Cast

Konstanze: Eileen Mackintosh (August 16, 18, 24, Sept 15), Jamilla Sockwell (August 17, 23, 25)

Belmonte: Wayne Hobbs (August 16, 18, 24), Scott Ingham (August 17, 23, 25, Sept 15)

Pasha: Wayne Hobbs (August 17, 23, 25), Scott Ingham (August 16, 18, 24)

Blonde: Brooke Schooley (August 17, 23, 25), Fotina Naumenko (August 16, 18, 24)

Pedrillo: Jared Goldstein (August 16, 18, 24, Sept 15), Steven Nanni (August 17, 23, 25)

Osmin: Jay Carr (August 16, 18, 24), Gennady Vysotsky (August 17, 23, 25, Sept 15)

There will be one 10 minute intermission

Please be sure to turn off or silence all cellular devices for the duration of the performance.

Synopsis of the opera

The German libretto is by Christoph Friedrich Bretzner with adaptations by Gottlieb Stephanie. The plot concerns the attempt of the hero Belmonte, assisted by his servant Pedrillo, to rescue his beloved Konstanze from the seraglio of the Pasha Selim.

Part 1 - The Spanish nobleman, Belmonte, arrives in Turkey in search of his beloved Konstanze who was carried off by pirates. Outside Pasha Selim's palace, where he believes she, along with her maid Blonde and his servant Pedrillo are being held captive, he meets Osmin, the overseer of the Pasha's harem. Osmin succeeds in chasing Belmonte away only for him to return soon after to find Pedrillo. At their happy reunion he is delighted to hear that Konstanze has remained true to him despite the Pasha's persuasive powers.

Later that day the Pasha arrives and again assures Konstanze of his affection for her and that he is determined to win her love. Her faithfulness to her true love only makes his love for her stronger.

Meanwhile Pedrillo has arranged for Belmonte to work for the Pasha inside the palace, but Osmin attempts to keep them from entering the palace garden. He is jealous of the favoritism the Pasha shows to the Spaniards. Osmin has his eye on Blonde and aggressively woos her to no avail. He is no match for the saucy maid.

Meanwhile Konstanze sings of her sadness. When the Pasha again entreats her to love him she protests that she will always honor him, but never love him. The Pasha is angered and threatens torture to which she defiantly replies that she will die rather than be untrue to Belmonte.

Part 2 - Pedrillo informs Blonde of Belmonte's arrival and their plans for escape. Osmin is to be drugged with wine and at midnight he and Belmonte will abduct the women and escape on a ship that Belmonte has secured. The four lovers rejoice over their anticipated escape. Pedrillo takes care of Osmin by convincing him that the Mohammedan doctrine of abstinence is a serious mistake. Soon Osmin is in a drunken stupor. Pedrillo and Belmonte signal the women with a serenade which unfortunately awakens the sleeping Osmin. Capturing the lovers, Osmin gloats about how he will delight in seeing them strangled. Awakened by the commotion, the Pasha enters and upon hearing that Belmonte's name is Lostados, and the son of his worst enemy, he promises to punish them in the same way that Belmonte's father would punish them.

Konstanze and Belmonte, realize they are facing sure death and vow their love for each other even in the face of death. When the Pasha returns, he surprises everyone by saying that his hatred for his enemy Lostados will not allow him to behave like him so they are free to return to their native Spain. The couples thank their benefactor in a final farewell and leave the Palace while Osmin rushes off fuming in frustration as the chorus sings the praises of the Pasha's clemency.

cast and production team

Kathleen Beckmann (Conductor) music director for Northern Dutchess Symphony Orchestra, was recently chosen as “Individual Artist for 2013” by Arts Mid Hudson. She was also selected for the National Orchestra Conducting Seminar with David Becker and for the London Conducting Workshop under John Farrer and Neil Thomson. In addition to her music director responsibilities with NDSO, Kathleen has been on the podium for European orchestras in Romania, Ukraine, and Bulgaria.

The career of Carol Castel (DVO General Manager, Artistic Director, Stage Director) has taken her through the theater world from musical theater to opera; from actress and singer to singing actress; from arts administrator to opera stage director. Her directing career has included over 55 opera productions in the U.S., Canada and Europe. In addition to a studio of private voice students, Ms. Castel coaches and teaches classes in acting, artistry and performance practices for the classical singer. She is currently General Manager and Artistic Director of the Delaware Valley Opera Company, on the faculty of Opera NUOVA in Edmonton, Canada and is founder of the New York Opera Studio.

Bass Baritone Jay Carr (Osmin) graduated from Mississippi College with a Bachelor of Music in Voice and later a Masters degree from Brooklyn College. He has sung the roles of Sarastro in Die Zauberflote, Jud Fry in Oklahoma, St. Peter in Too Many Sopranos, to name a few. He made his Lincoln Center debut as the Bass Soloist in John Rutter's Mass of the Children. Last year he sang the role of Osmin in concert with the DVO and North Dutchess County Symphony Orchestra.

Jared Goldstein (Pedrillo) is excited to be making his professional debut here at the Delaware Valley Opera. His previous roles include Dr. Cajus in Verdi's Falstaff, Little Old Man Arithmetic in Ravel's L'enfant et les Sortillege, and Pastore II in Montiverdi's L'Orfeo. Jared is currently working on his Master's Degree in Voice Performance at the Conservatory of Music at Brooklyn College.

George Hemcher (Pianist), a native of Frazer, PA has worked closely with Nico Castel and Carol Castel at Delaware Valley Opera and New York Opera Studio. In 2012 at DVO, George was a repetiteur for Verdi's Otello, conducted Kiss Me, Kate by Cole Porter, and sang the role of Sparlich in Nicolai's Die Lustigen Weiber von Windsor. Mr. Hemcher has written piano transcriptions of operas for Thomas Muraco's Opera Repertory Ensemble for performances at Manhattan School of Music. Mr. Hemcher holds an undergraduate degree in Music Merchandising from Hofstra University, and a Masters in Music Piano Accompanying degree at Manhattan School of Music.

International tenor Wayne Hobbs (Belmonte & Pasha) has sung with opera companies in the United States, Canada, Italy, Germany and England including the Metropolitan Opera, Royal Opera, Covent Garden, La Scala, Nationaltheater Mannheim, New York City Opera, Phantom of the Opera Broadway Company, Opera McGill and Asheville Lyric Opera. He has sung concerts with the Montreal Symphony, Boston Symphony, Boston Pops, Nationaltheater Mannheim Orchestra, New York Chamber Soloists, Vermont Symphony and the Spartanburg Philharmonic Orchestra. Wayne currently lives in Spartanburg, SC where he is pursuing an advanced degree in Vocal Performance at Converse College. This season marks Wayne's debut season with the DVO.

Tenor Scott Ingham (Belmonte & Pasha) is a recent graduate of Manhattan School of Music, where he received his Master’s degree in vocal performance. His previous opera credits include Die zauberflote (Tamino), Carmen (Don Jose), as well as the title roles in Don Carlo, Faust, and Ernani. Upcoming events include La Traviata (Alfredo), Romeo e Juliette (Romeo), Tosca (Cavadradossi), and Un Ballo un Maschera (Riccardo).

Amanda Leonard (Stage Manager and Project Manager) has been with the Castel's New York Opera Studio since 2004. She has also worked backstage at the Delaware Valley Opera in multiple capacities, including stage manager. Ms. Leonard is a graduate of Vassar College with a degree in history (art history minor) and recently earned her MBA with honors from Boston University, concentrating in Nonprofit Management and Organizational Development

An accomplished baritone, Wayne Line (Assitant Stage Director) has sung in China, Bulgaria, The Czech Republic, Germany, Austria, the United States and Canada. He performed with the DVO in 2011 as the Father in Hansel and Gretel and in last season's production of Merry Wives of Windsor as Falstaff. This season he will again lend his beautiful baritone voice and rare acting ability to the DVO as Germont in Verdi's La Traviata in October. Wayne brings his vast knowledge and experience of opera and stage and made his DVO debut as stage director for Mozart's The Impresario earlier this summer.

Soprano Eileen Mackintosh (Konstanze) is a lifelong multi-faceted musician, singer, teacher, and conductor. Recent performances include the roles of Abigaille (Nabucco), Fiordiligi (Cosi fan tutte), Lady Macbeth (Macbeth), Aida (Aida), and Hanna Glawari (Merry Widow). She made her debut in Weill Recital Hall as a finalist in the Nico Castel International Master Singer Competition. She maintains a full-time private voice studio, and is a frequent guest conductor for regional choral music festivals. She earned her M.M. from the University of Connecticut and B.M. in Music Education from SUNY Fredonia.

Russian-American soprano Fotina Naumenko (Blonde) is an active performer of a wide variety of genres, including opera, musical theater, art song and chamber music. She has performed in festivals and competitions around the country, with repertoire ranging from early music to contemporary works. In addition to performing, Fotina is passionate about arts education and teaches in her current home city of Cincinnati, Ohio.

Soprano Brooke Schooley (Blonde) has been noted for "her florid runs and wonderful acting" as well as her "marvelous, soaring voice." She sang the Queen of the Night (Die Zauberflote) with Hubbard Hall Opera Theatre in 2012 and was hailed as "the ringer of the evening" with her "fierce acting intensity" that "dominated the stage." Brooke has recently sung Adina (L'Elisir d'Amore) and Gretel (Hansel and Gretel) with Delaware Valley Opera. Her extensive repertoire includes La Fée (Cendrillon), The Queen of the Night (Die Zauberflote), Madame Herz (Der Schauspieldirektor), Frasquita (Carmen), Susanna (The Marriage of Figaro) and Mabel (The Pirates of Penzance) . In 2010, Brooke premiered the role of Miss L'Amour with Empire Opera in Waundell Saavedra's The Great Supper. Brooke coaches with the Martina Arroyo Foundation for role preparation and is a voice student of Carol Castel.

Jamila Sockwell (Konstanze) is a Dramatic Coloratura Soprano that hails from Brooklyn, NY and is excited to make her debut with the Delaware Valley Opera. Ms. Sockwell was a featured soloist at the grand opening ceremony of the new 7 World Trade Center in New York City. Her operatic repertoire includes Roselinde (Die Fledermaus), Donna Elvira & Donna Anna (Don Giovanni), Violetta Valery (La Traviata), Alice Ford (Falstaff) and Queen of the Night (Magic Flute). In 2012, Ms. Sockwell was a finalist in the New Tang Dynasty International Vocal Competition and was awarded Honorable Mention. She presently studies voice with Mr. David Jones.

A native of Odessa, Ukraine, Violetta Zabbi (Assistant Conductor) is an accomplished pianist, conductor and coach. Dr. Zabbi is currently on the faculties of Adelphi University and Brooklyn College. She is music director and conductor with Vocal Production NYC, New York Opera Studio, Delaware Valley Opera and the NYOS Opera Advantage Summer Program. In addition to her piano work, she also coaches Russian diction for singers and other coaches. For the past two seasons she has performed with DCINY International at Carnegie Hall and Every Fisher Hall.