nov. 24: national broadcast of William Tell, conducted by OD Music Director Anthony Barrese

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From the OperaDelaware family to yours, we wish you Happy Thanksgiving! We want to take this time to thank you for your support and for the many kind letters, emails, and calls that have poured in since last weekend's national radio broadcast our of 2017 production of Semiramide. As you gather with friends & family this holiday weekend, we hope you'll tune in to the WFMT Radio Network Opera Series broadcast of Opera Southwest's WILLIAM TELL on Nov. 24. 

William Tell photo courtesy of opera southwest

William Tell photo courtesy of opera southwest

(Listen locally beginning at 1 pm on WRTI FM; check your listings or stream at WRTI.org.) Conducted by OD Music Director Anthony Barrese, this broadcast of Opera Southwest's William Tell features many members of the OD family, including:

Sean Anderson (Guillaume Tell)
OD appearances include Papageno in The Magic Flute, Ford in Falstaff, Dandini in La Cenerentola, and Gianni Schicchi in Gianni Schicchi and Buoso's Ghost

Claudia Chapa (Hedwige)
Zita in Gianni Schicchi and Buoso's Ghost, plus our upcoming Opera Uncorked: Verdi, Verismo & Vino

Sharin Apostolou (Jemmy)
Adina in 2013 L'elisir d'amore, Nannetta in Falstaff

Matthew Vickers (Arnold Melcthal)
Laertes in Amleto, Luigi in Il Tabarro

Justin Hopkins (Gesler)
Orazio in Amleto

MORE INFORMATION
WFMT Radio Network Opera Series: Opera Southwest’s William Tell, conducted Anthony Barrese (airing Nov. 24)
WRTI.ORG: Broadcast of Opera Southwest’s William Tell on Nov. 24 beginning at 1 pm EST

Semiramide Radio Broadcast: Aleksandra Romano on playing Arsace, Sister Helen & Making Miracles at The Grand

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To celebrate the national broadcast of our 2017 production Semiramide (airing Nov. 17 on the WFMT Radio Network Opera Series), we caught up with mezzo-soprano ALEKSANDRA ROMANO, who earned rave reviews for her performance of Arsace. (We’re delighted that Romano will return to The Grand’s stage in the role of Sister Helen in Dead Man Walking, part of our 2019 Festival.) Check out our Q&A, then tune in locally on WRTI on Nov. 17 at 1 pm for the special broadcast, hosted by William Berger.

OD: We're thrilled that our critically-acclaimed Semiramide is getting another audience through through this national radio broadcast. You perform all over the world. What stood out about this production of Semiramide at The Grand?

Aleksandra Romano (Arsace) and Lindsay Ohse (Semiramide) in 2017’s Semiramide.

ROMANO: The Grand is truly a gem of a theater. It was perfect for our production, especially in terms of its intimate size. Rossini wrote for European theaters which were significantly smaller than the theaters we’re used to here in the States, and we were able to draw many more colors out of the music than possible when you have to project to a 2,000+ seat house. Even the simple fact of the production’s existence was a small miracle! Although Semiramide is enjoying a bit of a resurgence right now, the piece is still one of Rossini’s more rarely-performed works, and for the low lyric mezzos of the world, it’s just a gift to have a chance to sing these heroic pants roles.

OD: Arsace is a notoriously difficult role, especially the fabulous duets with Semiramide [sung by soprano Lindsay Ohse]. But you and Lindsay nailed it, receiving rave reviews. Tell us about preparing for Arsace and your amazing chemistry with Ohse.

ROMANO: Arsace was one of those amazing roles where, when I cracked the score for the first time, it felt like vocal home. It is definitely one of the longer roles, with two big arias, three duets, and a trio in addition to the typically involved Rossini finales, so stamina is the name of the game. That comes with practice on my own and rehearsal with my colleagues. I feel so lucky to have had Lindsay as my Semiramide for this production. She is an absolute delight of a human, a fabulous musician, and a brilliantly supportive colleague. With guidance from Maestro Barrese, we were able to craft duets that fit our special vocal skills, which is one of the very best things about bel canto music — you’re always hearing the singer in their wheel-house thanks to ornamentation.

OD: We're thrilled to have you back for our 2019 Festival, for a role that is quite different than Arsace. What are you most excited about as you take on the role of Sister Helen in Dead Man Walking?

ROMANO: I’m so excited to be back in Wilmington! Sister Helen is a dream role of mine — if I can get through it without falling to weeping pieces on stage, it will be a miracle, that’s for sure. She’s exactly the kind of strong woman I want to be when I grow up. :) Being able to do contemporary pieces that address current issues is very important to me as an artist, as I really believe it is our responsibility to serve as visual — and musical — examples of the best of what we have to offer each other as humans.

OD: Aside from the stage at The Grand, what Wilmington haunts are you looking forward to visiting again?

ROMANO: I always make a point to visit Winterthur and Longwood Gardens while I’m in town, especially in the spring as everything starts to bloom. I’m also very excited for my triumphant return to my favorite sandwich dive, Olympic Subs and Sandwiches, and to Chelsea Tavern for a fancier bite (I guess, if I must). And definitely looking forward to exploring the museums and hiking trails again!

READ MORE
WFMT Radio Network Opera Series: OperaDelaware’s Semiramide, hosted by William Berger (airing Nov. 17)
WRTI.ORG: OperaDelaware’s Semiramide, Nov. 17 beginning at 1 pm
OperaDelaware on the radio: A Babylonian queen rules the airwaves (Broad Street Review)
Selected Praise: Semiramide & La Cenerentola (2017 Festival)
2019 Festival: Dead Man Walking | Scalia/Ginsburg & Trial by Jury

MEET DERRICK WANG, COMPOSER OF SCALIA/GINSBURG

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We're thrilled to present Scalia/Ginsburg, Derrick Wang's hilarious one-act opera about the unlikely friendship between Supreme Court Justices Antonin Scalia and Ruth Bader Ginsburg, at the 2019 Festival this spring. Derrick recently chatted with Cedille Records about the success of Scalia/Ginsburg and its inclusion on the album Notorious RBG in Song. Here's an excerpt:

CEDILLE RECORDS: Where did the idea for Scalia/Ginsburg come from?

DERRICK WANG: The idea for Scalia/Ginsburg came (naturally enough) from being a first-year law student inspired by the dueling opinions of U.S. Supreme Court Justices Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Antonin Scalia. When studying constitutional law, I was reading case after case after Supreme Court case — when I came upon three magic words: “Scalia, J., dissenting.” Every time I read a Scalia dissent, I would hear music in my head: a rage aria about the Constitution. Then, when I read the contrasting counterpoint from his colleague and fellow opera aficionado Justice Ginsburg, I realized: the unlikely friendship between these two Justices could itself be the basis for an opera. (And now it is!)

READ FULL INTERVIEW AT CEDILLERECORDS.ORG

BUY TICKETS | SCALIA/GINSBURG & TRIAL BY JURY (double bill)
Performances: Sun., April 28, 2019 at 2 pm
Fri., May 3, 2019 at 7:30 pm