Animals in the Plaza

Underworld Productions Opera

and La Plaza Cultural Armando Perez

present

Animals in the Plaza

A FREE Family Performance

Saturday, June 16, 2012 at 3 pm

La Plaza Cultural Armando Perez

9^th Street & Ave C, New York City

Songs and arias in Spanish, English, French and Italian featuring 

• "Wynken, Blynken & Nod" and "The Gingham Dog & the Calico Cat" by Henry Papale 
• Selections from Donizetti's comic opera Don Pasquale
•  "El Rinoceronte/The Rhinoceros" by Michael Dutka on a poem by Elisa Gonzalez

                                                                     

Performed by Tara Bobiak, soprano; Jonathan Breit, baritone; Diane Lynn, soprano; and Stephanie McGuire, mezzo-soprano with Elizabeth Rodgers, pianist. 

  

Underworld Productions Opera has a mission to take music to historically underserved populations including Washington Heights and Inwood and to engender a wider audience for opera through participation by those of diverse backgrounds and ages. UPO has been recognized for innovation and excellence by Musical America’s “Year in Music 2009,” The New York Times, Opera News, Early Music America, and in the blogosphere (“This is genius!” -- Madison Opera Blog).  Underworld Productions Opera, 10 Park Terrace East #4C, New York, NY 10034; underworldprod@gmail.com;  www.underworldprod.com.

Tara Bobiak’s recent roles include Pamina in Die Zauberflöte, Dew Fairy in Hansel and Gretel, and Frasquita in Carmen. Training programs include Opera Project NYC Scenes Program, Juilliard Evening Division Opera Workshop, New York Lyric Opera Artist in Residence Program, and Brooklyn Conservatory Opera Workshop. Ms. Bobiak holds a Bachelor of Music degree in Voice from Penn State and is a 2011-2012 Underworld Productions Resident Artist.

Jonathan Breit is a composer and pianist living in New York City. Recent compositions include The Rivals (BMI, Lively Productions), written with Greg Edwards, The Senator and the Slave Girl (Yale University), and The Awkward Stage (Golden Fleece series), written with Leah Maddrie, and a song cycle based on the poems of La Fontaine (Chromatic Voice Exchange). He holds degrees from Yale College and Mannes College of Music.

Michale Dutka is currently completing Liebovar, about the inmates of the Maritzenstadt Concentration Camp who write a children’s opera to save their children from the Nazi death camps. He has completed 5 operas including The Crowded House and The Animal Kingdom on bilingual poems by Elisa Gonzalez, both performed by Underworld Productions Opera.

Diane Lynn holds a MusM from Boston University.  Her roles include Dew Fairy in Hansel & Gretel (Emerald City); First Lady in Magic Flute (American Singers’ Opera Project); Belinda in Dido & Aeneas (Bay Area Opera Theater); and Mlle. Silberklang in Der Schauspieldirektor (Boston University).  Upcoming is Zerlina in Don Giovanni.  Ms. Lynn is a 2011-2012 Underworld Productions Opera Resident Artist.

Stephanie McGuire, mezzo-soprano has performed in two roles in New York City Opera’s VOX festival of contemporary music as well as numerous roles in operas such as Handel’s Alcina and Menotti’s Amahl and the Night Visitors. She holds a Master’s degree in music from Longy Conservatory and a Ph.D. from the University of Oxford.  Ms. McGuire is a 2011-2012 Underworld Productions Resident Artist.

Henry Papale has written six operas, including JULIA: An Operatic Monodrama premiered by Underworld Productions Opera in 2007.  He has written hundreds of art songs, 10 string quartets, and over 200 piano pieces.  His chamber opera, Balloon, received 8 performances in Toronto; other performances include Bach & Madrigal Society of Phoenix; John Harms Theatre in Englewood, NJ; and Duquesne University.  

Pianist Elizabeth Rodgers holds both Bachelor and Master of Music degrees from Manhattan School of Music, and is currently on the faculty there. She has also taught at Bard College, and is pianist in residence with the Berkshire Choral Festival. Known primarily as a versatile ensemble player, Ms. Rodgers has performed with The Metropolitan Players, Downtown Chamber Players, Friends and Enemies of New Music, Music Under Construction and The Lark Ascending. She has participated in the preparation and performance of operas with The Little Orchestra Society, Center for Contemporary Opera, and American Opera Projects. She has played numerous recitals with singers and instrumentalists, including the distinguished soprano Judith Raskin.  Long time collaborators include soprano Phyllis Clark and hornist Lisa Pike. Active in new music, Ms. Rodgers has premiered works by Miriam Gideon, Marc-Antonio Consoli, Wendy Griffiths, Robert Dennis and Joelle Wallech, among many others. She has recorded with Opus I, CRI, Grenadilla, Musical Heritage, New World, Aurora, Albany, Avant and Mode.