Zheng Cao Opera Fund

On the afternoon of Valentine's Day, I attended a reception held by Merola Opera to honor mezzo Zheng Cao & announce a fund created in her name. The fund, started with a gift from Annette Campbell-White, sponsors an in-coming Merola participant who is an"Asian/Pacific artist." If no Merolini fulfills that requirement, the fund sponsors a mezzo. The 1st recipient is tenor Yi Li, currently at Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music. He received a certificate from Merola board member Donna Blacker & sang "Pourquoi me reveiller" from Werther & 2 Chinese love songs, accompanied by Mark Morash.

I had expected the event to be primarily informational, so I was more than surprised to be in the same room with a handful of former Merolini, SF Opera General Director David Gockley & mezzo Frederica von Stade. Zheng Cao herself was able to attend, & the event was quite emotional, with colleagues sharing appreciative stories about Ms. Cao. Adler Fellow Renée Rapier ended the program by singing "You'll Never Walk Alone." She invited the audience to join her in the 2nd verse, & I had the surreal experience of hearing Flicka, who had sat down next to me, singing right into my ears.


§ Zheng Cao Opera Fund
Reception and Announcement
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
San Francisco Opera House