The Banshee
by Daniel Daly
July 29th and 31st, 2022
Featuring The Elsewhere Ensemble and student singers and a dancer from the University of Oregon, the opera is the Oregon composer Daniel Daly’s fanciful speculation on the origin of the banshee, a character out of Irish legend. In three short scenes, the opera tells the story of a witch whose quest for power leads her from one depravity to the next, to her transformation into the banshee, and to final understanding.
Don Pasquale
March and April, 2022
Cascadia Chamber Opera presented a concert/semi-staged production of Gaetano Donizetti’s comic opera Don Pasquale in English.
Featured solo artists Zachary Lenox (top left) as Dr. Malatesta, Esteban Zuniga (top right) as Ernesto, Jocelyn Claire Thomas (bottom left) as Norina, and Deac Guidi (center) as Don Pasquale.
The Old Maid and the Thief
July 30th and August 1st, 2021
A fully-staged production in English that tells the comic tale of mistaken identity, gossipy neighbors, love-sickness, and hapless victims where “virtue is mighty but sin has variety”! Greg Hopper-Moore is the director and Vincent Centeno conducts the cast of regional singers including Ann Bronson, ChrisLynn Taylor, Bereniece Jones-Centeno, and Elias Hesse with Paul Brady at the piano.
Catch I Pagliacci June 1st
Be sure to catch this single performance of one of live performance’s most famous operas, I Pagliacci! On Saturday, June 1st at 3:00 pm, at the PAC, Cascadia Chamber Opera will present singers you may already know in Ping & Woof of Portland‘s concert of this beloved play-within-a-play of love, romance, and betrayal, but the show must go on!
The opera I Pagliacci solidified stardom for tenors like Luciano Pavarotti, Mario Lanza, and Enrico Caruso. Never heard of these guys? That’s okay, take a look at this commercial and see if you recognize the famous tune from the opera.
Whether you know this tune or not, join us at the PAC located on the corner of 16th and Franklin in Astoria.
Date: Saturday, June 1
Time: 3:00pm
Tickets: $15
Note: Tickets will be available beginning May 15th through online purchase at Brown Paper Tickets or at the door (credit cards, checks, cash accepted).
Other info:
*Sung in Italian with English supertitles.
*Length of opera is approximately 1 hour and 20 minutes.
Featuring:
Jocelyn Claire Thomas (Nedda), a versatile soprano praised for her haunting sound and musical intelligence, is a frequent performer in opera, concert, and recital. Jocelyn has appeared with Tacoma Opera, Eugene Opera, Opera Bend, Brava Opera Theatre, The Astoria Music Festival, Bravo Northwest, The Bremerton Symphony, Cascadia Chamber Opera, The Bach Cantata Choir, Opera Theater Oregon, Portland Concert Opera, The Beaverton Symphony, Necessity Arts Collective, Ping & Woof Opera, Cult of Orpheus, and Portland Summerfest. Ms. Thomas holds a B.M. from the Oberlin Conservatory, a M.M. from the Peabody Conservatory, and a G.P.D., from the Peabody Conservatory. Jocelyn is based in Portland, Oregon where she maintains a private studio in voice, piano, and flute.
Brennen Guillory (Canio) has become known for his powerful, dramatic voice and thoughtful interpretations of both operatic and concert repertoire. He has performed a number of operatic leads, but it is in the concert hall that he has focused his efforts since becoming a pastor in 2006. Since returning to the Pacific Northwest, Mr Guillory has appeared with companies on both coasts, performing Mahler’s Das Lied von der Erde, Verdi’s Requiem, Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony, and Fidelio, Mendelssohn’s Die Erste Walpurgisnacht as well as concert excerpts ranging from Carmen and La Traviata to Otello and Lohengrin. Last year he performed Das Lied von der Erde at the 31st Mahler Festival in Colorado, and Schubert’s Mass in Ab with the Eugene Concert Choir. This year he sang “Siegmund” in Die Walküre with the English Symphony Orchestra and will reprise the role next year with the Mahler Festival.
Stacey Murdock (Tonio) has performed extensively throughout the Northwest in opera, oratorio, and musical theater. Stacey’s musical credits include: “Poo-Bah” in The Mikado, “Fredrik Egerman” in A Little Night Music, the title role in Man of La Mancha, “Curly” in Oklahoma, and “The Chairman” in The Mystery of Edwin Drood. He sings with Portland Opera, most recently as “Antonio” in Le nozze di Figaro, and has also been a member of the Portland Opera to Go outreach program for 9 seasons. Stacey also appears often with the Astoria Music Festival and Portland Summerfest. Originally from Idaho, Stacey now resides in Beaverton, Oregon with his wonderful wife and three beautiful children.
Scot Crandal (Peppe) has been described by critics as “powerful and passionate.” Past engagements include “Arturo” in Lucia di Lammermoor with Portland Opera, “Ferrando” in Così fan tutte with Ping & Woof Opera, and “Tenor Soloist” in Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9, Mendelssohn’s Elijah, and Handel’s Messiah with Bravo Northwest. Scot is based in Portland, Oregon, and enjoys spending time with his wife, Karen, and their two children, Colin and Kate.
Viewed as “a broad, resonant baritone that is exquisitely controlled throughout his entire range,” Zachary Lenox has performed leading roles across North America. Mr. Lenox has appeared with Portland Opera, Eugene Opera, Tacoma Opera, Opera Parallèle, Opera Bend, Pacific Music Works, Cascadia Chamber Opera, Portland Summerfest, Portland Chamber Orchestra, Portland Concert Opera, Ping & Woof Opera, Eugene Concert Choir, Bravo Northwest, and the Astoria Music Festival. Zachary recently won the Pacific Northwest Sings competition, and is also a past winner of the MONC Idaho/Montana District Auditions. He received his B.M. and M.M. from the Crane School of Music at SUNY Potsdam.
Evan C. Paul (Pianist) is active as a collaborative pianist throughout the Portland area. He has performed with Ping & Woof Opera on a number of programs, including the Mozart’s Così fan tutte, Le nozze di Figaro, and La clemenza di Tito, as well as Händel’s Orlando. He has also worked with Portland Opera, Cascadia Chamber Opera, and Opera Bend. He serves as pianist for the Portland Phoenix Choral Union, the queer youth choir Bridging Voices, and the Portland chapter of Opera On Tap. Evan is also an accomplished composer, having earned his Ph.D. in music composition from the University of Oregon in 2014.
Tango of the White Gardenia (2018)
A GREAT RUN!! Thank you to all our hosts and venues!
In celebration of our 10th season, Cascadia Concert Opera is excited to premiere and commission an original work by Ethan Gans-Morse and libretto by Tiziana DellaRovere. Tango of the White Gardenia, a compelling new chamber opera in English, weaves together humor, emotional depth, and timely messages through the riveting music and dance of Argentine Tango.
At its core, it is a contemporary story told through a new kind of opera that offers fun winks and nods to the commedia dell’arte style of centuries past. But this opera also features urgent themes for today’s audiences, such as how enduring love and staying true to one’s heart are more precious than winning external recognition, how the consequences of parents’ mistakes cast a shadow on their children’s lives, and how bullies are made, not born. Specifically, it reveals how parental abandonment of a child often creates emotional insecurity and a sense of not being worthy of love, and many times the absence of care-giving parents creates a compulsion to compete, seduce, and win worldly recognition at any cost.
All of this drama unfolds against the background of Argentine Tango, which permeates both the musical score and the choreography of the six dancers who mirror each of the singing characters. In this context, the Tango becomes a metaphor for life and a perfect canvas for the expression of intense passion, deep connections, strident conflicts, and powerful reconciliation, all in operatic proportions!
IT WAS A TRIUMPH!
September 8 and 9, 2018
7pm each night – Lincoln City Cultural Center
THANK YOU FLORENCE!
September 14, 2018
7:30pm – Florence Events Center
THANK YOU OperaBend!!
Sunday, September 23, 2018
4pm – Pinckney Center, Bend, Oregon
THANK YOU ASTORIA and North Coast Chorale!!
Saturday, September 29, 2018
4pm – Performing Arts Center, Astoria, Oregon
THANK YOU UO School of Music and Dance!!
Monday, October 1, 2018
7pm – Beall Hall, U of O, Eugene, Oregon
Opera Fest 2016!
A series of scenes, highlights, and favorites featuring our talented cast of local artists.
Cast:
Bernie Robe; Caroline Charl
ton; Brooke Cagno; Zachary Lenox; Sarah Kim; Brennen Guillory; Jocelyn Thomas; Phoebe Gildea; Lois Stark; Evan Mitchell; Rebecca Sacks; Erin Walker.
Accompanists:
Nathalie Fortin and Andrew Pham
Summer/Fall 2015
La Serva Padrona & Don Giovanni
Serpina: Brooke Cagno/Shannon McAleb
Uberto: Sandy Naishtat
Vespone: Roy Lisi
Pianist: Nathalie Fortin/Olga Aynvarg/Andrew Pham
Music Director and Stage Director: Janene Nelson
Production Manager: Lois Stark
Cast:
Don Giovanni: Brennen Guillory
Leoporello: Deac Guidi
Il Commendatore: William Hulings
Donna Anna: Janet Hackett/Rachael Marsh
Don Ottavio: Nicholas Larson/Chuck Gidley/Bernie Robe
Donna Elvira: Coral Walterman/Sarah Kim
Masetto: Tim McCoy
Zerlina: Sarah Benzinger/Amanda Taddeo
Pianist: Nathalie Fortin/Olga Aynvarg/Andrew Pham
Music Director: Vincent Centeno
Chorus: Noah Brenner, Caroline Charlton, Phoebe Gildea, Sarah Kim, Bernie Robe, Lois Stark, Miriam St. Clair, Samantha Volta, Stephen Voorhees, Erin Mikelle Walker
Summer/Fall 2014
The Old Maid and the Thief
Music Director: Bereniece Jones-Centeno
Stage Director: Scott Carroll
Pianist: Nathalie Fortin/Olga Aynvarg
-Cast-
Miss Todd: Alyse Jamieson/Janene Nelson
Laetitia: Brooke Cagno/Sarah Benzinger
Bob: Matt Blumenstein/Philip Engdahl/Tim McCoy
Miss Pinkerton: Katherine Curtis/Phoebe Gildea/Alishia Piper
Fidelio
Music Director: Vincent Centeno
Pianist: Nathalie Fortin
-Cast-
Florestan: Brennen Guillory
Leonore: Janet Hackett
Rocco: Deac Guidi
Jaquino: Nicholas Larson
Marzelline: Jocelyn Thomas
Don Pizarro: Harry Baechtel
Don Fernando: Sandy Naishtat
Summer/Fall 2013
Die Fledermaus
“With the presentation of “Die Fledermaus” (aka “The Revenge of the Bat”) on Friday night at the Shedd, Cascadia Concert Opera took another step toward maturity. The vocalists were uniformly good and up to the demands of Johann Strauss II’s coloratura writing…” -Marilyn Farwell – Register Guard
Music Director: Vincent Centeno
Stage Director: Scott Carroll
Pianist: Nathalie Fortin, Olga Aynvarg
-Cast-
Eisenstein: Harry Baechtel/Nicholas Larson
Rosalinde: Brooke Cagno/Janene Nelson/Coral Walterman
Adele: Brooke Cagno/Chelsea Janzen/Jenn Lippert/Jocelyn Thomas
Alfredo: Brennen Guillory/Nicholas Larson/Bernie Robe
Dr. Falke: Gene Chin
Prince Orlofsky: Alyse Jamieson/Janene Nelson/Rebecca Sacks
Frank: Kevin Helppie/Sandy Naishtat
Blind: Matt Leach/Bernie Robe
Ida: Sarah Benzinger/Colleen Gaskill/Janelle VanPelt
Chorus: Rebecca Alexander, Karen Creighton, Colleen Gaskill, Chris Lamb, Tara Puyat, Bernie Robe, Lois Stark, Calvin Yue
Summer/Fall 2012
The Merry Wives of Windsor
“The Cascadia Concert Opera’s production of “Merry Wives of Windsor” is impressive. As could be expected, the singers have a great range of vocal abilities and experiences…The performance was delightful.” -Marilyn Farwell – Register Guard
Rehearsal Director/Chorus Master: Vincent Centeno
Pianist: Julia Lin, Evan Paul
–Cast-
Sir John Falstaff: Deac Guidi/Kevin Helppie/Sandy Naishtat
Mrs. Ford: Bereniece Jones-Centeno/Coral Walterman
Mrs. Page: Alyse Jamieson/Janene Nelson
Mr. Ford: Deac Guidi/Don Kelley
Mr. Page: Philip Engdahl/Sandy Naishtat
Ann Page: Brooke Cagno/Alison Slade
Fenton: Nicholas Larson
Slender: Bernie Robe/Tom Talaba
Dr. Caius: Stephen Vorhes
Chorus: Colleen Gaskill, Ellen Walton, Emily Hopkins, Jana Barker, Julianne Graper, Karen Creighton, Rebecca Alexander, Tara Puyat, Bernie Robe, Stephen Vorhes, Tom Talaba
Summer 2011
Così fan tutte
“This unique company is composed of seasoned singers who perform for a pittance. They travel to different venues in Oregon to provide free opera in English to people who otherwise could not afford or would not be able to attend an opera. Their high quality labor of love fills an enormous gap in Eugene’s opera scene…. [“Cosi Fan Tutte”] depends more on ensembles than arias, and Cascadia’s ensemble work was commendable. The duets and the famous trio were especially fine….the company is well worth seeing.”
-Marilyn Farwell – Register Guard
Music Director & Pianist: Vincent Centeno
-Cast-
Fiordiligi: Brooke Cagno/Coral Walterman
Dorabella: Janene Nelson/Megan Sand
Ferrando: Nicholas Larson/Karl Marx Reyes
Guglielmo: Philip Engdahl/Sandy Naishtat
Despina: Annie Reser/Sheerya Shivers/Alison Slade
Don Alfonso: Kevin Helppie/Sandy Naishtat
Summer 2010
Tales of Hoffmann
“The latest entry into Eugene’s operatic soup is the Cascadia Concert Opera, a group of talented local musicians, many with professional experience, who present free opera in concert form and in English. Last season they gave 11 performances in different Oregon cities of the challenging Jacques Offenbach opera “The Tales of Hoffmann.” The performance I saw in downtown Eugene’s Atrium buildinig was impressive.”
-Marilyn Farwell – Register Guard
Music Director: Vincent Centeno
-Cast-
Hoffmann: Derek Larson/Nicholas Larson
The Muse/Nicklaus: Janene Nelson/Annie Reser
Lindorf/Coppelius/Dr. Miracle/Dapertutto: Kevin Helppie/Sandy Naishtat
Olympia: Heather Holmquest/Alison Slade
Antonia: Bereniece Jones/Allison Sanders
Giulietta: Jennifer Quinnelly/Marieke Schuurs
Hermann/Luther/Schlemiel/Crespel: Philip Engdahl/Kevin Helppie/Sandy Naishtat
Nathanael/Franz/Pitichinaccio/Spalanzani: Derek Larson/Scott Wagnon
The Voice: Amanda Christensen/Jillian Luger
Chorus: Jana Barker, Colleen Gaskill, Steven Guitierrez, Heather Holmquest, Jillian Luger, Carol Newman, Tom Talaba
Pianist: Lauren Servias, Grace Ho
Rehearsal Director/Chorus Master: Vincent Centeno
Stage Director: Shaffer McGee
Summer 2009
Gianni Schicchi
“Thus emerges a group such as Cascadia, which offers aspiring singers professional-level experience and presents opera in unconventional venues, where the singers just might create new fans of the operatic tradition….Few people outside the music world get to hear opera singers in a small room. The power of their voices can be bone-grippingly intense at close range.”
-Bob Keefer – Register Guard
Musical Director and Rehearsal Pianist: Vincent Centeno
Pianist: Lauren Servias
-Cast-
Gianni Schicchi: Sandy Naishtat
Lauretta: Bereniece Jones
Zita: Janene Nelson
Rinuccio: Nicholas Larson
Nella: Marieke Schuurs
Gherardino: Nicole Forrest
Betto: Philip Engdahl
Simone: Kevin Helppie
Marco: Don Kelley
La Ciesca: Catherine Olson
Doctor Spinelloccio: Webb Parker