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2020
From Mozart to the Surreal
2021 Summer Preview
Get a special behind-the-scenes preview of Merola’s 2021 summer productions, Mozart’s sublime classic Le nozze di Figaro and Dominick Argento’s surreal 20th-century gem Postcard from Morocco, with Sheri Greenawald and dramaturg Kip Cranna.
Sheri Greenawald, Director of San Francisco Opera Center and Artistic Director of Merola Opera Program
Kip Cranna, Dramaturg Emeritus of San Francisco Opera
Wednesday, October 14, 2020, 5:00 pm PDT
Event held on Zoom
An Afternoon of Piano with Tamara Sanikidze and Edoardo Barsotti
Virtual Recital
Merola Opera Program alums Tamara Sanikidze and Edoardo Barsotti are active recitalists and have performed alongside a number of internationally celebrated artists. Both are also brilliant at the keyboard playing solo. Join these two distinguished artists for a wonderful afternoon of piano.
Tamara Sanikidze has performed on the most prestigious stages throughout Europe, Asia, and the Americas, and currently serves as the Director of the Butler Opera Center as well as Head of Voice Division at Butler School of Music at the University of Texas, Austin.
Italian pianist and vocal coach Edoardo Barsotti has served as a collaborative pianist at numerous theaters, working with some of the world’s leading conductors. He currently serves as a collaborative pianist at Teatro del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino in Florence.
Tickets are $25 for individuals and $40 for households. A limited number of $80 VIP tickets are available that include a virtual reception with Tamara Sanikidze. Tickets are on sale now.
Tamara Sanikidze (Merola '09), piano
Edoardo Barsotti (Merola '14/'15), piano
Sunday, November 22, 2020 at 4:00 pm PST
Individual Ticket $25
Household Ticket $40
VIP Ticket $80 (includes virtual reception)Tamara Sanikidze is donating her honorarium for this recital to Merola in memory of Janey Heagy.
Edoardo Barsotti is generously sponsored by David Hugle and Haggai Niv.
Ticket purchasers will receive a link to view the event on Zoom in advance of the event on November 22.
A Very Merola Holiday Recital
Virtual Recital
Celebrate this holiday season with Merola alums Maria Valdes, Alice Chung, Casey Candebat, Christian Pursell, and Ronny Michael Greenberg.
American soprano Maria Valdes was recently described as a "first-rate singing actress and a perfectly charming Gilda" (New York Times). An award-winner in the regional Metropolitan Opera National Council auditions, Ms. Valdes is also the winner of the top prize at the Corbett Opera Scholarship Competition and recipient of a Shoshana Foundation Grant.
Recently awarded the 2020 Richard F. Gold Career Grant by the Shoshana Foundation, Korean-American mezzo-soprano Alice Chung has been praised for being a "force of nation" (SFCV) and "soaring with impressive power" (KC Metropolis). Ms. Chung has sung with the Lyric Opera of Kansas City, Central City Opera, Chautauqua Opera, Tulsa Opera, and the Merola Opera Program. At Merola, she was featured in the Schwabacher Summer Concert and Merola Grand Finale.
Casey Candebat, a tenor hailing from New Orleans, is quickly garnering the attention of opera companies around the country. Recently, he performed in Matthew Aucoin's new opera, Eurydice, with The Metropolitan Opera in New York. He is a frequent performer with New Orleans Opera, Kansas City Opera, Opera Santa Barbara, and Opera Grand Rapids.
Hailing from the Santa Cruz mountains of California, bass-baritone Christian Pursell is quickly establishing himself as a rising star among the next generation of singers. Following a critically acclaimed performance of Dandini in La Cenerentola with the Merola Opera Program (2017), Mr. Pursell performed numerous roles as an Adler Fellow at San Francisco Opera.
Pianist, Opera Coach and Producer, Ronny Michael Greenberg is a leading innovator in the world of performing arts. A native of Montreal, he has toured internationally performing in opera houses and concert halls including the War Memorial Opera House in San Francisco, the Vienna Konzerthaus, Carnegie Hall, Montreal’s Place des Arts Theater, and across Italy, New Zealand, and Hawaii. Greenberg is a full time member of San Francisco Opera’s Music Staff.
Tickets are $25 for individuals and $40 for households. A limited number of $80 VIP tickets are available that include a virtual reception with the artists. Tickets are on sale now.
Maria Valdes (Merola ‘13), soprano
Alice Chung (Merola ‘17/’19), mezzo-soprano
Casey Candebat (Merola ‘12/’14), tenor
Christian Pursell (Merola '17), bass-baritone
Ronny Michael Greenberg (Merola ‘14), piano
Saturday, December 12, 2020 at 4:00 pm PST
Individual Ticket $25
Household Ticket $40
VIP Ticket $80 (includes virtual reception)This recital is generously sponsored by Jennifer and Chris Brahm.
Alice Chung is generously sponsored by Patrick Wilken and David Dickson.
Maria Valdes is generously sponsored by Bob and Terri Ryan.
Casey Candebat is generously sponsored by Bernice Lindstrom.
Christian Pursell is generously sponsored by Peter and Jayne Davis.
Ronny Michael Greenberg is generously sponsored by Barbara Bruser and Richard Clark.
Ticket purchasers will receive a link to view the event on Zoom in advance of the event on December 12.
Of Thee I Sing! Songs of Love and Justice
Virtual Recital
Hailed for possessing a voice of extraordinary beauty, a seamless legato and great dramatic depth, American soprano Karen Slack has appeared with The Metropolitan Opera, Lyric Opera of Chicago, Washington National Opera, and San Francisco Opera. Slack, a 2002 alumnus of Merola Opera Program, has been the winner of numerous competitions and has performed in opera houses around the world. Catch her in recital on Sunday, February 7, 2021 as part of the Merola Virtual Recital Series.
Mary Pinto, an acclaimed accompanist and vocal coach, has worked with international opera singers and major American opera companies for the past 25 years. Among those she's worked with are Deborah Voigt (Merola '85).
Tickets are $25 for individuals and $40 for households. A limited number of $80 VIP tickets are available that include a virtual reception with Karen Slack after the performance. Tickets are on sale now.
Karen Slack (Merola '02), soprano
Mary Pinto, piano
Sunday, February 7, 2021 at 4:00 pm PST
Individual Ticket $25
Household Ticket $40
VIP Ticket $80 (includes virtual reception)This recital is generously sponsored by James Cross and Charles Antonen.
Ticket purchasers will receive a link to view the event on Zoom in advance of the event on February 7.
Merola Online Enrichment
In case you missed it, catch up on Merola Opera Program's inaugural Master Chat series hosted by Sheri Greenawald with questions from the 2020 young artists. The Master Chats featured opera and performing arts luminaries including Susan Graham (Merola '87), Francesca Zambello, David Garrison, Eun Sun Kim, and Gregory Henkel. Listen to these fascinating discussions now on Merola's YouTube channel: YouTube.com/merolaoperaprogram.
-
2020
From Mozart to the Surreal
2021 Summer Preview
Get a special behind-the-scenes preview of Merola’s 2021 summer productions, Mozart’s sublime classic Le nozze di Figaro and Dominick Argento’s surreal 20th-century gem Postcard from Morocco, with Sheri Greenawald and dramaturg Kip Cranna.
Sheri Greenawald, Director of San Francisco Opera Center and Artistic Director of Merola Opera Program
Kip Cranna, Dramaturg Emeritus of San Francisco Opera
Wednesday, October 14, 2020, 5:00 pm PDT
Event held on Zoom
An Afternoon of Piano with Tamara Sanikidze and Edoardo Barsotti
Virtual Recital
Merola Opera Program alums Tamara Sanikidze and Edoardo Barsotti are active recitalists and have performed alongside a number of internationally celebrated artists. Both are also brilliant at the keyboard playing solo. Join these two distinguished artists for a wonderful afternoon of piano.
Tamara Sanikidze has performed on the most prestigious stages throughout Europe, Asia, and the Americas, and currently serves as the Director of the Butler Opera Center as well as Head of Voice Division at Butler School of Music at the University of Texas, Austin.
Italian pianist and vocal coach Edoardo Barsotti has served as a collaborative pianist at numerous theaters, working with some of the world’s leading conductors. He currently serves as a collaborative pianist at Teatro del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino in Florence.
Tickets are $25 for individuals and $40 for households. A limited number of $80 VIP tickets are available that include a virtual reception with Tamara Sanikidze. Tickets are on sale now.
Tamara Sanikidze (Merola '09), piano
Edoardo Barsotti (Merola '14/'15), piano
Sunday, November 22, 2020 at 4:00 pm PST
Individual Ticket $25
Household Ticket $40
VIP Ticket $80 (includes virtual reception)Tamara Sanikidze is donating her honorarium for this recital to Merola in memory of Janey Heagy.
Edoardo Barsotti is generously sponsored by David Hugle and Haggai Niv.
Ticket purchasers will receive a link to view the event on Zoom in advance of the event on November 22.
A Very Merola Holiday Recital
Virtual Recital
Celebrate this holiday season with Merola alums Maria Valdes, Alice Chung, Casey Candebat, Christian Pursell, and Ronny Michael Greenberg.
American soprano Maria Valdes was recently described as a "first-rate singing actress and a perfectly charming Gilda" (New York Times). An award-winner in the regional Metropolitan Opera National Council auditions, Ms. Valdes is also the winner of the top prize at the Corbett Opera Scholarship Competition and recipient of a Shoshana Foundation Grant.
Recently awarded the 2020 Richard F. Gold Career Grant by the Shoshana Foundation, Korean-American mezzo-soprano Alice Chung has been praised for being a "force of nation" (SFCV) and "soaring with impressive power" (KC Metropolis). Ms. Chung has sung with the Lyric Opera of Kansas City, Central City Opera, Chautauqua Opera, Tulsa Opera, and the Merola Opera Program. At Merola, she was featured in the Schwabacher Summer Concert and Merola Grand Finale.
Casey Candebat, a tenor hailing from New Orleans, is quickly garnering the attention of opera companies around the country. Recently, he performed in Matthew Aucoin's new opera, Eurydice, with The Metropolitan Opera in New York. He is a frequent performer with New Orleans Opera, Kansas City Opera, Opera Santa Barbara, and Opera Grand Rapids.
Hailing from the Santa Cruz mountains of California, bass-baritone Christian Pursell is quickly establishing himself as a rising star among the next generation of singers. Following a critically acclaimed performance of Dandini in La Cenerentola with the Merola Opera Program (2017), Mr. Pursell performed numerous roles as an Adler Fellow at San Francisco Opera.
Pianist, Opera Coach and Producer, Ronny Michael Greenberg is a leading innovator in the world of performing arts. A native of Montreal, he has toured internationally performing in opera houses and concert halls including the War Memorial Opera House in San Francisco, the Vienna Konzerthaus, Carnegie Hall, Montreal’s Place des Arts Theater, and across Italy, New Zealand, and Hawaii. Greenberg is a full time member of San Francisco Opera’s Music Staff.
Tickets are $25 for individuals and $40 for households. A limited number of $80 VIP tickets are available that include a virtual reception with the artists. Tickets are on sale now.
Maria Valdes (Merola ‘13), soprano
Alice Chung (Merola ‘17/’19), mezzo-soprano
Casey Candebat (Merola ‘12/’14), tenor
Christian Pursell (Merola '17), bass-baritone
Ronny Michael Greenberg (Merola ‘14), piano
Saturday, December 12, 2020 at 4:00 pm PST
Individual Ticket $25
Household Ticket $40
VIP Ticket $80 (includes virtual reception)This recital is generously sponsored by Jennifer and Chris Brahm.
Alice Chung is generously sponsored by Patrick Wilken and David Dickson.
Maria Valdes is generously sponsored by Bob and Terri Ryan.
Casey Candebat is generously sponsored by Bernice Lindstrom.
Christian Pursell is generously sponsored by Peter and Jayne Davis.
Ronny Michael Greenberg is generously sponsored by Barbara Bruser and Richard Clark.
Ticket purchasers will receive a link to view the event on Zoom in advance of the event on December 12.
Of Thee I Sing! Songs of Love and Justice
Virtual Recital
Hailed for possessing a voice of extraordinary beauty, a seamless legato and great dramatic depth, American soprano Karen Slack has appeared with The Metropolitan Opera, Lyric Opera of Chicago, Washington National Opera, and San Francisco Opera. Slack, a 2002 alumnus of Merola Opera Program, has been the winner of numerous competitions and has performed in opera houses around the world. Catch her in recital on Sunday, February 7, 2021 as part of the Merola Virtual Recital Series.
Mary Pinto, an acclaimed accompanist and vocal coach, has worked with international opera singers and major American opera companies for the past 25 years. Among those she's worked with are Deborah Voigt (Merola '85).
Tickets are $25 for individuals and $40 for households. A limited number of $80 VIP tickets are available that include a virtual reception with Karen Slack after the performance. Tickets are on sale now.
Karen Slack (Merola '02), soprano
Mary Pinto, piano
Sunday, February 7, 2021 at 4:00 pm PST
Individual Ticket $25
Household Ticket $40
VIP Ticket $80 (includes virtual reception)This recital is generously sponsored by James Cross and Charles Antonen.
Ticket purchasers will receive a link to view the event on Zoom in advance of the event on February 7.
Merola Online Enrichment
In case you missed it, catch up on Merola Opera Program's inaugural Master Chat series hosted by Sheri Greenawald with questions from the 2020 young artists. The Master Chats featured opera and performing arts luminaries including Susan Graham (Merola '87), Francesca Zambello, David Garrison, Eun Sun Kim, and Gregory Henkel. Listen to these fascinating discussions now on Merola's YouTube channel: YouTube.com/merolaoperaprogram.
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