SLO 'Così fan Tutte' - 28 Feb, 1 and 3 March 2014 (Early-Bird Discounts)

Lots of things can be said about Mozart's opera about confused lovers, their cynical mentor and cunning maid, but I think readers of this blog will be most interested to know who's singing. So here goes:

Rachelle Gerodias (Soprano/Philippines) as Fiordiligi, a young lady in love with Guglielmo
Du Qin (Mezzo Soprano/China) as Dorabella, her sister, in love with Ferrando                
Ee‐Ping (Soprano/Singapore) as Despina, their maid
Ferrando (TBC), a young man in love with Dorabella
Byeong‐in Park (Baritone/South Korea) as Guglielmo, a young man in love with Fiordiligi
David Hibbard (Bass/Australia) as Don Alfonso, an old philosopher

Joshua Tan Kang Ming, Conductor
Tom Hawkes, director      
Singapore Lyric Opera Orchestra and Chorus

Here are the bios of the debutants:

Byeong‐in Park - Guglielmo

 After finishing his studies in Seoul at Chung‐Ang University, the Korean Baritone Byeong‐in Park continued his studies in the soloist class of Ks Francisco Araiza at University of Music and Performing Arts in Stuttgart/Germany. He attended master classes with Piero Miranda Ferraro, D. Fischer‐Dieskau, Júlia Várady, Montserrat Caballé, Ks Francisco Araiza, Romualdo Savastano and Ks Brigitte Fassbaender.

In 2008, he was a finalist in both "Iris Adami Corradetti" singing competition and also in the final of the "Montserrat Caballe" singing competition. He has been on a scholarship with Siaa‐Foundation, Liechtenstein since 2009.

Recently, he became the winner of the singing competition, Kammeroper Schloss Rheinsberg 2013. He was also awarded the role of Count Homonay / Gypsy Baron by J. Strauss at the Festival Schloss Rheinsberg and Staatstheater Braunschweig.

Engagements as a soloist led this artist to Seoul/S.Korea as Germont in La Traviata. He was Ottokar (Freischütz) with the Philharmonie Reutlingen, Demetrius in Britten's Midsummer Night's Dream, Eugene Onegin (main role) with the Stuttgart Chamber Orchestra. In Bremen (Opera) you could hear him as Sciarrone (Tosca), Yakuside (Madama Butterfly), and as an officer in Il Barbiere di Siviglia (Rossini).

He has regular solo performances: "The Magic of Voice" in Mertingen/Germany, with the Philharmonie Reutlingen "Rossini‘s guest",  at the Gala de Presentació 2012/13 at Teatre Principal de Palma, Majorca/E, ‐ in church concerts and in the context of private organizers. "Die Winterreiseby" by Franz Schubert is part of his repertoire. This concert cycle started in Spain last year.

Currently Mr. Park is working as a soloist at the Graz Opera (Opera Studio). He is the father, Peter, in Hansel and Gretel by Humperdinck (Director: Ks Brigitte Fassbaender), and he is also engaged as Schaunard / La Boheme by G. Puccini and Heerrufer / Lohengrin by Richard Wagner.

Du Qin - Dorabella

Born in 1977 in China, Du Qin studied Singing at the Music Academy in Shandong, China until 2001, graduating with a Bachelor in Music. She furthered her education at the Conservatory in Hamburg (Germany) from 2002 to 2006 where she was taught by Professor Jeanette Scovotti and at the College of Music in Wurzburg (Germany) where she was taught by Professor and opera singer Leandra Overmann. She successfully completed her further studies with a Diploma in Concert and Music Theatre.

During her study period, the young Mezzo‐soprano gusted at the state opera in Hannover (Germany), where she sang under the musical director Konrad Junghänel and Johannes Harneit and worked with directors like Peter Konwitschny and Kazuko Watanabe. In the Hanoverian production "Al gran sole carica d'amore" by Luigi Nono she acted at the Edinburgh International Festival.

In an opera studio of the College of Music in Wurzburg she sang inter alia the part of Suzuki (Madame Butterfly), Beatrice (Le Donne Curiose by Ermanno Wolf‐Ferrari) and the mother (Mavra by Igor  Stravinsky).

In the season 2006/2007 she gusted at the state opera in Belgrade acting the part of the Page (Salome) and with great success she sang as Nikolaus (Hoffmann's Stories) at the Festival in Eutin (Germany).

From 2007 until 2010 she was a fixed member of the Ensemble of the state opera in Bern (Switzerland) with roles like Maddalena (Rigoletto), Neris (Medea), Nicklaus (Les Contes d'Hoffmann), Rosina (Il Barbiere di Siviglia), Hänsel (Hänsel and Gretel), Gianetta (L'elisir d'amore), Annina (the Rosenkavalier), Hermia (Midsummer Night's Dream by Benjamin Britten), the first trumpet (La prova d'orchestra by Giorgio Battistelli), Kaito (Fervaal by Vincent D'indy) and mother Johanna decanting (dialogues des Carmelites by Francis Poulenc).

With fixed engagements she gave and gives still many performances as a guest. At the state opera in Prague as Maddalena (Rigoletto) and at the state opera in Stuttgart (Germany)she had the opportunity to sing in a modern production called "Manoalchadia" by Chaya Czernowin. In Spain at the Teatro Principal de Alicante, Teatro Principal Burgos, Teatro Circa Albacete and Teatro Rojas Toledo she resumed the part of "Suzuki" in Madame Butterfly.

Since 2011, she has been a fixed member of the Ensemble of the state opera in Freiburg(Germany) with roles like Floßhilde in(Das Rheingold and Götterdämmerung), Roßweiße (Die Walküre), Voice from Above(Parsifal),Venus (Orpheus in the Underworld), Squirrel, Kate and a Patrè (L`Enfant et les Sortilèges), second Lady (The magic Flute), Dryade (Ariadne auf Naxos), Paulina and Daphnis (Pique Dame).

On 12 November 2012 Du Qin celebrated at the festival for the 150th anniversary of the Protestant Market Church in Wiesbaden great success as Dalila in a concert performance of Samson et Dalila with the Eastern Bohemia in Hradec Kralove Philharmonic Orchestra under the Conductor of Thomas Frank.

The Mezzo‐soprano Du Qin is also in great demand as a song, ‐concert ‐and oratorio Singer. Her concert repertoire already includes all great masses, Passions and Oratories from Bach, Händel, Mendelssohn, Mozart, Rossini, Dvoràk, Verdi and others. Her Concert activity lead her to distinguished Concert halls and churches to Germany, Swiss, Austria, Spain, Prague and China 2010 she sang the 2nd Symphony of Gustav Mahler at the Mainfranken Theatre in Wurzburg (Germany) and Missa da Requiem of Guiseppe Verdi at the parish of St. Elisabeth in Fulda and in Prague where she won an enormous popularity.



David Hibbard - Don Alfonso

Australian bass David Hibbard graduated from the Queensland Conservatorium of Music in 1981. As a young artist, he gained experience singing minor principal roles for three seasons with the State Opera of South Australia, followed by study in New York with Daniel Ferro and in England with Sir Peter Pears in 1985.

A contract with the English National Opera saw him as a principal in Die Meistersinger, Julius Caesar and Rossini’s Moses in Egypt and Simon Boccanegra for the Glyndebourne Festival Opera. In 1987, he sang Sparafucile, touring England with Opera 80. He returned to Australia in 1988 to appear with Opera Australia in roles ranging from Fiesco in Boccanegra, Ramphis in Aida, Monterone in Rigoletto and The Speaker in The Magic Flute to Publio in La Clemenza di Tito.

In 1990, after receiving the German Operatic Award from Opera Foundation Australia, he commenced a contract with Cologne Stadtsoper, performing roles by composers from Mozart to Peter Maxwell‐Davies, as well as Lieder Recitals. In 1992, he was appointed First Bass with the Bremen Stadts Theater where he performed Fiesco in Simon Boccanegra, Padre Guardiano in La Forza del Destino, Sparafucile, Baron Ochs, Prince Gremin, Colline and Alvise Badoero in La Gioconda.

Since returning to Australia in 1994, Mr Hibbard has appeared numerous times with all the leading opera companies and concert organsiations. 2004 saw him undertake the role of Fafner in Der Ring des Nibelungen for State Opera of South Australia (recorded and subsequently released by Melba Recordings) and perform Don Alfonso in New Zealand Opera’s tour of Così fan Tutte.

In recent seasons, he has taken many principal bass roles for Opera Queensland ‐ in The Marriage of Figaro, The Barber of Seville, Madama Butterfly and Romeo et Juliette; for State Opera of South Australia ‐ Rigoletto, Dead Man Walking, Un Ballo in Maschera and The Marriage of Figaro; for Opera Australia ‐ Don Carlo and A Midsummer Night's Dream. He has performed in concert with Victorian Opera, the Queensland Symphony Orchestra, the Queensland Music Festival and sang Verdi’s Requiem with Stanford University Symphony Orchestra in Melbourne and Sydney.

In recent seasons, David Hibbard has sung Ramphis (Aida) and Rocco (Fidelio) for State Opera of South Australia and Brander (The Damnation of Faust) for Victorian Opera. For Opera Queensland, he has appeared in La fanciulla del West and Tosca and taken the bass solos in Messiah for the Queensland Symphony Orchestra. In 2014, Mr Hibbard returns to New Zealand Opera for performances of La traviata in Auckland and Wellington.

Early‐Bird Promotion from 29 November 2013 to 31 December 2013 
• 20% discount for SLO Friends, all OCBC credit card holders, AlumNUS and NUSS card holders, PAssion Card Members
• 15% discount for general public booking via SISTIC website: www.sistic.com.sg
• 15% concession discount for students, full‐time NSmen and Senior Citizens (62 yrs and above)

After Early‐Bird Promotion from 1 January 2014 onwards 
• 20% discount for Corporate/Group/School bookings for purchases of 10 tickets and above (available at SLO Office only), OCBC Arts Platinum card holders
• 15% discount for SLO Friends, all other OCBC credit card, AlumNUS card, NUSS card, Kinokuniya Privilege card holders, PAssion Card Members, SLO Orchestra & Choir members and The Expressos
• 15% concession discount for students, full‐time NSmen and Senior Citizens (62 yrs and above)

All relevant cards must be produced in order to enjoy the discounts. Discount schemes are not valid with any other promotions and/or discounts. Schools may use the Tote Board Arts Grant subsidy to enjoy up to 50% off the ticket price! For more details login to www.nac.gov.sg/aep (under FAQs)