THE CAST OF MYSTERIOUS 44
SPENCER HAMLIN (August/Philip Traum)
Still in his mid-20s, Spencer Hamlin has proven himself a gifted and versatile young tenor, persuasive in a wide variety of different roles. After his Summer 2015 participation in the Martina Arroyo Foundation's Prelude to Performance Program, Opera News called Hamlin’s portrayal of Tonio in Donizetti’s La fille du régiment “the perfect picture of a Tyrolean peasant,” and praised his “scintillatingly smooth leggiero tenor.” “The nine high Cs in ‘Ah, mes amis” seemed to offer no problem.” Now pursuing a Master of Music degree in Vocal Performance at the University of Connecticut with Dr. Constance Rock, Hamlin has appeared at UConn as Nemorino in L’elisir d’amore, in Il barbiere di Siviglia as Almaviva, in the title role in Albert Herring, as Tamino in Die Zauberflöte, as Judge Danforth in The Crucible. He has also performed with Connecticut Lyric Opera, Opera Theater of Connecticut, and Hartford Opera Theater.
JAN ZIMMERMAN (Louise/Seppi/Ursula/Barmaid/Judge/Typesetter)
Jan Zimmerman, a native of Panama City, Florida, received her MM in Vocal Performance from The Boston Conservatory and is currently a candidate for a DMA in Vocal Performance at UConn. Most recently, Ms. Zimmerman performed the role of Lady Billows (Albert Herring) with UConn Opera Theater. Some of Ms. Zimmerman's favorite roles include The Grand Duchess (The Grand Duchess of Gérolstein), Elizabeth Proctor (The Crucible), Hélène (La Belle Hélène in Perigueux, France), the Mother (Amahl and the Night Visitors) and Prince Orlofsky (Die Fledermaus). Ms. Zimmerman is a student of Dr. Constance Rock.
KAARIN CECILIA PHELPS (Nikolaus/Printmaster)
Mezzo-soprano Kaarin Cecilia Phelps garners enthusiastic praise from critics and peers not only for her “beautiful line and effortless high notes” but also her dramatic interpretations on stage. After her professional debut as La Ciesca in Puccini’s Gianni Schicchi with The Connecticut Concert Opera, Kaarin sang the Third Lady in Mozart’s The Magic Flute and was raved for her natural stage presence and ability to command difficult vocal passages. Recently returning from the International Opera Performing Experience in Mercatello sul Metauro , Italy, where she performed concerts and scenes as Giovanna Seymour from Donizetti’s Anna Bolena, Dorabella from Mozart’s Cosí fan tutte, Maddelena from Verdi’s Rigoletto, and Suzuki from Puccini’s Madama Butterfly, Kaarin's future engagements include appearing as Betty Parris in Hartford Opera Theatre's production of The Crucible as well as the alto soloist in Mozart’s Requiem. Other credits include Olga Olsen in Kurt Weill's Street Scene and the Mother in Amahl and the Night Visitors. Kaarin studies with internationally acclaimed soprano, Maureen O’Flynn, and is a graduate of the Hartt School in West Hartford, CT.
STEVEN A. FASANO (Father Adolf/Nikolaus’ Father)
Baritone Steven A. Fasano has established himself and has appeared throughout New England on operatic, recital and concert stages. He has sung leading roles with the Regina Opera Company of Brooklyn, Dell'Arte Opera Ensemble, Manhattan Opera, Riverside Opera, Panopera of Massachusetts and Connecticut Concert & Lyric Opera. Several career highlights include the world premier performance of music of Vladamir Pleshakov at Carnegie Hall with Aoede Consort and Trinity Wall Street Choirs, being featured as a soloist on the U.S. premier recording of Jan Dimas Zelenka's Missa Votiva, with Crescendo Instrument Society in the Berkshires, as well as making his European debut as Germont in Verdi's La Traviata.