CORRECTION: Regarding last week’s post about the concert of Mannes College faculty and alumni on Sunday, February 15. The concert begins at 1:30pm, not 1pm. (This is the concert with RICHARD RUSSELL‘s two premieres: a string quartet “Adagio” with NYCC performer member STANICHKA DIMITROVA on first violin; along with “When Time is Over,” a collection of four Emily Dickinson songs featuring SOFIA DIMITROVA accompanied by TAMARA CASHOUR on piano. DEBRA KAYE will also be represented by two pieces: one for bass and piano, and one for solo viola da gamba.)

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Speaking of DEBRA KAYE, her piano trio, Incidental Ducklings, will be streaming live on WFMT (98.7), Chicago’s classical music station on Friday, February 20th.  The concert by the new music group, Accessible Contemporary Music, begins at 12:15 pm, and includes works by Joan Tower, Paul Shoenfield, and a world premiere by Minnesota composer Justin Rubin.  

To tune in:  http://www.acmusic.org/concert_fazioli_2009.html

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STEPHEN SOLOOK will premiere Robert Cuckson’s “Three Dances for Marimba” on February 19 in a concert of Mannes College Division Composition faculty. Mannes is at 150 West 85th Street. The concert starts at 8pm and will feature other Mannes faculty composers; admission is free.

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ANNA TONNA writes in that she will be singing the role of St. Theresa II in Four Saints in Three Acts. The performance is with Encompass New Opera Theater, Directed by Nancy Rhodes and conducted by Mara Waldman on the occasion of the 75th Anniversary of the premiere of this opera by Virgil Thomson, libretto by Gertrude Stein. This will be the oratorio version with full chorus, soloists and orchestra, to be performed on Feb. 20th at 6:30 PM, CUNY Graduate Center, Elebash Hall (34th and Fifth avenue), free admission.

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MELISSA FOGARTY, soprano, continues her February Frenzy of concerts:

Betrayal. Murder. Revenge. Passion. All are coming to the stage at The Harlem School of the Arts during Black History Month in Strange Fruit, a new American opera adapted from Lillian Smith’s best-selling novel whose title was taken from the famous Billie Holiday song of the same name. Composed by Chandler Carter with libretto by Joan Ross Sorkin, Strange Fruit in Concert is being presented by The Harlem School of the Arts in association with New York City Opera. The cast of the opera includes: Janinah Burnett, Daniel Neer, Robert Hughes, Tamara Haskin, Edward Pleasant, Djoré Nance, Heather Hill, Abby Fischer, Matthew Kreger, Dominic Inferrera, Daniel Yarzebinski, Karen Lehman, Abigail Brown and Lindsay O’Neil. Melissa be playing the role of Dorothy. Performances will be conducted by Steven Gross and accompanied by Marijo Newman on piano. 

Friday, Feb. 27, 2009 at 8pm and Sunday, March 1 at 2pm. 

HSA Gathering Space, 645 St. Nicholas Avenue 

(between W. 141 & 145 St), NYC

Admission $15. Tickets on sale now. Call 212-926-4100, ext.304.

Original musical documentary theater: Eve Sicular investigates her activist / pianist / psychiatrist Grandma’s Cold War time capsule. Featuring Metropolitan Klezmer bandmates, acclaimed actor Moe Angelos and me, leaving most of my  opera chops at the door and showcasing a few other tricks I have up my sleeve. I portray a couple of different characters, improvise an operatic recitative a la 18th c. style, and sing jazz (improv too), rock and klezmer!

The premiere was a Time Out NY Critics’ Pick.

Saturday, Feb 28, 2009 8 pm

Puffin Cultural Forum, 20 Puffin Way, Teaneck NJ 07666

Suggested $5 donation. 

Info: (201) 836-8923 or http://www.puffinfoundation.org/forum/forum_new