Duneland.com > Calendar > March 2010 > Future opera stars to perform at VU

Future opera stars to perform at VU

Wednesday, March 31, 2010 • 7:30 pm

Valparaiso University Center for the Arts

Five young professional artists in residence with the Indianapolis Opera will perform a March 31 recital at Valparaiso University featuring solos from “Carousel,” “Showboat” and “Camelot” and a duet from Mozart’s “Don Giovanni.”

The Indianapolis Opera Ensemble will perform at 7:30 p.m. at Valpo’s Center for the Arts (http://www.valpo.edu/vuca). The performance is free and open to the public.

The ensemble consists of four young vocalists and a coach/accompanist who are selected each year through national auditions. During their residency, the artists perform throughout Indiana and neighboring states, participate in coaching with the opera’s artistic director, perform in secondary main stage roles and serve as understudies to leading roles in the opera’s performances.

Performing at the recital are:

Abigail Mitchell, soprano, received her Bachelor of Music degree from Indiana University and is a graduate student there. Last summer, Mitchell was the soprano soloist in “Carmina Burana” in Sao Paulo, Brazil, and she has received a fellowship to study for two years at the Royal College of Music in London.

Paulette Maria Penzvalto, mezzo-soprano, completed her graduate studies in voice at Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama in Cardiff, Wales. Her roles include Cherubino in “Le nozze di Figaro,” Dorabella in “Così fan tutte,” Maddalena in “Rigoletto,” the title role in “Carmen” and Octavian in “Der Rosenkavalier.”

Nicholas Nesbitt, tenor, received his Master of Music degree in voice from Indiana University and has performed the roles of Fenton in “Die lustigen Weiber von Windsor,” Sam in “Susannah,” Nemorino in “L’elisir d’amore” and the title role in Busoni’s “Arlecchino.” He was a first-place winner at the National Association of Teachers of Singing state and regional competitions and won third place in the Bel Canto Foundation’s regional vocal competition.

Daniel Scofield, baritone, studied voice at the Cleveland Institute of Music and Indiana University. He has performed with Opera Cleveland and was an apprentice artist at Central City, where he covered the role of Carl Magnus in “A Little Night Music.” This summer he will sing with the Wolf Trap Opera Company, and in the fall he will begin an apprenticeship with Seattle Opera’s young artist program, performing the lead roles in productions of “Don Giovanni” and Donizetti’s “Le convenienze ed inconvenienze teatrali,” as well as the role of Fiorello in the company’s main stage production of “Il barbiere di Siviglia.” He will make his Indianapolis Opera debut as Pish-Tush in “The Mikado” in 2010.

Eric Andries, coach/accompanist, has played piano all his life and received both bachelor’s and master’s degrees in piano performance from Louisiana State University. He has studied abroad, participating in summer programs in France and Austria. Andries has worked for several opera companies as rehearsal pianist for shows such as “Cold Sassy Tree” and “Little Women.” He also is an avid jazz pianist and arranger, performing twice at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival as keyboardist for a local salsa band.

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Categories: Arts & Culture, Live Music

March Calendar