News
Tenor Brian J. Kuhl spent Summer 2011 as a member of the James M. Collier Apprentice Artist Program at Des Moines Metro Opera, where he covered the role of Chevalier de la Force in Poulenc’s Dialogues of the Carmelites. Upcoming engagements include Rinuccio in the College of Saint Benedict and Saint John’s University Opera Workshop production of Puccini’s Gianni Schicchi (Nov. 2011) and Henry Millicone’s The Face on the Barroom Floor with Cedar Rapids Opera (March 2012).
Soprano Allison Schardin (Buivid) spent summer 2010 as a member of the Gerdine Young Artist Program at the Opera Theatre of Saint Louis. She was a Regional Wwinner in the Metropolitan Opera Auditions, and also was awarded 1st place in the Graduate Division of the Schubert Club Competition in St. Paul. Allison debuts with Minnesota Opera this season as Kätchen in Werther.
Bass-baritone Seth Keeton’s performances have been described by The New York Times as “driven” and “emotionally pointed.” He has performed roles on the stages of The Minnesota Opera, Glimmerglass Opera, Ft. Worth Opera, Arizona Opera, Indianapolis Opera, Opera Omaha, Chautauqua Opera and Theater Bremen in Bremen, Germany. Seth is currently completing his DMA in vocal performance at the University of Minnesota.
Dominick Rodriguez, tenor, recently covered the role of Don Jose in Glimmerglass Opera’s 2011 production of Carmen, and also performed the role in a matinee performance. Upcoming engagements include a role debut as Manrico in Verdi’s Il trovatore with Opera in the Heights (Houston, TX).
Karin Wolverton began the year as Pamina in the Minnesota Orchestra production of Die Zauberflöte, and continued with Mozart as Donna Anna in Opera Omaha’s Don Giovanni. She performs with the Minnesota Orchestra at Carnegie Hall in October 2011, and then returns to the Minnesota Opera to create the role of Anna Sørensen in the world premiere of Kevin Puts’ Silent Night.
In July 2011 bass-baritone Rodolfo Nieto performed the role of Guglielmo in Mozart’s Cosi fan tutte with Green Mountain Opera Festival in Vermont. He appears this November in the World Premiere of Kevin Puts’ Silent Night at Minnesota Opera.
Mezzo-soprano Victoria Vargas spent the summer as an Apprentice artist at Chautauqua Opera, where she sang Laura in Verdi’s Luisa Miller and the Second Lady in Die Zauberflöte. She returns for a second season as Resident Artist at Minnesota Opera, where she will cover the role of Dorabella in Cosi fan tutte, and appear as Alisa in Lucia di Lammermoor and Suzuki in Madame Butterfly.