OPERA WESTERN RESERVE

Victorious generals, Macbeth and Banquo, stumble upon a group of witches gathering in a wood. The witches hail Macbeth as Thane of Glamis (a title he already holds by inheritance), Thane of Cawdor, and king “hereafter.” Banquo is greeted as “lesser than Macbeth, but greater,” never a king himself, but the progenitor of future kings. The witches vanish, and messengers from the king appear naming Macbeth Thane of Cawdor. Macbeth protests that the holder of that title is still alive, but the messengers reply that the former Thane has been executed as a traitor. The first of the witches’ prophecies has been fulfilled.

At the castle, Lady Macbeth reads a letter from her husband telling of the encounter with the witches. In her determination to propel Macbeth to the throne, she encourages Macbeth to kill the king. The King arrives and Macbeth is emboldened to carry out the murder but afterwards is filled with horror. Disgusted at his cowardice, Lady Macbeth completes the crime, incriminating the sleeping guards. Macduff arrives for an appointment with the King, only to discover the murder.

King Duncan’s death signifies Macbeth’s coronation, but Macbeth is disturbed by the prophecy that Banquo, not he, will found a great royal line. Macbeth orders the murder of Banquo and his son, but the son escapes. Banquo’s ghost appears to Macbeth, causing him to rave at the ghost while horrified guests question his sanity

Macbeth consults the witches again, and they advise him to beware of Macduff. They also prophesy that Macbeth cannot be harmed by a man ‘born of woman,’ and that he cannot be conquered until Birnam Wood marches against him. Armed with the new foretelling, Macbeth loses himself to delusion and paranoia. Macduff, Malcolm – the son of the former King Duncan – and the English army advance, vowing to liberate Scotland of tyranny. Lady Macbeth loses her grasp of realty and begins madly raving about the crimes she helped to commit before collapsing in death.

Macbeth learns that an army of Scottish rebels backed by England is advancing against him, and he receives the news of Lady Macbeth’s death with indifference. Rallying his troops he learns that Birnam Wood has indeed come to his castle. Macduff pursues and fights Macbeth who falls wounded. He tells Macbeth that he was not “born of woman” but “untimely ripped” from his mother’s womb. Macbeth dies, and Malcolm becomes King. Together with Macduff, they swear to restore the realm to greatness.

MACDUFF – Jesus Daniel Hernández

Jesús Daniel Hernández was born and raised in Juarez Mexico, and moved to the United States as a teenager. In 2003, Jesus chose to enlist in the US Army, and soon after, volunteered to serve in a Chemical Unit being deployed to Iraq. In 2007, a chance encounter with Plácido Domingo in San Antonio, TX changed his life. After a concert given by Maestro Domingo, Jesus Daniel asked if he could sing for the great tenor to see what the Maestro thought of his voice. Upon hearing the young soldier sing, Maestro Domingo invited the tenor to join the prestigious Plácido Domingo-Cafritz Young Artist Program with the Washington National Opera. After an honorable discharge in 2008, Jesus Daniel moved to Washington, DC to pursue his boyhood dream of being a professional singer.

While a participant in the Domingo-Cafritz Young Artist Program, Jesus Daniel performed with The Washington National Opera in the productions of Lucrezia Borgia – G. Donizetti, La Traviata – G. Verdi (YA), Falstaff – G. Verdi (WNO Look-In), and in Hamlet – A. Thomas. Jesus Daniel’s other roles have included performances il Duka di Mantua in Rigoletto – G. Verdi, Rodolfo in La Bohème – G. Puccini, Camille in The Merry Widow – F. Lehar, Alfredo in La Traviata – Verdi, Andrea Chenier in Andrea Chenier – Giordano, Rinuccio in Gianni Schicchi , Cavaradossi in Tosca, Turiddu in Cavalleria Rusticana, Pinkerton in Madama Butterfly and numerous Zarzuelas. His experience includes concert performances for NEA Opera Honors ceremonies, the Horatio Awards at the United States Supreme Court, and numerous concerts in Europe. His upcoming album “L’Orologio” will be coming soon in iTunes and Spotify.

1st WITCH – Erika Walker Duderstadt

Erika Walker Duderstadt (mezzo-soprano) is a 2018 graduate of Youngstown State University with a Bachelors of Arts in vocal performance. Erika is also an OWR Young Artist. She has been in roles such as Despina in Mozart’s Cosi fan tutte, Madame Flora (Baba) in Menotti’s The Medium, and Madame de la Haltiere in Massenet’s Cendrillion. Erika was a winner of the Dana Young Artist Competition in 2017 and performed as a featured soloist with the Dana Symphony Orchestra in selections from Gustav Mahler’s Kindertotenlieder. Last summer, she participated in the Opera Works Advanced Artist Program in Los Angeles, CA. This is her main stage debut doing a role with Opera Western Reserve.

DAMA – Lauren Corcoran Emrich Soprano, Lauren Corcoran Emrich, a native of Pittsburgh, is known for her magnetism on stage. Recent performances include Ivy Smith in On the Town, Laetitia in The Old Maid and the Thief, Madame Goldentrill in The Impresario, Mendelssohn Choir of Pittsburgh, Voces Solis Summer Singers, and Resonance Works professional vocal octet. Previous performances include Rosalinda in Die Fledermaus, Gretel in Hansel and Gretel, Musetta in La Bohème, and Rosina in Il Barbiere di Siviglia. An active soloist and recitalist, Lauren has performed Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony, Orff’s Carmina Burana, Poulenc’s Gloria and various recitals of arias, arts song, and musical theatre. Lauren was a semi-finalist at the National Association of Teachers of Singing National Competition in 2016 and 2017. www.LaurenCorcoranEmrich.com

3rd WITCH – Rebecca Enlow Rebecca Enlow (soprano) is an adjunct faculty member at Youngstown State University in the Music Theory Department. She received a Master of Music in music theory at YSU in 2019, and a Bachelor of Music in vocal music education in 2016. During her time at YSU, Rebecca performed in many operas, including the roles of Ms. Silverpeal in The Impresario and Adele in Die Fledermaus. She has been a featured soloist with the Youngstown Symphony Orchestra, the Mercer County Community Band, the Dana Symphony Orchestra and the Warren Philharmonic Orchestra. She has been a part of Opera Western Reserve’s Young Artist Program since 2014, where she has played the main stage

role of Kate Pinkterton in Madame Butterfly. She has also performed in mini-main stage roles, such as Cio-Cio San in Madame Butterfly, Lucia in Lucia di Lammermoor, Adina in L’elisir d’amore, and Zerlina in Don Giovanni.

LADY MACBETH – Diana Farrell

Diana Farrell, soprano, is known for her “golden voice,” “soaring soprano,” and “lovely and impeccable” sound. In October of 2018 she appeared as Tosca in Pacific Lyric Association‘s Escondido, CA production. She has recently performed with Nightingale Opera Theatre as Magda Sorel in The Consul, Miriam in The Scarf, and Anna Maurrant in Street Scene. She has appeared as Berta in Il barbiere di Siviglia, starring tenor Lawrence Brownlee at Opera Western Reserve, where she was a Young Artist performing the title roles of both Tosca and Madama Butterfly for their Educational Outreach productions, as well as Micaëla in Carmen. Other role highlights include Contessa Almaviva with Crested Butte Music Festival’s Le nozze di Figaro, and Rosalinda in Simsbury Light Opera Company’s production of Die Fledermaus. Past concert engagements include a performance of Berlioz’s Les Nuits d’été with the Dana Symphony Orchestra, an appearance with the Miami Valley Symphony Orchestra, and the Messiah soprano soloist with the Westfield Festival Choir and Orchestra. She finished first place in the 5 Towns Music and Arts Vocal Competition and the Clark J. Haines Memorial Concerto Competition. A past winner of the Dana Concerto Competition and the Tri-States NATS Regional Student Auditions in the Advanced Women’s category, Ms. Farrell has performed in master classes with world-renowned artists such as Dawn Upshaw, Keith Miller, Laurent Phillipe, Michael Chioldi, Jeanie Darnell, composer Lori Laitman, and pedagogue Shirley Emmons. She has been honored to work with directors David Vosburgh, Laura Portune, and Sarah Meyers, and conductors such as Susan Davenny Wyner, and David Syrus.

A former student of the celebrated soprano,Ms. Jane Eaglen, Diana holds an Artist Diploma from the Cleveland Institute of Music where she studied with Mary Schiller. She earned her M.M. in Vocal Performance from Youngstown State University where she sang in the studio of Misook Yun, and served as the Graduate Assistant for the Musicology and Opera Departments. Ms. Farrell began her studies in the studio of Mary Brown at Bonacciat Westfield State College, where she graduated with a B.A. in Music concentrating in Vocal Performance and received the Department Performance Award. Currently, Ms. Farrell is the President and Artistic Director of Lyric Opera of Orange County in Southern California.

MUDERER & MESSENGER – Alexander Kluchar 

Alexander Kluchar, baritone, is a third-year student persuing his Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance, at Youngstown State University. He is a young artist in Opera Western Reserve’s Young Artist Program. He was last seen in the recent collaborated production between the YSU Department of Theatre & Dance and the Dana School of Music, as Cinderella’s Prince in Into the Woods. Some of his other roles include Renfield (Dracula), Imperial Commissario (Madame Butterfly) and Robertson Aye (Mary Poppins). He has also performed many roles over multiple scenes including Jamie (The Last Five Years), Figaro (Le Nozze di Figaro), and Igor (Young Frankenstein). After he obtains his Bachelor degree, he plans to enter higher education and obtain his Masters of Music, while developing his performance career. He then plains to obtain his Doctorate of Music.

STEWARD – Dean La Salandra

Dean made his main stage debut in 2018 with Opera Western Reserve as Goro in Madama Butterfly, but has performed with us for more than a decade. He has performed in several mini productions with the company, as well as roles at Youngstown State University including Don Alfonso in Cosi Fan Tutte, and Eisenstein in Die Fledermaus. He would like to dedicate this performance to his number one fan, his recently passed mother. “Thanks for always listening, mom.”

BLOODY CHILD/FLEANCE – Allegra Lewis

Allegra Lewis is a fourth grader at Champion Central Elementary. She is an honor roll student who loves music class. Allegra has performed in St. John’s Boar’s Head Festival for the past three years in the roles of Lantern Sprite and Shepherd. Outside of school she is a talented athlete and competes in tennis, swim, and Tae Kwon Do. Allegra is very excited to make her stage debut with Opera Western Reserve.

2nd WITCH – Sierra McCorvey

Soprano Sierra McCorvey has been featured with the Youngstown Symphony Orchestra, Cleveland Orchestra, Packard Band, and Mahoning Valley Chorale. McCorvey has sung several roles including: Iris in Marc Blitzstein’s The Harpies (Kent State University), Fiordiligi in Mozart’s Cosi fan tutte (Youngstown State University), The Fairy in Massenet’s Cendrillon, (Youngstown State University) and Lily/Strawberry Woman in Gershwin’s Porgy and Bess (Cleveland Opera and Opera Western Reserve). Sierra holds a bachelor’s degree from Youngstown State University and is currently pursuing a master’s degree in voice performance with Dr. Misook Yun. When not performing on stage, Sierra enjoys singing with her church choir at Holy Family Parish in Poland, Ohio.

DUNCAN/PRIEST – Thomas O’Donnell

Tom has been seen in local theater for 30 plus years, playing everything from drama to comedy to musicals. Tom works as a therapist and is often seen on stage at Selah, and he continues to perform the one-man show, Mr. Lincoln. Tom has been involved in Opera Western Reserve for several seasons, from Carmen to La Traviata. Tom played the role of Ambrosia in Lawrence Brownlee’s Barber of Seville.

PHYSICIAN – David Pratt

A graduate of Youngstown State University with a BA in Vocal Music Performance, David has been a professional singer since 1992. He has appeared with various companies across the country in numerous opera and musical theater productions, including Turandot, Norma, La Traviata, Salome, Simón Bolívar (World Premier), La Bohéme, Tosca, Die Meistersinger von Nuremberg, Carousel, The Merry Widow, Katharina von Bora (World Premier), and West Side Story, to name but a few. Most recently, he was seen in OWR’s production of Madama Butterfly.

MALCOLM – Xuyue Qing

Xuyue Qing is a tenor from China. He obtained his Bachelor’s degree from Shanghai Conservatory of Music where he learned with Prof. Yi Ge and performed many operatic concerts and recitals. He is pursuing his master’s degree at Kent State University where he is studying with Tim Culver. In the 2017 music season, he came to Opera Western Reserve from China for his American operatic debut as Normanno in Lucia di Lammermoor. In the 2018 summer, he was invited to a “Vocal Lecture” as a guest artist at Henan University, China. In the 2019 spring, he performed the role of Mr. Splinter in The Tender Land with Kent State Opera. He was a semi-finalist in the 66th Washington International Competition for Voice. In the fall, he was invited to sing at the Golden Fall Moon Festival Concert 2019 by DongFang Chinese Performing Arts

Association in Wentz Concert Hall. He won First Place in the graduate category, and awards for “Fine Singing Honoring Richard Miller” in 2019 Ohio NATS Competition. In October 2019, he won the Albert Rees Davis award in S. Livingston Mather Scholarship Competition. For 2019-2020 seasons, he will be singing the role of Malcolm in Verdi’s Macbeth for Opera Western Reserve.

MURDERER & MESSENGER – Emilio Santiago

Emilio Santiago (tenor) is a senior vocal performance major at Youngstown State University. He has performed in various operas, such as Cendrillon where he played the role of Prince Charming, and Hansel and Gretal, where he played the Sandman. He has also Emilio Santiago Cont. performed in the mute role of Toby in The Medium. He has been a Young Artist for Opera Western Reserve since 2017, where he has performed in various mini-main stage roles, such as Goro in Madama Butterfly and Arturo in Lucia Di Lammermoor. He will also be playing the role of Malcolm in the Mini-Main stage of Macbeth.

BANQUO – Jonathan Stuckey

Jonathan Stuckey has been praised for his “smooth, deep voice” (Thomas Dyer, Berkshire Fine Arts) and “refined vocal timbre and understated movements” (Robert Rollin, Cleveland Classical). His repertoire includes roles in Gershwin’s Porgy and Bess, Verdi’s Macbeth, Donizetti’s Lucia di Lammermoor, and more. He has performed with Resonance Works | Pittsburgh, Opera Western Reserve, and Cleveland Opera Theater, among others. Jonathan holds a Master’s Degree in Vocal Performance from The Peabody Conservatory of Music, where he studied with John Shirley-Quirk.

MACBETH – Michael Young

Mike Young, baritone, is a Cortland, OH native currently residing in Cincinnati, OH, where he is on voice faculty at Xavier University, Walnut Hills High School, and the Cincinnati Academy of Performing Arts. Mike is a member of Collegium Cincinnati, Coro Volante, The Cincinnati Opera Chorus, The Bach Ensemble of St. Thomas, and The Cincinnati Fusion Ensemble. Recent solo roles include Don Giovanni, Don Giovanni; Enrico, Lucia di Lammermoor; Alberich, Siegfried; Marcello, La Boheme; Belcore, L’elisir d’amore; Scarpia, Tosca; and The Prosecutor in the US premiere of Another Brick in the Wall. Recent concert engagements include baritone solos in Beethoven’s Symphony no. 9, Orff’s Carmina Burana, Handel’s Messiah and Israel in Egypt, and the titular role of Mendelssohn’s Elijah. 2019 engagements include Verdi’s Requiem, Mozart’s Mass in C minor, Bach’s B minor Mass, and the title role of Verdi’s Macbeth.