The Medium

Hudson Chamber Opera
and Basilica Industria
present
THE MEDIUM by Gian Carlo Menotti
Friday, October 7, 2005 at 8:00pm
Saturday, October 8, 2005 at 8:00pm
at Basilica Industria
110 South Front Street, Hudson, NY

Director: Dean Anthony
Music Director: Michael Clement
Set/Lighting Design: A collaborative effort of
Dean Anthony, J.Patrick Doyle & Matt Milstein
Technical Support: J. Patrick Doyle
Stage Manager/Lighting: Deena Pewtherer
Puppet Maker: Glenn Paulsen

Cast:
Madame Flora: Mary Hack, mezzo soprano
Monica: Megan Weston, soprano
Toby: Dean Anthony
Mrs. Gobineau: Alaina Warren Zachary, soprano
Mr. Gobineau: Keith Spencer, baritone
Mrs. Nolan: Nina Fine, mezzo soprano

Hudson Chamber Opera (HcO) will present its first production, Gian Carlo Menotti's The Medium Friday and Saturday, October 7 & 8 at 8:00 pm. Gwen Gould and Mary Hack, Co-Artistic Directors have announced that Dean Anthony will direct the opera as well as appear in the role of Toby, a mute.

Synopsis:
Menotti's spooky opera noir, The Medium, blends murder and the supernatural. Three main characters, Madame Flora, the clairvoyant, her daughter, Monica, and a mute boy, Toby, lose track of reality as they perform a two-act danse macabre. When, during a seance, Madame Flora feels a spectral hand trying to choke her, she begins a demented descent into violence.

DEAN ANTHONY, a tenor and emerging director, will direct The Medium as well as play the role of Toby, a mute. Mr. Anthony is the creator of over 70 roles and has been highly praised for his vocal and dramatic abilities. He served as Assistant Director and Assistant Choreographer for "Die Fledermaus" at Grand Rapids Opera and directed "The Merry Widow" at the University of Texas. A resident of Germantown, Mr. Anthony’s PBS television appearances include broadcasts of "An Evening of Gilbert and Sullivan" with the Boston Pops and the world premiere of Robert Greenleaf's "Under the Arbor."

Mezzo-soprano MARY HACK, a resident of Hudson, will sing the title role of Madame Flora. She has sung principal roles with opera companies throughout America and was selected by Menotti to sing the role of the Mother in his opera "The Boy Who Grew Too Fast." She is currently a soloist at West End Collegiate Church in Manhattan.

Soprano MEGAN WESTON will sing the role of Monica. Ms. Weston has sung with the Lyric Opera San Diego, Tulsa Opera, Opera Theater of Philadelphia and the San Diego Symphony. Notable past roles have included Cunegonde in "Candide" and Zerlina in "Don Giovanni."

Mezzo-soprano NINA FINE will bring a wide range of experience to the role of Mrs. Nolan in this production. She has appeared with the Shaker Mountain Festival, Opera Delaware and the New York Gilbert and Sullivan Players and has appeared as Pitti-Sing in "The Mikado" and Suzuki in "Madama Butterfly."

Soprano ALAINA WARREN ZACHARY, a founding member of Hudson Chamber Opera and resident of Chatham, sings Mrs. Gobineau, a guest at the seance. Most recently, Ms. Zachary appeared at North Pointe Cultural Arts Center in Kinderhook in a production of "Bye Bye Broadway." Highlights from her theatrical career include the original Broadway casts of "Grease," "Nine," and "Baby."

Baritone KEITH SPENCER will perform the role of Mr. Gobineau. A part-time resident of Hillsdale, Mr. Spencer has appeared with numerous ensembles including The Opera Company of Philadelphia, Glimmerglass Opera, Santa Fe Opera, Chautauqua Opera and Opera Roanoke. Past performances have included Dr. Malatesta in "Don Pasquale," Schaunard in "La Boheme" and the title role in Monteverdi’s "Orfeo."

Pianist MICHAEL CLEMENT is currently the staff accompanist at Skidmore College in Saratoga Springs, New York and holds the position of Master of Music at the Emmanuel Baptist Church in Albany. He was formerly the Music Director of Opera Excelsior and has worked in California both as the director of the University of California at Long Beach Opera Theater and for the Long Beach Grand Opera. He currently performs chamber music recitals and gives coaching throughout the capital district of New York State.

Presented as part of
The First Hudson Chamber Opera Festival