2022 Season
OPERA EDWARDSVILLE at DUNHAM HALL
A concert to celebrate the 5th Anniversary
DECEMBER 3, 2022 at 7:30pm | SIUE Arts & Issues Series
Presented as part of the SIUE Arts & Issues Series
Following a spectacular debut outdoors in 2021, Opera Edwardsville returns to its summer stage at Edwardsville City Park on September 30, 2022 at 7:30pm for a free community concert of operatic highlights in celebration of OE’s 5th Anniversary Season. Enjoy stars of the opera under the starry night sky for this open air concert!
Guest artists include sopranos Emily Birsan and Sofia Troncoso, mezzo-soprano Emily Fons, tenors Eric Ferring and Matthew Newlin, baritone Robert Mellon, with accompaniment provided by pianist and 2022 OE Artist-in-Residence Joseph Welch. Cellist Marie Brown joins Grammy Award-winning soprano and OE Artistic Advisor Christine Brewer, who will make a special guest appearance in celebration of OE’s 5th Anniversary.
OE Founder and Artistic Director Chase Hopkins will emcee the concert, providing explanations, fun facts, and context for the musical selections. The musical program introduces some of opera’s favorite love stories. In part one of the program, we see the many ways in which characters meet, and fall in love. In part two of the program, we find out what happens next: For some it’s happily ever after, and for others, well, it’s opera… they don’t all make it! This program features the full dramatic range of opera from dramatic deaths to heartfelt comedy through gorgeous arias, duets, trios, and ensembles brought to life by OE’s extraordinarily talented lineup of guest artists.
Audiences are encouraged to bring their picnics and lawn chairs to enjoy this open-air concert at Edwardsville City Park. Additionally, Opera Edwardsville has partnered with the chef at Cleveland Heath to prepare a signature cocktail and pre-performance dinner entree in celebration of OE’s 5th anniversary that will be on special at Cleveland Heath’s restaurant just a minute’s walk from City Park and the performance: 106 N Main St, Edwardsville, IL 62025.
OE's customary champagne reception is planned at the Edwardsville Public Library for 2022 Season Sponsors and Donors, with a champagne toast hosted by Cleveland Heath and an artist meet-and-greet.
The musical program features selections from Verdi’s La Traviata, Donizetti’s L’elisir d’amore, Rossini’s La Cenerentola and Il barbiere di Siviglia, Delibes’ Lakmé, Offenbach’s Orphée aux enfers, and more.
This event will feature state-of-the-art amplification provided by Chicago’s Aphorism Studios, led by audio engineer Dan Nichols, named Person of the Year in Classical Music by the Chicago Tribune in 2021 for digital collaborations with arts organizations throughout the pandemic.
This event is free for the entire public to enjoy thanks to OE's 2022 Season Sponsors and Donors. OE would like to recognize 2022 presenting Sponsors: The Rotary Club of Edwardsville, the City of Edwardsville, Lewis Rice, and Stifel, and the Schmidt and Barton Family Fund. Additional support comes from 222 Artisan Bakery, Hortica, the Bank of Madison County, the SIYAO Vocal Competition and Tessitura Music. Special thanks to the Great Rivers and Routes Tourism Bureau, Edwardsville Public Library, Cleveland Heath and Scott Evers Photography.
Featuring:
Emily Birsan, Soprano
Sofia Troncoso, Soprano
Emily Fons, Mezzo-soprano
Eric Ferring, Tenor
Matthew Newlin, Tenor
Robert Mellon, Baritone
With accompaniment by:
Joseph Welch, pianist and OE Artist-in-Residence
With special guest appearance in celebration of OE’s 5th Anniversary by:
Christine Brewer, Grammy Award-winning soprano and OE Artistic Advisor
Marie Brown, cello
Meet the Artists
Stars of the operatic stage join for this special performance in Edwardsville from around the world. From Berlin to Sydney, Australia, and Chicago to our very own backyard in St. Louis, this stellar line up of guest artists have appeared on stages including the Metropolitan Opera, Opéra National de Paris, Deutsche Oper Berlin, Opéra Royal de Versailles, Semperoper Dresden, Lyric Opera of Chicago, Seattle Opera, Santa Fe Opera, Opera Theatre of St. Louis, and now… Opera Edwardsville!
Guest artists include sopranos Emily Birsan and Sofia Troncoso, mezzo-soprano Emily Fons, tenors Eric Ferring and Matthew Newlin, baritone Robert Mellon, with accompaniment provided by pianist and 2022 OE Artist-in-Residence Joseph Welch. Cellist Marie Brown joins Grammy Award-winning soprano and OE Artistic Advisor Christine Brewer, who will make a special guest appearance in celebration of OE’s 5th Anniversary.
EMILY BIRSAN
Soprano
CHRISTINE BREWER
Soprano
MARIE BROWN
Cello
ERIC FERRING
Tenor
EMILY FONS
Mezzo-soprano
ROBERT MELLON
Baritone
MATTHEW NEWLIN
Tenor
SOFIA TRONCOSO
Soprano
JOSEPH WELCH
Piano
CHASE HOPKINS
Emcee
MUSICAL PROGRAM
Part I
La Traviata
Giuseppe Verdi
Duet and chorus: "The Brindisi" | Birsan & Newlin, Full Ensemble
Aria: Sempre libera | Birsan
L’elisir d’amore
Gaetano Donizetti
Duet: Caro elisir! Sei mio! | Ferring & Troncoso
Il barbiere di Siviglia
Gioachino Rossini
Duet: Contro un cor che accende amore | Fons & Newlin
Aria: Largo al factotum | Mellon
Lakmé
Léo Delibes
Duet: Dôme épais le jasmin a la rose s’assemble (“The Flower Duet”) | Birsan & Fons
Aria: Fantaisie aux divins | Ferring
Orphée aux enfers
Jacques Offenbach
Duet: "The Fly Scene" | Troncoso & Mellon
Chorus: The Infernal Gallop | Full Ensemble
Intermission
Part II
The Wizard of Oz
Harold Arlen
Arr. Randy Kerber
Over the Rainbow | Brewer & Brown
La Traviata
Giuseppe Verdi
Aria: O mio rimorso | Newlin
L’elisir d’amore
Gaetano Donizetti
Aria: Una furtiva lagrima | Ferring
Aria: Prendi, per me sei libero | Troncoso
Il barbiere di Siviglia
Gioachino Rossini
Trio: Ah! Qual colpo inaspettato | Fons, Newlin & Mellon
La Traviata
Giuseppe Verdi
Final scene: Ah, Violetta! Se una pudica vergine | Birsan, Newlin & Mellon
La Cenerentola
Gioachino Rossini
Finale and aria: Non piu mesta | Fons & Full Ensemble
Listen on Spotify
SPONSORS AND SPECIAL THANKS
This event is free for the entire public to enjoy thanks to OE's 2022 Season Sponsors and Donors. OE would like to recognize 2022 presenting Sponsors: The Rotary Club of Edwardsville, the City of Edwardsville, Lewis Rice, and Stifel, and the Schmidt and Barton Family Fund. Additional support comes from 222 Artisan Bakery, Hortica, the Bank of Madison County, the SIYAO Vocal Competition and Tessitura Music. Special thanks to the Great Rivers and Routes Tourism Bureau, Edwardsville Public Library, Cleveland Heath and Scott Evers Photography.