‘Deliciously Diva’ gals come to Long Island

A magical afternoon of multiple musical genres is planned in Long Beach as Broadway harmoniously combines with the Metropolitan Opera at Temple Emanu-El, when “Deliciously Diva” comes to town.
This performance will be a homecoming for Metropolitan opera singer, mezzo-soprano Jennifer Hines, who grew up in Long Beach and sang at Temple Beth Shalom when she was just five years old. She is happy that her 90-year-old grandmother, also a Long Beach resident, will be in the audience this time. Along with fellow soprano Tonna Miller, also of the Met and “Phantom of the Opera” fame, the longtime friends will perform a repertoire that crosses multiple musical genres.
“When you decide to do a project like this,” said Hines, 38, “it’s important that you love and care for the person, and that you are part of each others’ lives.” The women met when they were students at Julliard in 1995, where they performed musical theater. Tonna, 39, is from Waco, Texas and is married with an 8-month-old son, Tony Lucas. Hines was a bridesmaid at her friend’s wedding.

The divas
Jennifer Hines holds both a Bachelor of Music and Master of Music degrees from The Juilliard School. She is a former Apprentice Artist with Santa Fe Opera, Tanglewood Music Center participant, and member of Seattle Opera’s Young Artist Program. She has performed at Metropolitan Opera as Fourth Naked Virgin and as alto soloist in Moses und Aron with Maestro James Levine conducting. In 2011 she will reprise her critically acclaimed performance of Prokofiev’s Alexander Nevsky with the Reno Philharmonic, as well as to appear as soloist in Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 with Santa Cruz Symphony Orchestra, and in Mahler’s Symphony No. 3 with the Sarasota Orchestra. Among many other accomplishments, Hines sang with Palm Beach Opera as Maddalena in “Rigoletto;” as soloist in Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 with the Philadelphia Orchestra under Rossen Milanov at both the Mann Music Center and the Bravo! Vail Festival, as well as under Murray Sidlin at the Cascade Music Festival. Other recent concert appearances include Beethoven’s Missa Solemnis with the National Philharmonic, Bach’s Christmas Oratorio and St. Luke Passion with the Washington Bach Consort, Messiah with both American Bach Soloists and Minnesota Orchestra, Verdi’s Requiem with the Richmond Symphony, and Mendelssohn’s Elijah with the Cathedral Choral Society.
Hines also has had a long association with the New York City Opera. She has become an integral part of the company, singing roles that include the Second and Third Ladies in “Die Zauberflöte,” Princess Nicolette in “The Love for Three Oranges,” Mercedes in “Carmen,” and the Siren in “Rinaldo.”
Tonna Miller is also a versatile artist. She is equally at home on the operatic stage, musical theatre and on Broadway. Whether on stage at the Met or the local performing arts center, her vast repertoire of vocal and character emotion moves audiences. She has performed as Carlotta Giudicelli in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s “Phantom of the Opera” in the Broadway production as well as the national tour. She portrayed Barbarina in “Le nozze di Figaro” at the Metropolitan Opera; and as Fortuna in “L’incoronazione di Poppea” at the Los Angeles Opera.
With New York City Opera, she has been heard as Johanna, Yum-Yum in “The Mikado,” Papagena, Frasquita in “Carmen,” and Helen Niles in “Mourning Becomes Electra.” Other engagements have included the part of Aline in Gilbert & Sullivan’s “The Sorcerer,” and Offenbach operettas with Bard Summerscape; Carmina Burana with the Madison Symphony Susanna in “Le nozze di Figaro “with the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra; and as Vespina in Haydn’s “L’infedeltá
delusa” with the American Symphony Orchestra.
She has performed a wide variety of roles, including Singer No. 1 in Conrad Susa’s controversial 1973 opera, “Transformations;” La Princesse in “L’Enfant et les sortilèges,” Lauretta in “Gianni Schicchi,” Adina in “L’Elisir d’amore,” Mary Warren in “The Crucible,” Amante in “Il Tabarro,” and Sofia in “Il Signor Bruschino.” She is married to Tony Miller, an award-winning screenwriter and film director.

Overcoming adversity
Hines has persevered through a disease called RSD, a progressive neurological condition, which in her case is a slow deterioration of the jaw. It is being medically treated, but, because of her condition she is only able to open her mouth one-inch wide and has had to relearn to eat – and to sing.
“I first had jaw surgery when I was 18, in my first year at Julliard,” said Hines. “It was a disc problem … we didn’t know what caused it. I had pain for 18 years, and in 2006, I was in the emergency room five times … they said I was probably singing on a dislocated jaw for years.” Hines explained that after the first surgery, her jawbones fused together, not allowing her to open her mouth any bigger than the size of a pinky.
“It doesn’t affect my singing,“ Hines said. “My voice is low, so there is no need to open my mouth wide to sing, and keeping the mouth small acts like an inverted megaphone – and it has made me sing better and appreciate things more. And I don’t have stage fright any more.”
Hines and Miller agreed that they want people to see that you can overcome problems, that you can have a family and have a career, and instead of being terrified, you can be strong. “It’s like being an athlete,” Hines said. “We can also chose the venue, and decide what we want to sing -- and we can tailor things that are comfortable for us to sing.”
On Feb. 24, Hines and Miller performed at the Gershwin Hotel in Manhattan, and are scheduled to appear at the Plattduetsche Park Restaurant in Franklin Square on March 24.
“I want to go to Texas, my hometown, too,” said Miller, “and this project allows us to go on the road, to see our families — it’s a portable show.”
Hines said that they wanted to bring this level of music to a more intimate audience. “Going to The Met, could be a $500 night,” she said, “and this is affordable. We are still in the opera scene, and we want to bring this music to all audiences.”

Those Divine Divas
What: “Deliciously Diva” — Broadway and opera come to Long Beach
When: Sunday, March 6, 3 p.m.
Where: Temple Emanu-el, 455 Neptune Blvd., Long Beach; $20 advance purchase, $25 at the door. For more information, call (516) 432-7464. Tickets for the March 24 concert at Plattduetsche Park Restaurant in Franklin Square are available by calling (212) 868-4444 or online at www.smarttix.com.