Irene Roberts, mezzo soprano
Role of Carmen
As a former Palm Beach young artist, Mezzo-Soprano Irene Roberts has begun to dazzle opera audiences and critics alike throughout the country. This season and beyond, mezzo soprano Irene Roberts returns to the Palm Beach Opera as Suzuki in Madama Butterfly, makes her Lyric Opera Baltimore debut as Siébel in Faust, performs the title role of Carmen at Fresno Opera, and returns to the Townsend Opera in the same role to make her debut. Ms. Roberts’ recent opera engagements include joining the Metropolitan Opera roster as Stephano in Roméo et Juliette, Siébel in Faust with the North Carolina Opera, performing Mahler’s Ruckert Lieder at Duke University under the baton of Harry Davidson, Amore in Orfeo ed Euridice at Palm Beach Opera, two summer seasons at the Castleton Festival performing in Suor Angelica, The Beggar’s Opera and covering Miss Jessel in The Turn of the Screw. She made her debut at the Townsend Opera as Rosina in Il Barbiere di Siviglia and as Suzuki in Madama Butterfly at the Opera Western Reserve. A recent graduate of the Palm Beach Opera’s Young Artist Program, Ms. Roberts performed on the main-stage as Emilia in Otello, Zerlina in Don Giovanni and Mercédès in Carmen. Her cover assignments included Maddalena in Rigoletto and Cherubino in Le Nozze di Figaro. She also performed Dorabella in Così fan Tutte, Nancy in Albert Herring and Cherubino in Le Nozze di Figaro for PBO’s One Opera in One Hour series. Ms. Roberts has appeared in concert with the Fairax Choral Society as a guest soloist in Wilberg’s Requiem and Britten’s Rejoice in the Lamb led by the former Mormon Tabernacle Choir conductor, Craig Jessop.
A native of Sacramento, California, Ms. Roberts holds a Bachelor of Music degree in Vocal Performance from the University of the Pacific Conservatory of Music in Stockton, California. She completed her graduate studies with a Master of Music degree in Vocal Performance from the Cleveland Institute of Music. She was granted institutional scholarships for both her undergraduate and graduate studies. Ms. Roberts has participated in summer training programs in San Francisco at BASOTI and in Salzburg at the University of Miami Frost School of Music at Salzburg College. Ms. Roberts recently won the second place advanced division prize in the 41st Annual Palm Beach Opera Vocal Competition.
To learn more about Irene, click here.
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Matthew Edwardsen, tenor
Role of Don Jose
Mathew Edwardsen hails from Indianapolis, Indiana, and received a Bachelor in Fine Arts from Millikin University in Decatur, Illinois, where he studied music, stage craft and dance. Upon graduation, he moved to Los Angeles to pursue a career in television and film. During this period he performed in numerous stage productions, student films, including an appearance on the television game show “The Dating Game”.
Mathew studied voice with Joann C. Zajac, who guided him through a transition from baritone to tenor. He performed as an apprentice artist with Santa Fe Opera, then became a Gerdine Young Artist with the Opera Theatre of St. Louis. He was a finalist in 2008 and 2009’s Irene Dalis vocal competition, has twice won awards in the Palm Springs Opera Guild competition, and was a Western Regional Finalist and New England District Encouragement Award winner in the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions.
Mathew has recently made many company and role debuts. He covered Turiddu and Canio in Cavalleria Rusticana and Pagliacci at Sarasota Opera, and performed in their production of The Magic Flute. He performed as Juan in Massenet’s Don Quichotte and Lt. Pinkerton in Madama Butterfly at Tulsa Opera, Cavaradossi in Tosca at Opera Fairbanks in Alaska, Turridu in Cavalleria Rusticana with Livermore Valley Opera, Lt. Pinkerton in Madama Butterfly at West Bay Opera, Tamino in The Magic Flute with Opera Santa Barbara, Don Jose in Carmen and the Duke in Rigoletto with Opera San Luis Obispo, and Frederick in The Pirates of Penzance at Opera Santa Barbara. He has also performed the roles of Romeo in Romeo and Juliet, Nemorino in The Elixir of Love, Rodolfo in La bohème, and Rinuccio and Luigi in Puccini’s Il trittico.
To learn more about Matthew, click here.
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Daniel Cilli, baritone
Role of Escamillo
Daniel Cilli recently performed the roles of Papageno in a semi-staged production of Die Zauberflöte with the Baltimore Symphony under Marin Alsop, Schaunard in La bohème at Opera San José, and Harlekin in Ariadne auf Naxos with West Edge Opera.
While a principal baritone 2006-2010 at Opera San José, Mr. Cilli performed the title roles in Eugene Onegin and Il barbiere di Siviglia; Mercutio in Roméo et Juliette, Dandini in La Cenerentola, Count Almaviva in Le nozze di Figaro, Guglielmo in Cosí fan tutte, Albert in Werther, and others.
Mr. Cilli has performed with Des Moines Metro Opera, Houston Grand Opera, Central City Opera, Utah Opera, San Francisco Lyric Opera, West Bay Opera and Amarillo Opera; roles such as Tarquinius in The Rape of Lucretia, Demetrius in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Sid in Albert Herring, Lescaut in Manonescaut, and Painter Monk in Le Jongleur de Notre Dame.
In concert, Daniel Cilli has performed at Aspen Music Festival, Utah Symphony, Tanglewood Music Festival, San Juan Symphony, South Valley Symphony, Lawrence University; and in recital at Old First Church, San Francisco. Mr. Cilli holds vocal performance degrees from the New England Conservatory of Music and Stetson University, and has studied Lieder at the Franz Schubert Institute of Baden bei Wien, Austria.
Performances in 2012 include Betto in Gianni Schicchi at Stockton Opera, the role of Don Giovanni at West Bay Opera, and a premiere performance and recording of Anosmia by Neil Rolnick.
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Liisa Davila, soprano
Role of Micaela
Liisa Dávila is young soprano gaining recognition in Northern California, heard recently as Liù in West Bay Opera’s production of Turandot:“Liisa Dávila as Liù charmed rather than dominated. Her lovely clear soprano was spell-binding in both her arias” (LA Splash Magazine). Ms. Dávila has also been heard as Donna Elvira (Don Giovanni), Pamina (Die Zauberflote), Poppea (L’incoronazione di Poppea) and the title role in Massenet’s Cendrillon with California State University Opera Theatre in Sacramento. Other roles in her repertoire include Mimi (La bohème), Juliette (Romeo et Juliette), Hanna Glavari (The Merry Widow), and Micaëla (Carmen) for noted companies as the Bear Valley Music Festival, the International Festival of the Aegean, and Townsend Opera.
A winner of multiple competitions, Ms. Dávila is a recent San Francisco District winner and a Western Regional Finalist for the Metropolitan National Council Auditions and the prestigious West Bay Opera’s Maria and Ben Holt Scholarship. In 2010 she won the First International Phyllis Osterhout Vocal Competition in Turlock, California, placed third in the Washington International Vocal Competition in Washington, DC, and was a semi-finalist for the Loren L. Zachary Competition in LA. Ms. Dávila’s concert work includes performances as soprano soloist in Beethoven’s 9th Symphony, Mendelssohn’s Christmas Oratorio, and Mozart’s C Minor Mass with the Academy of All Hallows in Sacramento, as well as Bach Cantatas 140 and 179 with the First Presbyterian Church of Roseville, Mozart’s Vespers Solemnes with San Joaquin Delta College, and other performances of Requiems by Rutter, Duruflé, Mozart, and Fauré. Liisa is a supporter of new works, premiering a piece in Assyrian, “Ninos and Shamiram,” by French composer Michel Bosc for the Fourth Annual Mesopotamian Night in 2010.
Ms. Dávila is to be heard as soprano soloist for Schubert’s Mass in G at the famed Avery Fisher Hall in New York in March, 2012. After earning her Bachelor’s of Music degree from California Sate University, Sacramento, Liisa Dávila continued her training through quality programs as OperaWorks’ Advanced Artist Summer Program in LA, the Pacific Opera Institute in Stockton CA, Sherill Milnes’ V.O.I.C.Experience ‘Opera as Drama’ intensive training program in New York, and the Greek Opera Studio. Ms. Dávila has studied in Masterclasses with noted artists and conductors in the industry that include Peter Mark, Jerold Sienna, Timm Rolek, Fabrizio Melano, Carol Kimball, Luana DeVol, Gregory Buchalter, and Frederica von Stade.
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Michael Ventura, bass-baritone
Role of Zuniga
In his young career, bass-baritone Michael Ventura is earning notable acclaim in buffo and dramatic roles. Of a 2009 performance of Il Barbiere di Siviglia, the Modesto Bee said, “Michael Ventura as the Music Master Don Basilio was among the strongest singers in the cast with a booming voice that could be easily heard in the back of the theater.” Likewise, of a 2009 portrayal as Bartolo in Le Nozze di Figaro, the Daily Progress said, “His profundo bass voice, noble bone-structure and very expressive eyes make him a perfect commedia character, who sings with masterful glee.”
Most recent credits include Wurm in Luisa Miller at the Chautauqua Opera Festival;Madama Butterfly and Capulet in Romeo and Juliet with the Townsend Opera; Sarastro in Die Zauberflöte and Il Bonze in Madama Butterfly with Opera North; Don Alhambra in The Gondoliers, Antonio in Le Nozze di Figaro, Simone in Gianni Schicci, and Imperial Commissioner in Madama Butterfly with Chautauqua Opera; Il Re in Aida with Palm Beach Opera; Alidoro in La Cenerentola in performances at City Center in NYC; Doctor Bartolo in Le Nozze di Figaro with Ashlawn-Highland Opera; Basilio in Il Barbiere di Siviglia with Miami Lyric Opera and Townsend Opera; Alcindoro/Benoit in La Boheme with Camarata Bach in Nicaragua; Sarastro in Die Zauberflöte and Don Alhambra in The Gondoliers with the New World School of the Arts, the Secret Policeman in The Consul and Elder Ott in Susannah with Longleaf Opera; and Dottore Grenvil in La Traviata with the Triangle Opera. This season, he performs Basilio in Il Barbiere di Siviglia at the Tulsa Opera, Angelotti in Tosca with Opera New Jersey, as well as Zuniga in Carmen with the Townsend Opera. In concert he has performed Pietro in Simon Boccanegra with the North Carolina Symphony; Handel’s Messiah with the Miami Oratorio Society; Rossini’s Stabat Mater with the Hunter Symphony; Beethoven’s 9th Symphony with the New World School of the Arts Symphony; and Mozart’s Vesperae Solennes de Confessore with Distinguished Concerts International at Carnegie Hall.
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Sascha Joggerst, baritone
Role of Morales
A charismatic and versatile performer, German lyric baritone Sascha Joggerst established himself quickly as a sought-after artist. Mr. Joggerst’s most recent operatic credits include the title role in Le Nozze di Figaro and Frank in Die Fledermaus with Livermore Valley Opera, Le Dancaïre in Carmen and Perichaud in Puccini’s La Rondine with Opera San Jose, Baron Duophol in Verdi’s La Traviata with West Bay Opera, the Father in Hansel and Gretel as well as Schaunard in La Bohème and Le Dancaïre in Carmen with the Mendocino Music Festival. He was also seen as Escamillo in Carmen with San Francisco Pocket Opera, Yamadori in Madama Butterfly with West Bay Opera as well as his WBO debut as Silvio in Pagliacci and Guglielmo in Così fan tutte. Other roles include Silvio (Pagliacci) and King Melchior (Amahl and the Night Visitors) with Townsend Opera, Schaunard (La Bohème) with San Francisco Pocket Opera, Tiger Brown (The Threepenny Opera) with Santa Cruz Chamber Orchestra and Figaro (Le Nozze di Figaro) as guest artist with Bay Area Summer Opera Theater Institute, following his U.S. debut as Count Almaviva (Le Nozze di Figaro).
Mr. Joggerst has been a studio artist at Opera San Jose and a student at the International Vocal Arts Institute in Montreal, Canada. He holds a Postgraduate Diploma in Vocal Performance from The Royal Academy of Music in London as well as a Bachelor of Music from the Conservatory of Music Lübeck.
To learn more about Sascha, click here.
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Jillian Boye, soprano
Role of Frasquita
A San Francisco Bay Area native, soprano Jillian Boye recently received acclaim for her “voluptuously seductive voice” in her portrayal of Musetta in La bohème with Opera San José. She has performed over twenty roles with Livermore Valley Opera, Opera San José, Mendocino Music Festival, Pocket Opera, Lyric Theatre, and Bay Area Summer Opera Theater, including Adele (Die Fledermaus), Oscar (Un ballo in maschera), Despina (Così fan tutte), Dorine (Tartuffe), Eyridice (Orpheus in the Underworld), Sophie (Werther), and Mary Warren (The Crucible). An active concert soloist, Ms. Boye has made appearances with Symphony Silicon Valley, Sierra Symphony, South Valley Symphony, American Philharmonic, and Ballet San Jose. In 2008, she received the Encouragement Award at the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions.
To learn more about Jillian, click here.
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Evgenia Chaverdova, mezzo soprano
Role of Mercedes
A native of Moscow, Russia, Ms. Evgenia Chaverdova received a degree in English and Music, and is currently finishing her graduate work at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music. As a member of the San Francisco Opera Theater, Ms. Chaverdova has performed the roles of Hansel (Hansel and Gretel), Enfant (L’Enfant et les Sortileges), Climene (L’Egisto), Maria (Maria de Buenos Aires), Public Opinion (Orpheus in the Underworld), Mother Goose (Rake’s Progress), Lucilla (La scala di seta), Madame de Croissy (Dialogues of the Carmelites), Nursing Sister (Suor Angelica), Sesto (Giulio Cesare) with Baroque Ensemble and Cherubino (Le Nozze di Figaro) with Livermore Valley Opera, and next makes her company debut with Opera Santa Barbara.
Evgenia will join the Nederlandse Opera Studio in Amsterdam as a young artist next August after spending the summer in China with I Sing Beijing’s inaugural program. Former training programs include Joan Dornemann’s International Vocal Arts Institute in Montreal and Puerto Rico and the Daniel Ferro Vocal Program in Italy. First place winner in numerous vocal competitions including Rose Pollack Fisher, Youth Excellence Scholarship Foundation for the Arts, Kristina Townsend Memorial, Pacific Musical Society and Fresno Young Artist Opera League, Evgenia has been featured on Public Radio’s Young Artist Spotlight. Ms. Chaverdova is the recipient of the Fred M. Levin and Nancy Livingston Scholarship Fund as well as Drs. Ben and A. Jess Shenson Scholarship and is a certified ballroom dance instructor through the National Dance Council of America.
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Christopher Withrow, baritone
Role of Le Dancaire
Christopher Withrow is a native of Redding, California, and began studying voice with Robert and Elizabeth Waterbury at Shasta College at age 22. Mr. Withrow has since been an active performer with the Northstar Opera company, the Shasta Vocal Institute, performing such roles as the title role in Gianni Schicchi and Papageno in “The Magic Flute.” He has performed in other opera scenes such as Giorgio Germont in “La Traviata”, Tonio in “Pagliacci”, Rigoletto in “Rigoletto”, Don Giovanni and Leporello in “Don Giovanni”, Don Pizarro in “Fidelio”, and Mr. Lockit in the “Begger’s Opera”. He has performed as a baritone soloist with Shasta College in Bach’s Coffee Cantata, Mendelssohn’s Psalm 42, Gabriel Faure’s Requiem, and with Simpson University in Mozart’s Vesperae Solennes De Confessore. Mr. Withrow is currently a vocal performance major at CSU Stanislaus and is a student of Dr. Joseph Wiggett. Mr. Withrow has performed with Townsend Opera as Paris in “Romeo and Juliette”, Prince Yamadori in “Madama Butterfly”, and is a 2011 CSU Stanislaus student solo competition winner as well as the recipient of a major scholarship from the McConnell Foundation.
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Rafael Delsid,
Role of Le Remendado
Rafael Delsid was born in Aalen, Germany, 1990. He came to the U.S. at the age of 4 with his mother and older sister. At the age of 10 he began taking classical voice lessons as a boy soprano. His first opera was the Christmas opera, Amahl and the Night Visitors, where he played the titular role at age 11. Rafael previously attended Shasta Community College where he played the role of Tamino from Die Zauberflöte, Rinuccio in Gianni Schicci, and just recently Hoffmann in Shasta College’s 2011 production of The Tales of Hoffmann. He has done scenes as the Innkeeper in Der Rosenkavalier, Canio in Pagliacci, Romeo from Gounod’s Romeo et Juliette, Alfredo from La Traviata, The Duke from Rigoletto, and Joachino from Beethoven’s Fidelio. He has also been a tenor soloist with Shasta College in performances of Gabriel Faure’s Requiem, Schubert’s Mass in Eb, and with Simpson University was the tenor soloist for their performance of Mozart’s Solemn Vespers. He is currently a Junior attending CSU Stanislaus under the tutelage of Dr. Joseph Wiggett, where he continues his studies in classical voice.
