I Arts & En rtainment Mezzo-Sopranos At the beginnings of her operatic career, Monica Sciaky continues to grow at Michigan Opera Theatre. I Suzanne Chessler Special to the Jewish News M onica Sciaky brought musical balance to her family. Daughter of the late Pennsylvania rock DJ Ed Sciaky, she chose a classical career. The mezzo-soprano, who is Jewish, earned her bachelor's degree in vocal performance and music education at Northwestern University in Illinois and her master's degree in vocal performance at the University of Michigan. She will sing in the chorus of The Magic Flute presented April 9-17 by the Michigan Opera Theatre. "I've performed in The Magic Flute before and found it wonderful and fun to sing," says Sciaky, 25 and single, who also is preparing to play Rosina in The Barber of Seville for Toledo Opera. "If there's any production that should get people to the opera, it's The Magic Flute, which is classic, light, funny, gor- geous, touchy and accessible. This produc- tion is in English so it's great for kids to see!' The Mozart opera, opening MOT's 40th spring season, tells the story of a hand- some prince, an endangered damsel and a wicked queen. Prince Tamino (alternating tenors David Miller and Norman Shankle) and his humorous sidekick Papageno (baritone Michael Mayes) go on a musical quest to save the beautiful Pamina (alter- nating sopranos Katherine Whyte and Ava Pine). Rigoletto, scheduled May 14-22, is the final opera of the season. "I was in the chorus of a full produc- tion of The Magic Flute as an undergrad at Northwestern:' says Sciaky, whose early choir experiences included singing at syn- agogues."This past summer, as a young artist at Opera New Jersey, I did a scene from The Magic Flute." Sciaky, who gives private singing lessons in Ann Arbor, studied violin before voice. "A friend of my parents, a professional violinist, was my babysitter for a while',' Sciaky recalls. "She would practice when she was babysitting me, and I became obsessed with the violin. I begged my par- Monica Sciaky as Pitti-Sing in MOT's fall production of The Mikado ents to let me play, and she agreed to be my teacher. Before I was 4, I was reading music." A singing role in a fourth-grade play moved Sciaky's focus away from violin. She became a member of a semi-profes- sional children's chorus and got classical training as part of the experience. At 13, serious private voice lessons began, and she was cast in regional musi- cal theater productions. "Half way through high school, I decid- ed I wanted to be an opera singer:' she says. "I kept studying voice, did summer workshops and joined all-state choirs:' Sciaky's first show with MOT was last spring, when she appeared in Tosca. As an apprentice last fall, she had a princi- pal role, Pitti-Sing, in The Mikado. The mezzo-soprano also was in the chorus of La Boheme. "I'd like to be a working singer for many years:' says Sciaky, whose family and friends receive all kinds of knitted gifts she enjoys making as a hobby. "I'd also like to continue private voice teaching!' I The Magic Flute runs April 9-17 at the Detroit Opera House. Performances are at 7:30 p.m. April 9, 13, 15 and 16 and 2:30 p.m. April 17. $29-$121. For tickets, and more information on the spring season, call (313) 237-SING or go to www.MichiganOpera.org . 48 April 7 2011 An operatic veteran with many career triumphs, Irina Mishura will treat fans to a free concert. rina Mishura, who built a 25-year international opera career with the help of friends made in Michigan, wants to celebrate and say thanks by performing a free concert. Mishura, accompanied by pianist Kevin Bylsma, will sing arias, musi- cal theater pieces, Russian selections and Yiddish songs 7 p.m. Thursday, April 14, at the St. Regis R.C. Church in Bloomfield Hills. "These are the pieces that mean a lot to me:' says Mishura, who immi- grated from Russia to Michigan and since has appeared with the Metropolitan Opera in New York, Royal Opera House-Covent Garden in London and La Scala in Milan. "When I'm singing these pieces, I'm almost crying from the excitement and the memories. One aria I sang when I was making my debut on the opera stage in Moldavia." Mishura, whose late mother was Jewish, is particularly appreciative of the support and encouragement she has had from the Jewish community. First living in Oak Park, she was allowed to practice using the piano at the nearby Jewish Community Center. Now, she rehearses at a Steinway in her Bloomfield Hills home. "My first job was at Adat Shalom Synagogue, where I was asked to be part of the chorus:' she recalls. "I started speaking English, and people started helping me." Although reluctant to begin naming the individuals who assisted her intro- ductions into the professional sphere — there were so many — she includes Cantor Harold Orbach of Temple Israel among those recommending her for the Michigan Opera Theatre. Born in Krasnodar, Mishura complet- ed her musical studies at the Gnesinikh Music Institute, where she earned a doctorate in vocal arts. Her earliest performances were with the Moldavian State Opera, where she rose to prima mezzo-soprano. Since settling in America, she has Irina Mishura extended her repertoire and taken the title role in Carmen, Amneris in Aida, Dalila in Samson et Dalila and Azucena in II Trovatore. She has worked with Jose Carreras and Placido Domingo. "I have done opera performances in Tel Aviv and was selected for a live radio performance in Jerusalem to celebrate an Israeli anniversary:' says Mishura, whose most recent performances have been in Italy and Spain. The mezzo-soprano, calling herself "too coquettish" to reveal her age, is married to Jack Morris, who manages her career. The singer's daughter, Rachel Lekhtman, is an executive sales man- ager in New York. "I've been home very rarely in the past 15 years," says Mishura, whose quiet time is spent reading in Russian. "I have a lot of engagements to honor, but I want to slow down a little. I want to enjoy life as a woman, wife and proud mother. "I came to this country like every immigrant thinking something has to happen. Somehow, I got lucky with so many people supporting me. I live the American dream, and I think it's time to give back!' 1 I Irina Mishura will perform 7 p.m. Thursday, April 14, at the St. Regis R.C. Church, 3695 Lincoln, in Bloomfield Township. Free admission. An afterglow with hors d'oeuvres and refreshments to benefit the Verdi Opera Theatre of Michigan asks a $20 donation: ken.krach@stregis.org or verdiopera@comcast.net .