19,20 November 2004, Hawk's Well Theatre, Sligo, Ireland
23 November 2004, Mermaid Arts Centre, Bray, Ireland
25 November 2004, Belltable Arts Centre, Limerick, Ireland
27 November 2004, Everyman Palace Theatre, Cork, Ireland
29 November 2004, Town Hall Theatre, Galway, Ireland
2,4 December 2004, The Helix, Dublin, Ireland

The Opera Theatre Company
Chief Executive: Andrew McLellan
Director: Annilese Miskimmon
Musical Director: David Brophy
Designer: Neil Irish
Lighting Designer: Tina MacHugh
Movement Director: Linda Dobell
Video Artist: Ciara Moore

STARRING
Jonathan Peter Kenny ~ Charlotte Page ~ Eugene Ginty ~ Alan Fairs

THE CATCHALLS
Rebekah Coffey ~ Carolyn Dobbin ~ Shirley Keane ~ Bridget Knowles ~ Elizabeth Woods

THE VERA BAND

Piano / Conductor Clarinet / Soprano Sax / Alto Sax / Bass Clarinet / Alto Flute Acoustic Bass / Fretless Electric Bass Percussion

David Brophy Ken Edge Joe Csibi Noel Eccles

CHARLOTTE PAGE, Doll, studied at the Royal Academy of Music in London. Operatic engagements include First Niece PETER GRIMES for the Royal Opera Covent Garden at the Savonlinna Festival and in Peter Stein’s production for Welsh National Opera, Gretel HÄNSEL UND GRETEL for Welsh National Opera and Opera Northern Ireland, Yum-Yum THE MIKADO, Mabel THE PIRATES OF PENZANCE and Phyllis IOLANTHE for D’Oyly Carte Opera, Polly Peachum THE BEGGAR’S OPERA for Central Festival Opera, Jenny THE THREEPENNY OPERA for The Opera Group, Adele DIE FLEDERMAUS and Norina DON PASQUALE for Crystal Clear Opera, Zerlina DON GIOVANNI for Pimlico Opera, THE ROSWELL INCIDENT for Music Theatre Wales, title-role LA BELLE HÉLÈNE for Court Opera at Holland Park, Galatea ACIS & GALATEA for the English Bach Festival at the Linbury Studio Theatre, Royal Opera House, Despina COSÌ FAN TUTTE, Nora RIDERS TO THE SEA, Adina L’ELISIR D’AMORE, Boy Philip in Andrew Gant’s THE BASEMENT ROOM, Pamina DIE ZAUBERFLÖTE, Cherubino LE NOZZE DI FIGARO and Climene L’EGISTO. She also starred as Christine PHANTOM OF THE OPERA at Her Majesty’s Theatre, London for eighteen months. Foreign engagements include Mélisande PELLÉAS ET MÉLISANDE for Atelier Lyrique, Orleans on tour throughout France, Aldimira ERISMENA for Opera Theatre Company in Ireland, at the City of London, Buxton and Aldeburgh Festivals and concerts in Tokyo. Recent and future engagements include Johann Strauss Gala Concerts for Raymond Gubbay throughout the UK, title role LUCIA DI LAMMERMOOR for Haddo House Opera, Paquette CANDIDE for The Opera Group, Mahler 4th Symphony for Cernier Festival, Viennese Concerts for Raymond Gubbay, Yum-Yum THE MIKADO for Carl Rosa Opera on tour throughout the States, Adele DIE FLEDERMAUS for Opera Holland Park, Miss Rowan LET’S MAKE AN OPERA and Rowan THE LITTLE SWEEP for Aldeburgh Festival and Doll in Daron Hagen’s VERA OF LAS VEGAS for Opera Theatre Company.

ALAN FAIRS, Dumdum, studied privately with Audrey Langford, and more recently with Robert Dean. His next engagement will be his debut as The Notary in covent Garden’s production of Der Rosenkavalier. He frequently appears as a guest artist with Welsh National Opera where he has performed the roles of Sacristan Tosca, Bonze Madam Butterfly, Dikoj Katya Kabanova, Swallow Peter Grimes, Basilio Barber of Seville, Foreman Jenufa, Monterone Rigoletto, Talpa Il Tabarro, Dulcamara L’Elisir d’Amore and most recently Bartolo Marriage of Figaro. At Glyndebourne, Alan has sung Antonio Marriage of Figaro and Starveling Midsummer Night’s Dream, but more recently Micha and Kezal in Smetana’s Bartered Bride. With Scottish Opera he was engaged for the role of Bonze in their new production of Madama Butterfly, as well as Kommissar in Der Rosenkavalier. He has also appeared as guest soloist in concert with Scottish Opera. He performed the role of Avocat in Un Re in Ascolte in Geneva. He will return to Glyndebourne for their production of Bartered Bride in Summer 2005. With other companies and festivals Alan has performed many roles which include Don Alfonso Cosi, Don Pasquale, Osmin Entfuehrung, Sarastro Il Zauberfloete, Leporello Don Giovanni, Gremin Eugene Onegin, Oroveso Norma, Geronimo Il Matrimonio Segreto, Falstaff Falstaff and Merry Wives of Windsor, and Alberich Das Rheingold.

EUGENE GINTY, Taco. Eugene started singing while at Durham University and in 1995 made his American debut as Tamino in Die Zauberflöte in Boston. Roles include Don Ramiro Cinderella, Tonio The Daughter of the Regiment and Tamino (The Magic Flute) for English Touring Opera, Count Almaviva Il barbieri di Siviglia for Opera Holland Park, Sandy The Lighthouse, Lucas The Kiss , Tamino/Monostatos The (little) Magic Flute for Opera Theatre Company and most recently Rosei Kantan and Damask Drum by Alexander Goehr. Concert performances include Verdi’s Requiem with the Philharmonia, Hirt Tristan and Isolde at The Barbican, Beethoven’s Ninth at the Royal Albert Hall and The Messiah at the National Concert Hall. Recordings include Strauss’ Deutsche Motette and roles in Il trovatore and Der Rosenkavalier for Chandos. Recent appearances include Mac beth 7 for PanPan Theatre Company in Dublin.

JONATHAN PETER KENNY, Vera. Jonathan read music at Exeter University before training at the Guildhall. For Opera Theatre Company his Handel productions include Polinesso Ariodante, the title role Amadigi, Andronico Tamerlano, Guido Flavio and Bertarido Rodelinda. Other roles include Nireno Giulio Cesare for the Royal Opera, David Saul ( Covent Garden Festival), title role Orfeo Gluck (Scottish Opera), Shepherd Monteverdi’s Orfeo (Salzburg & ENO) and Tobias and the Angel (Almeida Festival). Contemporary operas include Hey Persephone! by Northern Irish composer Deirdre Gribbin. International roles include Hamor Jephtha for the Nederlandse Bach Vereniging, Arsamene Serse with the Gabrieli Consort as well as two premieres at the Polish National Opera. Recordings include Agrippina and Dido and Aeneas with John Eliot Gardiner and Jonathan Miller’s BBC film/CD of Bach’s St. Matthew Passion. Future plans include Trinculo The Tempest (Strasbourg & Copenhagen) and Vera Vera of Las Vegas OTC in November 2004.

ELIZABETH WOODS studied French, Spanish and International Marketing at Dublin City University before pursuing singing studies in Italy thanks to a scholarship from the Istituto Italiano di Cultura at the Scuola Musicale di Milano. She subsequently studied with Dame Joan Sutherland, Mo. Richard Bonynge and Dianne Furlano in the Britten-Pears School for Advanced Musical Studies. With Wexford Festival Opera, she has performed the role of Sophie in the Opera Scenes production of Werther. Elizabeth was awarded the Gerard Arnhold Bursary at the 1998 Wexford Festival where she sang Adele in Die Fledermaus. She returned to Wexford in 1999 to sing the role of Cesnikova in Strasny Dwor. For Opera Ireland, Elizabeth has performed The First Bridesmaid in The Marriage Of Figaro, The High Priestess in Aida and The Woman convict in Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk. She sang the role of Adina in L’Elisir D’Amore for Opera Theatre Company. For the Anna Livia International Opera Festival she performed the role of Giorgetta in Puccini’s Il Tabarro. For Garden Opera, Micaela in Carmen and for both Lyric Opera and RTE Theatre Nights, Hanna Glawari The Merry Widow. Future engagements include a recording of Victorian songs with The National Concert Orchestra.

REBEKAH COFFEY is a native of Newtownards and a graduate of The Queen’s University of Belfast (B.Mus., First Class). She graduated from The Royal Northern College of Music with a Postgraduate Vocal Diploma. Rebekah has sung Adele in Die Fledermaus (Castleward Opera 1999), Telbaldo, Don Carlos (Stowe Opera 2002), Gretel, Hänsel and Gretel (2003). She covered the role of Emmie in Britten’s Albert Herring (Opera North 2002) and was Kate in Lefanu's Green Children (Buxton Opera Festival 2002). For the RNCM she sang the role of Flora in Britten’s The Turn of The Screw, for which she received high critical acclaim. 2003 highlights include the role of Oscar in Verdi’s The Masked Ball (Wilmslow Opera), Cecelia in a concert performance of Iolanthe (Hallé Orchestra at the Bridgewater Hall under the baton of Carl Davies) and Flora The Turn of The Screw (ETO). Concerts include BBC Radio Ulster Lunchtime Recital series and a recording for BBC “Sing Carols”. Future plans include Peaseblossom Midsummer Night’s Dream and Bridesmaid/cover Susanna Marriage of Figaro (ETO).

SHIRLEY KEANE is from Limerick city, Ireland. She has an honours degree in acting from the Rose Bruford College of Drama and subsequently spent one year on the post-graduate vocal course at The Guildhall School of Music. Shirley has just completed the post-graduate opera course at the Royal Academy of Music for which she received a scholarship. Highlights during her acting studies include Paulina in A Winter’s Tale, Olga in Chekhov’s Three Sisters and Ariel in The Tempest. For Royal Academy Opera Shirley has sung the roles of Valetto in L’incoronazione di Poppea, Lisetta in Il mondo della luna by Haydn and Margarita in The School for Fathers. Also for the Royal Academy Shirley gave the world premiere of five Bax songs as part of the RAM Bax commemoration festival and she was the winner of the Michael Head prize for song and was awarded the Isabella Lucas prize. Other awards included the Margaret Arnold Award from the Arts Council of Ireland, she was a finalist in the Veronica Dunne Opera Competition (Irish section) and a semi-finalist in the Young European Opera Singer’s competition in Milan. Recent oratorio performances include Haydn’s Theresienmesse and Nelson Mass,Beethoven’s Mass in C and Saint-Saëns Christmas Oratorio.

CAROLYN DOBBIN began her career as a teacher of Art and Design before commencing the Opera course at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama in 2002, where she studies with Patricia MacMahon. At the RSAMD and Castleward Opera, Carolyn has sung the roles of Maddalena (Rigoletto 2004), Dido (Dido and Aeneas '04), Cherubino (Figaro '04), Idamante (Idomeneo '03), Alisa (Lucia di Lammermoor 2002), The Plaintiff (Trial by Jury 2002) and Barbarina (le nozze di Figaro 2001).Squirrel (L’enfant et les sortileges '03) and In 2005, Carolyn will appear as Dorabella (Cosi fan tutte, directed by Sir Thomas Allen) at the inaugural operatic presentation of Gateshead’s new Sage Theatre. Later in 2004, she will be appearing with Sir Charles Mackerras in Der Freischutz in the Edinburgh Festival and for Ireland’s Opera Theatre Company in ‘Vera of Las Vegas’. Carolyn has appeared as guest soloist and given recitals throughout the UK. She has broadcast for the BBC and recently worked on the sound track for the film Solid Air which was premiered at the Edinburgh Festival. Carolyn forms part of a group of musicians called Transfusion including John Wallace that performed at the Kilkenny Festival 2003 and further concerts are planned later this year. She has also performed with Patricia MacMahon and the acclaimed accompanist, Malcolm Martineau in a recital in Edinburgh. She made her debut appearance with Hand Made Opera in May 2004 in an operatic gala in Malta. Other Future engagements include an Opera Gala concert in Oslo, Montsalvatge's 'Cancion de Negro', Horovitz's Lady Macbeth scena and Mahlers Ruckertlied in Glasgow and Belfast. Oratorio performances include, Schubert's Mass in B, Vivaldi's Gloria, Mozart's Requiem, Haydn's Heiligmesse, Handel’s Coronation Anthems, The Russian Requiem by Elis Pehkonen and Handel’s Messiah at the Usher Hall in Edinburgh. Future engagements include Beethovens Mass in C and Mendelsons Elijah. Carolyn has won many competitions including gold medal winner at the British Federation of festivals at Warwick University, the Margaret Dick Competition '03 and was runner up for two years in prestigious The Governors' Prize held at the RSAMD and represented the RSAMD in the inter-conservatoire Bruce Millar Competition She has taken part in many courses including the prestigious Samling Foundation, Opera Plus, Hand Made Opera in Italy, and Oxenfoord International Summer School which has led to her participation in Masterclasses with Sir Thomas Allen and Sarah Walker.

BRIDGET KNOWLES was born in Dublin and graduated from UCC with an honours B. Mus. and MA. She began her singing studies with Robert Beare at the Cork School of Music before taking up a place at the Royal Northern College of Music, Manchester. She has recently completed a year at the National Opera Studio in London funded by Guinness (Diageo PLC) and is currently taking lessons with Felicity Palmer. Her many opera roles include Julius Caeser (Julius Caeser), Eduige (Rodelinda), Isabella (L’Italiana in Algeri), Arsace (Semiramide), Charlotte (Werther) and Suzuki (Madama Butterfly). Her extensive career has featured engagements with Glyndebourne Festival and Touring Opera and RTE. She has also worked under the baton of Sir Charles Mackerras and is a regular performer at the National Concert Hall in Dublin. This is her first appearance with OTC.

ANNILESE MISKIMMON, Director, was born in Belfast in 1974 . She read English Literature at Christ's College, Cambridge and Arts Management at London City University. A staff producer at Welsh National Opera from 1996 until 2001, she has also worked with English National Opera and extensively with the BBC Orchestras and Proms, and at Glyndebourne. Her opera directing career to date has taken her to the San Francisco Opera, Bologna,Toronto, Le Châtelet (Paris), Oslo, Glyndebourne and Frankfurt. She has worked with many of the world's leading conductors including Rattle, Gardiner, Elder, Jurowski, McGegan, and Mackerras. Annilese combines her position at OTC with a busy freelance directing career and with another recent appointment as Consultant Associate Director at Glyndebourne which embraces the training of new directors; and the support and development of young singers. Opera education and outreach includes projects for Glyndebourne; the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment; the National Opera Studio (London); The Bristol Old Vic Theatre School; Beijing Conservatoire; Théâtre du Châtelet; and WNO - working not just with children but also with audiences, young singers, directors, designers and composers. Future new productions include Semele for British Youth Opera, la bohème for English Touring Opera, La Pietra del Paragone for Stanley Hall, and new projects for Glyndebourne Education and the Scottish Chamber Orchestra (with Alexander McCall Smith).

DAVID BROPHY, Musical Director / Keyboards. David is a graduate of Trinty College Dublin and of the Dublin Institute of Technology. During the 1990's he participated in masterclasses in England, the Netherlands and Ireland, studying with George Hurst, Jac van Steen and Gerhard Markson. After a period as Apprentice Conductor with the National Chamber Choir, he was the first person to occupy the position of Assistant Conductor with the RTE National Symphony Orchestra of Ireland. He has also worked with other ensembles, including the RTE Concert Orchestra, Irish Chamber Orchestra, Valdosta Symphony Orchestra, Opera Theater Company, Lyric Opera, Orchestra of St. Cecilia, Vox21 and Crash Ensemble. David has worked with international artists such as Anthony Rolfe Johnson, Hugh Tinney, Harry Sparnaay, Raphael Wallfisch, Mikhail Rudy, Liam O'Flynn, Riverdance and U2. As well as performing throughout Ireland, he has appeared in Europe, Africa, the USA and Canada. His broadcasts include RTE, BBC, CBC (Canada) and a live EBU broadcast to listeners throughout Europe. In 2003, David performed at the opening ceremony of the Special Olympics World Games and directed the Irish premiere of Steve Reich's Music for Eighteen Musicians. He has given many premieres of works by Irish composers, including Frank Corcoran, Raymond Deane, Ian Wilson, and Shaun Davey. David also works as a pianist and accompanist throughout Ireland. As a composer his works have won many awards and have been performed at numerous events, including the Belfast Sonorities Festival.

KEN EDGE, Reeds, was born in Dublin, Ireland. He studied Saxophone with Sydney Egan in the College of Music, Dublin, John Harle in London and Jean Marie Londeix at the Bordeaux Conservatory, gaining the prestigious Premier Prix award of his class. Other awards include Ireland's 'Young Musician of the year' and a number of arts council grants for foreign study and composition. Kenneth has had many new works dedicated to him, most recently John Buckley's Cocnerto for Alto sax and strings, which has been released on CD with Kenneth as soloist with the Irish Cahmebr Orchestra. Kenneth has held the posts of music director of Ireland's Coisceim Dance Theater Company. for which he composed the scores for five of their productions, and artist in residence to the University of Limerick. Kenneth was the original saxophonist for Riverdance, which took him around the world for five years. Kenneth regularly collaborates with pianist/composer Michael O Suilleabhain in their froup Hiberno Jazz. He is also active as a conductor with the new music ensemble Vox 21.

JOE CBISI, Bassist. Former Musical Director of Riverdance, Joe Cbisi has recorded, arranged for and played with Pavarotti, Sting Sinead O'Connor, The Chieftans, the Kirov and Bolsjoi tours, Jose Carreras, Placido Domingo and Eddie Reader. Additional collaborations include The Celtic Tenors, Maire Breathnach, Luka Bloom, Tommy Fleming, Iarla O'Lionard and David Essex. Originally with the Irish National Symphony Orchestra, Joe has performed as Principal and Solo Bass player with the Irish Film Orchestra and Opera Theater Company. He has collaborated with world-leading composers including Elmer Bernstein, Shaun Davy, Randy Edelman and the Merchant Ivory Film Company, on films such as The Mask, Age of Innocence, The Tailor of Panama, Twelfth Night, and Remains of the Day. Other achievments include Musical Director of Strictly Sinatra, composer of Four Shades of Walter, musical palette for (Real World label's) artist Iarla O'Lionard and involvement in The Beatles Retrospective.

NOEL ECCLES, Percussion, was principal percussionist with the RTE National Symphony Orchestra for 18 years and principal percussionist with Irish Film Orchestras for 14 years. His innovative and original approach to percussion can be heard on numerous film scores and his album credits include: U2, The Corrs, Mike Oldfield, The Chieftans, Van Morrison, Secret Garden, Anuna, Liam O'Flynn, Donal Lunny, Elmer Bernstein, Elvis Costello and Shaun Davey. Noel was a member of the ground-breaking celtic rock band Moving Hearts. An original member and Musical Director of the Riverdance Orchestra, Noel premiered the show in the major cities of the US, Europe, Asia, and Australia. He was percussion soloist on the videos Riverdance live from Dublin, Riverdance Radio City New York and Riverdance live from Geneva. Noel collaborated with composer Shaun Davey on the original music for the Special Olympics World Summer Games Opening Ceremony in Dublin in 2003 and performed The Arrival of the Olympic Flag with a world percussion ensemble of 150 players. The orchestral suite from the Special Olympics Opening Ceremony had its US premiere on St. Patrick's Day 2004 in Symphony Center Chicago. Future projects include touring with The Scots/Irish musical On Eagles Wing, performances with The Story So Far in France and the US and as much opera as he can fit in!

WORLD STAGED PREMIERE (NEW YORK)

26, 27 June 2003
(four performances)
The Center for Contemporary Opera
Leonard Nimoy Thalia Theater at Symphony Space
New York City, USA
Producer: Richard Marshall
Musical Director: Robert Frankenberry  ~  Stage Director: Charles Maryan
Choreographer: Bruce Heath

STARRING
Shequida ~ Patricia Dell ~  Elem Eley ~ Dillon McCartney

THE CATCHALLS
Nicole Cherniak Hyde ~  Karen Jolicoeur ~  Tara Venditti
Gilda Lyons ~  Alison Quinn McConekey ~  Karie Brown

Rebekkah Ross ~ Lisa Hargus

THE VERA QUARTET

Piano / Conductor Clarinet / Soprano Sax / Alto Sax / Bass Clarinet / Alto Flute Acoustic Bass / Fretless Electric Bass Drums

Robert Frankenberry Paul Garment Jeff Carney Jeff Kraus