The Dean and Conductor
In this segment of Young Opera, meet the Laura Kaminsky, the dean of Purchase College Conservatory of Music, and conductor Hugh Murphy who worked on the spring 2008 New York premier of Lee Hoiby’s The Tempest. Learn about how Purchase encourages and nurtures their young musicians to do their best to pursue the art of opera.
The Principals of The Tempest
Visit Purchase College and meet members of the principle players in last spring’s premier production of The Tempest. Learn about their aspirations for future roles in opera and see a scene from the world premier of Lee Hoiby’s opus.
The Ensemble of The Tempest
Visit Purchase College and meet members of the ensemble singing in last spring’s premier production of The Tempest. Learn about their aspirations for future roles in opera and see a scene from the world premier of Lee Hoiby’s opus.
The Composer and Librettist of The Tempest
In this episode of Young Opera meet composer Lee Hoiby and librettist Mark Schulgasser who created The Tempest which had it’s New York premier at Purchase College this last spring of 2008. Lee Hoiby describes the honor of having a score he put his soul into finally produced with care and detail by the young cast. After the interview, see a scene from the production staged for the world premier of this landmark opera.
The Two Calibans
Visit Purchase college and meet Jacque Trussel, the director, and Eric Barry, previously featured for Young Opera and the star of last spring’s premier production of The Tempest at Purchase College. Learn about the multifaceted perspectives on the role of Caliban. They talk about the importance of the aria “Be Not Afeared” and how it allows insight into the character of Caliban from a librettist and composer’s point of view.
Jeremiah Duarte Bills
Meet Jeremiah Duarte Bills, a flautist from Julliard preparing to premier his own composition soon at the Miller Theater at Columbia University. Learn why he chose to play the flute, what he would tell younger students of the flute, the layers of depth he finds in classical music, and watch him perform an elegy by French composer, Jean Danjean.
Diego Matamoros
Meet Diego Matamoros, a baritone who had his debut at the Met and will be making his European premier next season. Hear him talk about singing opera and how opera enhances the experience of the raw power of the music and watch him perform “Per Me Giunto” from Don Carlo by Giuseppe Verdi with Chun Wei Kang on piano.
Crystal Mosser
Meet Crystal Mosser, a soprano from NYU, recently in a production of The Gondeliers and soon to be seen upstate in Chatham, New York as Christine in The Phantom of the Opera. Hear about how she found an interest in operetta’s, the burlesque of opera, how she feels young people connect to opera, and see her sing “The Silver Aria” from Douglas Moore’s The Ballad of Baby Doe.
Ryan Kinsella
Meet Ryan Kinsella, a baritone who started out at New York City Opera and now is part of the Wagner Society of Washington D.C.’s Emerging Singers Program. Hear about how he has develped his technique from a more emotional core, new opportunities that have opened up as his voice as developed, his tendency to be cast as a villain, and hear him perform the aria “Iago’s Credo in un Dio Crudel” from Verdi’s Othello accompanied by Chun-Wei Kang on piano.
In this episode of Young Opera, meet Saeunn Thorsteinsdottir, a cellist currently studying at the Julliard School of Music. Learn about her musical upbringing in Iceland, hear how she discovered her passion for the cello in a place as unlikely as Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and watch her perform “Prelude in E-flat” from J.S. Bach’s A Suite of Dances.
In this Young Opera selection, meet Eric Downs, a recent New York City transplant already singing his first role at the Met Opera in the recent production of Prokofiev’s The Gambler. Find out what he loves about opera and watch him sing “Vi Ravviso” from Bellini’s La Sonnambula with Chun Wei Kang on piano.
Eric Barry
Meet Eric Barry, the “Pavarotti of the panhandle”, hear his thoughts on live theater and music, and watch him perform Verdi’s “La Donna É Mobile” from RIGOLETTO.
Deborah Lifton
Meet Deborah Lifton, the 2007 Joy in Singing winner, learn what inspires her to sing, and watch her perform selections by Libby Larson.
Neera Islam
In this first installment of Young Opera for SundayArts, meet Neera Islam a Bangladeshi singer and learn about her experience growing up in the performaning arts. See her perform “Dove sei, amato bene!” from Handel’s RODELINDA.