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Production Notes: Featured Performers

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Vireo, the groundbreaking made-for-TV opera, is now available for streaming. Watch the 12 full episodes and dive into the world of Vireo through librettos, essays and production notes. Find more bonus content on KCET.org and LinkTV.org.

Episode 1 – The Blow
Kronos Quartet
San Francisco Girls Chorus, as Forest Women
Valérie Sainte-Agathe, Music Director​
Rowen Sabala, soprano, as Vireo
Laurie Rubin, mezzo-soprano, as The Voice
Gregory Purnhagen, baritone, as The Doctor
Maria Lazarova, mezzo-soprano, as The Mother
 
Episode 2 – Mercury
Kronos Quartet
Orange County School of the Arts Middle School Choir, as Village Children
Matthias Bossi, The Drummer
Rowen Sabala, soprano, as Vireo
Laurie Rubin, mezzo-soprano, as The Voice/Witch
Gregory Purnhagen, baritone, as The Doctor
Maria Lazarova, mezzo-soprano, as The Mother
Ryan Glover, tenor, as Raphael (a student)
 
Episode 3 – Needle
Joshua Roman, cello
Bridget Kibbey, harp
Vijay Gupta, violin
Rowen Sabala, soprano, as Vireo
Laurie Rubin, mezzo-soprano, as The Voice/Pernette
Gregory Purnhagen, baritone, as The Doctor/Priest
Maria Lazarova, mezzo-soprano, as The Mother
 
Episode 4 – Beginner
Joshua Roman, cello
Bridget Kibbey, harp
Vijay Gupta, violin
Lance Suzuki, piccolo
San Francisco Girls Chorus, as Forest Women
​Charlotte Ensley, Anna Gray, Emma MacKenzie, Ella Nelson, Renee Theodore, Nia Spaulding; Valérie Sainte-Agathe, Music Director
Rowen Sabala, soprano, as Vireo
Laurie Rubin, mezzo-soprano, as The Voice/Pernette
Gregory Purnhagen, baritone, as The Doctor/Priest
Maria Lazarova, mezzo-soprano, as The Mother
Ryan Glover, tenor, as Raphael (a student)
 
Episode 5 – Cow Song
Vireo Wind Octet (Claire Chenette, oboe; Zach Pulse, English horn; Edgar Lopez, clarinet; Laura Odegaard-Stoutenborough, Bass clarinet; Allen Fogle, horn; Anne Marie Cherry, horn; Anthony Parnther, bassoon; Brittany Seits, contrabassoon)
Shadow Hills High School Regiment of the Realm Marching Band, Paul Bluto, Jr., Director
San Francisco Girls Chorus, as Milkmaids
​Sarah Ancheta, Lola Miller Henline, Emma MacKenzie, Emma Powell, Nia Spaulding; Valérie Sainte-Agathe, Music Director
Kirsten Sollek, contralto, as The Cow
Rowen Sabala, soprano, as Vireo
Maria Lazarova, mezzo-soprano, as The Mother
Christopher Tulyewski as the Artist
Alex Wright as the Chef
 
Episode 6 – Boarding School
Alarm Will Sound, Alan Pierson, Music Director
Trinity Youth Chorus, as Boarding School Girls
​Erica D’Ancona, Anevay Darlington, Mollie Garcia, Marcella King, Elisa Sikula, and Josephine Zenger; Melissa Attebury, Director
Rowen Sabala, soprano, as Vireo
Emma MacKenzie, soprano, as Caroline (Vireo’s mysterious twin)
Gregory Purnhagen, baritone, as The Lawyer/Doctor
Ryan Glover, tenor, as Raphael (a student)
Laurie Rubin, mezzo-soprano, as Pernette
Kirsten Sollek, contralto, as The Cow
 
Episode 7 – Dismal Pure Inane
PARTCH
PRISM Quartet
Rowen Sabala, soprano, as Vireo
Emma MacKenzie, soprano, as Caroline (Vireo’s mysterious twin)
Gregory Purnhagen, baritone, as The Lawyer/Doctor
Ryan Glover, tenor, as Raphael (a student)
Maria Lazarova, mezzo-soprano, as The Mother
 
Episode 8 – Girl in the Well
Alarm Will Sound, Alan Pierson, Music Director
Trinity Youth Chorus, as Village Children
​Erica D’Ancona, Anevay Darlington, Mollie Garcia, Marcella King, Elisa Sikula, and Josephine Zenger; Melissa Attebury, Director
Members of American Boychoir School and Special Music School, as Village Children
​Kevin Byrne, Ysai Huebner, Delphine Kernis, Jonah Kernis, Hudson Orfe, and Briggs Thatcher Williamson
Rowen Sabala, soprano, as Vireo
Emma MacKenzie, soprano, as Caroline (Vireo’s mysterious twin)
Ryan Glover, tenor, as Raphael (a student)
Laurie Rubin, mezzo-soprano, as Pernette
Michael Parker Harley, tenor, as The Farmer
Catie Cuan, dancer, as The Girl in the Well
 
Episode 9 – Alcatraz
American Contemporary Music Ensemble (ACME) – Benjamin Russell, violin; Caroline Shaw, violin; Meena Bhasin, viola; Clarice Jensen, cello
Cappella SF, vocal sextet, as The Prisoners
Handbell Ventures
Rowen Sabala, soprano, as Vireo
Emma MacKenzie, soprano, as Caroline (Vireo’s mysterious twin)
Gregory Purnhagen, baritone, as The Doctor
Alex Wright as the Guard
Randy Matamoros, Hurdy-Gurdy

Episode 10 – Ice on the Sargasso
Jennifer Koh, violin
Lorelei Ensemble, as Lab Assistants
San Francisco Girls Chorus School – 20 younger voices
Kate Campbell, toy piano
Rowen Sabala, soprano, as Vireo
Emma MacKenzie, soprano, as Caroline (Vireo’s mysterious twin)
Gregory Purnhagen, baritone, as The Lawyer/Doctor
Maria Lazarova, mezzo-soprano, as The Mother
Ryan Glover, tenor, as Raphael (a student)
Laurie Rubin, mezzo-soprano, as The Witch
Randy Matamoros, Hurdy-Gurdy
Matthias Bossi, percussion
 
Episode 11 – Circus
Matthias Bossi, drums
Magik*Magik Orchestra
San Francisco Girls Chorus and Chorus School (100+ girls)
Lance Suzuki, piccolo
Randy Matamoros, Hurdy-Gurdy
Deborah Voigt, soprano, as The Queen of Sweden
Rowen Sabala, soprano, as Vireo
Ryan Glover, tenor, as Raphael (a student)
Gregory Purnhagen, baritone, as The Doctor
Kirsten Sollek, contralto, as The Cow/Lion
Laurie Rubin, mezzo-soprano, as Pernette/The Voice
Emma MacKenzie, soprano, as Caroline (Vireo’s mysterious twin)
Maria Lazarova, mezzo-soprano, as The Mother
Chung Wai Soong, bass, as The Elephant
Members of Amateur Music Network as The Audience
 
Episode 12 – My Name is Vireo
Kronos Quartet
Rowen Sabala, soprano, as Vireo

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