NEC Opera: Francesco Cavalli | La Calisto

Cast

Members of NEC Philharmonia

Violin 1   Darwin Chang, Thompson Wang
Violin 2   Martin Liao, Shiyu Wang
Cello        Jonathan Fuller, continuo; Sophia Knappe

Harpsichord    Sujin Choi (Thursday/Saturday)
                         JiYung Lee (Friday/Sunday)
Theorbo          Doug Freundlich
 

Director's Note

High school is a hard time for so many people.  Not only do we grow and mature, we are also learning how to get along with others in society. It can be a world of extremes, just as the world of the Greek gods is. We instantly recognize the pressures and situations that high school can put us in. For this reason, we have set this production in a high school, allowing the archetypes associated with the Greek gods to find their homes in the athletic stars, class presidents, and social media-fed drama of any high school. This production will explore these ancient myths through the experiences of a modern teenager. 
       The stories of the Greek gods and mythological heroes have a vital place in the history of opera. Over the centuries, our understanding and connection to these stories have changed, of course. Stories of Diana and Apollo are less familiar to many of us than the exploits of the Kardashians are. However, what has not changed is human nature, including the ways we treat, and mistreat, one another. We continue to perform these stories of gods and heroes because of their universal themes, brought to life with beautiful music. 
        At its core, La Calisto is a story of betrayal, ego, and the willingness to misrepresent oneself in order to abuse another. Such experiences are not restricted to the ancient past but are still very much present in our everyday lives. To this end, the emotional relevance of this story is highlighted and juxtaposed against the stunning music of Cavalli. 

Synopsis

Act I

In a high school (home of the Bears), teachers, guidance counsellor, and the principal prepare for school assembly to remember a student who has recently passed away, the freshman Calisto.  The students enter still reeling from the traumatic news.

As the scene shifts we return to three weeks earlier.  The quarterback Giove and his right-hand man Mercurio rule the school and celebrate their destruction of the other team at the football game last night when Calisto, a new freshman transfer student, arrives.   She is also a passionate environmentalist and secretly in love with Diana, Giove’s cousin and student president hopeful.  Giove is instantly taken with her and tries to pick her up with Mercurio’s help.  However, Giove and Calisto’s brother had history, so she is not interested in him.  Insulted by her refusal, Giove recruits Mercurio to help get her.  Mercurio decides they should steal Diana’s phone and use it to trick Calisto into falling for Giove.

Meanwhile Endimione, the school poet, writes poems about his secret love for Diana, while she and her bestie Linfea campaign for her upcoming election.  Unbeknowst to him, Diana is also secretly in love with him but can’t possibly be with him as it would be bad for her campaign.  Endimione tries to speak to her but is scared away by Linfea.  As everyone leaves for class, Linfea admits her secret desire to find a boyfriend for herself. Satirino, another student, overhears Linfea’s secret, and offers himself as a lover.  He is too much of a loser for her, and she rejects him.

Later on, equipped with Diana’s stolen phone, Giove texts Calisto.  Disguised as Diana, Giove uses the technology to convince Calisto to meet him.  Calisto is thrilled and runs to find Diana.  When she confesses her love to Diana, and tells her how special their love is, Diana is confused and appalled.  Calisto calls Diana a liar, claiming she doesn’t love anyone, and runs off.

A tired Endimione decides to sleep between classes.  At the same time, Calisto receives a text from Diana (actually Giove), asking her to meet him.  Diana then enters and finds Endimione asleep and, overcome by her love for him, accidently wakes him up.  As he awakens to Diana’s face, he uncovers her hidden love.  They agree that, while they can’t be together at the moment, their love is real. Satirino, incensed by the rejection of Linfea, targets her and decides to take what he wants. At the same moment, Calisto arrives to meet Diana, only to realize it is a trick played by Giove, who has something very specific in mind.

Act II

A few days later Calisto, covered in bruises from the assault, is still at school.  Giunone, Giove’s girlfriend and headgirl at the local girl’s school, has arrived.  She has heard that Giove has been unfaithful and has come to uncover which girl led him astray. The broken and traumatized Calisto is struggling to continue functioning after what has happened her.  Giunone pretends to get close to her to uncover what exactly is going on.  Calisto, realizing who she is, decides she must find out the truth of the assault and tells Giunone about Diana. 

Giove arrives with Mercurio, re-telling him about the great time he had with Calisto.  He then uses Diana’s phone to try to lure Calisto to him again.  However, Giunone is there and reads all of his messages over Calisto’s shoulder, discovering his deceit and Calisto’s participation.  Calisto runs off to meet Diana, while Giunone texts Diana to try and uncover what is happening, and realizes that Giove is using Diana’s phone.  She leaves, planning her revenge.  Shortly after that, Endimione sends a text to Diana, which Giove receives on Diana’s phone, telling her how much he loves her.

Full of jealous rage, Giunone and her girls track down Calisto.  They call her names and accuse her of causing Giove’s infidelity.  They bully her, degrade her, and hold her down as they force her into the team mascot.  Left alone, Giunone reflects on a world where men can behave so badly yet girls are punished.  Sickened by the world she is a part of, she returns home.

Later on, Diana decides to commit to Endimione, despite his lower status at the school, and they confess their love for each other in front of Diana’s bestie Linfea.

Calisto, having been chased and bullied online and all over the school, is rescued from Giunone’s girls by Mercurio and Giove.  Giove tries to convince Calisto that the assault wasn’t a big deal, and she needs to just “get over it.”  Calisto retreats into her own world and contemplates how to continue on, dealing with what has happened to her.  To end the pain, Calisto decides to end her own life.

Three weeks later, the school memorial service continues to celebrate Calisto’s life as the students deal with their grief and the roles they played in her death.

– Brenna Corner
 

Artistic Team and Cast Biographies

Artistic Team

JEFF ADELBERG–  Lighting Designer
Jeff Adelberg has been the lighting designer for NEC productions of Dido and Aeneas, L'Enfant et les Sortilèges, The American Dream, Svadba, Dialogues of the Carmelites, and L’arbore di Diana.  His other recent work includes: Il Matrimonio Secreto (Florida Grand Opera), Heroes of the Fourth Turning and People Places and Things (Speakeasy); L’Etoile and Albert Herring (The Boston Conservatory at Berklee); Topdog/Underdog and Describe the Night (Gamm Theatre); Ain’t Misbehavin’ (Central Square Theatre); and  Boston’s Christmas Revels since 2010. Jeff attended the University of Connecticut and teaches at Harvard and Boston College. Member USA-829. www.JeffAdelberg.com / instagram @jdadelberg.

EM BONNICI – Stage Manager
Em Bonnici is thrilled to be back at NEC after working this past spring on L’abore di Diana as a technician. Notable stage management work includes: Albany Berkshire Ballet’s Nutcracker, Providence Fringe Festivals’ Three Exits, and Clark University’s Playfest ‘17 Us. Other work includes but is not limited to: Moobox’s Sweeney Todd {Technician}, White Snakes’ Monkey: A Kung Fu Puppet Parable {Technician}, Boston Early Music Festival {Technician},  Clark University’s Playfest ‘22 {Production Assistant}, Clark V&PA’s Beowulf {Ensemble / Production Assistant }, CUPS Macbeth {Lady Macduff, Porter / Scenic Designer}, Clark V&PA’s Comedy of Errors {Dromio of Ephesus}, and last but not least Offie Award Winning Chickenshed UK’s pantomime of Snow White {Props / Production Intern}. 

GAIL BUCKLEY – Costume Designer
Gail Astrid-Buckley previously designed costumes for Steel Magnolias (Stoneham Theatre); The Farm (Boston Playwrights’ Theatre); Living Together and Most Happy Fella (Gloucester Stage Company); 9 Circles (Publick Theatre); Reasons to Be Pretty, In the Next Room (or the Vibrator Play), and The Adding Machine (SpeakEasy Stage Company); Silver Spoon, Hysteria, and Moon for the Misbegotten (Nora Theatre); A Christmas Carol (Hanover Theatre), and many more. She is the recipient of the 2002 Elliot Norton Award for Outstanding Costume Design and the 2010 Elliot Norton Award for Outstanding Design for The Adding Machine (SpeakEasy Stage Company); the 2002 Independent Reviewers of New England Award for Best Costumes in Twelfth Night (Commonwealth Shakespeare Company); and the 2006 Independent Reviewers of New England Award for Best Costumes on both Caroline, or Change and The Women (SpeakEasy Stage Company). Buckley is a member of United Scenic Artists Local 829 and a board member of StageSource.

SUJIN CHOI– Musical Preparation
A collaborative pianist Sujin Choi served as a pianist in Martín y Soler’s L’arbore di Diana, Jack Perla’s An American Dream, and Cavalli’s La Calisto with New England Conservatory. She hasalso had the privilege of serving as an opera coach fellow, contributing to productions such asMozart’s Don Giovanni at Aspen Music Festival and Puccini’s La Bohème at Music Academy ofthe West. Looking forward to the 2023-2024 season, Sujin takes on the roles of both pianist and opera coach in productions of Puccini’s La Bohème with New England Conservatory.  Additionally, she has recently joined the staff as a pianist at Boston Conservatory starting inSeptember 2023. Sujin earned a Graduate Diploma in Collaborative Piano from New England Conservatory under the tutelage of Cameron Stowe and Jonathan Feldman, with full scholarships supporting her studies. She also holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Piano Performance and a master’s degree in Collaborative Piano from Yonsei University.

BRENNA CORNER – Stage Director
Brenna Corner is an opera director who has worked across Canada, the United States and Europe. Select directing projects include: Il trovatore (Washington National Opera), Don Giovanni (Seattle Opera); Sweeney Todd (New Orleans Opera); Tenor Overboard (Glimmerglass Opera); Der fliegende Höllander (Cincinnati Opera & Houston Grand Opera ); L’Elisir d’amore (Vancouver Opera); Dead Man Walking (The Israeli Opera); and Carmen (The Atlanta Opera).  Upcoming productions include Lucia di Lammermoor (New Orleans Opera) and Pagliacci (The Glimmerglass Festival).  Ms. Corner is the Artistic director of Pacific Opera Victoria and has a degree in music from The University of Manitoba, and theatre diplomas from Grant MacEwan College and The British American Drama Academy.

JI YUNG LEE – Musical Preparation
Hailed by Gramophone for her “beautiful playing” and “intimate internal dialogues,” pianist and vocal coach Ji Yung Lee is an active performer and has made appearances at renowned venues collaborating with internationally-acclaimed singers and instrumentalists. Captivating audiences via numerous radio broadcasts on WQXR, MPR, and WFMT, she also received the second prize and a special award at the Salieri-Zinetti International Chamber Music Competition inItaly. Recent highlights include concerts at Rockport Chamber Music Festival, Ashmont Hill Chamber Music, Dame Myra Hess Concert Series, and Harriman-Jewell Series; conducting La Traviata in eight different cities in Slovenia with Pehlivanian Opera Academy; and a virtual performance with cellist Laurence Lesser for Tonebase. She holds a master's degree with academic honors from New England Conservatory and a Graduate Diploma from The Juilliard School. She is currently a faculty member as an opera coach at New England Conservatory and a pianist and coach at Boston Lyric Opera.

SEÁGHAN MCKAY – Projection Designer
Seághan McKay is a Boston-based projection designer whose work has been showcased in many of the historic city’s greatest performance venues. Highlights include The Boston Baroque Les Elemens and Music for the Royal Fireworks; The Boston Ballet Swan Lake; The Boston Lyric Opera La Bohème and The Flying Dutchman; The Boston Pops Gershwin Spectacular: Promenade; Guy Mendilow Ensemble The Forgotten Kingdom (world premiere); Hogfish CarmXn; The Lyric Stage Murder on the Orient Express, Sondheim on Sondheim, On The Town, and Big River; SpeakEasy Stage Company Big Fish, Carrie: the Musical, Kurt Vonnegut’s Make Up Your Mind, Next To Normal, Nine, Striking 12, [title of show], and Jerry Springer: The Opera; Florida Rep Best of Enemies; TheatreSquared All The Way; Merrimack Repertory Theater The Heath, Little Orphan Danny, and Memory House. Seághan received the 2017 IRNE Award for Best Projection Design for the Lyric Stage production of Sondheim on Sondheim and the 2018 IRNE Award for the New Repertory Theatre production of Golda’s Balcony. He is also a member of United Scenic Artists IATSE Local USA 829. For more information: www.seaghanmckay.com

BRIAN MOLL – Musical Preparation
Brian Moll is a member of the NEC Opera Department’s coaching staff for the Fall Semester of 2023. In previous years, he has been an instructor of French, German and English song repertoire and is also on the faculty of the Longy School of Music of Bard College and at the Boston Conservatory at Berklee.
        He has presented master classes in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, France, Bulgaria, France, Mexico and throughout the United States, and has been on the faculties of the Lied Austria Program near Graz, Austria, and has been Director of the Lieder Program of the Dramatic Voices Program in Berlin since 2019.
       Brian Moll has worked with Emmanuel Music, Boston Baroque, and the Handel & Haydn Chorus and Orchestra. He has also served as Assistant Conductor forproductions by Boston Lyric Opera, Opera North and Boston Midsummer Opera.  
       Brian Moll has appeared with singers Barbara Kilduff, Sheri Greenawald, Jesse Blumberg, Wolfgang Brendel, Sir Thomas Allen, Kevin Deas, Yeghishe Manucharyan, Chelsea Basler, Kelly Kaduce, Mara Bonde, and Sandra Piques Eddy.  A magna cum laude graduate of Hamilton College, Brian Moll earned further degrees from the Hochschule für Musik in Vienna, Austria and the University of Michigan School of Music, where he studied with Martin Katz.

JAMES ROTONDO – Scenic Designer
James Rotondo (he/him) is a set designer for opera and theatre based in the greater Boston area.  His background as a former dancer and studio artist influence the relationships between performer, audience and scenery that he creates for the stage. He is particularly interested in exploring conventional spaces in unconventional ways and bringing stories beyond "traditional" in both expectation and location. James and his team of collaborators were selected as finalists for the 2022 Tobin Director- Designer Prize and presented their design for Fellow Travelers at the 2023 Opera America Conference. Recent productions include The Rip Van Winkles (Glimmerglass Festival), The Knock (Cincinnati Opera), Rigoletto (Intermountain Opera Bozeman), Don Pasquale (Lakes Area Music Festival), The Addams Family (Wheelock Family Theatre), and Bandstand (Playhouse on Park). Upcoming productions include Songbird at Washington National Opera and Pagliacci at the Glimmerglass Festival. www.jamesrotondo.design

ROBERT TWETEN – Musical Director and Conductor
Robert Tweten has performed extensively as both a pianist and conductor throughout the USA and his native Canada, and currently holds the positions of Head of Music Stafffor The Santa Fe Opera, and Music Director of Graduate Opera Studiesfor New England Conservatory. 
       In 2017, Tweten joined the New England Conservatory’s opera faculty, where he provides musical guidance for the Graduate Opera Studies Program. During his tenure Robert has conducted eleven productions of repertoire spanning over three hundred and fifty years, and is thrilled to be collaborating with everyone at NEC on Cavalli’s La Calisto. 
        The position, Head of Music Staff, was created by The Santa Fe Opera for Robert in 2000. He has been on the podium for a number of productions during his tenure at Santa Fe, most recently conducting performances of Falstaff during the 2022 season. Tweten has enjoyed a long relationship with Utah Opera/Symphony where he has conducted eighteen productions since his debut in 2005, and other companies he has collaborated with include the Lyric Opera of Chicago, Calgary Opera, Vancouver Opera, Florentine Opera, Opera San Antonio, Kentucky Opera, Edmonton Opera, Dayton Opera, Austin Lyric Opera, Tulsa Opera and Sarasota Opera. 
        Equally at home as a pianist, Robert has performed throughout the world with many of the industry’s most prominent singers, and presently is Music Director for the Sag Harbor Song Festival, and Performance Santa Fe’s Festival of Song.
       Tweten’s most recent projects have included orchestral concerts with the Santa Fe Pro Musica Orchestra, as well as leading The (R)evolution of Steve Jobs and La Bohème for Utah Opera, and the North American premiere of Roberto Scarcella Perino’s Furiosus at Merkin Hall in New York.

About the Cast

MAKLYN BALEY – Natura
Maklyn Baley, mezzo-soprano, is a second year master’s student studying with Lisa Saffer. She most recently sang the role of Grandma in the NEC Community Engagement Program’s production of Little Red Riding Hood and Dorabella in Così fan tutte. 

XIJIN CHEN – Giunone
Xijin Chen, soprano, is a second year graduate student studying with Carole Haber. She recently sang the role of Susanna in Le nozze di Figaro.  Later this spring she will perform the role of Lily in NEC’s production of Sarah in the Theatre. 

YEONJAE CHO – Diana
Yeonjae Cho, soprano, is pursuing an Artist Diploma at NEC, studying with Bradley Williams.  Her recent roles include Eurydice in Orphée aux Enfers, Diana in L’arbore di Diana, Königin der Nacht in Die Zauberflöte, and Setsuko in An American Dream. She will be performing the role of Adele in NEC’s production of Die Fledermaus this spring.   

ALESANDRA COLLINS – Endimione
Alesandra Collins, mezzo-soprano, is in her second year of the master’s program at NEC, studying with Carole Haber.  She most recently performed as the Mother and the Witch in the NEC Community Engagement Program’s production of Hansel and Gretel and Giulio Cesare in Giulio Cesare in Egitto. Later this spring she will sing the role of Orlofsky in NEC’s production of Die Fledermaus. 

SARA COX – Linfea
Sara Cox, soprano, is a second year graduate student studying with Jane Eaglen. Her recent roles include First Lady in The Magic Flute, Esprit in Cendrillon, and Barbarina in Le nozze di Figaro. 

MEGAN HULL – Linfea
Megan Hull, soprano, is a second year master’s student studying with Carole Haber. She recently performed as Ilia in Idomeneo, Ariel in The Enchanted Island, and Musetta in La Bohème. This spring she will be singing Adele in NEC’s production of Die Fledermaus.

MINSUN IM– Mercurio
MinSun Im, tenor, is a second year master’s student studying with Carole Haber. Later this spring, he will perform the role of Rodolfo in NEC’s production of La Bohème and Eisenstein in NEC’s production of Die Fledermaus.

JIE LEE– Fury 2, Destino
Jie Lee, soprano, is a second year master’s student studying with Bradley Williams.  She recently sang the soprano solo in Mark Hayes’ Gloria, and the roles of Juliette in Roméo et Juliette and Blanche in Dialogues des Carmélites in a scenes program. She also completed her graduate recital this fall. 

DONGYANG LI– Destino, Fury 2
Dongyang Li, soprano, is a first year master’s student studying with MaryAnn McCormick. She most recently sang the role of Donna Elvira in Mozart’s Don Giovanni.

RUOXI PENG – Diana
Ruoxi Peng is a soprano studying with MaryAnn McCormick at NEC, where she is pursuing a Graduate Diploma. Last April, Ruoxi played Britomarte in NEC's Spring Main Stage production of Soler's L'arbore di Diana, and in May she made her role debut as Pamina in Die Zauberflöte with Mass Opera. This was followed in July by her performance of Despina in Così fan tutte with Utah Vocal Arts Academy.  Later this spring she will sing the role of Musetta in NEC’s production of La Bohème.

MARA RILEY – Calisto
Mara Riley, soprano, is in her second year of the master’s program at NEC studying with Lisa Saffer.  Her recent roles include Philistine Woman in Handel’s Samson, Belinda in Purcell’s Dido and Aeneas, and Mary Bailey in Heggie’s It’s a Wonderful Life. Her upcoming performances include NEC’s Liederabend series, a soloist in Handel’s Messiah with the Boulder Bach Festival, and a soloist in Colorado Bach Ensemble’s performance of Bach’s Cantata 10: Meine Seel erhebt den Herren. 

OLIVIA SHEEHY – Satirino
Olivia Sheehy. mezzo-soprano, is in her second year of the master’s program at NEC studying with MaryAnn McCormick. Her recent roles include Idamante in Idomeneo, and Fidalma in Il Matrimonio Segreto.  She will be performing the role of Prince Orlofsky in NEC’s production of Die Fledermaus later this spring. 

HYUNGJIN SON – Giove
Hyungjin Son, baritone, is pursuing a master’s degree at NEC studying with Bradley Williams. He recently made his debut as Uncle Bonze in Madama Butterfly with Detroit Opera and Boston Lyric Opera. He will be performing the role of Falke in NEC’s production of Die Fledermaus later this spring.

ANNEKE STERN – Natura
Anneke Stern, mezzo-soprano, is a second year master's student studying with Jane Eaglen. She most recently sang the role of Grandma in the NEC Community Engagement Program’s production of Little Red Riding Hood, and Orpheus in Orphée aux Enfers.  

MARGARET STONE – Satirino
Maggie Stone, soprano, is a second year graduate student studying under Carole Haber. She is from Carolina Beach, North Carolina. Last summer she performed as Adele in Die Fledermaus in Austin, Texas. Catch her next semester as Ida in Die Fledermaus at NEC. 

OLGA MELENDEZ VALDES – Eternita, Fury 1
Olga Valdes, soprano, is a second year master’s student studying with Jane Eaglen. She recently sang Fiordiligi from Così fan tutte in an NEC scenes production. Her upcoming performances include NEC’s Liederabend series and the roles of Sumiko and Imelda in Sarah in the Drawer later this spring. 

ALEXANDRA WIEBE – Giunone
Alexandra Wiebe, soprano, is a second year graduate student studying with Bradley Williams. Her recent roles/performances include Elle in La voix humaine, Mother in Amahl and the Night Visitors, Donna Anna in Don Giovanni, and a soloist in The Cleveland Opera’s Gala. Her upcoming performances include Vera Tyrell in NEC’s production of Sarah in the Theatre and Rosalinda in NEC’s production of Die Fledermaus.

HENGZUO YAN – Giove
Hengzuo Yan, baritone, is a first year graduate student studying with Jane Eaglen. Giove is his NEC debut. This spring, he will be performing the role of Falke in NEC’s production of Die Fledermaus. 

ZHENGYING YAN – Fury 1, Eternita
Zhengying Yan, soprano, is currently a second year master’s student studying with MaryAnn McCormick.  Her recent performances include Juliet in Romeo and Juliet and Sister Constance from Dialogues of Carmelites. This spring she will appear as Ida in NEC’s production of Die Fledermaus. 

HUA CHIEN HARPER YIN – Endimione
Hua Harper Yin, mezzo-soprano, is a second year master’s student at NEC studying with Michael Meraw.  Her recent roles include Ms. Page in Merry Wives of Windsor, Idamante in Idomeneo and Maddalena in Rigoletto. 

DONG EUN YOON – Mercurio
Dong Eun Yoon, tenor, is a second year graduate student at NEC studying with Carole Haber.  

SHIYU ZHUO – Calisto
Shiyu Zhuo, soprano, is a second year master’s student studying with Carole Haber. She recently made her debut at The Wiener Musikverein as Gretel in Hänsel und Gretel. Her upcoming performances include NEC’s Liederabend series, soloist in Mozart’s Great Mass in C Minor, and Musetta in La Bohème.