Merola opera program
Encyclopedia
Merola Opera Program is a San Francisco training program for opera singers, coaches, and stage directors.
's training and performance program for promising young artists. Named for San Francisco Opera's first general director, Gaetano Merola
, the Merola Opera Program began during the 1954-55 season and established its full training program in 1957.
Merola has served as a proving ground for hundreds of artists, including Brian Asawa
, Duane Clenton Carter (baritone), Mark Delavan
, Susan Graham
, Thomas Hampson, Bryan Hymel
, Gary Lakes
, Marie-Adele McArthur
, Sylvia McNair
, Anna Netrebko
, Patricia Racette
, Kurt Streit
, Patrick Summers, Ruth Ann Swenson
, Jess Thomas
, Carol Vaness
, Rolando Villazón
, Deborah Voigt
, and Dolora Zajick
.
The Program annually offers approximately 30 artists the opportunity of studying, coaching, and participating in master classes with established professionals for twelve weeks during the summer. Participants also perform in two complete opera productions with orchestra and the Schwabacher Summer Concert. The program incorporates intensive training in operatic repertory languages, diction, acting and movement and culminates with the Merola Grand Finale, a concert with full orchestra at the War Memorial Opera House. Merola also enables young coaches, accompanists and stage directors of exceptional talent to develop skills through the apprentice coach and stage director programs. The Merola Opera Program is a financially independent organization that operates in collaboration with the San Francisco Opera Center and San Francisco Opera.
The Merola Opera Program is free to its artists and is supported by contributions of individuals and institutions. The program covers the artists' travel, housing, weekly stipends and all training expenses.
founder and first General Director, Gaetano Merola
, died at Stern Grove while conducting a young American singer in "Un bel di" from Madama Butterfly. Maestro Merola wanted to provide young American singers opportunities as little formal training was available in the United States at the time and scant audition opportunities existed on the west coast. This prompted Mrs. Leland Atherton Irish of the Opera Guild of Southern California to ask the new San Francisco Opera General Director, Kurt Herbert Adler
, why young western singers had to go to New York to audition.
The Merola Memorial Fund was used to underwrite the San Francisco Opera Debut Auditions, professional auditions for singers from the western United States. The first regional auditions were held in Los Angeles, Pasadena, Sacramento, San Diego, San Jose, and San Francisco. Two hundred thirty-seven young singers applied and two hundred twelve were auditioned. Fifteen singers advanced to the semi-finals, on June 2, 1954. The eight finalists went on to the first San Francisco Opera Debut Auditions which took place at KNBC studios on June 13 and were broadest over KNBC.
All historical content exerted from
Merola Opera Program
Merola Opera Program is the San Francisco OperaSan Francisco Opera
San Francisco Opera is an American opera company, based in San Francisco, California.It was founded in 1923 by Gaetano Merola and is the second largest opera company in North America...
's training and performance program for promising young artists. Named for San Francisco Opera's first general director, Gaetano Merola
Gaetano Merola
Gaetano Merola was an Italian conductor and founder of the San Francisco Opera.-Biography:Merola was born in Naples, the son of a Neapolitan court violinist and studied piano and conducting at the Naples conservatory...
, the Merola Opera Program began during the 1954-55 season and established its full training program in 1957.
Merola has served as a proving ground for hundreds of artists, including Brian Asawa
Brian Asawa
Brian Asawa is a Japanese-American countertenor.He began his studies as a piano major at the University of California, Santa Cruz, ultimately switching his studies to singing under tenor Harlan Hokin. After two semesters there he transferred to UCLA where he studied under Virginia Fox and Kari...
, Duane Clenton Carter (baritone), Mark Delavan
Mark Delavan
Mark Delavan is an American operatic bass-baritone. He made his professional debut in 1986 at the San Francisco Opera in a small role in Giuseppe Verdi's Don Carlos. He spent the next three years performing in numerous comprimario roles with the company...
, Susan Graham
Susan Graham
Susan Graham is an American mezzo-soprano.Raised in Midland, Texas, she is a graduate of Texas Tech University and the Manhattan School of Music. She studied the piano for 13 years...
, Thomas Hampson, Bryan Hymel
Bryan Hymel
Bryan Hymel is an American operatic tenor who was born and raised in New Orleans.-Early years:Bryan Hymel came to the attention of opera houses at the age of 19, when he was a winner in the Verdi Aria Competition at the Aspen Music Festival in Aspen, Colorado...
, Gary Lakes
Gary Lakes
-Biography:Lakes was born in Woodward, Oklahoma, and raised in Irving, Texas. He made his professional debut with the Seattle Opera in the role of Froh in 1981 in Wagner's Das Rheingold, after attending Southern Methodist University...
, Marie-Adele McArthur
Marie-Adele McArthur
Marie Te Hapuku is an operatic soprano from Gisborne, New Zealand and is a direct descendant of the Māori chief, Te Hapuku.-Life and career:...
, Sylvia McNair
Sylvia McNair
Sylvia McNair is an American opera singer and classical recitalist who has also achieved notable success in the Broadway and cabaret genres. McNair, a soprano, has made several critically acclaimed recordings and has won two Grammy Awards....
, Anna Netrebko
Anna Netrebko
Anna Yuryevna Netrebko is an Russian operatic soprano. She now holds dual Russian and Austrian citizenship and currently resides in Vienna. She has been nicknamed "La Bellissima" by fans.-Biography:...
, Patricia Racette
Patricia Racette
Patricia Lynn Racette is an American operatic soprano. A winner of the Richard Tucker Award in 1998, she has been a regular presence at major opera houses internationally. Racette has enjoyed long-term partnerships with the San Francisco Opera, where she has been a regular performer since 1989,...
, Kurt Streit
Kurt Streit
Kurt Streit is an Austrian-American tenor who performs in operas.- Career :Streit started his career at American opera houses such as San Francisco, Santa Fe, Dallas, the Texas Opera Theater and the Milwaukee Skylight Comic Opera.His European career started with the Hamburg Staatsoper, where he...
, Patrick Summers, Ruth Ann Swenson
Ruth Ann Swenson
Ruth Ann Swenson is an American soprano who is renowned for her brilliance in coloratura roles.Born in Bronxville, New York and raised in Commack, New York on Long Island, Swenson studied at the Academy of Vocal Arts in Philadelphia and briefly at Hartt College of Music in West Hartford, Connecticut...
, Jess Thomas
Jess Thomas
Jess Thomas was an American operatic tenor, best known for his Wagner singing.-Biography:Jess Floyd Thomas was born in Hot Springs, South Dakota. As a child he took part in various musical activities and later studied psychology at the University of Nebraska and Stanford University. He was...
, Carol Vaness
Carol Vaness
Carol Vaness is an American lyric soprano.Carol Vaness was born in San Diego and launched her professional career in 1977 with the San Francisco Opera...
, Rolando Villazón
Rolando Villazón
Emilio Rolando Villazón Mauleón is a Mexican tenor. He settled in France and in 2007 became a French citizen.-Early life and education:...
, Deborah Voigt
Deborah Voigt
Deborah Voigt is an American operatic soprano. Voigt regularly performs in opera houses and concert halls worldwide.- Early life and education :...
, and Dolora Zajick
Dolora Zajick
Dolora Zajick is an American mezzo-soprano who specializes in the Verdian repertoire. Zajick is arguably the leading exponent in the dramatic Verdian mezzo-soprano repertoire....
.
The Program annually offers approximately 30 artists the opportunity of studying, coaching, and participating in master classes with established professionals for twelve weeks during the summer. Participants also perform in two complete opera productions with orchestra and the Schwabacher Summer Concert. The program incorporates intensive training in operatic repertory languages, diction, acting and movement and culminates with the Merola Grand Finale, a concert with full orchestra at the War Memorial Opera House. Merola also enables young coaches, accompanists and stage directors of exceptional talent to develop skills through the apprentice coach and stage director programs. The Merola Opera Program is a financially independent organization that operates in collaboration with the San Francisco Opera Center and San Francisco Opera.
The Merola Opera Program is free to its artists and is supported by contributions of individuals and institutions. The program covers the artists' travel, housing, weekly stipends and all training expenses.
History
The program began fifty years ago on August 30, 1953, San Francisco OperaSan Francisco Opera
San Francisco Opera is an American opera company, based in San Francisco, California.It was founded in 1923 by Gaetano Merola and is the second largest opera company in North America...
founder and first General Director, Gaetano Merola
Gaetano Merola
Gaetano Merola was an Italian conductor and founder of the San Francisco Opera.-Biography:Merola was born in Naples, the son of a Neapolitan court violinist and studied piano and conducting at the Naples conservatory...
, died at Stern Grove while conducting a young American singer in "Un bel di" from Madama Butterfly. Maestro Merola wanted to provide young American singers opportunities as little formal training was available in the United States at the time and scant audition opportunities existed on the west coast. This prompted Mrs. Leland Atherton Irish of the Opera Guild of Southern California to ask the new San Francisco Opera General Director, Kurt Herbert Adler
Kurt Herbert Adler
Kurt Herbert Adler was an Austrian-born American conductor and opera house director.Adler was born in Vienna, Austria to a Jewish family. His work in the field of music led him to become the assistant to Arturo Toscanini at the Salzburg Festival in 1936 and he also worked in Italy...
, why young western singers had to go to New York to audition.
The Merola Memorial Fund was used to underwrite the San Francisco Opera Debut Auditions, professional auditions for singers from the western United States. The first regional auditions were held in Los Angeles, Pasadena, Sacramento, San Diego, San Jose, and San Francisco. Two hundred thirty-seven young singers applied and two hundred twelve were auditioned. Fifteen singers advanced to the semi-finals, on June 2, 1954. The eight finalists went on to the first San Francisco Opera Debut Auditions which took place at KNBC studios on June 13 and were broadest over KNBC.
All historical content exerted from