2019-2020 Season
September 15
Evidence of Things Not Seen: Florestan remounts their performance of Evidence of Things Not Seen, Ned Rorem’s stunning evening-length ensemble song cycle. Florestan worked directly with Ned Rorem to give the Boston premiere of the piece in 2003.
Evidence is the fulfillment of Rorem’s longtime dream of an “Art of the Song.” It is a beautiful and profound tour through a life fully lived, with an excellent selection of English-language texts to express the journey through innocence and youth, love and love lost, the struggles with illness and loss, and, finally, the wisdom and reconciliation that can come with age and death.
This free concert event was live streamed: fredonia.edu/music/live
Artists:
Aaron Engebreth, baritone
Martha Guth, soprano[https://www.marthaguth.com/]
Joe Dan Harper, tenor [https://www.fredonia.edu/academics/colleges-schools/school-music/music/faculty/JoeDan-Harper]
Lynne McMurtry, contralto [http://www.lynnemcmurtrycontralto.com/]
Alison d’Amato & Anne Kissel, pianists [https://www.fredonia.edu/academics/colleges-schools/school-music/music/faculty/Anne-Kissel]
February 10
Rediscovering Marcel Tyberg: an ensemble performance of Tyberg’s Liederzyklus aus Heinrich Heine’s Lyrischem Intermezzo. This performance features Florestan co-director Alison d’Amato in collaboration with graduate and undergraduate voice majors from the Eastman School of Music, chosen by their teachers. Christina Balsam Curren provided in-depth German coaching, and created the English translations.
Marcel Tyberg (1893–1944) was an accomplished composer, conductor and pianist. His eclectic compositional style embraced popular dance music as well as enormous symphonies on the scale of Mahler. Unfortunately, due to the conditions of World War II, Tyberg, only 1/16th Jewish, was deported to Auschwitz and died there. Florestan presents these songs with the permission of the Foundation for Jewish Philanthropies (Buffalo, NY) and the Marcel Tyberg Legacy Committee.
February 22-27
Residency, Schumann’s Myrthen at Concordia University. Students in the Advanced Vocal Performance class collaborate on Robert Schumann's Myrthen lieder, a special residency project mentored by Alison d'Amato.
The residency gives students an in-depth experience of Romantic lieder through individualized staging and genre contextualization.
May 27—Postponed due to COVID-19
songSLAM Buffalo: The Sparks & Wiry Cries songSLAM, in partnership with The Buffalo Chamber Players and Florestan Recital Project, is a unique opportunity for composer/performer teams to premiere new art songs and compete for cash prizes. This social event will take place at Asbury Hall, Babeville, on Wednesday, May 27th, 2020 @ 7pm, and will be hosted by WNED’s Peter Hall.
