New Jersey Opera: Night of Opera by Richard Wagner
Saturday, September 30
7 PM
New Jersey Opera’s inaugural performance at UCPAC will be a tour of Wagner’s operas including arias from Die Walküre, Das Rheingold, Götterdämmerung, Tannhäuser, Parsifal, Die Meistersinger, Lohengrin, and Seigfried.
This performance by New Jersey Opera will feature artists from New York Dramatic Voices.
To purchase accessible seating, please call UCPAC’s Box Office at 732-499-8226.
About the Performers:
LORRAINE HELVICK, “Powerful” Mezzo-Soprano, has been making a name for herself across America and Europe in the verismo and dramatic repertoire, specializing in the works of Strauss, Verdi. This past season, she made her role and company debut as Fricka in Die Walküre with Manhattan Opera Studio where she was lauded for her believability that “matched her vocal gifts.” Voche di Meche) Other season highlights include her Czech debut as an Artist Fellow with OpernFest Prague, a featured artist with Castleton Festival’s Wagner/Strauss Institute, and was named a top finalist in Southold Opera’s Vocal Competition. Lorraine has portrayed other characters such as Composer in Strauss’ masterwork Ariadne auf Naxos, Dritte Magda (Elektra), Amneris (Aida), Santuzza and Mama Lucia (Cavalleria Rusticana), Adalgisa (Norma), Princess de Bouillon (Adriana Lecouvreur), Eboli (Don Carlo), and Frugola (Il Tabarro). Lorraine also originated the role of Soldier’s Mother in the world premiere of Theo Popov’s Once Upon the Wind. Equally at home on the concert stage, Lorraine has made multiple appearances as a solo artist at Carnegie Hall. Notable performances here include the alto soloist in Beethoven’s Choral Fantasy and Handel’s Coronation Mass.
MATTHEW LOBAUGH is a freelance pianist currently living in New York City where he maintains a private vocal coaching studio and is highly in demand as an audition accompanist. A graduate of the Domingo-Thornton Young Artist Program at the Los Angeles Opera, his professional operatic credits include the music staffs of Washington National Opera (Assistant Conductor), Minnesota Opera (Chorus Master), Virginia Opera (Chorus Master), Cincinnati Opera (Assistant Conductor) and in recital with the Florida Grand Opera. Locally, Matthew is the music director of Anthony Lacuria’s New York Dramatic Voices. He has also served as Music Director for City-Wide Youth Opera and been on the music staff for Loft Opera NYC and Martina Arroyo’s Prelude to Performance. Matthew is also featured on the companion CD to the Menotti Arias for Soprano Anthology, published by Hal Leonard (2008). Matthew began training at Southern Methodist University (Dallas, TX) with B.M. degrees in both Piano and Vocal Performance. He worked toward both the M.M. in Collaborative Piano from Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music (Cincinnati, OH) and the Artist Diploma in Opera Coaching.
JOSEPH MAYON, Tenor – has performed in opera, concerts, oratorios, recitals, and musical theater internationally and throughout the United States. A Louisiana native, Mayon attended Interlochen Arts Academy, Louisiana State University, University of Denver, and Brooklyn College Conservatory. Mayon has performed with Taconic Opera, Rome Festival Opera, Hudson Opera Theater, New York Dramatic Voices, TUNDI’s Wagner in Vermont Festival, New York Opera Forum, West Side Opera, Underworld Opera, Vera Musica, & Harmony Project NYC at Carnegie Hall. Roles include Siegmund (DIE WALKÜRE), Florestan (FIDELIO), Parsifal (PARSIFAL Act 2), Pollione (NORMA), Siegfried (GÖTTERDÄMMERUNG Prologue), Luigi (IL TABARRO), Idomeneo (IDOMENEO), Carlo (GIOVANNA D’ARCO), & Loge (DAS RHEINGOLD). Upcoming performances include Siegfried in (SIEGFRIED/
GÖTTERDÄMMERUNG Act 3) with New York Opera Forum. Mayon is founder of THE MAYON SCHOOL OF PERFORMING ARTS LLC, teaching musical theater after school programs and private voice. Mayon is the former music and choral director at St. John the Apostle School in Clark, NJ.
ELISABETH SHOUP, hailed by Parterre Box as “a deep and powerful soprano of great solidity up to the top of the staff,” who “sang… with great force and bite and a strong, even sound,” Elisabeth Shoup is excited to return to the stage with New Jersey Opera. Pre- pandemic, Elisabeth sang Sieglinde in Die Walkure with Manhattan Opera Studio, and performed the title role in Ariadne auf Naxos with Utah Vocal Arts Academy. Other notable credits include title roles in Strauss’ Elektra with Create Opera and Ponchielli’s La Gioconda with Opera Company of Brooklyn. Formerly a mezzo, Elisabeth performed title roles in Carmen and Hansel and Gretel, and Stephano in Gounod’s Romeo et Juliette. Elisabeth is originally from Cleveland, OH and completed the Double Degree program at Oberlin College and Conservatory, earning degrees in Voice Performance and Theater. She currently teaches and performs in the New York City Area.
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