Puget Sound Concert Opera: 'Fidelio' by Ludwig van Beethoven
$30 at the door, $20 in advance
- Stephen Rumph, tenor (Florestan, a political prisoner)
- Karen Early Evans, soprano (Leonore, his wife disguised as the man, Fidelio)
- Deac Guidi, bass (Rocco, the prison guard)
- Anna Galavis, soprano (Marzelline, Rocco's daughter)
- Tim Janecke, tenor (Jaquino, assistant to Rocco)
- Robert Wise, baritone (Don Pizarro, Governor of the prison)
- Daniel Ferguson, baritone (Don Fernando, the King's Minister)
- John Burkhardt, chorus master
- Bernard Kwiram, conductor
Discover the timeless power of Beethoven's opera Fidelio. Follow Leonore, disguised as "Fidelio," as she rescues her imprisoned husband in a tale of love and sacrifice. Experience the moving "Prisoners' Chorus" and Beethoven's masterful music. Join us for an unforgettable journey into the triumph of the human spirit. Our concert style production (no sets, costumes or staging) will be sung in German with English dialogues and specially arranged for an 11-piece chamber ensemble with supertitles in German and English.
This program will receive 2 performances: Friday, September 22 at 7pm; and Sunday, September 24 at 5pm.
About Puget Sound Concert Opera
Puget Sound Concert Opera's mission is to bring a wide variety of opera to life through passionate performances in intimate settings, fostering a vibrant artistic community. We make these extraordinary works accessible and affordable, ensuring that the joy of great opera is within reach of all.
http://www.pugetsoundconcertopera.org/About Stephen Rumph, tenor (Florestan, a political prisoner)
About Karen Early Evans, soprano (Leonore, his wife disguised as the man, Fidelio)
Karen Early Evans has performed the role of Fiordiligi with Utah Opera and Tacoma Opera. She was most recently heard singing Bach's Peasant Cantata with Yakima Symphony and the Witch in Hansel and Gretel with Bellevue Opera, where she has also performed the role of the 1st Lady in their production of The Magic Flute. She sings regularly with the Seattle Opera chorus and was recently invited to sing the roles of Nurse and Trang in a workshop for Amelia, a newly commissioned work for Seattle Opera. Ms. Early Evans performed Beethoven's Ninth Symphony with the Northwest Sinfonietta as soprano soloist and has also been a soloist with Tacoma Symphony, Boise Philharmonic, Utah Symphony and Eugene Concert Choir. She has performed roles with Lyric Opera Northwest, Skagit Opera, Opera Idaho and Glimmerglass Opera. Ms. Early Evans has been honored as a Finalist in the Metropolitan National Vocal Competition as well as the Luciano Pavarotti International Voice Competition. She was chosen as the audience favorite in both the Eleanor Lieber competition and the Bella Voce competition.
http://www.pugetsoundconcertopera.org/artists.html#karenearlyevansAbout Deac Guidi, bass (Rocco, the prison guard)
https://www.portlandopera.org/about/people/chorus/deac-guidi/
About Anna Galavis, soprano (Marzelline, Rocco's daughter)
Anna Galavis (formerly Richardson) is a versatile soprano with a wide range of credits in opera, musical theatre, and new music. Recent highlights include playing Blondchen in Mozart's Die Entführung aus dem Serail with Puget Sound Concert Opera and collaborating with Tacoma City Ballet. In her hometown of Portland, she debuted as Elsie in Yeomen of the Guard. Anna's "clear, true soprano" shone in roles like Patience with The Seattle Gilbert and Sullivan Society and Kathie in The Student Prince at Icicle Creek Center for the Arts. Noted for her "magnetic stage presence" and "rock-solid technique," Anna was applauded for her portrayal of Clorinda in Rossini's La Cenerentola in Boston's Faneuil Hall. Her performances in Die Zauberflöte and La Feu in Ravel’s L'enfant et les Sortileges were equally impressive.
Adept in musical theatre, Anna portrayed Aldonza in Man of La Mancha and Marian Paroo in The Music Man, garnering praise for her "angelic voice." She captivated audiences as Anne Egerman in A Little Night Music and played roles in Brigadoon and The Crucible. Anna's affinity for new music led her to perform in a revival of the Filipino opera Noli Me Tangere and collaborate with Juventas New Music Ensemble and composer Evan Mack.
Anna holds a Masters of Music in Vocal Performance from Brooklyn College and an undergraduate degree from Pepperdine University. A Portland native, she now resides in Seattle with her husband and daughter Cosima.
https://annagalavis.com/About Tim Janecke, tenor (Jaquino, assistant to Rocco)
A recent transplant to the Pacific Northwest, Tim Janecke makes his debut performance with Puget Sound Concert Opera this season. Past roles include Ferrando (Cosi Fan Tutte) and Nemorino (L'Elisir d'Amor) with Bowen Park Opera, Alfredo (La Traviata) and Don Basilio (Le Nozze di Figaro) with L'Opera Piccolo, and Don Ottavio (Don Giovanni) and Ferrando with Candleopera. In the world of light opera, Tim has performed Cloclo (Tricolet) with Chicago Folks Operetta and Achilles (Beautiful Helen of Troy) with Light Opera Works. In addition to his busy solo career, Tim is an experienced ensemble singer, having performed extensively with the Chicago Symphony Chorale, Chicago Lyric Opera, and as a Christmas Caroler at the Forge Club in the Chicago area. Tim received his Master's Degree from DePaul University and currently studies with Winnifred Brown.
http://www.pugetsoundconcertopera.org/artists.html#timjaneckeAbout Robert Wise, baritone (Don Pizarro, Governor of the prison)
Baritone Robert Wise has a wide range of performance experience spanning opera and musical theater. With notable roles including Allessio in La Sonnambula and Richard White in Alice Ryley, Wise showcases a versatile range. His portrayal of Frank Maurrant in Street Scene and the Sorcerer in Dido and Aeneas highlights his seamless blend of vocal prowess and dramatic depth. Wise's talent extends to musical theater, where he excelled as Mr. Lundle and Tommy in Brigadoon and as Javert in Les Misérables. Recognized with multiple NATS awards, including Iowa and Central Region first places, Robert graduated Summa Cum Laude in Software Engineering and Music from Iowa State University.
About Daniel Ferguson, baritone (Don Fernando, the King's Minister)
Daniel Ferguson was born in Bremerton, WA. Active in sports and theater from a young age, he attended the University of Idaho, studying cello and voice under Drs. Chris Thompson, Kyle Ferrill, and Miranda Wilson. He attended workshops with the Tallis Scholars, Seraphic Fire, and Chanticleer, and has sung in Europe on tour. Daniel took a hiatus from music to work in the medical field, returning to the fold amidst the pandemic. He currently sings with the Epiphany Parish Choir and is studying with Dr. Darrell J. Jordan, and is hoping to step back into the field as a proper, fully grown baritone.
About John Burkhardt, chorus master
John Burkhardt (chorus master/piano) currently serves as chorus master and principal accompanist for Puget Sound Concert Opera. John has arranged and conducted numerous PSCO productions including Lucrezia Borgia, La Damoiselle Elue, Andrea Chenier, Don Giovanni, and I Capuletti ed I Montecchi. John has served as the principal accompanist and chorus master for Bellevue Opera as well. He works for University of Washington Tacoma, managing their communications. He is musically active in the Unitarian Universalist church and has been an opera and musical theater pianist for many years in Seattle and elsewhere.
About Bernard Kwiram, conductor
Bernard Kwiram, a conductor, marked his Puget Sound Concert Opera debut in 2013 with Béatrice et Bénédict. He has since led notable performances like Der Frieschütz, Anna Bolena, and Il Trovatore. Kwiram has also conducted for Tacoma Opera, Pacific Northwest Opera, and Civic Light Opera, presenting works including Orpheus in the Underworld, La Boheme, Rigoletto, and Aida. He's directed the Seattle Gilbert & Sullivan Society since 2002, overseeing 160+ G&S Canon performances. In 2015, he became music director of Tacoma City Ballet, conducting The Nutcracker, Carmina Burana, and more. A versatile artist, he's sung with Seattle Opera and Everett Symphony, and is a vocal instructor and adjunct professor at Northwest University.