The Turn of the Screw

Music Director of the Windsor Symphony Orchestra since 2013, Franz has fostered partnerships throughout the community as well as consistently created programming that led to him being recognized by The Windsor Endowment for the Arts with its Arts Leadership Award. In addition to the return of live concerts, the past two seasons have included two curated digital concert series that he led and hosted. Both series include his trademark music introductions, interviews with guest artists and composers, and a celebration of multiple works by composers of under-represented populations. Through his work the WSO has become a catalyst for a wide variety of artists in multiple genres and disciplines. 

His appeal as a first-rate conductor and enthusiastic award-winning educator is acclaimed by critics, composers, and audiences of all ages. Composer Bright Sheng praised Franz for his “extremely musical and passionate approach towards music making” and critics hail his “masterly pace, emphasis and technical control” calling his conducting “viscerally thrilling.”  Franz is in increasing demand as a guest conductor, having collaborated with the Cleveland Orchestra, Baltimore Symphony, St. Louis Symphony, Detroit Symphony, among others. 2022 marks his debut with the Fort Worth Symphony as well as Abridged Opera in a performance of Benjamin Britten’s The Turn of the Screw.

My name is Erika, and I am a graduate of the BA(H) Dramatic Art program and BFA Acting program from the University of Windsor with certification from the Great Lakes Michael Chekhov Consortium (GLMCC) in educating actors on the Michael Chekhov Technique. I am currently in a master’s program at the Shakespeare Institute with the University of Birmingham (UK) with a focus on Shakespeare and theatre performance.

I co-founded and worked as the creative director in residence with Seven Siblings Theatre, a Toronto-based independent theatre company that developed young artists through the Michael Chekhov Technique.  In 2016 I started working in opera with the Glenn Gould School at the Royal Conservatory of Music as an assistant director and continued this journey with Abridged Opera and Opera Laurier. With my background in music, I have been able to adapt from theatre performance to operatic performance with joy and passion. 

Dr. Brianna DeSantis is a coloratura soprano based in Windsor, Ontario. She is known for her ability to connect with the audience through her expressiveness and unique artistry. Though classically trained, Brianna performs a variety of genres from fifteenth century choral works to the mainstream music of today in and around Windsor and Essex County. She also serves as Administrative Director for Abridged Opera.

Some past performance credits with Abridged Opera include Zerlina (Don Giovanni), The Queen of the Night (The Magic Flute), Despina (Cosi fan tutte), and Monica (The Medium). Brianna is thrilled to reprise the role of The Governess in Abridged Opera’s The Turn of the Screw.

Mezzo-soprano Stephanie Yelovich, has been described as having “a voice of flowing lava, of lush notes top to bottom…a voice of power, substance and cut.” (Aprile Millo, soprano-The Metropolitan Opera). Most recently she appeared with Chorus Hamilton singing The Virgin Mary in Respighi’s Lauda per la natività del signore and will be joining them again in March as the alto soloist in Beethoven’s Mass in C Major. Recent credits include: Theresa in Bellini’s La Sonnambula, Frugola in Il Tabarro and La Zia Principessa in Suor Angelica as part of Opera Niagara’s past two seasons.

Stephanie has had the privilege of singing in multiple concerts across Italy as part of the Operavision Academy seasons. One special highlight includes this past summer’s Gran Concerto Finale, curated and conducted by Maestro Richard Bonynge. Stephanie is the co-owner of The Infinity Forge, a creative media arts centre, recording facility and venue in East Hamilton. For more information on future performance dates or to stay in touch, you can find her artist page on Facebook at facebook.com/StephanieYelovich

Following two years of online operas and a shift to more dramatic roles, Alyssa Epp returns to the stage this fall as Miss Jessel in Abridged Opera’s The Turn of the Screw.  Roles studied during the pandemic include Elsa (Lohengrin), Die Marschallin (Der Rosenkavalier), Giovanna, (Anna Bolena), Giulia (La Vestale), Anna (Le Villi), and portions of Turandot (Turandot).  Epp also serves as the Director of Operations for Abridged Opera.

Past credits with Abridged Opera include Donna Elvira (Don Giovanni), Suzel (L’amico Fritz), Micaëla (Carmen), Marianne (Der Rosenkavalier), and the Sandman (Hansel and Gretel), as well as La Novizia (Suor Angelica) with Opera Niagara and covers of Musetta (La bohème), Micaëla (Carmen), and High Priestess (Aida) with the same company.  In addition to on-stage roles, Alyssa has frequently played a role behind the curtain as well as Assistant Director for Opera Niagara’s Bohème under Aprile Millo and has stage managed a number of Abridged Opera’s productions including Cendrillon and the company’s 2017 production of The Turn of the Screw.

Saskatchewan-born tenor Philip Klaassen began making his mark on the operatic stage with the Saskatoon Opera in Schools Tour in productions such as The Magic Flute, The Brothers Grimm, and The Barber of Seville. He has since performed roles in productions of Die Zauberflote, Carmen, Don Giovanni, Le Villi, Gianni Schicchi and Cendrillon. Philip has performed many times as a chorus member with the Saskatoon Opera, Manitoba Opera and the National Arts Centre. Concert appearances include Orff’s Carmina Burana, Mozart’s Requiem and Mendelssohn’s Lobgesang. He studies privately with Laurence Ewashko and John Avey in Ottawa.

Avery is a Grade 8 French Immersion student at Kingsville Public School and is thrilled to be performing as Flora in Abridged Opera’s production of The Turn of the Screw. She has been a piano and vocal student under the expert instruction of Ms. Alyssa Epp for over 7 years.  Avery made her Windsor Symphony Orchestra solo debut last November singing “I’m Walking in the Air” in The Snowman.  She has also sung in children’s opera choruses for La Bohème with Opera Niagara, Der Rosenkavalier with Abridged Opera and has performed as The Page in Amahl and the Night Visitors with Abridged Opera. Avery is very grateful and honoured for this opportunity to perform alongside the talented artists of Abridged Opera and the Windsor Symphony Orchestra. 

Addysen is a Grade 5 French Immersion student at Kingsville Public School and is excited to be performing as Miles in Abridged Opera’s production of The Turn of the Screw.  She has been taking piano and voice lessons with Ms. Alyssa Epp for 4 years and just had her theatre stage debut this past June in Welcome to Underland with Windsor Essex Community Arts Project (WECAP). Addysen is so excited to share the stage with her big sister for the first time and is truly honoured to be a part of this incredible production with Abridged Opera and the Windsor Symphony Orchestra.