I've waited to write this, knowing I would have difficulty curbing my effusive praise for the amazingly talented musicians who came to Stamford to perform on April 15. In spite of their tremendous gifts, they were each so personable and so approachable, so casual about the music that they made for those of us in the audience to marvel at.
The turnout was gratifying as well, not only because it was the first concert of our season but also because we generally do not expect as many folks to show up for a voice performance. Many of us have a very negative bias towards opera; does it come from cartoons of our childhood memories of Bugs Bunny singing Wagner, or of forced attendance at the concerts of would-be divas in our local churches as we were growing up that convinced us that all opera could be was a series of shrieks that we squirmed through? Or does it come from listening to opera on television or radio with less than ideal audio fidelity that makes us think it's nothing to get excited about? There were a good number of folks who decided it was worth another listen, and they were without exception glad that they did, I believe.
It was really wonderful to hear a few open-minded individuals comment that they came to the concert accepting my promise that it would be different this time, that hearing such voices in the close confines of the Cyr Center was an entirely different experience from even a professional production in a major hall. So it was on April 15, a magnificent demonstration of the beauty of the human voice as instrument. We were surely not disappointed, and no doubt after hearing these artists there were more than a few folks in the room who are newly attuned to Opera as an art form.
This international group of artists -- Haeran Hong, Alexander Lewis, Luthando Qave and Natalia Katyukova -- were indeed ambassadors, perhaps even evangelists, for their art through the beauty of their performance, and for the notion that the collaboration of great talent across borders is worthy of our whole-hearted support. We cannot thank them enough for sharing their gifts with us and for opening our hearts and minds to the world of Opera!
Sunday, April 29, 2012
Friday, April 13, 2012
Concert Sunday April 15, 2012 at 3PM -- Metropolitan Opera Lindemann Young Artist Development Program
The concert will begin at 3PM on Sunday April 15 at the Cyr Center on West Main St. in Stamford, NY. The forecast is for a beautiful spring day and likewise we have some beautiful music to look forward to!
For those who are new to Friends of Music, we are very fortunate to have an ongoing relationship with the Lindemann Program thanks to Ilkka Kalliomaa, a long-time board member and former president of FoM. Mr. Kalliomaa generally provides the transportation for the artists as well and it is an arduous three-day cycle for him, so we all owe him a big "Thank you!" as well.
The Lindemann Program identifies the most promising opera artists and provides them with training and performance opportunities through the Metropolitan Opera, along with financial support during a period of up to three years for singers and two years for pianists. More information about the program can be read at the Met's Web site. Friends of Music is very grateful for their ongoing willingness to send some of their fine young artists to perform in our little series.
This year soprano Haeran Hong comes to us through the Juilliard School; she is not a Lindemann Young Artist. The Met and Juilliard's Opera division have a very close relationship and share some staff members, which is how Ms. Hong was invited to perform. Originally from Korea, she may be familiar to some in our area through her performances at the Glimmerglass Opera in 2010.
Also new to Stamford will be Alexander Lewis, tenor, of Australia and South African baritone Luthando Qave. Natalia Katyukova, piano will be here for the second time, having performed in our April concert in 2011. Originally from Russia, she has since added conducting at the Met and coaching at the San Francisco Opera to her CV. Please read more about the artists at our Web site.
The program for Sunday will be as follows:
"Largo al factotum" from Gioachino Rossini’s Il Barbiere di Siviglia
Luthando Qave
"All idea di quel metallo" from Gioachino Rossini’s Il Barbiere di Siviglia
Alexander Lewis
Luthando Qave
"Quel guardo, il cavaliere" from Gaetano Donizetti ’s Don Pasquale
Haeran Hong
Mélodies passagères by Samuel Barber
Puisque tout passe
Un cygne avance sur l'eau tout entouré
Tombeau dans un parc
Le clocher chante
Départ
Alexander Lewis
Selections Dichterliebe by Robert Schumann
Im wunderschönen Monat Mai
Aus meinen Tränen sprieße
Die Rose, die Lilie, die Taube, die Sonne
Wenn ich in deine Augen seh
Luthando Qave
"La fioraia fiorentina" by Gioachino Rossini
Haeran Hong
"Venti Scudi" duet from Gaetano Donizetti’s L'elisir d'amore
Alexander Lewis
Luthando Qave
"Saper Vorreste" from Giuseppe Verdi’s Un Ballo in Maschera
Haeran Hong
"Ah, per sempre io ti perdei" from Vincenzo Bellini’s I Puritani
Luthando Qave
"Là ci darem la mano" from W.A. Mozart’s Don Giovanni
Haeran Hong
Luthando Qave
Blue Mountain Ballads by Paul Bowles
Heavenly Grass
Lonesome Man
The Cabin
Sugar in the Cane
Alexander Lewis
Lovely! As always we thank our donors and especially the Robinson-Broadhurst Foundation for your generous support, which makes this concert possible for all in our area to enjoy.
We hope to see you in Stamford on Sunday April 15th.
Wednesday, December 28, 2011
Friends of Music's 26th Season -- 2012 Concert Schedule Announced
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Robin Ward, saxophone and Dan Chien, piano play to a packed house before the City of the Hills Chorus performed at the Holiday Concert on Dec. 4. |
We have more glorious music in store for the coming year, and we hope you will join with us once again to enjoy the performances and the company of your friends, neighbors and visitors. As usual the concerts are on Sundays at 3PM at the Frank W Cyr Center in Stamford, NY. From April through November these dates are the third Sunday of the month while the Holiday concert in December is on the first Sunday.
There may be changes to the following schedule in the event of illness or other disaster (let's hope we are spared in 2012!) so please check here or on our Web site at friendsmusic.org for possible updates. We wish you and all your loved ones a wonderful New Year's celebration and we'll see you in April!
Friends of Music 26th Season – 2012 Concert Schedule*
April 15 Select Artists from the Metropolitan Opera’s
Lindemann Young Artist Development Program
May 20 The Allant Trio
Graduate Students from the Juilliard School
Alina Lim, cello; Beth Hyo Kyoung Nam
June 17 Piano Trio with Clovis Nicolas, bass
Around the World with Jazz Standards
July 15 Duo Prism
Rieko Aizawa, piano and Jesse Mills, violin
August 19 Serio Divertimenti (Serious Fun)
Lisa Arkis, flute; Monte Morgenstern, clarinet;
Peter Prosser, cello and Susan Sobolewski, piano
September 16 Yoni Levyatov, piano and Katie Thomas, violin
October 21 Bryant Park Quartet
Anna Elashvili and Ben Russell, violin;
Adam Meyer, viola and Tomoko Fujita, cello
November 18 Justin Kolb, piano
Liszt and the Barefoot Carmelite
December 2 Holiday Concert
* Subject to change; please check friendsmusic.org
or FoMStamford.blogspot.com for updates.
Happy New Year!
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