Meet the Merolini 2013

The 28 of the 29 incoming Merolini (pictured left, photograph by Scott Grieder) were interviewed by San Francisco Opera Center Director Sheri Greenawald, Merola Opera Board of Directors Chairman Jayne Davis, and President Donna L. Blacker yesterday evening, in the Nourse Theater. This year four of the participants are Canadian and two are Iowan. We learned that bass-baritone John Arnold loves breakfast foods such as eggs, bacon, and toast. Apprentice stage director George Cederquist told a hilarious story about Joan Sutherland in her 1989 performance as Norma in Detroit. He also expressed a fondness for the operas of Orff, especially Der Mond.

Mezzo-soprano Rihab Chaieb was goth in high school and studied mathematics as an undergrad. Tenor Casey Finnigan joked that if there were a musical character on Big Bang Theory, it would be him, as he is a "tremendous nerd." Baritone Joseph Lattanzi gave a good-humored account of his Seattle Opera debut, in which he managed to fall flat on his back as Morales in Carmen. Both Jaqueline Piccolino and Robert Watson have made main stage debuts at San Francisco Opera, Piccolino is Stella in the current run of Les Contes d'Hoffmann and Watson was a nobleman in Lohengrin last fall. Apprentice coach Jeremy Weissmann explained what Vibram FiveFingers shoes are.

Schwabacher Summer Concert
Don Giovanni
Don Giovanni: Alex DeSocio
Donna Elvira: Aviva Fortunata
Leporello: Rhys Lloyd Talbot

Don Carlo
Don Carlo: Pene Pati
Rodrigo: Alex DeSocio

Otello
Otello: Issachah Savage
Desdemona: Aviva Fortunata
Iago: Alex DeSocio
Cassio: Matthew Newlin
Emilia: Zanda Svede
Lodovico: Rhys Lloyd Talbot

L'italiana in Algeri
Isabella: Zanda Svede
Lindoro: Matthew Newlin
Mustafà: Rhys Lloyd Talbot

Lucia di Lammermoor
Edgardo: Pene Pati
Raimondo: Rhys Lloyd Talbot 

L'amico Fritz
Fritz: Pene Pati
Beppe: Zanda Svede

The Rape of Lucretia
Male Chorus: Robert Watson
Female Chorus: Linda Barnett
Collatinus: David Weigel
Junius: Efrain Solis
Tarquinius: Chris Carr
Lucretia: Kate Allen
Bianca: Katie Hannigan
Lucia: Alisa Jordheim

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Le Nozze di Figaro
Count Almaviva: Joseph Lattanzi
Countess Almaviva: Jacqueline Piccolino
Susanna: Maria Valdes
Figaro: John Arnold
Cherubino: Rihab Chaieb
Marcellina: Daryl Freedman
Bartolo: Thomas Richards
Basilio: Casey Finnigan
Don Curzio: Matthew Newlin
Barbarina: Alisa Jordheim
Antonio: Rhys Lloyd Talbot

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This year the Opera Standees Association is sponsoring George Cederquist and Efrain Solis.