MEET THE CAST: Il Trovatore
Dane Suarez, tenor | MANRICO
Emerald Cast (Sunday 11/14 and Friday 11/19)
Lauded as a "vocal tour de force of surpassing splendor", tenor Dane Suarez has developed an exciting and varied career. For the 2020-2021 season, Mr. Suarez joined Opera Memphis where he debuted Scalia in Scalia/Ginsburg and debuted Memphis Symphony Orchestra for their annual holiday pops concert. In 2020, Mr. Suarez was slated to sing Rodolfo (La bohème) with Fort Worth Opera and debut the Title Role in Faust with Opera Neo, both canceled due to COVID. This season sees Dane's return to Opera Memphis for Canio (Pagliacci), his debut as Manrico (Il trovatore) with Opera in the Heights, a return to his alma mater as guest soloist for Verdi's Requiem (Butler Symphony Orchestra), and reprising Scalia with Penn Square Music Festival. Future engagements include a return to the role of Don José (Carmen) with Festival Opera in 2023.
Brian Vu, tenor | MANRICO
Ruby Cast (Saturday 11/13 and Sunday 11/21)
Described by The New York Times as having an “ample and pleasing tone,” tenor Brian Vu is an exciting performer recognized for his vocal and dramatic abilities. Brian's 21-22 season includes debuts with OH! singing Manrico in Il Trovatore, MAN in Long Beach Opera and Heartbeat Opera's short film QUANDO, and Timothy Laughlin in Fellow Travelers with Opera Columbus. During the 20-21 season, he was slated to return to the Metropolitan Opera singing Journalist in Lulu (COVID19). Future engagements include his debut in a joint production between LA Opera and Opera Omaha. @vouski
Natalie Polito, soprano | LEONORA
Emerald Cast (Sunday 11/14 and Friday 11/19)
Natalie Polito is thrilled to make her role debut as Leonora following her past performances with OH! as Queen of the Night in The Magic Flute and Musetta in La Boheme. In future seasons, she returns to Resonance Works Pittsburgh to perform the roles of the Mother/Gangster/Prosecutor in Jorge Sosa's new opera, I Am A Dreamer Who No Longer Dreams. Past performances include engagements at Carnegie Hall, the Santa Fe Opera, Virginia Opera, Sarasota Opera, Opera Columbus, Opera Fayetteville, the Colorado Symphony, Santa Fe Symphony, and the National Academy of Music in Hanoi, Vietnam. She holds an M.M. in Vocal Performance from The Boston Conservatory and a B.M. in Vocal Performance with Honors from Northwestern University. For more information: www.nataliepolito.com
Chabrelle D Williams, soprano | LEONORA
Ruby Cast (Saturday 11/13 and Sunday 11/21)
Soprano Chabrelle Williams is a dynamic presence on the stage and an accomplished educator. In addition to opera, Chabrelle enjoys the more intimate experience of performing oratorio and art song. Some highlights in her performing career include: the soprano solo in Verdi's Requiem with Citymusic Cleveland, Sadie Donastrag Griffith/Cousin Blanche in Champion by Terence Blanchard, the title role in Puccini’s Suor Angelica and Elle in La voix humaine by Poulenc. Recently, Chabrelle made her Boston Lyric Opera debut recording the role of Milica for the film version of Ana Sokolovic's opera Svadba. In 2022, Chabrelle looks forward to world premiering the role of Esther in Ricky Ian Gordon and Lynn Nottage's new opera Intimate Apparel directed by Bartlett Sher in January to March 2022!
Anne Maguire, mezzo-soprano | AZUCENA
Dramatic Mezzo-soprano and Pacific Northwest native, Anne Maguire, is distinguishing herself on stages across the country. She is the recipient of the 2020 George London Award, awards from Opera Birmingham, Jensen Foundation, the MONC Auditions, and others. Ms. Maguire's notable roles include Baba the Turk in The Rake's Progress, Die Hexe in Hänsel und Gretel, Frau Mary in Der Fliegende Holländer, and Elizabeth Proctor in The Crucible. She appeared as Dorabella in Opera in the Heights 2018 production of Cosi fan tutte and is making her Verdian debut with OH! as Azucena in Il Trovatore.
Nathan Matticks, baritone | COUNT DI LUNA
American baritone Nathan Matticks is rapidly establishing himself as one of opera’s brightest hopefuls. 2019 was punctuated by a Carnegie Hall main stage debut in Vaughn Williams’ Dona Nobis Pacem and Rutter’s Mass of the Children. Matticks joined Florida Grand Opera for their 2019/2020 season covering the title roles in Rigoletto and Don Giovanni. Acclaimed for his “suave baritone” (Broadway World) and the “sonorous, full-voiced” (Parterre) quality of his singing. Career highlights include the principal baritone roles in Il Trovatore, Il Barbiere di Siviglia, Un Ballo in Maschera, Il Trovatore, Don Giovanni, Lucia di Lammermoor, Carmen, Faust, Manon Lescaut, I Pagliacci, and The Merry Widow.