Con Amore from Italy: The Singers of Opera in Concert
Directed by Stephen Dubberly
DATE: Saturday, October 12, 2024
TIME: 3:00 – 5:00 pm
Members $30 – Guests $40
Payments by check – can be paid at the door or mailed to:
Puccini Society of Dallas PO Box 1782 Colleyville, TX 76034
Payments by Credit Card – Phone Jana at 817-999-5509
Puccini friends – We look forward to our next Puccini program which will be presented by “Opera in Concert”, directed by our own Puccini member, Stephen Dubberly, and including several talented graduate students who spent the summer together in Italy immersed in voice & Italian lessons, as well as performing while there. We’ll definitely enjoy their concert as well as hearing more details about their experiences in Italy. Our thanks to Lillian Ragland for designing our lovely invitations.
Mail checks to: Puccini Society of Dallas P.O. Box 1782 Colleyville, TX 76034-1782 Call Jana at (817) 999 – 5509 for credit card payments.
Photo Gallery
Eleanor Williams, Mezzo-Soprano
Sara Fochee, Mezzo-Soprano
Lauren Manon, Soprano
Clarissa Williams, Soprano
Party Pictures
Puccini Friends; I am still excited about our beautiful event yesterday! Stephen put together a wonderful program with those very talented young singers from the Opera in Italy program. We were all very impressed with their talent and potential. Stephen’s commentary put each aria into context and helped us relate to the character being portrayed. We are so fortunate to have Stephen in our society and that he is willing to put together these outstanding program for us!
Linda and Tom are such gracious hosts and are so kind to invite us time and again. Their home is truly beautiful and interesting, as many of you observed yesterday. Thank you for your welcoming hospitality.
Mac presented another of his fabulous receptions! We are so grateful that he does this for us and for his culinary talents. Everything was beautiful and delicious. His featured cocktail of the day was particularly enjoyed by everyone. Jana always makes things run smoothy with her many responsibilities. You two are our Puccini Valentines, along with Patsy and Bob who always assist Mac, set up and serve drinks, and even bring chairs. Lots of logistics are involved in our meetings, and thanks to all who helped out with that yesterday.
Our next event is planned for March 30 and will feature soprano Jocelyn Hansen. Jocelyn has performed in three main stage productions for the Dallas Opera the season, and is equally outstanding in musical theater performances. I know she’ll bring us a program that will be enjoyed by everyone. Please save this date.
Thanks to everyone for your ongoing support of the Puccini Society.
Marilyn
Introducing Cherisse Williams
Brooklyn, New York, native soprano Cherisse Williams is a Doctor of Musical Arts and Master of Business Administration in Music Business student at the University of North Texas, under the tutelage of Dr. Carol Wilson.
In performance with The Dallas Opera’s Educational Outreach, she will perform the role of Manuelita (Pépito).
Last season, Ms. Williams sang the role of Micaëla (Carmen). She has played the role of Adina in L’elisir d’amore with UNT Opera, Queen of the Night in The Magic Flute and Gretel (Hansel and Gretel) with Once Upon an Opera, and Nannetta in the Midwest Institute of Opera’s production of Falstaff.
Her Manhattan School of Music credits include the Princess in their mainstage production of L’enfant et les Sortilèges, and Susanna in Le nozze di Figaro for their opera scenes titled “A World Made Real: Five Stories of Women in Pursuit of Dreams.” Other credits include the role of Sally Hemings in the world premiere of Dana Wilson’s The Wolf by the Ears, Beth (cover) in Little Women, Mademoiselle Silberklang in The Impresario with the Ithaca Hidden Gems Project, The Princeton Festival’s production of Porgy and Bess (ensemble), and A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Peaseblossom) at Westminster Choir College Opera Theatre.
Ms. Williams was a winner of the Willam Gammon Henry Concerto Competition at the University of North Texas and a first-prize winner at the NATS-CNYFL competition. She is a member of the New York Philharmonic Chorus and holds a Bachelor of Music degree in Voice Performance from Westminster Choir College, a Master of Music from Ithaca College, and a Professional Studies Certificate in opera from The Manhattan School of Music. She is a volunteer artist for Sing for Hope, a proud sister of Sigma Alpha Iota and one of the owners of the Sparkle Twins.
In addition to singing, Ms. Williams is a professional commercial and print model, and a former preschool teacher. She has starred in the national Verizon Holiday commercial along with her identical twin sister, which received over 2 million views worldwide.
Puccini Society of Dallas P.O. Box 1782 Colleyville, TX 76034-1782
Puccini Friends – We are excited to gather on Saturday, October 28 to hear from a talented young UNT student, Matthew Dexter. Please see Matthew’s bio information below. Also, refer to the invitation for the October program attached. Thank you to all who have already responded. Please RSVP no later than Oct 25if you ploan to attend.
Marilyn Halla
Photo Gallery
Photos by Ed Flaspoehler
Artist Bio
MATTHEW DEXTER, bass-baritone from McKinney, Texas, is a senior majoring in vocal performance at the University of North Texas. He is a member of UNT’s A Cappella Choir and the Vox Aquilae Baroque choir. During his time with UNT Opera, he has performed the roles of Mícha in The Bartered Bride, Bartolo in Le nozze di Figaro, and Zúñiga in Carmen. He will premiere the role of the Conductor in That Hellbound Train in spring 2024. He also performed the role of The Herald in the concert version of Verdi’s Otello with the UNT Symphony Orchestra. For the past two years, as a vocal fellow at Spoleto Festival USA, Matthew appeared in the world premiere of Rhiannon Giddens and Michael Abels’ Pulitzer Prize-winning opera Omar in 2022 and covered the role of the Old Doctor in Samuel Barber’s Vanessa. He was a winner of Youngarts 2020 and performed at the winners’ concert in Miami.
Stephen Dubberly, a faculty member in the UNT College of Music, has written of Matthew, “There is no question in my mind that he is by far the most outstanding undergraduate with whom I have worked in my 40 years of university teaching.”
Additionally, Matthew was named as the Presser Undergraduate Scholar recipient for 2022-2023. See below about this prestigious award:
The Presser Undergraduate Scholar Award is presented annually to a student entering their senior year who has shown extraordinary musical and academic accomplishments. The Presser award is considered the most prestigious undergraduate honor in music at the University of North Texas and is provided by the Presser Foundation that awards annual scholarships, grants and funds for the furthering of music education and music in America.
In perpetuity, the recipients are referred to as Presser Scholars. The winner is nominated by the College of Music faculty and selected by the College of Music Council of Division Chairs. The scholarship has been awarded annually for more than six decades.
“Suits, Sisters and Sidekicks, an Operatic Afternoon”
Sabatina Mauro – Mezzo Soprano Jiyoun Oh – Pianist
in loving memory of Robert Maris
September 30, 2023 at 3:00 PM
Members $30 / Guests $40 (Valet parking provided) Kindly RSVP by September 25th [email protected]
Mail checks to: Puccini Society of Dallas P. O. Box 1782 Colleyville, TX. 76034-1782
Credit card payments: Contact Jana @ (817) 999-5509
The Puccini Society’s first program of the fall season is planned for Sept. 30. Sabatina Mauro will present our program. She is a young artist with the Dallas Opera and is a very fine mezzo. I know you’ll enjoy her program.
Please mark you calendar for our first event on September 30. Please R.S.V.P by September 25.
Puccini Society of Dallas P.O. Box 1782 Colleyville, TX 76034-1782
Puccini Friends: After what seems like a long intermission, we were finally able to finish our season.
Our final Puccini program for this season was on May 27. Bethany Jelinek, winner of the People’s Choice Award at our recent Dallas Opera Guild Vocal Competition presented our program. It was stunning!
Thanks to so many who were able to be present for our final program of the year. We ended the season on a high note indeed! Bethany Jelinek presented a wonderful program of arias and songs by Handel, Wagner, Strauss, and Massenet, which were beautifully performed with the collaboration of Victor Hurtado, pianist. Bravi Tutti!
Robert Maris graciously hosted us in his lovely home. The program and reception were inside and many guests enjoyed his lovely outdoor patio following the program. Thank you Robert for your gracious hospitality.
Our usual fine team coordinated the event: Jana took care of invitations, reservations, and check-in. Mac coordinated and provided a delightful spring reception with the help of Patsy. Bob as always took care of providing and serving beverages. I feel sure everyone appreciates their ongoing efforts to make sure each of our events is an enjoyable experience for members. Ed has some nice pictures which will be available our web site soon. It is always nice to look back on the history of our programs.
I look forward to next season when we plan to present several winners from the Dallas Opera Guild Vocal Competition as well as other exciting young artists. Until then, I hope your summer is pleasant and filled with beautiful music and nice experiences.
After what seems like a long intermission, we’re ready to finish the season with two nice events.
Our final Puccini program for this season will be on May 27. Bethany Jelinek, winner of the People’s Choice Award at our recent Dallas Opera Guild Vocal Competition will present our program.
Our invitation and details will be coming soon.
The Lafayette Musicians
Matthieu Peyregne du Mortier, who presented an early French music program for us last season has created a new organization called Lafayette Musicians. Their first concert is on May 21 at 4:00 p.m. See the information which follows.
Under the direction of Matthieu Peyregne du Motier, a French conductor specializing in baroque music, the Lafayette Musicians, a new professional orchestra and choir plans to perform 4 great Sacred classical music concerts every year.
Their inaugural concert will be held on Sunday, May 21st at Christ the King Catholic Church in Dallas, Texas at 4pm.
The concert will feature:
Handel and Lully on David’s psalms : Dixit Dominus, Miserere, De Profondis,…
This incredible music will be performed on historical instruments. In addition, the audience will receive booklets with translations and theological explanations to enhance their understanding and enjoyment of the concert.
As we approach another fall season I am excited to announce our upcoming Puccini Society programs. Our first event of the new season will celebrate our Founder, Bettie Francis on the occasion of her 90th Birthday! In Dec, 1995, Judson and Bettie Francis, Pat Blankenship, and Earl Carter created the Puccini Society of Dallas in order to share their love of Puccini’s music with others. Pat planned the programs, recruited members, and did whatever was necessary to keep the society going. Betty spent many successive years as Society Secretary, printing and mailing invitations and taking reservations, hosting events, as well as taking care of society correspondence. Our first program was held in March, 1996 at the home of Inge and Sam Vastole.
At Pat’s request, Dallas artist and teacher Ann Cushing Gantz painted a portrait of Giacomo Puccini for Judson Francis. Several members of the Puccini Society surprised Judson with the portrait at a small cocktail party in June,1996, shortly before his death. The portrait became the logo for the Puccini Society, and our society awarded the late Mrs. Gantz an honorary lifetime membership.
We are dedicated to acknowledging, enjoying, and promoting the music of Puccini and other great opera composers. We offer educational programs for our members and our goal is to help and encourage aspiring, young singers. Many of our members volunteer their time and talents for which we are grateful.
Among our first members who are still active in our society are Marion Ward, Bill Herrera (a past President), Inge and Sam Vastole, and myself. Bettie is our only surviving founder. We are delighted to honer her on the occasion of her 90th birthday! Without her years of leadership this society could not have thrived in the way it has.
Our fall schedule is as follows:
Sept. 25; Andrew Simpson, bass (and son of our own Tina Simpson) will sing for us at the home of Wendy Kumph and her mom, Sue Prideaux. The address is 3806 Stratford, 75225, just east of Dallas Country Club. We will celebrate our Founder, Bettie Francis.
Oct. 23; St. Matthew’s Cathedral Arts Series will present Mary Dibbern with Courtney Maina, soprano and Christopher Leach, tenor, in Songs of Mary Howe. These will be taken from their newly released CD, Songs by Mary Howe, which The Puccini Society helped underwrite. We will be at the Collora Piano Studio.
Nov.19; Stephen Dubberly will present two outstanding young singers and will also report on the Craft’s Opera in Concert program in Italy, which we help sponsor. Location TBA.
Dec. 3; Joint program with Voce Intimae (art song organization), Christian Bester, General Director. We will hear all of Puccini’s songs which will be narrated by Stephen Dubberly and held at the home of Enika and Richard Schulze.
Our membership renewal letter will go out soon with our new P.O. Box number, and we encourage everyone to renew their membership promptly. We look forward to seeing everyone soon and often at our programs.
