South Bend Lyric Opera – French Masters: Operatic Arias and Duets At The Crystal Ballroom

The Lerner Theatre is thrilled to announce South Bend Lyric Opera – French Masters: Operatic Arias and Duets at The Crystal Ballroom on Saturday, November 14th, 2026, at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are on sale now.

South Bend Lyric Opera – French Masters: Operatic Arias and Duets

Experience the elegance, passion, and irresistible charm of French opera in an enchanting program featuring beloved arias and duets by France’s greatest composers. From the lyrical beauty of Gounod and Massenet to the dramatic intensity of Bizet, this performance celebrates the rich colors and emotional depth of the French operatic tradition. Join us for an unforgettable evening of romance, drama, humor, and exquisite melody, alongside celebrated artists from around the country.

Bios:  

Rhea Olivacce, Soprano

Dr. Rhea Olivaccé is known for her “vibrant color” and “vivacious abandon”. She is celebrated for her interpretation of lyric soprano roles, including Mimi and Musetta from Puccini’s La Bohème, La Contessa from Mozart’s Le Nozze di Figaro, Tatyana from Tchaikovsky’s Eugene Onegin and Suzel in Mascagni’s L’amico Fritz. She has performed with Des Moines Metro Opera, Sarasota Opera, and Opera Western Reserve. She has been widely recognized for her performances of the Mozart, Brahms, Fauré, and Rutter Requiem Masses, Bach’s St John Passion and Magnificat, Mendelssohn’s Elijah, Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony, Handel’s Messiah and Strauss’ Four Last Songs. She has graced the world-renowned stages of Carnegie Hall and the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam, Netherlands.

Emanuel-Cristian Caraman, Tenor

Throughout his career Romanian tenor and recording artist, Emanuel-Cristian Caraman has appeared with opera companies, symphony orchestras and on the recital stage in Europe, South America and North America. Mr. Caraman has performed with Los Angeles Opera, George Enescu International Music Festival in Bucharest, Miami Lyric Opera, Die Deutsche Kammerphilarmonie in Bremen, Union Avenue Opera in St. Louis, Opera in the Heights in Houston, New England Chamber Orchestra, South Bend Symphony Orchestra and New Philharmonic Orchestra. Mr. Caraman has performed on the stages of many prestigious concert halls including Carnegie Hall in New York, Ateneul Român in Bucharest, and Wiener Konzerthaus in Vienna. Operatic highlights include Cavaradossi in Tosca, Turridu in Cavalleria Rusticana, Il Duca di Mantova in Rigoletto, Edgardo in Lucia di Lammermoor, Pinkerton in Madama Butterfly, Nemorino in L’elisir d’amore, Rodolfo in La Boheme, Alfredo in La Traviata, Don José in Carmen, Fritz in L’Amico Fritz, and Riccardo in Un Ballo in Maschera.

Emma Sorenson, Mezzo-Soprano

Mezzo-Soprano Emma Rose Sorenson, recently made her solo debut as Passenger 3 in the company’s world premiere production of “Proximity.” She has also played the role of Eliza in Boston Lyric Opera’s production of “Omar” by Rhiannon Giddens and Michael Abels. A graduate of Webster University, Sorenson was an Apprentice Artist with Santa Fe Opera, covering Susan Graham, and make her company debut as Genevieve in “Pelleas et Melisande.” Sorenson has appeared with South Bend Lyric Opera as Clea in the premiere of “Our American Odysee” by Marjorie Rusche. In addition to being a singer, Sorenson also models. For her recent appearance with South Bend Symphony Orchestra, she received a dress from fashion designer Borris Powell, with whom she worked during his 2018 runway show.

Seth Hobi, Baritone

Seth Hobi, baritone, has performed in a wide range of operatic productions across Baroque, Classical, and twentieth-century repertoire, and has also appeared as a soloist and ensemble singer across North America and Europe. His recent stage appearances include Voltaire/Dr. Pangloss in Bernstein’s Candide with Opera at Notre Dame, Pallante in Handel’s Agrippina with the Boston Early Music Festival, and Aeneas in Purcell’s Dido & Aeneas with both Opera at Notre Dame and Apollo’s Fire. Additional credits include performances in Keiser’s Octavia, Mozart’s Idomeneo, Puccini’s La Fanciulla del West, Weill’s The Seven Deadly Sins, Verdi’s Otello, and Lesser-Mansfield’s The Sparks Fly Upward. South Bend Lyric Opera Emerging Artists

Abi Liebegott, Soprano

Soprano Abigail Liebegott from Lewistown, Pennsylvania is pursuing her Masters of Sacred Music at the University of Notre Dame. Abigail is a passionate interpreter of early repertoire, having performed as a soloist in a number of J.S. Bach’s cantatas including BWV 100, 98, 61, 151, 36, and 80. She has appeared as a concert soloist in Mendelssohn’s Psalm 42 and Elijah. Abigail has performed with Eastman Opera Theater as Mélisande in Marius Constant’s Impressions de Pelléas, as well as the role of Euridice in Luigi Rossi’s Orfeo with the Eastman Collegiu Musicum under the tutelage of Paul O’Dette. She recently appeared with Amherst Early Music Festival in the role of La Folie in Jean-Jacques Rameau’s Platée. She holds a Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance from Eastman School of Music, where she studied with soprano Kiera Duffy.

Rebecca Clark, Soprano

Making her Carnegie Hall debut in 2018, coloratura soprano, Rebecca Clark has received awards in the Camille Coloratura, Metropolitan Opera Laffont, and Sam Vitale and Aaron Caruso Neapolitan Song Competitions. Miss Clark has given numerous solo and collaborative recitals in the United States and Europe. She has also performed leading roles in: Little Women (Italian Premiere), The Pigeon Keeper, Suor Angelica, The Gondoliers, Patience, and Der Schauspieldirektor, in which she made her international operatic debut. She has recently appeared as soprano soloist in Handel’s Messiah, Zelenka’s Magnificat in C, and with Fox Valley Orchestra. Miss Clark is pursuing her Masters Degree at Indiana University South Bend, studying with Dr. Tim Schmidt.

Music Director

Dror Baitel, Piano

Dror Baitel, a collaborative pianist, coach and conductor, has established himself as a leading talent through his virtuosity and versatility across diverse musical genres. Feeling at home both in classical music and musical theater, Baitel has worked on Broadway and Off-Broadway. Baitel was on the original music team of Lin Manuel Miranda’s Hamilton, as well as a pianist-conductor for the hit Dear Evan Hansen. Most recently, Baitel conducted the Memphis Symphony Orchestra and finished a one-year visiting position of music director of opera at the Scheidt School of Music at the University of Memphis. Additional credits include Mary Poppins (Broadway debut), Matilda, and The King and I. His scholarly interests include the history of the American musical theater, the golden age of musicals, Stephen Sondheim, and romantic operas.

South Bend Lyric Opera – French Masters: Operatic Arias and Duets

• What: South Bend Lyric Opera – French Masters: Operatic Arias and Duets 
• When: Saturday, November 14^th, 2026 at 7:30 p.m.
• Where: The Crystal Ballroom at 410 S. Main St., Elkhart, IN 46516
• Cost: All-in Price: $41.60
• Contact information: www.thelerner.com or The Lerner Box Office: (574) 293-4469

About The Lerner Theatre:

The Lerner Theatre, an Elkhart landmark, is part of a revival, a new era for the arts, commerce and life in the heart of our community. The Lerner Theatre is a 100-year-old city owned and operated facility, built in 1924. With the completion of an $18-million-dollar renovation in 2011, The Lerner Theatre has truly put the “heart” back in downtown Elkhart. The Lerner is evidence of this rebirth with its timeless, never-lost quality of an old theatre reborn as a state-of-the-art performance and event facility.

Venue Contact:

Faith Geary

Faith.Geary@thelerner.com 

574-293-4469