Florestan Recital Project joins Songfest

Florestan Recital Project is pleased to announce a new collaboration with Songfest in Malibu, CA. This summer, Florestan joins the Young Artist faculty to design and teach an energetic program of classes, coachings, and performances in all aspects of song collaboration, with a special focus on American repertoire.

The Young Artist program (ages 17-23) has grown steadily over the past few years, attracting talented young artists from major schools and conservatories across the country. This year, Florestan brings fresh vision and energy to the program with a stimulating schedule of classes, coachings, and performances that reflect a passion for song collaborations. The performance-oriented program will include a survey of poets and composers who have fostered the American song canon, complemented by a class in communicating songs and texts in English.Each class will explore a wide variety of American song, including compositions by living American composers. Florestan’s goal is to provide each student with a thorough understanding of American repertoire, as well as the tools for polished, expressive performing. In addition to attending several faculty concerts, the young artists will be featured in a public concert on July 6th, 2007.

Songfest also offers young artists an opera component during the second half of the program. Beginning with an introduction to Italian diction, the singers will engage in a variety of opera scenes staged by University of Colorado’s William Gustafson.  The performance, which takes place July 12th and 13th in the beautiful 500-seat Smothers Auditorium, is accompanied by a professional chamber ensemble and conducted by Kristof Van Gryspeer.

Songfest’s Young Artist’s program is a rare opportunity for young singers to immerse themselves in both song and opera, guided by committed faculty members in each field.