The Western New York Chamber Orchestra will present the third program in its classics series, “Song of the Earth,” featuring a world premier arrangement of Mahler’s beloved work, “Das Lied Von Der Erde, on Sunday, Feb. 9 at 4 p.m. in Rosch Recital Hall at SUNY Fredonia.
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Heldentenor Marc Deaton |
Guest vocal soloists will include Canadian mezzo soprano Lynne McMurtry and American Heldentenor Marc Deaton. The new truly “chamber” arrangement of the Mahler is the second arrangement of the work created by WNYCO Music Director and Conductor Glen Cortese. Mr. Cortese also arranged the work for chamber orchestra, and it has been receiving rave reviews in European concert halls. Highlighted instrumentalists will include SUNY Fredonia School of Music faculty members Maureen Yuen, violin; Dr. Susan Royal, flute, Dr. Sarah Hamilton, oboe; Elizabeth Widzinski, clarinet; Dr. Marc Guy, French horn; Sonja Inglefield, harp; and Dr. Kay Stonefelt and Matt Wilson, percussion, as well as other principal members Gretchen Fisher, violin; Brian Walnicki, viola; Bryan Eckenrode, cello; Kristen Pomietlarz, bassoon, and James Mohney, bass.
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Mezzo soprano Lynne McMurtry |
Both vocal soloists for this concert are highly acclaimed international artists. Ms. McMurtry, a visiting assistant professor of voice at the SUNY Fredonia School of Music, boasts performance credits with the Boston Symphony, Tanglewood, Banff, Ravinia, and Aldeburgh music festivals, as well as numerous major operatic roles. Also devoted to the art of song literature, she has been hailed by the Toronto Star as “a force of nature.” With her multi-faceted 2004 performance in Tapestry New Works’ Opera Works, “Opera to Go,” Ms. McMurtry reached wide acclaim in her CBC broadcast performance.
Heldentenor Deaton returns to the U.S. from his home in Europe where he is amongst the most sought after “Wagnerian” tenors of today. He has appeared in major opera houses throughout Europe in famous heroic roles including Siegfried, Parsifal, Lohengrin, and as Tristan – including a recording of “Tristan und Isolde,” under the baton of Maestro Cortese. Other operatic roles include Samson, Calaf in “Turandot,” and Canio in, “I Pagilacci.” Also a champion of contemporary opera, Mr. Deaton has met with great success in Berg’s “Wozzeck” and Schoenberg’s, “Moses und Aron,” as well as in numerous Benjamin Britten operas including, “The Turn of the Screw,” “Peter Grimes,” and “The Rape of Lucretia.”
WNYCO is a professional ensemble-in residence at SUNY Fredonia and is funded in part by the New York State Council on the Arts, the United Arts Appeal of Chautauqua County and the Friends of Rockefeller Arts Center. Tickets for the concert are available at the door or by calling the SUNY Fredonia Ticket Office at 716-673-3501. Additional information on the orchestra and its activities may be found at its website www.wnyco.org.
