heartbeat opera presents:

𝐂𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐛𝐲 𝐍𝐢𝐜𝐨 𝐊𝐫𝐞𝐥𝐥 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐉𝐚𝐜𝐨𝐛 𝐀𝐬𝐡𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐡
𝐍𝐞𝐰 𝐀𝐫𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐛𝐲 𝐃𝐚𝐧 𝐒𝐜𝐡𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐠
𝐒𝐜𝐫𝐢𝐩𝐭 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐍𝐞𝐰 𝐄𝐧𝐠𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐡 𝐋𝐲𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐬 𝐛𝐲 𝐍𝐢𝐜𝐨 𝐊𝐫𝐞𝐥𝐥, 𝐉𝐚𝐜𝐨𝐛 𝐀𝐬𝐡𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐡, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐆𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐞𝐭𝐭 𝐁𝐞𝐥𝐥
𝐃𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐛𝐲 𝐍𝐢𝐜𝐨 𝐊𝐫𝐞𝐥𝐥
𝐌𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐜 𝐃𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐛𝐲 𝐃𝐚𝐧 𝐒𝐜𝐡𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐠

PROGRAM:
the 𝐌𝐔𝐒𝐈𝐂
the 𝐂𝐀𝐒𝐓
the 𝐁𝐀𝐍𝐃
the 𝐓𝐄𝐀𝐌
the 𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐅𝐅 & 𝐁𝐎𝐀𝐑𝐃
up next: 𝟐𝟒-𝟐𝟓 𝐒𝐄𝐀𝐒𝐎𝐍 𝐂𝐎𝐍𝐓𝐈𝐍𝐔𝐄𝐒…
𝐒𝐔𝐏𝐏𝐎𝐑𝐓
𝐁𝐈𝐎𝐆𝐑𝐀𝐏𝐇𝐈𝐄𝐒

the 𝐌𝐔𝐒𝐈𝐂

𝐋𝐚𝐜𝐫𝐢𝐦𝐨𝐬𝐚, from Requiem (Mozart)

𝐖𝐞𝐞𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐲, a traditional Shape Note song*

𝐎 𝐂𝐫𝐮𝐱, from St. Luke Passion (Penderecki)

𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐠𝐮𝐞, from Peter Grimes (Britten)*

𝐒𝐮𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐝𝐢𝐨, from La Gioconda (Ponchielli)*

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐓𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐬 𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐌𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧, from Susannah (Floyd) 

𝐒𝐨𝐧 𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐠𝐢𝐧 𝐯𝐞𝐳𝐳𝐨𝐬𝐚, from I Puritani (Bellini)

𝐎 𝐅𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐮𝐧𝐚, from Carmina Burana (Orff)

𝐈 𝐇𝐨𝐩𝐞 𝐘𝐨𝐮’𝐫𝐞 𝐇𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐲, from Wicked (Schwartz)

𝐓𝐨𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐦𝐢 𝐚 𝐝𝐢𝐫 𝐜𝐡𝐞 𝐦’𝐚𝐦𝐢, from Don Pasquale (Donizetti)

𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐒𝐢𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐫 𝐓𝐨𝐧𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭’𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐍𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭, from Susannah (Floyd) 

𝐁𝐚𝐦 𝐁𝐚𝐦 𝐒𝐡𝐚𝐰𝐚𝐦 (Kevin JZ Prodigy)

𝐈 𝐚𝐦 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐖𝐢𝐟𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐌𝐚𝐨 𝐓𝐬𝐞 𝐓𝐮𝐧𝐠, from Nixon in China (Adams)*

𝐒𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐆𝐢𝐟𝐭𝐬, from Appalachian Spring (Copland) 

*featuring new lyrics by Nico Krell, Jacob Ashworth, and Garrett Bell

the 𝐂𝐀𝐒𝐓

𝐂𝐮𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐬 𝐁𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫 // Chastity
𝐉𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐲𝐧 𝐌𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠-𝐖𝐡𝐢𝐭𝐞 // Abigail
𝐉𝐨𝐡𝐧 𝐓𝐚𝐲𝐥𝐨𝐫 𝐖𝐚𝐫𝐝 // Judge
𝐀𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐥𝐚 𝐘𝐚𝐦 // Rebecca
𝐑𝐨𝐝𝐨𝐥𝐟𝐨 𝐆𝐢𝐫ó𝐧 // Mercy
𝐁𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐫𝐝 𝐇𝐨𝐥𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐛 // Clemency
𝐇𝐚𝐧𝐬 𝐓𝐚𝐬𝐡𝐣𝐢𝐚𝐧 // Misery

the 𝐁𝐀𝐍𝐃

𝐃𝐚𝐧 𝐒𝐜𝐡𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐠 // Piano
𝐉𝐚𝐜𝐨𝐛 𝐀𝐬𝐡𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐡 // Violin
𝐌𝐢𝐫𝐚 𝐖𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐚𝐦𝐬 // Viola
𝐉𝐮𝐥𝐢𝐚 𝐇𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐨𝐧 // Cello

the 𝐓𝐄𝐀𝐌

𝐍𝐢𝐜𝐨 𝐊𝐫𝐞𝐥𝐥 & 𝐉𝐚𝐜𝐨𝐛 𝐀𝐬𝐡𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐡 // Creators
𝐍𝐢𝐜𝐨 𝐊𝐫𝐞𝐥𝐥 // Director
𝐃𝐚𝐧 𝐒𝐜𝐡𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐠 // Music Arranger & Director
𝐆𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐞𝐭𝐭 𝐁𝐞𝐥𝐥 // Co-writer
𝐃𝐚𝐯𝐢𝐝 𝐐𝐮𝐢𝐧𝐧 // Costume Designer
𝐁𝐞𝐧 𝐇𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐥𝐞𝐲 // Choreographer
𝐌𝐚𝐢𝐤𝐨 𝐀𝐧𝐝𝐨 // Makeup Designer
𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐚 𝐎𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐳 // Lighting Designer
𝐂𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐧𝐞 𝐆𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐠𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐤𝐲 // Props Supervisor
𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐣𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐃𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐧𝐞𝐫 // Alex Cordero
𝐌𝐚𝐱 𝐅𝐞𝐥𝐝𝐦𝐚𝐧 // Sound Designer
𝐊𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐧 𝐉𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐡𝐨𝐧𝐠 𝐙𝐡𝐮 // Production Stage Manager
𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐦𝐚𝐬 𝐌𝐢𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐞𝐥 𝐂𝐮𝐥𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐞 // Associate Producer
𝐎𝐥𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐚 𝐊𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐦𝐚 // Associate Stage Manager
𝐄𝐫𝐢𝐧 𝐎𝐫𝐦𝐬𝐛𝐲 // Assistant Makeup
𝐉𝐨𝐡𝐧 𝐓𝐚𝐲𝐥𝐨𝐫 𝐖𝐚𝐫𝐝 // Creative Associate
𝐏𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐠𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐓𝐞𝐧𝐠 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐝 // Voiceover
𝐀𝐳𝐚𝐞𝐥 𝐀𝐜𝐨𝐬𝐭𝐚 // Assistant Costume Design & Wardrobe
𝐑𝐲𝐚𝐧 𝐇𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐨𝐧, 𝐊𝐚𝐭𝐲 𝐅𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐦𝐚𝐧, 𝐒𝐨𝐩𝐡𝐢𝐞 𝐌𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐚𝐫, 𝐉𝐚𝐳𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐂𝐮𝐫𝐫𝐲, 𝐒𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐨𝐧 𝐊𝐨𝐠𝐞𝐫 // Stichers

the 𝐇𝐄𝐀𝐑𝐓𝐁𝐄𝐀𝐓 𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐅𝐅

Jacob Ashworth // Artistic Director
Christian De Gré Cárdenas // Interim General Director
Dan Schlosberg // Music Director
Nicole Cantos // Communications Manager 
Nikki Vera // Marketing Specialist
Aleba Garter // Press Representative
Tungsten Philanthropic // Development Advisors
Arts FMS // Financial Consultants

the 𝐁𝐎𝐀𝐑𝐃

Thérèse Esperdy (chair)
Sonja Bergerren
Elizabeth Diamond
Stephen M. Foster
Ethan Heard
Louisa Proske
Robert Fitzpatrick (Emeritus)

𝐒𝐏𝐄𝐂𝐈𝐀𝐋 𝐓𝐇𝐀𝐍𝐊𝐒!

To 𝐉𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐥𝐚𝐡 𝐑𝐢𝐦𝐚𝐰𝐢, 𝐉𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐑𝐨𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐭𝐬𝐨𝐧, 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐥𝐞𝐲 𝐁𝐚𝐡𝐨𝐫𝐞𝐤, 𝐀𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐨𝐧 𝐋𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭, 𝐄𝐦𝐦𝐚 𝐒𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐧, 𝐇𝐨𝐨𝐤𝐞𝐫 𝐂𝐚𝐦𝐩𝐛𝐞𝐥𝐥, 𝐃𝐫𝐞𝐰 𝐌𝐜𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐥𝐥, 𝐀𝐥𝐤𝐢𝐦𝐢𝐚, 𝐐𝐮𝐞𝐞𝐫𝐀𝐫𝐭, 𝐉𝐮𝐝𝐬𝐨𝐧 𝐌𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐂𝐡𝐮𝐫𝐜𝐡, 𝐀𝐑𝐓/𝐍𝐞𝐰 𝐘𝐨𝐫𝐤 𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐬, 𝐆𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐨, 𝐎𝐏𝐄𝐑𝐀 𝐀𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐚, and all of our fabulous volunteers.

up next: 𝟐𝟒-𝟐𝟓 𝐒𝐄𝐀𝐒𝐎𝐍 𝐂𝐎𝐍𝐓𝐈𝐍𝐔𝐄𝐒…

Get ready for an ambitious, electric season with two brand new mainstage shows—one this winter and one in the spring! We’re bringing iconic operas to the 𝐈𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐥𝐞 𝐂𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫 (a new venue for us) and 𝐁𝐚𝐫𝐮𝐜𝐡 𝐏𝐞𝐫𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐀𝐫𝐭𝐬 𝐂𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫 (our home away from home). Expect two radical adaptations led by visionary directors 𝐄𝐥𝐢𝐳𝐚𝐛𝐞𝐭𝐡 𝐃𝐢𝐧𝐤𝐨𝐯𝐚 and 𝐒𝐚𝐫𝐚 𝐇𝐨𝐥𝐝𝐫𝐞𝐧. And for the first time, we offering an exclusive presale ticket deal** to everyone who came to 𝐒𝐋𝐀𝐘𝐋𝐄𝐌. Grab your tickets now and be part of this thrilling season!

𝐅𝐞𝐛𝐫𝐮𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝟒-𝟏𝟔, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓
𝐈𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐥𝐞 𝐂𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫

A brand new adaptation, sung in English.
Music by Richard Strauss
Libretto from Hedwig Lachmann’s translation of the French play by Oscar Wilde.

𝐂𝐨-𝐀𝐝𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐛𝐲 𝐉𝐚𝐜𝐨𝐛 𝐀𝐬𝐡𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐡 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐁𝐞𝐭𝐡 𝐃𝐢𝐧𝐤𝐨𝐯𝐚
𝐍𝐞𝐰𝐥𝐲 𝐀𝐫𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐝 𝐛𝐲 𝐃𝐚𝐧 𝐒𝐜𝐡𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐠
𝐃𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐛𝐲 𝐄𝐥𝐢𝐳𝐚𝐛𝐞𝐭𝐡 𝐃𝐢𝐧𝐤𝐨𝐯𝐚
𝐌𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐜 𝐃𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐛𝐲 𝐉𝐚𝐜𝐨𝐛 𝐀𝐬𝐡𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐡

What do we do while we wait for the world to end? In a society at the height of decadence, where pop stars sing for despots’ birthdays, and even fools can be billionaires, it’s not only the prophets who are kept in cages. There’s one for each of us. In a decaying palace on the edge of the world, everyone is yearning for something to believe in. Heartbeat Opera's intimate new take, featuring a fresh 10-instrument orchestration by Dan Schlosberg, recaptures the shock of Strauss's scandalous classic by performing it in English, delivering the immediacy and terror of the original.

** Heartbeat Opera’s presale deal is your chance to snag tickets before they officially go on sale. Looking to save a few bucks on your tickets? Now's your moment! This exclusive link expires on November 1st. Happy ticket shopping!

For more information and to follow along, visit: heartbeatopera.org/salome

𝐌𝐚𝐲 𝟏𝟑-𝟐𝟓, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓
𝐁𝐚𝐫𝐮𝐜𝐡 𝐏𝐞𝐫𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐀𝐫𝐭𝐬 𝐂𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫

A brand new 90-minute adaptation, sung in French with new English dialogues.
Music by Charles Gounod
Original Libretto by Jules Barbier and Michel Carré from Carré's play Faust et Marguerite

Co-Adapted by Jacob Ashworth and Sara Holdren
Newly Arranged by Dan Schlosberg
New English dialogues by Sara Holdren
Directed by Sara Holdren
Music Directed by Jacob Ashworth

A lonely scholar makes a bargain with the devil, and all hell breaks loose. Gounod sets Goethe’s epochal play to aching, swelling music, telling the story of Faust and Marguerite — a man who wildly misuses his regained youth, a young woman whose potential for life and love is cut tragically short, and the ravaged community left in their wake. In Heartbeat Opera's distinctly American adaptation of one of the most popular operas of all time, we ask anew, what happens to a life—to the lives it touches, to a society—when the soul hasn’t evolved along with the mind? When the voracious ego rules and reckless forward motion is all?

** Heartbeat Opera’s presale deal is your chance to snag tickets before they officially go on sale. Looking to save a few bucks on your tickets? Now's your moment! This exclusive link expires on November 1st. Happy ticket shopping!

For more information and to follow along, visit: heartbeatopera.org/faust

𝐒𝐔𝐏𝐏𝐎𝐑𝐓

Thank you for joining us at SLAYLEM: The Witch Trials, our Drag Opera Extravaganza! Your incredible generosity is what makes our season possible—helping us create magic and shape a bold vision for the future of opera. We couldn’t do it without you, and for that, we’re truly grateful.

If you haven’t donated yet, now’s the perfect time to get involved. Support us by clicking below and enjoy exclusive perks like early access to tickets, behind-the-scenes talkbacks, premier seating, and so much more. Every donation makes a difference in creating a company where exceptional artists can create the kind of work they cannot do anywhere else.

THE 𝐂𝐀𝐒𝐓 𝐁𝐈𝐎𝐒

𝐂𝐮𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐬 𝐁𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫 (Chastity), a 2021 recipient of the Actors Equity Foundation Roger Sturtevant Award and Drama League Award nominee for "Fidelio," has garnered acclaim for his performances across theater, film, and opera. Described by TimeOut Magazine as “radiating with slowly simmering energy” and hailed as a “quiet revelation” by the L.A. Times, Bannister’s talent shines on every stage.

In 2024, Curtis made a remarkable debut at Asolo Repertory Theatre, earning praise for his roles as Reverend Jeremiah Brown in Inherit the Wind, George in Lynn Nottage’s Pulitzer Prize-winning play Intimate Apparel, and Juror #8 in the world premiere of the musical adaptation of 12 Angry Men. He has performed with prestigious institutions like The Kennedy Center, the National Symphony, the Cincinnati Symphony, the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, and the Philadelphia Orchestra. Bannister’s collaborations include performances with Bradley Cooper, Carey Mulligan, Heather Headley, and various opera companies.

𝐉𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐲𝐧 𝐌𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠-𝐖𝐡𝐢𝐭𝐞 (Abigail), is in high demand on the concert, opera, and theatre stage.  As a core performer with Heartbeat Opera, she has captivated audiences with her stunning artistry and energetic portrayals.  Recently, Ms. Manning-White joined Opera Philadelphia’s O18 Festival, covering Patricia Racette in La Voix Humaine as well as a return to Hartford Symphony Orchestra for Vaughn Williams’s Dona nobis pacem and a debut with Salt Marsh Opera, singing Queen of the Night in The Magic Flute.  Upcoming engagements include a return to the Bangor Symphony Orchestra as the soprano soloist in Haydn’s Mass in Time of War and a return to the Hartford Symphony as the soprano soloist in Beethoven 9. An alumnus of the prestigious Yale School of Music, Ms. Manning-White is a two time Regional Finalist of the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions.

𝐉𝐨𝐡𝐧 𝐓𝐚𝐲𝐥𝐨𝐫 𝐖𝐚𝐫𝐝 (Judge), performs with “stylish abandon” (The New Yorker), “intense clarity and color” (New York Times), “finely calibrated precision and heartrending expressivity” (Washington Post). A native of Boone, North Carolina, Taylor grew up in a musical family – mostly bluegrass and Broadway. Before pursuing opera and early music studies at the Eastman and Yale Schools of Music, he spent his early years living a double life as both a sought-after musical theater actor and an Anglican boy treble. Taylor’s “lithe, louche, and admirably game” approach to the repertoire (Opera News) has yielded recent acclaimed debuts at Spoleto USA in the premier of Unholy Wars; Mexico’s Compañía Nacional de Teatro, starring in Iannis Xenakis’ Oresteia; and Vienna’s Musikverein as Jesus in Bach’s St. Matthew Passion. Notable DVD releases include the role of Nick Shadow in The Rake’s Progress with Barbara Hannigan, Proteo in Orfeo Chaman with Christina Pluhar and L’Arpeggiata, and an upcoming documentary series on the life and works of Claudio Monteverdi with the Sir John Eliot Gardiner. Taylor is the founding artistic director of the Lakes Area Music Festival of Minnesota, a laureate of the Jardin des voix, and a member of the two-time Grammy winning ensemble, Roomful of Teeth.

𝐀𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐥𝐚 𝐘𝐚𝐦 (Rebecca), hailed as “radiant” by the Boston Globe, returns to Boston Lyric Opera as an Emerging Artist for the 2024-25 season, performing the role of Ismene in Mozart’s Mitridate. Upcoming projects include the world premiere of The Pigeon Keeper by David Hanlon & Stephanie Fleischmann with Opera Parallèle, New Year’s Celebration with Boston Baroque, and a return to the title role of Cavalli’s La Calisto (Opera Memphis). 

Recent credits include the title role of Cavalli’s La Calisto (Opera Memphis), Josephine Young understudy in Huang Ruo & David Henry Hwang’s An American Soldier (PAC NYC), Johanna in Sondheim’s Sweeney Todd (Chautauqua Opera, Opera Saratoga) and Diana in Gluck’s Iphigénie en Tauride (Boston Baroque), in which she was praised for her “gleaming clarity” and “fitting rococo brilliance.”

Yam has premiered several operas, including Kenji Oh & Kelly Rourke’s The Emissary (Opera Parallèle) as an “adorable and vocally excellent” Mumei, Ellis Ludwig-Leone & Karen Russell’s The Night Falls as Siren 1, and Jones & Tinley’s ICELAND as the Bird, in which Yam was described as “stellar…a Puccini-esque soprano with incredible highs.” 

Yam won the New York City District in the 2023 Metropolitan Opera Laffont Competition, and her self-directed Visual Recital was awarded 3rd place in the 2022 American Prize Competition.

𝐑𝐨𝐝𝐨𝐥𝐟𝐨 𝐆𝐢𝐫ó𝐧 (Mercy), is described as a “…moving performer with a lush and delicate timbre...“ and “an ethereal countertenor with a rare gift,” Mexican American countertenor Rodolfo Girón joined Beth Morrison Projects last season for the world premiere of Paola Prestini’s The Old Man and the Sea also starring Nathan Gunn and Measha Brueggergosman-Lee. He joined the New York Philharmonic for the premiere of their commission Keyframes for a Hippogriff by Olga Neuwirth and he performed the Brazilian Jazz solos in Golijov’s Oceana and the alto solo in Mozart’s Requiem with Musica Viva NY. He also made his début with Opera Montana as Ottone in L'incoronazione di Poppea, bringing the first Baroque opera to Montana.

Recently Rudy joined The Dallas Opera for Jonathan Dove’s Flight, covering John Holiday. Other recent highlights include singing Arsamene in Pittsburgh Festival Opera’s production of Serse and the role of Oberon in A Midsummer Night's Dream with the Janeic Opera Company, where he was also the soloist in Vaughn Williams' Serenade to Music under the baton of Keith Lockhart. Rudy also joined Des Moines Metro Opera as an apprentice artist where he again covered John Holiday in the role of Refugee in Flight. Other roles include débuts as Melanto in Il ritorno d’Ulisse in patria, Ottone in L’incoronazione di Poppea, Ruggiero in Alcina, and El Alma in Juana.

𝐁𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐫𝐝 𝐇𝐨𝐥𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐛 (Clemency), having "already made a name for himself in the world of opera" with his "delicate and flexible" voice, returned to The Metropolitan Opera last season for both X: The Life and Times of Malcolm X and Fire Shut Up in My Bones. He also joined On Site Opera to sing the Curator in Song of the Nightingale and the Narrator in their Bach pastiche Coffee Cantata. Holcomb performed as Alfredo in La Traviata with Eugene Opera, workshopped the title role in The Pigeon Keeper with Santa Fe Opera, performed as Beadle Bamford in Pacific Symphony’s Sweeney Todd produced by UIA Presents, and joined Central City Opera as Henry Davis in Street Scene. He also made his network television debut on the 25th season of Law and Order: SVU. This season, he returns to the Met to sing the Fourth Jew in Salome and to Eugene Opera to sing the Duke of Mantua in Rigoletto. He also joins Opera Parallele in the title role of The Pigeon Keeper.

Recently, Mr. Holcomb made his Metropolitan Opera début in Terence Blanchard and Michael Cristofer’s Champion, his house début at Opera Omaha in X: the Life and Times of Malcolm X, and he joined Central City Opera as Iago in Rossini’s Otello and On Site Opera as Harlekin in Der Kaiser von Atlantis.

𝐇𝐚𝐧𝐬 𝐓𝐚𝐬𝐡𝐣𝐢𝐚𝐧 (Misery), a bass-baritone whose voice has been described as "rumbling and sumptuously lush" continues to expand his repertoire with esteemed opera companies throughout the US. In the 2023-2024 season Mr. Tashjian joined Opera Essentia as the title role in Handel’s Imeneo, Teatro Nuovo as Callistene in Donizetti’s Poliuto, Salt Marsh Opera as le Fauteuil and L’Arbre in L’enfant et les sortilèges, and Opera Essentia as Hercules in Handel’s Admeto. Recent highlights include his return to the Metropolitan Opera, covering Député Flamand 2 in Don Carlo, Pit Singer Bass in Hamlet, and debuting as Count Ceprano in Rigoletto, as well as appearing as Méphistophélès in Faust with Opera Baltimore, Figaro in Il barbiere di Siviglia with Teatro Nuovo, and Billy in the world premiere of The Snowy Day at Houston Grand Opera.

Tashjian's impressive credits include a wide range of roles, from the title role in Aleko and el Capitán in Florencia en el Amazonas to Enrico in Anna Bolena, Gremin in Eugene Onegin, Ferrando in Il trovatore, Sarastro in Die Zauberflöte, Melchtal in Guillaume Tell, Banco in Macbeth, and Wurm in Luisa Miller.

the 𝐁𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐁𝐈𝐎𝐒

𝐃𝐚𝐧 𝐒𝐜𝐡𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐠 (Arranger, Music Director, & Pianist), a Brooklyn-based composer-pianist, has been performed by the Dover Quartet, Minnesota Orchestra, Nashville Symphony, Albany Symphony, Buffalo Philharmonic, Cabrillo Festival Orchestra, Lorelei Ensemble, Aspen Contemporary Ensemble, Amphion Quartet, Antico Moderno, New Morse Code, and counter)induction, at venues including Carnegie Hall, National Sawdust, (le) poisson rouge, Royal Albert Hall, Detroit Institute of Arts, Williamstown Theatre Festival, Beijing Modern Music Festival, and David Lynch’s Festival of Disruption. Dan is a 2014 recipient of the Charles Ives Scholarship from the American Academy of Arts and Letters and has been awarded two ASCAP Morton Gould Young Composer Awards, most recently in 2014. His work has been described as “richly detailed yet delicate” by the New York Times and “witty” and “ingenious” by the Wall Street Journal. See more here.

𝐉𝐚𝐜𝐨𝐛 𝐀𝐬𝐡𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐡 (Co-creator & Violist), stepped into the role of Artistic Director for Heartbeat in the summer of 2022, after eight seasons as Co-Music Director. A conductor and violinist, Jacob has also been the “impressive Artistic Director” (New York Times) of Heartbeat's sister company, the baroque and modern “crack ensemble” (New Yorker) Cantata Profana, which he founded in 2012 at the Yale School of Music. As an Artistic Director, Jacob has become increasingly well known as a curator, always telling a new story of the history of music and opera; his vision for crafting rarely-heard masterpieces into theatrical, genre-bending chamber music shows earned Cantata Profana the 2016 CMA/ASCAP National Award for Adventurous Programming. See more here.

𝐌𝐢𝐫𝐚 𝐖𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐚𝐦𝐬 (Violist) Chicago native, is a violist and performer of historical and contemporary music, currently making music in NYC. She studied at the New England Conservatory and enjoys working with living composers and popular musicians.

Collaborators include the Lyric Opera, Rembrandt Chamber Players, Ravinia Institute, Birdfoot Festival, Banff Centre, Music in the Vineyards, Music for Food, the Sphinx Organization, and more. With her quartet, Highland Street, Mira worked with Miro, Escher, Parker, Eybler, Pacifica, and JACK Quartets. While studying in London, Mira performed often with the London Philharmonic Orchestra, Chineke! Orchestra, London Contemporary Orchestra, and her own Coalitiō Quartet.

𝐉𝐮𝐥𝐢𝐚 𝐇𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐨𝐧 (Cellist) has recently performed at Disney Hall, National Sawdust, Bargemusic, Jazz at Lincoln Center, MoMA PS1, and elsewhere. Julia is active both as a chamber musician and orchestral player, and regularly performs and premiers works of living composers. She can be heard on composer Finola Merivale’s debut album “Tús,” Buck McDaniel’s upcoming “The Chelsea Preludes,” and numerous other classical and non-classical recordings. Julia tours throughout the United States with chamber music theater group Core Ensemble and performs frequently with the Halcyon String Quartet, NYC-based Contemporaneous, and W4RP. As a soloist, she was featured most recently with COSMIC Symphony performing Dvorak’s Cello Concerto. In addition to performing, Julia currently teaches at the Trinity School in NYC, and is on faculty at Point Counterpoint and Envision summer festivals. She holds degrees from Oberlin Conservatory and the Juilliard School.

the 𝐓𝐄𝐀𝐌 𝐁𝐈𝐎𝐒

𝐍𝐢𝐜𝐨 𝐊𝐫𝐞𝐥𝐥 (Co-creator & Director), is an Uruguayan-born director raised across three continents. He creates theatrical adventures: plays, musicals, operas, performance art, immersive shows, and, once, a gastrotheatrical adaptation of Medea. Nico has been a Lecturer in Theater at Princeton University and was the recipient of the Louis Sudler Prize, Princeton's highest honor in the creative arts. He has directed projects at Lincoln Center, the wild project, Heartbeat Opera, The University of Toronto, Mercury Store, TheaterLab, Princeton University, and Princeton Summer Theater; he has supported work at Soho Rep., Opera America, and Berkshire Theatre Group.

𝐆𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐞𝐭𝐭 𝐁𝐞𝐥𝐥 (Co-writer), is a composer/lyricist/playwright working in New York City. His plays include REQUIEM, UNE COMEDIE FRANÇAISE, and the one woman show QUARANTINE. His musical material has been compiled into the irreverent song cycle HIPSTERS DRINKING COFFEE, and he provided book and lyrics for the musical THE BALLAD OF ELISA LAM. His writing has been featured by Z Publishing House and Rattle Poetry and he recently participated in the HBMG Foundation National Winter Playwriting Retreat. He and collaborator Jonathan W. Colby recently completed their musical adaptation of William Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream, BY MOONLIGHT, and he is currently working on his next musical: THE LOST BOYS; a vignette style show that examines the generation of gay men who grew up without role models. Current participant of the BMI Lehman Engel Musical Theatre Workshop, and proud member of the Dramatists Guild of America.

𝐃𝐚𝐯𝐢𝐝 𝐐𝐮𝐢𝐧𝐧 (Costume Designer), is a fashion and costume designer working in a variety of mediums from theatre, dance, and film to burlesque and red carpets. Quinn’s theatre work has appeared in numerous traditional and non traditional venues across America and internationally. In 2017 his work on Jack was described as “jaw dropping” (Travelance) and “glorious“ (Time Out NY). In 2022 his costumes for Dick Rivington were hailed as “brilliantly inventive“ by the NY Times. Quinn has designed dance costumes in collaboration with NYC based choreographers and soloists including The Martha Graham Company, Merce Cunningham, and Stanley Love. Dance View Times said, ”Quinn is cutting and draping and colouring the most beautiful dance costumes to be found in New York.”

Quinn’s wide ranging group of collaborators has recently included artists such as the iconic drag queen The Lady Bunny. Music legend Debbie Harry - creating her mirrored shroud for Coachella. Many red carpet and press event looks for Bridget Everett (HBO - Somebody Somewhere). Also, several incredible pieces for performance artist Darrel Thorne. Quinn’s work has appeared in a variety of publications and has been immortalized in several books and films. Currently, you can see Quinn’s costumes for the show Hypnotique in its second year of performances at the McKittrick Hotel, NYC.

Instagram @quinndustry

𝐁𝐞𝐧 𝐇𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐥𝐞𝐲 (Choreographer), is a writer, director, choreographer, filmmaker & Broadway professional. He is the co-creator, book writer, & choreographer of A Second Chance, a new musical. He wrote, directed, & choreographed the multi-award-winning short films Free & Early Mourning,distributed by ShortsTV & Amazon Prime.

Ben recently choreographed Into the Woods & Carousel for The Royal Academy of Music, London. He directed & choreographed Let the Right One In for The Neighborhood Playhouse, NYC, alongside original musical revues, Pure Imagination, Stoop Songs, Another Hundred People & By the River. He served as Movement Director and/or Choreographer for twelve full-scale productions for "The Fame School" NYC. He choreographed Held Momentarily for NYMF, Gypsy in Houston, TX, Hairspray in Stamford, CT, & Ballet Central UK. Ben served as the Assistant Choreographer on the Broadway production of Enron.

He performed in Broadway & West End productions of The Little Mermaid, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Fiddler on the Roof, Matthew Bourne’s Swan Lake, Cinderella, & The Carman, Follies, Cats, & Fosse as well as regional productions of Hello Dolly, Pirates of Penzance, & The Most Happy Fella. He danced in the Met Opera Ballet, New York City Opera, Santa Fe Opera, and English National Ballet. 

𝐌𝐚𝐢𝐤𝐨 𝐀𝐧𝐝𝐨 (Makeup Designer), is a New York based makeup artist grew up in Japan and extensively working in theater, television, film and advertising industries. Her work has showcased in CBS, Paramount + and Smithsonian Channel.

Maiko continues to display her work in many mediums with aesthetics and creativity ranging from "no makeup" makeup and natural beauty looks to creative character effects makeup. Her creative makeup designs have also been featured in various Heartbeat Opera productions, music videos, actors' reels and independent films.  www.maikomakeup.com

𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐚 𝐎𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐳 𝐇𝐞𝐫𝐫𝐞𝐫𝐚 (Lighting Designer), is a Mexican-born and New York-based Lighting Designer for theater, opera, and dance. Broadway: Good Night, Oscar (Belasco & Goodman Theatre); Regional: American Mariachi (Alley Theatre & Arizona Theatre Company); Born with Teeth (Guthrie & Alley Theatre); Native Gardens (Dallas Theatre Center); Everything Rises (BAM & Royce Hall); 4000 Miles, Doubt, A Parable (Westport Country Playhouse); I & You (Bristol Riverside Theatre); Macbeth, Until the Flood (Merrimack Theatre Repertory); All’s Well That Ends Well (Oregon Shakespeare Festival); The Railroad Children (Northern Stage); Seven Guitars (Yale Repertory Theatre). Other theatre: Hedda Gabler & Winter’s Tale (Bedlam Theatre Company); Yellowman, an Audelco Awards Best Lighting Design Nominee (Billie Holiday Theatre); Sweeney Todd (Yale Dramat); Titus Andronicus,and The Skin of Our Teeth (Yale University Theatre). Dance & Opera: Cruzar la Cara de la Luna (Minneapolis Opera); I as Another (BAC); Florencia en el Amazonas (Shubert Theatre); The Silent Lyre (Lighten Theatre); and The Cunning Little Vixen (Opera Theatre of Yale). Carolina is the Lighting Director for Calpulli Mexican Dance Company, and she worked as a Lighting Supervisor for the Santa Fe Opera for three seasons. Member of United Scenic Artists Local 829. Education: MFA, Yale School of Drama. www.carolinaeortiz.com

𝐂𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐧𝐞 𝐆𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐠𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐤𝐲 (Props Supervisor), is thrilled to be back with Heartbeat Opera for the magical Drag Extravaganza! They are a props artist with a passion for making the wildest dreams come to life on stage. Past Heartbeat productions include: Der Freischütz, Fidelio, Don Giovanni, Dragus Maximus, Hot Mama. Select Off-Broadway: Hamlet, As You Like It (Delacorte Theater); Suffs, cullud wattah (The Public Theater); Sandra (The Vineyard), The Search for Signs of Intelligent Life in the Universe (The Shed). Regional: Once (Bucks County Playhouse); Singin’ in the Rain, Beauty and the Beast, Saturday Night Fever (Maine State Music Theatre). 

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐦 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐥𝐞 (Projection Designer), is a pod of artists and programmers known for their live projections and video installations. Founded in 2006, the group has performed at hundreds of events around the globe. They straddle the fine art and nightlife worlds with a colorful pop sensibility.

𝐌𝐚𝐱 𝐅𝐞𝐥𝐝𝐦𝐚𝐧 (Sound Director), is a musician, composer, and improviser who lives in Brooklyn. Previous sound design work includes the score to RUR, a multimedia exhibition at the APE Ltd. Gallery in Northampton, Massachusetts. He has also released six albums of experimental electronic music and performs musical improv comedy at the Magnet Theater. Learn more at maxfeldman.net. 

𝐊𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐧 𝐉𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐡𝐨𝐧𝐠 𝐙𝐡𝐮 (Production Stage Manager), is a New York-based stage manager. He is thrilled to make his Heartbeat debut with its annual drag extravaganza! Selected Off-Broadway credits: Between Two Knees (PAC NYC); Salesman Zhisi (Yangtze Rep); A Delicate Balance (Transport Group & NAATCO); Romeo and Juliet (NAATCO); Public Obscenities (Soho Rep & NAATCO); Asilomar (MTC); Jesa, and Bags (Ma-Yi); She He Me, Criminal Queerness Festival (National Queer Theater). Selected Regional credits: National Music Theater Conference (the O’Neill); Scrooge! (Arizona Theatre Company); Between Two Knees (Seattle Rep & McCarter); Dial M for Murder, and Kim’s Convenience (Westport Country Playhouse); Soft Power workshop in NYC (Signature DC); Today is My Birthday, A Raisin in the Sun, and El Huracán (Yale Rep); Dream Hou$e (Long Wharf); To The Moon and Back (Chester Theatre Company). MFA: Yale School of Drama. bit.ly/kevinjzhu

𝐎𝐥𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐚 𝐊𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐦𝐚 (Assistant Stage Manager), is a queer, Japanese-American Stage Manager from Houston, Texas. A recent graduate from the University of North Carolina School of the Arts, she is excited to be back in NYC and working on her first production with Heartbeat. Select Credits Include: Mystere (Cirque Du Soleil), Mammelephant (Superhero Clubhouse), As You Like It (UNCSA), Lo frate 'nnamorato (AJ Fletcher Opera).

sponsors

Heartbeat Opera’s Spring Festival is made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature, and by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council. Heartbeat Opera is also proud to be supported by the Howard Gilman Foundation.