The Greylock Opera Collective is a group of artists dedicated to producing work for a 21st-century audience. We're raising money to support our inaugural production — a new opera called The Weeping Woman.
Synopsis
The Weeping Woman is based upon the relationship between Pablo Picasso and Dora Maar, who was Picasso’s “official mistress” from 1935-1943. Born Henriette Theodora Markovitch, Dora is a poet, photographer, and painter in her own right and affiliated with the French Surrealists when she meets Picasso. The opera charts the course of their relationship beginning with their first meeting at Deux Magots, a Paris restaurant frequented by the Surrealists, where she catches Picasso’s attention by taking a knife and playing with it between her fingers on a table top. Picasso desires Dora, finds her physically attractive and intellectually stimulating, and they become lovers and collaborators even though Picasso is also in a relationship with Marie-Therese Walter, his “secret concubine,” with whom he has sired a child. Picasso plays upon both women’s feelings for him, encouraging their rivalry and animosity toward each other. Dora also sits for Picasso, who at times humiliates and abuses her so that he can paint in extreme emotional distress. Dora also plays a part in Picasso’s painting of his masterpiece, “Guernica.” In the end, though, Picasso abandons Dora, and in the final moments of the opera, she strives to feel a sense of closure and freedom in her life.
More from the opera can be found at: https://michaeldilthey.com/the-weeping-woman/
Production
Paul La Rosa as Pablo Picasso
American baritone Paul La Rosa continues to gain recognition on the strengths of his vocal appeal and charismatic stage presence. He has earned critical praise for "a wonderful touch for physical comedy, a strong and beautiful voice, and the dancing skills that one typically encounters on Broadway". 2018 witnesses Mr. La Rosa's return to San Diego Opera and his debut with Eugene Opera, for the respective company premieres of Piazzolla's tango-opera María de Buenos Aires, in the role of El Payador, and his Princeton Festival debut as Sharpless in Madama Butterfly. Mr. La Rosa looks forward to his 2019 role and company debuts with Gulfshore Opera (Germont in La Traviata and Malatesta in Don Pasquale) as well as his Fort Worth Opera debut reprising the role of Enrique in Martinez's El pasado nunca se termina, which he created in 2015.
Erin Nafziger as Dora Maar
Soprano Erin Nafziger has been celebrated for her “consistent, well-balanced, and beautiful [voice]” (Berkshire Review for the Arts) where she has dazzled audiences as Nella in Gianni Schicchi, and Countess Almaviva in The Marriage of Figaro. She is a frequent soloist with the Williams Chamber Players, Hubbard Hall Opera, and The New Opera of New England. Noteable roles in Ms. Nafziger’s repertoire include Mimì in La Bohème, Pamina in Die Zauberflöte, Soeur Constance in Dialogues of the Carmelites, Cunegonde in Candide, Gilda in Rigoletto, and Elle in La Voix Humaine. Recent concert performances include the soprano solos in Reena Esmail’s This Love Between Us, Brahms’ Requiem, Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9, Stravinsky's Les Noces, Adams’ Grand Pianola Music, Handel’s Messiah, Orff's Carmina Burana, and Dvorak’s Mass in D Major, among others. Ms. Nafziger was awarded First Prize in the Aspen Vocal Concerto Competition, Third Place in the Bel Canto Foundation Competition, and the Francesco and Hilda Riggio Award of the New England Regional Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions. This season, she is thrilled to have made her Ozawa Hall debut as the soprano soloist in Schubert’s Mass in G with the Berkshire Lyric Chorale, and with the Berkshire Symphony in Mahler’s Symphony No. 4 in October. Erin makes her role debut as Königin der Nacht in Mozart’s Die Zauberflöte with Greylock Opera Collective in January 2020.
Julie Rumbold as Marie-Therese
Mezzo Soprano Julie Rumbold is excited to be apart of this amazing new work and production of The Weeping Woman. A native of Connecticut she has sung throughout the New England area and beyond. She has worked with Berkshire Opera Festival, The Whitney Center for the Arts, Lollipop Opera, Contemporary Theater Company, CT Lyric opera, Simsbury Light Opera Company, and CT Gilbert and Sullivan Society. Julie has studied and performed with New England Opera Intensive program in Boston and at the International music festival in Vols am Schlern, Italy. In 2016 she was a finalist for American opera Idol with Opera Connecticut. Julie was also the proud organizer and key soloist for a benefit concert for Cystic Fibrosis in 2017. Notable roles include Dorabella (Cosi fan tutte), Eboli (Don Carlo), Elle (La voix Humaine), Cornelia (Giulio Cesare), Sally (Hand of Bridge), Hansel (Hansel and Gretel), Prince Orlofsky (Die Fledermaus) Princess Ida (Princess Ida), Phoebe (Yeoman of the Guard), Plaintiff (Trial by Jury), Iolanthe (Iolanthe).
Joshua Gurwitz as Sabartes
Joshua Gurwitz is a tenor based in Albany, NY. He most recently performed as Eisenstein in the Williams Opera Workshop production of Die Fledermaus. Other recent performances include Joe Boyd in Damn Yankees and the tenor soloist for J. S. Bach’s Christ Lag in Todesbanden (BWV 4). In 2018, Mr. Gurwitz was the winner of the Advanced Division of the Joel Dolven Vocal Awards, a competition run by the Mendelssohn Club of Albany, NY.
Karen Schwartz, piano
Versatility has been key in the active career of pianist KAREN SCHWARTZ.
She has performed as soloist, as well as collaborative artist for chamber musicians,
opera singers, actors and dancers alike. A graduate of Oberlin Conservatory and the Juilliard School,
this native New Yorker has appeared in such notable venues as Weill Recital Hall, Merkin Hall, The Joyce Theatre, Steinway Hall, The Beacon Theater and Madison Square Garden, to name just a few.
Karen’s extensive research in Paris led to her performing the U.S. premiere of Debussy’s
“La Boite a Joujoux,” choreographed for marionettes at MOCA Miami. Among many musical adventures here and abroad, Ms. Schwartz taught the actor Samuel L. Jackson how to assimilate the role of concert pianist in THE CAVEMAN’S VALENTINE, a film that premiered at Sundance Film Festival. Karen has served as musical director and arranger for several original children’s productions. Playing in a wide range of styles has given Karen numerous opportunities to appear at cabaret, literary and university clubs for the past four decades.
She lives and teaches privately in Manhattan.
Harrison Dilthey, bass
Currently based in Boston, Harrison Dilthey began studying the double bass in 2008 under the assistant principal bassist of the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, Leigh Mesh. After moving to Massachusetts, Dilthey continued his training with Robert Zimmerman (grandson of the renowned editor, teacher, and player Oscar Zimmerman). His most recent studies were at The Juilliard School where he studied with principal bass of the New York Philharmonic, Timothy Cobb.
With a passion for opera and early music, Dilthey has spent his past four summers as principal bass of the Prague Summer Nights Festival in the Czech Republic.
Jeremy Winchester, director
Jeremy Winchester is a theater maker with a focus in design, direction, and project/program development. His background runs the gamut from theatre to dance and opera, classical to contemporary plays, and from community-based arts to theater for young audiences. Winchester has worked with such notable companies as the Santa Fe Opera, Spoleto Festival, Cornerstone Theatre, Pacific Performance Project, Peter Kyle Dance, and Boise Contemporary Theatre, among many others. He has also taught in the theatre departments at Michigan State University and the University of Evansville. From 2012 to 2016, Winchester served as the Executive Artistic Director of Flint Youth Theatre (FYT), a year-round professional theatre for youth and family audiences in Flint, MI, where he directed and designed both children's theatre mainstays and classic works from the larger theater canon for audiences of all ages. Winchester is also committed to creating new work, and dedicated one slot per year in FYT’s season to new-play production. During his tenure at FYT, the theatre joined Actors’ Equity Association and TYA/USA. Winchester holds a BFA from the University of Oklahoma, and an MFA from the University of Washington. He also serves on the Board of Directors for TYA/USA, an organization dedicated to providing advocacy and resources in order to strengthen and diversify the field of theatre for young audiences.
Abigail Daggett , assistant director
Henry Echeverria, designer/technical director
Henry Echeverria has been doing technical theatre for over fifteen years. He has built scenery for various companies, ranging from community theatre to theme parks and film. Past companies he has worked with include: Kingsmen Shakespeare Festival, A Noise Within, Acme Scenery, Depict 33 Studios, Benchmark Art, Neptune Productions, & Ash Lawn Opera. Prior to MCLA, his educational credits include: Averett University, Georgia College & State University, and California State University of Bakersfield. He received his BA from Cal State Bakersfield & MFA from Humboldt State University. Love and thanks to Amy & Liam.
Amy Echeverria, costume designer
Amy Echeverria earned her B.A. from Cal State Bakersfield and her MFA in Scenography with a concentration in Costume and Lighting Design from Humboldt State University. She has served worked as Costume Shop Manager at Ash Lawn Opera, Kingsmen Shakespeare Festival and also as Assistant Costume Shop Manager at Humboldt State University. Amy has also worked as head stitcher for fashion designer Greg Lauren, as well as being a costume designer for various films. Before moving to Massachusetts with her family, she taught theatre courses in addition to being the Costume Designer and Shop Manager at Averett University in Virginia. Thanks to Henry and Liam for all their love and support!
Joe Aidonidis, videographer
Joe Aidonidis is a documentary filmmaker from North Adams, MA. His films focus on the extraordinary challenges of ordinary people by capturing their unique experiences. Aidonidis hopes to use his film to bring awareness to worthy and intriguing pockets of life. He is the owner of Great Sky Media. The production company's mission is to collaborate with businesses, nonprofits and institutions in the Berkshires to help tell their own story and to promote their causes.
Brian Leahy Doyle, librettist
Brian Leahy Doyle earned his MFA in Theatre, with emphases in Directing and Dramaturgy from the University of Utah, where he served as the first resident dramaturge of the Pioneer Theatre Company. Professional directing credits: the Whole Theatre, Cincinnati Theatre Festival, and Louisville’s Classics in Context, and such off-Broadway venues as the Irish Arts Center, Riverside Shakespeare, the Open Eye, the 92nd Street Y/Makor, and the New York premiere of composer Aaron Jay Kernitz’s The Four Seasons of Futurist Cuisine at Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall. His book, Encore! The Renaissance of Wisconsin Opera Houses, published by the Wisconsin Historical Society Press, focuses upon the renovation and restoration of historic theaters in Wisconsin and has received the Theatre Historical Society of America’s Outstanding Book of the Year Award, among other honors. His first full-length play, Greetings from Fitzwalkerstan, with music by Michael Dilthey, was produced at the Broom Street Theatre in Madison, WI, in January-February 2015, and his second full-length play, The Chancers!, was given a staged reading at The Players Club in Manhattan in June 2016. He currently teaches at Mercy College.
Michael Dilthey, composer
Michael Dilthey is an award-winning composer with performances both nationally and abroad. He has composed three operas, three musicals, orchestral and choral music as well as theatrical incidental music. Recently his musical Greetings from Fitzwalkerstan had a successful run in Madison, WI. Another musical, My Way of Life workshopped in New York City. This next year his Sonata for Accordion will premiere in Norway.
