This special concert event features some of opera's most beloved works, performed by internationally acclaimed mezzo-soprano Milena Kitic, Center Stage Opera Artistic Directors Shira Renee Thomas and Dylan F. Thomas, and CSO Vocal Competition winners Joseph Lopez, Anastasia Malliaras, Maggie Liu, and Christina Roszhart.
A renowned mezzo-soprano, Milena Kitic has performed numerous roles with opera companies around the world. Perhaps best known for her performance as the title role in Carmen, Kitic has played Carmen in major performance venues across the United States and Europe, including The Metropolitan Opera, Los Angeles Opera, Washington, D.C. Opera and Essen Opera in Germany. She has received numerous accolades for her performances, including the German Music Critic's Award for "Performer of the Season'' and the Opera Pacific Guild's "Diva of the Year". The International Jeunesses Musicales Competition in Belgrade, Serbia, has established a special prize for "the best young mezzo-soprano" in Kitic's name. Of her 2013 appearance in Los Angeles Opera's Carmen, reviewer Carol Jean Delmar wrote, "Mezzo-soprano Milena Kitic was an alluring, crafty Carmen who managed to be charming as well. Her 'Habanera' and 'Seguidilla' were seductive. Her voice had swelling highs that flowed seamlessly from her chocolaty lows, and she danced like a Broadway trooper, but with far superior vocality." In addition to her performance schedule, Ms. Kitic currently serves as chair of artistic excellence at LA Opera, and as adjunct professor and master class instructor at Chapman University in Orange, CA. A frequent adjudicator at prestigious vocal competitions, Ms. Kitic has been a judge for the Center Stage Opera Annual Vocal Competition for the past two years.
Soprano Shira Renee Thomas has performed all over the country, appearing with Opera Pacific, Townsend Opera, and New York's Opera Company of the Highlands, to name just a few. Ms. Thomas has delighted audiences in over 15 diverse leading roles, including personal favorites Juliette (Romeo et Juliette), Lucia (Lucia di Lammermoor), Violetta (La traviata), and Marguerite (Faust). In June 2011, Ms. Thomas created the character of Marie, a role written expressly for her by composer Philip Westin, in the world premiere of Marie's Orchard. Among the many awards and competitions that she has won, Ms. Thomas was awarded 1st prize in the prestigious Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod Vocal Solo Competition in North Wales, UK. The Musical Eisteddfod has hosted such competitors as Luciano Pavarotti and Bryn Terfel in past years. Ms. Thomas will appear in the leading role of Adina in Center Stage Opera's production of The Elixir Of Love in February of 2018.
Tenor Dylan F. Thomas has performed internationally in opera, musical theater, and jazz. Among the musical theater roles he has played are the Beast in Beauty and the Beast, Clayton in Tarzan, and multiple featured characters in Memphis, the Musical, at the Thousand Oaks Performing Arts Center. He covered the title role of Otello with Utah Festival Opera, where he also performed the Constable in Fiddler on the Roof, and King Francis in Rex. Favorite opera roles performed include Cavaradossi in Tosca, Alfred in Die Fledermaus, Alfredo in La traviata, and Don Jose in Bizet's Carmen. In 2006, Thomas was engaged as a performer in three different variety shows at Universal Studios in Osaka, Japan. He performed in the street theater production of The Five Topping Opera, and was tenor soloist in the holiday spectacular, A White Christmas Carol, seen by upwards of 40,000 people each performance. As Center Stage Opera's principal stage director, Mr. Thomas has directed more than 20 fully staged productions over the past 12 years. He will be directing his own original production of The Elixir Of Love for the company in February of 2018.
CSO Vocal Competition winners Joseph Lopez (tenor), Anastasia Malliaras (soprano), Maggie Liu (soprano), and Christina Roszhart (soprano) represent a new generation of talented artists ready to take their place on the modern operatic stage.
Center Stage Opera, The Valley's professional opera company, has won accolades from audience members and critics alike for their operatic and Broadway productions. Reviewer Jonathan Weichsel summed up the critical and audience response CSO has consistently received: "Center Stage Opera is truly one of the gems of the Valley." CSO is dedicated to community service and education as well, and especially to bringing quality music performances to those who are economically disadvantaged. To this end, The Opera Tree was established as the community service arm of the company. In addition to "Milena and Friends", CSO's upcoming season (the company's 13th) will include Dylan F. Thomas' original production of Donizetti's The Elixir Of Love and "The Best Of Broadway - The Classics", both featuring the Center Stage Opera Orchestra, as well as the 5th Annual Center Stage Opera Vocal Competition Finals Concert. For more information and tickets, go to
centerstageopera.org, or call
818-517-4102.
Comments
To post a comment, you must
register and
login.
.png)
.png)
