Opera To Go | June 25

Artists
Matthew Sommer, baritone
Mary Carrick, mezzo-soprano
Rocio Valle, soprano
Kai Song Chan, piano

Program
“Votre toast, je peux vous le rendre” (Toreador Song) - Matthew Sommer
"L'amour est un oiseau rebelle" (Habanera) – Mary Carrick
From Carmen by Georges Bizet

“Corner of the Sky” – Mary Carrick
From Pippin by Stephen Schwartz

“Los Cochinitos” – Rocio Valle
“El Ratón Vaquero” – Rocio Valle
By Francisco Gabilondo Soler

“On the street where you live” – Matthew Sommer
From My Fair Lady by Frederick Loewe

“Ballad of Robin and Marian” - Mary Carrick
By Michele Brourman

“O mio babbino caro” – Rocio Valle
From Gianni Schicchi by Giacomo Puccini

“Come Paride vezzoso” – Matthew Sommer
From L’elisir d’amore by Gaetano Donizetti

“For Good” – Rocio Valle and Mary Carrick
From Wicked by Stephen Schwartz

“Smile” – Rocio Valle, Mary Carrick, Kai Song Chan, and Matthew Sommer
By Charlie Chaplin, arr. Ben Bram

Mary Carrick

A dynamic and versatile performer, Mary Carrick is a familiar face and voice across the Omaha metro. She’s performed with many of the area’s major organizations, theaters, and venues, including Opera Omaha, The Rose Theater, Omaha Symphony, Holland Performing Arts Center, Nebraska Wind Symphony, Performing Artist Repertory Theatre (PART), and others. Mary is a long-time company member of Opera Omaha. She originated the role of Old Catherine in the world-premiere of Stranger from Paradise. Other credits include Alms Sister in Suor Angelica, Elle in La Voix Humaine, Giovanna in Rigoletto, and Gertrude (cover) in Hansel & Gretel. Other notable area credits include Mother Abbess in The Sound of Music and Deb in Elf: The Musical (The Rose), My Way: A Musical Tribute to Frank Sinatra (PART), Madame Flora in The Medium (Shelterbelt Theater), and Jenny in Company (Omaha Community Playhouse). Mary is a Touring Artist with the Nebraska Arts Council and performs extensively as a solo artist across the Midwest in cabaret and concert settings. She’ll perform her show Girl Singer: Celebrating the Women Who Wrote the Songs in Omaha this fall.

Matthew Sommer

Baritone Matthew Sommer graduated with a Master's in music in 2014 from Colorado State University where he sang in productions of Il matrimonio segreto (2012), The Merry Widow (2013), Cendrillon (2014) among several others. During this time, he also participated in productions of Faust (2012) and The Ballad of Baby Doe (2013) with Opera Fort Collins. Matthew has been a part of the opera community in Omaha for several years, having made his debut with Opera Omaha in A Flowering Tree (2015) as a member of the chorus. He has performed as a chorus member with Opera Omaha in Il Barbiere di Siviglia (2015), La bohéme (2016), Cosí fan tutte (2017), Sweeney Todd (2022) and many others. He most recently performed the role of Antonio in Opera Omaha’s production of Le nozze di Figaro, and in the upcoming 23-24 season, will be performing the role of Notary in Don Pasquale and Baron Douphol in La traviata.

Rocio Valle

Rocio Valle is an accomplished opera singer, born in Mexico. She began her vocal training at a young age as a church choir member and went on to earn a degree in vocal performance in Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua, Mexico. Rocio has performed as chorister and soloist in northern Mexico, Texas, Utah, and Nebraska. She has also worked with renowned coaches and teachers such as Anthony Laciura, Dr. Isaac Hurtado and Deborah Voight. Currently she studies with tenor Jesus Suaste and vocal coach Judith Natalucci. Some of Rocio's most notable performances include Suor Dolcina in Suor Angelica and Opera To Go concert series, both with Opera Omaha. In addition to her operatic work, Rocio has performed in various concerts and festivals around Mexico and the US.