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David Bell , tenor (Jaquino) made his Carnegie Hall debut in 1996 with the Rosa Ponselle Foundation. Since then, he has been an active regional opera performer in such roles as Tamino (Die Zauberflute), the title role in Candide, and Rinuccio (Gianni Schicchi) with companies including OperaDelaware, Summer Opera Theater, and Virginia Concert Opera Theater. His work has been praised by the Baltimore Sun, the Washington Post, and Opera News Past solos with chorus and orchestra include Messiah Britten's Rejoice in the Lamb and Finzi's Lo, the full final sacrifice. He recently sang the tenor solo in Joseph Jongen's Mass, op. 130, at Windsor Castle. Mr. Bell was recently heard on NPR's "All Things Considered" in a feature about the Brooklyn company "Opera On Tap."

Conrad Chu (Assistant Conductor & Chorus Master) Conductor and pianist Conrad Chu is happy to make his debut with Brooklyn Repertory Opera. He is a native of Allentown, Pennsylvania, from a Taiwanese American family. He began piano studies at age 8, and by the time he reached high school, he was concertizing regularly with local orchestras in the Lehigh Valley region, including solo appearances with the Allentown Symphony and the Pennsylvania Sinfonia Orchestra. Mr. Chu holds a pre-medical bachelor's degree from Yale University, and earned his master's degree in conducting at Mannes College of Music, as a student of Michael Charry, Samuel Wong and David Hayes. Since 1998, Mr. Chu has served on the faculty of Eugene Lang College, the New School for Liberal Arts, where he is choral director of a 20-member a capella choir and Music Director of the school's community orchestra, the New School Arts Ensemble. He is also in demand as a free-lance conductor of broad experience, having served as Assistant Conductor from 2001-2004 for the Bronx Opera Company, and Music Director of New York's oldest Chinese-American chorus, the Univoice Chorus of New York. In recent seasons, Mr. Chu has been tapped on multiple occasions for select master classes of promising young conductors, working with such distinguished maestros as Kurt Masur, Robert Spano, Leonard Slatkin, and Marin Alsop. He would like to thank the entire cast, orchestra and staff for their warmth, generosity and dazzling talent!

Mario Espinoza, Tenor (First Prisoner), hails from Southwestern Idaho. Born into a non-musical-Mexican-immigrant family, opera was not a genre he'd been especially encouraged to pursue at home, also a few disappointing experiences with voice instructors dissuaded him from pursuing a career in opera. After years of participating as a member in several choral groups and some encouragement to branch out as a solo performer he originated the drag queen personality of Mexican opera diva 'Maria CastaDiva' in 2004, which he has brought back time and again to modest acclaim, most recently, this summer, as a featured guest at the 'Cherry Lane Theater' in 'The Art of Drag' and in his own production at 'Bua' in the one woman act 'La CastaDiva Sings Again'. A self taught singer his debut with the Brooklyn Repertory Opera is an exciting step into the serious side of opera he'd always hoped to experience.

Johnny Geth (Second Prisoner) is pleased to be making his Brooklyn Repertory Opera Debut.

Jay Gould, Bass-Baritone (Rocco), has a career in opera, oratorio and musical theater. He has appeared as a soloist in Avery Fisher Hall and Carnegie Hall in New York City and other major concert venues, in performances of Handel’s The Messiah and the St. John’s and St. Matthew’s Passions of Bach, the Requiems of Fauré, Mozart and Brahms, and Orff’s Carmina Burana. He has performed as soloist with the Masterwork Chorus, Long Island Choral Society and the Taghkanic Chorale. He has also appeared as bass soloist in Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 with the Japanese Beethoven No. 9 Society in Carnegie Hall. Mr. Gould appears as soloist on a recording of the Grand Mass in B-flat minor of Amy Beach, re-creating his solo appearance in that work at Carnegie Hall. His opera repertory includes the roles of Amonasro (Aïda), Renato (Un Ballo in Maschera), Marcello (La Bohème), Sharpless (Madama Butterfly), Alfio (Cavalleria Rusticana), Rodrigo/King Philip II/Grand Inquisitor (Don Carlo), Dr. Frodhi (The Eglantine), Enrico (Lucia di Lammermoor), Tony (The Most Happy Fella), Oroveso (Norma), Tonio (I Pagliacci), Scarpia (Tosca), Sarastro/First Priest/First Slave/Man in Armor (Die Zauberflöte), and the title role in Falstaff (Martina Arroyo’s “Prelude to Performance” production in June, 2006, conducted by Willie Anthony Waters). In July 2007 he sang the role of Fafner in Das Rheingold with the Mannes Wagner Theater Project conducted by David Gilbert; in August he played the title role in Gianni Schicchi with Empire Opera.

Hellgate Harmonie (Orchestra) originally formed as a wind ensemble in the summer of 2005 to perform classic 18th and 19th Century Viennese and Bohemian Harmoniemusik, including transcriptions of Mozart operas and Wenzl Sedlak's famous Beethoven sanctioned nonet reduction of Fidelio. Hellgate Harmonie plays regularly at beer gardens, bars, restaurants and similar establishments and is honored to be joined by excellent string, brass and percussion players for its performances with the Brooklyn Repertory Opera.

Dwight Hill, (Florestan) Heldentenor, born in Illinois studied in the US and Europe. He has performed in Europe the US and Japan. He has sung Bacchus, Florestan, Cavarradossi, Siegmund, Siegfried, Otello, Tannhauser, Lohengrin.....His Broadcasts go from WAMC National Public Radio in Albany with the Gotterdammerung Albany Symphony Orchestra to NHK, Japan, NBC Saga Radio Japan Arias Verdi Puccini & Wagner.

Scott Andrew Hutchins (Bass--Second Prisoner) earned his Master's Degree in Cinema Studies from the College of Staten Island in 2005. This is his second opera, having previously been in the chorus and cover for Dr. Grenvil in the Bronx Opera's La Traviata in 2004. He has also sung the Brahms Requiem with Collegium Westchester and is involved in his church choir, Voices in Unity. He has written three stage plays, four screenplays, and a novel, as well as reviews for Film Score Monthly, and has begun work on an opera of his own. His film work includes producing documentary material for PBS, and he has directed such plays as Alice Gerstenberg's Overtones and David Williamson's Emerald City. His voice teacher is David Friedman. He is originally from Indianapolis, lives on Staten Island, and works in Manhattan.

Jonathan Ichikawa (Don Fernando) made his BRO debut in "Cosi Fan Tutte" (June 2007). Previous New York experience includes concerts with Light Opera of New York, The Shaw Project, and the Gilbert & Sullivan Society of New York. Jonathan has performed in the Young Artistes program at the International Gilbert & Sullivan Festival in Buxton, England each summer since 2004. He founded the Rice Light Opera Society in 2002 while an undergraduate at Rice University, and Brown University Gilbert & Sullivan in 2004 while a grad student at Brown. He is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in philosophy at Rutgers University. Jonathan studies voice with Kevin Wilson.

Eric Jorgenson (Don Pizarro) , is pleased to be making his debut with Brooklyn Repertory Opera. His opera roles include the Count, Guglielmo, Don Alfonso, and Don Giovanni of Mozart, and Amonasro, Germont, Paolo, and Di Luna from the Verdi repertoire. Other roles performed include the four villains in Les Contes d'Hoffman, Onegin in Eugene Onegin, and Mendelssohn's Elijah. His repertoire includes roles and songs from six languages including Russian and Czech. Eric has performed internationally in Prague and with the E. Slovak State Theatre, Karlovy Vary and Zlin Philharmonics, and in the US with the Opera Company of Philadelphia, Hudson Opera, Riverside Opera and other regional companies in the northeast and midwest. Eric is also a conductor and cellist.

"a dark and attractive baritone voice" St. Louis Post Dispatch

Kathleen Keske (Leonore & Artistic Director) A native of Chicago, Ms. Keske has sung with opera companies and symphony orchestras over wide areas of the United States and abroad. Her operatic appearances have included such leading roles as Bruennhhilde in Siegfried and Goetterdaemerung, Ariadne, Leonore (Fidelio), Sieglinde, Desdemona, Contessa in Le Nozze di Figaro, Rosalinda in Die Fledermaus, and a wide range of other roles in five languages. Kathleen sang Senza Bliss with BRO in their previous production of AFRAID. Ms. Keske now resides in New York City and was a semi-finalist in The Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions and a finalist in the Liederkranz Foundation Competition. Kathleen is very happy to have worked with such a fine and dedicated cast in this production of Fidelio.

Fidelio

"Three gave outstanding performances... Soprano Kathleen Keske eased her way into a remarkable rendition of the title role (Fidelio). She and Ward received numerous bravos for their efforts."

Anchorage Daily News

Jason Kim (First Prisoner) This Park Slope resident is delighted to perform on his turf for the first time. Graduated from Seoul Arts High School (piano) and studied historical performance (voice) at Mannes Extension division. Performed as Lucano and Nerone (L'Incoronazione di Poppea), Bertarido (Rodelinda), Orfeo (Gluck's), and Falke (Die Fledermaus). Appeared as an ensemble member in Andre Campra's L'Europe Galante at Amherst Early Music festival, Kazuko Hara's Nasuno Yoichi with Harmonia Opera, and Francesca Caccini's La Liberazione di Ruggiero with the NY Continuo Collective. Served as alto soloist/chorister of the NY Cantata Singers (Bach cantatas and the B-minor Mass) and is a member of Music Divine, a Renaissance a cappella group. Studies with Archie Worley. Special thanks to Molly, Archie, and Conrad!

Ilberto Lagana (bass) (Don Fernando) , is very happy to return for Brooklyn Repertory Opera's second season since performing Guglielmo in Cosi last season. Recently he could also be heard as Sparafucile in Rigoletto with Ardamore Chamber Opera and Mephistopheles in Gounod's Faust with dell'Arte Opera Ensemble. Some favorite roles include: Don Giovannni with Opera Company of Astoria; Kecal in the Bartered Bride and Tristram in Martha with Liederkranz Opera Theatre; Zuniga in Carmen and Crespel in Tales of Hoffmann with Hudson Opera; and Ramfis in Aida with One World Symphony. Ilberto is a graduate of the Sarasota and DiCapo apprentice programs. He is originally from the Washington DC area and holds a Bachelors degree in Voice and Computer Science.

Francis Liska (Floristan) Is a scholarship graduate of THE AMERICAN ACADEMY OF DRAMATIC ARTS (NYC). He started his career in musical theater and went on to perform comic leads in Gilbert & Sullivan operettas. In Los Angeles, mezzo-soprano Gloria Lane took him as a student and trained him for opera while Sam Sakarian finished his training in New York City. Among the roles he has performed are Lohengrin, both Siegfrieds, Siegmund, Radames, Roland (ESCLARMONDE), Ferrando (COSI) and Eisenstein (FLEDERMAUS). In oratorio, he has been tenor soloist in ELIJAH and MESSIAH and has also been soloist for several churches in New York. He has sung with the Fullerton Civic Opera (CA), Glendale Opera (CA), West Side Opera (NYC), La Serenata (NYC), Donnell Library Concerts (NYC), Trinity Church Concerts (NYC) and Music Friends of Westchester (NYC).

Sean Parr , tenor (Jaquino) is excited to be performing with Brooklyn Repertory Opera. Sean has sung in London, Salzburg, and Italy and has been a Young Artist with Akron Lyric Opera Theatre, Opera North, and the Natchez Festival of Music. He recently sang the role of Goro in Madama Butterfly with both Regina Opera and the Staten Island Philharmonic. In May he sang the role of Sem in Brittens Noyes Fludde with Natchez Opera. This past Christmas, Sean was privileged to perform the role of Kaspar in Amahl and the Night Visitors with his father conducting. Other recent operatic work: Fritz in Mascagnis LAmico Fritz, Dr. Blind in Die Fledermaus, Rodolfo in La Bohème, Dr. Engel in Der Schauspieldirektor, and Gastone in La Traviata. In April of this year, Sean conducted and sang the tenor solo in Haydns Nelson Mass. Other solo concert work in New York has included Mozarts Requiem and Missa Brevis in G, Handels Messiah, and Schuberts Mass in C. Sean studied music and math at Dartmouth College, voice at Florida State University, and is presently working on his Ph.D. at Columbia University.

Pamela Scanlon (Marzelline) is originally from California and has performed on both coasts in such roles as Gretel in "Hansel & Gretel", Zaide in Mozarts "Zaide" both Silber klang and Goldentrill in "Impresario", Despina in "Cosi fan tutte", Adele in "Di e Fledermaus" and the Forest Bird in "Siegfried." Organizations she has performe d with include the Trinity Church concert series, West Side Opera, Singing Actor s Atelier and Pacific West Coast Opera. She has sung over 200 performances of op era excepts for the Educational Opera Association in Los Angeles. She has also p erformed several of the Gilbert and Sullivan heroines and done backup for films.

Courtenay Schowalter (Marzelline) Lyric Soprano Courtenay Schowalter received a Bachelors of Music at the Univer sity of Michigan and a Masters of Music in Vocal Performance at the New England Conservatory . She is delighted to return to Brooklyn Repertory Opera after performing Constance Purity in A.F.R.A.I.D. last summer.

Stephen Francis Vasta (Music Director/Conductor), made his official BRO debut with Cosi fan tutte; he previously assisted with musical preparation for A.F.R.A.I.D. He has conducted operas and operettas for various local, regional and university opera companies, including Die Fledermaus and The Merry Widow for Opera Northeast; Il matrimonio segreto at Berkshire Opera; Orpheus in the Underworld at Ball State University (IN); Rinaldo at the University of Arkansas; and, most recently, Trial by Jury at Opera Naples (FL). His extensive and varied musical theatre credits encompass Damn Yankees with Jamie Farr at Cape Playhouse (MA); Oh, Coward! off-Broadway at Irish Rep; Camelot at Alabama Shakespeare Festival; Godspell at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival; and the 1992-3 international tour of Peter Pan. Mr. Vasta has appeared as accompanist at Weill Recital Hall and at the Smithsonian Institution, and been continuo harpsichordist for the Bronx Opera, Metro Lyric Opera (NJ) and the North Arkansas Symphony. His record reviews and other articles about music have appeared in print in Opera News, Stereophile, and Time Out/New York, and online at websites including the prestigious MusicWeb International.

Wilma Wever (Leonore) Ms. Wever has appeared in the world premiere in the eponymous role of Jocasta, by Ruth Schonthal at Voice & Vision Theatre in New York City. Also in New York, she debuted with Encompass Opera as the Marchesa in Henzes The End Of A World and Ms. Edison in a reading of Tesla, an opera by Kievman for VOX, a presentation of new works by New York City Opera. Most recently she appeared as Leonora in Verdis Il Trovatore with Espresso Opera also in NYC.

In addition to her operatic work Ms. Wever has performed numerous recitals and contemporary music concerts in The Netherlands and in New York in distinguished venues such as the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam, Holland and Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall.

Wilma Wever has been recognized by the New York Times for being attractive and engaging for her performance of Jocasta and as a performer with savvy and grit by the Music Connoisseur.

Brett Wynkoop (Executive Director) - Before starting on the path of computer consulting with Wynn Data Limited, www.wynn.com, he was part of the the New York Renaissance Festival in the early 1980's, ran lights and video at Chippendales & took a turn at screen acting in "The Squeeze", 1987 (Michael Keaton). He was Technical Director for the world premier of A.F.R.A.I.D at the New York Fringe Festival, where he made his musical debut by playing the first note of the opera on computer generated bells. He is pleased to be working with such a wonderful group of artists on Fidelio.

Matthew Yohn, (Don Pizarro) with a national performing career that began at age ten and with twenty years of technical stage experience, enjoys a lifelong dedication to music and stagecraft. Mr. Yohn’s performance breadth includes a growing opera repertory, musical theater, classical theater and concert works which he has performed throughout the United States, and in France, Germany and the Czech Republic. His operatic credits include Donner (Das Rheingold), Leporello (Don Giovanni), Schaunard (La Boheme), Publio (La clemenza di Tito), Polyphemus (Acis and Galatea), Sprecher and geharnischter Mann (Die Zauberflote), Cesare Angelotti (Tosca), Lorenzo (I Capuleti ed i Montecchi), Marquis de la Force (Dialogues of the Carmelites), Samuel (Un ballo in maschera) and notable excerpts from Baron Ochs von Lerchenau (Der Rosenkavalier), Hollander (Der Fliegende Hollander), Mephistopheles (Faust) and Figaro (Le Nozze di Figaro). He completed a Master of Music degree at the Mannes College of Music in New York City.