Don Pasquale

Donizetti’s Don Pasquale

Friday, February 8, 2013, 7:00pm – Stiefel Theatre in Salina, KS
Saturday, February 9, 2013, 7:00pm – Orpheum Theatre in Wichita, KS
Friday, May 17, 2013, 7:30pm – McPherson Opera House in McPherson, KS

Libretto in Italian by Arrigo Boito, based on Shakespeare’s tragedy.
Premiere: Milan, February 5, 1887

CAST OF CHARACTERS

This is the sixth new production of “The Don” that Met Opera bass-baritone William Powers has sung throughout his lengthy career. Don Pasquale is one of nearly 100 roles Mr. Powers has offered in the world’s greatest opera theaters. Widely heard in national broadcasts on radio, Mr. Powers’ signature roles include villains from Tosca, The Tempest, Falstaff, Fidelio, The Tales of Hoffmann, The Barber of Seville, Das Rheingold, Faust, Otello, Tiefland, Mefistofele, Boris Godunov, Don Giovanni, Susannah, Attila, and more. This season Mr. Powers also makes his role debut as Zaccaria in Verdi’s Nabucco with the Opéra de Massy (France).

This production marks Sharin Apostolou’s WGO debut. She recently performed the title role of Handel’s Rodelinda at Portland Opera to rave reviews. Other recent highlights include Belinda in Dido and Aeneas at the Macau (China) International Music Festival, Nannetta in Falstaff for Utah Opera, both Clotilde in Norma and Argene in Rossini’s Ciro in Babilonia at the Caramoor Festival, and the title role of La Calisto at Portland Opera. Later this season she will make her role debuts as Gilda in Rigoletto and Rosina in The Barber of Seville with Shreveport Opera, and as Almirena in Handel’s Rinaldo with Portland Opera.

Since his debut as a WGO Resident Artist in 2009’s Barber of Seville (with Joyce DiDonato), audience favorite Michael Nansel has taken on ever-more-difficult roles. Last season he delivered a superb performance as Count Di Luna in Il Trovatore. Previous appearances with the WGO include Sharpless in Madama Butterfly, Count Danilo in The Merry Widow, and Belcore in The Elixir of Love. Mr. Nansel also recently debuted in the title role of Don Giovanni in Washington, DC.

Last season Dustin Peterson made his Opera Colorado debut in the roles of Basilio in Le Nozze di Figaro and Ruiz in Il Trovatore. An alumnus of WGO’s Young Artist Program, he previously appeared in major roles with the WGO as Camille de Rosillon in The Merry Widow and El Remendado in Carmen. Mr. Peterson has also performed with the Eutiner Festspiele in Germany and Lyric Opera of Kansas City.

Now in his second season as a Wichita Grand Opera Young Artist, James McAdams recently performed Leporello in Don Giovanni with Mosaic-Arts of New York and the Notary in Don Pasquale with Hubbard Hall Opera of New York. Last spring Mr. McAdams also performed Roucher in Andrea Chenier with Puget Sound Concert Opera. His other roles include Colline in La Bohème, Comte des Grieux in Manon, and the Mayor in Docteur Miracle.

Japanese maestro Ken Hakoda makes his debut with Wichita Grand Opera this season with Don Pasquale. Maestro Hakoda is in his ninth season as Music Director of the Salina Symphony. During his tenure as Music Director, the Symphony has enjoyed tremendous growth. A native of Japan, Maestro Hakoda has lived in the United States since 1989. Hakoda is also known for his work as a composer with over 20 works to his credit.