Caramoor Presents 2013 Schwab Vocal Rising Stars: "Song of the Midnight Sun"

March 4, 2013 - PRLog -- The program includes pieces by Scandinavian songwriters Grieg, Sibelius, Stenhammar, Nystrom, Nielson, and Rautavaara that reveal in song the world of hidden loves, night-time confessions, and the poetry of nature. An air of austerity and freshness lends these songs a rare beauty. Performers include Julia Bullock, soprano; Sarah Larsen, mezzo-soprano; Theo Lebow, tenor; and Tobias Greenhalgh, baritone.

TICKETS:  Individual tickets are $25. To purchase tickets, call the Caramoor Box Office at 914.232.1252, or visit www.caramoor.org

PRESS TICKETS:  For press tickets, artists bios or images, please contact Brittnee Walker, 412.601.2474, bwalker@lcohnpr.com

The Schwab Vocal Rising Stars, program, presented in collaboration with the New York Festival of Song (NYFOS), Steven Blier, Artistic Director,  was launched as a pilot program in spring 2009. It focuses on singing outside the realm of opera, including the song recital and vocal chamber music.  Singers at the beginning professional level are invited to Caramoor for a week-long residency that offers intensive daily coaching, rehearsals and workshops with mentors.  Last year's residency culminated in a magical performance of “New York to Paris, Paris to Paradise” at Caramoor, a program featuring New Yorkers’ and Parisians’ eloquent hymns to their hometowns and their dream vacations: Americans in Paris, Parisians in exotic climes. The performance featured selections by Ned Rorem, Charles Trenet, Darius Milhaud, Albert Roussel, George Gershwin, and others. The songs were performed by soprano Meredith Lustig, mezzo-soprano Kristin Hoff, tenor Brenton Ryan, and baritone Eugene Chan.  The program was repeated to tremendous enthusiasm two days later at Merkin Hall in New York City.

The identification and development of young musical talent has long been central to Caramoor's mission. The Schwab Vocal Rising Stars mentoring program has a specialized focus on providing singers with an opportunity to form collaborative partnerships with one another, the Caramoor staff, and the coach/accompanists, who also participate in the residency program.  Caramoor believes that the work leading up to a performance is of equal if not greater importance than the concert itself and will have a lasting impact on the growth and development of young artists.   Since its inception, the Vocal Rising Stars program has received funding from the Terrance W. Schwab Endowment Fund for Young Vocal Artists. In 2012 the Vocal Rising Stars  was  renamed the Terrance W. Schwab Vocal Rising Stars, to honor the memory of Terrance W. Schwab and the Schwab family’s ongoing commitment to this vital program.

Michael Barrett served as the Chief Executive and General Director of Caramoor Center for Music and the Arts from 2003 through the close of the summer festival in 2012. In 1988, he and Steven Blier co-founded the New York Festival of Song (NYFOS), which presents a diversity of thematic song recitals in New York City and beyond. In 2009, Mr. Barrett and Steven Blier established the Schwab Vocal Rising Stars. Mr. Barrett co-founded the Moab Music Festival (MMF) with his wife, violist Leslie Tomkins.  Mr. Barrett has been a guest conductor with the Orchestra of St. Luke's, New York Philharmonic, London Symphony, Israel Philharmonic, and the Orchestre National de France, among others.  He also has served as conductor, producer, and music director of numerous special projects, among them the world premiere of Volpone by John Musto at Wolf Trap in 2004; Hopper's Wife by Stewart Wallace and Michael Korie at the Long Beach Opera; and Lucrezia and Bastianello, a double bill of one-act comic operas by William Bolcom and John Musto.

Steven Blier enjoys an eminent career as a vocal coach and accompanist, having performed throughout North America and Europe, including engagements at Carnegie Hall, La Scala in Milan, and a Live From Lincoln Center telecast.  Among the many artists he has partnered in recital are Cecilia Bartoli, Renée Fleming, Samuel Ramey, Lorraine Hunt Lieberson, Susan Graham, Frederica von Stade, Jessye Norman, Wolfgang Holzmair, Susanne Mentzer, Sylvia McNair, José van Dam, and Arlene Augér. Mr. Blier is on the Juilliard School faculty, and has been active in encouraging young recitalists at summer programs including the Wolf Trap Opera Company and San Francisco Opera Center.

Mr. Blier has been working with Michael Barrett on the Caramoor Schwab Vocal Rising Stars program since its inception in 2009, and was named Artistic Director in 2010. Mr. Blier also co-founded New York Festival of Song (NYFOS) in 1988 with Mr. Barrett, for which he has programmed, performed, translated, and annotated over 125 vocal recitals with repertoire spanning the entire range of American song, art song from Schubert to Szymanowski, and popular song from early vaudeville to Lennon-McCartney.  NYFOS has also made in-depth explorations of music from Spain, Latin America, Scandinavia and Russia.

About Caramoor
Caramoor is the legacy of Walter and Lucie Rosen, who built their summer home – now known as the historic Rosen House at Caramoor – and filled it with their treasures.  Walter Rosen was the master planner for the Caramoor estate, realizing his dream of creating a place to entertain friends from around the world.  Their musical evenings planted the seeds for today’s Caramoor Summer Music Festival.  Witnessing the pleasure their friends took in the beauty of Caramoor – the house with its art collection, the gardens, and the musical programs on summer evenings –the Rosens established a public trust to open Caramoor to the community in 1946.  Lucie Rosen survived her husband by seventeen years.  During those years, she expanded the Music Festival. The Spanish Courtyard was used as a setting for musical events, as it is today, and, under her direction, the great stage of the Venetian Theater was built.

Caramoor is a performing arts center located on a unique 90-acre setting of Italianate architecture and gardens in Westchester County, NY.  It enriches the lives of its audiences through innovative and diverse musical performances of the highest quality.  Its mission also includes mentoring young professional musicians and providing educational programs for young children centered on music.  It is often described as “a Garden of Great Music,” where audiences are invited to come early, explore the beautiful grounds, enjoy a pre-concert picnic, and discover beautiful music in the relaxed settings of the Venetian Theater (1700 seats), Spanish Courtyard (600 seats), Music Room of the Rosen House (200 seats), and the magnificent gardens.

With its unique heritage, Caramoor remains a place where magical summer days and nights are shared and enjoyed by thousands.  “Caramoor is the loveliest Festival of them all.” - The New York Times