Newsletter of the Bradenton Opera Guild
December 2014
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE BY MARY ZABIN
December is traditionally America's month of gifting. Your BOG Board has
created lovely gifts to give yourself and great gifts to buy for friends and family.
Bel Canto
You can bring your friends to the Deane Allyn Luncheon on December 17 that
honors the Youth Opera by presenting a scholarship to a promising member
from Manatee County. The IMG Academy Country Club will be colorfully
decorated for the holidays and the luncheon masterfully arranged by Sandra
Romley. What a superb gift for someone who supports young people and the
future of the classics in America! Mail your check to Kristi Greenslade.
Some time ago, Phyllis Payton suggested that the BOG sponsor small parties in members’ homes, so we
can get to know each other personally. Hence, the genesis of Petite Parties. Peruse the list of Petite
Parties for this year and you will see that they have grown from socials in homes such as "Christmas in
San Antonio" at my home, Jesse Martins in the Hazen home, and Valentine’s Day with Annelie Gustke,
to Beethoven and Gershwin Under the Stars at the Planetarium, to a multi-media show on Peru at the
Holiday Inn Airport. Any one of these would be a generous gift for those on your holiday gift list.
Contact Art Gaisser to make reservations. If you need a gift card, we will be happy to supply one.
One of the initiatives of my term as president of the Guild is to encourage greater cooperation between
other organizations that share our objectives such as the Sarasota Opera Guild, the Sarasota Orchestra,
the Sarasota Ballet, and the Manatee Players. Occasionally I will urge you to attend events of those
organizations. You will want to attend the annual Poinsettia Luncheon sponsored by the Sarasota Opera
Guild at Michaels on East on December 10. Phone the Sarasota Opera House to make that reservation.
I am the co-producer of performances of Amahl and the Night Visitors at the Manatee Players in the
Kiwanis Theater in December. You can phone their box office for those tickets.
For those of you traveling north for the holidays, we wish you a safe and happy trip. Bring us back a
snowball. It will remind us why we live in Florida.
Merry Christmas! Happy Hanukkah! and a joyous Kwanzaa!
Mary
DEANE ALLYN LUNCHEON RESERVATION
DECEMBER 17, 2014
A SPECIAL EVENT HONORING OUR 2014-2015 YOUTH OPERA AWARD WINNER
Name(s)_________________________________________________________________________________
Number Attending: ________________________________________________________________________
Phone Number ___________________________________________________________________________
_______I cannot attend, but would like to make a donation of
$_________
Send your reservation and checks made out to BOG to:
Kristi Greenslade, 5307 97th Street Circle East, Bradenton, Florida 34211-3783.
Luncheon Pricing:
Single Guest: $30
Patron: $45
Reservations Deadline: December 13, 2014. Kristi cannot accept reservations by phone, or after Dec. 13
Special Menu: Mini Wedge Salad, Roast Sirloin of Beef with Red Wine Demi-Glace, Sautéed Mushrooms,
Potato-Squash Medley, and Chocolate Cake with Peppermint Stick Ice Cream
(An alternate entrée of grilled chicken is available for people with food allergies. Must order in advance #______)
PETITE PARTIES 2014-2015
Join the fun for this year’s Petite Parties. We are having
lots of fun with our petite parties already this season and
more are scheduled. This Bel Canto features the next three
months. The entire lineup is in the September Bel Canto
and the BOG directory.
Jesse Martins in Concert
HOST: Maryanne & Ramon Hazen
December 13, 2014
3637 Wilderness Blvd. W., Parrish
7:00 p.m.
Experience a Brazilian-flare evening featuring a piano
concert with wine, heavy appetizers & dessert.
Guests: 20
Price: $25
Petite Party Registration Form
Your Name: _____________________________
Your Phone Number: _____________________
Please fill in the name of the parties you will be attending, the
number attending and the amount you are remitting:
Party Name
# Attending
$ Amount
_________________
_________
_________
_________________
_________
_________
_________________
_________
_________
Please send this form along with your check made out to
BOG to: Art Gaisser
5112 55th Street Circle West Bradenton, FL 34210
Christmas in America - San Antonio Riverwalk
HOST: Mary Zabin
Monday, December 29, 2014
2312 89th Street NW, Bradenton
7:00 p.m.
A multi-media show with desserts, coffee, tea and wine.
Guests: 15
Price: $20
Beethoven and Gershwin under the Stars
HOST: Kate Grand-Sharpe
Monday, January 19, 2015
South Florida Museum Bishop Planetarium
7:00 p.m.
This event has become a BOG favorite. Enjoy beautiful
music under the stars.
Guests: 100
Price: $25
A tribute to the Youth Opera Triumvirate, Martha Collins,
Jesse Martins and Ben Plocher for yet another successful
Youth Opera. Congratulations!
From : Joey Frye
To Syble DiGirolamo, Maryanne Hazen, and
Penny Kobernusz "Thank you for contributing so much
of your time and talent to make our Saints Day a success."
From: Marge Melun & Ky Thompson
To Mary Zabin, Happy Birthday on Dec. 13.
From: Joan and Gerry Sullivan
Lunch with Joey and Jeanne
HOSTS: Joey Frye and Jeanne Auten
January 28, 2014
Tuscany Restaurant, Freedom Village
11:30 a.m.
Enjoy a limited menu luncheon with at least 5 choices.
“After lunch those who would like to see our apartments
will be most welcome. We will walk from the Landings
Building (the restaurant) to the Colonial where we live.”
Guests: l8
Price: $25.00
Valentine’s Day in a German Café
HOST: Annelie Gustke
4414 La Jolla Drive, Bradenton
Guests: 18
TRIBUTES
Saturday, February 14
2:00 p.m
Price $25
Petite Party reservations can only be taken when
accompanied by cash or a check. Chair Art Gaisser will
be taking reservations for the remainder of the season.
Please mail your reservations to Art at 5112 55 th Street
Circle West, Bradenton, FL 34210. Or bring them to a
membership meeting, and give them to Art.
BOG MEMBERSHIP MEETING
Our next meeting is Wed., December 17, at 10 AM.
Membership meetings are held at the IMG Academy Golf
and Country Club at El Conquistador. There will be a
short business meeting followed by an opera program
provided by The Sarasota Opera.
BOG BOARD MEETINGS
Our next board meeting is Tuesday, December 9 at 10:30
AM. Board meetings are held at the Manatee Central
Library on Barcarrota Boulevard in downtown Bradenton.
All members are welcome at Board meetings.
In grateful appreciation to Sam Lowry for his wonderful
Tosca Prelude.
From: Sheila and Joe Varady
To Chris Hengstebeck in prayerful memory of her
mother, Dorothy Bradley. From: Sheila and Joe Varady
To Sharon, Sam and their committee for a Super petite
party – Sippin’ and Struttin’ under the Stars!
From: Sheila and Joe Varady
DECEMBER 2014 PRELUDE
MOZART AND LOUISE ADLER
An observer of attendees' faces at November's Tosca
Prelude would have seen dozens of deeply engrossed
expressions.
One participant used "enlightening" to
describe Sam Lowry's excellent presentation. It was a
well-crafted balance of historical information, stunning
visuals and, of course, lovely music.
On Friday, December 12th, our BOG member, Louise
Adler, will introduce us to the plot and music of W.A.
Mozart's delightful The Marriage of Figaro. Come and be
ready for the Winter Season's comic opera!
Westminster Towers 1533 4th Ave West, Bradenton
Coffee at 9:30 AM, Program at 10 AM; $6.00 at the door
Questions: Sheila and Joe Varady 729-1680
SPECIAL INVITATION!!! Westminster has invited us to
a special BOG luncheon following our Prelude. It is in the
lovely dining room of the Towers building at noon. RSVP
to the number on your invitation - it is open to all
members, whether or not you attend the Prelude.
MEMBERSHIP AND DIRECTORY ADDITIONS
ALL SAINT’S LUNCHEON
Please welcome this new member and change a phone
number in your Directory.
New member:
Kristine Zornig
288 Fairway Isles Lane
Bradenton, FL 34212
941-706-3037
[email protected]
New Phone Number:
Jean Roberts
941-730-0135
NOVEMBER MEMBERSHIP MEETING
Andrew Surrena,
Lauren Wright,
Joseph Beckwith,
Rebecca Witty, Christopher Clayton, Mary Hollis-Hundley,
and Maestro Roger Bingaman
The Saint’s program included eight delightful arias that
were chosen specifically to honor BOG’s 2014-2015
“Saints” Dave Luce and Jeanne Yeagle.
Elizabeth Tredent, Andrew Surrena, Rachael Horton,
Darik Knutsen, Jill Dewsnup, Maestro Roger Bingaman,
and Kate McNamara
The first aria of the performance was “Zitti, Zitti, piano,
piano” from Giacomo Puccini’s Barber of Seville. It was
sung by mezzo-soprano Kate McNamara, tenor Andrew
Surrena, and baritone Darik Knutsen. In this terzetto,
Figaro, the Count and Rosina try to sneak out the window.
The second performance, sung by soprano Liz Tredent was
“In quelle trine morbide” from Manon Lescaut by
Puccini. Manon is not sure she made the right decision to
live with Geronte. Something chills her soul.
The third aria, sung by soprano Jill Dewsnup and mezzosoprano Rachael Horton, was “Mira, O Norma” from
Vincenzo Bellini’s Norma. Adalgisa promises Norma that
she will see Pollione to persuade him to return to Norma.
The next performance was “Ideale” an art song by
Francesco Paolo Tosti. Darik Knutsen sang that, absorbed
by his love, his troubles vanished. He pleaded that she
come back to smile at him and he would have a new dawn.
The fifth performance was the seguidilla from Georges
Bizet’s Carmen. Sung by Kate McNamara, this old
Castilian folk song is an attempt to seduce Carmen’s captor
to go with her to her friend’s inn.
The sixth aria was “Acerba voluttà, dolce tortura” from
Adriana Lecouvreur by Francesco Cilèa. The princess
awaits the arrival of Maurizio at their secret tryst. She
complains of the pain that love brings.
The final aria was the quartet “Addio dolce svegliare alla
mattina” from Puccini’s La bohème. It was sung by
Tredent, Dewsnup, Surrena and Knutsen. In the aria
Marcello and Musetta quarrel about her flirtatiousness
while Rodolfo and Mimi reconcile until spring.
The first aria, sung by mezzo-soprano Lauren Wright was
“Mon coeur s’ouvre à ta voix” from Camille Saint-Saëns
Samson and Delilah. Delilah attempts to seduce Samson
into revealing the secrets of his strength.
The next performance, sung by soprano Mary-Hollis
Hundley, was “Porgi, amor, qualche ristoro” from The
Marriage of Figaro. The Countess Almaviva laments that
the Count has lost his love for her.
The third aria, “Di Provenza il mar” from La Traviata by
Giuseppe Verdi was sung by baritone Christopher Clayton.
Germont reminds his son Alfredo of their home and family
in Provence and attempts to comfort him now that Violetta
has left.
The next aria was “Torno a Surriento” a Neapolitan song
by Ernesto De Curtis. Tenor Andrew Surrena sang a plea
for help for the very poor city of Sorrento and of the love
and passion of its citizens.
The fifth aria was “Il lacerato spirito” from Verdi’s Simon
Boccanegra. Bass-baritone Joseph Beckwith, as Fiesco,
sings sorrowfully that his daughter Maria has died.
The sixth aria, sung by soprano Rebecca Witty, was
“Casta diva” from Norma by Vincenzo Bellini. This is
Norma’s prayer to the goddess to bring peace on earth.
The penultimate performance was “Suoni la tromba” from
I puritani by Bellini. Christopher Clayton and Joseph
Beckwith sang this rousing duet that is considered one of
Sicily’s national anthems.
The last performance, sung by Rebecca Witty and Andrew
Surrena was the Brindisi from Verdi’s La Traviata.
The Bel Canto is the Bradenton Opera Guild’s newsletter.
Please send all suggestions for articles or corrections to:
Syble Di Girolamo, Editor
at [email protected] or 941-776-0994
The Deane Allyn Award Luncheon
December 17, 2014
11:30 A. M.
Please join us in celebrating the talent of Dominique
Cecchetti. Dominique is a participant in the Sarasota
Youth Opera Program and appeared in the current
season’s production of The Hobbit, music and
libretto by Dean Burry. This was an extraordinary
production under the musical direction of Maestro
Jesse Martins.
Ms. Cecchetti’s opening night
performance as Hobbit Bilbo Baggins was
outstanding. Join us on December 17 to meet this
talented young lady and hear her melodious voice.
Maestro Martins will be in attendance to provide
musical accompaniment.
Ms. Cecchetti is the winner of Bradenton Opera
Guild’s Deane Allyn Award for the 2014-2015
season.
Questions: Contact Chair Sandy Romley
Bradenton Opera Guild
of the Sarasota Opera Association
P.O. Box 9271
Bradenton, FL 34206-9271
BOG Saints Luncheon - November 1, 2014
Mary Zabin interviewing Saints Jeanne Yeagle and Dave Luce.
SAVE THE DATE
Sunday February 1, 2015
Stars of Tomorrow
Concert