MEET THE CAST: Elixir of Love
Hayden Smith, tenor | Nemorino
Tenor Hayden Smith is currently a second year master's student in Vocal Performance at the Shepherd School of Music at Rice University. Recently, Smith debuted Don Ottavio in the Shepherd School's production of Don Giovanni and was awarded the Carolyn Bailey Argento Fellowship for Vocal Performance by the National Opera Association. In 2021, Smith received the first place prize in the Upper College division of the NATS National Student Auditions. Smith has enjoyed summer engagements with Wolf Trap Opera, the Music Academy of the West, Houston Grand Opera's Young Artist Vocal Academy, and the Chautauqua Institution Voice Program.
Oriana Falla, soprano | Adina
Praised by Opera News for singing with “rare clarity” and LA Opus for her “large, lovely, and vibrant [voice],” Colombian-American soprano Oriana Falla, 2022-2023 season includes a role debut as Adina in L’elisir d’amore with Pacific Opera Project and Opera in the Heights. Previous engagements include role debuts as Mimi in La Bohѐme, Violetta in La Traviata, and The Infanta in Der Zwerg. A Los Angeles native, she attended UCLA. There she was the soprano soloist for Vaughan William’s Dona Nobis Pacem and Orff's Carmina Burana. Additionally, Oriana sang for the soundtrack of Disney’s Encanto. Oriana studies with Joyce El-Khoury.
Byron J Mayes, baritone | Dulcamara
Baritone Byron Mayes has been lauded for his "deep, projecting, mature, and rounded” voice and "energetic and commanding" presence. Past roles include Figaro in Mozart's Le Nozze di Figaro, Philly in Franz Lehar’s The Mock Marriage, Sam in Bernstein's Trouble in Tahiti, Fiorello in Rossini's Il Barbiere di Siviglia, and Dr. Gregg in Douglas Moore's Gallantry. Mr. Mayes is a former Chrisman Studio Artist with Opera Santa Barbara as well as a former fellow at the Music Academy of the West. He is a graduate of Columbus State University and a Doctoral candidate at University of California, Santa Barbara.
Aaron J Keeney, baritone | Belcore
Aaron Jacob Keeney makes his Opera in the Heights debut as Belcore in The Elixir of Love. Previously this season, he performed the same role with Pacific Opera Project. Last season, he sang Escamillo in Carmen at Minnesota Opera with Denyce Graves making her directorial debut. In the coming months, he will premier Another City with HGO Community and Learning and sing a concert featuring selections from 20 of Mozart’s operas. He finishes this season by returning to Minnesota opera to cover the title role in Don Giovanni. Aaron lives in Houston with his wife Meryl and his dog Marie.
Siwei Zhang, soprano | Giannetta
Lauded for her “commanding and regal” voice (Houston Press), Chinese soprano Siwei Zhang is gaining recognition as a captivating performer on the operatic stage. Recent performances include Magda in La Rondine (Puccini), The Lady in Good Country, Donna Anna in Don Giovanni (Mozart), Diana in Orpheus in the Underworld (Offenbach), Contessa Almaviva in Le Nozze di Figaro (Mozart) with Opera in the Ozarks, Opera LOLA and Moores Opera Center, among others. She has been the recipient of many awards and honors, such as First Place in the voice division of the Moores School of Music Concerto Competition in 2020 and Finalist in John Alexander National Vocal Competition of Opera Mississippi in 2021. Zhang is also performing the role of "Francine" in Monkey and Francine in the City of Tigers for the 2022-2023 season touring show with Houston Grand Opera's Opera to Go!.