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Home , Diana Damrau, Isabel Leonard

h o s t e d b y ISABEL LEONARD f e a t u r i n g v i s u a l a r t i s t N I S S A N E N G E L

1. "HABENERA"...... GEORGES BIZET (1838-1875) FROM CARMEN

J'NAI BRIDGES, MEZZ0-SOPRANO KEVIN MILLER, PIANIST

DEDICATED TO JOANN - CENTERREACH, NY - NORTHWELL HEALTH

2. "LARGO AL FACTOTUM"...... GIOACHINO ROSSINI (1792-1868) FROM IL BARBIERE DI SIVIGLIA LIBRETTO: CESARE STERBINI

WILL LIVERMAN, JESSIE PHILBRICK, DANCER KEVIN MILLER, PIANIST

DEDICATED TO DONALD - SEA BRIGHT, NJ - HACKENSACK MERIDIAN HEALTHCARE

3. INSPIRED BY “ADALGISA'S ARIA"...... (1801-1835) FROM NORMA LIRBRETTO: FELICE ROMANI ARRANGED BY TODD REYNOLDS

SIMONA GENGA, MEZZO-SOPRANO TODD REYNOLDS, ARRANGER/COMPOSER/VIOLINIST

DEDICATED TO KEVIN - SNOHOMISH, WA - WALMART

4. "AH! DOUCE ENFANT"...... JULES MASSENET (1842-1912) FROM CENDRILLON LIRBRETTO: HENRI CAÏN

BRANDIE SUTTON, SOPRANO KEVIN MILLER, PIANIST

DEDICATED TO CINDY & DANA - WASHINGTON, DC - CHILDREN'S NATIONAL HOSPITAL

5. "THE HARMONIOUS BLACKSMITH"...... GEORGE F. HANDEL (1685-1759) FROM SUITE NO. 5 IN E MAJOR (HWV 430)

ANDREW ROSENBLUM, HARPISCHORD JENNIFER MABUS, DANCER

DEDICATED TO ELIZABETH - LIBERTYVILLE, IL - AURORA HEALTHCARE

6. "THE ALCOTTS"...... CHARLES IVES (1874-1954) FROM CONCORD SONATA

DARREN CREECH, PIANIST

DEDICATED TO TAYLOR - PITTSBURGH, PA - JEFFERSON REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER

7. "O LORD WHOSE MERCIES NUMBERLESS"...... G.F. HANDEL (1685-1759) FROM SAUL LIBRETTO: CHARLES JENNENS

ARYEH NUSSBAUM COHEN, COUNTERTENOR KEVIN MILLER, PIANIST BRANDON FINK, DANCER

DEDICATED TO NANCY - DAMASCUS, MD - SHADY GROVE ADVENTIST HOSPITAL

8. "O, MIMÌ TU PIÙ NON TORNI!"...... (1858-1924) FROM LA BOHÈME LIBRETTO: LUIGI ILLICA & GUISEPPE GIACOSA

GALEANO SALAS, TENOR SEAN MICHAEL PLUMB, BARITONE DONALD WAGES, PIANO

DEDICATED TO BRENDAN - OLNEY, MD - SANDY SPRING VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT

SPECIAL DEDICATION BY DUŠICA BIJELIĆ "THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN ART AND MUSIC EMBODIED IN DANIEL FERRO AND NISSAN ENGEL"

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IMPROVISATORY PERFORMANCE BY TRANSITORY SOUND AND MOVEMENT COLLECTIVE FEATURING LYNN LANE, JENNIFER MABUS, AB IGAIL FISCHER, AND FEDERICO DE MICHELIS ARTIST BIOS

ISABEL LEONARD - HOST

Multiple Grammy Award-winning Isabel Leonard continues to thrill audiences both in the opera house and concert stage. She has graced the stages of the , Paris Opera, , , , Glyndebourne Festival, Aix-en- Provence, , Lyric Opera of Chicago, , Los Angeles Opera and appeared with several foremost conductors of her time: Seiji Ozawa, Antonio Pappano, Charles Dutoit, Gustavo Dudamel, Esa-Pekka Salonen, Yannick Nézét-Seguin, Franz Welser-Möst, Plácido Domingo, Valery Gergiev, Edward Gardner, , Edo de Waart, James Conlon, Marin Alsop, Sir Andrew Davis, Michele Mariotti, Harry Bicket, Andris Nelsons, and with the Vienna Philharmonic, Cleveland Orchestra, Chicago Symphony Orchestra, NY Philharmonic, LA Philharmonic, Boston Symphony Orchestra, and SF Symphony.

DUŠICA BIJELIĆ- SOPRANO

In 2019, Dusica Bijelic joined the Ensemble in Bielefeld Theater (Germany) where she’s singing the major roles of Contessa (le Nozze di Figaro), Marguerite (Faust). She performed at House Covent Garden, Madrid Teatro Real, Trieste Teatro Verdi, Aix en Provence Festival, Wildbad Rossini Festival, New York Carnehie Hall, Alice Tally Hall, Morgan Library, HNK Osijek, Madlenijanum, Belgrade National Theatre. She worked with well-acclaimed music directors such as: Antonio Pappano, Marco Armiliato, Simon Rattle, Semyon Bychkov, Nicola Luisotti, and Daniel Oren. She has worked with directors Laurent Pelly, David McVicar, Daniele Abbado, Nicolas Joël, Stephen Langridge, Fabio Sparvoli, and Ira Siff.

J’NAI BRIDGES - MEZZO SOPRANO

J’Nai Bridges, known for her “plush-voiced mezzo-soprano” (The New York Times), has been heralded as “a rising star” (Los Angeles Times), gracing the world’s top stages. Her 2019-2020 operatic engagements in the U.S. this season include her debut at The Metropolitan Opera, singing the role of Nefertiti in Philip Glass’ opera Akhnaten, and her house and role debut at Washington National Opera performing Dalila in Samson et Dalila. Bridges will sing the title role of Carmen for the first time in Europe at the Dutch National Opera and will make her debut with the Festival d’Aix-en-provence singing Margret in a new production of Wozzeck, conducted by Sir Simon Rattle.

ARYEH NUSSBAUM COHEN - COUNTERTENOR

Acclaimed as a “young star” and “complete artist” by The New York Times and "extravagantly gifted” by the San Francisco Chronicle, American countertenor Aryeh Nussbaum Cohen is one of classical music's most promising rising stars. His competition wins include the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions, the Dallas Opera Guild Vocal Competition, the Houston Grand Opera Eleanor McCollum Competition, and prizes from Operalia, the Richard Tucker Music Foundation, and the George London Foundation. Performance credits include San Francisco Opera, Houston Grand Opera, , San Francisco Symphony, Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra, and Opéra Royal de Versailles.

DARREN CREECH - PIANIST

An innovative artist, queer classical pianist Darren Creech “shows his belief in a new potential for the classical concert stage” (CBC Music). “Carving a niche as the only queer classical pianist to fiercely highlight his identity on stage” (National Sawdust Log), Darren has performed across Canada, and is now performing out of his living room in Toronto. Most recently, Darren is featured on Owen Pallett’s film score for NEON’s documentary “Spaceship Earth.” You can follow his glittery adventures on instagram @queerpianist or his website: darrencreech.com

FEDERICO DE MICHELIS - BASS-BARITONE/GUITARIST (TRANSITORY SOUND AND MOVEMENT COLLECTIVE)

Argentinian bass-baritone Federico De Michelis, whom praised as “singing with a deep-voiced authority,” is a recent graduate of the Houston Grand Opera Studio. He was previously a member of the Opera Studio of Teatro Argentino de La Plata, as well as a student at the Escuela Superior de Música Reina Sofía in Madrid. In the current season, Federico De Michelis will make a house and role debut as Leporello in with Florida Grand Opera, sing Colline in La Bohème with Seattle Opera, and return to Houston Grand Opera for Balthazar in La favorite. Orchestral highlights include the with the North Carolina Symphony. NISSAN ENGEL - VISUAL ARTIST (1931-2016)

Israeli born painter and collage maker, Nissan Engel, began his career as a figurative painter and a set and costume designer. He was influenced early on by a broad range of work from conceptual art to the abstractions and “Pop” styling of the mid-60’s. After discovering his affinity for collage-making and living in New York for several years, Mr. Engel moved to Paris and continued his experimentation with collage, incorporating other media into his works. The result was an individualistic blending of a variety of media, with music as a predominant theme. His work has been featured at exhibitions throughout the world before his death, including at the Muscarelle Museum of Art, and “La Maison Française” at the French Embassy in D.C. His work “Opera” comprises the six original etchings featured on this program.

BRANDON FINK - DANCER (THE BIG MUDDY DANCE COMPANY)

Brandon Fink is a native of Oklahoma and received his BFA in Dance Performance from the University of Central Oklahoma. He danced with MADCO (2011-2016), The Muny (2016), Variety Theatre (2017-2018), and Opera Theatre of St. Louis (2018), and The Big Muddy Dance Company (2016-present). His choreography has been presented at UMSL, UCO, FAU, ACDFA, the Oklahoma Contemporary Dance Festival, The Big Muddy Dance Company, and MADCO. Brandon is currently serving as the Artistic Director of La Voûte Performance Ensemble.

ABIGAIL FISCHER - SOPRANO/SOUND ARTIST (TRANSITORY SOUND AND MOVEMENT COLLECTIVE)

Versatile soprano Abigail Fischer has made a vibrant career starring in contemporary operas such as Missy Mazzoli's Song from the Uproar and Du Yun's 2017 Pulitzer Prize-winning Angel's Bone, as well as in more classic operas such as Dido and Aeneas, Carmen and Cenerentola, with companies such as Los Angeles Opera, Chautauqua Opera and Cincinnati Opera. Through her work with A big AUM, Abigail has been offering sound meditation and meditative singing as a way to look within for truth, healing, and purpose. SIMONA GENGA - MEZZO SOPRANO

Simona recently graduated from the Canadian Opera Company's Studio Ensemble after receiving the First Prize and Audience Choice Awards at the 2017 COC Centre Stage Competition. Simona has sung with Opera Theatre of Saint Louis, the Ravinia Steans Music Institute, the Elora Festival, the Franz Schubert Institut and is listed in CBC’s 2018 “Top 30 under 30”. Simona is a proud recipient of the 2019 Career Development Grant from the Sullivan Foundation, the Norcop Recital Prize and the Ruby Mercer Award. She was working on the High Priestess for the COC’s Aida when COVID-19 began and is honoured to be part of the Lean on Me Concert Series presented by The OmniArts Foundation.

LYNN LANE - ARTISTIC DIRECTOR/SOUND ARTIST (TRANSITORY SOUND AND MOVEMENT COLLECTIVE)

Lynn Lane, the Founder/Artistic Director of the Transitory Sound and Movement Collective, is an intermedia artist living in Houston, Texas. His work has been featured/commissioned in various museums, galleries, and festivals both nationally and internationally including the Contemporary Arts Museum Houston, Museum of Modern Art Fort Worth, The Blaffer Museum, and the Asia Society of Texas. In addition to his work with the TSMC, he is also the official photographer for the Houston Grand Opera and the Alley Theatre.

WILL LIVERMAN - BARITONE

Called “one of the most versatile singing artists performing today” ( Bachtrack), baritone Will Liverman is a recipient of a 2019 Richard Tucker Career Grant and Sphinx Medal of Excellence. In 2020, Liverman was named as the recipient of the Marian Anderson Award. Performance highlights include his return to the Metropolitan Opera as Papageno in its holiday production of , in addition to Philip Glass’ Akhnaten (Horemhab).

JENNIFER MABUS - DANCER (TRANSITORY SOUND AND MOVEMENT COLLECTIVE)

JENNIFER MABUS has performed internationally as a soloist for Robert Battle’s Battleworks, as well as for Amy Marshall Dance Company, Heidi Latsky, Takehiro Ueyama, Bruce Wood Dance Project, Noble Motion Dance, and Dark Circles Contemporary Dance. She has presented her own emotionally evocative work through nationally recognized festivals, dance companies and universities. Currently, Mabus co-creates and performs multi-media work with the Transitory Sound and Movement Collective, and she is the Dance Program Director at the University of St. Thomas, Houston.

KEVIN MILLER - PIANIST

American pianist and collaborator Kevin J. Miller is acclaimed for his dynamically artful performances. Recent collaborations include recitals with international tenor at Carnegie Hall and Houston Grand Opera, countertenor John Holiday at the Kennedy Center and The Barbican in London, Joseph Calleja and Nadine Sierra at the Supreme Court of the United States, as well as an appearance with Mr. Calleja on NPR’s Tiny Desk Concert series. Mr. Miller prepared soprano Jessye Norman for performances of Laura Karpman’s production of Ask Your Mama, which was performed at Carnegie Hall. He can be heard on piano on the recording Been in da Storm So Long, which features baritone Kenneth Overton.

JESSIE PHILBRICK - DANCER (THE BIG MUDDY DANCE COMPANY)

Jessie Philbrick is from the Chicago area, where she began her formal dancetraining and discovered her passion. After high school, Jessie majored in Dance Pedagogy atButler University, where she danced feature roles in classical and contemporary productions. AtButler Jessie began showcasing her own work, including a thesis where she presented a collaborative work with actors and dancers. Jessie now lives in St Louis, where she teaches, choreographs, and performs with The Big Muddy Dance Company.

SEAN MICHAEL PLUMB - BARITONE

Hailed for his “full, exciting lyric baritone” (Opera News) and “elegant lyricism and responsive musicality” (The New York Times), 27-year-old Sean Michael Plumb returns to the Ensemble of the Bayerische Staatsoper in the 2019-20 season to sing Figaro in Il barbiere di Siviglia, Papageno in Die Zauberflöte, Schaunard in La bohème, Apollon in Alceste, Jake Wallace in La fanciulla del West, and Harlekin in on a company tour to Asia. He also makes a debut at The Dallas Opera as Papageno in Die Zauberflöte conducted by Music Director .

TODD REYNOLDS - PRODUCER/ARRANGER/VIOLINIST

Todd Reynolds is one of the founding fathers of the hybrid-musician movement and one of the most active and versatile proponents of what he calls ‘present music’. For years the violinist of choice for Steve Reich, Meredith Monk, Bang on a Can, and a founder of the string quartet known as Ethel, his compositional and performance style is a hybrid of old and new technology, multi-disciplinary aesthetic and pan-genre composition and improvisation. His double-disc debut album Outerborough was released in 2011 on the Innova label. He is on faculty at the Manhattan School of Music, The New School, and the Bang on a Can Summer Institute, and travels to teach at universities and colleges around the world, though currently only virtually.

ANDREW ROSENBLUM - PIANIST/HARPSICHORDIST

ANDREW ROSENBLUM enjoys a multifaceted career as a harpsichordist and pianist. He won 2nd Prize in the harpsichord categories of the Leipzig International Bach Competition and the Prague Spring International Music Competition, and has soloed with Leipziger Barockorchester and Collegium 1704. Rosenblum has performed at Carnegie Hall, Alice Tully Hall, and the Kennedy Center, and has been a keyboard staff/faculty member of the Chicago Symphony Chorus, Lyric Opera of Chicago, Cleveland Orchestra Chorus, Cleveland Institute of Music, and Heifetz International Music Institute. GALEANO SALAS - TENOR

Mexican-American tenor Galeano Salas is currently an ensemble member of the Bavarian State Opera in Munich Germany where he has performed roles like Rinuccio in Gianni Schicchi and Alfred in . Upcoming roles in Munich include Nemorino in Donizetti's L'elisir d'amore and the Italian Singer in a new production of ' . Outside of the BSO, Galeano recently performed Rodolfo in Cape Town Opera's production of La boheme and the Duke of Mantua in Verdi's with the Hungarian State Opera. Galeano has had the rare privilege of singing with some of the greatest opera stars like , Gerald Finley, Diana Damrau and our lovely host Isabel Leonard.

BRANDIE SUTTON - SOPRANO

Brandie Inez Sutton, soprano, has performed most recently with Opera Maine, Richmond Symphony Orchestra, South Florida Symphony Orchestra, Seattle Opera, and made her highly anticipated Metropolitan Opera debut as Clara in Porgy and Bess. She was in the middle of a production with Opera Birmingham to perform her favorite role La Fée in Massanet's Cendrillon, when life changed to a new normal. If all goes as planned, this fall she will debut at Theater an der Wien, Lyric Opera of Kansas City, and with the Oregon Symphony/Resonance Ensemble in the world premiere of African American .

DONALD WAGES - PIANIST

Donald Wages' career as a pianist and assistant conductor has been closely tied to his 33 year association with the Bavarian State Opera in Munich. Donald has been head of the music staff there for 14 years under Kent Nagano and Kirill Petrenko. Prior to that he was an assistant to and has coached and accompanied most leading singers and conductors of our generation. He has been a guest of the for seven seasons, worked at the Salzburger Festspiele and Opéra National de Paris, accompanied and assisted in recitals, recordings and productions for NHK Tokyo, Orchestre Symphonique de Montréal as well as many other theaters, orchestras and singers around the world. THANK YOU

This program is made possible by generous support from our audience and organizations dedicated to the livelihood of artists.

w i t h s u p p o r t f r o m

First Responders Children’s Foundation The Daniel Ferro Vocal Program Grafton Systems Group The Violin Channel Texas Oncology The MIC Greater Baltimore Medical Center City Lyric Opera Project: Music Heals Us The Salvatones Opera in the heights The Big Muddy Dance Company Insignia Artists Bang On A Can The American Opera Project Black Opera Finger Lakes Opera Ars Lyrica Houston a n d o u r A r t i s t A n g e l s

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