One of the Music World's best known performers and most beloved musical figures of our time will visit Aiken in April 2011, it was announced today by Thomas C. Hofstetter, Chairman of Aiken Performing Arts Group. Extolled by the New York Times as, "one of America's finest artists and singers," mezzo-soprano Frederica von Stade will perform at a single concert in Aiken on Thursday evening, April 28, 2011.
Honored by the White House for her extraordinary contributions to American musical culture, Ms. von, Stade "is well known to audiences around the world through her numerous featured appearances on Television, including several PBS specials and "Live from Lincoln Center" telecasts. "Even if she were not one of the greatest singers of our day," notes the San Francisco Chronicle," mezzo-soprano Frederica von Stade could probably draw a full house of people eager just to be in her presence and watch her be herself." Ms. von Stade has performed with the world's leading orchestras including the Boston Symphony Orchestra, New York Philharmonic, the London Symphony Orchestra, as well as the world's leading opera houses including the Metropolitan Opera, Paris Opera, Vienna State Opera, and La Scala, Milan.
The Aiken Concert entitled "AH, SPRING !" will be lead by the well known conductor, Maestro Donald Portnoy. Doctor Portnoy is Music Advisor to Aiken Performing Arts Group. Working closely with Ms. von Stade, he has produced a program featuring a broad spectrum of music from Grand Opera overtures and arias to the music of Broadway.
On Friday, April 29, 2011, Ms. von Stade will conduct a Master Class for qualified college level singers interested in opera performance. Later that day, she will attend a formal dinner in her honor. Details of both activities will be released in the next several weeks, according to Mr. Hofstetter.
"AH, SPRING !" featuring mezzo- soprano Frederica von Stade will be performed at the Etherredge Center, University of South Carolina Aiken, on Thursday, April 28, 2011. The Concert will begin promptly at 8:00 PM. All tickets are priced at $50.00. To purchase tickets please contact the Etherredge Center Box Office at USCA, (803) 641-3305. For additional information concerning the Master Class or the Friday evening dinner event, please call or write Aiken Performing Arts Group at (803) 643-4774. E Mail: aikenPAG@gforcecable.com.
"AH, SPRING !" IS A BENEFIT PRESENTATION OF AIKEN PERFORMING ARTS GROUP, INC., 501 (c) 3, A NOT FOR PROFIT ORGANIZATION. PROCEEDS AND CONTRIBUTIONS FROM THIS BENEFIT CONCERT WILL PROVIDE SCHOLARSHIP SUPPORT TO DESERVING MUSIC STUDENTS AT USCA AND THE SCHOOL of MUSIC, USC.
