“Libiamno ne’ lieti calici”
“Let’s drink from the joyful cups.”
By Judi Kalitzki
If you’re like me, it’s impossible to keep tears from at least prickling your eyes when you hear Violetta’s aria “Addio del passato” from La Traviata, saying goodbye to the future she will never have, now that her lover Alfredo has given in to his father’s plea to leave her. Tears did indeed flow while listening to soprano Jennifer Bromagen’s passionate rendition of that aria at the Guild’s La Traviata preview on April 22.
This was the first in-home preview since the pandemic started in 2020, graciously hosted by Margit Maguire and Steve Milam. The fact that it sold out with a capacity of 45 guests attending certainly showed a hunger for renewing our tradition of previews held in private homes.
We were met at the door by our dynamic duo, Stuart and Joanne Sechrest, who checked us in. Joanne did a fabulous job with the invitations, reminders, program, and menu cards. Isn’t it fun getting the beautifully designed Paperless Posts in your inbox?
The Italian-themed event began at 3:00 with antipasti, prosecco and wine served in the large and inviting kitchen, with guests seated on the lovely outdoor patio in the pleasant afternoon sun. At 4:00 our musical program began, offering a full hour of beautifully sung arias, duets, and a magnificent final trio, all with the superb piano accompaniment of Glenda Williams. Glenda also acted as our narrator, giving a brief account of the context of the opera historically and in Verdi’s life and career and clearly (and humorously) explaining the ins and outs of La Traviata’s plot. The musical offerings were very generous: we were treated to eight selections, ranging from the very familiar but always stirring Sempre Libera to the perhaps less well-known duet between Germont and Violetta where Alfredo’s anxious father finally succeeds in convincing her to give up her lover. Our preview ended with the dying Violetta surrounded by her lover Alfredo and his father, the now-penitent Germont, who finally has recognized Violetta’s worth.
The singing of our trio—Jennifer Bromagen, soprano; Andrew Etherington, tenor; and Charles Robert Stephen, baritone—was outstanding: soaring, heartfelt, and superbly doing justice to the beauty of Verdi’s music.
As if all that wasn’t enough, guests were then treated to a magnificent dinner provided by Patricia Pavia, chef extraordinaire. Delicious lasagna, both meat and vegetarian, and the most succulent and juicy roast chicken I’ve ever tasted were the entrees, along with Italian bread and salad. Emily Mattson was also a big contributor to the dinner, and pitched in, as always, in any way that helped—I saw her already washing dishes as I left!
Throughout the event our wonderful photographer Mila Vladi, took the photos you see. And to top off the evening while dessert was served, Marilyn Leck conducted an ask to support the Guild’s Singers Development Fund, from which is distributed the Singers Development Awards at our annual auditions, to be held this year on June 27 at Tagney-Jones Hall. This event is free, and all are invited to attend. The SDA is truly the capstone of the Seattle Opera Guild’s year, since it supports one of our primary purposes: supporting up-and-coming singers as they try to launch their operatic careers. Our baritone, Charles Stephen, told us how important similar support was to him at the beginning of his career, detailing just how expensive it is for aspiring singers to pay for the lessons, auditions, applications, travel, music copies, and on and on: so many expenses to meet and so little income at that stage in a singer’s life! The guests responded generously, raising over $5,000!
If you were not at the preview but would like to contribute, you may send a check made out to the Seattle Opera Guild to the Guild’s treasurer, Stuart Sechrest, at our PO Box 5745, Lynnwood, WA 98046, or you may donate on our website.
This highly successful event was a wonderful end to the 2022–2023 opera year. We now look forward to seeing all members at our Annual Meeting to be held on June 10 at the Washington Athletic Club (WAC) from 11–3.
Thank you to all who helped put this event on, in addition to those already mentioned: Zoe Erickson, Jonathan Gerson, Frank Gregory, Gayle Charlesworth, Stew Law, Samantha Leck & Friends, Pam Johnson, and Stefan the bartender.