The National Philharmonic Presents Verdi s Requiem at Music Center at Strathmore

Transcription

1 The National Philharmonic Music Center at Strathmore 5301Tuckerman Lane North Bethesda, MD T F FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Deborah Birnbaum , ext. 118 deborah@nationalphilharmonic.org The National Philharmonic Presents Verdi s Requiem at Music Center at Strathmore North Bethesda, MD, Oct. 17, 2013 In celebration of the 200 th anniversary of Verdi s birth, the National Philharmonic Chorale and Orchestra, led by Artistic Director Stan Engebretson, will present the composer s powerful and timeless Requiem on Saturday, November 23 at 8 pm at the Music Center at Strathmore. In addition to the nearly 200 voice all-volunteer chorale, the concert will feature soloists Arianna Zukerman (soprano); Margaret Mezzacappa (mezzo-soprano); William Davenport (tenor); and Kevin Deas (bass). For a composition that fell out of the regular repertory not long after its premier in 1874 until almost 30 year later, Verdi s Requiem has since become one of the most frequently performed and easily recognizable works in classical music. Giuseppe Fortunino Francesco Verdi ( ) was born the son of a village grocer/innkeeper in the tiny village of Roncole, but he died as one of the world s most celebrated opera composers. The first performance of the Requiem took place in 1874 at St. Mark s Church in Milan and three days later a second performance at La Scala Opera House was played to a capacity crowd met with exuberance and enthusiasm. The Requiem was a sensation and was played not long after in a number of European venues. The Verdi Requiem has a history of famous performances, including what has been called The Defiant Requiem, performed at the Terezin concentration camp in Nazi-occupied Czechoslavakia during World War II. In a Nazi propaganda effort, a film was made to

2 The National Philharmonic Presents the Verdi Requiem at Strathmore pg. 2 show how humanely the Jews were being treated. Equipped with only one score, 150 inmates gave 16 performances of the Requiem to sing to the Nazis what we cannot say to them. Although they had experienced the depth of human degradation, many singers wrote that the music was life-affirming and gave them a reason to fight for their survival. Their performances symbolized resistance and defiance. More recently, the Requiem has been staged in performances where the four soloists were symbolic of varied life and death situations: The Fukishima nuclear disaster, the imprisonment of a Turkish writer and an aid worker in Africa. About the Soloists Renowned for her pure, luminous, rich soprano, persuasive performances and dramatic ability, Arianna Zukerman is considered one of the premiere vocal artists of her generation. An international artist in demand for concert and opera performances, Ms. Zukerman is also an avid chamber musician, and regularly collaborates with some of today s foremost chamber players. With a focus on concert repertoire, Ms. Zukerman s upcoming engagements take her to the United Kingdom, where she makes her Royal Festival Hall debut in a three-city tour of the UK with the Royal Philharmonic, and Canada for a re-engagement with the National Arts Centre Orchestra. In the United States, she can be heard in performances in Illinois, New Hampshire, Washington, and South Carolina. Ms. Zukerman is the featured soloist in the critically acclaimed 2013 Naxos recording of James Whitbourn s oratorio, Annelies, the first major choral setting of Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl. A third year resident artist at the Academy of Vocal Arts in Philadelphia, mezzo-soprano Margaret Mezzacappa received a B.M. in music performance from Baldwin-Wallace College Conservatory of Music. Since 2008, the Euclid, Ohio native has won numerous awards including the George London Award, George London Foundation Vocal Competition, 2012; Regional Winner, Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions (Middle Atlantic), 2012; Fourth Prize, Giulio Gari Foundation International Vocal Competition, 2011; Top Prize, Licia Albanese-Puccini Foundation International Vocal Competition, 2011; Grant, Loeb Foundation, 2010; Winner, Giargiari Bel Canto Competition, 2009; among others. At AVA her roles have included Cuniza in Oberto,

3 The National Philharmonic Presents the Verdi Requiem at Strathmore pg. 3 Mother's Voice in Les Contes d'hoffmann, Adelaide in Arabella, La zia Principessa in Suor Angelica, Frugola in Il tabarro, Azucena in excerpts from Il trovatore, and Mistress Quickly in Falstaff. Tenor William Davenport is rapidly garnering attention for his strong yet lyric tenor and Italianate style. In a year of debuts, 2012 saw his first Duca di Mantua in Rigoletto performed with the Italian Opera Festival of Orange County, of which the Italian news reported, The biggest ovation, however, was for William Davenport. The young tenor demonstrated a huge vocal ability. Upcoming engagements for include Verdi Requiems with Austin Symphony and the National Philharmonic, the Tuscia Opera Festival in Viterbo, Italy; role debuts of Nemorino in L Elisir d Amore with the Baltimore Concert Opera. On the concert stage Mr. Davenport has performed as tenor soloist in Beethoven s Symphony No. 9 with Concert Artists of Baltimore; Dvorák s Mass in D with Columbia Pro Cantare,; and Puccini s Messa di Gloria at Peabody. A native of Maryland, Mr. Davenport completed studies at the Peabody Conservatory of Music under Dr. Stanley Cornett where he performed the roles of Des Grieux in Manon, Tamino in Die Zauberflöte and Alfredo in La Traviata. He is a First Place Winner of the Giargiari Bel Canto competition, Finalist of the Loren L. Zachary Society Competition, and Regional Finalist in the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions and has completed young artist programs with Chautauqua Opera, Glimmerglass Opera, and Songfest. He is currently a Resident Artist at the Academy of Vocal Arts in Philadelphia where he studies with Bill Schuman. American bass Kevin Deas is especially celebrated for his riveting portrayal of the title role in Porgy and Bess with the New York Philharmonic, National Symphony, St. Paul Chamber Orchestra, Philadelphia Orchestra, San Francisco, Atlanta, San Diego, Utah, Houston, Baltimore and Montreal Symphonies and at the Ravinia and Saratoga Festivals. His recent recordings include Die Meistersinger with the Chicago Symphony under the late Sir Georg Solti and Varèse s Ecuatorial with the ASKO Ensemble under Ricardo Chailly, both on Decca/London. Other releases include Bach s B minor Mass and Handel s Acis & Galatea on Vox Classics and Dave Brubeck s To Hope! with the Cathedral Choral Society on the Telarc label.

4 The National Philharmonic Presents the Verdi Requiem at Strathmore pg. 4 About National Philharmonic Chorale Artistic Director Stan Engebretson In demand throughout the United States and Europe, Dr. Stan Engebretson has led choirs in Venice s Cathedral of St. Mark and taught in Cologne, Trier, St. Moritz, and Barcelona. He has studied with the great masters of choral music, including Robert Shaw, Gregg Smith, Richard Westenburg, Roger Wagner and Eric Ericson. After attending the University of North Dakota and earning his Doctorate from Stanford University, Engebretson taught at the University of Texas and the University of Minnesota. He also was the Artistic Director of the Midland-Odessa Symphony Chorale and the Associate Conductor of the Minnesota Chorale. In Washington since 1990, Engebretson is Professor of Music and Director of Choral Studies at George Mason University and is the Director of Music at the historic New York Avenue Presbyterian Church. From , he was the Artistic Director of the predecessor to the National Philharmonic Chorale, the Masterworks Chorus and the semi-professional National Chamber Singers. Engebretson remains active in other areas, performing as a professional chorister and lecturer, and leading the Smithsonian Institution s Study Journeys at the Spoleto-USA Festival of the Arts. About the National Philharmonic Led by dynamic Music Director and Conductor Piotr Gajewski, the National Philharmonic is known for performances that are powerful, impeccable and thrilling (The Washington Post). The National Philharmonic boasts a long-standing tradition of reasonably priced tickets and free admission to all young people age 7-17, assuring its place as an accessible and enriching component in Montgomery County and the greater Washington, DC area. As the Music Center at Strathmore s ensemble-in-residence, the National Philharmonic showcases world-renowned guest artists in time-honored symphonic masterpieces conducted by Maestro Gajewski and monumental choral masterworks under National Philharmonic Chorale Artistic Director Stan Engebretson. The National Philharmonic also offers exceptional and unique education programs, such as the Summer Strings and Choral Institutes. Students accepted into the Summer String Institutes study privately with National Philharmonic musicians, participate in coached

5 The National Philharmonic Presents the Verdi Requiem at Strathmore pg. 5 chamber music and play in an orchestra conducted by Maestro Gajewski and Philharmonic Associate Conductor Victoria Gau. For more information, visit A free lecture will be offered at 6:45 pm on Saturday, November 23 in the Concert Hall at Strathmore. To purchase tickets to Verdi s Requiem on Saturday, Nov. 23, please visit nationalphilharmonic.org or call the Strathmore ticket office at (301) Tickets are $28-$84; kids 7-17 are FREE through the ALL KIDS, ALL FREE, ALL THE TIME program (sponsored by The Gazette). ALL KIDS tickets must be purchased in person or by phone. Parking is complimentary. Photo credit: The attached photo of soprano Arianna Zuckerman was taken by Tim Coburn. ###