Aïda
POSTPONED to June 2021
(Casting changes may occur due to artist availability)
Raylynmor Opera values the health and safety of our patrons above all else and we are committed to taking every precaution to ensure the health and wellbeing of our cast, crew and patrons in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. As such we have chosen to postpone our production of Aïda originally scheduled for May 29 and 31, 2020. We will now present Aïda in June 2021. Delaying the production by one year will allow us to present an experience that we believe will be truly memorable without worry of incurring risk to our patrons.
Our exciting season finale will be Giuseppe Verdi’s triumphant masterpiece, Aïda. The story of the titular Ethiopian princess who is torn between her love for an Egyptian soldier and her homeland will be thematically adapted to reflect modern society. This production will be presented in Italian with English supertitles.
MEET THE CAST
Alexandra Loutsion (Aïda)
Raylynmor Debut: Shakespeare Goes to the Opera Concert 2016
Hometown: Pittsburgh, PA
Two Recent Performances: Turandot with Austin Opera, and Elektra with Minnesota Opera
One Upcoming Performance: Odabella cover/Verdi’s Attila with Lyric Opera of Chicago
Favorite Opera: Turandot
https://www.alexandraloutsion.com
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8kU3qPUa8JHky5J1bmdbcQ
Peter Drackley (Radames)
https://www.peterscottdrackley.com
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCEMTtY-MOBuXLHACFX5QNRw
Kate Jackman (Amneris)
Called “winningly wily and dauntless” by Boston Classical Review, American mezzo-soprano Kate Jackman is a multifaceted musician and actress who excels in a variety of musical expression.
On stage, Kate performed the lead role in Oliver Knussen’s Higglety Pigglety Pop ! at the Tanglewood Festival of Contemporary Music and “touchingly incarnated Jennie” (Alex Ross, The New Yorker ). Other recent roles include Bradamante in Fargo-Moorhead Opera’s 2018 production of Alcina , Giovanna in Charlottesville Opera’s 2017 production of Rigoletto , the title role in Carmen with Maryland Concert Opera, The Beggar Woman in Baltimore Concert Opera’s Sweeney Todd , and Bloody Mary in Annapolis Opera’s 2016 production of South Pacific , a role she “performed well physically… with a sly grin heralding a lovely voice.” (Maryland Theater Guide )
As a winner of the DC Vocal Arts competition, Kate made her Kennedy Center recital debut in 2012. She has sung at Carnegie Hall in Marilyn Horne’s The Song Continues series, at Seiji Ozawa Hall as a fellow at the Tanglewood Music Center, and in the Fall Island Vocal Arts Seminar.
In concert, Ms. Jackman has performed solos from Handel’s Messiah at the Kennedy Center, with Helena Symphony, and over internationally televised programming with The Basilica of the National Shrine in Washington, D.C., Other concert credits include Narrator in Stravinsky’s L’Histoire du Soldat with the Lunar Ensemble, and Alto Soloist in both Beethoven’s Mass in C Major and Vivaldi’s Gloria with Maryland Choral Society.
This season, Kate returned to Maryland to sing with Maryland Opera, Annapolis Opera, and Montgomery Symphony. She will make her role debut as Amneris with Raylynmor Opera in May.
https://www.katejackman.com
Daniel Scofield (Amonasro)
http://www.danielscofieldbaritone.com
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfl7fzmiW2kZ1Be5O3rh4hQ
Andrew Potter (Ramfis)
Ralynmor Debut: May 29th, Ramfis
Hometown: Lynchburg, VA
Two Recent Performances: Tulsa Opera - Pastor Avery in Emmeline; Indianapolis Opera - Il Commendatore in Don Giovanni
One Upcoming Performance: Lakes Area Music Festival - Daland in Der Fliegende Holländer
(obviously the above reflects the answers that will be "current" when I'm there for Aida)
Favorite Opera: Susannah, Carlisle Floyd
http://awpotter.com
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCii2LBRHxB3THZrGk7xl5Rg
Patrick Murray (The King)
Information not available at this time.
Emilia DiCola (High Priestess)
Emilia DiCola, Soprano
Raylynmor Debut: Aida, May 2020
Hometown: Litchfield, NH
Two Recent Performances: Holiday Pops with the Boston Pops at Symphony Hall and Shostakovich Symphony Number 2 with the Boston Symphony Orchestra, both as a member of the Tanglewood Festival Chorus
Upcoming Performance: Miss DiCola currently sings at West Parish Church in Andover, MA.
Favorite Opera: Anything written by Verdi or Puccini.
Andy Papas (The Messenger)
Raylynmor Debut: Ko-Ko in The Mikado
Hometown: Winchester, MA
Recent Performances:
Dr. Bartolo in The Barber of Seville, Anchorage Opera
Mr. Bumble in Oliver! , New Repertory Theater of Boston
Upcoming Performance: Title role in Don Pasquale, Pacific Northwest Opera
Favorite Opera: Turandot
Maria Sensi-Sellner (Conductor)
https://www.mariasensisellner.org
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCM0apXwVYJOzTDuyhIGlY8Q
Joe Turbessi (Assistant Conductor/Pianist)
Raylynmor Debut: Macbeth (2016)
Hometown: Boston, MA
Two Recent Performances: Sweeney Todd (conductor) Hansel and Gretel (conductor)
One Upcoming Performance: Beethoven, Piano Concerto #4 Soloist with the Boston Conservatory players
Favorite Opera: Falstaff
Joe Turbessi is a versatile musician in the greater Boston area, maintaining a career as an opera conductor, collaborative pianist and vocal coach. His piano playing has been described by composer Craig Hella Johnson as an "independent, probing musical voice" with "clear and expressive, singing tone.” He is the founder and artistic director of Opera Theater of Cape Cod, which debuted in 2018; as well as assistant conductor for Lowell House Opera, the accompanist for the choirs of the Boston Conservatory and the Radcliffe Choral Society of Harvard; and Music Director at Old South Union church in Weymouth, MA. Notable recent projects include Sweeney Todd (Sondheim) Hansel and Gretel (Humperdinck), Cosi fan tutte (Mozart), La Tragédie de Carmen (Brooks), Le Comte Ory (Rossini), Ariadne auf Naxos (Strauss), Requiem (Faure), Jesu, meine Freude (Bach), Macbeth and Requiem (Verdi), Amahl and the Night Visitors (Menotti), part I of Messiah (Handel), and several other projects.
Vladimir Odinikikh (Chorus Master)
Vladimir has worked with the Raylynmor as both rehearsal pianist and accompanist. Vladimir began lessons at an early age and received training at the Tchaikovsky Conservatory and Gnessin Institute of Moscow where he earned both Bachelors and Masters degrees, He participated in the first Rachmaninov International Piano Competition, The International Ponce-Scriabin Festival, and the first Bach Festival in Peru, as well as the Isadora Duncan Festival in London, England. In addition to current college appointments with Keene State College, as collaborative pianist, and Franklin Pierce University as piano teacher, Mr. Odinokikh has taught at the Ippolitov-Ivanov College of Music in Moscow, the Alicia Urreta Center for the Arts in Mexico City and the Conservatorio de las Rosas in Morelios, Mexico.
http://www.vladimirodinokikh.com/