Purchase Opera: L’incoronazione di Poppea

Cast:

Thursday, April 10, at 7:00pm

Friday, April 11, at 7:00pm

Saturday, April 12, at 7:00pm

Sunday, April 13 at 1:00pm

Orchestra

Hugh Murphy, Music Director and Conductor

Continuo

• Luce Burrell, theorbo
• Nate Hubbard, theorbo, baroque guitar
• Christa Patton, Italian baroque harp, recorders
• Frida Rahmani, violincello
• Hannah Walker, violincello
• Alexander Kapopoulos, Contrabass
• Elene Tabagari, harpsichord, organ
• Hugh Murphy, organ

Violin 1

• Nicholas Trevits, Concertmaster
• Jade Hattori-Hamilton
• Mekhi Noble
• Nadim Selesnick

Violin 2

• Christina Shari
• Daniel Karpf
• Sarah-Anne Fried
• Elsie Baldwin

Viola

• Emma Musiał
• Everett Borman
• Olive Fretts Howard
• Elisa Mingo

Violincello

• Hannah Walker

Contrabass

• Alexander Kapopoulos

Wind Ensemble

• Stephan Dinkel, trumpet
• Daniel Millevoi, oboe
• Joseph Sdao, oboe
• Justin Schoeneck, trombone
• Christopher Wygonik, trombone

Percussion

• Christian McCarthy

Orchestra Manager

• Drew Sennett

Librarian

• Deanna Santiago

Production Staff

Director’s Foreword

by Jacque Trussel

People often speak of the complexities of early music and its production. At the time of Monteverdi and now, primary among these complexities would be a theater’s ability to support the rigging and flying of the gods, which were often the subject matter of early music operas. In fact, theaters in Venice and other arts centers of the time, built such mechanized theaters precisely for this reason.

Today, bringing a specialist in to rig and fly a single person would effectively annihilate our total production budget. So, to fly or not to fly, was a decision that was made for me. I looked then for a solution which I felt would satisfy the requirements that the “gods” be effectively portrayed without the flying element. I won’t give away my solution but instead will allow it to unfold. We create our own gods, whatever or whomever they may be, that they might move among us, seen or unseen, so that they might function as we wish.

As a professional singer, I had the pleasure of singing the role of Nerone several times in various productions, both here in the United States and in Europe. Frankly, none of these productions encompassed the incredible possibilities I felt were achievable of this magnificent opera, despite the large production budgets allowing for the most lavish visual outcomes, flying gods and all!

People are people and come in various, interesting and fascinating packaging. There are the sensitive, the loving, the evil, the caring, the greedy, the beautiful, the powerful, the sadistic, the – well you get the point. These incredible and multifaceted personalities weave a fascinating web of intriguing relationships and stories in this complex political drama, sometime so far out as not to be believed, but true nonetheless!

Monteverdi and his librettist have crafted a captivating story based on the lives of real people, which is easily missed and even ignored by directors caught up in big budgets allowing for flying gods with all the trimmings.” The Coronation of Poppea” is first and foremost a captivating drama, skillfully set to music. It is a play whose intentions must be clearly and skillfully interpreted, whose relationships must be analyzed and then sculpted in such a way as to bring to life these enormously rich personalities at this most interesting point in history. Once having seen this production one might even ask, is history repeating itself today? After all, it usually does.

Faculty Biographies

Jacque Trussel - Stage Director

Winner of the American Prize in Directing for the Purchase Opera production of Robert Ward’s The Crucible, Jacque Trussel is an internationally renowned tenor and has performed leading roles with opera companies throughout the world, including the Metropolitan Opera, La Scala, l’Opéra de la Bastille in Paris, Bayerische Staatsoper in Munich, Royal Opera House at Covent Garden, San Francisco Opera, Lyric Opera of Chicago, New York City Opera and the Houston Grand Opera. He has appeared in concert with numerous symphonies including the New York Philharmonic, the Boston Symphony, the Philadelphia Orchestra, the Chicago Symphony, the Leipzig Gewandhaus, and the Concertgebouw of Amsterdam. His radio and television broadcasts include performances of Don Jose in Carmen with the Canadian Broadcasting Company, Sky Tel Broadcast seen throughout Europe with Maria Ewing and the Live from Lincoln Center broadcast. His Grammy nominated solo CD, Sounds and Sweet Airs featuring the Janacek Philharmonic was released to great public enthusiasm and rave reviews. Mr. Trussel is also the featured tenor soloist on Le Livre de la Jungle by Charles Koechlin, awarded the prestigious Diapason d’Or for 2000, and Macbeth of Ernst Bloch awarded le Prix de l’Académie of Charles Cros. He also appears on the DVD release of Carmen with Maria Ewing (Image Entertainment). He was named Stage Director of the Year by Classical Singer Magazine and has led the Purchase Opera to numerous National Opera Association awards for Best Opera Production of the Year. In 2009 he co-authored the libretto of the opera Confession, which was written, composed, produced and premiered at Purchase College. Confession was later named Best Chamber Opera of the Year in a worldwide competition sponsored by the NOA.

Hugh Murphy - Music Director, Conductor

Several productions with Purchase Opera have been reviewed favorably by the New York Times and Opera News Magazine, and been named “Best Opera of the Year” by the National Opera Association. Recordings with the Purchase Opera, available at Albany Records: The Tempest (world premiere), Confession (world premiere) and The Crucible, which received the Bacon Memorial Award in the Performance of American Music. His experience spans the repertoire from the earliest operas to the most recent. His responsibilities as a Purchase professor include coaching and teaching courses in German and French Art Song, Operatic Literature and Styles. He has been on the faculty of the Mannes College of Music, a visiting faculty member at the Eastman School of Music, and at the “Si Parla, Si Canta!” Vocal Workshop, in Italy. His professional clients perform with the world’s leading opera companies.

Margaret Vignola - Assistant Director

After 15 years of working in artist development, publicity, marketing and sales for international music industry giants like Capitol, MCA, Geffen, IRS, Motown Records, and the Universal Music Group, Ms. Vignola left a successful career to study Voice and Opera at the Conservatory of Music at Purchase College. During the last two years of her vocal studies she offered her administrative experience to the program’s new director, Jacque Trussel in an effort to assist in creating the core of the current Opera program. For the past 23 years she has served as the Assistant Director of the multi-award-winning Purchase Opera and Assistant to Professor Trussel. In the summer of 2008, she and Professor Trussel collaborated to write the libretto for Raphael Lucas’ Confession. The Opera went on to win National Opera Association’s Best Chamber Production and was recorded by Albany Records.
Ms. Vignola is also a Screenwriting graduate from NYU/Tisch Film and Television Essentials.

Production Team Biographies

Jack Flatley - Production Stage Manager

Jack Flatley is honored to be back working with the Purchase Opera Company. He recently graduated from the Purchase Opera Performance/Vocal Studies Program in Spring 2022. He had the pleasure of not only getting to perform in but also Assistant Stage Manage the 2022 Purchase Opera production of Mozart’s, Le Nozze di Figaro. He was invited back as Production Stage Manager for Purchase’s Fall 2022 production of Massenet’s, Cendrillon and Spring 2023 production of Mozart’s, Die Zauberflüte. He couldn’t be more grateful to be PSM on this incredibly beautiful adaptation of Thomas’, Hamlet.

Christopher Brusberg - Lighting Designer

Christopher Brusberg 

is a lighting designer who focuses on storytelling through the use of style and collaboration. Based out of NYC, Christopher has worked with following companies over the past fifteen years: EMERGE125 (Company Lighting Designer - NYC), Annapolis Opera (Resident Lighting Designer), Opera Lafayette (DC), Tri-Cities Opera, Syracuse Opera, BANDPoteir (DC/NYC), Lyric Stage Company of Boston, Company One (Boston), Speakeasy Company of Boston, Arrow Rock Lyceum, The Cherry Arts Space (Ithaca), New Repertory Theatre, NYU Steinhardt, SUNY Purchase Voice and Opera, Boston Conservatory. Christopher is a proud member of United Scenic Artists Local 829. For upcoming design work, check out his website: www.ctblighting.com.

Tracey Olmoz - Costume Director

Tracey holds a BFA in Musical Theatre from Syracuse University and is a proud member of the Purchase Opera production team. She was the Costume Coordinator for the Admiral Players of Arlington HS (Director Sarah Combs) from 2012 - 2019, costuming small productions as well as musicals with 82+ member ensembles. She directed the costume crew, in which she taught varied elements of costuming; from sewing an emergency whip stitch seam split repair in the wings, to building masquerade masks and perfecting the art of the quick change. She specializes in garment modifications and loves to turn a simple costume into something magical. Some favorites include Aida, Crazy for You, 42nd Street, Hello, Dolly!, Oklahoma!, Sister Act, The Music Man, and West Side Story. Her venture into dressing operas began in August 2021, with specialty builds and alterations for Phoenicia International Festival of the Voice in their production of Pagliacci (Director Maria Todaro). As the Costume Director for Purchase Opera (Director Jacque Trussel), she has designed, built, rented or otherwise procured costumes since their 2021 Fall production of Amahl and the Night Visitors. 2022 included Le Nozze di Figaro and Cendrillon, and 2023 featured Die Zauberflӧte and Hansel & Gretel. She received a nod for costume design for Hamlet in the Division VI NOA 1 st Place Award review and then revisited Amahl to finish out 2024. I am grateful for my boys Nick (MusB Studio Comp ’19) and Zack (MusB Opera ’23) who inspired and encouraged me into this craft, and for John who completely supports me and my unconventional skillset and unforgiving schedule!

Lilian Juliet Skuthan - Hair and Make-up Designer

Lily has 15 years of experience in Make-Up Artistry. She graduated from the New York and LA “Learning Institute Beauty Sciences”. She is currently working in television, advertising, print, stock photography, theater and opera production. She has mastered the technique of airbrush make-up, FX prosthetics and is knowledgeable in all facets of make-up application education. Working with Mrs. Skuthan not only exceeds one’s expectations, but takes the session to a magical level. Her knowledge of face, color, shadow, bone structure, lighting and even one’s own spirit is the tool she uses to bring the most beautiful & unique characters to life!

Cast Biographies

Zora Abaquin (La Vitrù), soprano

Zora is a sophomore in the Conservatory of Music Opera Performance/Vocal Studies program at Purchase College. Zora has performed as a chorus member in Hänsel und Gretel and Amahl and the Night Visitors. She has appeared as Ramiro in La finta giardiniera and as Idamante in Idomeneo in Italian Scenes. Zora is a student of Mrs. Kaori Sato.

Nadia Alalou (Fortuna), soprano

Nadia is a sophomore in the Conservatory of Music Opera Performance/Vocal Studies program at Purchase College. Nadia has been apart of the Choruses in Amahl and the Night Visitors, Hamlet, and Hänsel und Gretel. She has appeared as Countess in Le Nozze di Figaro, as Fiordiligi in Così fan tutte, and Serpette in La Finta Giardiniera in Italian.

Zoe Brooks (Poppea), mezzo-soprano

Zoe is a senior in the opera program at SUNY Purchase. Zoe’s career includes awards in numerous national competitions. Most recently she was named a semifinalist of the Schmidt Vocal Competition, and of the John Alexander Vocal Competition with Opera Mississippi. Zoe’s roles at Purchase include Hänsel in Humperdinck’s Hänsel und Gretel, and the title role of Thomas’s Hamlet. This summer, Zoe will join the Opera Theatre of Saint Louis as a Gerdine Young Artist. Zoe studies with Dr. Sherry Overholt.

Rachel Eaton (La Fortuna), soprano

Rachel is currently a Junior in the Conservatory of Music’s Opera Performance/Vocal Studies Program. Her most notable roles with Purchase Opera include Amahl, in Menotti’s Amahl and the Night Visitors, Sandman in Humperdinck’s Hänsel und Gretel, and her upcoming role of La Fortuna in Monteverdi’s L’incoronazione di Poppea. Rachel has also appeared as ensemble/chorus in Purchase Opera’s Cendrillon (Massenet), Die Zauberflöte (Mozart), and Hamlet (Thomas). Rachel is a student of Kaori Sato.

Amanda Frank (Damigella), soprano

Amanda is a senior in Purchase Conservatory of Music’s Opera Performance/Vocal Studies program. She has previously performed as Gretel in Humperdinck’s Hänsel und Gretel, as Second Lady in Mozart’s Die Zauberflöte, and as an ensemble member in Amahl and the Night Visitors, Cendrillon, and Hamlet. She has performed in Italian and German opera scenes as Valetto in L’Incoronazione di Poppea, and Sesto in Giulio Cesare, Sophie in Die Fledermaus, Pamina in Die Zauberflöte, and Adele in Der Rosenkavalier. Ms. Frank is a student of Kaori Sato

Jeanete González (Amore & Drusilla); soprano

Jeanete is currently a junior in the Conservatory of Music’s Opera Performance/Vocal Studies Program. In Fall 2022 she performed the role as one of the Sprites in the Purchase Opera production of Massenet’s Cendrillon, performed the role os the Dew Fairy in Purchase Opera’s 2023 production of Hänsel und Gretel and performed the lead role of Amahl in Purchase Opera’s 2024 production of Amahl and the Night Visitors. Jeanete participated in the Chaminade Music Club mixed instrument competition 2022 and won third place. She has also attended the Queens Summer Vocal Institute where she has appeared as Nella from Puccini’s Gianni Schicchi. Jeanete is a student of Bonnie Hamilton.

Damian Headley, (Mercury, Solder 1/Liberto), baritone

Damian is a sophomore in the Conservatory of Music Opera Performance/Vocal Studies program. At Purchase College, Damian performed in Hamlet and Poppea. In Italian opera scenes, he appeared as the Count in Le Nozze di Figaro and Podesta in Mozart’s La Finita Giardiniera. He performed opera scenes as Don Pizarro in Fidelio (Jetzt Alter hat es Eile), and Danilo in the Merry Widow. Damian is currently a student of Mr. Jacque Trussel.

James Hernandez (Nerone), tenor

James is a Junior in the Conservatory of Music Opera Performance/Vocal Studies program at Purchase College. He holds an Associate of Science degree in Music from Suffolk County Community College. This is his second year at Purchase College. During this time James has appeared as the Vater in Hänsel und Gretel, Horatio in Hamlet and Melchior in Amahl and the Night Visitors. At Purchase College’s Italian and German opera scenes he appeared as Pizarro (Fidelio), Papageno (Zauberflöte). James is a student of Jacque Trussel.

Desara Leka (Amore/Drusilla), soprano

Desara is a senior in the Conservatory of Music Opera Performance/Vocal Studies program. At Purchase College Desara has performed as Amahl in Amahl and the Night Visitors, the Dew Fairy in Hansel and Gretel, the First Spirit in The Magic Flute and a chorus member in Hamlet. She has appeared as Damigella in L’incoronazione di Poppea, as Orfeo and Amore in Orfeo ed Euridice, and as Marzelline in Fidelio in Italian and German opera scenes. Desara is a student of Mrs. Bonnie Hamilton.

Brigid Mack, (Nerone, Ottavia), mezzo-soprano

Brigid is a senior in the Conservatory of Music’s Opera Performance/Vocal Studies Program. Over the summer she participated in the CLA Berkshires program; Mozart in the Mountains, and covered Guilio Cesare in Guilio Cesare at Chicago summer opera. At Purchase College she has performed as Mother in Amahl and the Night Visitors, Hamlet in Ambroise Thomas’s Hamlet, Hänsel in Humperdinks’s Hänsel und Gretel, Third Lady in Die Zauberflöte, and Le Prince Charmant in Purchase College’s production of Cendrillon. Brigid performed Italian & German scenes in recital as Octavian from Der Rosenkavalier, Der Sandmann in Hänsel und Gretel, Rosina from Il barbiere di Siviglia and Cornelia from Giulio Cesare. Brigid is a student of Ms. Bonnie Hamilton.

Kiera Masci (Virtù/Damigella), soprano

Kiera is a Sophomore in Purchase Conservatory of Music’s Opera Performance Vocal Studies program. She has previously appeared as a chorus member in Amahl and the Night Visitors (Menotti), Hamlet (Thomas), and Hänsel und Gretel (Humperdinck). She has performed in Italian Opera Scenes as Susanna in Le Nozze di Figaro (Mozart). Kiera is currently a student of Kaori Sato.

Jonathan Mildner (Ottone), baritone

Jonathan completed his undergraduate education at Bard College in 2018, and—after several years of gigging, teaching, and performing recitals—obtained his Master’s degree from the Conservatory of Music at Purchase College, State University of New York. Jonathan’s upcoming appearances include a performance of El Oratorio Panhispanico with the MACC Ensemble, Tobias Mill in Garden State Opera’s production of Rossini’s La cambiale di matrimonio, and a production of Peter Shaffer’s Amadeus with Madison Lyric Stage.

Sophia Orrico (Poppea), soprano

Sophia is currently pursuing her Performance Certificate in the Purchase Conservatory of Music’s Opera Program. Roles that Ms. Orrico has performed at her time at Purchase include: Ophelia in Hamlet, Gretel in Hänsel und Gretel, Die Königin der Nacht in Die Zauberflöte, La Fèe in Cendrillon, and Barbarina in Le Nozze di Figaro. She was awarded as a finalist in the Carolyn Bailey Argento Vocal Competition. Ms. Orrico is currently a student of Ms. Bonnie Hamilton.

Theodore Perrington (Ottone & Seneca), bass-baritone

Theodore is a sophomore in the Conservatory of Music Opera Performance/Vocal Studies program at Purchase College. Theodore has performed as Balthasar in Amahl and the Night Visitors and one of the gravediggers in Hamlet. He has appeared performed Italian opera scenes as Figaro in Le Nozze di Figaro and as Don Alfonso in Cosi fan tutte. Theodore is a student of Mr. Jacque Trussel.

Kierra Pizarro (Arnalta), mezzo-soprano

Kierra is currently a sophomore in the Conservatory of Music’s Opera Performance/Vocal Studies program and is simultaneously pursing a bachelor’s degree in Arts Management. She has previously performed as a chorus member in Hänsel und Gretel, and the Page in Amahl and the Night Visitors. She has also performed in Italian Art Scenes as Sandrina in La finta giardiniera and Elettra in Idomeneo. Kierra is a student of Mrs. Bonnie Hamilton.

Brandon Roque (Seneca, Soldier 2), bass-baritone

Brandon is an Alumnus of the Purchase Conservatory of Music. He most recently appeared with Purchase Opera as Sarastro in Die Zaubeflöte. Other appearances include Bartolo in Le Nozze di Fígaro, Simone in Gianni Schicchi. Brandon performed the role of Masetto in Don Giovanni for Purchase Opera and also for Bronx Opera. Other roles include Bernardo in West Side Story, Littore and Mercurio in L’incoronazione di Poppea and Judge Turpin in Sweeney Todd. Brandon is a student of Jacque Trussel.

Caitlin Rossbotham (Pallade), soprano

Caitlin is a graduate student in the Conservatory of Music Opera Performance program. In her undergrad, Caitlin has performed as Miss Jessel in Benjamin Britten’s Turn of the Screw, Laetitia in Gian Carlo Menotti’s The Old Maid and the Thief, and part of the chorus in Lehár’s The Merry Widow and Purcell’s Dido and Anenas. Caitlin is a student of Dr. Sherry Overholt.

Rhys Stermer (Arnalta, Soldier 1/Liberto), tenor

Rhys is a Graduate Student at the SUNY Purchase Conservatory of Music. At Purchase College Rhys has performed in Cendrillon, Amahl and the Night Visitors as Kaspar, Le Nozze di Figaro as Don Curzio, Die Zauberflöte as Tamino and Monostatos, Hänsel und Gretel as Hexe, and in Hamlet as Laërte and Polonius. He has performed various roles in Italian and German opera scenes including Alfredo (La Traviata), Nemorino (L’Elisir d’amore), Rodolpho (La Bohemè), Jaquino and Florestan (Fidelio) and Max (Der Freischütz) in Purchase College’s. Rhys is a student of Jacque Trussel.

Zian Taylor (Nutrice)

Zian is currently a third-year student in the Conservatory of Music at Purchase College Opera Performance/Vocal Studies program and Purchase colleges Arts Management program. Prior to that she spent 3 years studying Vocal Performance and Music Business at the Crane School of Music at SUNY Potsdam. During her time at Purchase, Zian has performed in several productions, most notably her portrayal of “Mutter” in the Purchase Opera’s production of Hänsel und Gretel, directed by Jacque Trussel. Zian has participated in several professional choruses as well, including Albany Pro Música. Zian is currently a student of Kaori Sato

Saige Valentino (Servant), soprano

Saige is a freshman student of the Purchase Conservatory of Music’s Opera Performance/Vocal Studies Program. She is also pursuing a minor in Music with a concentration in Oboe Performance. This coming May, she will be performing in Italian Opera Scenes as Servillia in La clemenza di Tito, Fiordiligi in Così fan tutte, and Serpetta in La finta giardiniera. Saige is a student of Bonnie Hamilton.

Maya Villanueva (Valletto), soprano

Maya is pursuing a double major in Music’s Opera Performance/Vocal Studies and Anthropology. She has previously performed in Giancarlo Menotti’s Amahl and the Night Visitors as the Page, and in Humperdinck’s Hansel und Gretel as a chorus member. She will appear in Italian and German opera scenes as Anino in La Clemenza di Tito, and as Contessa in The Mariage of Figaro. Maya is a student of Kaori Sato.

Aidan White (Mercury/Soldier 2/Littore), baritone

Aidan is a sophomore in Purchase Conservatory of Music’s Opera Performance/Vocal Studies program. Mr. White has participated in the All State Choir for the state of New York, performed in multiple capital region theater projects, and has been a member of the Albany Pro Musica and Vermont Symphony Orchestra Choruses. Mr. White is a student of Jacque Trussel.

Beyoncé Zambrano (Ottavia), soprano

Beyoncé, is a senior in Purchase College Conservatory of Music’s Opera Performance/Vocal Studies Program. Last spring, she covered the role of La Reine and performed in the ensemble in Purchase Opera’s 2024 production of Hamlet. Other engagements include the role of Mutter in the Purchase Opera’s 2023 production of Hänsel und Gretel, Rosalinda (Die Fledermaus) and Leonore (Fidelio) in Purchase Opera’s Italian & German Scenes, and Carmen (Carmen) in QSVI’s Scenes showcase. Beyoncé has also appeared in the ensemble of Lighthouse Opera’s 2022 production of La Traviata. Beyoncé is a student of Dr. Sherry Overholt.

The Conservatory of Music

Play a part in this extraordinary musical community!

For the serious, developing musician, the Conservatory of Music in the School of the Arts at Purchase College offers a distinctive educational experience — an intensive education within the context of a lively supportive community.

Create, integrate, grow, explore, transform

Your artistry will thrive here among other remarkable musicians, all preparing for professional careers while focused on excellence.

Work closely with world-class musicians and educators

Our proximity to New York City makes it possible for you to study with many of the most respected names in music today—and to benefit from their extensive professional experience as performers, composers, and producers. Through private lessons and small-group study, our faculty will guide and mentor you in your career choice. And because the Conservatory of Music limits its enrollment to only 400 students, including undergraduate and graduate candidates, you will receive personal attention and opportunities to perform and hear your music right from the start.

Classical, Jazz, Music and Technology

No matter what program you pursue in the Conservatory of Music, you will be encouraged to play music that spans all genres and to perform in ensembles of all sizes and styles. Let us prepare you to meet the challenges of the music world in the 21st century.