With Voices Raised
Soloists
Angela Baade, soprano, is noted for her intense and personal performances, Angela Baade has sung in numerous operatic and concert venues across the country. Angela recently debuted with great success in the role of Susanna in Le nozze di Figaro with the Opera in the Heights. Additional operatic repertoire includes Beth in Little Women, Servilia in La Clemenza di Tito, Fiordiligi in Così fan tutte, Clorinda in La Cenerentola, and Suor Genoveffa in Suor Angelica. Angela also had the pleasure of participating in the American premiere of Heinrich Sutermeister’s Die schwarze Spinne with the Gotham Chamber Opera.
In the concert world, Angela moves between classical and cross over-repertoire with ease. She was a featured soloist in a Sondheim revue at the Gran Teatre del Liceu in Barcelona. Other highlights include performances of Vaughan Williams’ A Sea Symphony, Berg’s Sieben frühe Lieder, Mozart’s Requiem and Coronation Mass, Dvořák’s Stabat Mater, and the music of Richard Rodgers.
Angela has been and continues to be an advocate for opera education. She was heavily involved in outreach performances with the Seattle Opera, including, interactive performances of The Magic Flute, radio broadcasts, and a child-friendly recording of The Magic Flute distributed at Northwest regional Starbucks stores. Angela has co-authored and performed numerous outreach presentations for schools in New York and New Jersey.
Angela has received an Encouragement Award at the Metropolitan Opera National Council Western Washington District auditions and was a semi-finalist in the Eleanor McCollum Competition at the Houston Grand Opera.
Elizabeth Russo, an award winning Mezzo Soprano, is well known for her powerful voice and strong stage presence. In a recent review of a New York City performance, Classical Singer stated, “Elizabeth Russo, with a dark voluminous mezzo, gave a sensuous account of the Habanera from Carmen.” She was just featured as Herodias in Salome in June of 2007 and as Amneris in Aida in 2006 with the One World Symphony of NYC, the title role in The Rape of Lucretia with OPERAMICI (2007), Mama Lucia in Cavalleria Rusticana with the Chelsea Opera and, Waltraute in Die Walküre with Opera Dramatica of NYC. With the Albany Symphony at the Shaker Mountain Festival, she played Waltraute in Götterdämmerung and the Rhine Maiden Wellgunde in Das Reingold, and Principessa in Suor Angelica. Ms. Russo appeared as Lady Jane in Gilbert and Sullivan’s Patience with the Sorg Opera of Middletown Ohio, as Acucena in scenes from Il Trovatore with the Richmond County Orchestra of Staten Island, and as Maddalena in Rigoletto with Nutmeg Opera featuring Theodore Lambrinos of the Metropolitan Opera in the title role.
Ms. Russo performed her solo recital in October 2004 at the Marion Anderson Hall in Danbury Connecticut, commissioned by the Danbury Opera. In regard to that performance, the press stated: “It was in Elgar’s Sabbath Morning at Sea that we were first treated to the full power of Russo’s impressive voice… activated Russo to some of her best singing, melding fine phrasing with effective body movements.”
Kevin Radtke, tenor, is a committed and engaging performer with stage and concert credits that demonstrate his versatility. He has been the tenor soloist for numerous performances of Handel’s Messiah and Mozart’s Requiem, Beethoven’s Mass in C, Monteverdi’s Vespro della Beata Vergine, Schütz’s Musikalische Exequien, and a number of Bach’s cantatas. Upcoming concert engagements include the Messiah and Mozart’s Coronation Mass. Mr. Radtke’s operatic roles include Basilio in The Marriage of Figaro, Albert in Albert Herring, Jupiter in Semele, Borsa in Rigoletto, Marco in The Gondoliers, Mr. Angel in The Impresario, and Benedict in Beatrice and Benedict. In July 2008, he will join the staff of Westminster Choir College’s CoOPERAtive Program as a dramatic coach and director of opera scenes. He was a young artist with the CoOPERAtive Program in 2007 and was an assistant stage director with Chautauqua Opera in 2006. Mr. Radtke, a student of Laura Brooks Rice, earned a Master of Music degree in voice performance and pedagogy from Westminster Choir College and a Bachelor of Music degree in voice performance from Drake University. He is originally from Downers Grove, Illinois.
Edward Huls, bass, a native of Michigan and graduate of Calvin College, has appeared with major Opera Companies throughout the Country, including Chicago Lyric Opera and New York City Opera. Mr.Huls appearances at New York City Opera include the roles of Escamillo in Carmen, Alphio in Cavalleria Rusticana, Skula in Prince Igor, and recently, Peter in Hänsel and Gretel. He has also appeared in Tales of Hoffman and in roles of rarely done works such as Griffelkin, Midsummer Nights Marriage, Dr. Faustus, The Mother of us All, and Ballad of Baby Doe. In addition, Mr. Huls performed the role of Germont in La Traviata, Marcello in La Bohème, and Escamillo in Carmen with the New York City Opera National Company.
Recently Mr. Huls participated in the world Premier of Anton Copolla’s opera Sacco and Vanzetti, performing the role of Bill Thompson. Other recent appearances include Dr. Engel in Mozart’s Der Schauspieldirecktor with Pierce Opera, Papageno in Mozart’s Magic Flute with Philharmonia Virtuosi, Enrico in Lucia di Lammermoor with the Bohème Opera NJ, and the Mayor of Padua in Bizet’s Dr. Miracle with the Orchestra of St. Luke. Appearances with various Opera companies throughout United States include: Tampa Bay Opera, Cleveland Opera, Knoxville Opera, Virginia Opera, Opera Delaware, National Grand Opera, Augusta Opera, Opera Company of Boston, Pittsburgh Opera, Florentine Opera, Baton Rouge Opera, Cincinnati Opera, Western Opera Theater, Texas Opera Theater, Michigan Opera Theater, and Opera at Florham. Trained at Lyric Opera of Chicago, Mr. Huls performed Figaro in the Barber of Seville, Tarquinius in the Rape of Lucretia, and Dr. Malatesta in Don Pasquale with that company.
Mr. Huls also enjoys the Concert stage, making his Carnegie Hall debut in the Requiems of Brahms and Fauré. With the New Jersey Choral Society, he has performed as the Baritone Soloist in Orff’s Carmina Burana, Vaughan Williams’ Sea Symphony, Haydn’s Lord Nelson Mass, and Duruflé’s Requiem. These were performed in the New Jersey areas as well as for a tour in Italy. For the past two seasons, Mr. Huls was engaged as Bass Soloist with the Garden State Philharmonic, performing Handel’s Messiah and Bach’s Magnificat. He was also engaged in a Pops Concert with Rutgers University in a Gala New years Eve Festival. And last but not least, Mr. Huls has had the pleasure of performing Handel’s Messiah for several seasons with the Calvin College Oratorio society. He also conducts the choir of St. Joseph Church of New York and is a voice instructor at Brooklyn-Queens Conservatory of Music. Upcoming engagements include Brahms Requiem, Beethoven Ninth Symphony with the Garden State Philharmonic, the Duluth Festival Opera, and Handel’s Messiah with the Lynchburg Chamber Choir in Virginia.