Presented at the Edwardsville Public Library

The music of Mozart and Offenbach meets the magic of children's theatre for this operatic adaptation of the classic fable, Goldilocks and the Singing Three Bears. This 40-minute opera features music from famous operas with silly new words and fun dialogue, presented in English, and perfect for the entertainment of our youngest audiences (and their parents too!). Thanks to donors and sponsors, this program is free for the entire family to enjoy at no cost. Warning, audience participation is likely!

Over four years, OE has built a portfolio of educational programs that reach a range of students, offering mentorship sessions with our artistic advisor and Grammy-award winning soprano Christine Brewer, masterclasses with Northwestern University professor and President of the National Association for Teachers of Singing (NATS) Karen Brunssen, and an annual opera for kids!

The opera for kids has been presented in a range of formats and has reached over 5,000 kids through school tours, free community performances, and a filmed presentation and virtual field trip offered online. We proudly presented our 2022 opera for kids, Goldilocks and the Three Singing Bears to a packed audience at the Edwardsville Public Library on July 9, 2022 at 10am.

This performance featured local artists from Edwarsdville, Glen Carbon, Collinsville, Alton, Belleville, Bunker Hill, and St. Louis. The cast featured Angel Nicole Riley, Spencer Domer, Amy Waller Prince, and Jacob Lassetter. The production was directed by SIUE’s Marc Schapman, with sets and costumes designed by Roger Spiedel, and music direction by pianist and OE Artist-in-Residence, Joseph Welch.

Our Edwardsville performance was presented with the City of Edwardsville Arts in the Park program and the Edwardsville Arts center who offered opera-inspired crafts and activities ahead of the performance. The performance also featured three sign interpreters, making the performance accessible to those with hearing impairment.

The story: Goldilocks doesn’t just like bugs – she loves them. When a beautiful butterfly flutters off into the woods, she chases it, forgetting a promise made to her mom to stay close to home. Trying to find her way home after eating soup that doesn’t belong to her, Goldie meets Peek, a little bear. Peek confides to Goldie that a sneaky robber snuck into his family’s house that very morning, licked his spoon and ate his soup. Goldie is horrified, for she knows, of course, that she’s the sneaky soup robber. What should she do? Should she risk getting in trouble by telling the truth? Should she be dishonest and hope to avoid being punished?

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, and Tessitura Music. Special thanks to the Great Rivers and Routes Tourism Bureau, Edwardsville Public Library, and Scott Evers Photography.

Featuring:

Angel Riley Nicole, Soprano Goldilocks, a little girl who loves bugs

Jacob Lassetter, Baritone Papa Bear, Peeks father and an avid gardener

Amy Prince, Soprano Mama Bear, Peeks mother and an amazing cook

Spencer Domer, Tenor Peek, a little bear and ambitious cub scout

Presented outdoors at the Edwardsville City Park

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!

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.

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.

Check out the official Spotify playlist and get to know the music ahead of the concert: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/50pRiTbVbYxcdJNQi1UcPV?si=d68ba0660cc449e6

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, 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

Presented by SIUE Arts & Issues at Dunham Hall

Kick off the holiday season with Opera Edwardsville on December 3rd for a 5th Anniversary Celebration & Holiday Concert! Opera's drunkest characters will help us toast our 5th anniversary with musical excerpts of famous operas, and our guest artists will kick off the holiday season with festive favorites and classic carols! OE’s signature December event returns to Dunham Hall on December 3, 2022 at 7:30pm, presented by SIUE Arts & Issues.

Following a festive 2021 debut, Opera Edwardsville is thrilled to return to the beautiful campus of Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville to join the Arts & Issues Series in 2022. OE was the first local organization presented as part of the series, and the first to be re-invited as well! OE is proud to join illustrious past-series guests including Maya Angelou, Ken Burns, George Winston, and more.

Guest artists include sopranos Amanda Majeski, Angel Azzarra, Rachel Blaustein, and Angel Nicole Riley, mezzo-soprano Emily Fons, tenor Jonathan Johnson, and baritone Christian Purcell, with accompaniment provided by pianist and 2022 OE Artist-in-Residence Joseph Welch.

The musical program draws upon some of opera’s greatest parties, toasts, and drinking songs. Some parties get out of hand, some characters drink a bit too much, and because it’s opera… some don’t live to tell about it! Part I features operatic toasts from operas including Bizet’s Carmen, Donizetti’s Lucrezia Borgia and L’elisir d’amore, Verdi’s Macbeth, Gounod’s Roméo et Juliette, and more. Part II features the sounds of the season with festive favorites and holiday classics. Raise a glass, pick your poison, and kick off the holiday season with Opera Edwardsville!

Artistic Director Chase Hopkins will emcee the concert, providing explanations, fun facts, and context for the musical selections.

Before the show, stop by Cleveland Heath, (OE’s official restaurant partner) for an inspired cocktail and dinner special in celebration of OE’s 5th anniversary. Cleveland Heath: 106 N Main St, Edwardsville, IL 62025.

As part of the event, a champagne reception and 5th Anniversary Season celebration will be hosted by OE’s 2022 Season Sponsors and Donors, with a champagne toast and an artist meet-and-greet. The reception will take place in the intermission of the performance. All are invited!

Check out the official spotify playlist and get to know the music ahead of the concert:

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3jJOEVOXtD9JWgUaOWXuyp?si=2926310899e54f6b

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 First Presbyterian Church of Edwardsville, the SIYAO Vocal Competition and Tessitura Music. Special thanks to the Great Rivers and Routes Tourism Bureau, Cleveland Heath and Scott Evers Photography.

Featuring:

Angel Azzarra, soprano

Angel Nicole Riley, soprano

Rachel Blaustein, soprano

Amanda Majeski, soprano

Emily Fons, mezzo-soprano

Jonathan Johnson, tenor

Christian Pursell, baritone

With accompaniment by:

Joseph Welch, pianist and OE Artist-in-Residence

With emcee:

Chase Henry Hopkins, tenor and OE Founder & Artistic Director

Presented online, via eblast, facebook, and instagram.

Building on the success of our virtual season in 2020 and 2021, Opera Edwardsville will again present its popular online series The 12 Days of Opera Edwardsville, a digital series presented online for free that has reached over 80,000 viewers in past years. The 12 Days of Opera Edwardsville will be filmed on the stage of the historic Wildey Theatre, with film and audio produced by St. Louis production company Once Films.

Released daily December 12-23, 2022 online:

Eblast: Sign up here!

Facebook: Opera Edwardsville

Instagram: @operaedwardsville

YouTube: Opera Edwardsville’s channel

Website: www.OperaEdwardsville.org

Featured Artists

Miles Brenton, baritone

Grace Fisher, soprano

Sarah Price, soprano

Amy Prince, soprano

Angel Nicole Riley, soprano

Marc Schapman, tenor

Leann Schuering, soprano

James Stevens, tenor

Featuring a special student spotlight performance by:

Spenser Domer, tenor

With accompaniment by:

Joseph Welch, pianist and OE Artist-in-Residence

Sponsors

This free online series would not be possible without the generous support of the 2022 OE Business Sponsors and individual donors. 2022 Season presented by The Rotary Club of Edwardsville, the City of Edwardsville, Lewis Rice, Stifel, and the Schmidt and Barton Family Fund. Additional sponsorship comes from Hortica, 222 Artisan Bakery, Bank of Madison County, and Tessitura Music. Special thanks to the Great Rivers and Routes Tourism Bureau, Once Films, Scott Evers Photography, and the Wildey Theatre.

Opera Edwardsville is proud to recognize the incredible talent and contribution of pianist Dr. Joseph Welch through the creation of a new role within the organization.

Joseph has been named the company's first Artist-in-Residence, a designation that includes involvement within all 2022 season events and acknowledges OE's deep appreciation for the talent and expertise that Joseph brings to performances and rehearsals. This new season-long designation has been underwritten by an anonymous donor. OE's ability to welcome world-class singers to Edwarsdville is possible knowing that performances will be in collaboration with a pianist of Joseph's calibre.

Joseph serves as a Professor of Music at Blackburn College. An advocate for the vocal and keyboard arts, Dr. Welch is the Founder and Artistic Director of St. Louis Art Song, which recently hosted Libby Larsen in a weekend residency. He coaches studios in the Opera Theatre of St. Louis Artists-in-Training program and is the Director of Music at First Congregational Church in Bunker Hill, IL. He is the Assistant Music Director for Variety Theatre in St. Louis.

His previous music direction credits include Opera Edwardsville, SIUE's Summer Showbiz, Marble City Opera, Midwest Institute of Opera, and many summer programs. Joseph frequently works with the Illinois Symphony Orchestra. As choral accompanist, he plays for the St. Louis Children's Choirs’ Young Men's Chorus and the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra's Holiday Festival Chorus. Dr. Welch serves on the boards of the Southern Illinois Young Artist Organization and the Bunker Hill Education Foundation. Recent awards include Member of the Year for the Illinois State Music Teachers Association - Gateway Arch East Chapter and Adjunct Instructor of the Year at Blackburn College. Dr. Welch enjoys studying genealogy, gardening, photography, farming, and home remodeling in his free time.

Joseph's new role with Opera Edwarsdville comes as part of our 5th Anniversary Season. In the past four years, Joseph has been a part of over 15 OE events. Looking ahead, OE's future is all the brighter with Joseph's growing involvement within the company.

Welcome to Opera Edwardsville, where the history and charm of Edwardsville meet the power and beauty of Opera.

Our mission is to develop an arts organization for the benefit of Edwardsville, Illinois and the St. Louis Metro-East community with the goals of providing musical excellence, educational outreach, community development, an artistic platform, and cultural enrichment.

Music is an important part of Edwardsville’s history, with a 175-year-old Municipal Band, the iconic Mississippi River Festival, and now Opera Edwardsville. We use a European model to make OE a unique musical experience. Seeing the impact of these model opera festivals both large and small on the communities in which they are rooted inspired the creation of our organization. Through concerts, lectures, recitals, operas, masterclasses, and educational outreach programs, OE exposes audiences to bold artistic ideas, powerful dramas, fascinating history, global perspectives, and beautiful music through the shared experience of live opera.

Sharing the music I love with my hometown is an absolute joy. I am grateful for the support, enthusiasm and momentum behind Opera Edwardsville and consider it a great privilege to be contributing to the arts community in Edwardsville. I am so grateful for the many individuals, organizations, and businesses who support OE.

Thank you,

Chase Hopkins