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Opera Double Feature: Giacomo Puccini's Gianni Schicchi and Michael Ching's Buoso's Ghost

UCF Opera commemorates the centennial of Puccini's comedic opera Gianni Schicchi with fully staged performances at Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts, featuring UCF students and UCF Opera director Thomas Potter in the title role, and accompanied by an orchestra made up of UCF students and members of the Florida Symphony Youth Orchestras.

During intermission, immediately following the Puccini opera, the singers continue the story with American composer Michael Ching's opera Buoso's Ghost. The Donati family plots to pin Buoso's death on Schicchi, but he once again outwits them and ends up with even more of the estate in his possession. Both operas will be sung in English with super-titles.

Gianni Schicchi

Florence, Italy, 1299. The greedy relatives of the wealthy Buoso Donati discover that the deceased has left his fortune to the local monastery. The young Rinuccio suggests that Gianni Schicchi, a shrewd, self-made man and the father of his intended, Lauretta, can help them. Schicchi appears with his daughter but is insulted by the family's behavior and about to leave when Lauretta begs him (singing the famous "O mio babbino caro") – he finally changes his mind. Reading the will, Schicchi devises a plan to impersonate the dead man. The relatives send for the notary and Schicchi, wearing Buoso's nightshirt and cap, from his sickbed dictates a new will, in which he leaves the greater part of the estate, including the house they are in, to his "dear friend Gianni Schicchi." The relatives are furious, and steal what they can from the house, chased out by Schicchi, who remains behind with Lauretta and Rinuccio. Turning to the audience, he points out how happy his fraud has made the young lovers and asks the audience to forgive him in light of "extenuating circumstances."

Buoso's Ghost

As this sequel to our first opera begins, we see Lauretta and Rinuccio planning their future. After sending the couple off to buy their wedding ring, Schicchi discovers that Buoso had been poisoned by the relatives. He imagines the relatives making their plans to poison old Buoso. When he hears the relatives approaching, Schicchi scribbles a note and tucks it into Buoso's nightshirt. Just as the family members are about to beat Schicchi senseless, a magistrate arrives to try the case. The relatives accuse Schicchi of murdering Buoso. When Schicchi secretly tells each of them that he knows that they have poisoned Buoso, they each offer him a bribe if he will blame somebody else. The trial begins, and Schicchi defends himself, and eventually "finds" the note in the deceased's nightshirt and reads it: Buoso has committed suicide. The magistrate is upset that he can't condemn anyone, and leaves. Alone, the relatives realize that Schicchi has outwitted them again. Jokingly, Betto says that they will get the money back in the long run because Rinuccio and Lauretta are getting married. They realize they can just kill Schicchi now and inherit everything, but Schicchi summons the spirit of Buoso Donati and scares the family from the house. In an echo of the end of the Puccini opera, Schicchi asks the audience to forgive the "upstart composer" for writing the sequel.

Friday Cast

Lauretta – Natalie Almeter
Rinucco – Deyvion Norris
Schicchi – Thomas Potter
Nella – Alyssa Cassidy
Ciesca – Joyce Camille Hernandez
Zita – Lisamarie Guadalupe
Gherardo – Yuting Zhang
Marco – Matthew Fackler
Betto – Dylan Courtney
Simone – Jose-Manuel Lopez
*Spinelloccio – Taneesha Bridenback
*Nicolao: Ben Watson
*Pinellino: Dezi Rodgers
*Guccio: Bryant Jay
*Gherardino: Charlotte Bergholz
**Magistrate: David Goodwill
**Friar I: Sarah Brickeen
**Friar II: Dezi Rodgers
**Magistrate's Guards: Bryant Jay & Ben Watson

Saturday Cast

Lauretta – Linsey Duca
Rinucco – Deyvion Norris
Schicchi – Thomas Potter
Nella – Rachel LaVo
Ciesca – Maeghin Mueller
Zita – Gayssie Lugo
Gherardo – Yuting Zhang
Marco – Matthew Fackler
Betto – Dylan Courtney
Simone – Jose-Manuel Lopez
*Spinelloccio – Taneesha Bridenback
*Nicolao: Ben Watson
*Pinellino: Dezi Rodgers
*Guccio: Bryant Jay
*Gherardino: Charlotte Bergholz
**Magistrate: David Goodwill
**Friar I: Sarah Brickeen
**Friar II: Dezi Rodgers
**Magistrate's Guards: Bryant Jay & Ben Watson

* Role only appears in Gianni Schicchi; ** Role only appears in Buoso's Ghost

Orchestra

Conductor: Hanrich Claassen
Violin: Caitlin Pequignot, Julie Di Lecce*, Ariah Deason*, Alyssa Orantes*
Viola: Alex Koller*
Cello: Brenton Zhang*
Bass: Edwin Rivera
Flute (double piccolo): Julia Sills*
Oboe: Sara Hrkach
Clarinet/Saxophone: Jonathan Gray*
Bassoon: Bing Gu*
Horn: Molly Kaplan* & Brendan Eisner*
Trumpet: Jacob McKey*
Trombone: Brian Ildefonso
Percussion: Sebastian Suarez Solis*
Keyboards: Robin Jensen

*Florida Symphony Youth Orchestra member

Creative Team

Production Manager: Ryan Douglass
Stage Director: Thomas Potter
Music Director: Robin Jensen
Stage Manager: Bridget Reagan
Assistant Stage Manager: Emma Catherine Brenner
Set Building: Ryan Douglass
Costumes: Pierre's Costumes (Philadelphia)
Puppet Designer: Madeline Rose
Props Master: Rachel Lavo
Videographer: David Brancato

Special Thanks

UCF School of Performing Arts: Michael Wainstein
UCF Opera Board: Matthew Fackler, Robin Jensen, Judy Lee, Rachel Lavo, Treva Marshall, Ginny Osborne, Mary Palmer, Sibille Pritchard, Kara Richardson, Deede Sharpe, Rita Wilkes
Florida Symphony Youth Orchestras: Heide Evans Waldron

1920s-couple-in-biarritz-france-vintage-images-canvas-print We are encouraging our Rhapsody in Blue guests to come in their finest 1920's attire! Not sure what to wear or don't want to buy something new? Here are some tips to give what you already have a 1920's flair!

For Women:

Sheath dresses - These dresses are often just below knee-length. The waistline should sit low on your hips. These dresses aren't form-fitting! Sheaths are cut relatively straight and just hang off of your body.
Fishnet tights - For extra authenticity, find nylons with seams running up the back.
Low heels - You've got to be able to dance!
Long beaded necklaces - Necklaces are often worn tied in a knot, and they hang down low!
Fur Wraps - Typically, shoulders are bare (except for the straps on your dress). But a fur wrap or shawl looks great draped on your arms!
Gloves - If you're going to wear gloves, opt for a solid-colored, silky looking fabric.
Hair - try out finger waves. If your hair is long, you can always throw it in a low bun and wear a beaded headband.
Make-up - go for a smokey eye and dark red lips.

For Men:

Suspenders, slacks, and a simple white button-down. Vests and bowties were also a nice way to keep a simple outfit looking classy.
Look for suits in either striking solid colors or plaid/pin-striped. Solid-colored suits in white were often accented with brightly colored ties in pinks or reds.
Shoes - look for oxfords or add spats to your regular dress shoes.

Want to go all out? Check out Orlando Vintage Clothing and Costume for your 1920s costume rental!

ORLANDO, FL – On Saturday, April 14, 2018, at 8:00 pm, you can travel back in time to the "Roaring 20's" with Florida Symphony Youth Orchestras for its annual Gala, held at The Plaza Live, 425 N Bumby Ave, Orlando, FL 32803.

This spectacular evening will include a reception and silent auction, a fabulous dinner prepared by Itar Bistro, and end with some of the best seats in the house for an amazing concert featuring South African pianist, Charl Du Plessis with Music Director Hanrich Claassen, Jazz Conductor Jeff Rupert, and your FSYO Jazz and Symphonic Orchestras.

"I'm excited to present to you my good friend, Charl du Plessis, as a featured artist for our Gala concert program. Charl was the youngest pianist in Africa to be named a Steinway Artist in 2010 and it's our honor to have him collaborating with the Jazz and the Symphonic Orchestras with music that promises to fill your heart with joy." - Hanrich Claassen, Music Director and Symphonic Orchestra Conductor

Du Plessis is no stranger to working with Maestro Claassen, as the two have been colleagues and collaborators in ensembles and schools all over the world. Du Plessis says, "Making music with Maestro Claassen and young artists in Africa, China and Europe has always been an honor and filled with fun. Now Florida awaits and I'm happy to take the stage with this lifelong friend and colleague." Together they will perform George Gershwin's iconic jazz-concerto, Rhapsody in Blue, along with a surprise piece that was arranged for the orchestra by Du Plessis himself. This piece melds the worlds of classical and jazz music and is sure to entertain and leave the audience with a smile on their faces.

"Charl specializes in the arrangement and refined treatment of crossover music that sets him apart from other pianists and has enabled him to build a new audience where the classic music connoisseur and jazz enthusiast meet." - Hanrich Claassen, Music Director and Symphonic Orchestra Conductor

Tickets for this special Gala concert can be purchased on the FSYO website, www.fsyo.org. Ticket prices for this concert range from $10 to $30. Florida academic and private teachers receive free admission to this concert but must email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. by April 8, 2018, in order to have a seat reserved. This is one that you do not want to miss!

About FSYO: Florida Symphony Youth Orchestras exists to encourage children and young adults, through the practice and performance of orchestral music, to become passionate leaders, thinkers, and contributors in their local community and beyond. In its 61st Concert Season, FSYO comprises three full orchestras, one string training orchestra, an advanced chamber ensemble, and a new jazz orchestra made up of more than 250 students from nine Central Florida counties. Programs are sponsored in part by the Florida Department of State, Division of Cultural Affairs; the Florida Council on Arts and Culture; Orlando Utilities Commission; The City of Orlando, Mayor's Matching Grant; and United Arts of Central Florida. We thank these groups for their generous support.

Learn more: web: www.fsyo.org | FB: @TheFSYO | Twitter: @FSYO | IG: @F_S_Y_O | Youtube: @fsyo

About Charl Du Plessis: Charl du Plessis made his international debut in 1999 and rose to fame when he was the youngest pianist in Africa to be named a Steinway Artist in 2010. His international performing and teaching career is a testimony to his versatility, working simultaneously as classical and jazz pianist. In 2017 he became the first pianist in the world to perform on top of Table Mountain in his native South Africa.

International concert tours to Europe and the Far-East in concert halls ranging from London's Royal Albert Hall to Shanghai's Oriental Arts Centre have contributed to the press hailing Du Plessis as a "cult pianist" an "edu-tainer" and a pianist with "x-factor". He is equally comfortable on the recital stage, band stand or with orchestras and ensembles as soloist, composer or arranger.

Charl du Plessis has collaborated with many pre-eminent international musicians and has performed with South Africa's most prestigious orchestras: Johannesburg and Cape Town Philharmonic, Pretoria Symphony and the Free State Symphony Orchestra.

For the past 18 years, he has performed in more than 60 concerts per year with singer and iconic South African entertainer Nataniël.

Since making the decision to establish his own trio with bassist Werner Spies and drummer Hugo Radyn in 2006, Charl du Plessis has alerted audiences to the complexities and capabilities of combining jazz and classic music. The creative possibilities of this musical unit have offered him the means to produce a wide range of music not confined by any style or genre and has enjoyed international success with concert tours in Europe and Asia.

Charl du Plessis lives in Pretoria, South Africa and divides his time between concert life, composing, arranging and, over the last few years, a teaching position on the piano faculty at the University of Pretoria. He performs more than 130 concerts per season and pursues a comprehensive approach to the musical profession, organizing his own management, recording under his own independent label, as well as Swiss label Claves, and studying the art of piano building and the latest sound technology. He has developed a similar approach to recording, a process that he controls at each and every stage.

He has released 8 CD and 2 DVD recordings. He has won a SAMA Award (South African Music Award) for best Classical Album, a KykNet Fiësta Award for Boogie Woogie Big Band in 2017 and a Ghoema Award for best Instrumental album in 2013. He has been at the top of the South African classical billboard charts for 74 weeks and regularly appears on television and radio.

Charl du Plessis studied with master piano teacher Joseph Stanford at the University of Pretoria and was the first student ever to complete a doctoral performance degree specializing simultaneously in classical and jazz piano. He also studied with well-known musicians, including György Sebök in Ernen, Switzerland, Dan Hearle and Stefan Karlsson at the University of North Texas, USA and Ulrich Koellah at the Musikhochschule Winterthur-Zurich, Switzerland. He has been the recipient of major prizes at International Scholarship Competitions of the University of South Africa (UNISA) and the South African Music Rights Organisation (SAMRO).

His most recent recording is Baroqueswing Vol. III on Swiss record label CLAVES.

For more information visit charlduplessis.com

This week's alumni appreciation post is about Ms. Kimberly Hankins. She was a part of Florida Symphony Youth Orchestras for five years, where she played the violin and viola. Ms. Hankins participated in Philharmonia Orchestra from 2002-2005, as Violin 1 and 2, and Symphonic Orchestra from 2005-2006, in the Viola section. Kimberly says, "It was in FSYO that I found my love of orchestral playing".

After graduating high school and the FSYO program, Kimberly went on to Indiana University for her undergraduate studies. There she was able to obtain a Performance Diploma and Master of Music in Viola Performance. Once Kimberly graduated from Indiana University, she realized that she wanted to help others pursue a career in music. She said, "Helping students achieve their goals is extremely rewarding".

Deciding to further her education, Kimberly now attends Arizona State University in pursuit of a Doctorate of Musical Arts. As a Graduate Teaching Assistant in Viola, she currently teaches six undergraduate students, five of them majoring in music. She is also a member of The Herberger String Quartet, ASU's premiere graduate ensemble; as well as the violist for ASU's studio orchestra, a teaching orchestra for the student conductors.

Once Kimberly graduates from ASU she would like to balance teaching at the collegiate level and playing in an orchestra. When asked about the importance of music education, she believes "music education helps everyone think more creatively and appreciate music in their own lives. Classical music is something that should be accessible to everyone".

For more information about Ms. Kimberly Hankins, you can visit her website at https://kimberlyhankins.com/

Today's #ThankfulThursday goes to Mr. Eric Mendez for being a teacher, conductor, and mentor to young students in our community. Mr. Mendez grew up playing the Trombone and Euphonium throughout his time in school. He is now a music teacher and the band director at Maitland Middle School and teaches band and jazz band for sixth through eighth graders. In addition to his work with Maitland Middle, Mr. Mendez is a regular sectional coach and guest conductor for FSYO.

We asked Mr. Mendez when he realized he wanted to be a teacher, he said, "I was in high school and had tremendous respect for my music teachers. I knew then that I would want to help students be the best they could be in the high school band because I saw the value of this organization for developing young people into good citizens". Once realizing his desire to teach, Mr. Mendez went to Valencia Community College and then Florida State University to obtain a Bachelor degree in Music Education.

After graduating college, Mr. Mendez went on to start his teaching career at Lake Gibson Junior High in Lakeland, Florida. Once he was engaged to be married, he moved to Orlando where he taught at Jackson Heights Middle School for a year. At the end of that year, a fellow FSU alum called him to interview at Discovery Middle School and he taught there for seven years. In 2001, he began teaching at Maitland Middle School as the co-band director and within three years became the full band director.

Mr. Mendez enjoys watching students progress from beginners to artists that can make music happen at a high level within three years. When asked why he believes music education is important to teach, he said, "Music is the language of the human heart. Anyone who grows up without a knowledge of it grows up without one of the most important aspects of human creativity".

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Rhapsody in Blue Gala - Moments from the Roaring 20s Photo Booth

UCF Celebrates the Arts - Opera Double Feature

Get Gala Ready - 1920's Fashion Tips

FSYO Presents Rhapsody in Blue Gala on April 14th Featuring Charl Du Plessis, Piano

FSYO Alumni Spotlight - Kimberly Hankins

Music Educator Spotlight - Eric Mendez