Das Rheingold

Since 1981, Joseph Rescigno has served as Artistic Advisor and Principal Conductor of the Florentine Opera Company of Milwaukee (WI), where he has conducted some of the company’s most challenging repertory. He also has been Music Director of La Musica Lirica, a summer program for singers in Northern Italy, since 2005. In addition, he served as Artistic Director of Metropolitan Orchestra of Greater Montreal, Quebec, for four seasons.

In permanent and guest engagements with more than 50 companies on four continents. Rescigno has traversed the repertory from rarities like Rossini’s 1816 La Gazzetta, the Brescia version of Puccini’s Madama Butterfly, Dvořák’s Stabat Mater, and Berlioz’s L’enfance du Christ, to world premieres like Minoru Miki’s Jōruri and Don Davis’s Río de Sangre and neglected contemporary works like Barber’s Vanessa, all while regularly revisiting the Italian, German, and French standard repertory. In addition, Maestro Rescigno has conducted masterworks of the choral literature as well as symphonies and concertos from the baroque to the contemporary (sometimes from the keyboard in works from earlier eras). He also frequently delights music-lovers with engaging talks before performances and participates in chamber music recitals for select groups.

Rescigno’s discography includes the aforementioned Río de Sangre (Albany Records) and Jōruri (Dreamlife) and five discs for Analekta of Canada: Beethoven (Eroica symphony and Egmont overture and arias), Brahms (piano concertos with Anton Kuerti), Mendelssohn (violin concertos with Angèle Dubeau), and the solo operatic anthologies Mozart (Lyne Fortin) and Verismo (Diana Soviero).

As a guest artist, this peripatetic conductor has led the New York City Opera, Lyric Opera of Chicago, Washington National Opera, Opera Theatre of Saint Louis, Seattle Opera, Atlanta Opera, Virginia Opera, Opera Omaha, Arizona Opera, Hungarian State Opera, Glimmerglass Opera, Vancouver Opera, Teatro Bellini, l’Opéra de Marseille, and l’Opéra de Montréal among others. The symphony orchestras he has conducted include the Montreal Symphony and the Milwaukee Symphony, both of which he has led in their regular subscription series as well as in opera productions. In addition, he won Quebec’s Prix Opus for a program of all five Beethoven piano concertos with Anton Kuerti and the Metropolitan Orchestra of Greater Montreal.

Maestro Rescigno has further been privileged to collaborate with prominent musicians of three generations including instrumentalists Brigitte Engerer, Ida Haendel, Elmar Oliveira, and Pieter Wispelwey, and singers June Anderson, Angela Brown, Ghena Dimitrova, Giuseppe DiStefano, Plácido Domingo, Alfredo Kraus, Eva Marton, Johanna Meier, Erie Mills, Andrea Rost, Erika Sunnegårdh, Ruth Ann Swenson, Tatiana Troyanos, Ramón Vargas, and Deborah Voigt.

A born teacher, Rescigno derives tremendous satisfaction from working with young musicians and singers in guest engagements at universities and conservatories in addition to imparting his knowledge and experience at La Musica Lirica, in master classes, and in private coaching. He is also honored to serve on the advisory committee of the Olga Forrai Foundation as it supports the training, education, and career development of singers and conductors. Further, in recognition of the high musical standards Maestro Rescigno and The Florentine Opera Company maintain, they have been chosen to mentor Solti Foundation U.S. Award recipients as part of the Foundation’s residency project (newly expanded to opera).

This native New Yorker comes from a long line of musicians on both sides of his family. He trained as a pianist and has been studying and performing music since childhood. His uncle was the prominent conductor Nicola Rescigno, a founder of both the Dallas Opera and Lyric Opera of Chicago. He holds a Master of Music degree from Manhattan School of Music and studied with composer Nicolas Flagello and other distinguished teachers in the United States and Europe, including privately at l’Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia in Rome.

Maestro Rescigno made his New York recital debut with a program of four Beethoven piano sonatas. He went on to work with such influential conductors as Laszlo Halasz (founder of the New York City Opera), Bruno Maderna, Gianandrea Gavazzeni, Carlo Moresco (the first director of the Philadelphia Lyric Opera Company), and his uncle. Powerful influences also included pianist Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli, conductors Herbert von Karajan and Erich Leinsdorf, and Roberto Benaglio, the legendary chorus master of La Scala. Each one personally taught him something unforgettable.

Joseph Rescigno married his wife Jeanne in 1971, and they live in Manhattan.

Photo credit: Christian Steiner.

A crossover artist of immense skill, Mark Delavan has proved himself a strong character actor on stages throughout the country. Most recently, Delavan starred as Phil Arkin in Milk and Honey with York Theatre Company, to critical acclaim. Of his performance, critics hailed his “rich, resonant voice,” with “impressively clear high notes.” Also a singer of “incisive vocal power and fierce theatrical acuity,” he is sought after throughout the United States and Europe for the most demanding roles in his operatic repertoire. He regularly appears in the title roles of Der fliegende Holländer, Falstaff, and Rigoletto, and as Iago in Otello, Scarpia in Tosca, Jochanaan in Salome, and Amonasro in Aida. This season, Delavan sings Scarpia in Tosca with Pittsburgh Opera, Jochannan in Salome with Florida Grand Opera, and Wotan in Das Rheingold with Arizona Opera and Samson et Delilah with North Carolina Opera. 

In recent seasons, Mark Delavan sang Amonasro in Aida at The Metropolitan Opera and Jack Rance in La faniculla del West at Michigan Opera Theatre; returned to the Deutsche Oper Berlin as Jupiter in Die liebe der Danae and Alfio/Tonio in the double-bill of Cavalleria rusticana/Pagliacci; returned to Pittsburgh Opera in the title role of Nabucco and débuted as Jochanaan in Salome at Teatro Carlo Felice in Genova under Fabio Luisi; sang Jack Rance in La fanciulla del West at Santa Fe Opera; returned to San Francisco Opera and the Lyric Opera of Chicago as Scarpia; created the role of Giovanni in the world première of Marco Tutino’s Two Women (La Ciociara) at San Francisco Opera; and was heard in Kurt Weill’s The Road of Promise with the Collegiate Chorale at Carnegie Hall and with the New York Choral Society in Mendelssohn’s St. Paul.

Additionally, Mr. Delavan took his interpretation of Wotan to the Deutsche Oper Berlin after successful performances at The Metropolitan Opera under Fabio Luisi in cycles of Der Ring des Nibelungen. He was seen as Don Carlo in La forza del destino at Washington National Opera, as well as the Dutchman with Arizona Opera and the Four Villains in The Tales of Hoffmann at Palm Beach Opera. Other highlights include performances of Gianciotto in Zandonai’s Francesca da Rimini at The Metropolitan Opera, the title role in Rigoletto for Pittsburgh Opera, Scarpia in Tosca for San Francisco Opera, the Dutchman in Der fliegende Holländer at the Princeton Music Festival, and Amonasro in Aida at the Ravinia Festival with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra under James Conlon.

Mr. Delavan was heard as Wotan for Deutsche Oper Berlin, in performances of Das Rheingold and Siegfried with Donald Runnicles. He was heard as Scarpia in performances for the Canadian Opera Company and Pittsburgh Opera, and returned to Santa Fe Opera as Mandryka in a new production of Arabella. Mr. Delavan expanded his repertoire, adding the roles of Jupiter in Die Liebe der Danae for Deutsche Oper Berlin, and Renato in Un ballo in Maschera for Lyric Opera of Chicago. He was also heard as Iago for Deutsche Oper Berlin and Opera Company of Philadelphia, Jack Rance in La fanciulla del West for Den Jyske Opera, Jochanaan for Barcelona’s Gran Teatre del Liceu, Falstaff for Pittsburgh Opera, Amonasro for Atlanta Opera, Wotan in Das Rheingold and Die Walküre, and as Scarpia, both with Deutsche Oper Berlin, as Jochanaan in concert for the Prague State Opera, and in his first performances as Wotan in Die Walküre for San Francisco Opera.

At The Metropolitan Opera, Mr. Delavan has earned public and critical acclaim for his company début as Amonasro in Aida. He has also sung the title roles of Simon Boccanegra and Nabucco, and has appeared as Scarpia, Tomsky in Pique Dame, Alfio in Cavalleria rusticana, Carlo in La forza del destino and as Gerard in a major revival of Andrea Chénier.

The press has praised Mark Delavan’s performances as Amfortas in Lyric Opera of Chicago’s new production of Parsifal, and his creation of the role of Snooks Brenner in the world première of William Bolcom’s A Wedding, directed by Robert Altman and conducted by Dennis Russell Davies. With Lyric Opera of Chicago, Mr. Delavan has appeared as Alfio/Tonio in Cavalleria rusticana/I pagliacci, and as as Germont in La traviata. He has also appeared in new productions by Robert Carsen of Gluck’s Iphigenie en Tauride (Louis Langrèe conducting) and by David McVicar of Verdi’s Il trovatore (Bruno Bartoletti conducting).

A popular performer with the New York City Opera, Mr. Delavan has sung in numerous productions with the company, including the title roles in Der fliegende Holländer, Rigoletto, Macbeth, and Falstaff, as well as starring in the title role of Stephen Sondheim’s Sweeney Todd to great critical acclaim. Mr. Delavan’s NYCO credits also include the roles of the four villains in The Tales of Hoffman, Scarpia (telecast live on PBS for ‘Live From Lincoln Center’), Ezio in Attila, Escamillo in Carmen, Enrico in Lucia di Lammermoor, the Duke of Nottingham in Roberto Devereux and in new productions of The Ballad of Baby Doe as Horace Tabor, Il trittico as Michele and Gianni Schicchi, and Salome.

Born in Princeton, New Jersey, Mr. Delavan earned a Bachelor of Music degree from Oral Roberts University. He was a national finalist of The Metropolitan Opera auditions and an Adler Fellow with the San Francisco Opera.

Grammy-award winning dramatic baritone, Richard Paul Fink, has been acclaimed internationally in appearances with theaters that include The Metropolitan Opera, Wiener Staatsoper, Deutsche Oper Berlin, Berlin State Opera, Opera National de Paris, San Francisco Opera, Houston Grand Opera, Washington National Opera, San Diego Opera, Hamburg State Opera, Welsh National Opera, Scottish Opera, Theatre du Capitole in Toulouse, and Sydney Opera as well as at the Bregenz and Ravinia Festivals.

Upcoming performances include Appomattox with Washington National Opera, Rusalka with Houston Grand Opera and Samson and Delilah with Dallas Opera.

His repertoire comprises some of the most challenging roles of the baritone canon: the title role in Wagner's The Flying Dutchman, Telramund in Wagner's Lohengrin, Pizarro in Beethoven's Fidelio, the title roles in Verdi's Nabucco and Rigoletto, as well as Iago in Otello, Scarpia in Tosca, Gerard in Giordano's Andrea Chenier, and Escamillo in Carmen among others. One of his signature roles, Alberich in Wagner's Ring cycle, he has sung at the Metropolitan Opera under James Levine as well as Ring cycles in Vienna, Los Angeles, Berlin, Dallas, Toronto, Seattle, and Vienna.

He’s also sung Klingsor in Wagner's Parsifal under the baton of James Levine, Claudio Abbado, Christoph Eschenbach, James Conlon and Valery Gergiev.

Mr. Fink sang multiple world premieres including John Harbison's The Great Gatsby at the Metropolitan Opera under James Levine and John Adam's Dr. Atomic at the San Francisco Opera under Donald Runnicles, and he starred in the European and Chicago premieres of the same work.

He sang The Metropolitan Opera's premiere of Adam's Nixon in China and the title role of Alban Berg's Wozzeck at the Santa Fe Opera Festival. He also sang Amonasro in Aida at the Seattle Opera before returning to the Metropolitan Opera as Teller in Dr. Atomic.  For Canadian Opera Company, he sang the Water Sprite in Dvorak's Rusalka, a role he also sang in Naples and in Houston.

Another Wagner role is Kurwenal in Tristan und Isolde at the Metropolitan Opera. His Chicago Lyric Opera debut was Teller in Dr. Atomic before and returning to San Francisco as Alberich in Francesca Zambello's production of Das Rheingold, conducted by Donald Runnicles.

Mr. Fink debuted at the Teatro Comunale in Bologna in Stravinsky's The Rake's Progress under Daniele Gatti and at the Netherlands Opera in the European premiere of Dr. Atomic.

Richard Paul Fink began his professional career with the Houston Grand Opera where he performed in twelve productions and won particular acclaim as Telramund in Wagner's Lohengrin, Jokanaan in Salome, the Water Sprite in Dvorak's Rusalka and  Klingsor in a production of Parsifal staged by Robert Wilson.

He has been a frequently invited guest in many other theaters throughout North America: Dallas Opera, Miami Opera, Canadian Opera Company, Portland Opera, San Diego Opera, Tulsa Opera, Opera Theater of St. Louis, Boston Opera, Vancouver Opera, Opera Omaha, L'Opera de Montreal and many others. He made his Washington Opera debut in a revival of a rarely heard work, d'Albert's Tiefland, and returned subsequently as Orest in Elektra and Johanaan in Salome.

In addition to the Wagner roles, he has sung performances in North America that are cornerstones of the Italian repertoire: Gerard in Andrea Chenier for Seattle Opera and Opera Company of Philadelphia, Scarpia for Dallas, Milwaukee and Opera Pacific and Barnaba in La Gioconda in Miami and Montreal.

Mr. Fink sang Macbeth for Opera Pacific and repeated the role for New York City Opera, along with Iago in Verdi's Otello at the Miami Opera and Rigoletto for L'Opera de Montreal, Kansas City Lyric and Welsh National Opera. He also sang Eugene Onegin for the Atlanta Opera.

In the 2004/05 season, Mr. Fink made his debut at the Teatro Real in Madrid as Telramund in Lohengrin and at the Teatro Regio in Trieste in his first Nick Shadow in Stravinsky's The Rake's Progress. He sang was also heard at the Teatro Municipal in Santiago, Chile, in the title role of The Flying Dutchman, as the Four Villains in The Tales of Hoffmann for Opera Tel Aviv and New Orleans Opera, as well as Alfio and Tonio in Tulsa Opera's production of Cavalleria Rusticana and Pagliacci.

Richard Paul Fink's first international appearances included productions at the Welsh National Opera of Tristan und Isolde, Der Freischütz, Carmen and Rigoletto. He appeared in Toulouse in Il Trovatore, at the Bregenz Festival as Don Pizarro and at the Spoleto Festival in Die Tote Stadt. He starred in the title role in Wagner's The Flying Dutchman for his debuts at the Canadian Opera, the Sydney Opera and the Palacio de las Bellas Artes in Mexico City.

He was also heard in this role in 2001 with the Berlin Philharmonic under Claudio Abbado followed by performances at the Salzburg Festival in 2002 again under James Levine. He made his Deutsche Oper Berlin in 2003 in The Flying Dutchman.

In concerts, he has also appeared frequently in concert with the Houston Symphony under Christoph Eschenbach and made his debut with the San Francisco Symphony in concert performances of Fidelio. He also sang with the Houston Symphony in the War Requiem by Britten. He sang Stravinsky's Oedipus Rex for the Seattle Symphony under Gerard Schwarz, Orff's Carmina Burana at the Cincinnati May Festival under James Conlon and Verdi's Requiem in Houston under Robert Shaw.

Greek-American mezzo-soprano Daveda Karanas has been hailed for her “capacious power” and “a voice lustrous and exciting.” (San Francisco Chronicle)

In the 2015/16 season, Daveda Karanas will be seen as Lise in The Passenger at both Florida Grand Opera and Michigan Opera Theater following her successful role debut at the Lyric Opera of Chicago in the same role. Recently, she made a major role debut as Kundry in Parsifal at the Lyric Opera of Chicago under Andrew Davis. She then debuted at the Opera Theatre of Saint Louis as Mother Marie in Dialogues of the Carmelites and with the Auckland Philharmonia as Brangäne in concert performances of Wagner's Tristan und Isolde. 

Ms. Karanas made her German debut at Oper Frankfurt as Marfa in Khovanshchina and debuted at the Canadian Opera Company as Brangäne in Tristan und Isolde conducted by Johannes Debus and directed by Peter Sellars. She also joined the roster of the Metropolitan Opera in their production of the Berlioz masterpiece Les Troyens covering the role of Cassandre in La prise de Troie. Ms. Karanas made an acclaimed European debut at the Maggio Musicale Fiorentino as Judit in Duke Bluebeard’s Castle under Zsolt Hamar in the festival’s 75th Anniversary. She also covered the role of Judit in the same production at the Saito Kinen Festival in Japan and on tour in China under Seiji Ozawa. She was then seen at Opera Grand Rapids for her role debut as Azucena in Il trovatore. Ms. Karanas sang her first performances of Amneris in Aida at Arizona Opera, followed by Vancouver Opera, Glimmerglass Festival in a new production by Francesca Zambello, and covered the role at the Lyric Opera of Chicago. 

The summer of 2011 saw Ms. Karanas in her first complete Ring Cycle at San Francisco Opera under Donald Runnicles. In Francesca Zambello’s staging, she sang both Waltraute and the 2nd Norn in the new production of Götterdämmerung and Waltraute in Die Walküre. Ms. Karanas also sang Suzuki in Madama Butterfly and covered Amneris in Aida, both under Nicola Luisotti at the San Francisco Opera. In recent seasons, Ms. Karanas sang performances of Waltraute and covered Fricka in San Francisco Opera’s Die Walküre conducted by Donald Runnicles. She also covered Brangäne in Tristan und Isolde with Seattle Opera. With the Arizona Opera, she performed in “A Concert of Signature Arias” along with Christine Brewer, Richard Margison, and Gordon Hawkins featuring arias and duets from Don Carlo, Macbeth, and Norma. She concluded her San Francisco Opera Center Adler Fellowship in performances of the Mistress of Novices in Suor Angelica with Patrick Summers conducting, as well as covering Azucena in Il trovatore with new music director Nicola Luisotti.

As an Adler Fellow at the San Francisco Opera, Ms. Karanas has performed in scenes as Amneris in Aida and Brangäne in Tristan und Isolde, as well as covering the role of Fricka in Das Rheingold conducted by Donald Runnicles. She made her San Francisco Opera debut as Mamka in Boris Godunov as a first year Adler Fellow. 

Prior to her residency at San Francisco Opera, she made debuts with the Boston Symphony Orchestra conducted by James Levine in Schönberg’s Moses und Aron as Vierte nackte Jungfrau and the Chicago Opera Theater as Ericlea in Il ritorno d’Ulisse in patria conducted by Jane Glover. She also performed the role of Tisbe in La Cenerentola with the Merola Opera Program, conducted by Martin Katz.

Ms. Karanas holds a Master of Music degree from Arizona State University. While earning her degree, she performed such roles as Judith in Bluebeard’s Castle, Mère Marie in Dialogues des Carmélites, and the Mother in Amahl and the Night Visitors. She was also a member of the Boston University Opera Institute where she performed the role of Zia Principessa in Suor Angelica and the Lady with a Hat Box in Postcard from Morocco.

Daveda Karanas is a winner of the 2008 Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions. She has also received an encouragement award from the George London Foundation in 2009. She was an international semi-finalist in the 2007 Neue Stimmen Competition, a recipient of the 2006 Encouragement Award at the Marilyn Horne Foundation Competition, and grand prizewinner of the 2005 Arizona Opera League Competition.

Harold Wilson begins his 2016/17 season in a return to Opera Colorado, singing Ashby in La fanciulla del West. He continues the season debuting the role of Mustafa in L’italiana in Algieri with Sarasota Opera.

Last season included returns to several companies for the bass: covering Timur in Turandot with the Metropolitan Opera, Ramfis in Aida with Opera Colorado, and the roles of Rocco and Marcovaldo in productions of Fidelio and La battaglia di Legnano, respectively, with Sarasota Opera. Additionally, he debuted the role of Polonio in Opera Delaware’s anticipated production of Amleto. In concert, he made a company debut with the Grand Junction Symphony as the bass soloist in Verdi’s Requiem, and as the bass soloist in Mozart’s Requiem with Manhattan Concert Productions at Carnegie Hall.

Mr. Wilson’s 2014/15 season began with the Dayton Opera singing works by Mussorgsky and Tchaikovsky in a Gala Concert. Subsequently, the American bass debuted with Opera Memphis, as the Commendatore in Don Giovanni, joined the Metropolitan Opera for its production of Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg, and made appearances with Tulsa Opera, for Frère Laurent in Roméo et Juliette, and Opera Colorado, for Sarastro in The Magic Flute.

Mr. Wilson’s 2013/14 calendar featured debuts with Hawaii Opera, as Timur in Turandot, Sarasota Opera as Daland in The Flying Dutchman, and Dayton Opera for Ramphis in Aida, as well as a return to the Metropolitan Opera to cover the Police Commissioner in Der Rosenkavalier.

Mr. Wilson’s 2012/13 season included his debut with Portland Opera as the Commendatore in Don Giovanni; The French General in Kevin Puts’ Pulitzer Prize winning opera Silent Night with Opera Philadelphia; and returns to The Metropolitan Opera, to cover Panthus in Les Troyens, Opera Birmingham, for Sarastro in The Magic Flute, and Tulsa Opera for Ramphis in Aida. During the summer of 2013, he sang Emile de Becque in South Pacific with New Hampshire’s Opera North.

Mr. Wilson began the 2011/12 season as Prince Gremin (Eugene Onegin) with Madison Opera, returned to The Metropolitan Opera to cover Angelotti in Tosca and sang Beethoven’s 9th Symphony with the Greensboro Symphony, as well as Verdi’s Requiem at Carnegie Hall.

Mr. Wilson spent much of the 2010/11 season with The Metropolitan Opera, participating in productions of Tosca, Armida, Roméo et Juliette, Boris Godunov and Don Carlos. Additionally, he sang with Tulsa Opera (Oroveso in Norma), Palm Beach Opera (High Priest of Baal in Nabucco), Chautauqua Opera (Sarastro in Die Zauberflöte) and made his debut with the Opera Orchestra of New York (High Priest of Brahma in L’Africaine). The 2009/10 season saw his debuts with Tulsa Opera (Raimondo in Lucia di Lammermoor), Madison Opera (Zuniga in Carmen), and Birmingham Opera (Ramphis in Aida), as well as returns to Lyric Opera of Kansas City (Monterone in Rigoletto) and Santa Fe Opera (Luther and Crespel in The Tales of Hoffmann and the Bonze in Madama Butterfly).

As a member of the Deutsche Oper Berlin for five seasons, he sang over 30 roles with the company, including: Arkel in Pelléas et Mélisande, Raimondo in Lucia di Lammermoor, Sarastro in The Magic Flute, Zuniga in Carmen, and the Hermit in Der Freischutz. The bass also participated in La traviata, Il trittico, Tannhäuser, La fanciulla del West, Die Frau ohne Schatten, Un ballo in maschera, Tosca, Boris Godounov, Lohengrin, Idomeneo, Salome, Andrea Chenier, and Germania.

Mr. Wilson joined the Opernhaus Halle in the 2007/08 season for performances of Pogner in Die Meistersinger, Oroveso in Norma, Sarastro in The Magic Flute, Gremin in Eugene Onegin and The King of Scotland in Ariodante. He was heard on a new recording of Kurt Weill’s Eternal Road, and also sang Handel’s Messiah with the Seattle Symphony and Beethoven’s 9th Symphony with the Brandenburgische Philharmonie Frankfurt. Other European credits include his debut at the Teatro Liceo in Barcelona singing in Britten’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream (available on DVD from Decca), Tannhäuser at the Staatsoper Berlin, Salome at the Théâtre du Capitole de Toulouse, and Aufstieg und Fall des Stadt Mahagonny in Basel (Switzerland).

Equally comfortable on the concert stage, Mr. Wilson recently sang the bass solo in Beethoven’s 9th Symphony with the Tulsa Symphony. Among the orchestras he has performed with in concert are Indianapolis Symphony, Yakima Symphony, Deutsche Oper Orchester, Hallesche Philharmonie, Brandenburgische Philharmonie Frankfurt, Seattle Symphony and Staatskappelle Orchester Berlin.

Previous US engagements have included contracts with Santa Fe Opera (Don Giovanni, La Traviata), Opera Carolina (Nabucco and Lucia di Lammermoor), Lyric Opera of Kansas City (Lucia di Lammermoor), Florentine Opera (A Midsummer Night’s Dream), Palm Beach Opera (Tannhäuser), Minnesota Opera (Die Entführung aus dem Serail), Opera Theatre of St. Louis (The Grand Duchess of Gerolstein and Miss Havisham’s Fire), and Glimmerglass Opera (Salome).

Mr. Wilson earned his Masters Degree from Indiana University, where he studied with renowned bass Giorgio Tozzi.

Craig Colclough began the 2019-20 season with his Metropolitan Opera debut as the title role in Verdi’s Macbeth, a role he performed with Belgium’s Opera Vlaanderen in Antwerp in the summer of 2019. He will reprise the role of Macbeth with the company again this season, with performances in both Ghent and in Luxembourg. He makes his role debut as Don Pizarro in Fidelio, touring with Gustavo Dudamel and the Mahler Chamber Orchestra to Barcelona, Dortmund, and Luxembourg, and returns to Arizona Opera for a role debut as Bishop Dyer in Riders of the Purple Sage.  In the summer of 2020, he makes a return to Los Angeles Opera for the title role in Le nozze di Figaro. Next season includes performances with Washington National Opera in the role of Henry Kissinger in Nixon in China and as Kurwenal in Tristan und Isolde with Opera Vlaanderen.

Last season Craig Colclough returned to Opera Vlaanderen as Telramund in Lohengrin, and Los Angeles Opera as Peter in Hansel & Gretel. He debuted with Oper Frankfurt as Fra Melitone in La forza del destino, and Opera Queensland as the Storyteller in A Flowering Tree. During the summer, he returned to the title role of Don Pasquale with the Berkshire Opera Festival.

Colclough’s 2017-18 season included significant debuts with the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden as Pistola in Falstaff, Opera Vlaanderen as Falstaff in Falstaff (directed by Oscar-winning actor Christoph Waltz), Boston Lyric Opera as Hare in the world premiere of Burke and Hare, and Dallas Opera as Peter Vogel in Der Ring des Polykrates. He also made returns to Minnesota Opera as the title role in Don Pasquale, Arizona Opera as Donner in Das Rheingold, and Los Angeles Opera as Monterone in Rigoletto.

The autumn of 2016 found Craig Colclough’s return to London for Scarpia in Tosca with English National Opera, a role which served as his debut at Canadian Opera Company later in the season. He also joined the Minnesota Opera for Doristo in L’arbore di Diana, and spent the summer singing the title role in Verdi’s Falstaff with Opera Saratoga.

In the 2015-2016 season Colclough’s performances included appearances with Arizona Opera as the title role in Falstaff and Simon Bolivar Symphony Orchestra of Venezuela, for Timur in Turandot, conducted by Gustavo Dudamel. Additionally, he returned to English National Opera for his role debut of Kurwenal in Tristan und Isolde, and Los Angeles Opera for Simone in Gianni Schicchi. On the concert stage, he debuted with the Los Angeles Philharmonic as Dottore Grenvil in La traviata.

In the 2014-2015 season, Craig Colclough made his European debut with English National Opera as Jack Rance in La Fanciulla del West, returned to Los Angeles Opera for concert performances of Hercules v. Vampires (roles of God of Evil and Procrustes), and also debuted with Atlanta Opera as Figaro in Le nozze di Figaro, as well as Lyric Opera of Kansas City as Lieutenant Gordon in Silent Night.

During the 2013-2014 season, the bass-baritone essayed the title role in Don Pasquale at the Arizona Opera, covered the title role in Falstaff for both San Francisco Opera and Los Angeles Opera, and appeared as Bosun in Billy Budd at the Los Angeles Opera. In concert, Mr. Colcough appeared with the Orange County Philharmonic Society for Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony.

Past leading roles include Falstaff in Verdi’s Falstaff, Don Giovanni, Leporello and Il Commendatore in Mozart’s Don Giovanni, Nick Shadow in Stravinsky’s The Rake’s Progress, Collatinus in Brittain’s The Rape of Lucretia, Oroveso in Bellini’s Norma, Rambaldo in Puccini’s La Rondine, Raimondo in Donizetti’s Lucia di Lammermoor, Friar Laurence in Gounod’s Romeo and Juliet and Elijah in Mendelssohn’s Elijah. Additional credits include the Israeli Symphony Orchestra, California Philharmonic, Capitol Records, Abbey Road Studios and the soundtrack of the film Rolled.

A 2019 Richard Tucker Foundation career grant recipient, American soprano Laura Wilde has been praised by Opera News for having “a ravishingly beautiful sound, [and] a fine sense of style and character.”

In the 2020/21 Season, Wilde makes house debuts at Seattle Opera as Donna Elvira in Don Giovanni and at Chicago Opera Theatre as Phyllis in the world premiere of Matthew Recio’s The Puppy Episode. She was also scheduled to make house debuts at the Metropolitan Opera as the Guardian of the Threshold in Die Frau ohne Schatten and at Washington National Opera as Fiordiligi in Così fan tutte, and in concert, to sing Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 with the Memphis Symphony Orchestra.

In the 2019/20 Season, Wilde returned to Staatstheater Stuttgart as Agathe in Der Freischütz and to Arizona Opera as Mamah Cheney in the world premiere of Daron Hagen’s Shining Brow. Previously scheduled engagements included a return to Lyric Opera of Chicago as Sieglinde in Die Walküre as well as Freia, Ortlinde, and the Third Norn for the full Ring Cycle under the baton of Sir Andrew Davis, her role debut as Marguerite in Faust at Staatstheater Stuttgart, and her role debut as Donna Anna in Don Giovanni at the Berkshire Opera Festival. In concert, she made her Australian debut as Gretel in Hänsel und Gretel with Sir Andrew Davis and the Melbourne Symphony, and gave a solo recital with Craig Terry at the Marcus Center in Milwaukee.

Highlights of recent seasons include the title role in Janáček’s Jenůfa at both Santa Fe Opera and English National Opera; Fiordiligi in Così fan tutte and Agathe at Staatstheater Stuttgart; the title role of Káťa Kabanová at Scottish Opera; Freia in Das Rheingold as well as Ortlinde and the cover of Sieglinde in Die Walküre, in David Pountney’s new Ring Cycle conducted by Sir Andrew Davis at Lyric Opera of Chicago; Gretel with Sir Andrew Davis at the Edinburgh Festival; Laura in Korngold’s rarely performed one-act opera Der Ring des Polykrates at Dallas Opera; Micaëla in Carmen at Nashville Opera; Vitellia in La clemenza di Tito at Opera Theatre of Saint Louis; Jane Withersteen in the world premiere of Craig Bohmler’s Riders of the Purple Sage as well as Freia at Arizona Opera; and the Foreign Princess in Rusalka at Des Moines Metro Opera.

In concert, Wilde has shared the stage with mezzo-soprano Stephanie Blythe and baritone Quinn Kelsey in the inaugural season of the Beyond the Aria recital series at Chicago’s Harris Theater, accompanied by Craig Terry. She has presented a solo recital and masterclass at South Dakota State University, also with Craig Terry, and sung Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 with the Charlotte Symphony and Strauss’ Vier letzte Lieder with the Elgin Symphony in Illinois. In the summer of 2015, Wilde sang the role of Lucy in Grant Park Music Festival’s concert performance of Menotti’s The Telephone.

As a member of the Patrick G. and Shirley W. Ryan Opera Center at the Lyric Opera of Chicago, Wilde covered Renée Fleming in Capriccio and the role of Marta in Weinberg’s The Passenger, and both performed Marianne Leitmetzerin and covered the Marschallin in Der Rosenkavalier. She also covered the Countess in Le nozze di Figaro and Hanna in The Merry Widow, and sang the role of Anna in Nabucco. Additioanlly, she appeared on the mainstage as Kate Pinkerton in Madama Butterfly and a Flower Maiden in Parsifal, and covered the roles of Berta in Il barbiere di Siviglia, the Foreign Princess in Rusalka, and Vitellia in La clemenza di Tito.

Originally from Watertown, South Dakota, Wilde’s love of music began with the trumpet. While attending the prestigious Interlochen Arts Camp as a trumpet player, she discovered her classical voice and was encouraged to pursue that musical avenue as well. She attended St. Olaf College for her undergraduate degree, focusing first on trumpet performance. Singing, however, became her true musical passion, and she graduated with a Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance. Wilde earned her Master of Music degree from Indiana University, where she studied with Costanza Cuccaro. She is a winner of the 2018 Mabel Dorn Reeder Foundation Award from Opera Theatre of Saint Louis, the 2017 Sullivan Grant award, the 2016 Sara Tucker Study Grant from the Richard Tucker Foundation, the 2016 Luminarts Women’s Voice Fellowship, the 2015 Jerome and Elaine Nerenberg Award, and the 2015 Musicians Club of Women Eleanor Pearce Sherwin Award from the American Opera Society of Chicago. She currently resides in Chicago.

American soprano, Lacy Sauter, is quickly becoming known for her vocal and dramatic versatility.  She returns to Arizona Opera for the 2017/18 season as Dianara, Hesperide 1, City Woman and Peasant Woman in Hercules vs Vampires and Welgunde in Das Rheingold.

 In the 2016/17 season, she made her company debut with Arizona Opera as the Second Woodsprite in Rusalka and also created the role of Julia Lowell in a workshop performance of Borzoni’s The Copper Queen. She bowed as the Countess in The Marriage of Figaro for her company debut with the Livermore Valley Opera. Lacy Sauter also returned to the Missouri Symphony as a Resident Artist for various concert performances and as Violetta in La Traviata.

The 2015/16 season brought role and company debuts as Micaela in Carmen with Heartland Opera Theatre and Fiordiligi in Così fan tutte with Nashville Opera.  She spent the summer as a Resident Artist performing with the Missouri Symphony as Rosalinde in Die Fledermaus and as a soloist in both the POPS and Classical Concert Series.

In the fall of 2014 she completed her graduate studies at the prestigious Jacobs School of Music at Indiana University under the tutelage of world-renowned soprano, Carol Vaness.  While at IU, she sang Mimi in La Bohème, Violetta in La Traviata, Rosalinde in Die Fledermaus and Juliette in Roméo et Juliette. Lacy Sauter started 2015 with a 1st Place win in Phoenix Opera’s Southwest Vocal Competition competing in the final round with orchestra at the Orpheum Theater.  In February 2015, she covered Nadine Sierra as Gilda and sang Countess Ceprano in Rigoletto with The Atlanta Opera. She returned to Union Avenue Opera as Gilda in Rigoletto after having made her company debut as Blanche DuBois in A Streetcar Named Desire the previous summer.  

Ms. Sauter finished her tenure as a Young Artist at the Florida Grand Opera in the spring of 2013.  During her time at FGO she sang 1st Lady in Die Zauberflöte, Flora in La Traviata, and Bianca in La Rondine. In addition, she covered the roles of Mimi and Musetta in La Bohème, Violetta in La Traviata, Pamina in Die Zauberflöte, Magda in La Rondine, Gilda in Rigoletto and Juliette in Roméo et Juliette. She spent two summers as an Apprentice Singer with The Santa Fe Opera where she performed the role of Albina in La Donna del Lago starring Joyce DiDonato and conducted by Stephen Lord. Ms. Sauter also served as the cover for Wanda in the Grand Duchess of Gerolstein and Violetta in La Traviata.  In addition, she was featured as Magda in La Rondine, Rosalinde in Die Fledermaus and the Overseer in Elektra for the Apprentice Scenes Showcase. 

As a Young Artist at the 2011 Glimmerglass Festival, she sang the role of Valentina Scarcella in Later the Same Evening and covered the roles of Frasquita in Carmen and the Young Woman in the world premiere of A Blizzard on Marblehead Neck. She was a Festival Artist at Utah Festival Opera in 2009, where she covered the roles of Frasquita in Carmen and Peep-Bo in The Mikado. As a studio artist at Chautauqua Opera, in 2008 and 2010, she played the roles of the Baby Vixen in The Cunning Little Vixen and the Second Graduate in Street Scene. 

Lacy Sauter hails from Scottsdale, Arizona and completed her undergraduate degree at Arizona State University.  She was a winner of the Arizona and the Middle-East Tennessee Districts of the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions in 2008 and 2011 and the  2nd Place Winner of the Orpheus Vocal Competition in 2014. She was also honored to be nominated for a Sara Tucker Study Grant in 2011.