“Largo al factotum”

from Il barbiere di Siviglia by Rossini
Ben Taylor

Il barbiere di Siviglia, Opera Omaha 2015

Enter Figaro, Seville’s most popular barber and all-around fixer. As he sings, Figaro boasts of his busy life, running errands and being the go-to problem solver for everyone in town.

• Yep, you recognize this from a Bugs Bunny cartoon.
• Il barbiere di Siviglia is the prequel to Mozart’s The Marriage of Figaro. Different composer, same character.
• The word “Figaro” is sung 24 times in this song.
• The premiere of Il barbiere di Siviglia on February 20, 1816, was plagued with mishaps, including a performer tripping over and bleeding on stage, and even a stray cat wandering across the set.

“Bell Chorus”

from Pagliacci by Leoncavallo
Opera Omaha Chorus

Pagliacci, Opera Omaha 2018

The townsfolk of a southern Italian village gather in the piazza for a performance by a traveling troupe of actors. The chorus echoes the tolling bells that hint at impending tragedy soon to unfold.

• Pagliacci, which typically runs 90 minutes, is often staged with the opera Cavalleria rusticana, a double bill known as "Cav/Pag".
• Leoncavallo based Pagliacci on a real-life murder case that his father, a judge, had presided over.

“Habanera”

from Carmen by Bizet
Alejandra Sandoval-Montañez and the Opera Omaha Chorus

Carmen, Opera Omaha 2013

The fiery Carmen sings about the unpredictable nature of love, comparing it to a rebellious bird that cannot be tamed. Carmen is that bird, free-spirited and alluring, as she sets her eyes on Don José, a soldier who will soon become dangerously obsessed with her.

• Despite the vivid Spanish setting and the authentic-sounding music in Carmen, Georges Bizet never actually visited Spain.
• The famous "Toreador Song" from Carmen uses the word "toreador," which is not actually correct Spanish. The correct term is "torero," but Bizet needed an extra syllable to fit the music, so he coined "toreador," which has since become widely accepted.

“Dein ist mein ganzes Herz”

from Das Land des Lächelns by Lehár
Josh Wheeker

Das Land des Lächelns follows the ill-fated romance between Prince Sou-Chong, a Chinese diplomat, and Lisa, an Austrian countess. They fall deeply in love despite cultural differences, but their happiness is short-lived as they struggle to reconcile their worlds. In this aria, Prince Sou-Chong passionately declares his undying love for Lisa, even as he senses the challenges ahead.

• This song is the operetta’s most famous aria. It was written specifically for Richard Tauber, whose voice and style Lehár admired.
• The operetta was so popular that it was adapted into several films, the earliest being a 1930 German production starring Richard Tauber. Subsequent versions were made in the 1950s and 1970.

“Depuis le jour”

from Louise by Charpentier
Ann Toomey

Louise, a young Parisian seamstress, reflects on the joy and serenity she’s found since falling in love with a poet named Julien. Against her parents’ wishes, Louise has decided to live with Julien, embracing a life of freedom and love in the bohemian district. Here, Louise reflects on how her life has changed since she found love, expressing her joy and the peace she feels in her new life.

• Charpentier liked to describe Louise as a "musical novel," rather than simply an opera.
• This aria is one of the most famous soprano arias in the French operatic repertoire. It has been performed by many renowned sopranos, including Renée Fleming, who described the role of Louise as particularly demanding, due to its length and dramatic intensity.

“Robert’s aria”

from Iolanta by Tchaikovsky
Ben Taylor

Iolanta tells the story of Iolanta, a blind princess who is unaware of her condition, having been sheltered from the truth by her father, King René. Robert, Duke of Burgundy, is betrothed to Iolanta but is in love with another woman, Matilda. He wrestles with his conflicting emotions, torn between duty and passion, knowing that his choice will have profound consequences for Iolanta and himself.

• This was the last opera Tchaikovsky composed.
• Iolanta premiered on December 18, 1892, as part of a double bill with The Nutcracker ballet.
• Recently, Iolanta has been revisited and adapted in innovative ways, including a production that involved input from the visually impaired community. This modern approach aimed to re-envision the opera’s narrative through the perspective of those living with blindness, adding a new layer of depth and relevance to the story.

“Quando m’en vo”

from La bohème by Puccini
Rosemary Joyce

La bohème, Opera Omaha 2016

In this flirtatious aria, Musetta revels in the attention she receives as she walks through the streets of Paris, knowing full well the effect she has on men—especially her ex-lover, Marcello.

• At the same time Puccini was working on La bohème, another Italian composer, Ruggero Leoncavallo, was also writing an opera based on the same source material. Both composers were aware of each other's work, leading to a public rivalry.
• Since its premiere, La bohème has become one of the most frequently performed operas worldwide. In the 23/24 season, 269 productions of La bohème were staged across the world.

“Opening chorus”

from The Bartered Bride by Smetana
Opera Omaha Chorus

The villagers are in high spirits, celebrating a festival in their small Czech town. This chorus sets the tone for the opera’s themes of love, tradition, and the pursuit of happiness amidst familial obligations.

• The Bartered Bride is often considered a cornerstone of Czech national opera. Smetana composed it during a period of rising Czech nationalism, and the opera reflects the country’s folk traditions and cultural identity.

“Un di se ben rammentomi…Bella figlia dell’amore”

from Rigoletto by Verdi
Josh Wheeker, Rosemary Joyce, Ben Taylor, and Alejandra Sandoval- Montañez

Rigoletto, Opera Omaha 2014

Rigoletto tells the tragic story of a jester at the court of the Duke of Mantua, and his daughter Gilda. The Duke, a notorious womanizer, has seduced Gilda, and Rigoletto seeks revenge. In this quartet, the Duke is wooing the beautiful Maddalena, while Gilda watches in despair, realizing she has been betrayed.

• Rigoletto was Opera Omaha Director of Music, Josh Quinn’s first opera.
• Verdi originally wanted to name the opera La Maledizione (The Curse), highlighting the central theme of the curse placed on Rigoletto and the Duke.
• Rigoletto was based on Victor Hugo's play Le roi s'amuse, which was highly controversial due to its portrayal of a cynical, morally corrupt king, and was banned in France. When Verdi chose to adapt it, to appease the authorities, he moved the setting from the French court to the fictional court of the Duke of Mantua.

“Ain’t it a pretty night”

from Susannah by Floyd
Ann Toomey

Susannah looks up at the night sky and dreams of escaping her oppressive small-town surroundings for a better life. This moment of hope and yearning stands in stark contrast to the harsh reality that will soon envelop her.

• The opera’s plot is loosely based on the apocryphal story of Susanna and the Elders, found in the Book of Daniel.
• Susannah premiered at Florida State University in 1955, followed by performances at the New York City Opera the following year. It was so well-received that it was selected to represent the United States at the Brussels World’s Fair in 1958.

“Evening Prayer”

from Hänsel und Gretel by Humperdinck
Rosemary Joyce and Alejandra Sandoval- Montañez

Hänsel und Gretel, Opera Omaha 2011

The two siblings, based on the Grimm Brothers’ fairy tale, lost in the dark forest, say their prayers before falling asleep, surrounded by angels who protect them.

• Hänsel und Gretel originated as a simple set of songs for a family performance. Humperdinck’s sister, Adelheid Wette, wrote a libretto based on the Grimm Brothers' fairy tale for a Christmas entertainment for her children.

“Ah! Fuyez douce image”

from Manon by Massenet
Josh Wheeker

The conflicted nobleman Des Grieux tries to rid himself of his longing for Manon, who has left him to pursue wealth and status. But even the memory of her torments him.

• Manon is based on the novel L'histoire du chevalier des Grieux et de Manon Lescaut by Abbé Prévost, which was considered scandalous at the time of its publication in 1731 due to its portrayal of a woman who chooses a life of pleasure and love over traditional morality.
• While Massenet’s Manon is the most famous operatic adaptation of Prévost’s novel, it wasn’t the first. Daniel Auber had previously composed an opera on the same story, Manon Lescaut, in 1856, and Giacomo Puccini would later write his own version, also titled Manon Lescaut.

“Nedda/Silvio duet”

from Pagliacci by Leoncavallo
Ann Toomey and Ben Taylor

Pagliacci, Opera Omaha 2018

Nedda, the wife of the jealous clown Canio, is secretly in love with Silvio, a young villager. In this scene, the two lovers meet in secret and declare their love for each other, planning to run away together. However, their happiness is overshadowed by the knowledge that Canio suspects Nedda’s infidelity.

• The final line of the opera, "La commedia è finita!" ("The comedy is over!"), is traditionally spoken by the character Canio after committing murder on stage. However, this line was originally intended for Tonio. Many productions have given this dramatic line to Canio, though recent interpretations have started reverting to the original assignment.

“Brindisi”

from Cavalleria rusticana by Mascagni
Josh Wheeker and the Opera Omaha Chorus

This drinking song, full of joy and camaraderie, captures the rustic charm of the village setting. However, beneath the surface, tensions brew that will lead to a dramatic confrontation.

• Cavalleria rusticana was composed in response to a competition. Mascagni submitted Cavalleria rusticana just before the deadline, and it won first prize out of 73 entries.
• The "Intermezzo" from Cavalleria rusticana has been used in numerous movies, most famously in the final scenes of Martin Scorsese's Raging Bull (1980) and The Godfather Part III (1990).

“Inneggiamo”

from Cavalleria rusticana by Mascagni
Ann Toomey and the Opera Omaha Chorus

This solemn hymn, also known as the "Easter Hymn," is sung by Santuzza and the villagers as the community comes together to celebrate the Easter service amidst their personal turmoils and tragedies. Ostracized and heartbroken, Santuzza finds a brief respite as she joins the chorus in prayer, despite her earlier despair over her lover Turiddu’s infidelity with another woman.

Gotta Be Me and the Heartlight Choir are all about inclusion and being yourself! Gotta Be Me is a non-profit created to promote the inclusion of individuals with disabilities into our communities, creating a culture that is brimming with life, dignity, and growth - for all people. Gotta Be Me creates opportunities for people with all abilities to come together, to become who they want to be, without limits.
Opera Omaha’s Holland Community Opera Fellows have been working with Gotta Be Me since 2018, helping create a rock opera, concert performances, variety shows, and virtual workshops.

The Adanu Heartland Ensemble represents refugee and immigrant children from many countries including Togo, Congo, Côte d’Ivoire, and Kenya. The group is sponsored by the Omaha Chamber Music Society’s Good Vibrations Program in collaboration with Heartland Integration Center.

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