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I Trovatori Opera presents NORMA by Vincenzo Ballini
Sunday, November 8th at 3:00pm PST
Online sale ends: 11/08/15 at 2:00pm PST
Concord United Methodist Church
1645 West Street
Concord, CA 94521
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Description

To say that we are attracting amazing talent may be the understatement of the decade, but we fine them and they crawl out of the woodwork of the internet and other locations. We are very proud of our talent pool and our reputation is growing for musical excellence in the East Bay and SF Bay Area. Soon in California. Won't you go to our website and hit 'DONATE' and send us a little gift? We are a full fledged 501C3 and all donations are tax decuctible nationwide: http://www.ITrovatoriOpera.com

Enjoy the an adventure into Roman Occupied Gaul, where Druids, Priesteses, and Roman ProConsuls join in a love triangle to rivan the best Shakespeare plots. There are all sorts of drama when the triangle explodes and you will want to be there to hear this fantastic cast that I Trovatori Opera is proud to present. Conducted by Maestro Temirzhan Yerzhanov. We have a first rate cast of local singers who will amaze you with there vocal talent and hopefully encourage you to buy Season Tickets for 2015. General Admission: $20, and we have special tickets for Senior/Disabled and Vets at $10. Even some limited FREE Tickets for Vets, so check early. Purchase Tickets in advance at: BrownPaperTickets.com and at the door.

Visit our website: www.ITrovatoriOpera.com more info on our artists and upcoming events. Tickets: www.BrownPaperTickets.com search Norma

Our first rate cast includes: Sonia Alonso as Norma, Carley Neill as Adalgisa, Katherine Feller as Clotilde, Darron Flagg as Pollione, Don Hoffmann as Oroveso, Russ Kladko as Flavio and the ITO Chorus and Chamber Ensemble. All Local Talent! Our Chamber Ensemble will be conducted by Maestro Yerzhanov.

We will perform in Italian and have SuperTitles in English so you can enjoy the plots and counter plots. Please come join us for this masterwork by Vincenzo Bellini.


Norma an opera in two acts, by Bellini; words by Felice Romani, based on an old French story. Produced, December 26, 1831, Milan. King’s Theatre, June 20, 1833, in Italian; Drury Lane, June 24, 1837, in English. Paris, Théâtre des Italiens, 1833. New York, February 25, 1841, at the Park Theatre; October 2, 1854, for the opening of the Academy of Music, with Grisi, Mario, and Susini; December 19, 1891, Metropolitan Opera House, with Lilli Lehmann as Norma. Time: Roman Occupation, about 50 B.C.: Place: Gaul.


Act I. Sacred grove of the Druids. The high priest Oroveso comes with the Druids to the sacred grove to beg of the gods to rouse the people to war and aid them to accomplish the destruction of the Romans. Scarcely have they gone than the Roman Pro-consul Pollione appears and confides to his Centurion, Flavio, that he no longer loves Norma, although she has broken her vows of chastity for him and has borne him two sons. He has seen Adalgisa and loves her.

At the sound of the sacred instrument of bronze that calls the Druids to the temple, the Romans disappear. The priest and priestesses approach the altar. Norma, the high priestess, daughter of Oroveso, ascends the steps of the altar. No one suspects her intimacy with the Roman enemy. But she loves the faithless man and therefore seek to avert the danger that threatens him, should Gaul rise against the Romans, by prophesying that Rome will fall through its own weakness, and declaring that it is not yet the will of the gods that Gaul shall go to war. She also prays to the "chaste goddess" for the return of the Roman leader, who has left her. Another priestess is kneeling in deep prayer. This is Adalgisa, who also loves Pollione.

The scene changes and shows, Norma’s dwelling. The priestess is steeped in deep sadness, for she knows that Pollione plans to desert her and their offspring, although she is not yet aware of her rival’s identity. Adalgisa comes to her to unburden her heart to her superior. She confesses that to her faith she has become untrue through love -- and love for a Roman. Norma, thinking of her own unfaithfulness to her vows, is about to free Adalgisa from hers, when Pollione appears. Now she learns who the beloved Roman of Adalgisa is. But the latter turns from Pollione. She loves Norma too well to go away with the betrayer of her sister & friend the high-priestess.


Act II. Norma, filled with despair, is beside the cradle of her little ones. An impulse to kill them comes over her. But motherhood triumphs over unrequited love. She will renounce her lover. Adalgisa shall become the happy spouse of Pollione, but shall promise to take the place of mother to her children. Adalgisa, howver, will not hear of treachery to Norma. She goes to Pollione, but only to remind him of his duty.

The scene changes again to a wooded region of the temple in which the warriors of Gaul have gathered. Meanwhile, Norma awaits the result of Adalgisa’s plea to Pollione; then learns that she has failed and has come back to the grove to pass her life as a priestess. Norma’s wrath is now beyond control. Three times she strikes the brazen shield; and, when the warriors have gathered, they joyfully hear her message: War against the Romans! But with their deep war song now mingles the sound of tumult from the temple. A Roman has broken into the sacred edifice. He has been captured. It is Pollione, who she knows has sought to carry off Adalgisa. The penalty for his intrusion is death. But Norma, moved by love to pity, and still hoping to save her recreant lover, submits a new victim to the enraged Gauls -- a perjured virgin of the priesthood.

"Speak, then, and name her!" they cry. To their amazement she utters her own name, then confesses all to her father, and to his care confides her children. A pyre has been erected. She mounts it, but not alone. Pollione, his love rekindled at the spectacle of her greatness of soul, joins her. In the flames he, too, will atone for their offence before God.

Our great cast of local talent include: Sonia Alonso, our Norma lives in Concord. Miss Alonso an active soloist in the Bay area. Sonia was most recently heard in Beethoven's 9th and Suor Angelica and The Impresario. She studied with Kiriacos Aslanidi of San Diego, John Hudnall of San Francisco and Michael Trimble of New York. She has been soloist for Schubert Mass in C, Mozart's Coronation Mass, Vivaldi's Gloria, Handel's Messiah, and Last Judgment by Spohr, Beethoven's Christ on the Mount of Olives, La Posada by Dave Brubeck, Rutter Gloria in 2001, and the Ellingboe Requiem. New York area performances included Clotilda in Norma (understudy), of Norma, Oskar in Un Ballo in Maschera, Guilda in Rigoletto, and Olympia, Michaela, Liu, and Blonde. Most recently she performed Mozart’s The Impresario in Walnut Creek. Sonia sang the Queen of the Night in Magic Flute at the Aspen Music Festival and Ghretta in Street Scene by Kurt Weill. A member of the San Diego Opera, she was a stand in for Beverly Sills in Tales of Hoffmann, and Marguerite and Siebel in Faust. The mother in Amahl and the Night Visitors for the Walnut Creek Civic Arts/Diablo Symphony productions. Guest artist at the Diablo Music Festival, Sinfornia da Camera, and benefit solo recital for the Youth House in Sarajevo Feb 2001. Now Artistic Director for I Trovatori Opera: A Classical Vocal Ensemble. Winner of the Sigma Alpha Iota Region 1 National Scholarship Aspen Music Festival 1983.

Soprano Carley Neil, the lovely Adalgisa is no stranger to the Stage appearing in Coffee Cantata, daughter Capitol Chamber Players, March 2014, Guys and Dolls, Sarah Brown City Theatre, April 2013, Manon, Manon+ Shoe String Opera, April 2013, The Abduction from the Seraglio, Konstanze+ Sacramento Saturday Club, January 2013, Iolanthe, Phyllis Light Opera Theatre of Sacramento, 2011, Into the Woods, Rapunzel Murphys Creek Theatre, 2010, Berlin to Broadway, soprano soloist Sacramento City Theatre, 2010, The Mikado, Peep Bo Light Opera Theatre of Sacramento, 2010, The Gondoliers, Gianetta Light Opera Theatre of Sacramento, 2008, L’incoronazione di Poppea, La Fortuna CSUS Opera Theatre, 2005, The Merry Wives of Windsor, Anne Page CSUS Opera Theatre, 2003 She had a stellar performance as Suor Angelica Feb 2015 with I Trovatori Opera.

In Concerts as soprano soloist, she was the Featured soloist; Folsom Symphony 2012-2014, Amador County Interfaith Orchestra, 2012 -Carmichael Adventist Chorale, December 2011 & 2009, Sacramento Youth Symphony, Sacramento City Chorale 2010, Une Belle Nuit opera concert Center for the Arts, Grass Valley, 2010, Family Concert series, Puccini arias Camellia; Symphony, 2009/2010, Sacramento Saturday Club, 2009, Sacramento City Chorale, 2009, Sacramento Youth Symphony, 2009,

Ms Neill pursued her musical education at San Jose State University 2007-2008 graduate studies in vocal performance (vocal scholarship recipient) and California State University Sacramento B.A. in vocal performance 2007.

Katherine Feller the faithful Clotilde is a charter member of ITO and was featured in The Impresario Katherine Feller as Madam Silberklang. Kate also sang the Mistress of Novices in Suor Angelica on this concert. 'Kat' as she likes to be called is a familiar face at Lamplighters and has appeared in Pirates of Penzance ,Die Fledermaus, HMS Pinafore, 46th & 60th Anniversary Gala, Dramatic and Comic Opera Galas, Despina in Cosi Fan Tutte. The Mikado. With the Chico Theater Company, Hello, Dolly! and as a soloists for the Royal English Opera Company/Dickens Fair

Kate's educations encompases studies at ACT (American Conservatory Theater), San Francisco, Creating physical character, Musical theater, among others, Summer Music West Gilbert and Sullivan Scenes Program (2004 and 2005), Waldorf High School (2002-06), CSU Chico (2006-2011) Musical Theater and Vocal Performance degrees acquired Vocal Pedagogy certificate Various vocal coaches in San Francisco and Chico. Katherine has received the following awards: E. Riddell & A. McKinney Music Award (2009), Bravo prize (2009 and 2010), Gwen Curatilo Honorary Award.

Our Pollione Darron James Flagg is a singer-actor whose debut performance in the “stratospheric part” of the Honorable Elijah Mohammed in Oakland Opera Theater’s heralded West-Coast premiere production of Anthony Davis’ The Life and Times of Malcolm X in 2006 signaled the arrival of a major artist.

Since this auspicious beginning, established companies such Sacramento Opera, Festival Opera, West Bay Opera, Pocket Opera and others have eagerly engaged him for roles such as: Normanno in Donizetti’s Lucia di Lammermoor, Roderigo in Verdi’s Otello, Remendado in Bizet’s Carmen, and Messenger in Verdi’s Aida, Beppe in Pagliacci; and Nathanaël in Les Conte d’Hoffman. As for leading roles, he is a popular Tamino – having performed in productions of Mozart’s Die Zauberflöte for OperaWorks in Los Angeles, and for West End Opera in Berkeley. Other leading roles include Count Ory in Rossini’s Le Count D’Ory, Alfredo in La Traviata, Duke of Mantua in Verdi’s Rigoletto, Don Ottavio in Mozart’s Don Giovanni, Rinuccio in Puccini’s Gianni Schicchi, Rodolfo in the same composer’s La Boheme; and Stefan and Jontek in productions of famed Polish-composer Stanislaw Moniuszko’s The Haunted Manor and Halka, respectively, Equally accomplished in contemporary music including Stravinsky’s Le Renard and Watkin’s Dark River, and, more recently, Knable’s “The Magic Fish”, the Verdi’s Requiem; Bruckner’s Te Deum; Handel’s Messiah; Haydn’s Creation; and Haydn’s Paukenmesse. Mr. Flagg is a regular soloist in concert performances of Handel’s Messiah with the Valley Choral Society and the Folsom Lake Symphony.

Away from Northern California, Mr. Flagg has performed at Los Angeles Philharmonic’s Walt Disney Hall as Tenor soloist in a performance of Beethoven’s 9th Symphony. Having successfully performed a recital and a Messiah with the Oakland Symphony Chorus in early 2014, Mr. Flagg completes an extensive run of La Boheme in the later part of 2014, singing the role of Roldolfo. Then in 2015 he sings Rossini, Puccini and Gound. Passionate about the power of music, Mr. Flagg is a past winner of the Southeast Symphony Young Artist competition, a recitalist in New York City as a part of Lincoln Center’s Meet the Artist series and participated in the New Israel Opera House Young Artists Studio in Tel Aviv. A talented actor who is fluent in German, Mr. Flagg has appeared on the theatrical stage in Goethe’s Faust and Dürrenmatt’s The Visit, both performed in German. He played the role of Sal Jr. in Island Pictures’ “Baghdad Café” alongside Oscar-winner Jack Palance and C.C.H. Pounder. A true Renaissance man, Mr. Flagg holds degrees in music, law and global finance. For more details about Darron visit: www.dflagg.com


Don Hoffman, our Oroveso,Bio enroute!


Russ Kladko the loyal Flavio, Russ’s day job is as a CPA employed by a major bank, but he enjoys using his vocal gifts in any way he can find.  He has an extensive background in church music, singing bass, baritone and tenor in church choirs (he’s a baritone but he has filled in where needed), small groups, duets, and many solos.  He’s also performed at many weddings and funerals.  He has a great love of Broadway and Opera, and has performed many tunes in various venues over the years, including Valentine banquets at Dublin Valley Christian Center and tea dances at Concord United Methodist Church.  He has performed with the Masterworks Chorale of Diablo Valley College in Pleasant Hill, having a solo part in Monteverdi’s Duo Seraphim.  He has worked before with I Trovatori Opera in the 2014 New Year’s Gala singing If I Loved You from Carousel, and will be performing the role of Flavio in Norma as a tenor in November of this year.  This is Russ’s first time as a cast member in an opera, and he’s very excited to be a part of it.

Maestro Temirzhan Yerzhanov our gifted conductor and pianist, a gifted musician hailing from Kazakhstan launched his international career by winning the Gold Medal at the International Robert Schumann Piano Competition in Zwickau, Germany, and now continues also as an emerging conductor.

Temirzhan Yerzhanov has toured in Germany, Russia, France, Italy, Switzerland, Czech Republic, USA, United Kingdom, China and India. He has soloed with many orchestras including Moscow Radio Tchaikovsky Symphony, Zwickau Philharmonishes Orchester, Sacramento Philharmonic, San Luis Obispo Symphony, Vogtland Philharmonie, The Symphony Orchestra of India, working with such conductors as Vladimir Fedoseev, Lothar Seyfart, Johannes Wildner, Michael Morgan, Jiří Malát. He has appeared in prestigious venues such as London Wigmore Hall, Berlin Konzerthaus, Leipzig Gewandhaus, Moscow Tchaikovsky Conservatory, Dresden Sempergalerie, Paris Salle Gaveau, New York Carnegie Weill Recital and Merkin Halls, Moscow Conservatory and St. Petersburg Philharmonic Grand Halls. Mr. Yerzhanov has been featured on live broadcasts, in studio recordings and talk shows of Deutsche Radio Berlin, Hong Kong Radio, BBC Radio, Radio Free Europe, Radio Russia, Capital Radio Sacramento and Orpheus Radio. He garnered much praise for his CDs of Schumann (RCD label) and Prokofiev works including World premiere of Classical Symphony (Con Brio Recordings).

A diverse musician, Mr. Yerzhanov has collaborated on concert stage with many opera singers and instrumentalists of international acclaim such as Elena Kelessidi, Melody Moore (sopranos), Catherine Cook (mezzo-soprano), Michael Collins (clarinet), Vasko Vassilev, Marat Bisengaliev (violins), and in concerts with opera companies like Astana Opera, Kazakh Abai Opera and Walnut Creek Festival Opera. He conceived and performed a National premiere of Rossini’s Petite Messe Sollenele and several contemporary music premieres, just to name a few of his original projects. Awarded “Best Accompanist Prize” at the Tchaikovsky Vocal and Elena Obraztsova Opera Singers International Competitions, he had an experience as a concert accompanist and coach, recently working at the Opera San Jose and Telegraph Hill Festival in London. Mr. Yerzhanov got much of experience in productions of La Boheme, Pagliacci, Les Voix Humaines, Idomeneo, La Traviata, Faust, and Sweeney Todd. He was Assistant Conductor for the World Premiere of John Cepelak’s Lincoln and Booth at the Golden Gate Opera and at El Camino Youth Orchestra in Tchaikovsky’s First Piano Concerto. For the California Opera he prepared principals and chorus assisting conductor for La Sonnambula, Madama Butterfly, La Traviata and Carmen. He made a symphonic debut with Kazakh State Symphony Orchestra and Chorus in a National Premieres of Mozart’s Idomeneo and Krönungsmesse. Currently Mr. Yerzhanov is a Music Director at Opera Cultura, San Jose where he conducted La Llorona and Tales of Pilgrimage by Hector Armienta and Artistic Director of the new youth Orchestra Gradus ad Parnassum, Dublin, CA.

A graduate and former faculty member of the Moscow Tchaikovsky Conservatory, Temirzhan Yerzhanov studied piano with Professor Mikhail Voskressensky. Later he studied conducting with Latvian-American conductor Imants Kociņš. He moved to the USA where he was named ‘Best Performer of 2007’ by San Francisco Classical Voice along with San Francisco Opera and soprano Angela Gheorghiu, Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra, Mark Morris Dance Group, Artemis Quartet and Medieval Trio. He was recently awarded with “Yenbek Sinirgen Qairatkeri”, the highest Honorary Title in his native country.

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Additional Information
There will be a preconcert lecture at 2PM, so come early and learn the history and details about the composer and why and how he wrote this fabulous drama

Presented By

3:00pm to 6:30pm
Doors open at 3:00pm

General Admission: $20.00
Seniors, Vet, Disabled & Kids under 12: $10.00

Age
All Ages

Concord United Methodist Church<br> 1645 West Street<br> Concord, 94521

400

925-246-9360