Falstaff
August 27 & 29, 2021
Our exciting season begins with Giuseppe Verdi’s comic masterpiece, Falstaff. Our unique roving production will be staged at an historic Dublin estate. This production will be presented in Italian with English supertitles. Seating is limited get your tickets today.
Ticket Sales End August 25
or when sold out
Don't Delay!
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MEET THE CAST
Andy Papas (Falstaff)
Raylynmor Debut: Ko-Ko in The Mikado
Hometown: Winchester, MA
Recent Performances:
Canio in Pagliacci, Raylynmor Opera
Dr. Bartolo in The Barber of Seville, Anchorage Opera
Mr. Bumble in Oliver! , New Repertory Theater of Boston
Title role in Don Pasquale, Pacific Northwest Opera
Favorite Opera: Turandot
Megan Kasanders (Alice Ford)
Soprano Meghan Kasanders has been hailed by Opera News as “a wonderfully promising, rich dramatic soprano.” She begins the 2020-2021 season with a debut at Opera Columbus for Don Giovanni (Donna Anna) followed by a return to Opera Theatre of Saint Louis for Gianni Schicchi (Nella). Last season, she debuted the title role in Anna Bolena with Baltimore Concert Opera and made her European debut in Hänsel und Gretel (Gertrud) with Staatsoper Hannover. Next season, she will debut at Opera Ithaca for Hansel and Gretel (Mother/Witch) and Lubbock Symphony for Beethoven Symphony No. 9 and return to Staastoper Hannover for Hänsel und Gretel (Gertrud), Opera Columbus for Fellow Travelers (Mary Johnson), and Opera Theatre of Saint Louis for The Magic Flute
Ms. Kasanders made her Carnegie Hall debut singing in Bernstein's Songfest with the Juilliard Orchestra under the direction of Marin Alsop and debuted at Opera Saratoga in their critically acclaimed production of The Consul (Magda). She also performed Sibelius’ Luonnotar, Barbara Hannigan conducting, in Alice Tully Hall (NYC) and Don Giovanni (Donna Anna) at The Juilliard School. Ms. Kasanders is a 2019 Grand Finalist in the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions and both the First Prize and Audience Choice Winner in the 2019 Dallas Opera Guild Vocal Competition.
Marcus DeLoach (Ford)
Following his debut at Opera Philadelphia in the East Coast premiere of Jennifer Higdon’s Cold Mountain in 2016, Marcus DeLoach received critical acclaim for his creation of the roles of Senator Joseph McCarthy in Gregory Spears’ Fellow Travelers at Cincinnati Opera, and the Minister in Missy Mazzoli’s Breaking the Waves at Opera Philadelphia. He reprised both roles for their New York premieres at the PROTOTYPE festival in 2017 and 2018, and went on to make his Lyric Opera of Chicago debut as Senator McCarthy in Fellow Travelers in the spring of 2018.
Marcus was hailed as “powerfully convincing” in his Opera Ireland (Dublin) debut as Joseph De Rocher in Dead Man Walking in 2007. And in 2009 he received critical acclaim for his debut at Teatro Comunale di Bolzano (Italy) as Jean in Philippe Boesmans’ Julie. From 2000-2006, as a principal artist of New York City Opera, he sang the roles of Count Almaviva in Le nozze di Figaro, Satyr and Cithéron in Platée, Slim in Of Mice and Men, and many others. He has also appeared with Boston Lyric Opera, Cincinnati Opera, Lyric Opera of Kansas City, Opera Theatre of St. Louis, Seattle Opera, Utah Opera, and many others.
Emilia DiCola (Nannetta)
Raylynmor Debut: Nannetta, August 2021
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
Miss DiCola currently sings at West Parish Church in Andover, MA.
Favorite Opera: Anything written by Verdi or Puccini.
Kara Cornell (Meg Page)
Opera and Musical Theater
New York native Kara Cornell is a versatile performer who is known as "a singer who can balance impeccable production and phrasing with enthusiastic and colorful dramatics." (Berkshire Review for the Arts) Her intuitive acting skills and expressive portrayal of roles has hailed her "accomplished and electrifying" (Opera Insider) with roles ranging from a "totally endearing" Cinderella (St. Petersburg Times) to a "seductive, wounded, damaged and dangerous" Carmen (The Troy Record).
Classic operatic roles that Kara has recently performed include CARMEN (Hubbard Hall Opera Theater NY, Opera Theater of Pittsburgh, Long Island Opera, St. Petersburg Opera FL), "Orfeo" in ORFEO ED EURIDICE (Opera Theater of Pittsburgh, Mosaic-Arts NY), “Sesto” in GIULIO CESARE (Upstate Chamber Opera NY), "3rd Lady" in THE MAGIC FLUTE (Opera Saratoga) and "Rosina" in IL BARBIERE DI SIVIGLIA (Raylynmor Opera NH, St. Petersburg Opera FL, Center City Opera PA, Utah Festival). Contemporary roles performed include "Dinah" in TROUBLE IN TAHITI (Union Avenue Opera MO, Resonance Works | Pittsburgh, Indianapolis Chamber Orchestra), "Minskwoman" in John Dove's FLIGHT (Opera Fayetteville), "Eliza Doolittle" in MY FAIR LADY (Smithtown Center for the Performing Arts NY), "Cinderella" in INTO THE WOODS (St. Petersburg Opera), "Beth" in MERRILY WE ROLL ALONG (Theater Co. at Hubbard Hall), "Jo"/"Alma" in LITTLE WOMEN (Center City Opera/Pittsburgh Opera) and the lead role of "Isabelle Eberhardt" in Missy Mazzoli's SONG FROM THE UPROAR (Opera Ithaca).
Contemporary and American Music
Kara's clear English diction, soulful interpretations, and intuitive rhythmic skills are making her known as a singer who excels in the Contemporary and American music genre. Kara enjoys collaborating with composers and is premiering pieces in American Art Song themed recitals nationally in a tour called "Creative Collaborations". Similarly, she is a frequent artist with The Center for Contemporary Opera in NYC, a professional company with a similar mission.
Kara can be heard on the recording of Nancy Galbraith’s SACRED SONGS AND INTERLUDES. She premiered the role of “Sara” in Kristin Hevner’s electronica opera WEDNESDAY BEFORE LAST with Musaic Concert Series in New York City, and is currently working with composer Evan Mack on some exciting new projects, including his newest operas THE SECRET OF LUCA and ROSCOE. In 2013 Kara portrayed Frank Lloyd Wright's first wife in Daron Hagen's SHINING BROW (which was performed at the famous FALLINGWATER), and recently she sang both the Eastern and Western solos in Karl Jenkin's STABAT MATER, where she was hailed "superb" for her ability to switch vocal styles at the drop of a hat. in 2014 Kara was flown in for a last minute replacement in John Dove's FLIGHT with Opera Fayetteville, where she learned and performed the unfamiliar role of "Minskwoman" in 8 days.
Oratorio and Sacred Music
Kara enjoys performing oratorio and sacred works. She has performed the alto solos in many fully-orchestrated oratorios, including Handel’s MESSIAH, JUDAS MACCABAEUS, SAMSON and UTRECHT TE DEUM, Mendelssohn’s ELIJAH, Honegger’s KING DAVID and Bach’s CHRISTMAS ORATORIO, ST JOHN PASSION, Corigliano's FERN HILL and Karl Jenkin's STABAT MATER. Kara has had the privilege to work most notably with The United States Naval Academy, The Pittsburgh Camerata, Aoede Music Consort, Williamstown Early Music, The Brooklyn Philharmonic, Burnt Hills Oratorio Society, Albany Pro Musica, The Cape Cod Symphony and The Falmouth Chorale.
Education
A graduate of Smithtown High School (New York), Kara earned a bachelors in fine arts, with college and university honors, from CARNEGIE MELLON UNIVERSITY. She earned a masters in music from STONY BROOK UNIVERSITY.
Awards
Kara has won several vocal awards, including “The Phyllis Bryn-Julson Award” through the Civic Morning Musicals Competition, and the 5 Towns Scholarship Competition Award. During college, Kara was awarded the “Award and Scholarship for Vocal Excellence” three years in a row. In 2009 and 2010, Kara received a “strategic opportunity stipend” through the New York Foundation for the Arts for the purpose of opera role study. In March 2010 Kara was a finalist in the Amato Competition in New York City, and was also awarded the Grand Prize in the Mendelssohn Club of Albany vocal competition. In 2011 Kara competed as a finalist in the American Traditions Competition in Savannah, Georgia. In 2014 Kara competed with collaborative pianist Joshua Tanis as a finalist in New York City with both the Joy in Singing and Arts Song Preservation Society.
Alexander Scheuermann (Fenton)
Tenor Alexander Scheuermann grew up surfing the sandy beaches of Merritt Island, Florida. He fell in love with performing while singing and playing guitar in his high school’s production of The Who’s rock opera Tommy, and fell in love with opera while singing in the chorus of Il barbiere di Siviglia as a freshman at Florida State. Alexander has developed a reputation as an innovative and emotional performer, and is a vocal advocate for new and local American opera and performance art.
Alexander’s 2021/22 season includes Fenton in Falstaff with Raylynmor Opera, Polinesso in the world premiere of Jonathan Dawe’s opera Being Ariodante with Columbia University, the cover of Tim Laughlin in Fellow Travelers, at Des Moines Metro Opera. Recent performances include Younger Thompson in Glory Denied, with both Kentucky Opera and Fayetteville Opera, El Remendado in Carmen with Kentucky Opera, and Tybalt in Roméo et Juliette and the cover of Arcadio in Florencia en el Amazonas with Pensacola Opera.
Alexander has been a resident artist with Pensacola Opera and Kentucky Opera. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Florida State University and a master's degree from the University of Houston.
Andrew Potter (Pistola)
Ralynmor Debut: August 27th, Pistola
Hometown: Lynchburg, VA
Recent Performances:
Tulsa Opera - Pastor Avery in Emmeline;
Indianapolis Opera - Il Commendatore in Don Giovanni
Lakes Area Music Festival - Daland in Der Fliegende Holländer
Favorite Opera: Susannah, Carlisle Floyd
http://awpotter.com
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCii2LBRHxB3THZrGk7xl5Rg
Pamela Stevens (Quickly)
Pamela Stevens, mezzo-soprano, first sang with Raylynmor as Tisbe, a mean sister, in Rossini's La Cenerentola. She also sang the role of Propriety in Offenbach's Orpheus in the Underworld, which was the springboard for Raylynmor Opera! Living and teaching in Hancock, NH and at Keene State College, she has been soloist with many regional organizations including Monadnock Music, Keene Chorale, Monadnock Chorus, New Hampshire Symphony, Nashua Symphony, Great Waters Music Festival, Boston's Cantata Singers, Harvard and Smith, Opera North, and in Carnegie Hall singing a premier written specifically with her voice in mind---the composer calling her voice "simply sublime...world class". She has sung beyond New England including the Oregon Bach Festival under the batons of notable conductors Helmuth Rilling, Dennis Russell Davies, Laszlo Heltay, John Harbison, and Robert Cyr. Ms. Stevens has been soloist on concert tours to Spain, Portugal, Greece, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, and South Africa. Graduating from the University of Central Missouri, she continued opera study at New England Conservatory and participated in Master Classes and coaching with Frederica Von Stade, Will Graham, Lindsey Christiansen, Kayo Iwama, Mme Dusi Mura, and Helmuth Rilling. Her repertoire includes extensive performance in oratorio and recital; principal roles in opera include those in Eugen Onegin, Die Zauberflöte, La Cenerentola, and La Traviata.
Colin Campbell (Caius)
American Tenor Colin Campbell, is a native of Medford, Oregon and currently resides in Boston, MA. He is excited to be making his second appearance on the Raylynmor Opera stage with his first appearance as Count Almaviva cover and Chorus in Il barbiere di Siviglia.
This season, Colin returns to the stages with Handel and Haydn Society and Marsh Chapel at Boston University. Under the direction of Harry Chrtistophers, Mr. Campbell will join the chorus of Handel and Haydn Society for Haydn’s Creation with more performances TBD.
Known for his “powerful tenor voice and his scruff,” and “perfect comedic timing,” Mr. Campbell’s recent opera credits include Jaquino in Fidelio, Tito in La clemenza di Tito, Candide in Candide, Alfred in Die Fledermaus, Ferrando in Così fan tutte, and Osric in the world premiere Rosencrantz & Guildenstern Are Dead by Herschel Garfein.
On the concert stage, notable solo performances include Handel’s Messiah, Evangelist in St. John Passion, Puccini’s Messa di Gloria, Saint-Saëns’ Oratorio de Noël, and many Bach cantata’s around the Boston area.
Mr. Campbell has also appeared with grammy-award winning, Boston Modern Orchestra Project, Odyssey Opera, MassOpera, Oregon Bach Festival, and Seagle Music Colony among many others.
Campbell earned a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics and a Bachelor of Arts in Music Instruction from Southern Oregon University, a Master of Music in Vocal Performance and Performance Studies Certificate from Boston Conservatory at Berklee.
For more materials and updates, please visit his website at www.colinthomascampbell.com
José Heredia (Bardolfo)
A 1st Prize Winner of the 2014 NJ Association of Verismo Opera International Vocal Competition, and a finalist/encouragement award winner of the Giulio Gari International Vocal Competition in 2015 and 2017, Dominican tenor José Heredia has thrilled audiences with his voice of "Pavarottian shimmer." Son of a Merengue singer, Heredia grew up surrounded by music. Although he enjoyed all genres, he had a special love for classical music.
Mr. Heredia started singing in a church in New York back in 2006. He attended Nyack College and the Manhattan School of Music, and studied with the tenor Dr. Dana Talley and the mezzo-soprano Mignon Dunn of the Metropolitan Opera. After debuting as "Rodolfo" in Puccini’s La Boheme with the NJ Association of Verismo Opera in 2014, Heredia has sung the roles of "Rodolfo” in Puccini’s La Boheme, "The Duke of Mantua" in Rigoletto, "Don Jose" in Carmen, "Alfredo" in La Taviata , "Riccardo" in Un ballo in maschera, "Nemorino" in L'elisir d'amore, "Marcello" in La Boheme (R. Leoncavallo), "Mario Cavaradossi" in Tosca, "Radames" in Aida, and “Turiddu” in Cavalleria Rusticana.”
Heredia made his Carnegie Hall debut in 2016, performing the song cycle Four Short Stories at the Standard Hotel, Op.6 by Colombian pianist, composer and award winning film director Julian De La Chica.
Heredia toured in Italy, Puerto Rico and South Korea, where he sang in more than 34 successful concerts, some broadcast live on television (NBC Korea). He is a resident artist and soloist of the Brooklyn Philharmonia Chorus, and currently serves as Chief Technology Officer (CTO) of The Opera Collective, LLC. A NYC based opera company that seeks to bring Opera to all audiences in unorthodox spaces throughout NYC. Mr. Heredia will be representing his Native Dominican Republic in the upcoming Festival Lirico del Caribe 2021. Other projects include the 5th Annual Edward M. Murray International Competition of Voice finalists concert, and the role debut of “B.F. Pinkerton” in Puccini’s Madama Butterfly with Opera West in Santa Fe, NM. He lives in New York City, and performs often with his partner, American Soprano Rachel Hippert.
Maria Sensi-Sellner (Conductor)
https://www.mariasensisellner.org
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCM0apXwVYJOzTDuyhIGlY8Q
Joe Turbessi (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/