Portland State Magazine Winter 2010

CAPOBIANCO'S WORK acPSU, where he is directing chis spring's produc– tion of Franz Lehar's The Merry Widow, is an outgrowth of his lifelong love of reaching. The cofounder and original general director ofJuilliard Opera, and founder of opera programs in Philadel– phia, San Diego, and Piasburgh, Capobianco has always thought of himself as a teacher at heart. "I consider myself a gardener," Capobianco says from Philadelphia, where he was in the final stages of prepar– ing a student production of Falstajf ac the Academy ofVocal Arcs. "There is such satisfaction when you see something you have nurtured so carefully suddenly grow and send forth a glorious perfume, blossoming, making people laugh, mak– ing people cry-chat is a privilege. If you believe in the future, you must participate in making it." Beginning in March at PSU, the Florida-based Capobianco will be directing an all-student case in The Merry Widow, following up on his acclaimed PSU productions of Falstajf(2009) , La, Boheme (2008), Cosi fan tutte (2007), and Die Fledermaus (2004). Cosi fan tutte 10 PORTLAND STATE MAGAZINE WINTER 20 10 won the second place award in Category I at the National Opera Association's annual opera production competition. Rehearsals are incense-five co eight hours a day for six weeks-resting the student singers' commitment and vocal fortitude. "We are so fortunate co have Tiro," says Christine Meadows, music faculty and the director of PSU's Opera Program. "He got his start in Buenos Aires when it was the Paris of South America, when all the biggest names in opera were performing there. He has such an amazing wealth of experience. He's cough, but at chis point in his life and career, there's also a sofrness and a desire co share chat wealth with young artists." PORTLAND-BASED BARITONE Richard Zeller '91, who has spent 12 sea– sons with the Metropolitan Opera in New York, was hired co anchor Capobianco's 2009 production of Falstajf ac PSU. In addition co providing the chance to sing one of his dream roles, the assignment gave Zeller the opportunity co work with one of the opera world's most legendary behind-the-scenes figures. "Tito has seen it all, experienced everything," Zeller says. "What makes him wonderful for the kids at PSU is he's a very loving man who loves co reach. He's worked at the highest professional level with all of the biggest stars of this and the previous generation. Bue Tiro lives for chat light bulb moment, when a student suddenly gees what he's celling chem and puts it into practice." Opera has been described as "poetry, in the mortal embrace of love, dying in the arms of music." For Capobianco, chis description rings true. "I worked in professional opera for almost 50 years– now I do what I wane," he says. "Opera is unique-the music and the libretto combine co produce an art form like nothing else on earth. Bue the creation process is easy when you're working with young artists. Everything they're doing, everything they're experiencing, is some– thing new. It's wonderful and challenging for a director." ■ Jeff Kuechle, afreelance writer, wrote "Creating Writers" in the fall 2009 Portland State Magazine.