The Marriage of Figaro
January 24 + 26, 2025
Friday, January 24
7:30 PM
Sunday, January 26
2:00 PM
the marriage of figaro
Coming Soon!
Composer
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Librettist
Lorenzo Da Ponte
Conductor
Cody Martin
Run Time
3 Hours Including One 20-Minute Intermission
Language
Italian with English Supertitles
The Artists
Sidney Outlaw
as FigaroA sought-after concert singer and recitalist, Mr. Outlaw appears in the 2024-2025 season in recital several times with close collaborator, renowned pianist Warren Jones, at Manhattan School of Music, Brooklyn Art Song Society, Holy City Arts & Lyric Opera, and University of North Florida. Additionally, he débuts with the California Symphony in Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9, with Bozeman Symphony Orchestra in Mozart’s Requiem, and returns to Jacksonville Symphony for their Messiah, following a triumphant debut with the company in 2023. His newest recording, an EP of Brahms’ Zwei Gesange Op. 91, was released by Lexicon Classics in 2024. On the opera stage, he returns to Pensacola Opera for one of his signature roles, Figaro in Le nozze di Figaro, and reprises his Don Giovanni with Greensboro Opera.
Nicole Heinen
as SusannaIn the 23/24 season, soprano Nicole Heinen made her company and role debut with Pensacola Opera as Despina (Così fan tutte), Adele (Die Fledermaus) and covered the titular role of Lucia (Lucia di Lammermoor). Ms. Heinen also made her Pensacola Choral Society debut as the soprano soloist in Handel’s Messiah. During the 22/23 season Ms. Heinen made her debut with New Orleans Opera as the Dew Fairy (Hansel & Gretel), returned to Florentine Opera for a role debut as Despina (Così fan tutte) and made her Chautauqua Opera debut as Henrietta M. (The Mother of Us All) and covered Mukhtar Mai (Thumbprint).
Ms. Heinen won Mary Ellen Clancy Memorial Award (MIOpera Competition), the Wisconsin District (MET Laffont Competition) and 4th place in the Mary Jacob Singer of the Year Competition. She was a finalist in the John Alexander Vocal Competition and Handel Aria Competition, semi-finalist in the Premiere Opera Foundation Competition and the Orpheus Vocal Competition.
Joseph Lattanzi*
as CountJoseph Lattanzi commands attention for his “robust vocalism,” “unmistakable charisma,” and “undeniable star potential.” Lattanzi established himself as a major artist in the current landscape of opera with his portrayal of Hawkins Fuller in the world premiere of Gregory Spears’ Fellow Travelers. The New York Times said “Joseph Lattanzi was splendid as Hawk, his buttery baritone luxuriant and robust.” Praise for his work encompasses nearly 10 years of raves from audiences in Cincinnati, New York City, Chicago, Phoenix, Tucson & Des Moines and critics from The Wall Street Journal, The Chicago Tribune, Opera News & Opera Now. He can be heard on the original cast recording of Fellow Travelers. His recorded work also includes the world premiere recording of Blind Injustice, in addition to songs and duets with some of the music world’s finest interpreters.
Recent engagements include Paul Jobs in The (R)evolution of Steve Jobs at San Francisco Opera and a role and house debut as Belcore in L’elisir d’amore at Minnesota Opera. Future engagements include the title role of Don Giovanni at Arizona Opera and a world premiere with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra.
Renée Richardson*
as CountessA recent graduate of the Houston Grand Opera Butler Studio, Haitian-American soprano Renée Richardson hails from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Richardson performed the roles of Flower Maiden in Parsifal and Sister Berthe in The Sound of Music, as well as covering the role of Mary Jane Bowser in Intelligence, during HGO’s 2023-24 season. During the 2022-23 season at HGO, she performed the roles of Annina in La traviata and Woman Whose Uncle Loved Maria Callas in Another City.
Richardson holds an Artist Diploma from The Academy of Vocal Arts, where she has sung Mimì in Puccini’s La bohème, Foreign Princess in Dvořák’s Rusalka, the title role and Suor Dolcina in Puccini’s Suor Angelica, and Inès in Donizetti’s La favorite. She holds a Professional Studies Diploma in Voice from the Cleveland Institute of Music, where her roles included Fiordiligi in Mozart’s Così fan tutte, Béatrice in Berlioz’s Béatrice et Bénédict, and the title roles in Puccini’s Suor Angelica and Cherubini’s Medea.
Erin Alford
as CherubinoFirst 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.
Stefano de Peppo*
as BartoloStefano de Peppo was born in Italy and began his career as a boy soprano at La Scala in Milan. He is known for his powerful bass-baritone, his crisp diction, and his skills as a singing actor. He mostly specializes in roles of the traditional repertory of the Italian comedic operas of the 18th and 19th centuries. His Leporello (Don Giovanni), Bartolo (The Barber of Seville and The Marriage of Figaro), Don Pasquale, Mustafa (The Italian Girl in Algiers), Sulpice (The Daughter of the Regiment), Sacristan (Tosca), Gianni Schicchi, Alcindoro/Benoit (La bohème), Dulcamara (The Elixir of Love), and Don Alfonso (Così fan tutte) have been a great success in most theatres of the US, Spain, Mexico, Colombia, Israel, Italy, Germany, England, and France. He recently took part in the premiere of the new opera Tenor Overboard by Ken Ludwig/Gioachino Rossini at the Glimmerglass Festival, directed by Francesca Zambello.
Megan Marino*
as MarcellinaMezzo-soprano Megan Marino, celebrated for her genre-adventurous approach and fearless stage presence, pushes the boundaries of traditional opera. Most recently, Marino returned to Santa Fe Opera as Annina in Der Rosenkavalier and made notable debuts as Elsa Schraeder in The Sound of Music with Houston Grand Opera and Puck in A Midsummer Night’s Dream with The Atlanta Opera. Other highlights include her performance as Maddalena in Rigoletto with Opera Delaware and the world premiere of Jake Heggie and Gene Scheer’s Before It All Goes Dark with Music of Remembrance. Moreover, Marino boasts a rich Metropolitan Opera career, including her performances of Flora in La Traviata and Second Lady in The Magic Flute. Marino holds a Master of Music from the University of Colorado and a Bachelor of Music from the University of Southern Maine.
Micah Perry*
as Basilio/Don Curzio2024-25 Jan Miller Studio Artist
Hometown | Brookings, SD
Education | M.M. Baylor University, B.M. South Dakota State University
Recent Work | Die Fledermaus, Quisisana Resort; Carmen, Austin Opera; 2023 Studio Artist, Wolf Trap Opera
This Season at Pensacola Opera | Basilio/Don Curzio in The Marriage of Figaro, Beppe in Pagliacci, Mato in The Bear Who Couldn’t Fish
Rachel Fitzgerald*
as Barbarina2024-25 Jan Miller Studio Artist
Hometown | Mansfield, OH
Education | M.M. University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, B.M. Ohio Wesleyan University
Recent Work | 2024 Santa Fe Opera Apprentice Artist; The Merry Widow, Indiana University; Così fan tutte, Tel Aviv Summer Opera
This Season at Pensacola Opera | Barbarina & Countess (cover) in The Marriage of Figaro, Nedda (cover) in Pagliacci, Mother in The Bear Who Couldn’t Fish
Joseph O’Shea*
as Antonio2024-25 Jan Miller Studio Artist
Hometown | Mobile, AL
Education | M.M. University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, B.M. University of South Alabama
Recent Work | 2024 Gerdine Young Artist, Opera Theatre of St. Louis; Madama Butterfly, Cincinnati Opera; Fellow Travelers, CCM
This Season at Pensacola Opera | Antonio and Count (cover) in The Marriage of Figaro, Silvio (cover) in Pagliacci, Eagle/Snake in The Bear Who Couldn’t Fish
Cody Martin
as ConductorAmerican conductor Cody Martin was recently named Music Director at Pensacola Opera, where he was previously the Director of Education and Director of the Artists in Residence Program since 2017. During the 2023-24 season, he leads a production of Lucia di Lammermoor and serves as associate conductor and chorus director for Die Fledermaus, in addition to continuing his work with the company’s nationally respected Jan Miller Studio Artist Program. He also appears as guest conductor for Florida State Opera‘s The Cunning Little Vixen. Recent seasons have seen Cody leading productions of Carousel, Die Zauberflöte, Don Giovanni, As One, Florencia en el Amazonas, Man of La Mancha and María de Buenos Aires in Pensacola, in addition to various concert appearances. He made his debut with Fargo-Moorhead Opera conducting Jake Heggie’s Three Decembers in 2019. Other companies Cody has enjoyed working with include Des Moines Metro Opera, Arizona Opera, Opera Birmingham, Virginia Opera, and the Janiec Opera Company at Brevard Music Center.
Cody holds degrees from Murray State University and Florida State University. He lives in Pensacola with his former shelter dog, Rosina, a corgi/dachshund mix (@rosinathelongdog).
Corey McKern
as Stage DirectorAward-winning baritone Corey McKern continuously earns critical acclaim and accolades in every appearance he makes. Of his performance as Figaro in Il barbiere di Siviglia, critics hailed: “Corey McKern… has all the goods to rise to star stature – timing, stamina, vocal heft and an easy-going stage presence – especially telling in Figaro’s signature aria, ‘Largo al factotum della citta.’” Recent engagements include the role of Older Thompson in Glory Denied with Opera Birmingham and performances as a soloist in Carmina Burana with Missoula Symphony, and Handel’s Messiah with the Alabama Symphony. Other engagements include Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 with the Tallahassee Symphony and a return to the Florentine Opera for a concert of “Opera’s Greatest Hits.” Upcoming, Corey will return to Pensacola Opera as the title role in their production of Don Giovanni.
Of his performance in La bohème, the Santa Fe New Mexican said, “Corey McKern’s resolute, robust-voiced and rambunctious Marcello, a perfect picture of a wannabe Parisian painter, was one of the best I’ve ever heard.” Mr. McKern garners attention at leading opera houses for his charming and dynamic portrayals of his signature roles: Marcello in La bohème in his Asian début at Opera Hong Kong, Santa Fe Opera, Florentine Opera of Milwaukee, Nashville Opera, and Opera Grand Rapids; Figaro in Il barbiere di Siviglia with Nashville Opera and Opera Birmingham; the Count in Le nozze di Figaro with Nashville Opera, Opera Cleveland, Opera Columbus, Michigan Opera Theatre, Tulsa Opera, Opera Birmingham, and Syracuse Opera; Gabriel von Eisenstein in Die Fledermaus with Nashville Opera and Florentine Opera; Papageno in Die Zauberflöte with Opera Omaha, Arizona Opera, Opera Birmingham, and Tulsa Opera; as Silvio in Pagliacci with Austin Lyric Opera, Arizona Opera, Opera Birmingham, and Central City Opera.
Production & Creative Team:
Conductor, CODY MARTIN
Stage Director, COREY MCKERN
Chorus Director, CODY MARTIN
Costume Designer, GLENN AVERY BREED at WARDROBE WITCHERY
Wardrobe Supervisor, KENDALL DAYTON
Hair & Makeup Designer, BRITTANY RAPPISE
The Music
The Venue
The Saenger Theatre is the premier entertainment venue in Downtown Pensacola. Seating just over 1,500 patrons, Pensacola Opera has been performing here for years.
Street parking is available as well as a nearby parking garage on Jefferson St. Downtown parking is free on Sundays.
Street Address:
118 S. Palafox Place
Pensacola, FL 32502
Events Beyond the Stage
Meet the Artists Reception
Friday, January 24
10:30 PM
Director's Champagne Brunch
Sunday, January 26
11:45 AM