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Heartbreak High

PERFORMANCES

April 30th, 2021
May 1st, 2021
May 2nd, 2021

LOCATION

The Opera Center

LANGUAGE

Italian with English dialogue

COMPOSER

Gaetano Donizetti

LIBRETTIST

Felice Romani

English dialogue & concept

Cody Martin & Corey McKern

details

Featuring our 2021 Artists in Residence—alongside guest artist Dennis Jesse—Heartbreak High is a brand new concept for a classic Donizetti opera. Since its debut in 1832, The Elixir of Love has been one of the most beloved comic bel canto masterpieces. Our new take on the piece, led by stage director Corey McKern, transports the characters and story into a 1950s-era high school—poodle skirts, leather jackets, and all.

 

Nemorino is a booksmart student crushing hard on Adina, the school’s head cheerleader. While he must figure out how to win Adina over from quarterback Belcore’s pursuits, a magical “elixir” peddled by chemistry teacher Mr. Dulcamara changes the game entirely. 

 

This 90-minute production will be sung in Italian with English dialogue. English supertitles will be displayed to follow along with the story. Limited capacity performances will be held at the Pensacola Opera Center, with audience members required to wear masks throughout the performance.

 

Cast and Creatives

Kameron Lopreore

as Nemorino
tenor

Alyssa Dessoye

as Adina
soprano

Alyssa Dessoye, American soprano from Tampa Fl, has recently earned her Master of Music degree in Voice Performance from Indiana University Jacobs School of Music. Dessoye was most recently seen on the IU Opera Theater stage as Adina in L’elisir d’amore, Zerlina in Don Giovanni, and Kate Pinkerton in Madama Butterfly. She was also featured as a soprano soloist in Honegger’s King David as well as in Handel’s Messiah. She received her Bachelor of Music degree from Florida State University where she also performed as Zerlina and Suor Genovieffa in Suor Angelica. In the summer of 2018, Dessoye joined the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra as Erste Dame in their fully staged production of Die Zauberflöte and made her role debut with the Aspen Music Festival as Giulietta in Les contes d’Hoffmann. Dessoye then joined Sarasota Opera as an Apprentice Artist in their 2020 winter season.

Jack Chandler

as Belcore
baritone

Baritone Jack Chandler is from Arlington, Virginia. Mr. Chandler’s recent credits include Belcore (L’elisir d’amore), Le Dancaïre and Morales (Carmen), Bill Bobstay (H.M.S. Pinafore), Schaunard (La bohème), Slim (Of Mice and Men), Claudio (Béatrice et Bénédict), Sir Berkley (Der Vampyr), Mr. Lindquist (A Little Night Music), Sciarrone (Tosca), Stewpot (South Pacific), and Dottore Grenvil (La Traviata). In the 2020-21 season, Jack was an Artist in Residence at Pensacola Opera, where he covered the role of Escamillo in Bizet’s Carmen. He also covered the role of Captain Corcoran in the company’s production of H.M.S. Pinafore. Upcoming performances include Papageno (Die Zauberflöte) at Florida State Opera in October, and a return to Pensacola to sing Fiorello and the Official in Rossini’s Il barbiere di Siviglia in March 2022.

Jack is an alumnus of the Aspen Music Festival and School, where he studied with Vinson Cole for three summers. He earned a master’s degree from Florida State University under the instruction of David Okerlund.

Dennis Jesse

as Mr. Dulcamara
Baritone

Erin Alford

as Giannetta
mezzo-soprano

First Prize Winner of the 2024 Pasadena Vocal Competition, mezzo-soprano Erin Alford kicked off her 2023-24 season as Berenice in Rossini’s L’occasione fa il ladro with Opera Southwest, followed by performances in LA Opera Connects outreach production of Orpheus, Handel’s Messiah with Pacific Opera Project and First Church Miami, recital Words of Women in American Song with The Ebell of Los Angeles, and in concert with Palm Springs Opera Guild. Last season she joined Florida Grand Opera as a Studio Artist, where she performed Fidalma in El matrimonio secreto, La Ciesca in Gianni Schicchi, and covered Rosina in Il barbiere di Siviglia. In the 2021-22 season, Erin performed Second Woman and Dido cover in Dido and Aeneas with Opera San José, returned to Pensacola Opera as Zweite Dame in Die Zauberflöte, and joined Opera Santa Barbara as a Chrisman Studio Artist, covering Hannah After in As One and performing song cycle The Starry Night with American composer Jake Heggie at the piano. Additionally, Erin was named a 2022 Tennessee District Winner in the Metropolitan Opera Laffont Competition.

>>Artist Website

* Pensacola Opera debut artist

Production Team

STAGE DIRECTOR | Corey McKern
REHEARSAL / PERFORMANCE PIANIST | Anthony Benz
COSTUME DESIGNER | Gavin Dietz*
HAIR & MAKEUP DESIGNER | TBD

* Pensacola Opera debut artist

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