"Farewell past, happy dreams of days gone by. The roses in my cheeks already are faded"
La Traviata
Characters:
Cast A: March 30, April 7 & 12
Cast B: Apr 5, 14 & 20
| Violetta Valéry, a courtesan: | Felicia Lundie  (Cast A) | Aleena Pedersen  (Cast B) | Soprano |
| Alfredo Germont, Violetta's lover: | David Sauer  | Tenor | |
| Giorgio Germont, Alfredo's father: | Daniel Tuutau  | Baritone | |
| Gastone, Visconte di Letorières: | Keanu Aiono-Netzler  | Tenor | |
| Flora Bervoix, Violetta's friend: | Emily Anderson Mijarez  (Cast A) | Kahli Dalbow  (Cast B) | Mezzo-Soprano |
| Marchese D'Obigny: | Andrew Anderson  (Cast A) | Jesse Toftum (Cast B) | Bass |
| Barone Douphol, Alfredo's rival: | Nelson LeDuc  | Baritone | |
| Dottor Grenvil, a physician: | William Goeglein  | Bass | |
| Annina, Violetta's maid: | Alyssa Powers  | Soprano | |
| Giuseppe, Violetta's servant: | Joshua Jensen  | Tenor | |
| Ladies and Gentlemen: | Deborah Siddoway  , |
Sarah Seamons  , |
Chorus |
Sonja Jensen  , |
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Jamie Forchic  , |
Lynnette Owens  |
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Levi Frakes  |
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| Choreographer: | Alexandria Sorenson  | ||
| Ballet Dancers: | Faith Hortin,  , |
Christian Tippitts, | |
Victoria White  | |||
| Stage Manager: | Sydney Andrascik  | ||
| Stage Hand: | Elise Harle | Jason Leavitt |
Synopsis:
The action takes place in Paris around 1840.
Act 1, A salon in Violetta Valéry's house: Violetta Valéry, a beautiful Parisian courtesan, is ill. Tuberculosis is consuming her body. She feels better though and throws a celebration party. Among the party goers is a new guest, Alfredo Germont, who has long adored Violetta from afar and has sought a way to meet her. The two propose a toast. As the guests retire to an adjacent room, Violetta is struck with a fit of coughing and remains behind. Alfredo stays with her and declares his love. Violetta is intrigued and throws a flower to Alfredo asking him to return when it has withered. Full of hope, Alfredo leaves. Violetta contemplates that perhaps she could experience the joy of loving and being loved in return, but she resolves she must continue on her present pathway.
Act 2, scene 1, A country house near Paris: Three months later, Violetta is enjoying life and love with Alfredo in the country. She's been secretly selling her possessions to finance their country dwelling. Alfredo discovers this and rushes to Paris to make amends. Alfredo's father, Giorgio Germont, arrives and demands that she separate from his son as their relationship threatens his daughter's impending marriage. He asks Violetta to sacrifice her relationship with Alfredo saying that it cannot possibly survive in their society. Violetta sees there is no forgiveness for her past life and yields to Germont's insistent pleas. She promises to end the relationship but entreats him, when she is dead, to reveal the truth to Alfredo. She accepts an invitation to a ball, writes a goodbye letter to Alfredo and flees to Paris. Alfredo returns and reads the letter. His father appears to console him, but Alfredo's jealousy can't be assuaged. He seeks revenge for Violetta's apparent betrayal and goes to the ball as well.
Act 2 scene 2, a masked ball at Flora's house: Guests arrive, and the festivities begin. Alfredo arrives and wins at the gaming table. Violetta arrives with the Baron and tells Alfredo she loves the Baron. Alfredo calls the guests to him and, in their presence, hurls his winnings at Violetta declaring he has repaid her. Germont unexpectedly enters and condemns his son's behavior. The Baron challenges Alfredo to a duel.
Act 3, Violetta's bedroom: Violetta lies dying. A letter arrives from Giorgio Germont, telling her that Alfredo, having been informed by his father of her sacrifice, is returning to ask his beloved's forgiveness. But Alfredo has not appeared, and Violetta sees but a shadow of her former beauty in the mirror. She bids the past farewell. Alfredo arrives and the two joyfully reunite. Germont arrives to offer comfort as well. Suddenly all of Violetta's pains disappear. She feels reborn with a new strength reviving her. But that, too, passes, and she collapses dead.
Detailed Singer Info:
Violetta (Cast A) in La Traviata
Felicia Lundie a lyric soprano from Farmington, New Mexico, holds degrees from Northern Arizona University (BM), and the University of Utah (MM). She has had a passion for singing from the early age of 6. Felicia has performed with the Utah Opera, Utah Opera Chorus, University of Utah's Lyric Opera Ensemble , West Jordan Symphony, as well as Lyrical Opera Theater. She has also performed internationally in Italy. She is an active recitalist and loves to perform in many venues. Her most recent roles include Alice in Falstaff, Madame Butterfly in Madama Butterfly, Suor Angelica in Suor Angelia, Beth in Little Women, The Mother in Amahl and the Night Visitors, Dido in Dido and Aeneas, and scenes from La Boheme (Mimi) and Cosi fan Tutte (Fiordiligi). Felicia is eternally grateful for the early and constant support of her Mom, Dad and two sisters. She and her (incredibly patient) husband Steve live in West Jordan and are proud parents of their daughter, Elise.
Violetta (Cast B) in La Traviata
Aleena Pedersen, Coloratura Soprano: Aleena is excited to be back on the stage with Lyrical Opera Theater performing the dream role, of Violetta. Aleena has worked the past three years with the A.R.T.S. outreach program as Little Red, in the opera Little Red Riding Hood performing in elementary schools around Utah. She also has enjoyed soloing and performing with Witness Music in their productions of Lamb of God as well as Handle's Messiah (Soprano Soloist). Other productions she's performed in are Carmen (Frasqita), La Boheme, Into the Woods, Fame, and Seven Brides for Seven Brothers. Her favorite performing memories include her solo concert, produced to raise money for mothers and children in South Africa, as well as singing with Witness Music in the men and women's units at the Utah State Prison. Aleena's greatest joy is being mother of seven alongside her best friend and soul mate Trond, and thanks them for their patients, and endless support.
Alfredo Germont in La Traviata
David Sauer, Full Lyric Tenor: David Sauer has drawn praise from the New York Times, Opera News, and Salt Lake Tribune, among others. He recently performed with The Miami Music Festival (Ruggero, La Rondine), The American West Symphony (Beethoven 9th, Verdi Requiem), Chamber Orchestra Ogden (Beethoven 9th), and in the title role in the world-premier of Neely Bruce's oratorio Circular 14: The Apotheosis of Aristides at the Salt Lake Tabernacle. He has regularly sung with The Montefeltro Festival in Italy (Rodolfo in La Boheme, Alfredo in La traviata, and Ruggero in La Rondine). He was a Rocky Mountain Region finalist and Utah District winner in the 2014 Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions.
Germont in La Traviata
Daniel Tuutau, Baritone, is originally from Los Angeles, California. He holds BA & MM degrees in music from the University of California, Santa Barbara and a Doctorate of Musical Arts from the University of Utah in Vocal Performance. He frequently sings with the Lyrical Opera Theater in Midvale, Utah, and is currently a regular member of the Utah Opera Chorus. He has worked as an adjunct professor in voice at the University of Utah in the Theater Department and also teaches private studio voice lessons throughout the Salt Lake Valley. He lives in Salt Lake City with his wife, Brandy, and their four children.
Gastone in La Traviata
Keanu Aiono-Netzler, Full Lyric Tenor, comes from Salt Lake City. He performs with the Utah Opera Chorus and had his professional and house debut as Tashtego in Heggie's Moby Dick. Past roles include Jacob Marley in A Christmas Carol, Gastone in La Traviata, The Chaplain in Dialogues of the Carmelites, and Il Gran Sacerdote in Idomeneo. His next performance will be with Chicago Summer Opera performing as Monostatos in The Magic Flute. Keanu is currently pursuing his Bachelor's Degree at the University of Utah where he also sings with the on-campus pop-acapella group Infrared and has won "Best Vocal Percussionist" at ICCA.
Flora (Cast A) in La Traviata
Emily Anderson Mijarez, mezzo soprano, is excited to be joining Lyrical Opera in La Traviata. She has spent most of her musical career on the musical theater stage. She has performed at The Hale Theater Orem in South Pacific and Guys and Dolls, as well as in many local community productions. Her favorite roles to date are Lucy in Jekyll and Hyde and Ms. Hannigan in Annie. Emily is extremely grateful to her family and her supportive husband who encourage her daily to pursue her dreams. She is also very grateful to Lynnette Owens who continues to push her outside her comfort zone.
Flora (Cast B) in La Traviata
Kahli Dalbow is a lyric coloratura soprano and native of Pittsburgh, PA. She made her operatic debut in the role of The First Spirit in the Pittsburgh Opera's production of Mozart's The Magic Flute at the age of fifteen. Ms. Dalbow received her BFA in Vocal Performance from Carnegie Mellon University, and recently completed her MM in Vocal Performance from the University of Utah.
Kahli has delighted audiences all over the world with her silvery soprano voice. Most recently, she was seen in the role of Mabel in The Pirates of Penzance in her hometown of Salt Lake City. Ms. Dalbow has also participated in the Miami Music Festival, the Utah Vocal Arts Academy, IVAI Puerto Rico, and Oberlin in Italy programs. She is very excited to be a part of the Utah Lyrical Opera Theater's production of La Traviata. Prior to her singing career, Kahli was a competitive figure skater until the age of 18. She trained every day with Olympic gold medalist, Elena Valova. Ms. Dalbow credits her figure skating background with her strong work ethic and determination in her singing. When she is not singing or on the ice, Kahli can be found cooking, hiking, or spending time with her husband, Spencer.
Marchese D'Obigny (Cast A) in La Traviata
Andrew Anderson was born and raised in Wellington, Colorado, where his mother, Linda was the music direcor for 33 years at Wellington Jr. High School as well as being the timpanist of the Fort Collins Symphony Orchestra for 27 years. This gave him a deep love for Classical Music. Despite a long history in Musical Theater performing Fredrick, in Pirates of Penzance, Horace Vandergelder in Hello Dolly, and Lazar Wolf in The Fiddler on the Roof, this is Andrew's first time performing in an Opera, and his first performance with Lyrical Opera Theater. He is deeply honored and proud to be making his debut in La Traviata as "The Marquis D'Obigny."
Baron in La Traviata
Nelson LeDuc has never been a stranger to music. He played clarinet in elementary school, bass guitar in a rock band in the late 1970s, and since 1988 has been a regular singer with Utah Opera Company. Besides singing a number of cameo roles with the opera company, Nelson has also been a featured soloist in the Mozart Requiem, Handel's Messiah, and with Utopia Early Music. He sang the title role in Gilbert & Sullivan's The Mikado with Pages Lane Theater (predecessor to Centerpoint Legacy Theater) in 1991. More recently, he has performed the role of Simone in Puccini's Gianni Schicchi with Utah/Idaho Performing Arts Company in 2015, and has sung the roles of Lord Mountararat in Iolanthe (2011) and Dr. Tannhauser in The Grand Duke (2017), both Gilbert & Sullivan operettas presented by Holladay Performing Arts.
Nelson is currently pursuing a degree in music composition from the University of Utah.
Dr. Grenvil in La Traviata
William Goeglein, Bass Baritone, studied in the east where he sang with the Philadelphia Lyric Opera, Bronx opera and Savoy Opera Company. William sang with Utah Opera Company for 16 years totaling 27 roles with that organization. Of his 35 operatic roles include Colline in La Bohème, Raimondo in Lucia di Lammermoor, Bartolo in Il Barbiere di Siviglia, Mustafà in L'italiana in Algeri, Alfonso in Cosi fan tutte and Leporello in Don Giovanni. His favorite pastime is fishing on his pontoon boat at Strawberry Reservoir.
Annina (Cast A) in La Traviata
Alyssa Powers caught the performing bug at age 10 and has been singing ever since. She has performed for community and professional theaters in her home state of CA, and in Utah where she now resides with her husband and 3 children. She has sung with the San Francisco Girl's Chorus, Utah Symphony and Opera Choruses, and has been a soloist with the West Jordan Symphony and Santa Rosa Symphony League. Alyssa is a member of "The Motley Wandering Minstrels," with whom she has performed leading roles in their Gilbert & Sullivan Operettas in Concert. She holds a B.A. in Music from BYU. She loves volunteering as Choir Director at Peruvian Park Elementary School!
Giuseppe in La Traviata
Joshua Jensen, tenor, started singing at the age of 11, studying Italian Opera. When he was featured on Park City TV's morning show, the news team declared him the "8th wonder of the world." He sang the roles of the Imperial Commissario and Yamadori in Madama Butterfly and Sciarrone in Tosca with Lyrical Opera Theater. He has been a concert soloist in the Italian Festival, "Ferragosto" for ten years. He has sung for the Naturalization Oath Ceremony in Salt Lake City and sings frequently for military retirement ceremonies at Hill Air Force Base including for Colonel Christopher Kleinsmith, Master Sergeant Nicole Shinn and Master Sergeant Bernd Tripps. He appeared at the Hill Air Force Base assistance fund kickoff event with Miss Utah USA 2009 and with Miss Utah Teen USA 2009, the Community College of Air Force graduation and recently sang for the Mayor of West Valley City, Mike Windor, March 2013.
Lady in La Traviata
Deborah Siddoway,soprano, has worked collaboratively and individually on a variety of concerts. As a classically trained musician, her primary performance focus is Opera and Broadway. Her performances include Kate Pinkerton and Mama in Lyrical Opera Theater's Madama Butterfly, chorus in Carmen, Tosca, and Falstaff and Gretchen in Beth Bruner's, The Grand Duke. Her concert soloist performances include singing Puccini's "O mio babbino caro" and Rossini's "Duetto buffo di due gatti" with Lyrical Opera Theater soloing in the Matsumoto, Japan/Salt Lake City sister city Gala and Lyrical Opera Theater Heart Song concert, and annual Masquerade party. She has been featured in the Italian festival "Ferragosto" and West Valley City, Mayor Mike Winder's Gala concert and enjoys singing at local church events and senior living centers. Her vocal repertoire includes, English, Italian, German, French and Latin. Although she holds a Master's in Business and certification in Human Resources her passion is in the arts. She is living proof you are never too old to follow your dreams.
Lady in La Traviata
Sarah Seamons grew up in Ogden Utah and was part of High School and Community Theater. Sarah has also sung with the Mormon Youth Chorus and is currently taking voice lessons with Lynnette Owens. This Sarah's first opportunity to sing in an opera, and she is excited to be part of the chorus of Falstaff.
Lady in La Traviata
It has been said of Sonja Jensen, soprano, that she was "born for the stage. She has been involved in the performing world for many years thrilling audiences with vivid character portrayals and sultry singing. She recently performed the roles of Desdemona in Mad Mahoney and Rosy in Justice at the Gold Dust with Poison Ivy Mysteries and has been a concert soloist with Lyrical Opera Theater singing on their Heart's Song concert and in the Italian Festivals, Ferragosto and Festa Italiana.
Lady in La Traviata
Jamie Forchic, Soprano, is eleven years old and has been singing and playing the piano under the tutelage of Lynnette Owens for four years. She sang the roll of the Shepherdess in Lyrical Opera Theater's Tosca. She has also been dancing since the age of four. Jamie loves all forms of artistic expression and is a talented visual artist as well. She is currently in sixth grade, a disciplined student who also loves animals, being out in nature, reading and spending time with her family.
Lady in La Traviata
Carnegie Hall's packed house gave a 10-minute standing ovation and welcoming shouts when Lynnette Owens soloed in Mozart's Requiem and Vesperae solennes de confessore. She has thrilled audiences and critics alike with her operatic performances that have included Madama Butterfly in Puccini's Madama Butterfly, Minnie in Puccini's La Fanciulla del West, Mimi in Puccini's La Bohème, and Tosca in Puccini's Tosca amongst numerous others. She has performed with the Lyrical Opera Theater, Rome Festival Opera, Utah Symphony & Opera, Bleeker Street Opera in NYC, Amici Opera, Des Moines Metro Opera, Utah Festival Opera, Sarasota Opera, MidAmerica Productions, the American West Symphony and the Da Camera Choir and Symphony of Neuchâtel, Switzerland.
Gentleman in La Traviata
Levi Frakes,Tenor, I'm looking forward to participating in my first opera as part of the chorus. I am a proud student of Lynette Owens and my vocal type is tenor. I'm humbled to be working with the amazing people that are part of this production.
Choreographer in La Traviata
Alexandria Sorenson, Choreographer, received her BFA in Ballet from Utah Valley University as well as a minor in Community Health. She is a free-lance choreographer in Salt Lake City with recent works including co-choreographing The Nutcracker for Oquirrh Mountain Ballet and Willy Wonka for Kensington Theater. Alexandria trained with Jacqueline's School of Ballet and has performed with UVU's Repertory Ballet Ensemble. She currently is training with SALT Contemporary Dance under the direction of Amy Gunter Lolofie and Ching Ching Wong and is a dancer for Oquirrh West Project.
Ballet Dancer in La Traviata
Faith Hortin, Ballet Dancer, has been dancing since she was three years old. She trained at Rocky Mountain Dance in ballet, pointe, jazz, hip-hop, and contemporary. She has had the opportunity to perform as a soloist in The Nutcracker, Cinderella, and Snow White ballets. Faith is currently dancing at Utah Valley University and pursuing a degree in ballet.
Ballet Dancer in La Traviata
Victoria White, has been dancing since she was 4 years old and has loved every minute of it. She is currently pursuing a BFA in Ballet at Utah Valley University. Victoria also teaches dance classes at Wasatch Arts Center in Riverton, Utah. She is very grateful for this wonderful opportunity and hopes you enjoy the show!
Stage Manager in La Traviata
Sydney Andrascik, Stage Manager: Sydney is so excited to be the Stage Manger for this production! This will be her first show she had managed for, but she has worked on production teams in the past, working as a Production Assistant on Joseph and The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat and the Costume Designer for Xanadu, both done at Woods Cross High School. Sydney also enjoys preforming, she has been seen on stage in Beauty and the Beast (Ensemble), Curtains (Ensemble), and Xanadu (Urania, Andrews Sister, Hermes, Aphrodite). Sydney loves to go on adventures, playing E-sports, and learning new things. She is currently attending Utah Valley University where she is studying Deaf Studies and Costume Design.
Stage Hand in La Traviata
Elise Harle, Stage Hand: Elise has been in theatre since she was six years old, and has been working backstage for 3 years. She's worked a variety of technical theatre positions for productions, such as the stage manager for Akhnaton, an assistant stage manager for Hairspray and Dunsinane, a fly rail operator for Sunday In the Park with George and Les Miserable, and has worked on set construction for various other shows. She currently attends Hillcrest High School, and hopes to get her BFA in Stage Management and Set Design in the future.
Stage Hand in La Traviata
Jason Leavitt, Stage Hand: I am looking forward to being behind the scenes again. I have managed and coordinated stage productions at a high school level, for several performances (Joseph and the Technicolor Dreamcoat, Wicked, Seussical, and more). At Lone Peak High School I participated in an award winning production, and led several construction projects. I am currently working full time at a dealership and working my way into college. I enjoy being in the mountains, on the road, and under a car in the garage.
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