Once again the holiday season has completely snuck up on me, and I was shocked to realize that we are just one week away from New Years Eve and a whole new year. Didn’t the Merola Grand Finale happen just a few minutes ago? Wasn’t I just writing about the end of the summer? Time flies when you’re having fun I guess.
And what a fun year it has been! Remember that fantastic Spring Benefit at the St. Regis back in April, with that stunning performance by the Adler Fellows? Or what about the excitement of meeting a whole new group of Merolini back in June? I had a great time spying on rehearsals at Day at Merola and having a picnic at Yerba Buena gardens while the Merolini performed the Schwabacher Summer Concert. And who could forget the singing talent displayed at Il barbiere di Siviglia? Or the laugh out loud antics of the final number at the Merola Grand Finale?
And over at the War Memorial Opera House, San Francisco Opera was featuring more Merola alums than I can list in one post. Susannah Biller, Leah Crocetto, Kendall Gladen, Susan Graham, Thomas Hampson, Nadine Sierra… the list goes on and on. I think every production this season was filled with Merola alums, including the incredible Ring Cycle.
What was your favorite Merola moment this year? I think my favorite Merola moment would have to be listening to Leah Crocetto as Liù in Turandot and knowing that I worked for a company that helped shape this fabulous singer. It was an incredibly moving performance, made all the more moving by my connection to Merola and, by extension, my connection to the amazing singers that come out of the program. I think that’s what makes Merola so special. And I know that it’s this connection to the opera stars of tomorrow that makes our membership so continuously generous and unfailingly supportive.
I look forward to another year of amazing memories to come in 2012, and I hope that you (and all our members) will be there to share in it with all of us! From the whole Merola staff, we wish you very merry holidays and a happy new year! We will see you in the New Year!
In 1988, I had the extreme good fortune to be accepted into the Merola Apprentice Coach Program, an experience which was instrumental in preparing me for my challenging and rewarding career as an Assistant Conductor and Prompter at the San Francisco Opera from 1989 to 1993 (and the Ring of 2011); the Bayreuth Festival, summers of 1994-1998 (the Ring); and the Lyric Opera of Chicago, 1993 to present.
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The countdown to the 2012 Merola Spring Benefit has begun and I am so excited (as I always am at this time of year).
The event will be Saturday, April 21, 2012, at The Four Seasons in San Francisco. The theme: “A Royal Affair”. And despite the name of this blog entry, tiaras ARE optional.
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With the recent rain and some cooler temperatures, it certainly feels like fall has arrived. There’s a back-to-school feeling around here, a feeling of new beginnings. Which makes sense because this month has been a month of changes and new beginnings here at Merola.
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“Excellence is important.” Maestro Patrick Summers, Merola Class of 1986
My name is Laura Michelson and I have had the pleasure of interning at Merola for the past two summers. I first heard about the Merola Opera Program in high school from my voice teacher, soprano Sharon Davis, who was a member of the Merola Class of 1971. From Sharon, I learned that Merola is an incredibly unique experience that truly prepares its young artists for full-blown operatic careers. But little did I know that Merola would help to prepare me for my own career, too…just not a career in singing. Read more »
You can still get great seats to the fabulous Merola Grand Finale on Saturday, August 20th at 7:30pm. The summer 2011 artists will be appearing on the main stage of the War Memorial Opera House, performing a wide variety of opera scenes. BUY YOUR TICKETS!
2011 Merola Grand Finale Program:
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You can still buy tickets to come and see the Schwabacher Summer Concert — directed by Peter Kazaras and conducted by Robert Wood — on Friday, July 22 at 7:30 pm at the Herbst Theatre. Just go to http://sfopera.com/tickets/allproductions.aspx.
Schwabacher Summer Concert 2011 Program:
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This week is absolutely crazy for us in the office. We have two Merola events back to back! Today is Day at Merola, which is, in my opinion, one of the coolest events we do at Merola. It’s the one day that our members get to come and see what it’s like to be a Merolini. And it turns out it’s really intense to be a Merolini!
Our day is jam-packed with master classes and staging rehearsals—the Merolini are singing from 2:00 pm to 7:00 pm. And so of course the Merola staff will be there from 10:00 am to 8:00 pm making sure everything runs smoothly. (Really they should have a day where people get to see what it’s like to be on staff! Although, it’s much less glamorous, and we rarely sing, so maybe that’s why no one has done it yet.) In reality, this event is challenging for the staff mostly because the check-in table is located at the North Stage Door of the Opera House, which, if you have never been there, becomes a wind tunnel when the doors open. Our summer intern is planning to wear a down jacket, having learned her lesson last year. There’s nothing like a San Francisco summer!
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We are so excited for master teacher Matthew Epstein to take the stage with four of our 2011 Merolini tonight at the Herbst Theatre for the annual Merola Bring-A-Friend master class followed by a sparkling wine reception with huge, yummy cookies (I sampled a toffee one, and it was delish)! Here’s the program for tonight:
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Whew. When last I checked in with you all the annual Spring Benefit gala was just about upon us and I was reaching some record levels of stress getting it ready. I think all the stress paid off, because this year’s gala was really something special. It was so springy (unlike the weather today) and beautiful and refined. And I think everyone agreed that the Adler concert this year, in its own separate theatre style venue, was the best concert we have ever had at a Spring Benefit. On my end, things went very smoothly, thanks in no small part to a great group of volunteers. I had a fantastic time and I think everyone there did too. You can see pictures of the event (and really, I know you want to see pictures) here.
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