Daniel Belcher as Papageno and DU alumna Camille Jasensky as Papagena in the Opera Colorado production of Mozart’s “The Magic Flute.” Photo: Matthew Staver
It was a quirk of timing that landed Camille Jasensky an audition with Denver-based professional opera company Opera Colorado.
In 2014, as a senior voice major at DU’s Lamont School of Music, Jasensky (BA ’14) was one of two students cast in the role of Zerlina in the Lamont Opera Theatre spring production of “Don Giovanni.” At the last minute, she was asked to perform the role at the two shows originally assigned to the other Zerlina. This put her on stage in a performance attended by Greg Carpenter, Opera Colorado’s general director.
Impressed by what he saw, Carpenter invited Jasensky to audition for his company. She was cast in the role of Papagena in Opera Colorado’s production of Mozart’s “The Magic Flute,” running May 2–10 at the Ellie Caulkins Opera House in downtown Denver.
“There were some rumors going around — I heard through the grapevine that I was going to get an audition, and then I got an email,” Jasensky says. “It was crazy. That never happens, especially to someone who’s an undergrad. Usually you get a master’s degree and then go into a young artist program, and then you get professional roles.”
Rehearsals for “Magic Flute” began in early April, and Jasensky says she was impressed by how well her experiences at Lamont prepared her for a professional production. Her favorite part of the Opera Colorado experience, she says, is learning from her fellow performers as she prepares for a career as a professional singer.
“Meeting with everyone after rehearsals and talking to everyone and seeing what paths they took and any advice they can give me — everyone is so nice and willing to contribute their opinion,” she says. “It’s been a crazy awesome experience.”
Carpenter is equally impressed by Jasensky and her talent.
“I took notice of Camille during her performance as Zerlina in the DU production of ‘Don Giovanni,’” he says. “Her clear soprano voice and vivacious stage personality were a perfect match for the role of Papagena. She is doing a marvelous job in her first role with a professional opera company, and her talents are admired by her colleagues in the production.”
Once “Magic Flute” wraps, Jasensky has a few options on the table: continuing to teach voice and piano lessons from her home in Castle Rock, Colo.; continuing to perform sacred music in local churches; or possibly moving to New York this summer to be closer to the professional opera world.
“I really want to focus on my voice, and I feel like I really need to get my technique down before I pursue any bigger roles, but I would love to continue to work with Opera Colorado in any capacity,” she says. “The future is kind of open-ended right now, but I expect this opportunity to open a lot of doors for me.”
Opera Colorado performances of “The Magic Flute” are at 7:30 p.m. May 2, 5 and 8, with a 2 p.m. matinee on May 10, at the Ellie Caulkins Opera House, 1101 13th St., Denver. Visit the Opera Colorado website for tickets and more information.