A small company with big ambitions, Livermore Valley Opera is planning what Artistic Director Erie Mills calls “a season of firsts.” After last year’s celebration of LVO’s 25th anniversary with the company’s first Wagner — The Flying Dutchman — Mills now is preparing productions new to Livermore: Donizetti’s Don Pasquale (Sept. 30–Oct. 8), Verdi’s A Masked Ball (March 10–18), and something doubly new:
“It’s the first time we’ve performed in the Bankhead Theater an opera composed by a contemporary American composer,” says Mills. “Jake Heggie composed Three Decembers in 2008, so our performances will celebrate the 10th anniversary of the premiere.” (April 28–29, 2018)
The Heggie premiere will be made even more special by the Livermore debut of a world–famous singer, mezzo Frederica von Stade, who created the role of Madeline Mitchell in the opera.
“LVO has a wonderful opportunity to perform this opera with Ms. von Stade,” says Mills. “The story is about family and relationships, and it is in English. Due to the opera’s adult theme and language, it is not appropriate for children.”
Mills knows Flicka from appearing in same productions with her in Santa Fe and Ottawa. “I’ve know her since the ’80s. I heard her sing the opera in Honolulu in March, and I asked her if she’s be interested in singing it for LVO. She said yes, so we’ve added two performances of this third opera to the season.”
For Don Pasquale, Peter Strummer makes his LVO debut in the title role. Returning to LVO are soprano Erin Sanzero as Norina and Pleasanton native Marco Stefani as Ernesto. Former Merola member Alex De Socio makes his debut as Dr. Malestesta.
Mills calls A Masked Ball “a gorgeous opera by Verdi that isn’t performed very often.” (San Francisco Opera is an exception to that, with a dozen productions over the years.) Two LVO regulars, Christopher Bengochea and Eugene Brancoveanu, will sing Riccardo and Renato, respectively. Current Adler Fellow Sarah Cambidge will make her LVO debut as Amelia; Molly Hill is Ulrica.
All three operas are conducted by LVO Music Director Alexander Katsman. The 2002 David Gately production of Don Pasquale — a classic spaghetti Western, complete with gun toting cowboys, saloon gals, bubble baths, and a mariachi band — is staged in Livermore by Rob Herriot. Daniel Helfgot is stage director for A Masked Ball. Karen Tiller, who staged the Hawaii Opera Theater production, will also direct Livermore’s Three Decembers.
