Sponsors Get Sneak Peek for 'Faust'

Then God said, "Let there be light"; and there was light. And God saw that the light was good.

Well, it wasn't exactly God calling out "Good ... Good ... Good ..." from the stage of the Valentine Theatre on Wednesday night. It was a member of the crew -- although the long white beard he was sporting certainly evoked some classic divine images.

The themes of 'Faust" will be
illuminated during the opera.

The Toledo Opera was preparing for its production of Charles Gounod's "Faust," and a modernly staged one at that. The crew were testing each individual stage light, some of which illuminate boldly printed words like "power," "love," "wrath" and even "good" on a huge backdrop screen that will indicate to the audience the scenes' themes and the struggles in which the characters find themselves.

Conductor James Meena explained these struggles to a select number of guests gathered for a wine reception prior to Wednesday's dress rehearsal and student night performance. Modern stage settings like bar patrons break dancing and taking selfies with their cell phones speak to how lasting and relevant the story is.

"We're still wrestling with these themes today," Meena said, summarizing the tale of a wealthy man nearing the end of his life who makes a deal with the devil to find the one thing he never had: true love.

Goethe penned the play "Faust" in the early 1800s, though the story itself about a celebrated and controversial Dr. Faustus is much older. Director Bernard Uzan shared how the Toledo Opera updated the story in Sally Vallongo's preview article for The Blade. Executive director Suzanne Rorick and assistant director Robert Mirakin described how the Valentine is such a wonderful venue for this particular production for Joseph Schafer's article in The City Paper.

Production coordinator Jim Norman led reception guests Wednesday night on a tour of the stage, set with Faust's loft apartment and a projected disco ball. Later, they heard star Jamie Offenbach as Mephistopheles trying to corrupt the virtue of Marguerite (Janinah Burnett) and foil the efforts of Faust (Shawn Mathey). Offenbach's seductively rich voice could make anyone do anything.

Guests included Elaine and Brad Lewandowski representing the LaValley Family Foundation, a major sponsor of the "Faust" production. Brad Lewandowski was especially looking forward to this weekend's performances since it would be his first opera experience.

This particular story is a good place for him to start. "Anything dealing with the devil," he joked. His tale of love certainly has more success than Faust and Marguerite. He and wife Elaine, both northwest Ohio natives, will celebrate 30 years of marriage in May.

Also in attendance were Susanne and husband J.B. Rorick; Robert and wife Ashley Mirakin; Toledo Opera Guild executive board member Kim Kearns and husband Doug, an opera trustee and sponsor; guild board member and opera trustee Susan Conda; and opera board executive member Maureen Brown.

Registry Bistro catered the delectables, which included crab and pimento puffed pastry, pickled vegetables, candied pecans, pea-pistachio-basil hummus, and a charcuterie board with jams and bread.

Spring Serenade

The dulcet tones of opera and stage musical songs floated through the Carranor Hunt and Polo Club in Perrysburg today as the Toledo Opera Guild gathered there for its annual spring luncheon.

Students from the Toledo School for the Arts performed for the guild members, demonstrating the promise and passion that inspires us all.

Jasmine Davis sang from "The Messiah" and pieces she learned at our local Opera Camp. Drew Longmore performed "Far from the Home I Love" from "Fiddler on the Roof" and "I Don't Know How to Love Him" from "Jesus Christ Superstar." They were accompanied with piano played by their vocal instructor, Jamie Dauel, and in attendance by the Toledo School for the Arts development agent, Bethany Urbanski.

View a video of Jasmine's lovely performance by clicking here.

There was a flurry of brainstorming around the luncheon tables as co-chairs were tapped for Brunhilde Parties, smaller-scale gatherings hosted by guild members to raise funds. Every little bit helps!

Many thanks to Barbara Baker for organizing such a lovely luncheon. Guests dined on tomato soup, chicken salad croissants and ice cream sundaes over a fudge brownie. A special thank you to Judith Conda for organizing the TSA performances.

Phashionable Photos

Grand Lubell Photography has made available more than 100 beautiful images captured at this year's Phashion of the Opera event.

Guests, models, vendors and the beautifully appointed main dining room at the Toledo Club are among the lovely images.

This direct link will take you directly to the Phashion of the Opera gallery: http://grandlubellphotography.zenfolio.com/p792086892

The pictures in this blog post were posted on Ragazza's Facebook page. Feel free to share yours on the Toledo Guild's page.

Thank you again for your support. It was a picture perfect event!

Bringing Sexy Back

So that happened.

The writer of this blog was so inspired by the dancing antics of a male model during today's Phashion of the Opera show that she came up to the runway and handed him a dollar bill.

The crowd roared -- in an appreciative manner, thank goodness -- and the model didn't miss a beat, kissing the hand of the admirer and then grinding that green into the back pocket of his tuxedo pants.

That this blog writer also won the auction item for a tuxedo rental at President Tuxedo is a totally unrelated matter.

Many, many thanks go out to all of the Toledo Opera Guild committee members who made this fashion event not just possible but also a wonderful success. More than 180 guests, who came out in the rain to the Toledo Club to support this major fundraiser, had opportunity to peruse local vendors, bid on auction items, view fabulous fashions from local shops, and enjoy a wonderful luncheon and each other's company.

Sincere applause is given to all of the models who braved the catwalk -- and a few cat-calls from the audience. Your beauty, self-confidence and commitment to your craft are inspirations to us all.

Phashion of the Opera: Ragazza Pays It Forward

Jane Wurth doesn't want customers just to buy clothes and jewelry at her shop, she wants them to hang out and enjoy each other's company as well. That's why she named the store Ragazza, which means "girlfriend" in Italian.

Toledo Opera Guild members know all about that. They may be working like mad to get ready for Phashion of the Opera -- a major fundraising event and fashion show to support the Toledo Opera -- but they are bolstering their relationships and strengthening their connections too. Friendship is what pulls everyone through it.

"We love working with the Toledo Opera Guild!" Wurth wrote in an email. "They are fun, energetic and overall a great group of people!"

Wurth and her staff, who maintain Ragazza shops in Perrysburg and Sylvania Township, will showcase that very spirit in the fashions they will bring to the runway event.

Yet something deeper compels Wurth to participate.

"I have enjoyed personal success in the professional world with being a realtor and owning a business, so I believe in giving back or paying it forward," she said.

In addition to the Toledo Opera Guild and the Opera Association itself, Ragazza has contributed to the efforts of the Victory Center, Ability Center, Toledo Symphony League, Beach House, Toledo Law Auxiliary, Christ Child Society, Toledo Medical Auxillary, and Kidney Foundation.

You go, girlfriend.

Visit Ragazza's website to view its collections or follow it on Twitter.

Phashion of the Opera is slated for April 3. Check here for details.

Introducing 'Mikado' Young Artists

(Left to right): Ward, Harris, Reaper, Krawson, and Miller.

These five talented young artists are ready to roll for the Opera on Wheels program! They will help bring the fictional Japanese town of Titipu to Toledo, touring a production of "The Mikado" to area schools.

Pictured here are (from left to right): Nicholas Ward (baritone), Jordan Harris (tenor), Laura Reaper (mezzo-soprano), Abigail Krawson (soprano), and Spencer Miller (piano).

Soprano Abigail Krawson most recently appeared as a townsperson in "The Merry Wives of Windsor" with Boston Midsummer Opera. She was also a gypsy in Rachmoninoff's "Aleko" with Commonwealth Lyric Theater and Despina in "Così fan tutte" with NEMPAC Opera. In 2011 she was a young artist with Boston Early Music Festival and appeared in Harvard Early Music Society’s production of La Calisto. A native of Canton, Ohio, Krawson received her undergraduate degree at Bowling Green State University before
graduating from the New England Conservatory.

Mezzo-soprano Laura Reaper most recently sang the role of Ciesca in "Gianni Schicchi" with Opera Project Columbus. Credits include Dejanira in "Hercules," Marcellina in "Le nozze di Figaro" and 3rd Lady in "Die Zauberflöte." She also created the role of Tantie Marie for the world premiere of the opera "The Toll." She has been featured as a soloist in Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 and Copland’s In the Beginning. Reaper holds degrees from the Peabody Institute (BM) and Bowling Green State University (MM).

Tenor Jordan Harris is a recent graduate of the University of Michigan, where he studied with tenor Rico Serbo, was a recipient of the National Association of Teachers of Singing Merit Scholarship, and was Musical Director of the University of Michigan Educational Theater Company. In the fall of 2013 he performed an original composition for Stephen Sondheim at a gala dinner in his honor. Previous credits include Scaramuccio in "Ariadne Auf Naxos," Rinnucio in "Gianni Schicchi," Baker in "Into the Woods," and Mitch in "25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee."

Baritone Nicholas Ward most recently performed with the Cincinnati Opera’s outreach tour and the Central City Opera Studio Artist Program. Stage credits include the Backwoodsman in "Show Boat," Il Conte Almaviva in "Le nozze di Figaro," George Jones in "Street Scene," the Usher in "Trial By Jury," Don Alfonso in "Così fan tutte," and Major General Stanley in "The Pirates of Penzance." He also has participated in the training programs of Opera Saratoga and the Seagle Music Colony in upstate New York. He is an alumnus of the University of Michigan and the University of Cincinnati-College Conservatory of Music.

Pianist Spencer Miller grew up in the Twin Cities and attended Augsburg College in Minneapolis, graduating summa cum laude in 2013. He has performed solo recitals, frequently featuring his own compositions, as far afield as Vienna, Austria. Also a professional jazz pianist, Miller is a first-year graduate student at the University of Toledo, studying with Michael Boyd.

Guild Member Wins Jefferson Award

Among the first people to congratulate Marcy McMahon for being a 2014 recipient of a Toledo-Area Jefferson Award were the friends she has come to know and love in the Toledo Opera Guild.

Marcy McMahon

"Thank you all for being a dear friend to me and sharing in this special moment in my life," McMahon wrote in an email.

Ask any member what they love most about the Toledo Opera Guild, and the answer likely will be the friendships that are formed. Many share a passion for philanthropy.

McMahon founded the local chapter of Make-A-Wish, which provides enriching opportunities to children with life-threatening medical conditions.

"It is a chance for you to offer joy and hope and strength to someone else and maybe give them something that they can't get themselves," she said in her nomination video.

The national Jefferson Award is a prestigious recognition for community service. McMahon and the other three local recipients will be considered by a panel in Washington, D.C., for a spring announcement.

McMahon is a longtime member of the Toledo Opera Guild, serving on its board of directors mailings committee this year.