Collins-Earl 2022 backyard opera & bbq – 'The Elixir of Love'
$5 to reserve, $20+ at event
- Robert McPherson, tenor (Nemorino)
- Ivy Zhou, soprano (Adina)
- Rachelle Moss, contralto (Dulcamara)
- Michael Heitmann, baritone (Sargeant Belcore)
- Luke Raffanti, piano
Donizetti's operatic Rom-Com The Elixir of Love is one of the treasures of the operatic repertoire. In this modern english and condensed version, we follow a familiar tale: Boy meets girl. Girl isn't interested. Boy seeks the help of an online love potion salesman to help him, and voila, we have a hilarious tale of love with beautifully, tuneful music.
Come see some of Seattle's finest opera singers bring this new adaptation to life, including Grammy-winner Rob McPherson as the love struck Nemorino, the charmingly fearless Ivy Zhou as the sophisticated and classy Adina, powerful and regal Rachelle Moss as the shady online elixir dealer Dulcamara, and versatile Mike Heitmann as the self serving Sargeant Belcore. They will be joined by internationally featured pianist Luke Raffanti.
Not handicap accessible. Kid-friendly event. Bring your own drinks.
COVID-19 Protocols: This is an outdoor event. Vaccine/testing not required. Masks not required.
About Opera Unbound (Seattle)
Opera isn't dead. It has a messaging and marketing problem.
"It's too expensive!" "It's only for the elderly elite!" "I won’t understand it!" "I have to wear fancy clothes to it!" "It's too loooooooooooong!"
We hear you. We are breaking down those barriers, and creating the greatest, and youngest, generation of opera patrons through innovative and relatable adaptions of traditional operas. Not only are our shows significantly shorter, mostly between 60-90 minutes, but they have new, modern text that incorporate social and cultural issues. We also produce American operas.
https://www.operaunbound.org/About Groupmuse
Groupmuse is a worker- and musician-owned cooperative seeking to uplift artists and strengthen broader community bonds through live, intimate performances of historically-rooted music.
https://www.groupmuse.comAbout Robert McPherson, tenor (Nemorino)
About Ivy Zhou, soprano (Adina)
About Rachelle Moss, contralto (Dulcamara)
About Michael Heitmann, baritone (Sargeant Belcore)
About Luke Raffanti, piano
Luke Raffanti has been a frequent piano performer around Seattle since moving here in 2017. Before the pandemic, he performed frequently at house concerts, retirement homes, and for benefit concerts. In 2018, he earned the top prize in the Chopin Northwest solo piano competition and in 2019 he was featured as vocal accompanist and solo pianist on Classical KING FM. He has enjoyed collaborating with several professional opera companies: Seattle Opera, Seattle Modern Opera Company, and Northwest Opera in Schools, as well as numerous individual professional vocalists. Luke teaches roughly 40 students of all ages at Cascade Piano Studio in Ravenna, and is the collaborative pianist and organist at Richmond Beach Congregational United Church of Christ in Shoreline. Lately Luke has been taking voice lessons with Davida Kagen and singing with Seattle Pro Musica. He earned a BM in classical piano performance and a BA in environmental studies from Oberlin College and Conservatory of Music.
https://soundcloud.com/luke-raffanti