About the Story…
A young nun, working with the poor in the projects outside New Orleans, becomes a pen pal to Joseph De Rocher, a convicted murderer on death row. At his request, she becomes his spiritual adviser. Through meetings with him, the parents of his victims and his own family, Sister Helen makes an extraordinary journey through pain, conflict and grief to help De Rocher find his way to the truth, and the redemptive power of love.
Sung in English with supertitles
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About the Artists….
One of the country’s most riveting and significant young artists performing today, Mezzo- Soprano Kirstin Chavez makes her Tulsa Opera debut in the role of Sister Helen. Chavez has captured attention and acclaim in her signature roles and is known as the definitive Carmen of the day. In her 2008 debut at the Sydney Opera House with Opera Australia, she was called “stunning…with a confident and earthy stage presence and rich powerful voice.” She has been praised for her renditions of Rosina in Il barbiere di Siviglia (San Diego Opera, Santa Fe Opera, Indianapolis Opera, Orlando Opera), Dorabella in Così fan tutte (Orlando Opera, Connecticut Opera), Cenerentola in La Cenerentola (Kentucky Opera, Fresno Opera), Desideria in The Saint of Bleecker Street (Central City Opera) and Maddalena in Rigoletto (San Diego Opera, New York City Opera, Opera Company of Philadelphia). Born in Albuquerque, New Mexico, she received a bachelor of music degree from New Mexico State University and a master of music degree in performance from the Eastman School of Music.
Baritone Michael Mayes makes his Tulsa Opera debut as Joseph De Rocher, a murderer on death row. With a commanding voice and sense of drama, Mayes is known for his passionate portrayals of iconic characters such as Valentin in Faust with Opera Birmingham; the title role in Don Giovanni with Shreveport Opera and Escamillo in Carmen at Kentucky Opera. Originally from Conroe, Texas, Michael has performed with opera companies across the United States including Madison Opera, Cincinnati Opera, Palm Beach Opera, Kentucky Opera, Des Moines Metro Opera, Arizona Opera, Central City Opera, Michigan Opera Theater and Fort Worth Opera. Mayes joined the roster of the Metropolitan Opera in the 2009-2010 season. Engagements for 2010-2011 included Marcello in La Bohème with Eugene Opera and Des Moines Metro Opera, Silvio in I Pagliacci with Kentucky Opera and Papageno in Die Zauberflöte with Michigan Opera Theater. A graduate of the University of North Texas, Mayes was a participant in the renowned young artist program at The Santa Fe Opera. Michael is the host of the Texapolitan Opera Roadshow. Follow Michael on Twitter: @mazerthehazer or his website: www.michaelmayesbaritone.com
Peter Lindskoog will return to Tulsa Opera as Owen Hart, the father of one of the murder victims, in Dead Man Walking. Lindskoog was last on the Tulsa Opera stage as Germont in La Traviata , the opening production of TO’s 2010-2011 season. Receiving commendations for his superb singing and stage presence, Opera News described his voice as a “handsome, fine-grained baritone.” Recent engagements include a title role debut as Rigoletto with Opera Southwest and in Billy Budd for Pittsburgh Opera. California native Lindskoog made his Los Angeles Opera debut as Scarpia in Tosca in their celebrated 2005 production and has since reprised the role with Tulsa Opera, Opera Southwest, the Jefferson Performing Arts Center in New Orleans and as cover with San Francisco Opera. Lindskoog received his undergraduate training at Chapman University where he studied voice, conducting and percussion. He also holds a master of music degree in voice and opera performance from Rice University’s Shepherd School of Music.
Award-winning soprano Sheryl Woods performs the role of Mrs. Patrick DeRocher, mother of the convicted murderer. Woods’ roles have ranged from Magnolia in Jerome Kern’s beloved Showboat to Violetta in La Traviata. Her career has comprised over seventy-five roles in operas for countless American opera houses including New York City Opera, Lyric Opera of Chicago, Houston Grand Opera, San Diego Opera, Santa Fe Opera and the Washington Opera. She first garnered national attention as an apprentice artist at the Santa Fe Opera, when she replaced the leading lady in Le Comte Ory in 1978. She holds a bachelor of arts from Wheaton College, a bachelor’s equivalency in music therapy from DePaul University in Chicago and an artist diploma in opera performance from the University of Cinicinnati College- Conservatory of Music. She resides in Philadelphia where she also maintains a private studio, teaching voice and coaching singers.
American bass Jeremy Milner recently made his Italian debut performing a production of Martinu’s rarely produced opera The Greek Passion with Teatro Massimo di Palermo. He will portray George Benton in Dead Man Walking. Milner has performed with the Opera Company of Philadelphia, San Francisco Opera, Arizona Opera, Des Moines Metro Opera, Central City Opera, Opera of New Jersey and Opera Southwest. In the 2013-2014 season he will be with Seattle Opera. He holds a bachelor of music degree from The University of Tulsa and a diploma from The Academy of Vocal Arts in Philadelphia, where he currently lives.
Dr. Kevin Eckard, bass-baritone, currently teaches voice and directs the opera program at the University of Central Oklahoma’s School of Music. He will be portraying the second prison guard in Dead Man Walking. A native of South Carolina, he received his doctorate in musical arts from the University of South Carolina and his master of music from Indiana University. He has performed frequently throughout the United States, as well as in Italy, Austria and Great Britain. Among his many operatic credits, he has performed the roles of Boris Godunov in Boris Godunov, Raimondo in Lucia di Lammermoor, Budd in Albert Herring, Blitch in Susannah, Don Magnifico in La Cenerentola, Monterone in Rigoletto, Masetto in Don Giovanni, Secret Policeman in The Consul, Don Alfonso in Così Fan Tutte, Escamillo in Carmen and Dulcamara in L’elisir d’amore. He has performed as a soloist with the Colorado Symphony, Pueblo Symphony, and Boulder Philharmonic.
Tenor Steve Sanders returns to Tulsa Opera as Father Grenville. A native of Chickasha, Oklahoma, he was last seen on the Tulsa stage in Tulsa Opera’s production of Norma last season. Hailed by Opera News as “dynamic” and The New York Times as “impressive,” Sanders has performed with many prestigious opera companies including New York City Opera, Wolf Trap Opera, Opera Theatre of Saint Louis, Opera Boston, Chautauqua Opera, Austin Lyric Opera, Des Moines Metro Opera, Amarillo Opera and the Opera Institute at Boston University. He holds a degree in music education from the University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma and a masters degree in vocal performance from Oklahoma City University. Sanders also received a certificate of performance from Boston University.
Baritone Cory Neal Schantz will protray the first guard in Dead Man Walking. He has been hailed by critics as a compelling performer and made his professional operatic debut as Wagner in Gounod’s Faust with Baltimore Opera, where he was praised as “an engaging presence on the stage.” He has performed with the Springfield Regional Opera, the Wichita Grand Opera, the Union Avenue Opera, and Winter Opera of St. Louis. He is currently on the voice faculty at Oklahoma State University.
Soprano Alexandra LoBianco returns to Tulsa Opera as Kitty Hart. First Prize winner of the 2011 Liederkranz Vocal Competition and First Prize Winner and Audience Favorite of the 2011 Irene Dalis Competition, Alexandra LoBianco, debuted as Turandot in February, 2011, with West Bay Opera, a role she repeated in July with Union Avenue Opera, St. Louis.
Hailed as “a true Verdian voice of velvet-covered steel” (Saint Louis Post Dispatch), and praised for her “remarkably strong, clear, pure and open voice…that soars” (KDHX-FM, St. Louis) while “effortlessly tossing off trills and roulades” (St. Louis Post Dispatch), she has been called “a wonderful artist…a consummate musician… lauded by our audiences and critics alike” (Scott Schoonover, Artistic Director and Conductor, Union Avenue Opera).
Other roles and companies include: Leonora (Il Trovatore, Union Avenue Opera); Cio-Cio San (Madama Butterfly, Opera Company of Brooklyn and Baltimore Concert Opera); Clotilde, and covering Norma (Norma, Tulsa Opera); Mother (Amahl and the Night Visitors, Chelsea Opera); Mother/Witch (Hansel and Gretel, Nashville Opera and New Jersey State Opera); Sieglinde (Die Walküre, New Century Opera); Praskowia (The Merry Widow, St. Petersburg Opera); Lady in Waiting (Macbeth, Opera Carolina); and Donna Elvira (cover, Don Giovanni, St. Petersburg Opera).
Upcoming performances include Amelia (Un Ballo in Maschera, Madison Opera), Kitty Hart (Dead Man Walking, Tulsa Opera), Rachmaninoff’s “The Bells” (Madison Symphony), engagements with Seattle and San Francisco Opera, and a major European debut in December 2012.