Program Guide

PERFORMANCE
INFORMATION

Conceived for broadcast television...

NBC's Opera Theater broadcast. Gian Carlo Menotti introducing the performance.

A prolific composer, Menotti wrote 25 operas which have enjoyed worldwide success, among them — Amahl and the Night Visitors, The Telephone, The Old Maid and the Thief, and The Medium, and LABYRINTH. This opera captured our imagination for two reasons — because it is a morality tale, or a “philosophical riddle”, as Menotti called it, and because it has never been performed professionally before a live American audience!

We are deeply excited to be premiering the first live American performance of Labyrinth!

Commissioned for television by NBC TV’s Opera Theater in 1963, LABYRINTH follows the ever more bizarre wanderings of a young couple on their honeymoon searching for their room in a strange hotel. Menotti took advantage of the many special technical effects of movie filming to keep the TV audience riveted on the ever-increasing panic of the young couple as they roam the halls, meeting an assortment of dotty characters who give them surreal but useless advice in their search. In the film, characters sing opera, peek through keyholes, and frolic in a swimming pool scene of debauchery.

Our challenge: how to convey Menotti’s ideas with only a stage, lights, voices, and no pool!

The audience's challenge: figuring out Menotti's riddle before the opera ends...

PURCHASE TICKETS

CAST BIOS

GROOM — Junhan Choi

Baritone Junhan Choi(Groom), a native of South Korea, is a dynamic interpreter of a wide variety of repertoire on opera, oratorio, and concert stages. He recently appeared roles such as Registrar&Commissioner, Madama Butterfly, Dandini(cover), La Cenerentola, Bass solo, Eurydice, and Schaunard(cover)&Alcindoro, La Boheme with Boston Lyric Opera as part of his 2022-2024 seasons as a Jane and Steven Akin Emerging Artist.
Mr. Choi is a prize winner in many international competitions, such as the 54th Viñas International Voice Competition(Spain/Three Extraordinary Prizes - Mercedes Viñas, Victoria de los Ángeles, Franz Schubert), the Berliner International Music Competition(Germany/Golden Medal), MassOpera’s Vocal Competition(1st Place), Rochester International Vocal Competition and St. Botolph Emerging Artist Grant for excellence in music. He made his Carnegie Hall debut for ‘Tribute to Dmitri Hvorostovsky’ concert as a baritone soloist as a first prize recipient of 2017 Talents of the World International Voice Competition.

BRIDE — Emma Robertson

Described as “a soprano with an outstanding range,” “a gifted [stage] performer,” (OperaWire), and having an “elegant” voice (Boston Musical Intelligencer), Emma Robertson is a soprano from Marietta, GA, living in Boston, MA.
Emma makes her Cambridge Chamber Ensemble debut this evening. In addition, she performs locally with Boston Opera Collaborative, the Tanglewood Festival Chorus, the Actors Company of Natick, and will make her debut with the Boston Lyric Opera in Die Tode Stadt in February 2025. Emma has been a resident artist at a concert series at Grace Note Farms in Rhode Island since 2021. She was the soprano soloist/section leader at St. Cecilia’s Catholic Church in Back Bay from 2021-2024, and currently sings for St. Michael’s in Hudson, MA.
Ms. Robertson holds a masters degree in Vocal Performance from the New England Conservatory of Music and a bachelors degree in Music Performance from the University of Georgia.

OLD MAN — Patrick Bessenbacher

Patrick Bessenbacher (Old Man/Chorus) was raised in Overland Park, KS, where he grew up a three sport athlete and an avid music lover. Most recently, Patrick sang the role of Tonio in Opera Company of Middlebury’s production of La fille du régiment as well as premiering the role of Peter Fagan in Carla Lucero’s newest opera Touch about the life of Helen Keller. He also joined Opera San Jose and the Florentine Opera performing the role of Count Almaviva in Il barbiere di Siviglia. Patrick is represented by Robert Mirshak and Mirshak Artists. He received his Bachelor’s in Music at the University of Colorado, Boulder, and his Master’s in Music from The Juilliard School. Patrick enjoys spending his free time with family and friends, in the mountains skiing, on the beach having a drink, or just on the couch, enjoying everyones’ company.

ASTRONAUT — Fred VanNess Jr.

Fred C. VanNess, Jr. (Astronaut) recent appearances include Amadu and Omar in OMAR (Boston Lyric Opera), Paris and Tybalt cover in Romeo and Juliet (Boston Lyric Opera). He has also appeared as Russell Davenport in Freedom Ride (MASSOpera/Chicago Opera Theater), Voltaire/Dr. Pangloss (Opera del West), tenor soloist in Samuel Beebe’s Remember the Sea (Castle of our Skins, world premiere), tenor soloist in Geoffrey Gibbs’ Tide Flowers (University of Rhode Island, world premiere), and featured soloist with various orchestras and companies throughout New England.. He debuted his one-man show, When I Think of Home... at McNeese State University. Mr. VanNess holds degrees from The Longy School of Music of Bard College, Louisiana State University and McNeese State University

SPY — AddieRose Brown

AddieRose Brown (SPY/CHORUS) is delighted to make her Boston area debut with Cambridge Chamber Ensemble in this rare Menotti riddle. Originally drawn to singing by the simplicity and sincerity of Scottish and American folk music, mezzo-soprano AddieRose Brown now imbues operatic and concert stages with the same heartfelt authenticity and creative spirit. Following recent performances as a Resident Artist with Teatro Nuovo in Montclair and at Lincoln Center’s Rose Theater, New York Classical Review praised AddieRose for her “moving account... notable for its poignancy and the loveliness of her velvety lower range.” The 24/25 season brings a string of exciting engagements that include joining the Hudson Valley Singers as the mezzo soloist in John Corigliano’s darkly lyrical Fern Hill, beginning a Fellowship with Madison Avenue Baptist, NYC, in their Emerging Artist Program, and returning to the New Philharmonic for her role debut as Giannetta in L’elisir d’amore.

EXECUTIVE — Courtney Elvira

Courtney Elvira (Executive Manager) is a Mexican-American opera singer and has sung for companies like Dayton Opera; Brava! Opera Theater; Opera Ithaca; Des Moines Metro Opera; Opera Saratoga; Kentucky Opera; Opera Ithaca; St. Petersburg Opera; Opera Theatre of Saint Louis, and Savannah Voice Festival.

Her awards include winning the West Tennessee District (2020) and Connecticut District Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions (2018). She was also a Finalist in the Butler Opera International Vocal Competition (2019). Ms. Elvira was the recent recipient of the Creative Pinellas
2022 Professional Artist Grant ($5000) for her career achievements.

Ms. Elvira maintains an active film career. She’s played roles in multiple Lifetime movies, including Kara in Controlling My Husband, Nicole Adamson in From Dangerous Heights, notably directed by Haylie Duff, Officer Ramirez in Roommate Regret and Principal Marta Gutierrez in Nightmare PTA Moms; as well as roles in SAG films, like Athena (VO) and Hispanic Newswoman in Mother Nature and The DoomsDay Prepper and a small role in Project Baby, directed again by Haylie Duff.

DEATH — Andrew Boisvert

Andrew Boisvert, Bass, has been hailed as “thundering” (San Diego Story) with a “deep warmth” (The Rutland Herald). Recent 2024 performance highlights include singing Unnamed Bass in Too Many Sopranos with Cedar Rapids Opera, Frank in Die Fledermaus with Bel Cantanti Opera, and Il Carceriere in Cedar Rapids Opera’s Tosca. Previous 2023 and 2022 highlights include making his Indianapolis Opera debut as Zuniga (where he also covered Escamillo) in Carmen, returning to Sarasota Opera to cover Il Commendatore in Don Giovanni and Lo zio Bonzo in Madama Butterfly, singing Il Re di Scozia in Opera Neo’s production of Ariodante (August 2022), covering Sergeant Sulpice in St. Petersburg Opera’s production of La fille du Régiment (June 2022), and performing as Sam in Fargo-Moorhead Opera’s production of Trouble in Tahiti (March 2022) as well as covering Alidoro in their performance of Rossini’s Cinderella (April 2022).

DEATH'S LACKEY — Jacob O'Shea

Jacob O’Shea (Death’s Lackey) is a rising young Baritone whose performances have been deemed, “visually and vocally [commanding]” (Boston Musical Intelligencer). Last season, O’Shea completed his second year as a Bailey Apprentice Artist at Palm Beach Opera and was an Apprentice Artist at Des Moines Metro Opera. Previously, he has also worked with Central City Opera, Boston University Opera Institute, and the Seagle Festival. Role highlights include Guglielmo (Così fan tutte), Colline (La bohème), The Sodbuster (Proving Up), and Paul (If I Were You). O’Shea is thrilled to be back home in Boston and to return to Cambridge Chamber Ensemble after taking part in their production of Forbidden Love.

BELLBOY — Thai Johnson

Thai Johnson (Bellboy/Old Man Cover/Astronaut Cover) is a promising young tenor from
Marietta, Georgia now residing in the Boston area. He is establishing himself as an exciting and
entertaining artist to watch with collaborations in featured roles and choruses with notable
ensembles such as Odyssey Opera, The Cambridge Chamber Ensemble, Dee Opera, and the
Sudbury Savoyards. Recent credits include premiering the role of Filippo in The Falcon (Robert
Rogler), appearing as various Daters in Speed Dating Tonight! (Ching), and portraying Cyril in
Princess Ida (Gilbert and Sullivan), the latter of which earned him a DASH award for “Best
Supporting Performer in a Musical- Comedy” by EMACT. Additional roles include Silvio
(L’arbore di Diana), Monostatos (Die Zauberflöte), Fabrizio Naccarelli (The Light in the
Piazza), and Motel, the Tailor (Fiddler on the Roof).
Mr. Johnson received his MM in Vocal Performance with a certificate in Vocal Pedagogy from
the New England Conservatory of Music (2023) and an AD in Vocal Performance and a BA in
Music from Columbus State University (2021/2019).

GROOM COVER, OPERA SINGER — David Smyth

David Smyth is a Boston-based baritone, well-known for his charismatic stage presence and distinctive, warm timbre. He has sung numerous roles in opera, operetta, and oratorio, and recent highlights include Silvio in I Pagliacci, Rabbi David in L’amico Fritz, Count in Nozze di Figaro, Escamillo in Carmen, and Florian in Princess Ida. David discovered a passion for classical singing shortly after completing his doctoral studies in mathematics, and continues to study privately while also working as an associate professor in the math department at Tufts University. He has interdisciplinary research interests in mathematical logic, philosophy, and cognitive science, motivated by his long-term goal of proving that the world needs less AI and more opera.

BRIDE COVER — Kate Wood

KATE WOOD (Bride cover) is a Boston-based soprano returning to Cambridge Chamber Ensemble after “deploy[ing] her pure soprano with a goddess’s dignity” (Boston Musical Intelligencer) as Venus in their 2022 production of John Blow’s Venus and Adonis. Earlier in 2024, Ms. Wood dazzled audiences as Norina in Don Pasquale with Quisisana, and created the role of Chloris in Ted & Togo Productions’ adaptation of Edgar Allen Poe’s The Haunted Palace in its micro-operatic world premiere. In 2025, Kate returns to St. Petersburg Opera as Fredrika & Mrs. Nordstrom cover in Sondheim’s A Little Night Music. Other recent roles include La Fée in Cendrillon, Mabel in The Pirates of Penzance, Madame Herz in The Impresario, Olympia in Les contes d’Hoffmann, and Lucy in The Telephone. Also a concert soloist, Kate has recently performed Mendelssohn’s Hear My Prayer and Fauré’s Requiem with Old South Church and Vivaldi’s Gloria with Masterworks Chorale. More at katewoodsoprano.com.

SPY & EXECUTIVE COVERS — Sara Mitnik

Mitnik is an emerging mezzo-soprano from Litchfield, Connecticut currently based in Boston, Massachusetts. While well-versed in many vocal styles, Sara's operatic repertoire includes various Daters (Speed Dating Tonight!), Melissa (Princess Ida), Spirit (Savitri), Third Spirit (Die Zauberflöte), Hansel (Hansel & Gretel), Sorceress (Dido and Aeneas), Emma/Morris (Vignettes: Ellis Island) and Marcellina (The Marriage of Figaro). Mitnik had been awarded First Place in the American International Music Competition for her category and was named a top ten Finalist in the Opera Birmingham Competition earlier this year.
Demonstrating her ability to adapt to multiple genres of music, Mitnik also has experience performing musical theater, jazz, funk, rock, pop, and many other styles through her freelance performances. She is an active performer in the Boston area and other locations throughout the Northeast, noted to "shine" on the stage (Sleepless Critic). Mitnik earned her Master's in voice performance from the New England Conservatory in May 2023 under the instruction of MaryAnn McCormick.

SOPRANO CHORUS — Naré Kim

Korean soprano Naré Kim, hailed for her “highly expressive phrasing” and “shimmering warmth of sound,” has performed with Cambridge Chamber Ensemble, Boston Opera Collaborative, Opera NEO, San Diego Opera, Seoul Metropolitan Opera, Seoul National Opera, etc.
Her recent operatic appearances include Sidonie in Armide, Night in The Fairy Queen, Zerlina in Don Giovanni, Hanna in Die lustige Witwe, Musetta in La bohème, Sandmann in Hänsel und Gretel, and Annette in Hamlet Investigations, Inc.
Naré holds both bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Seoul National University and was an Apprenticeship Artist with the San Diego Opera’s Young Artist Program. She earned first place in the La Jolla Symphony Young Artist Competition in 2018 and second place in the Virginia Hawk Competition the same year.
In addition to her singing career, she has held leadership roles directing choirs and works as a Korean editor for various publishing houses.

SOPRANO CHORUS — Danielle Shevchenko

Danielle is thrilled to make her company debut with Cambridge Chamber Ensemble as a Chorus member in Menotti’s The Labyrinth. Last season, she made several company debuts, including Lady Psyche in Princess Ida with Sudbury Savoyards, covering Zerlina with Boston Baroque, and performing as a featured artist with Calliope Music, where a highlight was singing Ukrainian songs with her husband Bohdan at the piano, accompanied by a stunning artwork created to complement the music. Danielle is also a certified yoga teacher, NASM CPT, and voice teacher with the POMS program in Bedford. She resides in Boston with her husband and Jack Russell puppy, Wotan. Danielle studies with Carol Mastrodomenico and holds an MM in Voice Performance from Longy School of Music and a BM in Vocal Performance from Westminster College.

MUSIC DIRECTOR — Stephanie Beatrice

Stephanie Beatrice (Conductor and Music Director), critically acclaimed for her conducting and directorial work, has been described as "A Force of Nature with a Baton", praised for her "Smart" musical direction and for capturing the "dynamism of the music and every shifting mood with great sensitivity."

Beatrice currently serves as Music Director of the Boston-based opera company Cambridge Chamber Ensemble and the Choral/Orchestral Ensemble - Calliope. Knowing from an early age she wanted to pursue a career in music, Beatrice earned her first directorship at the age of 19 while pursuing her undergraduate degree. Since then she has worked in leading various ensembles as both director and guest conductor. As a conductor she has been accepted into programs such as Distinguished Concerts International New York as a Conducting Mentor, working with DCINY musicians at Carnegie Hall, and with composer Sir Karl Jenkins in performances of his works Symphonic Adiemus and The Armed Man. She recently conducted in the Artes Italia Italian Opera Workshop in Florence, Italy working with Maestro Allemandi, and was selected as a Mentee in the Girls Who Conduct, Early Career Program studying with Mentor Alicia Pouzo.

Her role as a conductor has also inspired her greatly in the importance of music education. In other aspects of her professional life Beatrice maintains an active career as an educator, serving as choral music director in both K-12 education and as Adjunct Professor of Music at Eastern Nazarene College. Beatrice’s tutelage extends to notable conductors Mark Shapiro (The Juilliard School) Michael Adelson (New York Philharmonic), Erica Washburn (New England Conservatory), Simon Carrington, Antonello Allemandi, and Doreen Rao.

Beatrice holds degrees from the New England Conservatory of Music where she earned her MM in Choral Conducting, and the University of Maine earning a BME in Music Education, and is currently studying Orchestral Conducting at The Juilliard School - Extension Division.

STAGE DIRECTOR — Michael Meraw

Michael Meraw (Stage Director) has been performing in and directing opera since his time as a graduate student at McGill University. He got his first chance as assistant to Francois Racine, the protégé of famed Director, Robert LePage with a production of Gustave Charpentier’s Louise. Michael has worked for companies in Canada, Germany and the United States. Mr. Meraw has been the Artistic Director of the Undergraduate Opera Studio at New England Conservatory for the last 14 years. He is very eager to help share this story of weakness, repentance, and redemption. Michael conceived and directed CCE’s 2023 production of Handel’s masterpiece Samson, and is back to direct this year’s production of Menotti’s Labyrinth.

STAGE DIRECTOR'S NOTES

It is such a pleasure to offer this wonderful piece of music drama. Despite Menotti‘s development of the piece for television and his intention never to present it on stage, we have had a fun time bringing the story to life, so that you can be swept away by its provocations and challenges. In this Opera, or as Menotti calls it a “musical riddle”, we explore the Groom’s search for the key to his assigned room in the Grand Hotel. He gets questionable advice as to its whereabouts from the past, the present, the future, and different philosophical traditions embodied by the Old Man, the Executive Manager, the Astronaut, the Spy and the Bell Boy. Ultimately, he gets the most help from the love incarnate in his bride.

At the end, even that Love is denied him, and he seeks succor among the pleasures of the world only to find that they are a trap. Thankfully, in his last moments, he calls out for his love and is finally greeted by the smiling and welcoming face of Death. When he admits to having ‘nothing left’, at last he is given his long sought for key and ultimately his resting place with its hoped for peace.

I do hope that you enjoy riddling out this wonderful mystery play. It has been a great pleasure preparing it for you.

– Michael Meraw, Stage Director

CAMBRIDGE CHAMBER ENSEMBLE

PERFORMANCE INFORMATION

Conceived for broadcast television...

CAST BIOS

STAGE DIRECTOR'S NOTES

CAMBRIDGE
CHAMBER ENSEMBLE

PERFORMANCE
INFORMATION