"A Night for Glade," a program of opera highlights sponsored by the Utah Opera Company, will trace the illustrious career of the late Glade Peterson.
The memorial gala will take place in the Capitol Theater on Monday, March 18, with a reception in the lobby at 7:30 p.m. and concert beginning at 8:30. Guest artists Kay Paschal, soprano, and Hans Gregory Ashbaker, tenor, will highlight a program of best-loved opera selections, with proceeds benefiting the Glade Peterson Memorial Fund for the perpetuation of Utah Opera.After early training in Utah, Peterson went to New York City and thence to Zurich Opera in Switzerland, where he was leading tenor for 15 years (1960-75). He was also guest artist in many European houses and frequently sang in America with the San Francisco Opera, as well as the Santa Fe, Houston, Dallas and Portland operas. He made his Metropolitan Opera debut in 1975 as Loge in "Das Rheingold."
Fred Adams, founder and producing director of the Utah Shakespearean Festival, will be master of ceremonies, with the Utah Symphony and the Utah Opera Chorus combined with Pro Musica Chorus as assisting artists. Utah Opera's music director, Byron Dean Ryan, will conduct.
The program will include overtures to "Die Meistersinger" and "Fidelio," the Humming Chorus from "Madama Butterfly," the Anvil Chorus from "Il Trovatore," the Drinking Chorus from "La Traviata," the Bell Chorus from "I Pagliacci" and the Triumphal Scene from "Aida."
Kay Paschal made her debut with Utah Opera in 1989 as the Countess in "The Marriage of Figaro," and last spring appeared here as Donna Anna in "Don Giovanni." A winner of the George London award from the National Institute of Music Theatre, Paschal has sung with such regional companies as the Kansas City, Carolina, Central City, Arkansas and Dallas operas.
Hans Gregory Ashbaker returns to Utah after his 1990 performance of the Duke in "Rigoletto." The tenor from Idaho has won or been a finalist in such prestigious competitions as the Robert Schumann International Competition and the Metropolitan Opera Auditions. His many credits include Houston and Greater Miami operas, and a Carnegie Hall debut in Verdi's Requiem.
The singers will present selections from "Carmen," "Turandot" and "La Boheme," among others.
Tickets ranging in price from $15-$100 may be purchased at the Utah Opera box office, 50 W. 200 South; or call 534-0888 for charge card sales.