Maestro Jorge Martinez-Rios conducts the La Frontera Opera Orchestra in this concert version of Puccini's tragic opera, La Bohème. The orchestra will be joined by a nationally recognized cast of up-and-coming opera singers who have performed in some of the most prestigious venues in the United States including the Santa Fe Opera and the Utah Opera.
Praised for her “big, beautifully projected voice with an attractive edge and sparkle” (Arts Knoxville) soprano Adia Evans is quickly establishing herself as an up-and-coming talent in the opera and concert world. A recent participant of the Merola Opera Program in San Francisco, Evans was featured as First Lady in their production of Die Zauberflöte, as a solo Niña in scenes from Golijov’s Ainadamar, and as a soloist in the American Song Concert. Her performance in the Merola Grand Finale was praised as “vivid, beautiful, and sweeping” (Opera Tattler). Evans is currently a Hattie Mae Lesley Resident Artist with Fort Worth Opera; Evans will spend the summer as an Apprentice Artist with Santa Fe Opera, where she will cover the titular Tosca and the Foreign Princess in Rusalka. Ms. Evans will sing the role of Mimi.
Puerto Rican tenor Jehú Otero was chosen as a 2022-2023 Resident Artist at Utah Opera. He has a Master’s degree in Voice from The Shepherd School of Music at Rice University (2020), where he studied under the guidance of Dr. Stephen King. He also possesses a Bachelor’s degree in Voice (2018) and a Bachelor’s degree in Classical Guitar (2014) from the Puerto Rico Conservatory of Music. In the summer of 2023, Jehú joined the Santa Fe Opera covering Rolando Villazón in the role of Orfeo in Monteverdi's L'Orfeo.In addition, Jehú is a 2021-2022 Olga Iglesias Project fellow. Mr. Otero will sing the role of Rodolfo.
Japanese-American soprano Emily Michiko Jensen joins the Boston Lyric Opera to cover Cio-cio-san in their new production of Madama Butterfly. She also joins their esteemed Emerging Artist program for the 2023/2024 season. She is a new grantee (2023) of the Olga Forrai Foundation. She began the summer as a Guest Artist in the BLO gala for the Orfeo Society and Goldovsky Society. Ms. Jensen received a Graduate Diploma and Master of Music in vocal performance from the New England Conservatory. She holds a Bachelor of Music in vocal performance from the Eastman School of Music. Ms. Jensen will sing the role of Musetta.
Brandon Bell is a baritone hailing from Suffolk, Virginia, currently in his second year as a Resident Artist with Pittsburgh Opera. After an exciting 2022/23 season, including performances with Pittsburgh Opera, Santa Fe Opera, the Brooklyn Art Song Society, and the Salt Creek Song Festival, Mr. Bell's upcoming season sees performances with Pittsburgh Opera, Cincinnati Song Initiative, and the Santa Clara Chorale. Mr. Bell has appeared on numerous stages across the country, including the Cape Symphony, California Symphony, Wolf Trap Opera, Utah Opera, and White Snake Projects. Mr. Bell has received national awards and recognition from the Metropolitan Opera Laffont Competition, Gerda Lissner Foundation, Duncan Williams Vocal Competition, Mondavi Center Young Artist Competition, Orpheus National Music Competition for Vocalists, and the East Bay Opera League Young Artist Competition. Mr. Bell will sing the role of Marcello.
Join us on May 3 and 5, 2024 for this unforgettable event!
