OPERA CIRCLE

e-NEWSLETTER

photography by Chris Holley-Starling www.chsphoto.com

Dear Companions,

It is such a wonderful pleasure to write this very first e-letter, opening our new way of togetherness in opera. Welcome to Opera Circle, be it virtual or real!

There is so much I would like to share with you, and the only way to do it would be to post things with time, gradually, step by step, one piece of Opera Circle's history at a time. That history might not have been long, 12 years, but if you measure by the amount of opera programming, that history appears long: 6 operas by Bellini in six consecutive seasons, 7 operas by Mozart, various operas by Verdi, Donizetti, Szymanowski, Purcell, Moniuszko, Leoncavallo, Humperdinck, Halim El-Dabh's world premiere... we are getting close to 30 opera productions that constitute Opera Circle's history thus far.

From its very beginning, Opera Circle's goal has been to offer opera productions of highest artistic and professional standards, accessible to all through low ticket prices and welcoming locations in Cleveland and the area. For 12 years, Opera Circle has been giving preference to local voices over outside singers. In the future issues, Opera Circle will update you on profiles of the singers and artists who worked with the company, their careers, their thoughts and observations...

Let me hope that the Newsletter will be a dialogue: it is open to outside contributors. Please consider taking advantage of having a public voice through Opera Circle's e-Newsletter. Please write to us at operacircle@yahoo.com. We welcome all!

With Best Wishes,
Dorota

Dorota Sobieska, Ph.D.
Executive Director
Opera Circle

A MESSAGE FROM THE BOARD

Opera Circle's Season 2007–2008 Just Ended

June 30, 2008 marked the end of Opera Circle’s 2007/2008 fiscal year. This was our most successful season to date in terms of our total audience as well as our total revenue. Looking back, we see this as a season of rich and varied programming, and we thank you for your contributing to its success.

Opera Circle has finished in the black financially for every one of its 12 years, a record of which we are extremely proud. This is not an easy thing to accomplish, especially in the current economic situation, and it is especially difficult if you are an opera company. We are very pleased with the continuing, and growing, favorable response to our efforts by our many followers.

We concluded our fiscal year with a fund-raiser held at the home of Francis Gross and Jane Sembric on Parkland Drive in Shaker Heights and were delighted with the fact that you responded so eagerly, that it was sold out in only eight days. This was an outstanding event with great music and singing, featuring our own Dorota Sobieska plus other exciting voices, as well as excellent food and drink. We are going to do this again in the near future and expect we will repeat our sell-out experience. Again, we thank you for your wonderful support.

Because we have had a significant increase in contributions, we had to upgrade our process for handling the IRS letters recognizing your donations. Please be assured that if you attended our recent fundraiser, paid patron pricing for any of our performances, or made a donation to Opera Circle, you will soon be receiving a letter from us acknowledging your tax-deductible gift. Your contributions are an important part of Opera Circle, and we are certainly most appreciative of your support.

It is the Board’s objective to expand the reach of the company into the community, to let more folks become aware of the quality of work performed by Opera Circle, and to let Clevelanders know that there are choices available to them when it comes to indulging their love of opera.

Elliott Schultz, Trustee
Opera Circle Board of Trustees

COMING UP...
Major events in the fall 2008

Pygmalion by Jean-Philippe Rameau with J.S. Bach's violin concerto in a minor

• Friday, October 24, 2008 at 8 p.m.
• Saturday, October 25, 2008 at 8 p.m.

Shrine Church of St. Stanislaus
3649 East 65th Street
Cleveland, Ohio 44105

In collaboration with Verlezza Dance: Sabatino Verlezza, Choreographer/Director

Rarely produced in Cleveland, French opera has its own, distinct charm, opening up a different aesthetics: it will sound fresh to us and will help fill a gap in opera offerings in the area. The production will belong to Opera Circle's signature form described as "tapestry." Exploratory and creative approach to the material will result in a new image, yet using a tried-out framework of Opera Circle's Bastien und Bastienne (2007), combining opera with large-scale instrumental introduction and ballet. The featured violinist will be our very own concertmaster Hristo Popov, with Opera Circle's Orchestra under the baton of Jacek Sobieski.

Lucia di Lammermoor by Gaetano Donizetti

• Friday, November 14, 2008 at 7:30 p.m.
• Sunday, November 16, 2008 at 3 p.m.

Bohemian National Hall
4939 Broadway Avenue
Cleveland, Ohio 44127

The production belongs to Opera Circle Classics Series presented in a miniature Opera House from Prague, with glorious voices, full sets, costumes, supertitles, staging, large orchestra, traditional, beautiful... Why not? Presented with Cleveland Women's Orchestra under the baton of Robert Cronquist, the production is underwritten by Northern Ohio Opera League.

There will be Lucia di Lammermoor preview programs, including Dorota Sobieska singing the scene from Lucia "Regnava nel silenzio..." and Rusalka's unforgettable "Song to the Moon" by Dvorak with Cleveland Women's Orchestra: Sunday, October 26 at 3:30 p.m. at Bohemian National Hall.

Watch for more updates...

BUS: As has become our habit, there will be a bus taking those who wish to use it, from Beachwood Place to the opera on Friday night and returning immediately afterwards. You can learn more about this particular event and make early reservations if you would like to by calling Opera Circle at 216 441 2822.

EVENTS RECENT & less-RECENT

OPERA AMERICA CONFERENCE

at National Performing Arts Convention in Denver,
June 10-14, 2008

Dorota Sobieska, Executive Director, was delighted to represent Opera Circle at the entire conference. Jacek Sobieski, Music Director, visited the conference at selected programs. It is a great pleasure to report that Opera Circle garnered attention through its unique programs, particularly the Bellini Series and the world premiere of Thamos, King of Egypt by Halim El-Dabh/W.A. Mozart. These and other events from Opera Circle's history are building blocks in the process of establishing opera identity of Cleveland as distinct from other cities across the country. We are looking forward to further consultations at Opera America.

Likewise, Opera Circle's focus on Szymanowski places the company ahead of the curve. For instance, the keynote speaker Gerard Mortier, the general manager designate of New York City Opera, is planning to produce Szymanowski's King Roger. While reading his entire list of planned premieres, Monier stopped only at King Roger, commenting on the outstanding beauty of Szymanowski's music. Monier's speech juxtaposed the value of high-definition opera transmission with human presence, warning that this new technological development must be approached with caution.

Another interesting context for Opera Circle's vision of opera was provided by Houston Grand Opera. In its most recent season, HGO conducted a large-scale community project Song of Houston: The Refuge, taking it center-stage, so as to connect better to the actual community of Houston, people of many backgrounds. Opera Circle's efforts to connect to the community find validation in the main stage programs of a major opera house. Nota bene, Anthony Freud, General Director of Houston Grand Opera, has just become the Board President of Opera America.

Good news! We'll keep you posted. If you have any other questions regarding the conference, please feel free to contact Dorota Sobieska at operacircle@yahoo.com.

MEET-THE-ARTIST: An Evening with Piotr Beczala

May 31, 2008

Opera Circle was proud to host an evening with the outstanding tenor Piotr Beczala at Polish-American Cultural Center. His kind and informative manner of answering the questions must simply be an extension of his friendly stage presence. Having performed major roles in major opera houses, Piotr Beczala maintains an approachable aura inviting all to communicate with him. In the interview, he stressed that singing is not reserved only for the chosen: everyone has a voice and can use it, if not for solo then for choral singing or other opportunities. His own path to mastering voice has been a challenging one, and he encouraged others not to give up in their pursuits.

Piotr Beczala repeated the same philosophy at his one-hour radio program on WCPN with Dorota and Jacek Sobieski, hosted by Eugenia Stolarczyk, on June 1, 2008.

Expanding on his views and specifically addressing his path to creating the character of Prince in Dvorak's Rusalka, Piotr Beczala more thoroughly expressed himself in the interview conducted by Donald Rosenberg for The Plain Dealer. The interview focused on his performance of the opera with the Cleveland Orchestra on June 5 and 7 at Severance Hall, and then in Salzburg in August 2008. Dorota had the pleasure of arranging for the interview and assisting in linguistic matters, when needed, during the interview. Opera Circle continues to present recordings of Piotr Beczala on the Eugenia Stolarczyk WCPN Program, 90.3 FM, Sunday nights at 9 p.m.

Good luck Piotr and Best Wishes to you in all your endeavors!

BENEFIT

May 28, 2008

Many words of warmest gratitude go to all who organized Opera Circle's Benefit, hosted and sponsored by great opera patrons Dr. Francis Gross and Dr. Jane Sembric Gross at their wonderful residence in Shaker Heights.

Thank You!

Opera Circle wants to thank:

• Elliott Schultz, Trustee and Coordinator
• Karen Zoltowicz, Trustee
• Northern Ohio Opera League
• And All Who Attended!

What a glorious evening!

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Our programs are made possible by

• The George Gund Foundation
• Northern Ohio Opera League
• Polish-American Cultural Center
• Cleveland Society of Poles
• Alvah Stone & Adele Corning Chisholm Memorial Fund of the C.F.
• Leonard Krieger Fund of the C.F.

and many other generous sponsors.

Thank you!