Lois Alba
in collaboration with
Soma International Foundation, Inc.
Sunday, January 27, 2013
PROGRAM
Artistic Director & Narrator
Lois Alba
Stage Director & Acting Coach
Debra Dickinson
Conductor & Vocal Coaching
Maestro Stephen Dubberly
Pianist
Janice Fehlauer
Costumes
Deborah Blake & Colleagues
Performances by contestants of the
CAST
Dalma Boronkai, soprano ……….….. Violetta Valéry
Sergio Cepeda, tenor ……..……….. Alfredo Germont
Robert Cardwell, baritone ………… Giorgio Germont
Kaitlyn Stobbe, soprano ……………… Flora Bervoix
Kaitlyn Stobbe, soprano …………………..… Annina
Stephonne Smith, baritone ……….…. Baron Douphol
Alejandro Magallon, tenor…………….………. Gastone
Carl Hand, bass ….…………………… Dottore Grenvil
Sarah Berggren, soprano …..………………… Chorus
Karly Hutchins, soprano …..…………..…….. Chorus
Summer Song, soprano ……..……………..…. Chorus
Alisa White, soprano ……………….…….…. Chorus
Brandon Moore ……………………. Il Commissario
Gonzalo A. Ramos ………………….……. Giuseppe
Joe Burk ………….……………….…………. Butler
Photography by Gwen Juarez 
- Soprano, Dalma Boronkai as Violetta Valéry, a well-known Parisian courtesan
Violetta and her guests, welcoming the Barone Douphol (Baritone, Stephonne Smith)
Violetta’s introduction to Alfredo Germont (Tenor, Sergio Cepeda)
Alfredo proposes a toast!
Brindisi!
Ah se cio é ver, fuggitemi!
É strano!
A few short months later… Alfredo, sings of his love for Violetta at her country cottage
Lunge da lei..
Giorgio Gemont (baritone Robert Cardwell) visits Violetta and begs her to leave is son, Alfredo, to save his family’s reputation..
Madamigella Valéry… Pura siccome un angelo…
Violetta can not bear the thought of losing her beloved Alfredo…
Un di quando le veneri… Ah! Dite alla giovine…
Morro! La mia memoria…
Alfredo finds her writing a note (her farewell) which she hides and she begs him to love her always…
Che fai? Giunse mio padre… Amami Alfredo..
Father, Giorgio Germont finds Alfredo in grief over Violetta’s departure and rejection note
Perche son io commosso? … Di provenza…
Giorgio Germont makes his case for his daughter’s upcoming wedding and the importance of maintaining the family’s good name and standing in the community
Father encourages his son to accept Violetta’s sacrifice
Later that evening, back in Paris, Flora (Kaitlyn Stobbe, soprano) and Dr. Grenvil (bass, Carl Hand) welcome Alfredo to her party and Flora inquires about Violetta’s whereabouts? He knows not..
Gastone (tenor, Alejandro Magallon) deals the cards for a friendly game among friends
Alfredo! Voi!
*Violetta arrives with her benefactor the Barone Douphol and immediately feels Alfredo’s anger towards them. Flora tries to comfort and appease her
The Baron wants to try his luck at the table…
Dinner is served, the Baron collects his cash and after a few short words between the rivals, he joins the others for dinner in the room next door
A very worried Violetta, in passing, had asked Alfredo, to have a few words with her and she returned to the salon to wait for him
Hearing a heated conversation between Alfredo & Violetta, the guests return to see what is happening (Alisa White, Alejandro Magallon & Sarah Berggren)
Guest & courtesan look on in disbelief (Summer Song, soprano)
Alfredo does his best to humiliate and debase Violetta in front of everyone
Invitato a qui seguirmi…
Violetta faints after Alfredo’s insulting, name calling and cash thrown at her. Giorgio Germont arrives in time to see his son act very poorly..
Dr. Grenvil revives Violetta and reassures her
Disprezzo degno..
In the final act, Violetta has had a relapse of illness and is broke and bedridden in Paris
Violetta has read and reread an apology letter from Giorgio Germont, updating her on the dual between Alfredo & the Baron, and telling her that soon he and Alfredo will be calling on her… “It’s late” she cries
Teneste la promessa…
Annina brings the good news, Violetta has a visitor
Signora, che t’accadde?
Rejoined, they remember the past, the happier days
Parigi o cara
Ah, non più… a un tempio…
Violetta announces to all that if Alfredo’s return can’t heal her, nothing can
Alfredo assures Violetta that she will soon be better and that they will be together
Più a me t’appressa…
Violetta falls to the floor, lifeless…
Alfredo holds her in his arms, weeping…
Fine
Applausi!
An interview prior to this event with Lois Alba, Dalma Boronkai and St. John Flynn of Houston Public Radio. Piano accompaniment provided by Janice Fehlauer.
We had an overwhelming success, presenting Verdi’s Masterpiece
La Traviata
This was a one night event and featured previous numerous competition singers we have grown to know, love and follow along their career paths.
Lois Alba served as Artistic Director, Dr. Stephen Dubberly was our Conductor, Debbie Dickinson served as Acting Coach and Stage Director and Maestra Janice Fehlauer amazed at the piano. We were delighted to have the costuming wizardry of Deborah Blake and her colleagues, as well.
Dalma Boronkai delighted us as our gorgeous yet ill-fated Violetta and Sergio Cepeda was her true love, Alfredo. Baritone, Robert Cardwell was the perfect father figure, in Giorgio Germont concerned yet with offered a change in heart towards Violetta. Carl Hand as Dr. Grenvil and Kaitlyn Stobbe as Flora and the caring Annina were so caring and loving in their roles. Alejandro Magallon, usually a tenor, was ill performance night as the fun loving matchmaker, card dealer Gastone and sported a lovely new baritone sound! Baritone, Stephonne Smith was quite chivalrous as the Barone Douphol. Beautiful harmonies as well as concerned courtesans by our lovely Alisa White, Karly Hutchins, Sarah Berggren and Summer Song. Our young messengers Brandon Moore and Gonzalo Ramos delivered information promptly with both their hands and their clear voices. And newcomer Joe Burk kept all our cast hydrated for the “Brindisi” and was instrumental regarding moving sets, curtains and anything in need of attention.
Bravissimi, tutti!
You may now find photographs of that event by visiting the following link and we’ll soon add video excerpts of that unforgettable evening.
Praise we heard that evening:
“Absolutely the best Traviata I ever saw, anywhere!” ~ Slava Makalskaya
“I saw the legendary Anna Moffo sing this role and I do not believe she sang it even the slightest bit better than Dalma Boronkai, this evening! Outstanding!” ~ Ted Pinson, III
“Truly a magnificent performance yet what we expected by such a talented assortment of professionals and leaders at the helm. I will not miss any future endeavors presented by Lois Alba and the Soma Foundation!” ~ Edward Barrington-Daniels
“I have taken many opera lovers on opera tours all over Europe and have never heard a better Traviata!” ~ Al Marks
