Hello Opera Lovers,

A Duluth native myself, I returned to the Northland after a career in opera both in the U.S. and in Europe, and found that there was a place for opera in the Duluth area. My own experience with opera houses and audiences taught me that quality is not necessarily a matter of money but rather talent and enthusiasm. People make opera happen, not things. The Duluth area has an embarrassment of wonderful singers--world class singers. It also has aspiring young singers from University of Minnesota, University of Wisconsin, St. Scolastica, and Bemidji State Univeristy, eager to participate. With the addition of the area's wonderful professional orchestral musicians, talented conductors and enthusiastic thesbians, starting a regional opera company based on economic common sense seemed inevitable.

Building on the wonderful grass roots enthusiasm of Bill Bastian's Northland Opera Theatre Experience which grew out of local passion for grand opera, LOON was born. In the fall of 2004, Lyric Opera of the North was officially registered with the State of Minnesota. A successful first production, A Die Fledermaus Opera Gala re-established regional opera in the Duluth. In December of 2005, Lyric Opera of the North was officially registered with the IRS as a federally recognized 501 (c) 3 Non-Profit corporation. Summer of 2006 produced our most popular production yet, Mozart's Magic Flute and our precious collaboration with the Scottish Rite Temple in Duluth. This "masonic" opera, presented in the historic jewel box theatre known nationally for its collection of hand painted sets was hailed by the St. Paul Pioneer Press Travel Column as the best pick of the year. In June of 2007, LOON presented something new for the Northland--a Twentieth Century masterpiece--Benjamin Britten's setting of Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream. Fairies and enchanted creatures inhabited the magical world created by Ken Pogin's lighting design with the challenging orchestra score emanating atmosphereically from backstage.

In preparation for 2009, Lyric Opera of the North presented the Anything But Opera! Benefit at Mitchell Auditorium. The brave audience sampled LOON's singers and musicians as few have heard them. The program ranged from Raiders of the Lost Ark movie theme to Music Theatre to Bluegrass to Traditional Ojibwe to jazz and a special version of "Nessun dorma" on electric guitar. There was something for everyone and the evening brought in a whole range of new audience members.

Our upcoming production of Handel's forgotten Semele will be sure to please the many admirers of Handel's Messiah. Sarah Lawrence will star as the over-ambitious Semele who, led to believe that she too might become immortal like the gods, goes a step too far. The number of "hit" tunes will surprise any audience member who ever took a voice lesson: "Where ere you walk", "Endless Pleasure", "Iris Hence away", "Sleep why dost thou leave me", "Leave me loathesome light". . . just to name a few. The themes of overconfidence, hubris and bad luck are sure to resonate with the audience and all conveyed by the glorious music of Handel at the height of his powers. As is our tradition, the performances will introduce two young regional singers: mezzo soprano and Duluth native-Sara Wabrowetz and a brilliant, young countertenor, Tony Tammaro.

Be sure to join Lyric Opera of the North for our upcoming opera, Semele, at the Duluth Masonic Temple on June 12, 13 and 14, 2009.

Dr. Ruth Jacobson
Artistic Director and Founder