Press & Visibility
“UNION AVENUE OPERA HAS TAKEN A BIG STEP FORWARD.”
- ST. LOUIS POST DISPATCH
La fille du régiment
“Union Ave. Opera offers charming ‘Daughter of the Regiment’…Tenor Gregory Schmidt was a standout as Tonio: He has a big, ringing voice with a distinctive timbre of real beauty — and the famous nine high Cs in “A mes amis” were absolutely flawless…Soprano Erica Cochran, as Marie …was pert and perky, and charming throughout. Her voice is light, but she’s a true coloratura, with vocal flexibility and high notes to spare.” -Sarah Bryan Miller, St. Louis Post Dispatch Full Review
“Union Avenue Opera is one of the hidden gems of the local musical theatre scene…their artistic commitment and professionalism are beyond reproach… La fille du régiment (The Daughter of the Regiment), is a truly charming piece of work with a pair of leads that I’d put up against anyone on the Opera Theatre of St. Louis stage.” Chuck Lavazzi, KDHX Full Review
Pirates of Penzance
“Gilbert & Sullivan’s “The Pirates of Penzance,” seen Friday night at Union Avenue Opera’s season opener, is this company at its very best…”Pirates” received an energetic, consistently amusing production. Director Mark James Meier kept things moving nonstop with clever choreography and consistently spot-on timing, abetted by artistic director Scott Schoonover’s zippy leadership in the pit. A cast of appealing, hardworking singers brought it to life. Tenor Robert Boldin was a happy choice as Frederic, the ’slave of duty”; he is appropriately attractive in voice and person. Tiny soprano Victoria Botero looked great and played the do-gooder Mabel in appropriately over-the-top manner…The secondary roles were all nicely done. The chorus of daughters, pirates and policemen sang and danced to near perfection…” by Sarah Bryan Miller, St. Louis Post Dispatch
A fun-filled evening of light-opera entertainment is yours if you attend a performance of Union Avenue Opera’s funny “Pirates of Penzance, “…You’ll note that Robert Boldin (Frederic) has a shining voice with great range. Tiny Victoria Botero has a big soprano voice as Mabel, Todd von Felker has a rich baritone as the Pirate King, and Denise Knowlton darn near steals the show as Ruth. Andrew Papas is a gregarious Major-General. The rest of the cast and the chorus are simply terrific. Conductor and artistic director Scott Schoonover is superb at the music podium, and stage director Mark James Meier keeps things moving at a crisp pace. On Friday, administrative director Dana Stone’s organizational skills got late arrivers in the house before the downbeat. She and her crew deserve applause, too…” by Bill Townsend, St. Louis Classical Music Examiner
Photo by Wayne Crosslin
Il Trovatore
“There’s no reason to do it without the right singers, and the Leonora of soprano Alexandra LoBianco definitely qualified… LoBianco exhibited a true Verdian voice of velvet-covered steel, effortlessly tossing off trills and roulades. She really developed as a character, too, blazing through the second half… The tiny chorus – just 16 people for Verdi’s big do – sang heroically and well.” – Sarah Bryan Miller, St. Louis Post Dispatch
“Artistic Director Scott Schoonover has assembled a cast of outstanding voices. Eric Ashcraft and Thomas Beard, as Manrico and Count di Luna, are powerful and compelling. Veronica McHale, as the gypsy mother, Azucena, sings flawlessly… But it is soprano Alexandra LoBianco who runs triumphantly away with the evening’s laurels in the role of Leonora. Hers is a remarkably strong, clear, pure and open voice that rises easily to all of Verdi’s challenges. Hers is the voice that soars out over and above all the other fine voices in the cast. And as the story proceeds Ms. LoBianco shows all the flashing-eyed passion appropriate to the role.” — Steve Callahan, KDHX
Photo by Wayne Crosslin
Die Lustige Witwe
“The Union Avenue Opera presents a delightful production of perhaps the world’s most popular operetta-Franz Lehar’s Die Lustige Witwe With a superb cast and quite delicious staging… The cast is perfection itself. Quite truly there is not a weak point in it. I’ve rarely heard such uniform vocal excellence. Sylvia Stoner, as Hanna, is beautiful and vivacious, with a strong, clear soprano. Ian Greenlaw sings Count Danilo. His is a lovely strong baritone. And he is such a gorgeously dashing romantic lead. .. Ms. Hoyt is ravishing, as usual, with a brilliant voice and most delightful and expressive eyes. Thomas Wazelle, in the role of her admirer, shows a smaller voice than some others in the cast, but his sweet purity and perfect control make up for any want of vocal power… there is a stage full of waltzing and a most exciting and delicious can-can number with a whole line of beautiful grisettes dancing perfectly in a swirl of frothy skirts and petticoats. Stage director Jolly Stewart and choreographer Dana Stone deserve high praise for such success.” — Steve Callahan, KDHX
“Artistic director Scott Schoonover assembled a generally strong cast. Baritone Ian Greenlaw was near perfect as Danilo: tall, handsome and with a beautiful dark-hued voice. Soprano Sylvia Stoner made an attractive, winning Hanna, acting and singing strongly.” — Sarah Bryan Miller, St. Louis Post Dispatch
Photo by Wayne Crosslin
Lakmé
“As the Brahmin priestess Lakmé, soprano Patricia Johnson looked beautiful in her midriff-baring costumes, and sounded lovely when she floated her voice… Tenor Roderick George was sympathetic as Gérald, the British officer who loves her. He has a big voice and high notes that won’t quit.” — Sarah Bryan Miller, St. Louis Post Dispatch
“I had the pleasure of viewing performing arts at its finest, thanks to the brilliant work of Union Avenue Opera’s Artistic Director Scott Schoonover, and the cast of his latest production, Leo Delibes’ Lakme… While my ears were ringing with delight, my eyes were wide with wonder; thanks to the colorful set created by Patrick Huber…All told, Union Avenue Opera’s production of Lakme is first rate; presenting a cast of outstanding vocalists, an orchestra pit packed with professional musicians, and an experienced artistic staff who knows how to engage audiences in a satisfying evening of authentic opera.” — Missy Miller, KDHX
On Union Avenue Opera’s 15 years
“For fifteen seasons, Scott Schoonover has introduced St. Louis audiences to the magnificence of opera, creating an authentic experience with performances delivered in their original language. For those who have yet to attend a Union Avenue Opera production, here is what to expect; first and foremost, highly trained, well seasoned performers whose soaring sounds reverberate throughout the church theater. In fact, I suggest sitting as close to the stage as possible so you can experience the surging power of these remarkable vocalists. Second, a high caliber group of orchestra musicians whose accompaniment further enhances the authenticity and richness of each production, and finally, for those who are a little rusty with their French, German, Italian, or Russian language skills, there are subtitles placed on each side of the stage.” — Missy Miller, KDHX
