2023–2024 SEASON
BEMF Chamber Opera Series presents
John Frederick Lampe’s The Dragon of Wantley
Paul O'Dette & Stephen Stubbs, Musical Directors
Gilbert Blin, Stage Director
Robert Mealy, Concertmaster
Melinda Sullivan, Choreographer
November 25 & 26, 2023 | NEC's Jordan Hall, Boston, MA
November 30, 2023 | Wertheim Performing Arts Center at FIU, Miami, FL
December 2, 2023 | Troy Savings Bank Music Hall, Troy, NY
A fire-breathing dragon is terrorizing the Yorkshire countryside, and only the local squire, Moore of Moore Hall can save the day.
If only he can be bothered to put down his beer.
The Dragon of Wantley, the most popular operatic production of the entire 18th century in England, enjoyed a 45-year run. Lampe deftly lampoons the excesses of Handelian opera in this hilarious farce of 1736.
This all-new production is led by BEMF’s GRAMMY-winning Musical Directors Paul O’Dette and Stephen Stubbs and acclaimed Stage Director Gilbert Blin—an all-star roster of 18 singers, dancers, and instrumentalists combined with period-inspired staging and lavish costumes, bring this rollicking masterpiece to life in a must-see operatic event!
“Spellbinding.”
PRODUCTION PHOTOS
Photos by Kathy Wittman
WHAT TO EXPECT FROM THE BEMF CHAMBER OPERA SERIES
PROGRAM
ARTISTS
Paul O’Dette & Stephen Stubbs, Musical Directors
Gilbert Blin, Stage Director
Robert Mealy, Concertmaster
Melinda Sullivan, Choreographer
Seth Bodie, Costume Designer
Kelly Martin, Lighting Designer
Jason McStoots, Assistant Stage Director
Kathleen Fay, Executive Producer
Vocal Cast
Teresa Wakim, soprano – Margery
Hannah De Priest, soprano – Mauxalinda
Aaron Sheehan, tenor – Moore, of Moore-Hall
John Taylor Ward, bass-baritone – The Dragon
Douglas Williams, bass-baritone – Gaffer Gubbins, father to Margery
Boston Early Music Festival Dance Company
Sonam Tshedzom Tingkhye – Kitty, younger sister of Margery
Julian Donahue – Robin, footman of Moore
Boston Early Music Festival Chamber Ensemble
Robert Mealy & Cynthia Roberts, violin
Sarah Darling, viola
David Morris, violoncello
Doug Balliett, double bass
Gonzalo X. Ruiz, oboe
Kathryn Montoya, oboe & recorder
Dominic Teresi, bassoon
John Thiessen & Brandon Bergeron, trumpet*
Todd Williams & Nathanael Udell, horn*
Michelle Humphreys, percussion**
Maxine Eilander, Baroque harp
Michael Sponseller, harpsichord
Paul O’Dette, archlute
Stephen Stubbs, Baroque guitar
* Boston performances only
**Boston and Troy performances only