Performances

Thurs, August 13th | 6pm @ Hammond Hall
Sat, August 15th | 2pm @ Hammond Hall 

​Fri, August 14th | 6pm @ Hammond Hall
Sun, August 16th | 2pm @ Hammond Hall

Synopsis

Act 1

Belmonte, a Spanish nobleman, arrives at the seaside palace of Pasha Selim in search of his beloved Konstanze, who has been captured by pirates and brought to the Pasha’s household. Along with her English maidservant Blonde and Belmonte’s servant Pedrillo, she is held within the seraglio.

Belmonte encounters Osmin, the Pasha’s gruff and comically threatening overseer, who refuses him entry. Soon after, Pedrillo appears and secretly reunites with Belmonte. The two men devise a plan to rescue the women from the palace.

Act 2

Inside the seraglio, Blonde resists Osmin’s attempts to dominate her, asserting her independence with sharp wit. Konstanze, meanwhile, faces pressure from Pasha Selim, who seeks her love but refuses to force her, revealing an unexpectedly honorable character.

Pedrillo manages to gain Belmonte access to the palace under the pretense of architectural work. The lovers briefly reunite, and the plan is set: they will escape under cover of night.

Act 3

That night, Pedrillo distracts Osmin with wine, allowing Belmonte to reach Konstanze. The lovers are reunited, and all four attempt to flee. However, Osmin awakens and raises the alarm, and the escape fails. They are captured and brought before Pasha Selim.
Belmonte reveals his identity as the son of one of the Pasha’s enemies, expecting severe punishment. Instead, in a surprising act of mercy, Pasha Selim chooses forgiveness over revenge and grants them freedom. The opera ends with their release, as mercy triumphs over vengeance.
​

The Cast

Belmonte

​Jonas Rimkunas, is a Graduate of The University of Southern Maine’s Osher School of Music (B.M. 2022) and The University of Maryland Opera Studio (M.M. 2024). In his early 20s, Jonas was set to pursue a career in wooden boat building, but shifted course when singing with a barbershop quartet inspired him to seek a degree in music performance. Rimkunas’s love of opera was solidified when he performed the role of Tamino in USM's production of The Magic Flute in 2021. Jonas had the privilege of singing Rinuccio in the Miami Music Festivals production of Gianni Schicchi, as well as multiple roles in their production of L’enfant et les Sortilege. Jonas also performed the title role in Albert Herring and Arcadio in Florencia en el Amazonas at The University of Maryland. Jonas performed with Opera in the Pines in their production of The Crucible as Reverend Samuel Paris. Jonas was privileged to be named one of the five 2024 Opera Maine Studio Artists in their production of Rickey Ian Gordon’s Rappahannock County, as well as their MainStage production of Verdi’s Aida. Recently, Jonas performed the role of Hilarion in The Gilbert and Sullivan Society of Maine’s production of Princess Ida. Jonas also holds a position at USM teaching voice. When Jonas is not singing, teaching or performing, he can still be found working on boats both on the water and in the shop

Konstanze

Praised for crystal clear highs and a warm middle voice, Rebekah Hartie (8/13 & 8/15) is a singer of operatic, chamber, and religious works. She can be seen weekly at Christ Church in the city of Boston (Old North), and has given several solo recitals in the greater Boston area. Rebekah completed her Master’s degree in vocal performance at Longy School of Music in Cambridge, MA. While at Longy, she had the pleasure of singing the roles of Cecilio in Mozart’s Lucio Silla, Erste Zofe in Zemlinsky’s Der Zwerg, and Fortuna in Monteverdi’s L'incoronazione di Poppea. Prior to studying at Longy, Rebekah studied at Mannes College, The New School for music in New York, where she performed in an array of scenes from works such as Lakmé, Idomeneo, Roméo and Juliette, and L’elisir d’amore. In 2022, she had the pleasure of performing the role of Romilda in Handel’s Serse at Chicago Summer Opera. She has also been seen in Concert with the Opera Maya music festival in Yucatan Mexico, and as the Sandmännchen in the Manhattan Opera Studio Summer Festival’s production of Hänsel und Gretel.

Anne Burgett (8/14 & 8/16) is a soprano based in Boston, Massachusetts. She graduated with a Master’s degree from Boston University in 2025, and a Bachelor’s Degree from Northwestern University in 2023. Anne has performed various operatic roles, including Rosalba in Florencia en el Amazonas, Nella in Gianni Schicchi, Zina in Dark Sisters, Cathleen in Riders to the Sea, Gianetta in L’elisir D’amore, Frasquita in Carmen, Clorinda in La Cenerentola, La Contessa in Le Nozze di Figaro, and The Sandman in Hansel and Gretel. Anne was a semi finalist in the Camille Coloratura Competition and the Classical Singer Competition, third place winner in the NATS competition, and the winner of the Calliope’s Call Competition. Anne was an Emerging Artist with Opera in the Ozarks in 2025, performing in multiple productions and concerts. Anne recently performed in “Opera Bites”, a modern opera initiative led by Boston Opera Collaborative. She is a soloist at Old North Church in Marblehead, singing as the soprano soloist in Haydn’s Paukenmesse this year. Anne teaches voice and piano lessons, and will be conducting research on vocal health at Boston University this year, performing as a recitalist with Boston Opera Collaborative, and more. Anne will be performing the role of Konstanze in Mozart’s Die Entführung aus dem Serail with the Winter Harbor Music Festival in the summer of 2026, and will be a Young Artist with the Opera Festival of Chicago.

Blonde

Armenian soprano, Karina Vartanian (8/13 & 8/15) is a recent graduate from the Manhattan School of Music, where she earned her Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance. She graduated with the Josephine C. Whitford Award, a commencement honor recognizing exceptional achievement. This past summer, she was seen as a Young Artist, making her operatic role debut with the Winter Harbor Music Festival, performing the role of Zerlina in Don Giovanni. She then participated in The Art Song Preservation Society of New York’s Bel Canto Masterclass with Maya Sypert and performed in their summer concert series. Ms. Vartanian will be returning to the Winter Harbor Music Festival this summer to debut the role of Blonde in Mozart’s Die Entführung aus dem Serail. Her partial opera role credits include Frasquita (Carmen), Fiordiligi (Così fan tutte), Zweite Dame (Die Zauberflöte), Donna Elvira (Don Giovanni), The Countess (Le nozze di Figaro), Susanna (Le nozze di Figaro), and Barbarina (Le nozze di Figaro). Ms. Vartanian was invited to sing for the Pontifical Visit of His Holiness Aram I at the Rainbow Room in 2023 and was honored to perform again for His Holiness at The Garden City Hotel this past November. She recently joined Opera Night Long Island this past winter as a soloist for their Sunday Afternoon Concert Series and their Friday Evening Concerts. In April, she was invited to sing for the gathering of the 41st Annual Commemoration of the Armenian Genocide in the heart of Times Square, where she sang the American National Anthem as well as works by Komitas and Hovhannisyan. Ms. Vartanian has been featured on the Armenian Creators (@armeniancreators) Instagram page in 2024, highlighting her work as an upcoming Armenian soprano. In 2019, Ms. Vartanian was a solo finalist in the Armenian Youth Talent Competition, where she made her Carnegie Hall debut. Ms. Vartanian will be returning to Carnegie Hall this May, where she will be a soloist for the AGBU Arts Concert Series. She is a former recipient of the Armenian General Benevolent Union Arts Scholarship from 2023-2025. During her time at MSM, she served as the Chair of Communications for the Womxn’s Organization, where she helped launch the school’s first-ever Women’s History Month series and programmed the inaugural Women’s History Month Concert. She currently serves as a Board Member and Social Media Manager for The Gilbert and Sullivan Light Opera Company of Long Island. Instagram: @karinavartt

Addison Littlefield (8/14 & 8/16), soprano, a native of Sidney, Maine, recently graduated from the Maryland Opera Studio at the University of Maryland with an M.M. in Opera Performance. She received 1st Place in both the 2026 Mid-Atlantic Region Classical NATS Competition and the 2025 Maryland/DC Classical NATS Competition. Additionally, Littlefield, with pianist Hanako Duffie, received 1st Place in the 2026 Sadat Arts for Justice & Peace Competition for chamber music. While at the Maryland Opera Studio, she performed the roles Arminda in La finta giardiniera, Diana in If I Were You, and Milkmaid in Ashi Day’s The Fishwife (world premiere). She was also a featured soloist in the UMD Bach Cantata Series, BWV 124: Meinen Jesum laß ich nicht. In 2024, Littlefield received her B.M. in Vocal Performance from Lawrence Conservatory of Music where she performed roles including Quinn in Alice Tierney and Morgana in Alcina. Additionally, she was a featured soloist in Brahms’ Ein deutsches Requiem and Mozart’s “Great” Mass in C minor. She is very excited to be returning to her home state to sing Blonde!

Pedrillo

Ramon Tenefrancia (8/13 & 8/15) is a rising tenor praised for his “commanding lyric tenor” (The Philippine Daily Inquirer) and “crisp tenor and sly charisma” (American Presswire). Known for his powerful voice, dramatic versatility and charismatic stage presence, he continues to make a name for himself in leading roles across the operatic repertoire. Recent highlights include his performance with Anchorage Opera in Madama Butterfly, where critics hailed his portrayal as Goro as “engaging and unsettling…” with “… pointed delivery and lively phrasing that added unexpected depth to the character.” His performance as Prince Charming in Knightly News with Delaware Valley Opera also drea acclaim, with The River Reporter noting that he “all but stole the show.”A graduate of the Manhattan School of Music, Mr. Tenefrancia has appeared throughout New York City. His credits include Edgardo (Lucia di Lammermoor) and Alfredo (La Traviata) with the Snug Harbor Cultural Center & Botanical Garden, Don Ottavio (Don Giovanni) with Long Island Lyric Opera, Little Bat McLean (Susannah) with Delaware Valley Opera, Beppe (I Pagliacci) with New Rochelle Opera and March Hare/Card#2 (The Garden of Alice) with City Lyric Opera. In addition to his stage work, Mr. Tenefrancia is a dedicated advocate for the arts. He is a recipient of both the 2022 Staten Island Arts DCA Premiere Grant and the 2023 and 2024 Staten Island Arts DCLA Art Fund Grant for his online performance Art Song Anonymous which premiered at the Staten Island Pridefest 2022 and has since continued with SERENADE: Queer Soundscape for Staten Island Pridefest 2023, and TAKE THE STAGE: Emerging Artist Role Study (Snug Harbor PASS Artist Residency).
In December 2020, Mr. Tenefrancia joined the Philippine Independent Arts Ventures Inc. as the tenor soloist for their online fundraiser performance of Handel’s Messiah, which raised funds to support food distribution in areas of the Philippines severely affected by the COVID-19 Pandemic. With his impressive vocal ability and passion for both performance and community outreach, Mr. Tenefrancia continues to captivate audiences and expand his artistic reach.

Guido Rochin (8/14 & 8/16) is a Mexican tenor. He recently graduated from Knox College (Class of 2026) and will begin a Master’s degree in Vocal Performance at Illinois State University this fall. He gained national recognition after winning first place on the television competition The Voice. in Mexico. And also received the Young Revelation Prize at the VI International Voice Competition in Culiacán, Sinaloa, Mexico. His operatic repertoire includes La Traviata, L’elisir d’amore, Don Pasquale, amahl and the Night Visitors, Falstaff, Das Land des Lachelns, il barbiere di siviglia, lucia di lammermoor.  He has performed in Mexico, the United States, Spain, and Portugal, including appearances at Sala Manuel M. Ponce in Mexico City, as well as Palcco in Guadalajara, The first united Methodist church in Normal., and the Palace of Expositions Lisbon, Portugal. An emerging artist developing international stage experience.  

Osmin

Ian Joyal (8/13 & 8/15) has been praised for his “fine Italianate sound” and is distinctive for his comic role interpretations. His roles include Don Alfonso, Sarastro, Masetto, Leporello and the title role in Le Nozze di Figaro. In 2017, Ian made his international debut as a studio artist with Lyric Opera Studio Weimar in Germany, performing as Leporello in Don Giovanni and as Sarastro in Die Zauberflöte. Equally at home on the concert stage, Ian has also performed in many recitals and oratorio works, with repertoire including the bass solos in Verdi's and Mozart's Requiems, as well as multiple performances of Handel's Messiah. Ian credits his father, who was his first voice teacher and church choir conductor, for inspiring him to pursue music.

Stephen Bryant (8/14 & 8/16) is a Grammy nominated bass-baritone with an international career in opera and oratorio. He has performed with the New York Philharmonic, Philadelphia Orchestra, Pittsburgh Symphony, Houston Symphony, Tonhalle Orchestra Zurich, and BBC Scottish Symphony to name a few. He has sung with the San Francisco Opera, Netherlands Opera, and New York City Opera as well as many other regional companies in roles from Mozart’s Figaro to George in Carlisle Floyd’s Of Mice and Men. He has performed in two world premieres in works by the Oscar winning composer Tan Dun. These works include The Water Passion presented throughout the US, Europe, Asia, Russia, and Australia and well as the opera Marco Polo also presented in the US, Europe and Asia. Stephen has performed the role of Doctor Bartolo in Winter Harbor Music Festival’s productions of The Barber of Seville and the Marriage of Figaro as well as the title role in Don Pasquale and Leporello in Don Giovanni.  He also performed the bass solos in Winter Harbor Music Festival’s performance of Händel’s Messiah.

Bassa Selim

Roland Dube (8/13 & 8/15) lives in Bangor and has retired after 41 years in education. He is the administrative assistant for the Penobscot Valley Senior College. He is also the treasurer of the Bangor Community Theatre, the Gilbert & Sullivan  Society of Maine, and the Hancock County Retired Teachers Association. Roland is very active in many theatrical community productions. He is thrilled to be involved in another WHM production after recently playing Frosch in Die Fledermaus.

 Jeffrey Jeude (Bassa Selim) is a transplant to Maine from Missouri, where he was very active in his local community theater.  As a teenager, Jeff toured with his church youth group performing Godspell across the Midwest.  Once in Maine, Jeff quickly joined the Meetinghouse Theatre Lab and Schoodic Arts for All.  During Covid, Jeff performed the role of Robert in Proof, directed by New York native Owen Thompson. He also performed a solo work written by local author Cynthia Thayer called Dancing Shoes.  Jeff’s last association with theater was as stage manager for The Gin Game, presented by Meetinghouse Theater Lab.  Jeff and his wife Jill make their home in Corea, Maine and attend to their  house cat Peter.