber Players, Twin Cities Ballet Company, and Take Dance Company. Mr. Hong has held positions as Music Director and Conductor of Peoria Sinfonietta and Principal Conductor of IES Singerverein in Vienna. He has also collaborated with musicians from the MET Orchestra, New York Philharmonic and Berlin Philharmonic as a conductor. Highlights for the upcoming season include leading One World Symphony's new season as its artistic director and conductor and guest engagements conducting The Tulsa Ballet, Tulsa Symphony, Fiery World Music Orchestra in Los Angeles, The Gandharvas, and his debut in Dallas conducting musicians from Dallas Symphony Orchestra. He has also conducted and recorded world premieres for the world's leading classical record label Naxos. Mr. Hong had the great honor of being personal chosen by the New York Philharmonic Laureate Conductor Kurt Masur to conduct in masterclasses and a concert in New York.
Rod Gomez has directed opera, operetta and musical theater as a faculty or associate faculty member of the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, Holy Names College and BASOTI. In addition, he has directed productions for California State University at Northridge, Pocket Opera and New York's One World Symphony, where he also serves as Artistic Advisor. His work extends from the standard repertoire (Le Nozze di Figaro, La Bohème) to the more obscure (Turn of the Screw, Martha) and contemporary (the world premiere of John Beeman's award-winning Law Offices). Recent productions include Carmen for OWS and BASOTI's 2005 production of The Magic Flute. Mr. Gomez recently made his Lincoln Center debut performing as a baritone soloist in Carmina Burana.
Jon Morrell was born in New York City, and is a student of Bill Schuman. He has made several recent appearances in the United Kingdom, most notably in Schubert's Winterreise at St John's Smith Square, and at the Woodhouse Cops Festival in Surrey. With the Concordia Foundation in London, Jon has performed in their Christmas Concert at St. Paul's, and as Candide with the Opera Babes in excerpts from Bernstein's Candide at Queen Elizabeth Hall, under conductor Rebecca Miller. In the United States, he has recently sung the role of Sesto in Händel's Giulio Cesare with Opera at Florham, Schubert's Winterreise in Cleveland and Messiah with the Warbury Symphony. In January 2007, Jon triumphed as Samson in Saint-Saëns' Samson et Dalila with One World Symphony. Other engagements in 2007-2008 include Siegmund in a concert version of Act I Die Walküre in London, tenor soloist for Beethoven's 9th Symphony, Haydn's Mass in Time of War and Händel's Messiah, and Wagner's Wesendonk-Lieder for tenor and Orchestra conducted by Sung Jin Hong, and his first Peter Grimes in January 2008.
Caleb Stokes (Peter Grimes) made his debut with One World Symphony last season as Narraboth in Salomé. After studying history, soccer, and voice at Oberlin College, Caleb attended the Yale School of Music where his roles ranged from Boris in Kat'a Kabanova to Lucas in Le Médecin Malgré Lui among many others. Other credits include The Governor/Vanderdendur in Candide, Joe in Gershwin's Blue Monday, and Snout in A Midsummer Night's Dream with the Orchestra di Milano Giuseppe Verdi as well as The Male Chorus in The Rape of Lucretia and Oronte in Alcina with Operamici. This season Caleb sings Chevalier de la Force in Dialogues of the Carmelites with Operamici before returning to the One World Symphony to perform the role of Bacchus in Ariadne auf Naxos.
A native of Santa Barbara, California, lyric soprano Heather Michele Meyer has received critical acclaim for her "rich lyric soprano voice" and "riveting, poignant delivery." Her opera roles include the Governess in The Turn of the Screw, the Countess in Le Nozze di Figaro and both Mimi and Musetta in La Bohème. As an active oratorio recitalist, she has had the privilege to perform the soprano solos in such works as Mozart's Requiem, Brahm's Requiem, Händel's Messiah and Vivaldi's Gloria. Her consummate musicianship has made her very much in demand for lesser known works such as Vespro della Beata Vergine by Monteverdi, Laud to the Nativity by Respighi and Trois Leçons de Ténèbrae by Couperin. Ms. Meyer is pleased to be making her One World Symphony debut in Peter Grimes.
Katherine Wessinger is artfully capturing audiences everywhere with her enchanting soprano voice and passionate interpretations. Some of her most recent performances include Bach's Easter Oratorio and Haydn's Nelson Mass with Dr. Andrew Henderson and the St. Andrew's Chorale of Madison Avenue Presbyterian Church, and Couperin's Trois Leçons de Ténèbrae with soprano Sarah Pillow. Other recent performances include collaborations with St. Mary's College of Maryland at the Italy and USA Alba Music Festival, performing Mahler Symphony No. 4, Del Tredici Dracula, and Bach Cantata No. 51 under the direction of Jeffrey Silberschlag, and at the River Concert Series under the direction of Larry Vote. In 2005 she sang the New York City premiere of the recently discovered Händel's Gloria. Ms. Wessinger is very happy to be making her debut with the One World Symphony.
Rebekah Beaver (Niece 1) makes her debut with One World Symphony this evening. Other recent NYC performances include Gilda (Rigoletto), Zerlina/Barbarina cover with Opera Company of Brooklyn, Frasquita (Carmen) read through performance with Opera Company of Astoria, scenes in Dicapo Opera Theatre's summer program and some cabaret shows in the city. Described as possessing "a sparkling voice capable of astounding range and versatility, silvery coloratura, and a vibrant stage personality," she also performed the role of Lucia in The Rape of Lucretia in Connecticut and recitals in Germany and Italy. A native of Louisiana, Ms. Beaver holds a Masters in Opera Performance from Boston Conservatory and a B.M. with a minor in Italian from Louisiana State University.
Ransom G. Bruce (Boles) is delighted to be working with Sung Jin and OWS again. Previous performances include David in the world premiere of David and Goliath and Cassio in Otello. Other recent highlights: The Beast in Beauty and the Beast and Little Bat in Susannah with Dicapo Opera Theatre (NYC); Goro in Madame Butterfly with National Lyric Opera; and Nicolas in Britten's Saint Nicolas with Con Brio Chorus (Connecticut). Other favorite credits include the New York Gilbert and Sullivan Players, numerous musical theater productions, and acclaimed cabaret shows with Uptown Express, a jazz/pops group. Mr. Bruce lives in Brooklyn, NY.
Shannon Devine returns to One World Symphony as Captain Balstrode. He has performed as Il Conte di Luna in Il Trovatore, Iago in Otello, and Valentin in Faust with One World Symphony. As a solo artist, Mr. DeVine has also performed with Los Angeles Philharmonic, Lincoln Center Festival at BAM, Tanglewood Music Festival, Houston Grand Opera, Aspen Music Festival, The Juilliard Opera Theater, and Boston Lyric Opera.
Mezzo-soprano Joanna Dionis returns to One World Symphony this season as Mrs. Sedley in Peter Grimes. Past appearances with OWS include Cornelia in Giulio Cesare and Badessa/Maestra della Novizie in Suor Angelica. Other credits include Opera Company of Brooklyn (Badessa/Maestra), Amato Opera (Cherubino, Nicklausse, Prince Orlovsky, Madelon in Andrea Chenier), Bay Area Summer Opera Theater (Madame de Croissy in Dialogues des Carmelites), and Brooklyn Conservatory (Dido). Upcoming engagements include a reading of Orfeo in Gluck's Orfeo ed Euridice in February. Ms. Dionis also appears regularly with the immensely popular Opera on Tap. She lives in Brooklyn.
Elizabeth Eiel, an Iowa native, received her Masters in performance at Manhattan School of Music. Ms. Eiel has performed extensively through out the New York Metropolitan area with American Singers Opera Project, Opera Company of Brooklyn, Garden State Opera, Chelsea Opera, Bronx Opera, Brooklyn Repertory Opera, and St. Jean Players singing both opera and musical theater. She has enjoyed performing such roles as Anna Gomez (The Consul), Nannetta (Falstaff) and Lady Billows (Albert Herring). Ms. Eiel has performed with One World Symphony four times, making her Town Hall debut with Maestro Hong to a full house singing Maria in West Side Story Suite #1. She is thrilled to be back singing with One World Symphony. www.ElizabethEiel.com
Mischa Frusztajer, Bass, has performed with many of the leading orchestras in the world, including the New York Philharmonic, Academy of St. Martin in the Fields, LA Philharmonic, and Tokyo Symphony Orchestra. His recent opera credits include performances of Sarastro in The Magic Flute, Bartolo in Le Nozze di Figaro, Mazetto in Don Giovanni, Angelotti in Tosca, and Colline in La Bohème. In addition to his opera work, he is a frequent soloist in the choral repertoire with leading groups in the New York area. While living in Moscow from 1998 to 2001, he studied voice with Gallina Semyonovna Kuznetsova, retired lead soloist of the Stanislavsky opera, and faculty member of the Gnessen Institute. Mr. Frusztajer currently studies voice with Jacque Trussel, Director of Voice and Opera Studies at SUNY Purchase.
Mezzo-soprano Melissa Gerstein is quickly gaining notice on the New York City classical music scene. Peter Grimes marks her second appearance with One World Symphony. Recent New York appearances include Meg Page in Falstaff and Lola in Cavalleria Rusticana, both with the famed Amato Opera Theatre, and Seibel in Faust with the dell'Arte Opera Ensemble. Ms. Gerstein has also performed with such ensembles as the Opera Company of Astoria, Harmonia Opera, Chelsea Opera, the Remarkable Theatre Brigade, The Westchester Philharmonic and The American Classical Orchestra. In June, she will return to the Amato stage as Dorabella in Così fan Tutte. A finalist in the Queens Opera Competition, Ms. Gerstein earned her masters degree at the Manhattan School of Music.
Martin Hirsh, baritone, has appeared in the title role of Verdi's Rigoletto, Germont (La Traviata), Enrico (Lucia di Lammermoor), Scarpia (Tosca), Marcello (La Bohème) and Sharpless (M. Butterfly) throughout Connecticut and NY. Other operatic credits include the Connecticut Grand Opera, Connecticut Opera Association, Hartt Opera Theater and the Darien Dinner Theater. Light Opera and Musical Theater credits include leading roles in The Fantasticks, Three Penny Opera, Carousel, and A Little Night Music. Mr. Hirsh holds a Master's Degree from the Hartt College of Music. He taught choral music in the Meriden Public Schools and served as Chairman of the Music Department at Miss Porter's School in Farmington. He was Director of Music at Christ the King Parish in Trumbull, and founded the Trumbull Community Chorus where he served as Musical Director.
Frank Martinez, tenor, sings the Rector in Peter Grimes. Roles include Eisenstein in Die Fledermaus, Third Jew in Salomé, Narcisso in Il Turco in Italia, Bill in A Hand of Bridge, Feri in Kalman's Gypsy Princess and Kaspar in Amahl and the Night Visitors with OWS, Cantiamo, NYMVAE, Stony Hill Players and Opera Piccola Bremen. Mr. Martinez continues this year with OWS as Scaramuccio in Ariadne auf Naxos and Uriel (cover) in The Creation. In recital, Mr. Martinez has recently performed Songs of the Sea at the New York City Bar Association and Love Songs at the YM and YWHA of Washington Heights. Originally from California, he has voice degrees from Indiana University, Bloomington and the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, and studies voice with Michael Paul.
Leslie Middlebrook (Mrs Sedley)is delighted to return to One World Symphony, having sung Herodias in Salomé last June and also the world premiere of Margarita Zelenaia's Mothers Lamentations for String Orchestra and Mezzo-Soprano. She has appeared with Virginia, San Francisco, Berkshire, Des Moines, Vertical Repertory (Brooklyn), Harrisburg and Hampton Operas in roles ranging from Orlofsky in Die Fledermaus and Maddalena in Rigoletto to Augusta in Ballad of Baby Doe and Frugola in Il Tabarro.Her European debut was in the title roles of Menotti's The Medium and The Old Maid and the Thief in Bremen, Germany. Concerts include her Carnegie Hall debut in The Messiah, Verdi's Requiem at The Bach to Bartok International Festival in Italy, and the Ondine International Festival in Bulgaria, as well as performances with La Serenata in NY. Upcoming engagements include a series of concerts with Light Opera of New York and reprisals of Fricka in Das Rheingold and Waltraute in Die Gotterdammerung, both with The Wagner Festival Orchestra.
Soprano Nina Moe made her Avery Fisher Hall solo debut with the American Symphony Orchestra in Zemlinsky's Der Zwerg in 2002, and has also been featured with Nine Circles Chamber Theater, Amato Opera, Commonwealth Opera, Little Opera Theatre of New York and Underworld Productions. She is an avid recitalist and frequently premieres new works. A seasoned performer of Mozart operas, her roles include Pamina (Die Zauberflaöte), Sandrina (La finta giardiniera), Elvira (Don Giovanni) and Fiordiligi (Così fan tutte).
Other roles in the standard opera repertory include Musetta (La Bohème), Susannah (Carlisle Floyd's Susannah) and Rusalka. She is a winner of numerous awards, including second place in the Manhattan School of Music Concerto Competition, a Wallfisch Scholarship, and a Susan W. Rose Foundation Fellowship.
Mezzo soprano Ainsley Ryan is thrilled to perform again with One World Symphony. Ms. Ryan most recently performed the role of the Page in One World Symphony's production of Strauss's Salomé. Other recent appearances include Sextus in One World Symphony's Giulio Cesare, the world premiere of Stanley Grill's In Flight, Prince Orlofsky in Johann Strauss' Die Fledermaus with the Natchez Festival of Music, the Sandman in Liederkranz Opera Theater's production of Humperdinck's Hansel and Gretel and Orfeo in One World Symphony's production of Gluck's Orfeo ed Euridice. Recent solo oratorio engagements include two performances of Dvorak's Stabat Mater and the Duruflé Requiem. Ms. Ryan currently resides in Brooklyn with her husband, Chris, and their daughter, Tatum Grace.
Oliver Söhngen, born in Germany, educated in Germany and The Cleveland Institute of Music, now lives in Long Island City and serves on the faculty of the Queens New York School of Music. He returns to One World Symphony after he sang the Fourth Jew in their production of Salomé. Mr. Söhngen has appeared as Bastien at the Styriarte Festival in Graz, Austria which was broadcast on television. He has sung the Evangelist in St. John's and St. Matthew's Passions, and performed with Rathaushofoper Konstanz, Fireland Symphony and Gaudio-Kammerorchester Leverkusen. Mr. Söhngen's proudest professional achievement to date is producing, designing and singing in Cleveland Public Theatre's production of Viktor Ullmann's opera Der Kaiser von Atlantis, where he was featured in the roles of Harlekin and the Soldier. For this he received the prestigious Northern Ohio Live award. Mr. Söhngen is also a proud husband father of an adorable 15 month old daughter Isabel, with his beautiful wife Amanda. He is currently continuing his studies with Beth Roberts and Anthony Manoli, concentrating on the German dramatic tenor repertoire.
Jim Trainor debuts this season with One World Symphony in the role of Marcello in La Bohème and Ned Keane in Peter Grimes. "Special note must be made of Mr. Trainor, whose baritone filled every corner of the Music Hall" and "throughout the evening proved a powerful presence in his solos and ensembles." "A richly-romantic voice put Mr. Trainor in musical command over his fellow cast members" are just some of the ways in which critics have described the singing of Jim Trainor.
Roles have included; Belcore in L'eleisir d'amore, Marcello in La Bohème, Allazim in Mozart's Zaide, Il Conte in Le Nozze di Figaro, Harlekin in Ariadne auf Naxos, Lescaut in Massenet's Manon, and Bob in The Old Maid and the Thief. Equally at home in Musical Theatre genre, Mr. Trainor portrayed Carl Magnus in A Little Night Music starring legendary soprano Carol Yahr in the role of Desiree, Billy Bigelow in Carousel and the leading male soloist in Jaques Brel is Alive and Well and Living in Paris. Mr. Trainor's solo repertoire in Oratorio includes Brahms' Ein Deutches Requiem, Pucell's Come Ye Sons of Arts, Chartpentier's Te Deum, Vaughan Williams' Five Mystical Songs, Händel's Messiah, which was heard in Key West under the baton of Dean Walters, Faure's Requiem, Jesus Christ in the St. John Passion by Bach.
Bass-baritone Darren Walker's credits include Doctor Grenvil in New Jersey Verismo Opera's La Traviata, Simone in Chelsea Opera's Gianni Schicci, Ramfis in One World Symphony's Aida, the title role in One World Symphony's Saul (Händel), First Soldier in One World Symphony's Salomé, the Speaker in Dicapo Opera's The Magic Flute, Masetto in Don Giovanni, Melchior in Amahl and the Night Visitors, the Sacristan in Cantiamo Opera's Tosca, The Commissioner in Dicapo's Madame Butterfly, and Count Ceprano in Connecticut Grand Opera's Rigoletto.
Soprano Michelle Adessa was most recently heard as the Slave in One World Symphony's June production of Salomé and at Bard SummerScape in Zemlinsky's Der Zwerg, conducted by Leon Botstein. Solo appearances include Mahler's Symphony No. 4 with the Yale Symphony and Charpentier's Messe de Minuit with the Highgate Choral Society in London. In New York area, Ms. Adessa founded the Elizabethan Duo, a voice and guitar duo, and has sung with the Village Light Opera, and in recital at Steinway Hall. Ms. Adessa received her Bachelor of Music degree from Mannes College of Music, where she performed Lucy in Menotti's The Telephone and continued her studies at the Royal Academy of Music, London.
Thomas Sternglass has been performing and creating
art since he first arrived at the Cobble Hill Playgroup at
age 2. He is a life-long resident of Brooklyn, currently a
5th grader in the gifted and talented program at P.S. 38. He
plans to continue his art education in middle school next year.
He loves to draw, paint, read japanese manga, and play video
games. He hopes to be a professional comic book writer and
illustrator, and has several short comics completed to date.
His parents are graphic designers, and his two older brothers
are also artists: one as a classical cellist, the other as
an aspiring mechanical engineer.
Boy soprano Massimiliano L. Ferrari
("Max") debuted
as Amahl in a Hunter College/New York Opera Project production
of Amahl and the Night Visitors in December 2005 in
New York. In 2005, he performed in the boys' Chorus and was
the understudy for Mustardseed in Benjamin Britten's Midsummer
Night's Dream with the Yale Opera. In May 2006, Max was
understudy of Miles in a Lorin Maazel production in Washington,
D.C. of Turn of the Screw. In December 2006, he performed
Little Page and was understudy of Amahl in a Little Orchestra
Society production in New York of Amahl and the Night Visitors. In
December 2007, Max sang the Boy Solo piece in Bernstein's Chichester
Psalms produced by Paul Mueller at Hunter College and sang
the Pickled Boy in Benjamin Britten's Saint Nicholas Cantatas for
the Westchester Choral Society. During 2007, he sang in the
Chorus for American Classical Orchestra's Glad Tidings production
in New York conducted by Thomas Crawford and with the Boys
Three-Choir Festival under the direction of Malcolm Archer.
Max actively participates in various productions in Greenwich
CT, is an active member of the Pueri Cantores Palladium and
is an aspiring soccer player.
Friday, January 25,
2008
St. Ann and the Holy Trinity
Brooklyn Heights, New York
(Brooklyn premiere)
Sunday, January 27,
2008
Ansche Chesed Synagogue
Manhattan, New York
