Buffo Alexander Adams-Leytes, in making his professional debut in 2013 with Pacific Opera Project, was described as “transcendental…never missing a syllable or pitch…always creating a plausible motive for his insane acrobatics” in his specialty of comic patter singing as (Rossini’s) Dr. Bartolo. For several summers, he trained in Lyric Opera Studio of Weimar, Germany with European buffo Damon Nestor Ploumis, specializing in Mozartian roles.
In 2014, he helped inaugurate Gulfshore Opera in Naples, FL, singing dual roles of Father and Witch in “Hansel and Gretel.”

In March of 2015, he made his German house debut with Theater Rudolstadt, as Dr. Cajus and Herr Reich in Nicolai’s “Die Lustigen Weiber von Windsor” and later debuted Don Alfonso in “Cosi fan Tutte” with Passion Artists of Vienna. In 2016, he debuted with Miami Lyric Opera, performing Dulcamara and the Sacristan, in 2017 adding Don Magnifico in “Cenerentola” at Theater Rudolstadt and Gianni Schicchi with the Narnia Festival in Italy.

He reprised his Mozart Bartolo at Theater Arnstadt in Germany in 2018, sang Benoit/Alcindoros in Arkansas and New Rochelle, NY, and appeared in the Nahant Music Festival.

He later added Falke in “Fledermaus” at KurTheater in Bad Liebenstein, Germany and switched roles to sing Frank in Arnstadt and in the inaugural Opera on the Lake festival in Minnesota in 2019. Following re-opening of opera, he covered Dulcamara with Opera Maine, and will now sing his first Major General in “Pirates of Penzance” in Cedar Rapids before appearing in Chicago as Tarabotto.

Soprano, Christine Arand, a graduate of Northwestern University and The Juilliard School, began her career in Europe and the United States creating the leading role of Lise in the world premiere of LES ENFANTS TERRIBLES by Philip Glass directed by Susan Marshall.

Christine’s operatic roles include Antonia in LES CONTES D’HOFFMANN (Hawaii Opera Theater), Armida in RINALDO, Cecilio in LUCIO SILLA (Chicago Opera Theater) Salomé in HERODIADE, Liù in TURANDOT and Micaëla in CARMEN (Dorset Opera, UK), Gilda in RIGOLETTO and Violetta in LA TRAVIATA (Kimmel Center, Philadelphia), Tiny in PAUL BUNYAN (Glimmerglass Opera and New York City Opera), the title role of AGRIPPINA (Teatro Massimo, Palermo), Nanetta in FALSTAFF (Pine Mountain Music Festival), Zdenka in ARABELLA (San Francisco Opera), Susanna in LE NOZZE DI FIGARO (Arizona Opera and Fort Worth Opera), Poppea in L’INCORONAZIONE DI POPPEA and Cherubino in LE NOZZE DI FIGARO (Juilliard Opera Center).

Described as an “Up-and-Coming Diva” by The New York Times, Christine made her debut on Broadway in LA BOHEME ON BROADWAY directed by Baz Luhrmann singing Musetta and appeared in David Leveaux’s Tony-award-winning NINE as Maria.  In Paris, at the Théȃtre du Chȃtelet, Christine played Eliza Doolittle in Robert Carsen’s new production of MY FAIR LADY and portrayed both Maria Rainer and the Baroness in Emilio Sagi’s new production of THE SOUND OF MUSIC.  At the Lincoln Center Theater, she performed Yvette Guilbert in Martha Clarke’s BELLE EPOQUE.

Christine has also appeared in concert at Lincoln Center in Orff’s CARMINA BURANA, Mozart’s REQUIEM at David Geffen Hall and premiered Tan Dun’s LAMENT: AUTUMN WIND and Berg’s CANTATA NO. 2 in Alice Tully Hall.  She also made her Carnegie Hall debut in the world premiere of David Childs’ REQUIEM.

Hailed by the Boston Globe as “balmy-voiced” and for her “uniformly excellent” performances, mezzo-soprano Katherine Beck returns to Arizona Opera in the 2023-24 season to create the role of Elizabeth Lavenza in the world premiere of Gregg Kallor’s Frankenstein. She also joins the Saint Louis Symphony as Lola in Cavalleria rusticana with James Gaffigan conducting, and the Lyric Opera of Chicago for its production of La cenerentola. Last season, she had her first performances of Rosina in Il barbiere di Siviglia with Florentine Opera. Also in Rossini repertoire, she returned to the Lyric Opera of Chicago for its production of Le comte Ory and joined Dallas Opera for Così fan tutte. She also partnered with Craig Terry in recital at her alma mater, the Crane School of Music at SUNY Potsdam, as well as at Florentine Opera.

Tenor Benjamin Burney, a native of Youngstown, Ohio, has performed locally, in his hometown, and internationally, from the Caribbean Islands to Estonia. Recently, Benjamin performed in the world premiere of Iphigenia by Wayne Shorter and Esperanza Spalding, and went on to make his Kennedy Center debut with said opera. In past years, he has appeared in Florentine Opera’s Il barbiere di Siviglia and Roméo et Juliette; Lakeland Opera’s Cavalleria rusticana; Chicago Opera Theatre’s King Roger; Cedar Rapids Opera Theatre’s Madama Butterfly and The Enchanted Forest; Gilbert and Sullivan Opera Company’s Merrie England; Folks Operetta’s Die Kathrin and The Flower of Hawaii; Transgressive Theatre-Opera’s Comte Ory; Indianapolis Opera’s productions of La traviata and South Pacific; and Opera Western Reserve’s La bohème and Il barbiere di Siviglia.

Benjamin studied abroad in Milan, Italy, for vocal performance and opera. While he was there, he gained proficiency in the Italian language and progressed his musicianship level. He joined a professional concerto chorus and performed works such as: Giuseppe Verdi’s Requiem and George Gershwin’s Porgy and Bess. He studied with Patrizia Zanardi and maestro Vincenzo Manno, at Fondazione IES Abroad Italy and Civica Scuola di Musica Claudio Abbado. He performed weekly with chamber ensembles at various venues like Casa di Riposo per Musicisti, a home for retired opera singers and musicians founded by Giuseppe Verdi himself. Benjamin was awarded the Benjamin A. Gilman scholarship that allowed him to have this invaluable experience.

Recently, he was named a winner of the Montpelier Arts Center Recital Competition, along with being a First Prize Winner for the Charleston International Music Competition.

“Truly an anthem of our times” said Classic FM in regards to Matthew’s AKA (Matthew Choof)’s ‘Figaro’ parody. Matthew spent this past winter singing with New York City Opera originating the role of Giampi Malnate in their world premiere of The Garden of the Finzi Continis. He could also be seen singing in the Broadway’s 10th Anniversary Concert of A Tale of Two Cities as Gabel and the Male Principal understudy. Ciuffitelli had the unique opportunity to perform with the Rolling Stones at Chicago’s United Center and to appear in the U.S. premiere of the mixed-media work, Mountain Top, by Dutch avant-pop composer Jacob Ter Veldhuis. Many of his operatic roles include Dr. Malatesta in Don Pasquale, Sergeant Belcore in L’Elisir d’Amore, Papageno in Die Zauberflöte, Eisenstein and Dr. Falke in Die Fledermaus, Valentin in Faust, Marcello in La Bohème, and Figaro in The Barber of Seville. Ciuffitelli appeared as Prince Yamadori in New Jersey Festival Orchestra’s Madama Butterfly as well as Angelotti in their Tosca. He also performed in The Telephone with Light Opera of New Jersey and at Sarasota Opera as a featured resident artist singing the Official Registrar in the company’s production of Madama Butterfly.

Matthew was the recipient of the 2018 Career Bridges Grant as well as the winner of the 2018 New Jersey State Opera Competition Award. He can be seen touring internationally with the world-renowned Sharpe Family Singers. You can find him on Facebook, YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram as @MatthewChoof

Frank has been active in oratorio and opera for the past 20 years. Frank’s most recent performances include South Shore Opera’s production of Opera at the Movies where he performed classic roles including Il Commendatore in Don Giovanni and Sparafucile in Rigoletto. Prior to that, Frank was active with Light Opera Works of Chicago, performing in  productions of Pirates of Penzanceand Iolanthe where he played the Police Sergeant and Private Willis respectively. His performances were heralded by the Chicago Tribune and Sun Times saying that he was “both vocally and comically perfect.”

His additional performance credits include, Germont in La Traviata, Sweeney Todd in Sweeney Todd, Seneca in L’incoranazione di Poppea, and Cinderella’s Prince in Into the Woods.  Frank has had the pleasure of working with such renowned conductors as Daniel Barenboim, Zubin Mehta and Christoph Eschenbach. He continues his studies under the tutelage of Carl Lawrenz, and is a founding member of the Three Baritones.

A New Jersey–based opera coach, he is conversationally fluent in French and Italian and brings nearly two decades of experience to his work. His coaching focuses predominantly on the Italian repertoire, spanning from Mozart to Puccini.

The primo ottocento bel canto repertoire is a particular specialty, with deep familiarity in the works of Rossini, Donizetti, Bellini, Pacini, and Ricci. Occasional excursions into other traditions provide welcome refreshment—cherished forays into Wagner, Strauss, Beethoven, German lieder, or the Russian repertoire of Rachmaninoff, Tchaikovsky, and Mussorgsky—before returning to his Italianate home turf.

Soprano Heather Hjelle is the most recent recipient of the Encouragement Grant from the Wagner Society of New York. Shortly after the award she performed Dich Teure Halle with the Kenwood Symphony. Previously, her professional debut was made with the role of Santuzza in Main Street Opera’s production of Mascagni’s Cavalleria Rusticana, the same year she covered Metropolitan Opera soprano Alexandra LoBianco in the same role with Opera Steamboat. In 2019, she starred in the title role of La Gioconda with Opera MODO.

Ms. Hjelle has performed with Operafestival di Roma, performing the roles of Donna Anna in Mozart’s Don Giovanni and Suor Angelica in Puccini’s Suor Angelica. She has portrayed Rusalka in Dvořák’s Rusalka with Toronto Summer Opera and was looking forward to returning to Opera Steamboat where she would have covered the role of Ariadne in Strauss’s Ariadne auf Naxos, but due to COVID, this performance was cancelled.

A Minnesota native, Heather earned a degree in Theatre with a minor in music from Bethany Lutheran College, where she has recently returned as a faculty member. This summer, Hjelle will be a in residence with The American Wagner Project in Reno, Nevada. Shortly thereafter, she will return to her hometown of Barrett, MN to perform in “The Every Person’s Guide to Opera”. This is a concert series designed to introduce opera to areas that might not have access this style of art. Ms. Hjelle has been awarded a grant by the LRAC to produce this series.

Baritone Franco Pomponi made his European debut in the title role of Hamlet at the Liceu in Barcelona and success followed worldwide. He created a sensation in Paris as Pentheus in The Bassarids by Henze at the Théâtre du Châtelet and has returned to sing the title roles in new productions of Nixon in China (broadcast on Mezzo) and Sweeney Todd. His Italian debut came at Teatro Massimo, Palermo, as Nick Shadow in Cesare Lievi’s production of A Rake’s Progress. He debuted at Opernhaus Zürich in a new production of Les pêcheurs de perles as Zurga (dir. Rizzi), the title role of Don Giovanni for his debut at Bolshoï Opera (dir. Currentzis) and in Budapest in a new production of The Tempest as Prospero at Hungarian State Opera.

Mr. Pomponi was a member of Lyric Opera of Chicago and made his Chicago debut as Germont in Verdi’s La traviata. He made his New York debut as Escamillo in Carmen at New York City Opera. Other debuts: Ford in Falstaff for The Santa Fe Opera (dir. Arrivabeni), ‘Four Villains’ in Les contes d’Hoffmann, Finnish National Opera (dir. Fournillier). He made his Carnegie Hall debut as Pater Ecstaticus in Symphony Nº 8 of Mahler with the Philadelphia Orchestra.

Additional highlights include: Ezio, Attila, Seïd, Il Corsaro, OFC Chicago; Tebaldo, Giulietta e Romeo (Zandonai), New York; Prigioniero, Il Prigioniero (Dallapiccola), Chicago; Pangloss, Candide, Metternich, L’Aiglon, Lausanne; Hamlet, Barcelona, Marseille, Brussels, Kansas City; Don Giovanni, Bolshoi, Moscow, Geneva, Athens, Montpellier, Guangzhou; Eugene Onegin, FGO, Miami, Spoleto Festival; Escamillo, Carmen, L.A. Opera, NYCO, Helsinki, Bremen; ‘Four Villains,’ Les Contes d’Hoffmann, Golaud, Pelléas et Mélisande, Reisopera Netherlands; Paolo, Simon Boccanegra, Grand Théâtre de Genève; Germont, La traviata, Grant Park Music Festival; Ford, Falstaff, Canadian Opera; Count di Luna, Il trovatore, Austin Lyric; Michele, Il tabarro, Opera Festival of Chicago; Jack Rance, Fanciulla del West, KYO; Marcello, La bohème, Opéra de Lausanne, Opéra Vichy; Schaunard, La bohème, Count Dominik, Arabella, Metropolitan Opera, New York; Valentin, Faust, Opéra de Toulon; Hérode, Hérodiade, Silvio, Pagliacci, Dorset Opera; Frank/Pierrot, Die tote Stadt, Teatro Massimo, Palermo; Guglielmo, Così fan tutte, Belcore, L’elisir d’amore, Opéra National du Rhin, Strasbourg; Argante, Rinaldo, NYOpera Fest; Ping, Turandot, Mercutio, Roméo et Juliette, Malatesta, Don Pasquale, Lyric Opera of Chicago; Carbon, Cyrano, Teatro Real, Madrid. Mr. Pomponi has sung leading roles under Abell, Abbassi, Andrizzi, Bartoletti, de Billy, Eschenbach, Gergiev, Guidarini, López Cobos, Luisotti, Mehta, Minkowski, Levine, Mazzola, Nagano, Nelson, Niquet, Olmi, Ōno, Pappano, Pidò, Schwarz, Soltész, Villaume, de Waart.

Franco is the Artistic Director and co-founder of the Opera Festival of Chicago

First Prizewinner at the Montreal- Quebec XIII CONCOURS D’INTERPRÉTATION DE MUSIQUE TCHÈQUE ET SLOVAQUE 2015, She has performed like a soloist with the most prestigious Orchestras in Mexico. Her operatic repertoire included Rossini, Pergolesi Donizetti, Verdi, Mozart, Puccini, Menotti, Bizet, also modern and contemporary music, among others. Her symphonic repertoire included all the most famous pieces by soprano solo as well, like Mozart, Brahms, Verdi, and Faure Requiem, 9th Symphony by Beethoven, Mahler’s 4th symphony to mention the most recent engagements. She has sung as a soloist in China, Byelorussia, Italy, Austria, Germany, Canada, etc. She moved to live in USA recently and she did her operatic debut in this country last year with Atlanta Opera, in “Carmen”, and having collaboration in different shows with this Company. Alejandra is living in Atlanta and also has a Lecturer Voice Position In Georgia State University School of Music.

American tenor Kenneth Tarver is a past winner of the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions and was a member of the MET‘s Young Artist Development Program and later the ensemble of Staatstheater Stuttgart.
Renowned for his interpretations of the works of Mozart and Rossini, Tarver is a welcome guest at the major opera houses and concert venues in Europe and the US.

Recent highlights include a European tour with Così fan tutte and Teodor Currentzis, his Florestan (Fidelio) debut in Oulu, Finland, Mozart’s La finta giardiniera/Don Anchise at Aalto-Theater Essen, Don Giovanni/Don Ottavio with the Welsh National Opera with shows throughout the UK, Mozart’s Requiem with the Atlanta Symphony and, most recently, Nerone in Handel’s Agrippina at the Florida Grand Opera.

Kenneth Tarver‘s extensive recording catalogue includes collaborations for Sony with Teodor Currentzis & MusicAeterna (Cosí fan tutte and Don Giovanni), Deutsche Grammophon: Pierre Boulez and the Cleveland Orchestra (Les nuits d’été and Roméo et Juliette), Kent Nagano and the London Symphony Orchestra (Bernstein – A White House Cantata), for LSO Live: Sir Colin Davis and the London Symphony Orchestra (Berlioz – Béatrice et Bénédicte, Roméo et Juliette and the highly acclaimed Les Troyens which was awarded Grammys for Best Opera Recording and Best Classical Recording).