The dramatic power of Benjamin Britten’s “Turn of the Screw” will take center stage as the Western New York Chamber Orchestra presents two performances of the staged concert opera.
The first performance will be Friday, March 26 at 8 p.m. at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, 1080 Main Street, Buffalo and the second will be Tuesday, March 30 at 8 p.m. in King Concert Hall at the State University of New York at Fredonia.
“Turn of the Screw” is based on a Henry James novel of the same title and is regarded by many as a masterpiece of 20th Century opera. It tells the tale of a governess who must protect two young children from supernatural forces at an isolated country estate in 19th century England. Britten uses his unique compositional style to set a mysterious mood, highlighting main elements of the novel, with special emphasis on the emotional qualities of each character.
Julie Newell, professor of voice and opera at the SUNY Fredonia School of Music, will serve as the production coordinator and stage director, while the orchestra will be under the direction of Maestro Glen Cortese.
Ms. Newell, who is also the production administrator for the Hillman Opera, is well-known to local opera audiences.
She has appeared on numerous occasions with the former Greater Buffalo Opera in roles including Pamina in “The Magic Flute,” Micaela in “Carmen” and Berta in “The Barber of Seville.” Ms. Newell has also been a frequent guest soloist with the Buffalo Philharmonic under the baton of Maximiano Valdes and Arie Lipsky.
Originally formed 26 years ago as the Fredonia Chamber Players, the Western New York Chamber Orchestra is comprised of professional musicians from an area ranging from Buffalo and Niagara Falls, N.Y. to Erie, Pa. It is an ensemble in residence at SUNY Fredonia and has collaborated with singers from the SUNY Fredonia School of Music in operatic events on a number of occasions.
Highlights of these collaborative efforts include “The Abduction of Figaro,” written by Peter Schickele (who personally narrated the WNYCO performance) and Gian-Carlo Menotti’s opera “Amahl and the Night Visitors,” which was performed at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church as part of the orchestra’s residency there.
The orchestra has hosted world-renowned artists including Sharon Robinson, Lauren Flanigan and Grammy-award winner Sharon Isbin.
Tickets for the Buffalo performance are available through the WNYCO office by phone at 716-673-3463.
Tickets for the Fredonia performance are available through the SUNY Fredonia Ticket Office in the Williams Center, 716-673-3501(1-866-441-4928) or online at .
