The Atlanta Opera heads into the second season of its Atlanta Opera Studio with three returning artists and three new ones, chosen from 300 applicants and nearly 150 live auditions. Studio members take on roles in the Discoveries series and on the mainstage, and are featured Oct. 29 in Opera With an Edge, the company’s annual season preview.
Studio artists, and as-yet-unnamed special guests, will perform music from Bizet’s Carmen, Wagner’s The Flying Dutchman, Donizetti’s The Daughter of the Regiment and Stephen Sondheim’s Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street. All selections will be performed live on the set of The Flying Dutchman (running Nov. 4-12). Edge happens at 3 p.m. Oct. 29 at Cobb Energy Performing Arts Center. The 75-minute performance is free for subscribers, $8 for nonsubscribers. Details, tickets HERE or at 404.881.8885.
The Studio gives emerging artists performance experience alongside international opera professionals. The artists participate in master classes and specialized instruction, and are coached in language, stage skills and career development. This year’s curriculum includes workshops with the Center for Puppetry Arts and lessons with visiting voice faculty.
Who’s new
GINA PERREGRINO, a mezzo-soprano from Wilmington, Del. She makes her Atlanta Opera debut as Anna I this month in Brecht and Weill’s The Seven Deadly Sins, will cover the role of the Marquise of Birkenfeld in The Daughter of the Regiment and perform the role in the Student Short. Recent debuts include two productions at Minnesota Opera, singing Stéphano in Romeo et Juliette and Clizia in L’arbore di Diana. Most recently, she performed the title role in Carmen at Central City Opera (Colo.) and sang Blindwoman in the world premiere of Shalimar the Clown with Opera Theatre of Saint Louis. She graduated from the Manhattan School of Music. More HERE.
CHRISTOPHER DUNHAM, a baritone from Niagra Falls, Ontario. He makes his Atlanta Opera debut as Brother in The Seven Deadly Sins, will perform the role of Corporal in The Daughter of the Regiment and cover Manfred in Out of Darkness. He’s played Figaro in The Barber of Seville, Mercutio in Romeo et Juliette, Escamillo in Carmen, Don Giovanni in Don Giovanni, Eisenstein in Die Fledermaus and Dandini in La Cenerentola. This season he’ll sing Argante in Handel’s Rinaldo with Pacific Opera Victoria (British Columbia). He recently graduated from L‘Atelier Lyrique de l’Opéra de Montréal. More HERE.
JUSTIN STOLZ, a tenor from Thunder Bay, Ontario. He’ll perform the role of the Steersman in The Flying Dutchman and Remendado in Carmen. He’s a graduate of the Glenn Gould School (The Royal Conservatory of Music) in Toronto and did graduate work at Indiana University. He recently received first prize in the S. Livingston Mather Competition (Cleveland).
Who’s returning
BRYN HOLDSWORTH, a soprano from New York City. She’ll perform in The Seven Deadly Sins, sing Krysia in Out of Darkness, cover the role of Marie in The Daughter of the Regiment and perform the role in the Student Short. She made her Atlanta Opera debut last season in Silent Night, performed in the Studio Tour’s Cinderella, covered Norina in Don Pasquale and did the role in the Student Short. She debuted at Lincoln Center last season as the soprano soloist in Orff’s Carmina Burana with the New York City Master Chorale, and as Rachel Dowling in Patience and Sarah with New York Opera Fest. She was a national finalist in the New York Lyric Opera competition and a national semifinalist in the classical singer and Palm Beach Opera competitions. She’s a recent Manhattan School of Music graduate. More HERE.
VALERIE POOL, a pianist/vocal coach from Marietta. She’ll accompany the Studio Tour production of The Magic Flute and serve as rehearsal pianist/coach for The Daughter of the Regiment. Last season she was the accompanist for the Studio Tour’s Cinderella. Previous residencies include Tulsa Opera (2014/16) and Cincinnati Opera (2014/16). She has been a pianist and part of the music staff at Cincinnati Opera, and has worked as a pianist, coach and répétiteur with Opera Saratoga (New York), Cincinnati Chamber Opera, Nashville Opera’s Mary Ragland Young Artist Program and Capitol City Opera (Atlanta). More HERE.
BRENNA CORNER, a stage director from Alberta. She’ll direct the mainstage production of Carmen and the Studio Tour’s The Magic Flute. Last season, she directed the Studio Tour’s Cinderella. She and has worked across Canada, the United States and Europe as a director, actor, singer, choreographer and fight director. She made her directorial debut last season with Vancouver Opera’s new production of Hansel and Gretel, and is artistic director of Fraser Lyric Opera, Prince George’s new opera company, and Manitoba Underground Opera, Winnipeg’s indie opera company. She has a music degree from the University of Manitoba and theater diplomas from Grant MacEwan College and the British American Drama Academy.
