Merola's sons and daughters battle on
By: Janos Gereben
Special to The Examiner
July 10, 2009
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| On their way: This year’s Merola Opera Program participants perform in Schwabacher Summer Concerts this weekend. (Courtesy photo) |
SAN FRANCISCO — Merolini are tough. The young artists selected for training and performances with the 52-year-old San Francisco Opera Merola Program exhibit ability, talent, gumption, hard work and iron will to overcome great physical challenges.
Ruth Ann Swenson (Merola 1981-82) continued her international career in 2006 while undergoing chemotherapy, resuming performances after surgery.
Deborah Voigt (1985) underwent gastric bypass surgery, dropping from a size 30 to 14, and fit into the famous “little black dress” of a London production.
Last week, Joyce DiDonato (1997) suffered a fractured fibula while onstage in a starring role at the Royal Opera House, but finished the performance (asking fans never again to wish her the traditional “Break a leg!”).
Now comes the class of 2009, 29 singers, fledgling conductors and directors. Among them is apprentice coach Tamara Sanikidze. Last year, she played the piano during a reception in the White House and was given a tour by President George W. Bush. “Tata” played and walked without complaint, although she made her entrance previously by falling down on a staircase and fracturing her tailbone in seven places.
Another new Merolina is mezzo Maya Lahyani, who served two years in the Israeli Army, doing what soldiers do plus singing in sandstorms, intense heat, freezing cold, and at events when her entire audience disappeared mid-song as an alarm went off.
Named for Gaetano Merola, San Francisco Opera’s founding general director, the 11-week summer training program — on a $2 million annual budget — gives artists ages 20 to 34 a comprehensive education and performance opportunities.
Hundreds of Merola alumni go on to international careers; among them are current stars Anna Netrebko, Susan Graham, Rolando Villazon and Thomas Hampson.
Merola’s public events this year begin with indoor and outdoor Schwabacher Summer Concerts today and Sunday. The program includes excerpts from “The Flying Dutchman,” “Orfeo ed Euridice,” “The Medium” and “La Boheme.”
Merola opera productions are in the Cowell Theater at Fort Mason: “Cavaleria Rusticana” composer Pietro Mascagni’s “L’Amico Fritz” will be performed at 8 p.m. July 24 and 2 p.m. July 26. Mozart’s “Cosi fan tutte” will be at 8 p.m. Aug. 7 and 2 p.m. Aug. 9.
On Aug. 22, the Merola Grand Finale in the War Memorial Opera House begins at 7:30 p.m., featuring the singers in an evening-long program of arias, duets and ensembles.
IF YOU GO
Merola Schwabacher Concerts
Where: Herbst Theatre, 401 Van Ness Ave., S.F.
When: 7:30 p.m.
Tickets: $25 to $40
Where: Yerba Buena Gardens, Mission and Fourth streets, S.F.
When: 2 p.m. Sunday
Tickets: Free
Contact: (415) 864-3330, www.sfopera.com
