Opera Buffs Presents Spring Performers Showcase and Tenor Rodell Rosel
Jenine Baines
February 22, 2009
LOS ANGELES, Calif. Since 1983, one of the ways the Opera Buffs has demonstrated its commitment to nurturing and supporting talented young opera singers throughout Southern California is to provide what many young singers seek most – a chance to perform. On Sunday, March 22 at 7:30 p.m. at Zipper Concert Hall at the Colburn School in downtown Los Angeles, this tradition will continue when the Opera Buffs presents its annual Spring Performers Showcase…albeit with a slight twist.
"Usually we do scenes from opera, which provides young singers with an opportunity to work with a director and interact with other singers," says David Alan Gibb, President of the Opera Buffs´ Board of Directors. "But, lately, we´ve had so many promising singers audition that, this time, we decided to change our format from scenes to arias, to allow a larger number of singers to perform. There is an amazing amount of talent coming up in Southern California right now. We´re eager to introduce them to those who, like us, love opera."
Nine singers will participate in the 2009 Spring Performers Showcase – roughly twice the number that typically take part in a Showcase production. Each singer will perform two arias, one in each half of the program. Singers who will appear include Megan Berti, mezzo-soprano; Douglas Carpenter, baritone; Kyung Teak Lim, baritone; Liam McLachlan, tenor; Adrien Roberts, soprano; Rebecca Sjöwall, soprano; Sunmi Shin, soprano; Xiaobo Su, soprano; and Nicholas Zammit, countertenor.
Joining the cast is acclaimed tenor Rodell Rosel, who received a $10,000 Career Achievement Award from the Opera Buffs last year. "Rodell has won a number of awards from around the world, including the Grand Prize award from the Metropolitan Opera National Council," says Gibb. "We were thrilled when we learned that Rodell will make his Metropolitan Opera debut next season."
Hailed by the Chicago Sun-Times as "the evening´s tidal wave" and by the Pittsburgh Tribune for his "excellent vocal coloration and precise acting," Rosel has already performed with such venerable companies as the Lyric Opera of Chicago, Houston Grand Opera, Pittsburgh Opera and Wolf Trap Opera Company. This spring, he will also make his company debut at Florentine Opera as Monostatos in Mozart´s Magic Flute.
However, the Opera Buff´s mission extends beyond offering young singers like Rodell a chance to perform. Every year, the organization raises from $40,000 to $60,000 in funding – primarily from membership dues – which is then distributed directly to singers. Grants are based primarily on vocal quality and the potential fior career success in the demanding field of opera. Singers participating in Performers Showcases receive honoraria as well.
The Opera Buffs also contributes to organizations that share its dedication to guiding and helping young singers. These range from regional vocal competitions like the Metropolitan Opera Western Region Auditions and the Loren L. Zachary Society Vocal Competition to academic and performance institutions – including USC, UCLA and Los Angeles Opera – that utilize young singers in their productions.
The public is invited to attend the Opera Buffs´ Spring Performers Showcase for a contribution of $15, or $5 for students with a valid ID. For reservations, which will be held at the door, call Barbara Merkle at (818) 248-3391. Zipper Concert Hall is located in the Colburn School at 200 South Grand Avenue in Los Angeles, with parking across the street at Walt Disney Concert Hall.
The Opera Buffs Inc. plays a leading role in nurturing and supporting talented young Southern California opera singers and in furthering their careers. It believes that, of all musical instruments, the human voice is the most sublime and that helping the exceptionally talented artist reach the operatic stage is a mission worthy of the utmost effort and full dedication.
For more information about membership, upcoming events or the Opera Buffs´ current roster of singers, visit www.operabuffs.org.
"Usually we do scenes from opera, which provides young singers with an opportunity to work with a director and interact with other singers," says David Alan Gibb, President of the Opera Buffs´ Board of Directors. "But, lately, we´ve had so many promising singers audition that, this time, we decided to change our format from scenes to arias, to allow a larger number of singers to perform. There is an amazing amount of talent coming up in Southern California right now. We´re eager to introduce them to those who, like us, love opera."
Nine singers will participate in the 2009 Spring Performers Showcase – roughly twice the number that typically take part in a Showcase production. Each singer will perform two arias, one in each half of the program. Singers who will appear include Megan Berti, mezzo-soprano; Douglas Carpenter, baritone; Kyung Teak Lim, baritone; Liam McLachlan, tenor; Adrien Roberts, soprano; Rebecca Sjöwall, soprano; Sunmi Shin, soprano; Xiaobo Su, soprano; and Nicholas Zammit, countertenor.
Joining the cast is acclaimed tenor Rodell Rosel, who received a $10,000 Career Achievement Award from the Opera Buffs last year. "Rodell has won a number of awards from around the world, including the Grand Prize award from the Metropolitan Opera National Council," says Gibb. "We were thrilled when we learned that Rodell will make his Metropolitan Opera debut next season."
Hailed by the Chicago Sun-Times as "the evening´s tidal wave" and by the Pittsburgh Tribune for his "excellent vocal coloration and precise acting," Rosel has already performed with such venerable companies as the Lyric Opera of Chicago, Houston Grand Opera, Pittsburgh Opera and Wolf Trap Opera Company. This spring, he will also make his company debut at Florentine Opera as Monostatos in Mozart´s Magic Flute.
However, the Opera Buff´s mission extends beyond offering young singers like Rodell a chance to perform. Every year, the organization raises from $40,000 to $60,000 in funding – primarily from membership dues – which is then distributed directly to singers. Grants are based primarily on vocal quality and the potential fior career success in the demanding field of opera. Singers participating in Performers Showcases receive honoraria as well.
The Opera Buffs also contributes to organizations that share its dedication to guiding and helping young singers. These range from regional vocal competitions like the Metropolitan Opera Western Region Auditions and the Loren L. Zachary Society Vocal Competition to academic and performance institutions – including USC, UCLA and Los Angeles Opera – that utilize young singers in their productions.
The public is invited to attend the Opera Buffs´ Spring Performers Showcase for a contribution of $15, or $5 for students with a valid ID. For reservations, which will be held at the door, call Barbara Merkle at (818) 248-3391. Zipper Concert Hall is located in the Colburn School at 200 South Grand Avenue in Los Angeles, with parking across the street at Walt Disney Concert Hall.
The Opera Buffs Inc. plays a leading role in nurturing and supporting talented young Southern California opera singers and in furthering their careers. It believes that, of all musical instruments, the human voice is the most sublime and that helping the exceptionally talented artist reach the operatic stage is a mission worthy of the utmost effort and full dedication.
For more information about membership, upcoming events or the Opera Buffs´ current roster of singers, visit www.operabuffs.org.
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