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The
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Wagner Society of Dallas Invites You to a Recital By
Roy Stevens, tenor
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WSD EVENTS
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6:00pm - Saturday, October 25, 2003 Dorothea Kelley Recital Hall
Roy Stevens, tenor, with the assistance of Annalisa Winberg, soprano, will perform a program of arias and selections from Wagner operas for the Wagner Society of Dallas. This concert is a chance to hear Dallas Opera's Alberich, from the recent production of SIEGFRIED, newly transformed into a Heldentenor. Funds raised during this concert will be used for Mr. Stevens' trip in November to audition personally for Wolfgang Wagner, Daniel Barenboim, and other great Wagnerian musicians in Europe. Roy Stevens made his official debut as tenor in last summer's Tiroler Festspiele 2003, singing the role of Siegfried in Wagner's opera of the same name. In September 2003, Mr. Stevens also sang a concert for the Wagner Society of Washington, DC, with colleagues soprano Caroline Whisnant and baritone Charles Robert Austin, which was well received. Program
Intermission
Note: Program Subject to Change Roy Stevens recently sang with the Wagner Society of Washington, DC, on their Emerging Singers Program, in the Baird Auditorium of the Natural History Museum. Stevens was a splendidly devious Loge in a scene from "Das Rheingold" and a convincing Siegfried in moments from "Siegfried" and "Gotterdammerung." His diction is a powerfully dramatic tool and he sounds comfortable throughout his newly adapted tenor range. Other singers on the program were soprano Caroline Whisnant and baritone Charles Robert Austin. They were accompanied by the Friday Morning Music Club Orchestra, conducted by Sylvia Alimena. -- Joan Reinthaler - Washington Post newspaper
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Hello Virginia and Friends in Dallas I have continued to progress as a tenor, with various vocal/technical bumps in the road, but steady forward motion. In July and August, I was again at the Tyrol Festival in Austria, this year performing Loge and now covering both Siegrieds. Including in the one time only, never done before, never to be repeate, "24 Hour RING," which turned out quite amazingly. Annalisa Winberg was also involved, covering three Walkuries and the Siegfried Brunnhilde. They also asked her to sing the small role of Schlepptraegerin in Elektra while there. Strange how one can sometimes make a huge impact with a small role...and she did. Gustav Kuhn, the director/conductor has now publically declared that Annalisa is the best operatic actress he has ever worked with. Hopefully he will follow that up with interesting roles with more to sing! I have also just debuted Don Jose in CARMEN in California. For a debut it was pretty good, with some things to improve upon next time around, for sure. Now I am at the Teatro Massimo in Palermo, where I am rehearsing and will be performing the role of Edrisi in Szymanowski's beautiful-and seldom heard in America-opera, KING ROGER, King of Sicily. In Polish! Which is my 12th sung language, I think. The Odysseus project has been postponed again, but I think it will eventually happen, because the Cultural Attache of the Greek Embassy in DC has gotten quite interested. I think that ultimately we may wind up with at least a significant concert version in DC area sponsored by the embassy and possibly in Greece. We shall see. At the moment I am having fun working also on the Act I scene 3 from DIE WALKURE and the Liebesnacht Scene from TRISTAN for the concert with Janis Martin on February 12 (3:00 PM Fort Bragg Center for the Performing Arts, Eileen James at the piano). Tristan suits me awfully well... Here are some review quotes, for your amusement from my Loge debut in austria...in the 24 Hour Ring, taking over Loge from Francisco Araiza: Loge, DAS RHEINGOLD: Tirolefestspiele; Erl, Austria (8/2005) "Roy Stevens war ein wunderbar zynischer Loge." -Der Standard (Austria) "Roy Stevens macht Loge zur schillernden Figur." -Kronen Zeitung (Austria) "Roy Stevens, ein ausgezeichneten durchtriebenen Loge" -Wagner Verband Bamberg Kritik (Germany) "An excellent performance by Roy Stevens as Loge." -Musicweb-International (England) "Roy Stevens gelingt ein zynischer Loge par excellence." -Opernnetz (Germany) "Die Aufführung wurde zudem von ganz hervorragenden Sänger-leistungen getragen. Überragend...Roy Stevens (Loge)." -Neue Freie Zeitung (Austria) I was also very touched by the number of serious Wagner fans who sought me out to tell me just how much they had enjoyed my performance as Loge. A startling recurring theme was that quite a number of them said I was the best Loge of their RING experiences and that their previous "best Loge" had been Windgassen!! Pretty good company to be mentioned in, for my debut in the role!
Fond regards, |
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Roy Stevens, tenor
Other roles he expects to be part of his new tenor repertoire include Florestan in FIDELIO; Don José in CARMEN; Canio in PAGLIACCI; Bacchus in ARIADNE AUF NAXOS; Kaiser in DIE FRAU OHNE SCHATTEN; Herod in SALOME; Erik in DER FLIEGENDE HOLLÄNDER, Tristan in TRISTAN UND ISOLDE; and the title roles in OTELLO, LOHENGRIN, PARSIFAL, and TANNHÄUSER. Previous career highlights have included General Belliard in WAR AND PEACE with the Metropolitan Opera; Pedro in Berio's OUTIS with Teatro alla Scala (telecast) and Théâtre du Chatelet; Tomsky in PIQUE DAME with Teatro alla Scala; Telramund in LOHENGRIN with Barcelona’s Gran Theatre del Liceu and the Cincinnatti Symphony; Beckmesser in DIE MEISTERSINGER with Lisbon’s Teatro São Carlo; the title role in RIGOLETTO with Teatro Colon de Bogotá (telecast) and Oper Frankfurt; Dr. Schön in LULU with Dresden Staatsoper; the title role in FALSTAFF in Palma de Mallorca (telecast), with the International Festival of Macau (telecast) and Opera Ireland; Ford in FALSTAFF with Baltimore Opera; the Prince in Krasa’s VERLOBUNG IM TRAUM with Washington Opera; the title role of DER FLIEGENDE HOLLÄNDER with the Savonlinna Opera Festival on tour in Spain and with the Klagenfurt Stadtstheater; and Alberich in DAS RHEINGOLD with the Valencia Symphony. With the Dallas Opera, he has sung Alberich in SIEGFRIED, also appearing in THE DREAM OF VALENTINO and RIGOLETTO. As a baritone, he was a grant recipient of the Wagner Society of Northern California. As a tenor he is a grant recipient of the Wagner Society of New York and is an graduate of the Emerging Singer Program of the Wagner Society of Washington DC. As part of the ESP, he recently made his American tenor debut in a Wagner concert at Baird Auditorium in Washington DC, under the tutelage of Thomas Stewart and Evelyn Lear. He closed his baritonal career as Scarpia in TOSCA with the Wuppertal Opera, mercifully put out of his baritonal misery by his wife, Annalisa Winberg, as a brilliant Floria Tosca.
Annalisa Winberg, soprano
Her performance of Cora in Paulus’s THE POSTMAN ALWAYS RINGS TWICE with the Boston Lyric Opera was recorded for commercial release, and her Nedda in I PAGLIACCI with the New Israeli Opera in Tel Aviv was nationally televised. She was a soloist in the OUR COMMON FUTURE telecast from Avery Fisher Hall in New York, televised live in 60 countries. Other roles in her repertoire include the title roles of Tosca, Madame Butterfly, Aida; as well as Abigaille in NABUCCO, Rosalinda in DIE FLEDERMAUS, Annina in Menotti’s THE SAINT OF BLEECKER STREET, Madeline in Glass’ THE FALL OF THE HOUSE OF USHER, Die Rothaarige in Egk’s PEER GYNT, and Anita in Krenek’s JONNY SPIELT AUF. To date, she has sung only one Wagner role, Senta in DER FLIEGENDE HOLLÄNDER, with the Nashville Opera. In today’s concert she is “trying out” selections from new possible Wagnerian repertoire. She is a grant winner of the Wagner Society of Northern California and is a winner of the Zachary Competition in Los Angeles, the Ismaele Voltolini Competition in Mantova, the Cittta’ di Ercolano (Napoli) competition and the Luciano Pavarotti/Opera Company of Philadelphia Competition
Joseph Illick, pianist, is music director of the Fort Worth Opera. He made his debut at FWO with Carmen in 2001, and since then has conducted productions of Rigolettto, Don Pasquale, and Il Barbiere di Seviglia. He has also conducted at Shreveport Opera, Teatro Lirico d'Europa, and Atlantic Opera. Mr. Illick currently lives in Dallas. One of the main purposes of the Wagner Society of Dallas is to help financially deserving singers in advancing their careers. This is a Benefit Recital to help Mr. Stevens further his career in Europe. Suggested donation is $25, but smaller -- and especially -- LARGER gifts would all be appreciated. If you would like to sponsor this program and have your name listed in the program, send $50 -- OR MORE. All proceeds go to Mr. Stevens. Light Refreshments Will be Served |
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| Wagner Society of Dallas P.O. Box 25201 Dallas, TX 75225-1201 (214) 363-6070 www.WagnerDallas.com |
Roy Stevens, Tenor 325 Las Palmas AVe. Modesto, CA 95354 (209) 238-3382 102470.2436@compuserve.com |
Welcome to The Wagner Society of Dallas. You know, as Texans, we're bound to strive for being the biggest and best of all the Wagner groups in the world over. My hope, in addition, is that we ensure your attendance and participation by offering an interesting, stimulating, and enjoyable array of meetings, recitals, and travel. Let us know if you have suggestions for future activities, and do make an effort to join in during the coming months with your membership, attendance, and above all joy of being with fellow Wagner aficionados. Roger Carroll The Wagner Society of Dallas - Virginia R.
Abdo and Dr. James T. Wheeler, The Wagner Society of Dallas is devoted to furthering the enjoyment and appreciation of the music of Richard Wagner. The Dallas group is one of many Wagner Societies all over the world. It is a non-profit organization open to anyone who enjoys the works of Richard Wagner and who would like to participate in the Society’s activities. The Wagner Society of Dallas has monthly meetings and programs which feature recitals, lectures, video screenings, receptions for opera singers and personalities, and trips to Wagner performances in other cities. We welcome music lovers who are already familiar with Wagner’s works as well as those who may want to become more knowledgeable about Wagner’s music. Member Benefits include attendance at programs, our newsletter, discount on books and CD’s, advance notice of events and selected ticket services, receipt of the Membership Directory, ticket allotments to Bayreuth, and an active link with fellow Wagnerians throughout the world. |
