Calendar
2021
2021 Merola Summer Festival
What the Heart Desires will be performed on July 3. A limited number of seats will be available to $1,000+ Merola donors on a first-come, first-served basis. The recital will be filmed and available to view online for members on July 16 and the general public on July 30. Back Home: Through the Stage Door will be available to members to stream starting August 13. The general public will have access starting August 27. The Merola Grand Finale will be performed live on July 31. There may also be an invited audience for the live performance, depending on the COVID restrictions. It will be filmed and available to stream on-demand for members on August 20 and the general public on September 3. Not a Merola member? Donate now.
What the Heart Desires
Performance: Saturday, July 3 at 2:00 pm PDT
Available to Members: Friday, July 16
Public Release Date: Friday, July 30
Ronnita Miller (Merola '05), co-curator
Nicholas Phan, co-curator
Celebrating diversity in song, this recital co-curated by mezzo-soprano Ronnita Miller (Merola ‘05) and tenor Nicholas Phan will explore the many things our hearts desire. Featuring compositions by women and people of color, the program will include selections about romantic desire, physical desire, and the longing for home, for rest, for peace, and for a better world performed by select 2021 Merola young artists.
Locations/viewing options to be announced.
This production of What the Heart Desires is sponsored by Amazon.
Ronnita Miller is sponsored by Mr. Glenn H. Reid and Five Arts Foundation.
Nicholas Phan is sponsored by Bob and Terri Ryan.
Back Home: Through the Stage Door
Available to Members: Friday, August 13
Public Release Date: Friday, August 27
Back Home: Through the Stage Door, conceived and directed for film by award-winning director David Paul, showcases the 2021 Merola artists in an exciting digital format. This innovative work will highlight the program’s imaginative approach to adapting to the digital demands of the opera world today. Paul’s work has been praised by The New York Times and The Washington Post for its energy, humor, and emotional depth, and has been seen across four continents in five languages.
Viewing options to be announced.
Back Home: Through the Stage Door is sponsored by William and Edie Dwan.
David Paul is sponsored by Darla and Richard Bastoni.
Merola Grand Finale
Performance: Saturday, July 31 at 2:00 pm PDT
Available to Members: Friday, August 20
Public Release Date: Friday, September 3
The Summer Festival concludes with the Merola Grand Finale, a concert featuring all the artists of the 2021 Merola Opera Program in a dazzling array of opera’s most exciting arias and ensembles. Directed by 2021 Merola Stage Director Audrey Chait and accompanied by the Merola Pianist/Coaches, this performance showcases the hard work and extraordinary talent of the Merola artists.
Locations/viewing options to be announced.
2021
2021 Merola Summer Festival
All Master Classes will be available to stream for Merola members on the dates listed below. What the Heart Desires will be performed on July 3. A limited number of seats will be available to $1,000+ Merola donors on a first-come, first-served basis. The recital will be filmed and available to view online for members on July 16 and the general public on July 30. Back Home: Through the Stage Door will be available to members to stream starting August 13. The general public will have access starting August 27. The Merola Grand Finale will be performed live on July 31. There may also be an invited audience for the live performance, depending on the COVID restrictions. It will be filmed and available to stream on-demand for members on August 20 and the general public on September 3. Not a Merola member? Donate now.
Master Class with Warren Jones
Wednesday, June 30 at 5:00 pm PDT
Always a Merola audience favorite, Mr. Jones has been a guest artist at Lincoln Center’s “Great Performers Series,” as well as the Tanglewood, Ravinia, and Caramoor festivals, in addition to touring as a recitalist throughout Europe and Asia. For 10 years he was Assistant Conductor at the Metropolitan Opera and for three seasons served in the same capacity at San Francisco Opera.
Viewing options to be announced.
The Warren Jones Master Class is sponsored, in part, by James Heagy in memory of Janey Heagy, and Diane B. Wilsey.
What the Heart Desires
Performance: Saturday, July 3 at 2:00 pm PDT
Available to Members: Friday, July 16
Ronnita Miller (Merola '05), co-curator
Nicholas Phan, co-curator
Celebrating diversity in song, this recital co-curated by mezzo-soprano Ronnita Miller (Merola ‘05) and tenor Nicholas Phan will explore the many things our hearts desire. Featuring compositions by women and people of color, the program will include selections about romantic desire, physical desire, and the longing for home, for rest, for peace, and for a better world performed by select 2021 Merola young artists.
Locations/viewing options to be announced.
This production of What the Heart Desires is sponsored by Amazon.
Ronnita Miller is sponsored by Mr. Glenn H. Reid and Five Arts Foundation.
Nicholas Phan is sponsored by Bob and Terri Ryan.
Master Class with Denyce Graves
Wednesday, July 7 at 5:00 pm PDT
Recognized worldwide as one of today's most exciting vocal stars, Denyce Graves continues to gather unparalleled popular and critical acclaim in performances on four continents. USA Today identifies her as "an operatic superstar of the 21st Century," and the Atlanta Journal-Constitution exclaims, "if the human voice has the power to move you, you will be touched by Denyce Graves."
Viewing options to be announced.
The Artist Residency of Denyce Graves is sponsored by Amazon.
The Master Class of Denyce Graves is sponsored in part by Diane B. Wilsey and Barbara Sonnenblick.
Master Class with Howard Watkins
Wednesday, July 14 at 5:00 pm PDT
American pianist Howard Watkins is a frequent associate of some of the world’s leading musicians on the concert stage; he’s also an assistant conductor at the Metropolitan Opera. His appearances throughout the Americas, Europe, Asia, Russia, and Israel have included collaborations with Joyce DiDonato, Diana Damrau, Kathleen Battle, Grace Bumbry, Mariusz Kwiecień, Anna Netrebko, and Matthew Polenzani. He has accompanied the classes of legendary artists Renata Scotto, Frederica von Stade, Régine Crespin, Birgit Nilsson, Sherrill Milnes, and George Shirley.
Viewing options to be announced.
The Artist Residency of Howard Watkins is sponsored by Amazon.
Master Class with Carrie-Ann Matheson
Wednesday, July 21 at 5:00 pm PDT
Carrie-Ann Matheson (San Francisco Opera Center Artistic Director) has a multi-faceted international career as a pianist, conductor, and educator. She began her career at the Metropolitan Opera, where she was a tenured member of the full-time music staff as assistant conductor, prompter, pianist, and vocal coach. As a recital pianist, she has performed with many of the world’s most renowned opera singers, including Rolando Villazón, Jonas Kaufmann, Piotr Beczala, Benjamin Bernheim, Diana Damrau, Thomas Hampson, and Joyce DiDonato. In addition to her work with opera singers, she has performed in chamber music concerts with members of the New York Philharmonic, the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, the Cleveland Orchestra, the Chamber Orchestra of Europe, the Montreal Symphony Orchestra, and Philharmonia Zürich.
Viewing options to be announced.
Master Class with Martin Katz
Wednesday, July 28 at 5:00 pm PDT
Martin Katz has been dubbed “the gold standard of accompanists” by The New York Times. His 50-year career has taken him to five continents, collaborating with the world’s most celebrated singers in recital and recording. Marilyn Horne, Frederica von Stade, Kathleen Battle, Karita Mattila, Piotr Beczala, Lawrence Brownlee, and David Daniels are among his regular partners, and he has recorded for RCA, CBS, BMG, EMI, and Decca labels.
Viewing options to be announced.
Martin Katz is sponsored by Barbara Ross and Mr. and Mrs. A. Lee Zeigler.
Back Home: Through the Stage Door
Available to Members: Friday, August 13
Back Home: Through the Stage Door, conceived and directed for film by award-winning director David Paul, showcases the 2021 Merola artists in an exciting digital format. This innovative work will highlight the program’s imaginative approach to adapting to the digital demands of the opera world today. Paul’s work has been praised by The New York Times and The Washington Post for its energy, humor, and emotional depth, and has been seen across four continents in five languages.
Viewing options to be announced.
Back Home: Through the Stage Door is sponsored by William and Edie Dwan.
David Paul is sponsored by Darla and Richard Bastoni.
Merola Grand Finale
Performance: Saturday, July 31 at 2:00 pm PDT
Available to Members: Friday, August 20
The Summer Festival concludes with the Merola Grand Finale, a concert featuring all the artists of the 2021 Merola Opera Program in a dazzling array of opera’s most exciting arias and ensembles. Directed by 2021 Merola Stage Director Audrey Chait and accompanied by the Merola Pianist/Coaches, this performance showcases the hard work and extraordinary talent of the Merola artists.
Locations/viewing options to be announced.
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