Baylor Opera Theatre

Congratulations to senior Alexia Rivera for receiving an Encouragement Award from the Metropolitan Opera Laffont Competition! Sic 'em, Alexia! 🐻 💚💛

Baylor Students: Tomorrow at 4pm in Recital Hall II, come learn about what recording equipment you can borrow from the Experiential Learning Center, and how this equipment can help your audition videos shine!

That's a wrap on our production of Michael Ching's Notes On Viardot! We had an amazing time telling this story, and learning more about Pauline Viardot and her contemporaries. Thank you so much to everyone who attended the performances. Until next time!

Manuel García the younger, elder brother of Pauline Viardot, was a singer, music educator, and vocal pedagogue who invented the first laryngoscope. He spent most of his career teaching at the Paris Conservatory and the Royal Academy of Music, London. Among his accomplished students was Jenny Lind, one of the most highly regarded singers of the 19th century, whose career he has been credited with saving after she had suffered vocal damage from overwork in her early twenties.

Pauline's son Paul Viardot grew up to become a famous violinist and composer who appeared with great success in Paris and London. Paul was a close friend of Gabriel Fauré, who dedicated his first violin sonata to him.

In the roles of both Manuel and Paul, we're excited to showcase returning BOT student Travis Driver!

Travis Driver is a baritone from Spring, Texas. He is a third-year BM Vocal Performance student and studies voice under Dr. Mark Diamond. In addition to singing, Travis has studied piano and french horn, has sung with several choral ensembles, and has acted in over forty musicals. This is Travis’ second year performing with
Baylor Opera Theatre.

Music critic Alfred de Musset was a French dramatist, poet, and novelist. Along with his poetry, he is known for writing the autobiographical novel La Confession d'un enfant du siècle "The Confession of a Child of the Century."

Charles Dickens was an English novelist, journalist, short story writer and social critic. He created some of literature's best-known fictional characters, and is regarded by many as the greatest novelist of the Victorian era.

In the roles of both Alfred de Musset and Charles Dickens, we're excited to feature returning BOT star John Jovicich!

John Jovicich is an aspiring baritone who one day hopes to fulfill his dream of becoming a full-time professional opera singer. He decided upon opera as a career when he was just twelve years old after a tragic hip disease afflicted him and ended his passion for gymnastics. After being accepted into the Baylor School of Music and studying with Dr. Jamie Van Eyck and Dr. Robert Best, John fell evermore in love with music and the art of singing and has dedicated his being to connecting with audiences around the world through opera. His most recent roles include Masetto in Don Giovanni, Pictordu in Pauline Viardot’s Cendrillon, Ford in Falstaff, and Melisso in Alcina. John would like to thank his parents for being supportive throughout his career, as well as his partner Hannah, who has helped his dreams become a reality.

George Sand was one of many notable 19th-century women who chose to wear male attire in public. In 1800, the police chief of Paris issued an order requiring women to apply for a pass in order to wear male clothing. Sand obtained this permit in 1831, justifying it as being less expensive and far sturdier than the typical dress of a noblewoman at the time.

In the role of George Sand on Sunday afternoon, we're thrilled to feature returning BOT artist Sarah Martinez!

Sarah Noemi Martinez was born and raised in Houston Texas. She has received her BA in music and minor in Christianity from Houston Christian University. She is now attaining her dual master’s degree in Divinity and Music (Church Music- Vocal Performance). Currently, she serves as Truett’s Chapel Coordinator and the Worship and Student Pastor at Park Lake Drive Baptist Church in Waco, Texas. She plans to continue ministry and vocal performance for the years that lie ahead.