Friday, June 18, 2021 Bryant Park, New York, NY
NEW YORK CITY OPERA’S 3RD ANNUAL
in the Park CONCERT
Michael Capasso, Master of Ceremonies Kathryn Olander, Music Director and Pianist
featuring
Jessica Fishenfeld Lauren Hoffmeier Melanie Long Jordan Weatherston Pitts Brian James Myer Peter Kendall Clark
PROGRAM
La traviata Verdi Libiamo Jordan Weatherston Pitts Alfredo Jessica Fishenfeld Violetta
A Little Night Music Sondheim The Miller’s Son Melanie Long Petra
Carmen Bizet Gypsy song Brian James Myer Carmen
Get Happy/Happy Days Are Here Again Arlen/Koehler & Peter Kendall Clark Ager/Yellen Lauren Hoffmeier
Eugene Onegin Tchaikovsky Kuda, Kuda (Lensky’s Aria) Jordan Weatherston Pitts Lensky
Sunset Boulevard Webber/Rice As If We Never Said Goodbye Lauren Hoffmeier Norma Desmond
Falsettos Finn What Would I Do? Brian James Myer Malcom Peter Kendall Clark Ethan
West Side Story Bernstein/Sondheim Somewhere Melanie Long Consuelo
Candide Bernstein/Wilbur Glitter and be Gay Jessica Fishenfeld Cunégonde
Carousel Rodgers/Hammerstein You’ll Never Walk Alone Jordan Weatherston Pitts
Il Barbiere di Siviglia Rossini Largo al factotum Brian James Myer Figaro
The Baker's Wife Schwartz Meadowlark Lauren Hoffmeier Geneviève
La Cage aux Folles Herman I Am What I Am Peter Kendall Clark Albin
Stonewall Bell/Campbell Finale Jessica Fishenfeld Jordan Weatherston Pitts Melanie Long Brian James Myer
*Encore Over the Rainbow Arlen/Harburg Ensemble
BRYANT PARK SUMMER PICNIC PERFORMANCES NEW YORK CITY OPERA-SUMMER 2021 CARMEN July 2, 2021: Bryant Park Upper Terrace 7:00 pm – 8:15 pm Kathryn Olander, Music Director and Pianist CAST Carmen: Lisa Chavez Don José: Jason Karn Escamillo: Joshua Jeremiah Micaëla: Kristin Sampson Frasquita: Stacy Dove Mercédès: Kristee Haney Lillas Pastia: Bill Van Horn
NOW THAT’S WHAT I CALL OPERA! August 21, 2021: Bryant Park Upper Terrace 7:00 pm – 8:15 pm Kamal Khan, Music Director and Pianist CAST Lisa Chavez Adam Cioffari Kristin Sampson Victor Starsky
RIGOLETTO September 3, 2021: Bryant Park Upper Terrace 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm Constantine Orbelian, Conductor CAST Rigoletto: Michael Chioldi The Duke of Mantua: Won Whi Choi Gilda: Brandie Sutton Maddalena: Lisa Chavez Sparafucile: Kevin Short
ABOUT NEW YORK CITY OPERA Since its founding in 1943 by Mayor Fiorello LaGuardia as “The People’s Opera,” New York City Opera has been a critical part of the city’s cultural life. During its history, NYCO launched the careers of dozens of major artists and presented engaging productions of both mainstream and unusual operas alongside commissions and regional premieres. The result was a uniquely American opera company of international stature. Today, New York City Opera continues its legacy at a new, state-of-the-art home at the Rose Theater at Jazz at Lincoln Center and with revitalized outreach and education programs at venues throughout the city, designed to welcome and inspire a new generation of opera audiences. City Opera's acclaimed summer series in Bryant Park brings free performances to thousands of New Yorkers and visitors every year.
Coming soon THE GARDEN OF THE FINZI-CONTINIS January 2022 World Premiere opera by Ricky Ian Gordon and Michael Korie A co-production with NATIONAL YIDDISH THEATRE FOLKSBIENE
Based on Giorgio Bassani’s 1962 novel, (considered a modern classic which is also the basis for Vittorio De Sica’s 1970 film adaptation starring Dominique Sanda and Helmet Berger – a 1972 Academy Award winner for Best Foreign Language Film), THE GARDEN OF THE FINZI-CONTINIS is set on the eve of World War II and tells the story of an aristocratic Italian-Jewish family, the Finzi-Continis, who believe they will be immune to the changes happening around them.
ABOUT THE ARTISTS
Lauren Hoffmeier was raised in the heart of New York City with a performance background in opera and musical theatre, being hailed as “…a throwback to brass-lunged divas like Ethel Merman, with an alto belt that can stun at 20 paces,” (New York Post) for her performance as Cleo in The Most Happy Fella. She is the author of “Mula and the Fly,” a picture book series that provides parents and teachers with a soft introduction to yoga. The fun characters and engaging stories promote a happy and healthy lifestyle to encourage positive mental wellbeing during early development. In this brilliant world of oddballs and misfits, she aims to inspire positivity by encouraging an international mindset of joy and uniqueness. Find out more about Lauren at www.LaurenHoffmeier.com
Tenor Jordan Weatherston Pitts made his principal artist debut to critical acclaim as the drag queen Renata in Iain Bell and Mark Campbell’s world premiere of Stonewall with New York City Opera and continues an active performance schedule of romantic and lyric repertoire. His most recent roles include the cover of Romeo in Gounod’s Romeo et Juliette with the Hawaii Opera Theatre, a cover of The Magician (Nika Magadoff) in Menotti’s The Consul with Opera Saratoga, Don Ottavio in Don Giovanni, Achille in La Belle Helene, Rinuccio in Gianni Schicchi, Alfredo in La traviata, Younger Thompson (Cover) in Tom Cipullo's Glory Denied, Goro in Madama Butterfly, and MacDuff in Verdi's Macbeth. www.jordanwpitts.com
ARTISTIC STAFF Recently hailed by Opera News for her “impressive playing,” Kathryn Olander is a frequent assistant conductor/pianist with New York City Opera as well as many regional opera houses. In addition to coaching privately she has held coaching positions with the Juilliard School of Music, Manhattan School of Music, and Chautauqua Institute. An avid recitalist, highlights include performances at Carnegie Hall’s Weill Hall and Zankel Hall, The Appel Room at Jazz at Lincoln Center, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Bryant Park's concert series, the Hungarian Consulate of New York and the Polish Consulate of New York, and Bechstein Hall. Ms. Olander is a regular pianist with Reaching for the Arts and Opportunity Music Project, specializing in bringing music to underserved communities and Creative Stage. Ms. Olander began teaching piano at Northeastern University while earning her Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance at New England Conservatory and has since maintained a studio of private piano students.