The Western New York Chamber Orchestra will open its 2020-21 season with a live stream-only event from Westminster Presbyterian Church of Buffalo featuring Fredonia School of Music faculty member Brent Weber as the soloist.
WNYCO, under the direction of Conductor Glen Cortese, presents “Classics No. 1” on Friday, Oct. 16, at 7:30 p.m. Viewers should go to the season tab online for a link to the live stream event. Although the event is free, organizers hope that viewers will consider a donation to the group.
Mr. Weber, an adjunct lecturer in Voice/Music Performance, is the featured soloist in a program including Mendelssohn’s Sinfonia No.10 in B minor, Mahler’s “Songs of the Wayfarer” and Copland’s “Old American Songs.”
A Fredonia voice faculty member since 2013, Weber teaches Applied Voice, Opera Seminar, Opera History and has stage directed many productions including “The Merry Widow” for the Hillman Opera He was also the stage director for Rockefeller’s 2019 Commencement Eve Pops presentation of “My Fair Lady in Concert.”
As an operatic tenor, Weber has performed many roles. His favorites include the Duke in “Rigoletto,” Pinkerton in “Madame Butterfly,” Tamino in “The Magic Flute” and Rodolfo in “La Bohème.” His Broadway credits include the Encores Great American Musicals premiere production of “Fiorello,” as well as “Call Me Madame” and “Lady in the Dark” at City Center. For three years he performed the role of Piangi in “The Phantom of the Opera” with Livent National Company of Canada.