FYI Meet The Artists

2023-06-18 -

Among the international artists performing this summer at Opera in the Ozarks are these:

Diana Nalyvaiko Soprano Ukraine

My voice teacher recommended coming to Opera in the Ozarks in 2022, when I came here for the first time.

I am singing Tisbe in “Cinderella” and Venus in “Orphée aux enfers” (Offenbach). Both of these characters are incredibly fun to play since each of them is comedic in their own way. Tisbe is a mean sister of Cinderella who keeps fighting with her older sister Clorinda, and Venus is an outgoing character who loves to insert jokes and unnecessary comments anywhere she can.

[After this summer] I will continue to pursue my Bachelor’s in Music at Vanderbilt for a third year.

Helena Losada Soprano Brazil

I am singing Adina in “L’Elisir d’Amore”and Diane in “Orphée aux Enfers.” I think both characters are immature and very used to being the center of attention. However, they are both smart, playful and full of joy and life. I love how confident Adina and Diane are. I think their presence always lightens up the environment.

I’m still falling in love with [opera]. The more I study, the more I discover new and fun things to explore. There was this one moment, however, that made me realize this was what I wanted to do with my life. It happened last year, during my Master’s. I was singing Despina at Boston University’s production of “Così fan Tutte” — my first principal role. I had so much fun preparing and performing it that something just clicked for me then. From that moment on, singing Pamina, Alcina, and now Adina, the process of bringing these characters to life has just confirmed that feeling.

I am joining the University of Houston to pursue a Certificate in Performance this Fall. On top of that, I plan to start auditioning for opera companies in the States, so that I can start performing professionally here.

Ilhee Lee Tenor South Korea

I got to know this program on the recommendation of Joel Ayau, who is one of the faculties of OIO and also a senior vocal coach of New England Conservatory.

I will play the role of Nemorino from “L’elisir d’amore,” which was my dream role, and

Mr. Splinter from “The Tender Land.” In the opera “L’elisir d’amore,” Nemorino loves Adina, so he would do anything to get Adina’s heart even if it’s just one day. This pure love of Nemorino made me love this character more. In “The Tender Land,” Mr. Splinter is a mailman and has a good relationship not only with Laurie’s family but also with neighborhood in the village. The warmth he has is the reason why I like this character.

I liked to sing since I was elementary school student, but I fell in love with the genre of ‘opera’ after participating in full production opera in college. My first role was Don Ottavio from “Don Giovanni” by Mozart.

I will continue to build up my career at Boston University Opera Institute next season. Also, I want to audition for other opera productions and competitions.

Yeonjae Cho Soprano South Korea Married to Ilhee Lee

I am going to sing the role of Eurydice from “Orpheus in the Underworld” by Offenbach, and Mrs. Jenks from “The Tender Land” by Copland. Eurydice is a sexually liberated woman who loves her freedom. To be honest, she is a character that is a little far from what I am in real life. So I am having so much fun with playing a very different role than my everyday self. Also, I love this role because it fits really well with my voice. I am so looking forward to it!

I loved singing since I was young. So it was my greatest pleasure to sing in the choir in the church every Sunday. I got to know the genre of “opera” when I was in high school. It was so charming and exciting to find another me hidden from me by becoming a character with a different tendency that I did not have in the real world.

I am currently pursuing an Artist Diploma at New England Conservatory in Boston. There is still a year left, and I plan to challenge other opera programs and competitions across the United States and Europe as much as I can.

Jesús Guillermo Bravo Tenor Venezuela

I started my musical training in “El Sistema,” which served as the womb that nurtured my love for music. Then, I moved to the United States, to Texas, where I joined choir and band.

This summer I’ll be singing the roles of Nemorino in “L’elisir D’amore” and Orpheus in “Orphée aux Enfers.” I enjoy performing both characters because of the complexity they provide.

I fell in love with opera during college. I was exposed to wonderful pieces of music, pieces that I have never heard before, I fell in love with the musical expression, the orchestration, the melodies, the long and rich history that forms part of the world in which the stories revolved. All of these characteristics made me appreciate opera to a level I didn’t think would be possible.

Once the summer concludes, I hope to continue my musical career by traveling to places that will give me the opportunity to continue my development, and spread the richness of emotion one feels in opera.