La Bohème

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A NOTE FROM THE ARTISTIC DIRECTORS

Dear Friends,

Welcome to Santa Cruz Opera Project's production of Puccini’s La Bohème! We are delighted to have you here, joining us on our journey of reimagining opera for the modern age. At Santa Cruz Opera Project, our mission is to connect people to the beauty and power of opera by innovating and creating accessible experiences for all. We believe that opera should be a vibrant and inclusive art form, bursting with relevance and resonating with audiences of diverse backgrounds.

With this vision in mind, we have chosen to present La Bohème—a timeless masterpiece that inspired later works such as RENT  and Moulin Rouge, and continues to captivate hearts and minds. Originally set in the bohemian quarters of Paris, this opera portrays the universal human experiences of passion, longing, and the pursuit of dreams. It serves as a reminder that the struggles, aspirations, and joys depicted within its framework transcend time and place. 

In our approach, we have set this story in the present time and embraced the concept of gender blind casting, pushing the boundaries of traditional interpretations to reflect the richness and diversity of our society.  By exploring the depths of these characters' emotions and their relationships with each other, we hope to shed new light on the story and characters sparking fresh perspectives and conversations, and forging a profound connection between the audience and the performers. 

We invite you to join us on this transformative journey, as we breathe new life into La Bohème and create an immersive experience that invites you to engage with opera in a fresh and exciting way. Thank you for being part of our community, supporting our mission, and embracing  Santa Cruz Opera Project.

With heartfelt gratitude,

Lori Schulman and Jordan Best
Co-Artistic Directors

SYNOPSIS

Act I
Santa Cruz, CA, Christmas Eve, 2022, an apartment 
Marcello (a painter) and Rodolpho, who goes by Rudy, (a poet and writer) try to keep warm by feeding their stove with pages from Rudy’s latest play. Their two roommates, Schaunard (a musician) and Colline (a philosopher) come in with money and food that Schaunard earned from playing for an eccentric wealthy man. They decide to eat out, but Rudy asks them to give her five minutes so she can finish writing an article. 

As Rudy is writing alone, Mimì, an upstairs neighbor, knocks on her door. Her candle isn’t working and she asks if they have any batteries that she can use. Mimì has a coughing fit and feels faint, so Rudy  invites her in to recover. Mimi goes to leave with a new candle and realizes that she has misplaced the key to her apartment. She turns her candle off, as does Rudy, as an excuse to be in the dark together. In the moonlight, they talk about their lives and beliefs. They share an instant and intense connection with one another and profess their love. When interrupted by the roommates, Mimì asks to join them at Woodhouse for dinner and drinks.

Act II
Later the same evening. Woodhouse Blending and Brewing
Outside the café, Rudy buys a blue hat for Mimì which she adores. They meet up with everyone and order food. Musetta, a dancer and Marcello’s on-and-off ex-girlfriend (who he is still in love with), comes in dressed lavishly alongside her current sugar daddy, Alcindoro. She also still has feelings for Marcello, and causes quite a scene in order to get his attention. It works and Musetta and Marcello’s passionate love is reignited once again. Musetta fakes a hurt foot and sends poor Alcindoro away to buy her new shoes immediately. Realizing the rest of the crew cannot pay for their very large bar tab, the resourceful Musetta adds it to hers and leaves it for Alcindoro to pay when he returns. 

INTERMISSION

Act III
February 2023, outside the apartment
Time has passed. Mimì and Rudy are having an argument which is one of many recently. Mimi’s illness has progressed quite a bit and deep down Rudy knows she cannot give her the care that she needs. Mimi also knows there is something terribly wrong with her lungs, but with no insurance, has not been to a doctor to find out. Not wanting to be a burden and tired of the fighting, Mimi decides they need to break up, despite still loving Rudy very much. With their feelings for each other still strong, they decide to stay together for the rest of winter, and part ways in the spring. Meanwhile, Marcello and Musetta get into a fiery argument about Marcello’s jealousy of her flirting with others, and they also break up.

Act IV
Late spring 2023, the apartment.

Months later in their old apartment, Rudy and Marcello sulk about their lost loves. They had both recently seen each other’s ex’s living lavishly with their new partners. Colline and Schaunard come in with a sad excuse for a meal and they make the best of it with joking and dancing.
 

Musetta appears in great distress with Mimì, who is gravely ill and was found alone on the streets by Musetta. They bring her in and get her stable and comfortable while Musetta gives Marcello her earrings to pawn off for medicine and Colline goes off to sell her nice jacket. Alone, Mimì confesses her true feelings for Rudy and together they reminisce about how they first met. The group returns with a warm jacket and medicine for Mimì, as she peacefully succumbs to her illness. Rudy is the last to notice that she has died, and cries out her name in despair. 
 

Cast

Creative Team

Meet the Company

Diane Syrcle

Rodolfo (Rudi)

Diane Syrcle, soprano, is an audience favorite with Ensemble Monterey and the Cabrillo Symphonic Choir. Singing credits include the Cabrillo Symphonic Choir, Ensemble Monterey, Musical Soulmates, Indianapolis Symphonic Choir, Portland Opera, Oregon Symphony, Portland Gay Men’s Chorus, Aurora Chorus, Dallas Opera, Houston Grand Opera, Shreveport Opera, and the Amarillo Opera. Syrcle holds an MBA in Organizational Development from Marylhurst University, a Master's of Music in Vocal Performance from the University of North Texas, and a Bachelor's of Music/Music Education from West Texas A&M University. When she isn’t onstage you can find her in the garden playing her banjo or at Hospice of Santa Cruz County where she serves as the Chief Mission Officer.

Jordan Best

Mimi

American Soprano Jordan Elizabeth Best has been praised for her “viscerally thrilling” voice and “...vivacious and captivating...” stage presence in Opera, Musical Theater, and Theatre roles including Countess in Le Nozze di Figaro, Mother in Ragtime, and Guilietta in I Capuleti e i Montecchi. Jordan holds a MM in Voice Performance from the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, a BM in Voice Performance from DePaul University and has been teaching voice, music and theater in the Bay Area of California for 15 years. Jordan is passionate about creating accessible performance opportunities for local artists that allow moms, full-time breadwinners and anyone with the desire to perform the opportunity to connect with other artists and inspire audiences. A member of the voice faculty at Cabrillo College, she delights in witnessing new singers of all ages experience the power of singing classical music as they open up their voices and encounter raw emotion and vulnerability together. Ms. Best resides in the Santa Cruz mountains with her husband and 3 children and is profoundly grateful and excited to collaborate with such wonderful humans through the Santa Cruz Opera Project.

Lori Schulman

Musetta

Lori Schulman is a native of Washington, D.C. and now lives in Santa Cruz with her son (age 5) and daughter (age 8).  A lyric-coloratura soprano, Lori holds a BM in Vocal Performance from San Jose State University and performs throughout the Bay Area and Monterey Peninsula in operas, musicals and as a concert soloist and recitalist. She has been seen with companies such as Cabrillo Stage, Actors Theater, MPC Theater Company, West Edge Opera, Ensemble Monterey Chamber Orchestra and Santa Cruz Chamber Players, among others. Some of her favorite opera and theater roles have included Cunegonde in Candide, Susanna in Le Nozze di Figaro, Mabel in The Pirates of Penzance, Kathy in Company, Laurey in Oklahoma, Cosette in Les Misèrables, Papagena and Pamina in Die Zauberflöte, Ilia in Idomeneo and Amore in La Didone. Lori also has been teaching private voice lessons for more than 15 years, and she feels very lucky to connect with people through music on a daily basis.

Omar Rodriguez

Marcello

Known for his multi-genre flexibility, Omar Alejandro Rodriguez has sung throughout the United States and Europe as an in-demand classical and mariachi singer. As a 2021-3 Chrisman Studio Artist with Opera Santa Barbara, he has sung the Major General and the Pirate King in The Pirates of Penzance, Giuseppe in The Light in the Piazza, the Marquis in La Traviata, and Dater #22 in Speed Dating Tonight!. Other recent role highlights include The Major General with Pacific Opera Project, as well as Count Almaviva in Santa Cruz Opera Project’s inaugural production of Le Nozze di Figaro. In the Monterey Bay, Omar’s concert engagements include Ravel’s Trois Poèmes de Stéphane Mallarmé with Espressivo, Bach’s Christmas Oratorio with I Cantori di Carmel, and title role in Mendelssohn’s Elijah with Ensemble Monterey Chamber Orchestra. An avid mariachi singer, Omar’s educational mariachi content has garnered him over 45,000 followers on TikTok (@omaralejandromariachi), and he maintains an active freelance career performing with mariachis all throughout California. Omar Alejandro holds a Bachelor's Degree in Vocal Performance from Cal State Fullerton, and a Masters Degree in Vocal Performance from Boston University. He speaks English, Spanish, and German.

Leberta Lorál

Colline

Leberta Lorál possesses a clarion voice that has been described as both Mezzo and Soprano, as well as artistry that are both technically impressive and emotionally intense. Highlights include her first appearances with Festival Opera in a production of Nkeiru Okoye’s “Tales From The Briar Patch'' as Madame Partridge, returning to the Exploratorium once again for the opening night of their exhibit, "Glow", debuting at the 65th Annual Monterey Jazz Festival (and again this year at the 66th!) and being presented in concert with Ms. Tammy L. Hall for two performances of their show, "Classical Broadway''. She has appeared at the Cinnabar Theater, San Ramon Public Library's Jazz Series and been interviewed with Ms. Hall for John Michael's Rock Box. Leberta has appeared at Monterey County Composers' Forum at Hidden Valley Music and was invited to sing during the 25th African-American Art Song Alliance, and has excitedly been a part of the Christmas celebration at Grace Cathedral with the wonderful and soulful harpist, Destiny Mohammed! She thoroughly enjoyed collaborations with Douglas Ovens in performing his composition, “Three Love Songs” on Poems of Alice Fulton for soprano and vibraphone in the Monterey County Composer’s Forum, “Winds of Change”. She was the Soprano soloist with the Camerata Singers of Monterey County in performances of Ralph Vaughan Williams' “Dona Nobis Pacem” which benefited the Veterans Transition Center of Monterey County. In March 2018, Ms. Lorál was honored to perform Henry Mollicone’s Beatitude Mass with The Camerata Singers. Ms. Lorál was invited to appear with them again in May 2018. From that concert, Ms. Lorál had the honor of meeting and working with the composer, Rick Yramategui during the August 2018 Monterey County Composers Forum in Carmel Valley. In February 2017, Ms. Lorál was a featured soloist in the 20th Annual Conference of the African American Art Song Alliance where she performed the works of composer Richard Thompson and Undine Smith Moore. During that conference, she was asked to record the roles of Victoria and The Woman in the Bar for his original opera, Mask in the Mirror based upon the life of American poet Paul Laurence Dunbar. On February 8, 2019, Parma Records released it on their Naxos label.

Sheri Hammerstrom

Schaunard

Sheri Hammerstrom has a Bachelor of Music from the University of Texas at Arlington with a concentration in vocal performance. She was the winner of the vocal division of the Young Texas Artist Competition in Houston and was recognized at NATS (National Association of Teachers of Singing) at both the local and regional levels. She was a regular member of the chorus in the Fort Worth Opera, and toured with the Children’s Opera, singing Pamina in The Magic Flute, Gretel in Hansel and Gretel, and Little Red Riding Hood in Little Red’s Most Unusual Day. She received her master’s degree at Mannes College the New School for Music. While enrolled at Mannes, she was featured in the opera program, singing Musetta in La bohème, Elvira in scenes from Don Giovanni, and Rosalinda in Die Fledermaus.  She has appeared as soprano soloist with the Greater Middletown Chorale in Connecticut several times, notably in the Brahms Requiem, Beatitudes, Mass for the Homeless by Henry Mollicone and Hadyn Lord Nelson Mass. Sheri  portrayed Nan in the world premier of Letter from Italy, 1944 (appearing in the Emmy winning documentary made about the work) and while on the faculty of Concordia Conservatory for Music in Bronxville, New York, was a featured soloist on the Hoch Concert Series at Concordia. She has appeared with the Hartford Symphony, the Concerts at the O’Silas concert series, and at the Spectrum in Brooklyn in collaboration with pianist Marija Ilič. Sheri has been teaching private voice lessons for more than twenty-five years, twenty of which were spent at Concordia Conservatory. She also taught classes in the college preparatory program and led a vocal arts camp every summer for ten years. Sheri is thrilled to be a part of the faculty at Cabrillo College and is very excited to be part of the upcoming SCOP ground-breaking production of La bohème.

David Graham

Alcindoro

David Graham has performed as a soloist for various groups in the Bay Area for over forty years. Most recently he has appeared in Tchaikovsky’s 'Eugene Onegin' (Livermore Valley Opera), Craig Hella Johnson’s 'Considering Matthew Shepard' (Cabrillo Music and Theater Arts Department), Gilbert and Sullivan’s 'Pirates of Penzance' (Cabrillo Stage, Major- General Stanley), Kirk Mechem’s 'Befana: A Christmas Fable' (Cabrillo Stage, Balthazar), 'Le Nozze di Figaro' (Santa Cruz Opera Project, Basilio), and Leonard Bernstein’s Candide’ (Cabrillo Stage, Father Bernard, The Judge, and ensemble). He has sung with vocal ensembles in Holland, Germany, Finland, the former U. S. S. R. and New York’s Carnegie Hall in the world premiere performance of Ēriks Esenvalds' 'Sunset in My Hand'. David has at turns been a designer and builder of neo- Victorian homes, a restaurant manager and sushi chef and has flirted with becoming a full- time luthier for a couple of decades. He is overjoyed to be working again with the Santa Cruz Opera Project and their exciting vision of La Boheme. David firmly believes that music is evidence of the divine spark in humanity.

Susan Leo

Server

Marina Thomas

Pianist and Rehearsal Accompanist

Marina Kandieva-Thomas was born in Alushta, Crimea. She started to play piano at the age of 6 and attended the Alushta Music School for 8 years. She then attended the Peter I. Tchaikovsky college in Crimea and the Music Conservatory of Odessa, one of the oldest conservatories in Ukraine. She received the highest diploma in Chamber Music, Accompaniment, and Music Education. After Conservatory, she worked as a piano teacher, accompanist and creator and director of the Musical Children's Theater

In December, 2014, Marina moved to California and married John "Tuba" Thomas. She had her first performance in Santa Cruz with the Santa Cruz City Band in January 2015. She is an organist, pianist and a piano teacher at Watsonville First Methodist Church. Since 2015 Marina has appeared in concerts with the Ensemble Monterey Chamber Orchestra, Espressivo, Arioso Singers, the Organ Kaleidophone concerts, Cabrillo Youth Choir, Dolce Suono ensemble, and often performs with the Santa Cruz Chamber Players as well as accompanying various choral groups and a regular accompanist of the Children's Christian Musical Theater.

Shannon D'Antonio

Violinist

Shannon Delaney D’Antonio, violin, began her musical studies in Northern Virginia at the age of 5. She moved to California to attend Stanford University, where she received a B.A. degree in Violin Performance. Shannon is an active chamber musician in the Santa Cruz and Monterey areas. She is the concertmaster of Espressivo Orchestra, and performs regularly with Ensemble Monterey Chamber Orchestra, Santa Cruz New Music Works, the Santa Cruz Chorale, the Santa Cruz Symphony, Musical Soulmates, and the Santa Cruz Opera Project. Shannon also holds an M.A. degree in Education from the University of California, Santa Cruz, and works as an intervention teacher at Westlake Elementary in Santa Cruz. She lives with her family in Soquel, CA.

Aria DiSalvio

Cellist

Cellist Aria DiSalvio brings her soulful, rich tone and refined technique to a wide variety of musical settings. Whether performing with the Santa Cruz Symphony, or contemporary folk band Long Story Short; or in the recording studio with artists such as Irish singer Éilís Kennedy or jazz trumpeter Roy Hargrove, Aria's passion for and expertise in diverse styles of music shines through. This is Aria's second season performing with The Santa Cruz Opera Project and she is thrilled to be a part of this unique production of La bohème. Aria has fond memories of quitting her job at a coffee shop (when she was a student at UofM School of Music) because she got hired to play in an opera company - and she is happy to report that she has never made a professional latte since.

Jeff Gallagher

Clarinetist

Jeff Gallagher has played clarinet in Santa Cruz, Carmel, Salinas, Monterey, and the bay area since 1992. In addition to the Santa Cruz Opera Project, he has played in the Santa Cruz County Symphony; the Cabrillo Festival; the Monterey Jazz Festival; the Carmel Bach Festival; Ensemble Monterey; New Music Works; the Santa Cruz Chorale; Cantiamo!; the Santa Cruz Baroque Festival, the Monterey Bay Symphony; Monterey County Pops!; San Jose Stage; the Jewel Theatre Company; Cabrillo Stage; the Western Stage; and PacRep Theater, to name a few. In addition to music performance Jeff has a strong technical, pedagogical, and communications background and continues to work at the University of California Santa Cruz as a Training & Support Analyst. Recently he also began work as the Killian Scholarship Coordinator at Hartnell College, which provides much-needed instruction, guidance, and support of all kinds to first-generation music majors who are seeking careers in music. At the Ohio State University he studied with Dr. Robert Titus, Marshal Haddock, and Dr. Robert McGinnis. While at Bowling Green State University he studied with Ed Marks. Jeff also plays most of the woodwind instrument professionally including: recorder; flute and piccolo; oboe and English horn; bass clarinet; and the soprano, alto, tenor, and baritone saxophones. In his spare time Jeff maintains a private instruction studio from his home in Scotts Valley. You can reach him at jeffga@sbcglobal.net.

Layna Chianakas

Director

Stage Director, Voice Teacher and Mezzo-Soprano, Layna Chianakas has been hailed for her "vocal talents which are matched by her poignancy as an actress" (Des Moines Register) in her betrayal of Santuzza in Cavalleria Rusticana. She has portrayed over 50 leading opera roles across the United States, including over 100 performances of Carmen. After having been in the opera field as a mezzo soprano for three decades, Ms. Chianakas feels that her successful career as a mezzo-soprano gives her a unique understanding of singers and what they need to be successful. Her extensive stage directing credits include, Mozart’s Le nozze di Figaro, Cavalli’s L’Ormindo, Offenbach’s Orpheus in the Underworld, Gluck’s Orfeo ed Euridice, the National Opera Association’s award-winning Postcard from Morocco by Argento, Ravel’s The Bewitched Child/L’enfant et les Sortilèges, Strauss’ Die Fledermaus/The Revenge of the Bat, and a fully-staged and conceptualized Mendelssohn’s Elijah, among others, for the San José State Opera Theater. For Opera San José, she directed La Voix humaine, Hansel & Gretel, Carmen and Il barbiere di Siviglia. As the Stage Director for Vivace Youth Chorus’ Summer Youth Opera, she has staged the West Coast premiere of Rachel J. Peter’s Rootabaga Country , and productions of Menotti’s Chip and His Dog and Krasa’s Brundibar. She directed Ben Moore’s Odyssey for Opera Santa Barbara’s Youth Summer Opera Program, Verdi’s Nabucco for West Bay Opera, and a double-bill of Zemlinsky’s Eine florentinische Tragödie and Puccini’s Gianni Schicchi for Livermore Valley Opera, which received first place in the 2021 American Prize in Opera Performance. Most recently, she directed a double bill of Falla’s El amor brujo and Puccini’s Il Tabarro, and Tosca for Opera Santa Barbara, Ching’s Speed Dating, Tonight! (Opera Santa Barbara’s Chrisman Studio Artists), a Classical Voice award-winning Otello on a week’s notice, for Livermore Valley Opera, and Madama Butterfly for the Lubbock Symphony Orchestra with Yulan Piao in the title role. This spring, Ms. Chianakas returned to Opera Santa Barbara to direct The Light in the Piazza for the Chrisman Studio Artists and she will direct Tosca for Amarillo Opera and Carmen for Indianapolis Opera in the Fall. La Bohème marks her debut with the Santa Cruz Opera Project.

Steven Berlanga

Conductor and Orchestral Arranger

Conductor and bass-baritone Steven Berlanga resides in Philadelphia, PA, where works as a freelance musician. He is finishing his doctorate in Choral Conducting at Indiana University, and has also studied at College-Conservatory of Music, University of Cincinnati, California State University – Long Beach, and Cabrillo College. A multifaceted artist, Mr. Berlanga has had over a decade of experience as a conductor, music director, composer and arranger, and he had his stage directing debut with Santa Cruz Opera Project in 2022. In the genres of opera, oratorio, musical theater and concert repertoire, Mr. Berlanga has sung with organizations such as West Bay Opera, New Voices Opera, Cabrillo Stage, Espressivo, Westfield State University, Santa Cruz Symphony, Arizona Philharmonic, and Ensemble Monterey. As a choral artist, he has sung with professional chamber choirs in the United States, such as The Crossing, Santa Fe Desert Chorale, The Thirteen, Kinnara, Exigence, Chorosynthesis, Brevitas, Vocal Arts Ensemble, BorderCrosSing, and the Quartz Ensemble.

Sophia Haddad

Stage Manager

Lori Schulman

Production manager

Jenn Kirchner and Lucus Ward

Lighting Design

Jordan Best

Props

Donors

We would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to the following individuals and organizations:

Woodhouse Brewery and Tug Newett, our incredibly gracious hosts and partners for this event.

Woodstock Pizza for their generous donation of pizza for our performances

Jake J. Thomas for photographs, and his image used in Act 3

Tug Newett for the beautiful Bohème  artwork

Our Board of Directors: Susan Leo, Mindy Pedlar, Diane Syrcle, Jordan Best, Steven Berlanga, and Lori Schulman