“ WELCOME BACK “SONG SERIES
“AN EVENING OF SONG” “THE JOHN HOLIDAY EXPERIENCE” JOHN HOLIDAY JOHN HOLIDAY APRIL 9, 2021 | 7:30 PM | WINSPEAR OPERA HOUSE APRIL 9, 2021 | 7:30 PM | WINSPEAR OPERA HOUSE WELCOME BACK!
A remarkable thing happens when we experience music live—especially the sound of the human voice in song. It stops us in our tracks, calms our minds and souls, and immediately sets us “in the moment.” At a time when hearts are burdened by the impact of the COVID pandemic and so much discord in our communities, I invite you to experience the power and joy of stories and songs sung by some of the opera’s most celebrated and socially engaged artists.
Enjoy this extraordinary recital with countertenorJohn Holiday—our “Garden Serenades” at some of Dallas’s most
Karen Almond Karen beautiful outdoor spaces—our soon-to- be-announced new OperaTruck in family- friendly performances—and the long-awaited return of star mezzo-soprano Joyce DiDonato in concert on May 10 at 7pm with Emmanuel Villaume and The Dallas Opera Orchestra.
We are so happy to welcome you back for the unparalleled experience of shared live performances. Thank you!
Ian Derrer The Kern Wildenthal General Director and CEO
“WELCOME BACK” SONG SERIES SONG SERIES SPONSOR: ANN STUART, PHD JOHN HOLIDAY | APRIL 9, 2021 “THE JOHN HOLIDAY EXPERIENCE” April 9, 2021, 7:30 PM John Holiday, Countertenor Kevin J. Miller & Neeki Bey, Piano
“Phidylé” Henri Duparc (1848-1933)
“Le manoir de Rosemonde” Henri Duparc
“Sence You Went Away” Lori Celeste Hicks (b. 1979)
“Save the Boys” Tyshawn Sorey (b. 1980)
From Lyric Suite Robert L. Morris (b. 1941) “Gospel Blues” “Juba: Ev’rytime I Feel the Spirit!” Kevin J. Miller, Piano — BRIEF PAUSE —
From Porgy and Bess George Gershwin (1898-1937) “Summertime”
“You Are The Sunshine of My Life” Stevie Wonder (b. 1950)
“Misty” Erroll Garner (1921-1977)
“’Round Midnight” Thelonious Monk (1917-1982)
“Fever” Eddie Cooley (1933-2020) Otis Blackwell (1931-2002)
“Come Away With Me” Norah Jones (b. 1979)
“Hallelujah” Leonard Cohen (1934-2016)
From The Greatest Showman Benj Pasek (b. 1985) “Never Enough” Justin Paul (b.1985) Neeki Bey, Piano Program is subject to change.
“WELCOME BACK” SONG SERIES SONG SERIES SPONSOR: ANN STUART, PHD WINSPEAR OPERA HOUSE ARTIST BIOS
JOHN HOLIDAY (Countertenor) The American countertenor has rapidly established himself as one of the most remarkably versatile artists of his generation. In 2020 he competed on NBC’s The Voice, placing fifth in the final. Holiday’s successes onstage have ranged from Handel’s Xerxes (Glimmerglass Festival) and Purcell’s Dido and Aeneas (LA Opera) to Philip Glass’s Galileo Galilei (Portland Opera, Holiday’s operatic stage debut), Matthew Aucoin’s Eurydice (LA Opera, world premiere), Jonathan Dove’s Flight (Des Moines Metro Opera), Daniel Roumain’s We Shall Not Be Moved (world premiere at Opera Philadelphia, reprised for Holiday’s European debut with the Dutch National Opera), and Huang Ruo’s Paradise Interrupted (world premiere at the Spoleto Festival, subsequently at Shanghai’s Macau Arts Festival). Recent seasons have brought appearances at the La Jolla Music Festival, Lucerne Symphony Orchestra, and Metropolitan Museum of Art. Other concert and recital venues have included TDO, the Kennedy Center, and the legendary Apollo Theater. Holiday has toured with Gustavo Dudamel and the Los Angeles Philharmonic and has performed with the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra, the Cincinnati Chamber Orchestra, and the Nashville Symphony.
KEVIN J. MILLER (Piano) The American pianist recently collaborated for recitals with tenor Lawrence Brownlee (Carnegie Hall, Houston Grand Opera), countertenor John Holiday (Kennedy Center, The Barbican in London), tenor Joseph Calleja, and soprano Nadine Sierra (U. S. Supreme Court). He also appeared with Calleja on NPR’s Tiny Desk Concert series. Miller can be heard on the CD Been in da Storm So Long, partnering with baritone Kenneth Overton. The New York native began in music as a boy soprano, singing with the Boys Choir of Harlem, while also studying piano with the
Arielle Doneson late conductor/pianist Warren Wilson. He also played for the choir on international tours. After earning his bachelor’s degree at Mannes College of Music, he received both a master of music degree and an artist diploma in collaborative piano at the University of Michigan. Miller has participated in some of the country’s most prestigious festivals and young-artist apprenticeships, including the Tanglewood Institute of Music, Aspen Summer Music Festival, Cleveland’s Art Song Festival, San Francisco Opera’s Merola Opera Program, and the Washington National Opera and Glimmerglass Festival young-artist programs.
“WELCOME BACK” SONG SERIES SONG SERIES SPONSOR: ANN STUART, PHD JOHN HOLIDAY | APRIL 9, 2021 ARTIST BIOS
NEEKI BEY (Piano) A Dallas-based creative director for visuals and music, Neeki Bey has served as annual convention producer for audio, visual, and lighting, as well as audio producer for the Episcopal Diocese of Dallas; recital video producer for countertenor John Holiday at New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art (he has also worked with Holiday as show producer); regional talent buyer and show producer for Dallas’s Kessler Theater; show producer for a joint event with Southern Methodist University and the National Count on Foundations conference; music director for Ruined (2009 Pulitzer Prize winner) at Dallas’s Echo Theatre; show producer in a collaboration with the Trinity Commons Foundation and the city of Dallas for the opening of the Continental Bridge; group organizer and music director for Maddie & Tae, the top-selling female country- music duo; and show producer for Grammy-nominated R&B star Tamar Davis. Bey has also worked with the Houston Boychoir and Music World Entertainment (the home of Destiny’s Child). An alumnus of Morehouse College and Southern Methodist University, he also studied at the Vienna Institute for European Studies/ Vienna Conservatory of Music.
SONG SERIES SPONSOR: ANN STUART, PHD Season Sponsor: Nancy A. Nasher and David J. Haemisegger Family