Bravo! - An Opera Celebration
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Robert McDonald, baritone, recently performed with celebrated actors Sir Derek Jacobi, Richard Clifford (director of three past IOA productions) and Holly Twyford along with renowned countertenor David Daniels in a presentation centering on Shakespeare’s The Tempest presented by the Folger Consort in Washington D.C. Bob has performed in several IOA productions, most recently as Papageno in our 2007 The Magic Flute. He was also Pooh-bah in The Mikado (2006) and the Pirate King in Pirates of Penzance (2005). In Washington, where he resides, he is well known as “The Anthem Singer” for his performances at Washington Capitals hockey games. His day job is as head of the baritone section in the U.S. Army Chorus but he still finds time to perform in musical theatre as well as opera throughout the region. He holds a masters degree in opera directing from Oberlin – a skill he will make good use of as he directs our gala as well as serving as master of ceremonies. |
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Layna Chianakis, mezzo-soprano, last performed with IOA as Maddalena in our 2001Rigoletto. She was also heard as Cherubino in The Marriage of Figaro in 2000. She has performed with Cleveland Opera, Nashville Opera, Des Moines Metro Opera, Sarasota Opera, Virginia Opera, Dayton Opera, Festival Opera, Nevada Opera, Opera Santa Barbara, Madison Opera, Sacramento Opera, Opera San Jose and the Richard Wagner Bayreuth Festival. Her roles have included Carmen in Carmen, Santuzza in Cavalleria Rusticana, Donna Elvira in Don Giovanni, Angelina in La Cenerentola, Sesto in Giulio Cesare and Suzuki in Madama Butterfly. She has toured abroad as an Artistic Ambassador of the United States, giving concerts and master classes. She is currently assistant professor of voice at the San Jose State University School of Music and Dance. |
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John Pickle, tenor, won the hearts of Bozeman opera-goers as well as a healthy round of bravos in his IOA debut last May as Manrico in Il Trovatore. Shortly before he arrived in Bozeman to rehearse, he made his debut in a Wagner opera as Erik in the Mobile Opera’sThe Flying Dutchman. Other recent performances were with Nevada Opera as Don Jose inCarmen, Opera Fort Collins as Cavaradossi in Tosca, and Teatro Grattacielo as Gennoro inI gioielli della Madonna. He is also frequently heard in concert and in oratorios. The New York Times has described his voice as a “liquid tenor,” and the Clevland Plain Dealer said, “Pickle’s tenor is so mellifluous that we are captivated whenever he lets his voice out.” |
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Cynthia Clayton, soprano, starred in the title role in our 2006 production of Manon Lescaut. A favorite of audiences throughout the United States, she has performed leading roles with New York City Opera, Dallas Opera, San Diego Opera, Orlando Opera, Utah Opera, Central City Opera, Arizona Opera, Fort Worth Opera, LyricOpera of Kansas City, Cleveland Opera, Knoxville Opera, Anchorage Opera, Astoria Music Festival, and Opera San José, where she began her professional career as a principal artist in residence. She is also sought after as a concert artist. Her roles with New York City Opera have included the title role of Madama Butterfly, Countess Almaviva in Le nozze di Figaro, and both Mimì and Musetta in La bohème. She is an assistant professor of voice at the Moores School of Music, University of Houston. |
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