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Conductor
Kostis Protopapas was named General Director of Opera Santa Barbara in December 2017, after two-and-a-half seasons as Artistic Director. During his time as Artistic Director and principal conductor, Kostis brought a unified vision to OSB’s musical and production values, strengthening the orchestra and chorus, engaging some of the country’s most promising young directors and singers, building a high-performing production team, and increasing focus on contemporary American opera. As General Director Kostis assembled Team OSB, a group of enthusiastic overachievers with a passion for innovation and the desire to strengthen the company’s bond with the community, who consistently exceed patrons’ expectations for programs, experiences and communications. Performance highlights from Kostis’ tenure include grand opera classics like Madama Butterfly, Manon, and Eugene Onegin as well as contemporary works like Daniel Catan’s Il Postino, the mariachi opera Cruzar la cara de la luna, and Laura Kaminsky’s As One. In the fall of 2022 the Santa Barbara Independent wrote: “From contemporary work to obscurities from the early 19th century, from staple repertoire to surprise elements, OSB continues to raise the bar on what an opera company can and should be, even in Santa Barbara.”
Between March 2020 and June 2021, under Kostis’ leadership Opera Santa Barbara remained active and fully staffed. It was the first performing arts organization in Santa Barbara to offer streaming programming, and one of only two opera companies in California to present three live operas in the 2020-21 season. Additionally, Opera Santa Barbara became an advocacy leader for the reopening of the performing arts, and funded live performances by local musicians through “Operation Eurydice”. For his work during the pandemic, Kostis was listed among the Santa Barbara Independent’s 2021 Local Heroes.
Before coming to Santa Barbara Kostis was the Artistic Director of Tulsa Opera since 2008. He previously was an Assistant Conductor with the Lyric Opera of Chicago, LA Opera and Santa Fe Opera. At the Lyric Opera of Chicago, he also served as Assistant Chorus Master under Donald Palumbo for two seasons.
Born in Athens, Greece, Kostis Protopapas studied Archaeology and History of Art at the University of Athens before coming to the United States in 1993, on an Onassis Foundation scholarship, to study piano at The Boston Conservatory and conducting at Boston University. He became an American citizen in 2011. He loves living in Santa Barbara, sits on the Board of the Santa Barbara University Club, and enjoys sailing on the Santa Barbara Channel.
Stage Director
Fenlon Lamb is continually praised for her dynamic and engaging productions in leading regional houses across the United States. She directed Arizona Opera’s world premiere and the subsequent remount of Riders of the Purple Sage which Broadway World called “epic” and “memorable…literally and figuratively blazing trails.” She recently returned to the company to mount a new production of Charlie Parker’s Yardbird. In previous seasons, Fenlon staged a “grand and gripping” Rigoletto and a “classic and stylish” Lucia di Lammermoor for her debut with the company in 2012.
A house favorite at Palm Beach Opera, Fenlon led a “fizzing and delightful” Il Barbiere di Siviglia for their 2013 International Season and her debut with the company. She has since directed La Bohème which highlighted her “superb theatrical instincts” and “an attractive and well-timed staging” of Don Pasquale which was hailed as “one of the companies best efforts” by Palm Beach News. Subsequent seasons included “a spiced up” Tosca and the Papermoon Opera Production of Hansel and Gretel for PBO’s family series at the Crest Theater.
Other notable productions include La traviata for her Madison and Toledo Opera debuts and a new production for Finger Lakes Opera. Fenlon directed a new production of Scalia/Ginsburg for Opera Delaware, Tosca with Jennifer Rowley in the title role, and The Pearlfishers for Dayton Opera. She has directed Carmen for North Carolina Opera, Mill City Summer Opera, Dayton Opera, Bar Harbor Music Festival and Annapolis Opera. She directed Werther and Hänsel und Gretel for Nightingale Opera Theater, Le nozze di Figaro for Orlando Philharmonic and Stephen Paulus’ To Be Certain of the Dawn with Lexington Symphony. Fenlon led a new production of Der Fliegende Holländer with Greer Grimsley in the title role for Opera Carolina that “balanced operatic polish, romantic beauty and feminist critique” and a “sympathetic production” of Werther for Mobile Opera starring Gran Wilson.
Marcellina
Hailing from the charming town of Miles City, Montana, Christina Pezzarossi is an operatic mezzo-soprano whose captivating performances have enthralled audiences on stages across the nation. With a remarkable range and emotional depth, Pezzarossi's voice and artistry have made her a standout presence in the world of opera.
Born and raised in the heart of Montana, Pezzarossi's journey into the world of opera began as a young dream. Her remarkable talent was nurtured by her community, leading her to embark on a path that would take her to some of the most prestigious stages in the country.
Pezzarossi's versatility and dedication to her craft are evident in her wide-ranging repertoire. Her career has been punctuated by remarkable performances, including her portrayal of Rossweisse in "Die Walkure," Margaret in "Light in the Piazza," and Lucilla in "La scala di seta," all with Opera Santa Barbara. These roles showcased her ability to inhabit characters with nuance and emotion, leaving audiences spellbound.
In 2022, Pezzarossi's talents graced the Opera Santa Barbara stage once again, this time as Ino in "Semele." The year prior, her portrayal of Wellgunde in "Das Rheingold" solidified her presence in the operatic world and demonstrated her command of both dramatic and lyrical roles.
Pezzarossi's commitment to her artistry was evident even during challenging times. In 2020, she embraced the unique production "COVID fan tutte" with Pacific Opera Project, displaying her adaptability and resilience in the face of adversity. Her portrayal of Kate Pinkerton in "Madama Butterfly" with Central City Opera in 2019 showcased her emotional depth and ability to connect with audiences on a profound level.
Throughout her journey, Pezzarossi has brought to life an array of characters, from the whimsical to the tragic. Her performances as Paula in "Florencia en el Amazonas" and Gertrude in "Roméo et Juliette" with Pensacola Opera in 2019 were marked by her ability to convey complex emotions and rich storytelling.
Pezzarossi's dedication to her craft has also led her to embrace a range of roles, including the cover performance of Stewardess in "Flight" with Des Moines Metro Opera in 2018 and Flora in "La traviata" with Opera San Jose in 2018. Her early career saw her captivating audiences with roles like Dorabella in "Così fan tutte" with Opera San Jose in 2017 and Alisa in "Lucia di Lammermoor" with Opera San Jose in 2016.
In the concert realm, Pezzarossi’s talents are equally dazzling. Her performances include Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 with Santa Barbara Symphony (2023) and Pacific Symphony (2017), as well as Rossini’s Stabat Mater with Pensacola Symphony (2019). Her contribution to the choral world includes the Messiah with Laguna Beach Chorale (2021) and Encore: A Musical Revue with Central City Opera (2019).
With each role she undertakes, Christina Pezzarossi continues to captivate audiences and inspire fellow artists, leaving an indelible mark on the opera stage and carrying the magic of music from her hometown to the grandest theaters in the nation.
Baritone Omar Rodriguez has been a featured soloist in opera, oratorio, and recital performances throughout the United States. Some of his recent role highlights include Count Almaviva in Mozart's le nozze di Figaro, Papageno in The Magic Flute, and Guglielmo in Così fan tutte. He has been a frequent soloist with Ensemble Monterey Chamber Orchestra as the bass soloist in Purcell’s Mass to St. Cecilia, Handel’s Messiah and Israel in Egypt, the title role in Mendelssohn’s Elijah and Britten’s Rejoice in the Lamb. Omar has had the honor of performing as a soloist in venues such as Carnegie Hall, the Basilica San Marco in Venice, Vienna’s Votivkirche and the Salzburg Residenz Palast. This summer, he attended the Middlebury Language School German for Singers program, learning German in a complete immersion environment and performing scenes from Mozart's operatic catalogue. January 2022 will see his debut with Espressivo in a performance of Ravel's Trois poèmes de Mallarmé and covering the role of Melchior in the world premiere of Befana: A Christmas Fable by Kirke Mechem. Omar will be performing the role of the Marchese d’Obigny in La Traviata with Opera Santa Barbara in Spring of 2022. Also in the works is an upcoming full-length album with the Canada-based symphonic metal band, Dusk Meridian. Mr. Rodriguez holds a BM in Vocal Performance from California State University Fullerton, and an MM in Vocal Performance from Boston University. Omar speaks English, Spanish, and German. He currently studies with Matthew Worth.
Michael Segura began studying voice through musical theater and barbershop before becoming a classical musician. Michael has shared his artistry throughout Orange County by performing roles such as Papageno (The Magic Flute), Mercutio (Roméo et Juliette), and Dancaïro (Carmen) under the music direction of Doris Lang Kosloff, as well as the Winter Fairy (The Fairy Queen), with Lyric Opera of Orange County. He has also done scene-work with Pacific Symphony as Dandini (La Cenerentola) and Belcore (Elixir of Love). In the greater whole of Southern California, Michael further expands his horizons singing with San Diego Opera as a chorister and Pacific Chorale as a staff singer. Michael has recently made his debut with Opera San Luis Obispo in their production of Die Fledermaus as Dr. Falke, as well as his debut with Opera Santa Barbara as Moralès in Carmen. Additionally, he has recently won the San Diego District round of the Metropolitan Opera Laffont Competition.
While working towards his Bachelor's Degree in Vocal Performance at California State University Fullerton, he participated in the annual Music Associates Concerto/Aria Competition twice, taking first place both times. It was also during this time that Michael performed the eponymous roles of Don Giovanni and Gianni Schicchi, along with a long list of scene works; these included roles such as Belcore from L’elisir d’amore, the Count from Le nozze di Figaro, and Figaro from il barbiere di Siviglia.
Michael portrayed the role of Marco from Gianni Schicchi in 2019 while participating in the LA-based Angel's Vocal Art Opera Intensive program. In the summer of 2022, Michael expanded his studies to Vicenza, Italy, once again taking on the titular role in Gianni Schicchi with International Lyric Academy.
SUNWOO PARK, from Seoul, South Korea, is a Graduate Certi?cate student studying under Professor Elizabeth Hynes at the Thornton School of Music, University of Southern California. She will be joining as Opera Santa Barbara Chrisman Studio Artist this year and performing the world premiere piece called All the Truths We Cannot See: A Chernobyl Story by Ulias Pulkis as a “Bear” in Helsinki, Finland in Spring 2022. She was invited to perform Papagena in The Magic Flute and to cover First Sprite in Rusalka at The Santa Fe Opera Apprentice Singer Program and Witness 1, Singer 1 and Woman 1 in Lessons in Love and Violence by George Benjamin at Lyric Opera of Chicago and also to perform as a “Calisto” in Cavalli’s La Calisto at USC Opera in 2020. However, those scheduled performances were canceled due to COVID-19. During the summer of 2019, she covered Musetta in La Bohème at The Santa Fe Opera Apprentice Singer Program. At USC Opera, she performed as a “Susanna” in Mozart’s Le nozze di Figaro in 2019 and “Le Feu (The Fire)” in Ravel’s L’Enfant et les Sortilèges and a “Lady with a Hand Mirror'' as a Operetta Singer in Dominick Argento’s Postcard from Morocco in 2018. She received her Bachelor’s Degree in vocal performance from the Seoul National University where she graduated cum laude with the Eminence scholarship. She also recorded songs in the advertisement of Nikon Camera in Japan and the main title song of "Tachikoma" which is a famous animation movie in Japan.
Figaro
Chinese American Bass-Baritone Colin Ramsey has been lauded for his “majestic, rotund, ravishing bass” (Opera Today). During the 20-21 season, Mr. Ramsey joined San Diego Opera as Colline in La bohème, as well as returning to Pacific Opera Project as Guglielmo in Così fan tutte, and the Festival Lyrique en Mar as Leporello in Don Giovanni (COVID19). Other recent engagements include returns to Opera Santa Barbara as Frère Laurent in Romèo et Juliette and the Bonze in Madama Butterfly, joining the Festival Lyrique en Mar as Raimondo in Lucia di Lammermoor and the bass soloist in Rossini’s Petite messe solennelle, and multiple productions of La bohème as Colline including Opera Idaho, Gulfshore Opera, and Opera Buffs Inc in Los Angeles. In the 2022 – 2023 seaspm, Mr. Ramsey will return to San Diego Opera, singing The Speaker and 2nd Armored Man in Die Zauberflöte and Betto in Gianni Schicchi.
His 2018-19 season was an exciting one including a return to the Los Angeles Philharmonic for performances of John Cage’s Europeras directed by Yuval Sharon. Mr. Ramsey also made his San Diego Opera debut as Marullo in Rigoletto and in the spring of 2019, Mr. Ramsey returned to Opera Santa Barbara for an exciting and timely production of Robert Ward’s The Crucible singing the role of Reverend Hale.
Other recent performances have seen him in role and company debuts singing Le Comte des Grieux in Manon, The Speaker in Die Zauberflöte, and his Santa Fe Opera debut singing the Registrar in Madama Butterfly and covering Edward Teller in John Adam’s Dr. Atomic in a landmark production directed by Peter Sellars. Mr. Ramsey’s unique “smoky” timbre has been well lent to additional roles such as Raimondo in Lucia di Lammermoor, Figaro in Mozart’s Le nozze di Figaro, Guglielmo in Così fan Tutte, Don Basilio in Il Barbiere di Siviglia, Father Palmer in Silent Night, Alidoro in Rossini’s La Cenerentola, Collatinus in Britten’s The Rape of Lucretia, Seneca in Monteverdi’s L’incoronazione di Poppea, Mr. Kofner in Menotti’s The Consul, Il Frate in Verdi’s Don Carlo, Angelotti in Tosca, and Cadmus and Somnus in Handel’s Semele.
Mr. Ramsey has a great passion for oratorio and concert repertoire. He has been a soloist at the Los Angeles Philharmonic, Pacific Symphony, St. Paul Chamber Orchestra, and La Jolla Symphony. Mr. Ramsey has performed as the bass soloist in Verdi’s Requiem, Dvorâk’s Stabat Mater, Jesus in Bach’s St. Matthew Passion, Rossini’s Petite Messe Solennelle, Handel’s Messiah, Faurè’s Requiem, Beethoven’s Choral Fantasy and the Brahms Requiem.
Mr. Ramsey has found success in the competition circuit as a winner of the Pasadena Opera Guild Competition, 3rd Prize winner in the Rocky Mountain Region of The Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions and an Encouragement Award winner in the George London Foundation Competition.
Several Apprentice programs have been pivotal in Mr. Ramsey’s growth and training as a singer including those of The Santa Fe Opera, Des Moines Metro Opera, Wolf Trap Opera, Sarasota Opera, Opera Santa Barbara and the Crested Butte Music Festival. He is an alumnus of The Manhattan School of Music where he attended as a Presidential, and Presser Foundation Scholar. Upon graduating, he was honored with the Hugh Ross Award, given annually to a “singer of unusual promise.”
Mr. Ramsey holds a Bachelor of Music degree in Vocal Performance from the Manhattan School of Music.
