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THE CHURCH PRESENTS
THE INAUGURAL SEASON OF THE
SAG HARBOR SONG FESTIVAL
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THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 29TH | 6:30 PM
FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 30TH | 6:30 PM
SATURDAY OCTOBER 1ST | 6:30 PM
SUNDAY OCTOBER 2ND | 12:00 PM
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TICKETS:
Individual tickets – $75
Ticket package (four tickets) – $250
The Church is pleased to announce the inaugural season of the Sag Harbor Song Festival. Spanning the course of three evenings and culminating with a matinee performance, the festival promises a world class experience of music in a setting of intrinsic beauty and an intimacy of presentation.
The four concerts will consist of a mixture of operatic repertory, musical theatre, songs, and lieder covering a musical panorama and highlighting the talent of six rising stars of immense talent. These singers have appeared on the stages of the Metropolitan Opera, San Francisco Opera, the Aix-en-Provence Festival, the Bayerische Opera, Staatstheater Stuttgart, and in venues from the White House to St. Patrick’s Cathedral.
The festival program was orchestrated by two colleagues whose combined efforts in the cause of music speak for themselves. Artistic Director, Brad Woolbright and Musical Director, Robert Tweten have a combined seven plus decades in the world of music. During his tenure with the Santa Fe Opera, Tweten has been on the podium for six productions, most recently stepping in this summer to conduct three performances of Falstaff.
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The Sag Harbor Song Festival was conceived for The Church by Lena Kaplan, philanthropist, entrepreneur, and music lover. Her family has resided in East Hampton for more than fifty years. Ms. Kaplan said, “We live in challenging times, and many feel a sense of unease. For me, music is the greatest source of healing power and of spiritual renewal. When I first had the idea for this festival, I called it Glorious Voices. And now this idea is becoming a reality. I invite you all to join us for the first Sag Harbor Song Festival, a four-part concert series featuring six singers with truly glorious voices in the beautiful and intimate space of The Church.”
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“We’re so grateful to Lena that after only a year and a half, The Church will inaugurate a world class music festival”, said co-founder April Gornik.
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Sheri Pasquarella, Executive Director, added, “Not to mention offering a diverse repertory spanning opera, choral, classical, Broadway and even traditional Japanese song performed by these astonishing emerging voices.”
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Artistic director Brad Woolbright said, “Joining my colleague Robert Tweten, Music Director, I am thrilled to be part of the inaugural Sag Harbor Song Festival featuring six of the finest singers working in the world of music today. With offerings spanning four centuries, we believe the festival will be an exceptional experience. Whether neophyte or aficionado, we look forward to welcoming you.”
Worthwhile mentions: In the 2022/23 season, Anna Christy returns to the Seiji Ozawa Music Academy for Musetta in La bohème. Leah Hawkins’s season engagements include debuts with the Santa Fe Opera and Opera Memphis in the title role of Tosca, as well as her return to the Metropolitan Opera for La bohème. Sarah Coit has had an exciting year of operatic and symphonic debuts in 2022, including the role of the Komponist in Ariadne Auf Naxos. Jonathan Johnson will make his role and house debut as Faust with Detroit Opera and recently appeared with Opera Theatre of Saint Louis as Scott in Harvey Milk. Debuting this season at the Gran Teatre del Liceu, Jarrett Ott will sing the role of Lescaut in Manon. In 2022/23, David Leigh will join Opernhaus Zürich in the company’s new Ring Cycle.
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THE SINGERS
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Anna Christy, soprano
For full bio click here: https://www.annachristy.com/
(Photo by Dario Acosta)
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Leah Hawkins, soprano
For full bio click here: https://www.leahhawkinssoprano.com/
(Photo by Kerry Hallihan)
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Sarah Coit, mezzo-soprano
For full bio click here: http://www.sarahcoit.com/
(S. Richards Photography)
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Jonathan Johnson, tenor
For full bio click here: https://www.jonathanjohnsontenor.com/
(Gillian Riesen Photography)
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Jarrett Ott, baritone
For full bio click here: http://www.jarrettott.com/
(Photo by Dario Acosta)
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David Leigh, bass
For full bio click here: https://davidleighbass.com/
(Photo by Jiyang Chen)
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BRAD WOOLBRIGHT
Recently retired from The Santa Fe Opera (after 43 years) as Director of Artistic Administration, Mr. Woolbright has been involved in the presentation of over 40 American and World Premieres. He has served as a judge of numerous vocal competitions, including the Richard Tucker Award and the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions.
Photo by Robert Godwin
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ROBERT TWETEN
Maestro Tweten has performed extensively as both a pianist and conductor throughout the US and his native Canada, and currently holds the position of Head of Music Staff for The Santa Fe Opera and Music Director of Graduate Opera Studies for the New England Conservatory. He has performed with many of the industry’s most prominent singers and instrumentalists.
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Housed in a deconsecrated 19th century Methodist church, The Church is an artist residency, exhibition space, and creativity center. It is a place where local and national artists and creatives of all stripes work, meet and inspire each other. Artists Eric Fischl and April Gornik bought the building as a shell three years ago and have led its redesign with Skolnick Architecture + Design Partnership. The modern interior complements its historic frame and is emblematic of the contemporary program of events that animate the structure. The Church will increase access to the arts for our diverse audiences, foster creativity on the East End, and honor Sag Harbor’s long tradition as a maker’s village. For more information visit: www.thechurchsagharbor.org.
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SAG HARBOR SONG FESTIVAL REPERTORY
| Thursday, September 29th
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| Tornami a vagheggiar (from Alcina) | Handel |
| Piangeró la sorte mia (from Giulio Cesare)
Anna Christy, soprano
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Handel |
| Salut, demeure chaste et pure (from Faust)
Jonathan Johnson, tenor
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Gounod |
| Lieder eines fahrenden Gesellen (Songs of a Wayfarer)
Sarah Coit, mezzo-soprano
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Mahler |
| Au fond du temple saint (from Les pécheurs de perles)
Jonathan Johnson and Jarrett Ott, baritone |
Bizet |
| – Intermission | |
| Dunque io son (from Il Barbiere di Siviglia)
Sarah Coit and Jarrett Ott
|
Rossini |
| Hatsu Koi
Hamabe No Uta Kino michi Anna Christy
|
Koshitani
Narita Yamada |
| Now have I fed and eaten up the rose (Three Songs Op. 45)
A Green Lowland of Pianos O boundless, boundless Evening Jarrett Ott
|
Samuel Barber |
| Solitary Hotel (from Despite and Still Op. 41 #4)
Jarrett Ott
|
Samuel Barber |
| Sure on This Shining Night
Jarett Ott
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Samuel Barber |
| Dal labbro il canto (from Falstaff)
Jonathan Johnson
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Verdi |
| Bella figlia dell’ amore (Rigoletto Quartet)
Anna Christy, Sarah Coit, Jonathan Johnson and Jarrett Ott |
Verdi |
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| Friday, September 30th
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| Der Engel (Wesendonck Lieder) Stehe still Im Treibhaus Schmerzen TräumeLeah Hawkins, soprano |
Wagner |
| Svegliatevi nel core (from Giulio Cesare)
Cara speme Sarah Coit, mezzo-soprano
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Handel |
| Ella giammai m’amo (from Don Carlo)
David Leigh, bass
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Verdi |
| Io son l’umile ancella (from Adriana Lecouvrer)
Leah Hawkins |
Francesco Cilea |
| – Intermission | |
| Dein ist mein ganzes herz (from Das Land des Lächelns)
Jonathan Johnson, tenor
|
Franz Lehar |
| La flûte de Pan (Chansons de Bilitis)
La chevelure Le tombeau des Naiades Sarah Coit
|
Debussy |
| Go Down, Moses
Oh Waly Waly Poor Wayfarin’ Stranger Joshua Fit the Battle of Jericho David Leigh
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Traditional
Arr. D. Leigh |
| New York Lights (from A View from the Bridge)
Jonathan Johnson
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William Bolcom |
| Vissi d’arte (from Tosca)
Leah Hawkins |
Puccini |
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| Saturday, October 1st
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| Come un’ape ne’giorni d’aprile (from La Cenerentola)
Jarrett Ott, baritone
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Rossini |
| Idolatry (Songs of Separation)
Poéme Parted If You Should Go A Black Pierrot Leah Hawkins, soprano
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William Grant Still
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| Wie schön ist doch die Musik (from Die Schweigsame Frau)
David Leigh, bass
|
Richard Strauss |
| Ich wollt’ ein Sträusslein binden
Ständchen Ich sehe wie in einem Spiegel Anna Christy, soprano
|
Richard Strauss |
| Les chemins de l’amour
Leah Hawkins |
Poulenc |
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– Intermission |
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| Chanson Romanesque (from Don Quichotte à Dulcinée)
Chanson épique Chanson à boire Jarrett Ott
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Ravel |
| Five romances on words from the journal Krokodil, Op. 121
1. First-hand Testimony David Leigh
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Shostakovich |
| Waitin’
Amor Anna Christy
|
William Bolcom |
| Merry Widow Duet (from The Merry Widow)
Leah Hawkins and Jarrett Ott
|
Lehar |
| O mio babbino caro (from Gianni Schicchi)
Anna Christy |
Puccini |
| Popular (from Wicked)
Anna Christy |
Stephen Schwarz
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Sunday, October 2nd
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| L’Invitation au Voyage
Phidylé Chanson triste La Vie antérieure Jonathan Johnson, tenor
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Henri Duparc |
| La vie en rose
Leah Hawkins, soprano
|
Edith Piaf
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| Man of La Mancha medley
David Leigh, bass
|
Mitch Leigh |
| Lieben, Hassen, Hoffen, Zagen, (Harlequin’s aria) (from Ariadne auf Naxos)
Jarrett Ott, baritone
|
Richard Strauss |
| Kein andres (from Capriccio)
Jonathan Johnson
|
Richard Strauss |
| Hab mir’s gelobt (from Der Rosenkavalier)
Leah Hawkins; Anna Christy, soprano; Sarah Coit, mezzo-soprano |
Richard Strauss |
| – Intermission | |
| On the Steps of the Palace (from Into the Woods)
Anna Christy
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Sondheim |
| Maria (from West Side Story)
Jonathan Johnson
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Bernstein |
| Unusual Way (from Nine)
Sarah Coit
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Maury Yeston |
| The Boy From… (from The Mad Show)
Sarah Coit
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Mary Rodgers &
Sondheim |
| Lily’s Eyes (from Secret Garden)
Jonathan Johnson and Jarrett Ott |
Lucy Simon & Marsha Norman
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| Popular (from Wicked)
Anna Christy
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Stephen Schwarz
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| If Ever I Would Leave You (from Camelot)
Jarrett Ott
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Lerner & Loewe |
| Some Enchanted Evening (from South Pacific)
Jarrett Ott
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Rodgers & Hammerstein |
| If I were a rich man (from Fiddler on the Roof)
David Leigh
|
Bock & Harnick |
| Climb Every Mountain (from Sound of Music)
Leah Hawkins
|
Rodgers & Hammerstein |
| Make Our Garden Grow (from Candide)
Anna Christy, Leah Hawkins, Sarah Coit, Jonathan Johnson, Jarrett Ott, David Leigh _____________________________________________ |
Bernstein
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