Lyric Fest’s 2015/16 Season
Waxing Poetic – “In This Blue Room” by Kile Smith
Sunday, September 27, 2015 at 4pm in PITTSBURGH
“Lyric Fest West” in Pittsburgh to open the new “Music and the Arts Series” at Shadyside Presbyterian Church in Pittsburgh. With Suzanne DuPlantis, mezzo soprano, Daniel Teadt, Laura Ward, piano.
La Dolce Vita
Friday, October 2, 2015 at 7:30 (Suburban venue TBA)
Sunday, October 4, 2015 at 3pm at The Academy of Vocal Arts
A breezy program of Italian favorites and little known gems celebrating the sweet things in life: Rossini quartets, Songs of Verdi, Respighi, Bellini and Puccini, Hahn, Neapolitan song, Opera and more. With Jennifer Aylmer, Suzanne DuPlantis, Eric Rieger, Randall Scarlata with Laura Ward at the piano.
THE RAVEN – A Poe Fest (A Co-production with Dumbarton Concerts in Washington, DC)
Saturday, November 7, 2015, 8:00pm at Dumbarton Concerts, Washington, DC
Sunday, November 8, 2015, 3:00pm at The Academy of Vocal Arts.
A program celebrating the works and life of Philadelphia Poet, Edgar Allan Poe, featuring the area premiere of “The Raven” by Nicholas White, scored for a quartet of solo voices with piano string quartet. Also featuring solo song settings of Poe’s poetic works and readings from Poe’s prose. With singers Emily Noel, Roger Isaacs, Matthew Loyal Smith, Steven Combs, Suzanne DuPlantis with Laura Ward, piano, Nicholas White, conductor.
Biography in Music – JOHANNES BRAHMS
Friday, January 22, 2016 at 7:30 PM at The Presbyterian Church of Chestnut Hill
Sunday, January 24, 2016 at 3 PM at The Academy of Vocal Arts
A semi-theatrical program of Brahms’s life and times, as told through his music and letters, with biographical narration. Solo songs, vocal quartets and duets with Laura Dixon Strickling, soprano, Jeffrey Williams, baritone and Jonas Hacker, tenor with pianist, Laura Ward and actor, Jim Bergwall.
Sincerely Yours… Letters set to music
Saturday, April 2, 2016 at 8:00 PM at Haverford College
Sunday, April 3, 2016 at 2:00 PM Composer Talk, 3:00 PM CONCERT at the The Academy of Vocal Arts
This program of mostly American song takes a detour from the verse of poets and looks to setting letters to music – where each selection is not only a song, but a story. Also featuring LF’s latest commission project; new works premiered by three Philadelphia composers, Benjamin C.S. Boyle, John Conahan and Thomas Lloyd, joined by composers Juliana Hall, Daron Hagen, Lori Laitman and Logan Skelton, and winner of the young composers song competition. With singers Kelly Ann Bixby, soprano, Andrew Fuchs, tenor, Katy Pracht, Mezzo, Keith Phares, Baritone.