Merola’s Royal Affair

San Francisco Opera Adler Fellow Marina Boudart Harris performed Wagner’s “Einsam in truben Tagen”

Nadine Sierra and Renee Rapier

San Francisco Opera Adler Fellows Ryan Kuster, Laura Krumm, Renee Rapier, Nadine Sierra, Ao Li

San Francisco Opera’s Adler Fellows performed for some 330 guests and supporters at Merola Opera Program‘s A Royal Affair at the Four Seasons Hotel on April 21, 2012. The black-tie affair raised over $120,000 for Merola, one of the most respected opera training programs in the world.  The Merola Opera Program is dedicated to training young operatic talent and developing opera singers, coaches and stage directors of the highest artistic caliber.

Nearly 900 artists from around the world vied for 29 spots in Merola’s 12-week summer program, which is offered free of charge to all participants. Twenty-three singers, five apprentice coaches, and one apprentice stage director will present two staged operas at the Cowell Theater at Fort Mason this summer. Dominick Argento’s Postcards from Morocco and W.A. Mozarts La finta giardiniera.  Visit the Merola Opera Program’s website for concert information, dates and tickets.

Scenes from Merola’s Royal Affair

Brian Gustafson, Liza Vakhroucheva, Anjelika Koulebakina and David Houser at A Royal Affair, Merola’s annual spring benefit

San Francisco Opera Adler Fellows Ao Li and Ryan Kuster performed “Un segreto d’importanza” from Rossini’s La Cenerentola

Ashley Kohlwey, Brendan Wallace

Amii Barnard-Bahn and Michael Bahn

Merola Board President Donna Blacker with Merola Executive Director Jean Kellogg

Guillaume Orliac, Linda Zider

Carol Weitz, John Lavorgna

Photos by Drew Altizer Photography

— Related: Red Carpet Bay Area coverage of Merola Opera Program’s annual benefit events:

• Introducing the 2016 Adler Fellows
• Merola’s Girls of the Golden West (2013)