2012-2013 seasonAct 2, Part 2
Anthony arrives at the asylum to rescue Johanna, but Fogg, the deranged owner of the asylum, attempts to stop them. Anthony brandishes a pistol but when he is unable to kill Fogg, Johanna instinctively grabs the weapon, aims true, and fires, fleeing with Anthony to Todd's parlor (Johanna disguised in sailor's clothing).
The asylum's inmates pour out onto the streets, ecstatically proclaiming the end of the world; at the same time, Todd and Mrs. Lovett hunt for Toby in vain ("City on Fire/Searching"), abandoning their search when the Judge approaches.
Alone in Todd's parlor while Anthony seeks out a coach on the street, Johanna quickly hides as the Beggar Woman, especially frenzied, enters the barbershop. Todd stumbles upon the Beggar Woman and, anticipating the Judge's arrival, frantically slits her throat, sending her down the chute a moment before the Judge bursts in. Todd assures the Judge that Johanna is totally repentant and the Judge lustfully asks for a quick face massage and some cologne before reuniting with her.
Once he has the Judge in his chair, Todd soothes then suddenly mocks him, alerting the Judge to his former identity. Both the Judge and Todd scream "Benjamin Barker!" before Todd, at last, passionately slashes his enemy's throat and sends him hurtling down the chute ("The Judge's Return").
Johanna, who has heard every noise, emerges from her hiding place in the room and is also nearly slain by Todd; however, Mrs. Lovett shrieks from the bakehouse below, providing a distraction for Johanna to escape out the door. Down in the bakehouse, Mrs. Lovett panics while struggling with the wounded Judge, who claws at her before finally dying.
Act 2, Part 3
Storming into the room and seeing the face of the Beggar Woman clearly with the oven's light, Todd realizes in horror that she is in fact his wife Lucy. When Mrs. Lovett said that Lucy had poisoned herself, Todd interpreted this to mean his wife was dead. Todd now furiously accuses Mrs. Lovett of deceiving him, but Mrs. Lovett maintains her guiltlessness, saying that although Lucy had indeed taken poison, she did not die but instead went insane. Lovett says she withheld the whole truth from Todd in order to spare his feelings because she loves him.
Todd feigns calm forgiveness, waltzing Lovett over to the huge oven, abruptly hurling her into the fire, and slamming the doors shut. Todd then sinks to the floor and cradles his deceased wife in his arms. Toby, driven completely insane and with his hair now white from shock, reappears from the shadows, picks up Todd's fallen razor, and strikes at Todd's throat.
As Anthony, Johanna, and some constables break into the bakehouse, Todd falls dead and Toby drops the razor, heedless of the others, while beginning to absentmindedly parody the motions of turning a meat grinder ("Final Scene").
Epilogue
The company assembles one last time to sing "The Ballad of Sweeney Todd." As the resurrected ghosts of Todd and Mrs. Lovett rise from their graves, they conclude that the capability for revenge is within all of us. The company exits with Todd and Mrs. Lovett being the last. Todd pauses at the large iron door at the back of the stage to look at Mrs. Lovett one final time before slamming the door in the audience's face
TEN
That is the 
number of free performances Nevada Opera produced in 12 days for Artown this July. From our popular “Opera in Blue Jeans” show in Wingfield Park, to performing a children’s opera at the Boys and Girls Club, we expanded our Artown programs to broaden our exposure and build new audiences.
We had overflowing crowds at all our performances, including children’s shows that were performed at the Terry Lee Wells Discovery Museum, Sarah Winnemucca Elementary School, and the Hawkins Amphitheater at Bartley Ranch -- in addition to the Boys and Girls Club.
Because of these shows and our new Studio Programs, many local youth were able to perform, giving them stage experience and self confidence. They were also able to work with ten singers from New York who came to Reno and shared their skills and talents. Over 1000 guests enjoyed great music and heard some of the finest young opera stars in America perform in Reno.
How did we pull off ten shows in 12 days? In January, we hired a new, dynamic General Director, Monica Harte, who assembled an incredible team of singers, musicians, and directors to create seven unique shows. She also created the Studio Programs --- Youth Program for kids, tweens and teens and Resident Artist Program for young professional opera singers.
For details and more photos,click on a highlighted selection below
- July 4th - Fireworks at the Piano at Steinway Gallery
Four world-class pianists presented dazzling and explosive selections - July 7th - Die Fledermaus at Fuego
Wine tapas and song at Fuego - July 8th - Opera Shorts at Steinway Gallery
Nine eclectic operas in one evening. They're great, click to see why - July 11th - House at Hawkins Amphitheater, Bartley Ranch
Sci-fi opera for the family with a positive message. Also July 13th at the Boys and Girls Club - July 13th and 14th - The Great Grey Ghost of Old Spook Lane at Sarah Winnemuca School (13th)
and the Terry Lee Wells Nevada Discovery Museum (14th)
A children's musical about accepting people and their differences - July 13th - Wingfield Park
Nevada Opera Chorus performed before a screening of the Marx Brothers A Night at the Opera. - July 15th - McKinley Art Center, Art Paws with PetFolio magazine
NVO terms up with publisher of PetFolio singing songs about animals. - July 15th - Opera in Blue Jeans at Wingfield Park
NVO's traditional Artown performance. Act II of Die Fledermaus
Sparklers, rockets and a few explosions! Four world-class pianists dazzled the crowd with classical masterpieces and original compositions on one of Steinway's concert grand pianos at the NVO@ThePiano concert.
We expected fireworks for the 4th of July. What we didn't expect was the crowd. The Steinway Recital Hall is an intimate setting for about 100 attendees. We thought it would be reasonably full. It was full - 30 minutes before show time! Thanks to Lamis Pritchard and her staff, chairs and piano benches were moved into the display gallary around the many pianos. The eventual crowd of 200 plus heard wonderful music from four very talented performers.
Our artists were:
- Christian McLeer, graduate of Julliard and the Manhattan School of Music is co-founder and Artistic Director of Remarkable Theatre Brigade (RTB). As a concert pianist Christian has won numerous comprtitions and performed at many respected venues including Carnegie Hall, Steinway Hall, Merkin Concert Hall and the New Orleans Astro Dome.
- Donna Axton is the director of music studies at Sierra Nevada College, director of the SNC Concert Choir, a TOCCATA performer and the music minister at St. Patrick's Church. At SNC, Donna teaches classes in piano, voice, world music, music history, music appreciation, music and mythology and psychology.
- Azamat Sydykov is a Kyrgyz concert pianist who has played solo concerts internationally through Kyrgyz, Russia, Switzerland, Germany, Iran, Turkey, Ukraine, Finland, Italy and Netherlands. Having settled in New York City, Sydykov has there performed at Steinway Hall, Mannes Concert Hall, Gilder Lehrman Hall, Greenwich House, David Greer Recital Hall and United Nations Headquarters in New York.
- Jonathan Levin made his debut with the Raleigh Symphony Orchestra when he was fifteen. Recent performances have included concerts and recitals at Carnegie Hall, Steinway Hall, New York Society for Ethical Culture, Brooklyn Public Library, the Consulate General of the Republic of Poland and the Kosciusko Foundation in Manhattan, as well as concerts in North Carolina, Tennessee, Mississippi and Florida.
