Pittsburgh Opera has strong presence at Santa Fe Opera festival

June 22, 2017
Pittsburgh, PA
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Pittsburgh Opera has strong presence at Santa Fe Opera festival

Pittsburgh Opera will once again have a strong presence at this summer’s Santa Fe Opera festival.

The festival, started in 1957, is one of the world’s premier summer opera festivals. It is famous for casting the world's most talented young singers in its Apprentice Program for Singers, many of whom go on to international stardom. The festival, which attracts a large number of national and international opera professionals, has become an important venue for exposure and advancement for upcoming singers.

Continuing a trend, a large number of current and recent Pittsburgh Opera Resident Artists are performing and training as 2017 Santa Fe Opera Apprentice Singers. They include:

• Eric Ferring, a current Pittsburgh Opera Resident Artist. Mr. Ferring will have multiple roles in Pittsburgh Opera’s upcoming 2017-18 season.
• Andy Berry, another current Pittsburgh Opera Resident Artist who will also have multiple roles in Pittsburgh Opera’s upcoming 2017-18 season.
• Brian Vu, a Pittsburgh Opera Resident Artist from 2015-17
• Adam Bonanni, a Pittsburgh Opera Resident Artist from 2014-16
• Adelaide Boedecker, a Pittsburgh Opera Resident Artist from 2014-16
• Corrie Stallings, a Pittsburgh Opera Resident Artist from 2014-16. Ms. Stallings, who received rave reviews for her performance in the lead female role of Rosina in Pittsburgh Opera’s 2016 production of The Barber of Seville, will return to Pittsburgh Opera this fall as Cherubino in Mozart’s The Marriage of Figaro.

As Santa Fe Opera Apprentice Singers, these talented young artists will perform as choristers throughout the festival, cover assignments for more senior singers, receive coachings, attend master classes, perform auditions, and more.

Perhaps the highlight will be their “Apprentice Showcase Scenes” on Aug. 13th and 20th, where they will sing a variety of popular scenes from well-known operas. Interestingly, this will reunite five of the six Resident Artists with Stage Director Crystal Manich, who herself grew up in Pittsburgh and often directs Pittsburgh Opera productions. Mr. Vu, Mr. Bonanni, Ms. Boedecker and Ms. Stallings all starred in Pittsburgh Opera’s 2016 production of Little Women, which Ms. Manich directed. In 2017, she directed Mr. Vu and Mr. Berry in
Pittsburgh Opera’s production of Handel’s Richard the Lionheart.

In addition, Tim Mix, a Pittsburgh Opera Resident Artist from 2003 – 2005, will be singing
the role of Tsar Dodon in Rimsky-Korsakov’s The Golden Cockerel.

Musically, Pittsburgh Opera Head of Music Glenn Lewis and Associate Coach/Pianist
James Lesniak will be providing musical accompaniment throughout the festival.

For more information about the festival, visit Santa Fe Opera’s website.