Dear Friends,
Summer is here and I'm grateful to be working on such a wonderful project: Così fan tutte at Opera Saratoga (formerly Lake George Opera.) We have just what you need for a great Così : a cast of skilled soloists who are also collaborators, and a great director - David Lefkowich - who has managed to update the production to the early 2000's and make the most insensible, ridiculous opera plot perfectly believable and poignant. Maestro David Allen Miller who is new to opera (unbeknownst to me) makes great music with us all.
While here in beautiful Saratoga I had the opportunity to work with and teach the Young Artists. There is a great group of talent here and these young singers are working very hard to improve themselves while keeping up a rigorous performance schedule. Bravi!
I also had a wonderful opportunity to work with the young singers at the Seagle Music Colony. There I found an amazing assembly of young talent, ready to show their stuff and ready to learn, also while keeping a rigorous performance schedule (and sharing kitchen duty.) Thanks to Darren Keith Woods for inviting me up to see this special place and work with the special talent. (Also thanks for coming to see our Cosi. Not bad, eh?)
Also while in Saratoga I've had the luxury of a time and place to ride my bike. This year again I am training for the Pan Mass Challenge August 6-7. This event is taking on more meaning for me as more loved ones in my life have been diagnosed with cancer. We feel powerless to do something about it, but there is a way we can help. Please sponsor me in my 150 mile ride. No donation is too small. Thank you.
Labor Day weekend I return to Maverick Concerts, this time for a masterpiece by Othmar Schoeck. His Notturno for baritone and string quartet with the excellent Daedalus Quartet. September 4.
Later that month I head for the Alamo to sing my first Mercutio with San Antonio Opera. Performances are October 1 and 2.
From there I go back to New York City to return to one of my favorite places to sing: Steven Blier's appartment. The season opener for New York Festival of Song is a program entitled Songs for One and All: An Evening of Song Cycles and Vocal Quartets. October 22 at Vocal Arts DC and October 25 and 27 at Merkin Hall.
November is the time for auditions. There are so many directors and conductors who haven't hear me yet, and many more who have not heard me lately. Personally, I'll just share with all of you that I believe that what I'm doing has a place in this mad music scene and that I will find that place (or that place will find me.)
Many you, my friends have heard me say for years "I'm going to sing more baroque music." And the same many of you have watched me not do that. Well here is what I hope will be the beginning of a wonderful new addition to my musical life, my Boston Baroque debut. December 8 and 9 I will be singing their Messiah at Jordan Hall.
A final announcement: starting this fall I will be teaching voice at Brown University. I'm pleased with this for many reasons, mainly: - I have another outlet for my desire to teach - I get to work with brilliant students who are as devoted to their applied lessons (and sometimes moreso!) as music majors in major conservatories - I am free to continue my performing career.
*ADDENDUM - Due to a major oversight on my part, I forgot to mention that last month Donna Loewy and I just finished recording our second album together. The disc will be called "American Portraits" and feature song cycles by Tom Cipullo, Jake Heggie, Lori Laitman and Stephen Paulus. Release on the new GPR Records label will be at our next big recital, to be announced... For now I can tell you we are all very very pleased with the rough cuts.
As always, thank you for your interest and support.
- Andy
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