Glimmerglass Opera’s Young American Artists to perform at Syracuse University May 5

Glimmerglass Opera’s Young American Artiststo perform at Syracuse University May 5May 01, 2003Judy Holmesjlholmes@syr.edu

Syracuse University’s Rose, Jules R. and Stanford S. Setnor School of Music, College of Visual and Performing Arts will host the Glimmerglass Opera’s acclaimed Young American Artists Program “OperaPops” concert May 5 at 8 p.m. in the Setnor Auditorium in the University’s Crouse College. The concert is free and open to the public.

The SU concert is one of a series of 17 concerts the Young American Artists will perform across New York State during a three-week tour from April 19-May 10. The programs will feature excerpts from the opera company’s 2003 Festival Season, including semi-staged arias and ensembles from Handel’s “Orlando,” Mozart’s “Don Giovanni,” Offenbach’s “Bluebeard,” and Kurka’s “The Good Soldier Schweik.” The excerpts will be performed by sopranos Reyna Carguill and Dara Rahming, mezzo-sopranos Emily Johnson and Maia Surace, tenors Keith Hudspeth and Phumzile Sojola, and baritones Jonathan Carle and Michael Rice. David Lefkowich is the stage director, and Maria Vassilev will be the piano accompanist.

“Anyone who has been to Glimmerglass knows that they do some of the finest opera productions anywhere,” says Joseph Downing, associate dean and director of the Setnor School of Music. “The Setnor School of Music is proud to have the Young American Artists perform in the school’s historic auditorium, and we look forward to an enthusiastic audience enjoying excellent opera!”

Says Joanne Cossa, general director of Glimerglass Opera: “We are greatly looking forward to our annual spring tour of New York State. These concerts, most of them free and open to the public, are a pleasure to give and for several years have been warmly received by audiences of all ages throughout the state. The concerts also offer a glimpse of the coming season at the Glimmerglass Opera House, in spirited performances by talented members of our Young American Artists Program.”

In addition to Syracuse, the Young Artists will perform public concerts in Buffalo, Cooperstown, Corning, Gloversville, Ithaca, Norwich, Oneonta, Rochester and Utica. For information about individual concerts, visit the Glimmerglass Opera Web site at www.glimmerglass.org or call 607-547-5704.

The 2003 OperaPops tour has been made possible in part through the generosity of Corning, Inc., the National Endowment for the Arts, Procter & Gamble Fund, Bassett Healthcare, Cecilia Brancato, Walter Rich and the Delaware Otsego Corporation.

The Young American Artists Program was established at Glimmerglass Opera in 1988 to promote an artistically challenging environment for young American performers. Under the guidance of Music Director Stewart Robertson, the program provides training and performance experience for talented singers at the beginning of their professional careers. In addition to rehearsing and performing, Young Artists receive musical coaching, attend classes in diction and acting, and participate in master classes presented by distinguished artists. The Young Artists are also given instruction in such non-performing skills as audition techniques, role preparation and the business aspects of managing a career.