Susannah Carlisle Floyd

Artist Bios

Joseph Mechavich, Conductor

In 2009, Mechavich was named as an “emerging artist” by The American League of Orchestras, and recently presided over performances of Madama Butterfly at New York City Opera, Porgy and Bess at Deutsche Oper Berlin and Cendrillon at Aspen Music Festival. This 2010 opera season will see Mechavich making debuts with the Washington Opera conducting Il barbiere di Siviglia, and Oberlin College Conservatory of Music conducting Candide. In addition, he will be returning to the podium at Kentucky Opera for Of Mice and Men, The Naples Philharmonic for Don Giovanni, Opera Birmingham for Aida, and Dayton Opera for Faust.

Dugg McDonough, Stage Director

Now in his 21st season with the Company, Dugg is largely responsible for the success of DMMO’s Apprentice Artist Program.  Formerly the Producer and Director of Opera Theater at Temple University’s Boyer College of Music in Philadelphia, he has completed his eighth year as Artistic Director of LSU Opera at Louisiana State University.  In the spring of 2007, he mounted the first new production in over 20 years of Carlisle Floyd’s Willie Stark, an event that produced the first commercial DVD of any of the composer-librettist’s operas.  Dugg is active as a professional stage director and has worked with such companies as New York City Opera, The Santa Fe Opera, San Diego Opera, Greater Miami Opera (now Florida Grand Opera), and Opera Theatre of Saint Louis.  Recently, Dugg directed the Gulf Coast Premiere of Gluck’s L’Ile de Merlin ou le Monde Renversé for the New Orleans Opera Association/Music at Madewood.

Beverly O'Regan Thiele, Soprano

Susannah Polk

Ms. O'Regan Thiele is making her much-anticipated return to DMMO's stage after making her professional debut with us as Abigail in The Crucible in 1989. Since then she has performed with Washington National Opera, Glimmerglass Opera, Lake George Opera, Opera Omaha, Fort Worth Opera, Lyric Opera of Chicago, New York City Opera, the Metropolitan Opera, Badisches Staatstheater (Karlsruhe), and Broomhill Opera Festival (UK). She has recorded on the Newport Classics Label.

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John Marcus Bindel, Baritone

Olin Blitch

Mr. Bindel will make his DMMO debut this seson. He has peformed with Washington National Opera, Lyric Opera of Chicago, Florida Grand Opera, Nashville Opera, San Diego Opera, Hawaii Opera Theatre, New orleans Opera, Dallas Opera, Florentine Opera, New York City Opera, Spoleto Festival (USA and Italy) in over 60 roles and has twice been nominated for a Grammy award.

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Benjamin Bongers, Tenor

Sam Polk

Mr. Bongers is making his DMMO debut during the 2010 Summer Festival. He has been seen on the stages of Livermore Opera, West Bay Opera, San Francisco Choral Society, and San Francisco Opera. He has participated in young artist programs with Utah Opera, The Lyric Opera of Kansas City, and Utah Festival Opera.

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Cindy Sadler, Mezzo-Soprano

Mrs. McLean

Ms. Sadler received rave reviews for her hilarious performance as Baba the Turk in DMMO's 2006 production of The Rake's Progress. She has performed with Minnesota Opera, San Antonio Opera, Austin Lyric Opera, Indianapolis Opera, and Lyric Opera of Chicago.

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David Ward, Bass

Elder McLean

Mr. Ward returns to DMMO to reprise his scene-stealing role from last summer's production of The Barber of Seville. Bartolo is his signature role, one he has sung with the New York City Opera National Company, Nevada Opera, Knoxville Opera, Kentucky Opera, Lake George Opera Festival, Opera Idaho, Toledo Opera, Virginia Opera, El Paso Opera, Opera Roanoke, Philadelphia's Academy of Vocal Arts and the Aspen Music Festival.

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Travis Richter, Tenor

Little Bat McLean

Travis Richter, an alumnus of the Des Moines Metro Opera Apprentice Artist Progam, has been a regular on the DMMO stage since 2002.  He has appeared in DMMO's productions of Falstaff, The Crucible, Madama Butterfly, The Magic Flute, and The Rake's Progress. Mr. Richter has performed with Pensacola Opera, Atlantic Coast Festival Opera, Central City Opera, Utah Opera and Mobile Opera. As a concert artist, Richter has performed as a tenor soloist in Handel's Messiah for the Fort Dodge Choral Society and Baton Rouge Symphony  and in Beethoven's Symphony No. 9 for Louisiana State University. Mr. Richter is a Professor of Music at Baton Rouge Community College in Baton Rouge, LA.