The Opera Orchestra Of New York Presents Vidda Recital Award

The Opera Orchestra
of New York
For Immediate Release
Contact:Cohn Dutcher Associates
DanDutcher,917.339.7157,ddutcher@cohndutcher.com
Lois Cohn,917.339.7187,lcohn@cohndutcher.com
LauraMalick, 917.339.7183,lmalick@cohndutcher.com
The OperaOrchestraof New York
Presents\ridda RecitalAward Series
with Tenor GastonRivero
and GuestArtist SopranoAsakoTamura
May.16,2008,
8:00p.m.
Who:
Tenor Gaston Rivero and SopranoAsako Tamura
When:
May 16,2008,8:00p.m.
Where:
Weill RecitalHall at CarneeieHall
Program:
worksof Donizetti,Verdi, Puccini,Tosti,Ginasteraandothers
(*for completeprogram,pleaseseeendof release)
Tickets:
Call The OperaOrchestraof New York PatronServices,2l2.7gg.lg82;e-mail
oony@tiac.net;
Call Carnegie
Charge,ZtZ.Z+l.IEOO;
or visit Carnegie
Hall box office
(M-Sa.I 1a.m.-6p.m.,
Su. l2-6p.m.)
PressTickets:
LauraMalick, 9 17.339.7183,lmalick@cohnduthcer.com
New York,lII-The
OWla Orchestraof New Yorlq led by Music Director Eve Queler, will
presenttenor GastonRivero, as part of the Vidda Recital Award Series,Friday. May 16. 2008 at
8:00 p.m. in Weill Recital Hall at CarnegieHall. The program will feature works of Donizetti,
Verdi, Puccini, Tosti, Ginastera,and others,and will also include guest artist sopranoAsako
Tamura and piano accompanistDouglas Martin. The complete, l5-work program is listed at the
end ofthis release.
Vidda Recital Award Series
The Vidda Recital Award Serieswas establishedin 1992to give young gifted singersthe
opportunity to perform a solo concert under the ageis of The Vidda Foundation and The Opera
Orchestraof New York. Since 1992, 13 young singershave performed in the seriesat Weill
RecitalHall.
TheVidda RecitalAward Serid''s
oif"r, N.* York musicloversthe opporfunityto heara gifted
newyoungoperaartistperformin a broadermusicalidiom; andallowsthe singerto choosea
programthat demonstrates
his/herspecialcapabilitiesandbreadthof repertoire.
Maestro Queler, in consultation with the Vidda poundation and Opera Orchestrastaff, oversees
the selectionprocessof the potential recipien(. Award Winners receive an honorarium in addition
to the publicizing and underwriting of an all-expensespaid recital in Weill Hall at CarnegieHall.
Vidda Foundation
Since 1988,the Vidda FoundationhashelpedunderwriteThe OperaOrchestraoi*.*
York's
Young Artist Program.Noted as a champion of emerging artists, Maestro Queler has given
critical early exposureto many young singerswho have gone on to becomethe foremost artists of
our time such as Jos6Carreras,Ren6eFleming, JamesMorris, Paul Plishka, and Deborah Voigt.
The genesisof the Young Artist Program grew out of Eve Queler's work with national and
international opera starsas well as emerging young artists. While working with the stars,Ms.
Queler saw the need for a structuredprogram for the professionaldevelopmentof young singers.
Participants of the Program are afforded many opportunities to hone their craft by training as
covers for the guest starsof the CarnegieHall series.They observerehearsalsand performances,
and sing in duets with the international starswho also serveas their mentors. Singing side by side
and learning the traditional way of performing a role gives the young singerslife-changing
experiences.As covers for the guest stars,their experiencesalso include stepping in and
rehearsingwith fulI orchestraand chorus.
The Opera Orchestra of New York
The Opera Orchestraof New York is one of New York City's cultural phenomena.Long noted
for important discoveriesof repertoire and singers,eachperformanceat CarnegieHall is judged a
"must attend" event for seriousoperagoersfrom around the globe. Year after year, the stars
whom Music Director Eve Queler has discoveredand brought up through the ranks come back to
collaborate in new ventures. Since*1972, The Opera Orchestraof New York has made a profound
impact on the musical and culiural vitality of New York-a
service recognizedin writing by
PresidentClinton, Governor Pataki, and Mayor Giuliani on The Opera Orchestraof New York's
25th Anniversary. In May 2006, the Metropolitan Chapterof the Victorian Society in America
awardedThe Opera Orchestraof New York a Special Citation for 35 years of performing lesserknown 19th and early 20th century operas.
The Opera Orchestraof New York has been a powerful and influential presencein the opera
wodd, selling out CarnegieHall since 1971.The ensemblehas featuredcastsof singerscarefully
matchedto the repertory, from artists of international stature(such as Placido Domingo, Nicolai
Gedda,Montserrat Caball6 and Alfredo Kraus) to superlativeyoung singersjust launching their
careers.
Since its inception, The Opera Orchestraof New York has been a daring musical organization.
Among the numerousAmerican premieresit has performed are Puccini's Edgar, with Carlo
Bergonzi and RenataScotto;Boito's Nerone,with JamesMorris and Pablo Elvira; and Smetana's
Libuse, with Gabriela Benackov6and Paul Plishka. The Opera Orchestragave the New York
premiere of Tchaikovsky's TheMaid of Orleans,featuring Dolora Zajickand Jorma Hynninen,
marking the American premiere of the Russianlanguageversion. The ensemblehas also
presentedworks long neglectedin New York, suchas Wagner'sRienzi,Verdi's I lombardi,
Bizet's Les p€cheurs de perles, and Catalanl's La Wally. Other performancesinclude
Meyerbeer's L'Africaine, Les Huguenots, andRobert le Diable; Verdi's Nabucco, I masnadieri,
Aroldo, andLa battaglia di Legnano; Berlioz's Ldlio andBenvenutoCellini; and Smetana's
Dalibor. Most importantly, The Opera Orchestraof New York's pioneering efforts have led
national opera companiesto add to their permanentrepertoiresworks that received their first
major modern hearing at Opera Orchestraof New York. These include The Metropolitan,
Chicago Lyric, San Francisco,and Houston Grand operas;repertoire includes Verdi's I lombardi,
Donizetti's La Favorita,Zandonai's Francesca da Rimini, Dvoi6k's Rusalka, and Mussorgsky's
Khovanshchina.
Eve Oueler. Music Director
As Music Director of The Opera Orchestraof New York, Eve Queler has conductedher 100'h
concert at CarnegieHall. Standing out among her many successesare Wagner's Rienzi and
Tristan und Isolde, Berlioz's BenvenutoCellini, Smetana'sDalibor, and Richard Strauss'sDie
Liebe der Danae. She received one of the highest awardspresentedby the French government
when she was named a Chevalier de l'Ordre des Arts et des Lettres by the French Minister of
Culture for her commitment tci French operas.Maestro Queler also received the prestigious
TouchstoneAward from Women In Music, Inc., in recognitionof her visionary spirit as one of
the "Women Who Make a Difference."
Eve Queler has championedmany neglectedRussianand Czechoperasthat are staplesin central
Europe but virtually unknown in America. Slrewas the first conductor in America to perform
Mussorgsky'sunfinishedKhovanshchina,with orchestrationby Shostakovich,as well as the first
performanceofJanacek'sKatya Kabanova(1979),Jenfifa(1988),and Dvorak's
Czech-language
Rusalkn(1987).
Gaston Rivero. tenor
Uruguayan-American GastonRivero beganvocal lessonsat the Carlos L6pez Buchardo National
Conservatoryof Music in Buenos Aires, Argentina. In2002, at age24, Mr. Rivero made his
CarnegieHall debutin recital,performingworks by Puccini,Tosti, and Ginastera,and has since
appearedat the venue20 times. In 2003, Mr. Rivero madehis Broadwaydebut in Baz Luhrman's
La Boh,lme.
Mr. Rivero's professionalopera debut came in2004 with The Opera Orchestraof New York in
Ponchielli'sLa Gioconda,conductedby MaestroEve Queler.He has sungthe role of Alfredo in
Verdi's La Traviata with Lyric Opera of San Antonio, El PasoOpera, and Wichita Grand Opera;
B. F. Pinkerton in Madama Butterfly at the StaatstheaterNirnberg; and Don Josein Carmen with
Knoxville Opera.
Asako Tamura. soprano
Asako Tamura has won many awards and prizes at renownednational and international
competitions. These include the best soloist award at the All-Japan Contest and a special award at
the International Singing Competition in Hungary. Ms. Tamura was the New York district winner
of the Metropolitan OperaNational Council Competition, and winner of the Connecticut Opera
Guild Competition. She won Third Prize and the Audience Award at the Marmomande
International Competition in France and was the winner at the Giuseppedi StefanoInternational
Competition in Trapani Italy. Ms. Tamura was also a finalist at Placido Domingo's Operalia
Competition in Japanand a representativeof Japanat the Cardiff Singer of The World
Competitionin Wales.
The Opera Orchestraof New YoIk
Friday, May 16, 2008, 8:00 p.m.
Weill RecitalHall at CarnegieHall
GastonRivero,tenor
Asako Tamura, soprano
Douglas Martin, piano
Eve Queler, conductor
* : Mr. Rivero
*: Ms. Tamura
*Puccini
*Puccini
+Prrccini
*Donizetti
+Donizetti
*+Donizetti
*Ginastera
*Tosti
*Lopez Buchardo
+Rachmaninoff
+StephenFoster
+Kosaku Yamada
*Cilea
+Verdi
*+Gounod
t
\
r
"Recondita armonia" fromTosca
"Che gelida manina" from La Bohdme
"Quando m'en vo soletta" from La Bohdme
"Fra poco a me ricovero" from Lucia di Lummermoor
"Regnava nel silenzio" from Lucia di Lammermoor
"Sulla tomba che rinserra" from Lucia di Lammermoor
"La cancion del arbol del Olvido"
"L'ultima canzone"
"Vidalia"
"Vocalise"
"Wh!, no one to love"
"Karatachino-hana"
"Portan tutti sul core" from L'Arlesiana
"Estrano...Semprelibera" from La Traviata
"Nuit d'hvmenee" from Romeo et Juliette
t
Tickets:
Tickets are $35.00
Call The Opera Orchestraof New York Patron Services,212.799.1982;E-mail oony@tiac.net;Call
CarnegieCharge,212.247.7800;or visit CarnegieHall box office (M-Sa. I 1a.m.6p.m.,
Su. 12-6p.m.)
Press Tickets:
Laura Malick. 9 17.339.7183.lmalick@cohndutcher.com
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