Tosca
February 11, 2012 I 6:00 PM I Holy Trinity Episcopal Academy Auditorium, Melbourne
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Symphony for Everyone
Giacomo Puccini I Tosca
The Space Coast Symphony launches its Opera Series with one of the most gripping operas written, Tosca. Once dismissed as a “shabby little shocker,” Tosca now reigns as one of the world’s most popular operas. Expect high passion, dark jealousy and bloody murder in this thrilling unstaged production. There are but a few moments seen on stage that are as magnificently shocking and shattering as the ending of Tosca.
Please note: This concert is 140 minutes and includes two 10-minute intermissions.
ABOUT THE ARTISTS
MARIA CALVO-WEIL hails from West Hartford, Connecticut where she first studied at the Hartt College of Music, then the Institute for Musical Arts with Bette McDonald and Frances Lawton and studied acting with Clay Stevenson. She has sung and worked with Anton Coppola, William Iannuzzi, Klaus Froboerse and Tito Capobianco as well as concertizing in Europe as an Ambassador of Goodwill with Cultural Omnibus. Maria is a Rosa Ponselle Competition winner as well as placing with several prestigious competitions including the Metropolitan Opera Regionals.
Her various roles include Suor Angelica, Santuzza in Cavalleria Rusticana, the Mother in Amahl and the Night Visitors, Carmen to name a few. She has also performed in musical theater in productions of The Sound of Music, 1776, and Nine. Maria settled in Central Florida in August of 2000 where she has sung with the Orlando Opera and is now a member of the Central Florida Lyric Opera Company.
DAVIDE LA VERDE, is a native and resident of Milan, Italy. A former dancer and model, he began his opera and voice studies wile at the world famous Donizetti Conservatory in Bergamo, Italy. Upon completing his studies there, he continued his work with Marcello Merlini where he performed with the Opera Company “Il Sempre Magico Baule”. At the present time, he continues his work with internationally renowned Maestra, Sara Corti at La Scala, Milan.
His professional performance repertoire includes Don Alvaro in La Forza del Destino and Manrico in Il Trovatore - both by Giuseppe Verdi, as well as Mario Cavaradossi in Tosca and Pinkerton in Madama Butterfly, both by Puccini. Davide has appeared with the International Opera Center of America as well as with the OperaMondoStudio in Alassio, Italy, the Central Florida Lyric Opera in Orlando, FL and with Felix Opera in Piacenza, Italy. As well as appearing in these operas, Mr. La Verde is a celebrated recitalist and regularly appears in concert performances of opera and Italian song in and throughout Italy. He has also appeared on tour throughout the United States in the 3 Tenors Plus One Concert and in other Opera Concerts and Galas.
Professor THOMAS POTTER directs the UCF Opera program and teaches undergraduate and graduate level voice lessons at the University of Central Florida in Orlando. With over 25 years of experience as a professional opera singer, Verdi baritone Thomas Potter has shared the stage with great artists such as Luciano Pavarotti, Kiri Te Kanawa, Kurt Moll, Dolora Zajick, and Deborah Voigt, to mention a few. Professor Potter began his professional career with a multi-year contract at the San Francisco Opera Center, then, after several years in New York, he found himself singing opera throughout Italy, France, Germany, Spain, and Switzerland.
From 1994 to 2000, Mr. Potter was engaged by the Stadttheater St. Gallen in Switzerland, singing the roles of "Scarpia" in TOSCA, "Jochanaan" in SALOME, "Alfio" in CAVALLERIA RUSTICANA, "Ezio" in ATTILA, "Amonasro" in AIDA, and "Giorgio Germont" in LA TRAVIATA, among others. Following the birth of their son, he and his wife, soprano Kimberly S. Randall, decided to move back to the United States to begin new careers as university professors. Mr. Potter taught for five years in Indiana before joining the University of Central Florida faculty in August of 2005. Visit Professor Potter's website at www.ThomasPotterOnline.com for a list of his Operatic and Concert Repertoire, to read reviews, and to download sound clips of his singing.
JAMES BOYLES began his advanced musical training at Brevard Junior College (now BCC) in 1966. He was in the Brevard Chorale directed by Tom Whiteside and Horace Boyer was his voice teacher. In 1967 he transferred to Florida State University and studied voice with Betty Jane Grimm graduating with a Bachelor of Music in Voice in 1971. After FSU Mr. Boyles received a graduate assistantship with Converse College in Spartanburg, South Carolina, and received a Master of Music in Vocal Performance in 1973. His performing credits include major and supporting roles in approximately twenty operas and musical comedies. Mr. Boyles also has a number of Oratorio roles to his credit including solo performances in the Messiah under the direction of Robert Shaw.
James has taught choral music in Brevard County and presently directs the chancel choir at Indian River City United Methodist Church in Titusville, Florida. In the Fall of 2008 he joined the faculty of Brevard Community College as an adjunct instructor for the Brevard Chorale. In addition he owns and operates Jay Bee Jewelers, a retail jewelry store, also in Titusville. He has been married to Sarah Boyles since 1970 and has two married children. The entire family performs, musically.
PROGRAM NOTES
COMING SOON
