Department of Music Performers Shine at 2nd Annual Opera Night Gala | News

A group of 25 performers wearing formal attire, posed in three rows. — Performers for Bemidji State University’s 2024 Opera Night.

More than two dozen singers performed works spanning a variety of musical genres, entertaining audiences across two nights at Bemidji State University’s second annual Opera Night, January 19-20.

Opera Night is a fundraising concert for the BSU Department of Music and its vocal performance programs. The cocktail wear-optional evening featured BSU students and faculty and guest artists performing a variety of opera, Broadway and other repertoire, while guests enjoyed a catered dinner.

This year’s concert featured more than 20 performances in four acts, with ensemble numbers, solo performances and a duet. Guest artists included Emily Bergeron and Josh Kohl. Bergeron, a graduate vocal performance student at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, is originally from Bemidji and graduated from BSU in 2022 with a degree in vocal performance. Kohl is a renowned tenor who has performed around the globe, including several years as a member of the ensemble at Theater Freiburg in Germany. He is currently based in Fargo, N.D.

The Department of Music thanks the BSU Alumni & Foundation for event planning, the Office of Communications & Marketing for event design, the School of Technology, Art & Design for set design and production, ARAMARK for catering, NLFX for light and sound, and Keg ‘n’ Cork for providing the bar. Costumes were done by Fred Rogers. Opera Night is directed by Dr. Cory Renbarger, professor of music at BSU and director of the department’s opera theatre program.

Visit bemidjistate.edu to learn more about the Department of Music and Bemidji State University’s vocal music programs.

A woman with dark blonde hair in a gold dress performs in front of a light-colored backdrop which reads "Opera Night Gala" — 2024 Opera Night — Anna Wetrosky, “Stizzoso, mio stizzoso” by Pergolesi, from “La serva padrona”

A woman with brown hair in a pink and white-striped dress performs in front of a light-colored backdrop which reads "Opera Night Gala" — 2024 Opera Night — Bella Fontana, “The silver aria” from “The Ballad of Baby Doe”

A man wearing religious robes performs in front of a backdrop which reads "Opera Night Gala". The stage is bathed in red light and has an ominous feeling. — 2024 Opera Night — Blake Staines, “Hellfire” from “The Hunchback of Notre Dame”

A man in a brown suit with a bow tie and top hat sings with a woman in a red dress with a red shawl in front of a backdrop which reads "Opera Night Gala" — 2024 Opera Night — Carson Binkley (left) and Hailee Colgrove, “Kennst du das Land” from “Little Women”

A man in a brown suit with a bow tie and top hat sings in front of a backdrop which reads "Opera Night Gala" — 2024 Opera Night — Carson Binkley, “Kennst du das Land” from “Little Women”

A man speaks into a microphone, gesturing with his hands in front of him. — 2024 Opera Night — Dr. Cory Renbarger, professor of music

A side view of a man with glasses playing a black Steinway grand piano. — 2024 Opera Night — accompanist Dan Will.

A man in a dark suit sings with his right hand clenched in front of him in front of a banner that says "Opera Night Gala" — 2024 Opera Night — Dr. James Bowyer, associate professor of music, “Corner of the sky” from “Pippin”

A woman in a silver off-the-shoulder dress sings in front of a banner which reads "Opera Night Gala" — 2024 Opera Night — Dr. Jennifer Olson, assistant professor of music, “Quando me’n vo'” from “La Bohème”

A woman in a pink dress gestures toward the camera, acknowledging her accompanist after her performance. — 2024 Opera Night — Emily Bergeron, “Mon coeur s’ouvre a ta voix” from “Samson et Dalila”

A side view of a woman in a black dress singing. — 2024 Opera Night — Hailee Colgrove, “Elle a fui, la tourterelle” from “Les contes d’Hoffmann”

A woman in a pink Victorian dress sings in front of a banner which reads "Opera Night Gala" — 2024 Opera Night — Helen Bartlett, “Che fire momento” from “Orfeo ed Euridice”

A woman with flowers in her hair singing in pink lighting. — 2024 Opera Night — Johanna Engman, “Sul fil d’un soffio etesio” from “Falstaff”

A man with a beard in a brown jacked and colorful tie sings a duet with a man wearing a dark suit. Behind them is a banner which reads "Opera Night Gala" — 2024 Opera Night — guest artist Josh Kohl (left) and Dr. Cory Renbarger

A woman with a black shawl and white dress is singing. — 2024 Opera Night — Merideth Klingbeil, “Il bacio” from “Canzone italiana”

A man wearing dark, round sunglasses and a tuxedo sings in front of a banner which reads "Opera Night Gala" — 2024 Opera Night — Michael Johann, “Johanna” from “Sweeney Todd”

A woman in a red dress is singing, with her hands out at her sides. — 2024 Opera Night — Raegan Jarvi, “La conocchia” from “Canzone napoletana”

A chorus of 11 women are singing on a stage. They're looking very serious. — 2024 Opera Night — SSA Chorus, “S’allontanarono” from “Macbeth”

A man in a black suit and a black Fedora with a a small red feather on the left side sings in front of a banner which reads "Opera Night Gala" — 2024 Opera Night — Zhicheng He, “Batter my heart” from “Doctor Atomic”

A woman in a tan, brown and mustard colored knit outfit sings in front of a light. — 2024 Opera Night — Hannah Lewis, “Set Those Sails” from “In Trousers”

Performances

Act 1

“Anvil chorus” from Verdi’s “Il Trovatore.” Chorus.
“Che fiero momento” from Gluck’s “Orfeo ed Euridice.” Helen Bartlett, soprano, Bemidji, Minn.
“The donkey serenade” from Friml & Stothart’s “Firefly.” Josh Kohl, guest artist.
“La conocchia” from Donizetti’s “Canzone napoletana.” Raegan Jarvi, mezzo-soprano, Sebeka, Minn.
“Batter My Heart” from Adams’ “Doctor Atomic.” Zhicheng He, baritone, Chaska, Minn.

Act 2

“Hellfire” from Menken’s “The Hunchback of Notre Dame.” tenor/baritone/bass chorus and Blake Staines, bass, Bemidji, Minn.
“Sul fil d’un soffio etesio” from Verdi’s “Falstaff.” soprano/second soprano/alto chorus and Johanna Engman, soprano, Manteo, N.C.
“Johanna” from Sondheim’s “Sweeney Todd.” Michael Johann, tenor, Zimmerman, Minn.
“Quando me’n vo'” from Puccini’s “La Bohème.” Dr. Jennifer Olson, assistant professor of music
“Elle a fui, la tourterelle” from Offenbach’s “Les contes d’Hoffmann.” Hailee Colgrove, soprano, Motley, Minn.

Act 3

“Mon coeur s’ouvre a ta voix” from Saint-Saëns’ “Samson ed Dalila.” Emily Bergeron, guest artist.
“Set Those Sails” from Finn’s “In Trousers.” Hanna Lewis, soprano, Nevis, Minn.
“S’allontanarono” from Verdi’s “Macbeth.” soprano/second soprano/alto chorus.
“Stizzoso, mio stizzoso” from Pergolesi’s “La serva padrona.” Anna Wetrosky, soprano, Pine River, Minn.
“Au fond du temple saint” from Bizet’s “Les Pècheurs de Perles.” Josh Kohl, guest artist, and Dr. Cory Renbarger, professor of music

Act 4

“The silver aria” from Moore’s “The Ballad of Baby Doe.” Bella Fontana, soprano, Bemidji, Minn.
“Corner of the sky” from Schwartz’s “Pippin.” Dr. James Bowyer, associate professor of music.
“Il bacio” from Arditi’s “Canzone italiana.” Merideth Klingbeil, mezzo-soprano, Wells, Minn.
“Kennst du das Land” from Adamo’s “Little Women.” Carson Binkley, bass, Puposky, Minn., and Hailee Colgrove, soprano, Motley, Minn.
“Nessun dorma” from Puccini’s “Turandot.” Josh Kohl, guest artist, and BSU chorus
“Va pensiero” from Verdi’s “Nabucco.” BSU chorus
Encore — “Always Look on the Bright Side of Life,” from Monty Python’s “The Life of Brian.” BSU chorus