OperaSpectives, a New York opera company, is coming to Maryland, and two of its six founders have Baltimore backgrounds. They are Susan Stoderl McBee, who has a master's degree in voice from the Peabody Conservatory, and her husband, Keith Wyatt, a former member of the St. Paul's Choir whose mother, Zu, lives in Ruxton.
In 1993, Susan and Keith were so frustrated about the state of opera that they decided to found their own company. Singers Catherine Lankford, Carolyn Schnall, Anna diRubio and Steven Douglas were invited to help establish and perform in OperaSpectives. So far, they've given 27 performances.
If you'd like to see one of the group's shows, you're in luck. OperaSpectives is bringing one performance of "The Crucible of Fate" to Western Maryland College Alumni Hall at 4:30 p.m. March 5. In this production, the action of Verdi's masterpiece is concentrated in a two-hour version that focuses on the four main characters. The opera is sung in Italian with a piano accompanist and a narrator who explains in English the action and feelings of the characters. The production will be staged by Margaret Miller, a set designer from Millersville and Western Maryland alumna. Call Mitchell Alexander, Western Maryland College, (410) 857-2267 for ticket information.
Farewell parties
There's nothing like the changing of the guard in Annapolis to liven up the party scene. On a recent night, there were farewell parties for Mary Ann Saar, outgoing Secretary of Juvenile Services, and for Jim Lighthizer, outgoing Transportation Secretary.
My first stop was Lighthizer's party, at the World Trade Center in Baltimore. As I walked in, I saw the director of the Maryland Port Authority, Michael Angelos, who will be keeping his job with some added duties; incoming Transportation Secretary David Winstead; PR man George Wills; defense attorney Dave Irwin, chatting with Baltimore entrepreneur Ed Hale and his wife, Eileen; and Baltimore County judges John Turnbull, Tom Bollinger and Gordon Boone.
Other guests included Adrian Teel, Ferris Baker Watts; Wally Orlinsky, Department of Natural Resources; Jean Van Buskirk, who runs the Sister States program; Owen Cole, banker; Jerry Martin, attorney; Tim Maloney, attorney and former legislator; and Bruce Hoffman, Maryland Stadium Authority.
On the same night, Mary Ann Saar, her husband, Peter, and her daughter, Linda Willin, were greeting hundreds of well-wishers at Overlea Caterers. It was an upbeat party, thanks, in part, to the music of Mary Lou and the Untouchables, which featured some great sax playing by Alan Dahlstrom. Friends and associates at the party included Lois Shofer, Essex Community College; Floraine Applefeld, director of Maryland You are Beautiful; Bishop Robinson, Secretary of Public Safety and Correctional Services; judges Joseph Kaplan, John Carroll Byrnes and John Prevas; Jennifer Burdick, executive director of the Maryland Commission on Human Relations; Phil Colbert; Turkey Joe Trabert; Melanie Perera; Pam and Charlie Kelly, Lynn Fitrell, Angelo Colianni and Ken Bopp.
Partygoers' contributions enabled Juvenile Services PR gal Jacqueline Lampell to give Marion Daniel, director of Baltimore's Female Intervention Team, a check for $800. The money will be used to establish the "Mary Ann Saar Library and Resource Center" for young women.
In case you would like to rub elbows with some of the same people, the retirement party for Bill Fogle, outgoing Secretary of Licensing and Regulation, will be held March 15 at Martin's West. Call Laura Berger at (410) 333-8086 or 333-1393 for $35 tickets.