DUC Chamber Music Series: An Evening of Opera Favorites from Winter Opera Saint Louis
Parking: Danforth University Center Parking Garage - or in the "yellow" permit spots after 5:00 PM
PROGRAM TO FEATURE:
Gina Galati, soprano - Ms. Galati has performed numerous principal roles such as Rosina in The Barber of Seville, Musetta and Mimi in La Bohéme, Lucia in Lucia di Lammermoor, Nedda in I Pagliacci, Zerlina in Don Giovanni, Norina in Don Pasquale, Gilda in Rigoletto and many others. She has performed with Opera Medellin in South America, Wichita Grand Opera, Atlantic Coast Opera Festival, Miami Lyric Opera, Naples Opera, Union Avenue Opera, The Southern Illinois Music Festival. Ms. Galati was recently nominated for the best soprano in the Miami Life awards for her role of Norina in Don Pasquale in Miami. She is also the recipient of The Historical Society of St. Louis County’s James O’Flynn Community Service Award for founding New Opera Saint Louis, now called Winter Opera St. Louis, where she serves as General Director.
Jacob Lassetter, baritone - With his powerful voice and commanding stage presence, baritone Jacob Lassetter enjoys an exciting and vibrant career on both the operatic and concert stage. Critics have praised his dignified characterizations, his soaring high range, and his deep, rich tone quality. Earlier in 2017 Mr. Lassetter sang Peter in Hänsel und Gretel with Union Avenue Opera, Elijah and The Creation at the Bassi Brugnatelli Symposium in Italy, Schubert’s Mass in A-Flat at Carnegie Hall, Sharpless in Madama Butterfly with Annapolis Opera, and a solo recital on the Shepley Concert Series at Christ Church Cathedral – Saint Louis.
Benedetta Orsi, mezzo-soprano - Ms. Orsi has received praise from Teresa Berganza as having a perfect voice for bel canto. No stranger to the stages of Carnegie Hall, recent performances include A Masked Ball with Miami Lyric Opera, Cavalleria Rusticana with Opera at Florham, Roberto Devereux, Maria Stuarda and Anna Bolena in England, Il Trovatore and Carmen in Spain. Winner of several International Vocal Competitions, her latest album Christmas Around the World received the Silver Medal at the Global Music Awards as Best Female Artist and Best Album. Ms. Orsi sang the title role in Carmen in Winter Opera’s 10th season.
Zachary Devin, tenor - After receiving degrees in music from Millikin University and the prestigious Rice University he traveled to London where he studied at the famous Royal Academy of Music. The 2017 season has seen Mr. Devin making his debut in several roles, including Gherardo in Gianni Schicchi with Salt Marsh Opera, and Le Remendado in Carmen with Nashville Opera, as well as a return to the role of Don Ottavio in Don Giovanni with The Southern Illinois Music Festival. Other recent roles include Don Ramiro in La Cenerentola, Roudi in Guillaume Tell, Roderigo in Otello, St. Brioche in The Merry Widow, Cassio in Otello, Charlie in Brigadoon!, Tamino in The Magic Flute, Beppe in I Paglacci, and Leonard Meryll in Yeoman of the Guard.
Soprano Karen Kanakis is hailed for her powerful voice and dramatic flair. Performance highlights include Violetta in La Traviata, Alice Ford in Falstaff, Abigaille in Nabucco, and Giorgetta in Il Tabarro. Ms. Kanakis is a featured soloist with symphony organizations performing the Verdi Requiem, Brahms’ Ein Deutches Requiem, Haydn’s Lord Nelson Mass, and Mendelssohn’s Elijah. A frequent performer of modern compositions, she was Ingram in Eric Chasalow’s The Puzzlemaster and can be heard on composer Brooke Joyce’s album “Waves of Stone” (Innova). Ms. Kanakis performs and teaches at the annual Bassi Brugnatelli Symposium just outside of Milan, Italy.
Nancy Mayo, piano, is an adjunct professor of accompanying at Webster University. She has been a prize-winner in solo competitions, including the South Carolina Music Teachers Association, Music Teachers Southern Region Association, the Clara Wells Competition in Pittsburgh, and the Columbia (S.C.) Philharmonic Young Artist Competition. She has worked as a repetiteur at the Columbia (S.C.) Lyric Opera and Hamburgische Staatsoper (Germany), and served as ballet and orchestral pianist at the Staatsoper and Hamburgische Philharmonic. Currently she is a rehearsal and orchestral pianist for Union Avenue Opera, a vocal coach in the Opera Theatre of St. Louis AIT program and music director at Cornerstone Presbyterian Church. She also maintains a private piano studio and performs as an extra with the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra.