### Event Description: Viva Verdi Maryland Opera

#### Overview
Join us for a grand celebration of Giuseppe Verdi and Rosa Ponselle at the "Viva Verdi" event, presented by Maryland Opera. This event honors the tremendous legacy of Rosa Ponselle, a pivotal figure in Baltimore's opera history, by featuring music from Verdi operas associated with her. The performances will be held in the shadow of her home, Villa Pace, and will showcase the talents of today's and tomorrow's operatic stars.

#### Event Details
- **Date:** June 9, 2024
- **Time:** 3:00 PM
- **Venue:** Inscape Theatre at Stevenson University, 1525 Greenspring Valley Road, Stevenson, MD 21153
- **Note:** This event is not affiliated with Stevenson University.

#### Program
The event will feature selections from three of Verdi's operas, performed in Italian with English surtitles. There will be one 20-minute intermission.

1. **Il trovatore** - Final Act
   - **Libretto by:** Salvadore Cammarano
   - **Synopsis:** Manrico, imprisoned by Count Di Luna, is bid farewell by Leonora, who takes poison to save him. The Count orders Manrico's execution, only to realize too late that he has killed his own brother.

2. **Aïda** - Act 3: The Nile Scene
   - **Libretto by:** Antonio Ghislanzoni
   - **Synopsis:** Aïda, an Ethiopian princess enslaved by the Egyptians, meets her lover Radames by the Nile. Her father, King Amonasro, convinces her to extract military secrets from Radames, leading to a tragic betrayal.

3. **La forza del destino** - Final Scene
   - **Libretto by:** Francesco Maria Piave
   - **Synopsis:** Leonora, living as a monk, encounters her dying brother Carlo and former fiancé Alvaro. Carlo stabs Leonora, who dies after urging Alvaro to seek redemption.

#### Cast
- **Rochelle Bard:** Leonora (Trovatore & Forza)
- **Helena Brown:** Aïda
- **Kate Jackman:** Azucena
- **Brian Major:** Amonasro
- **Tim Mix:** Conte di Luna, Padre Guardiano
- **Dane Suarez:** Manrico, Radames, Alvaro
- **James Harp:** Director

#### Orchestra
- **Violin 1:** José Cueto
- **Violin 2:** Celeste Blase
- **Viola:** Christof Huebner
- **Cello:** Kirsten Walsh
- **Flute:** Sara Nichols
- **Clarinet:** David Drosinos
- **Piano:** James Harp

#### Chorus
- **Members:** Jason Buckwalter, Vijay Ghosh, Henry Hubbard, Peter Juengst, Kevin Paton-Cole, Kevin Wetzel, Aaron Sherber, Kimberly Christie, Chuck Atwell, April Forrer, Lisa Lyons, Alyssa Stanton

#### Production Staff
- **Director:** James Harp
- **Stage Manager:** [Name]
- **Assistant Stage Manager:** [Name]
- **Set/Lighting Designer:** [Name]
- **Production Coordinator:** [Name]
- **Costumer:** [Name]
- **Wigs & Make Up:** [Name]
- **Supertitle Operator:** [Name]

#### Acknowledgements
- **Costumes Provided By:** Sarasota Opera Association, Inc.
- **Support:** Loretta Lee Ver Valen Endowment Fund for Leading Operatic Artists, Maryland State Arts Council (msac.org)
- **Venue Support:** St. Mark's Lutheran Church

#### Tickets
Secure your tickets now to be part of this magnificent celebration of opera. [GET TICKETS]

Join us for an unforgettable afternoon of operatic splendor, celebrating the enduring legacy of Verdi and Ponselle in our community.

April Forrer

Jun 9, 2024

Viva Verdi

April Forrer