NEW YORK CITY OPERA - Bryant Park
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NEW YORK CITY OPERA
We are incredibly excited to welcome performing arts back to New York City! Since March 2020 — when all our lives changed — Bryant Park has not wavered from its mission to provide a safe and stimulating public space for everyone to enjoy. Outdoor space has never been so vital, and live events have never been more necessary. I want to thank our courageous and dedicated staff who have kept Bryant Park not only open but flourishing throughout the pandemic. This season Picnic Performances celebrates the return of live music, theater and dance to Midtown and the resiliency of artists and cultural organizations throughout this difficult period. All of our cultural partners have re-imagined what it means to perform, and it is with great pleasure we share their innovative works with you. We welcome those of you seated on the lawn, as well as our new virtual audience, too. For the first time, these performances are available by livestream so viewers can enjoy no matter where they are. We extend sincere gratitude to our neighbor, Bank of America, whose support is integral to the park year-round and who make the livestreams of Picnic Performances possible. Enjoy the show! .President, Bryant Park Corporation
imagine, illuminate and inspire As a major supporter of arts and culture nonprofit organizations, Bank of America believes in the power of the arts. We are proud to sponsor the livestream of the 2021 season of Bryant Park Picnic Performances. WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE THE POWER TO DO?® © 2021 Bank of America Corporation. MAP#3621959
Protocols for All Attendees Upon arrival, visitors must show proof of full vaccination or a recent negative COVID-19 test. A matching government-issued photo ID is also required. Doors open at 5:30pm. Please arrive no later than the entry time on your ticket. Bryant Park chairs are available. Please do not bring plastic tarps. All event attendees are invited to bring food and drink. Food and beverage is also available for purchase from vendors in the park. The bathroom is located at the northeast corner of the park. A wristband is required for re-entry to the event area.
Protocols for Vaccinated Attendees In line with current CDC and state guidelines, attendees may remove masks at their own discretion once within the fully vaccinated areas. Bring your own blanket or use a Bryant Park chair. Within the fully vaccinated area, attendees will have ample space to distance from others at their own discretion.
Protocols for Tested Attendees Masks are required unless seated in socially distant chairs. Attendees must keep six-foot distance from other parties at all times. A temperature check and COVID-19 symptom screening is required as part of the entry process. Bryant Park chairs will be placed in exact positions by event staff. Please do not move chairs. Tested attendees may not enter the fully vaccinated areas.
TONIGHT’S PROGRAM Pride In The Park June 18, 2021: Bryant Park Stage 7:00 pm – 8:15 pm This performance will feature a diverse program of selections from opera and musical theater sung by a quintet of stars from City Opera’s Pride Series. We will close this performance with a special new arrangement of the finale from Stonewall, by Iain Bell and Mark Campbell, which had its world premiere at New York City Opera in 2019. Come celebrate Pride in Bryant Park with New York City Opera! Michael Capasso Master of Ceremonies Kathryn Olander Music Director and Pianist CAST Jessica Fishenfeld Lauren Hoffmeier Jordan Weatherston Pitts Brian James Myer Peter Kendall Clark
La traviata Verdi
Libiamo
Jordan Weatherston Pitts Alfredo
Jessica Fishenfeld Violetta
A Little Night Music Sondheim
The Miller’s Son
Melanie Long Petra
Carmen Bizet
Gypsy song
Brian James Myer Carmen
Get Happy/Happy Days Are Here Again Arlen/Koehler &
Ager/Yellen
Peter Kendall Clark
Lauren Hoffmeier
Eugene Onegin Tchaikovsky
Kuda, Kuda (Lensky’s Aria)
Jordan Weatherston Pitts Lensky
Sunset Boulevard Webber/Rice
As If We Never Said Goodbye
Lauren Hoffmeier Norma Desmond
Falsettos Finn
What Would I Do?
Brian James Myer Malcom
Peter Kendall Clark Ethan
West Side Story Bernstein/
Sondheim
Somewhere
Melanie Long Consuelo
Candide Bernstein/Wilbur
Glitter and be Gay
Jessica Fishenfeld Cunégonde
Carousel Rodgers/
Hammerstein
You’ll Never Walk Alone
Jordan Weatherston Pitts
Il Barbiere di Siviglia Rossini
Largo al factotum
Brian James Myer Figaro
The Baker’s Wife Schwartz
Meadowlark
Lauren Hoffmeier Geneviève
La Cage aux Folles Herman
I Am What I Am
Peter Kendall Clark Albin
Stonewall Bell/Campbell
Finale
Jessica Fishenfeld Jordan Weatherston Pitts
Melanie Long Brian James Myer
*Encore Arlen/Harburg
Over the Rainbow
Ensemble
UPCOMING PICNIC PERFORMANCES CARMEN July 2, 2021 7:00 pm – 8:15 pm Kathryn Olander, Music Director and Pianist CAST Carmen: Lisa Chavez Don Jose : Jason Karn Escamillo: Joshua Jeremiah Micaëla: Kristin Sampson Frasquita: Stacy Dove Mercédès: Kristee Haney Lillas Pastia: Bill Van Horn NOW THAT’S WHAT I CALL OPERA! August 21, 2021 7:00 pm – 8:15 pm Kamal Khan, Music Director and Pianist CAST Lisa Chavez Adam Cioffari Kristin Sampson Victor Starsky RIGOLETTO September 3, 2021 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm Constantine Orbelian, Conductor CAST Rigoletto: Michael Chioldi The Duke of Mantua: Won Whi Choi Gilda: Brandie Sutton Maddalena: Lisa Chavez Sparafucile: Kevin Short
ABOUT NEW YORK CITY OPERA Since its founding in 1943 by Mayor Fiorello LaGuardia as “The People’s Opera,” New York City Opera has been a critical part of the city’s cultural life. During its history, NYCO launched the careers of dozens of major artists and presented engaging productions of both mainstream and unusual operas alongside commissions and regional premieres. The result was a uniquely American opera company of international stature. Today, New York City Opera continues its legacy at a new, state-of-the-art home at the Rose Theater at Jazz at Lincoln Center and with revitalized outreach and education programs at venues throughout the city, designed to welcome and inspire a new generation of opera audiences. City Opera’s acclaimed summer series in Bryant Park brings free performances to thousands of New Yorkers and visitors every year. Coming soon THE GARDEN OF THE FINZI-CONTINIS January 2022 World Premiere opera by Ricky Ian Gordon and Michael Korie A co-production with NATIONAL YIDDISH THEATRE FOLKSBIENE Based on Giorgio Bassani’s 1962 novel, (considered a modern classic which is also the basis for Vittorio De Sica’s 1970 film adaptation starring Dominique Sanda and Helmet Berger – a 1972 Academy Award winner for Best Foreign Language Film), THE GARDEN OF THE FINZI- CONTINIS is set on the eve of World War II and tells the story of an aristocratic Italian-Jewish family, the Finzi-Continis, who believe they will be immune to the changes happening around them. www.nycopera.com Instagram: @nycopera Facebook.com/NewYorkCityOpera Twitter: @nycityopera
Baritone Peter Kendall Clark has created roles in numerous world premieres, including the title role in Ted Rosenthal’s jazz opera Dear Erich at New York City Opera, for which the New York Times praised his “gravity and earthy sound.” He has also sung leading operatic and musical theatre roles with Caramoor Opera, Anchorage Opera, Union Avenue Opera, Opera on the James, Charlottesville Opera, Hawaii Opera Theatre, Virginia Opera, St. Petersburg Opera, Chelsea Opera, Syracuse Opera and Skylight Music Theatre. Recent roles include Sweeney Todd, Older Thompson, Henry Higgins, Fredrik Eggerman, King Arthur, MacHeath, Count Almaviva and Eugene Onegin. A regular performer with New York City Opera, he was featured in Harold Prince’s production of Candide, Peter Eötvös’ Angels in America, La Fanciulla del West, and Charles Wuorinen’s Brokeback Mountain, and the premiere of Iain Bell and Mark Campbell’s Stonewall. Since May of 2020 he has given nearly 200 outdoor concerts in Brooklyn Heights in the series “Songs From The Ledge” which the New York Post has called “the hottest ticket in town.” As the “Brownstone Baritone” he has been profiled on ABC News, CBS Inside Edition, Only Good Heroes for OGTV, Voice Of America, the New York Post, Japan Public Television’s (NHK) Catch! World Top News, and WQXR’s New York in Concert. www.peterkendallclark.com www.songsfromtheledge.com Brownstone Baritone (YouTube) Instagram: @brownstonebaritone Facebook.com/PeterKendallClark
Soprano and actor Jessica Fishenfeld “triumphed” (New York Observer) in her New York City Opera debut as Leah in the world premiere of Iain Bell and Mark Campbell’s Stonewall, with “clean coloratura,” (Opera News) and “spunky personality” (OperaWire); made her off-Broadway debut as Brünnhilde in Das Barbecü; and sang Gilda in an immersive Rigoletto at THE BOX Theatre just before the mass pandemic closures of 2020. She then produced and performed in Grateful: The Songs of John Bucchino, 20th Anniversary Virtual Concert, “one of the slickest, best-produced virtual concerts to come out of the last ten months” (BroadwayWorld), alongside Stephen Schwartz, Leslie Odom Jr. and Toni Tennille, among other Broadway and cabaret luminaries. She also appeared virtually with New York Festival of Song, Dallas Opera Network, OmniArts Foundation, Opera Carolina, Center for Contemporary Opera, Teatro Grattacielo, and Savannah VOICE Festival. She recently starred in world and New York premieres at Circle in the Square and National Sawdust, and won semifinalist prizes in the 2021 American Traditions Competition and 2019 Lotte Lenya Competition. Other highlights include a residency with Palm Beach Opera and soloist appearances at Carnegie’s Zankel Hall, Helena Symphony, St. Bart’s Music Festival, Orquesta Filarmonía de Xalapa, Festival de Órgano de Morelia, and Birdland Jazz Club. www.jessicafishenfeld.com Instagram: @jecafish Facebook.com/jessicafishenfeldsoprano Twitter: @jessfishenfeld Tiktok: @jecafish
Lauren Hoffmeier was raised in the heart of New York City with a performance background in opera and musical theatre. She is the author of “Mula and the Fly,” a picture book series that provides parents and teachers with a soft introduction to yoga. The fun characters and engaging stories promote a happy and healthy lifestyle to encourage positive mental wellbeing during early development. In this brilliant world of oddballs and misfits, she aims to inspire positivity by encouraging an international mindset of joy and uniqueness. Find out more about Lauren at www.LaurenHoffmeier.com Instagram: @laurenhoffmeier Twitter: @laurenhoffmeier
Melanie Long’s unique vocal prowess has been described as “ ... easily switch-hitting from high coloratura t o Broadway belt...” (New York Post). In high demand as a soloist and for her powerfully interpretive stagecraft, Ms. Long has been featured in several premieres including the East Coast premiere of Stewart Wallace’s Hopper’s Wife with New York City Opera. Ms. Long recently starred as Anna in Encompass New Opera Theatre’s world premiere of Anna Christie by Edward Thomas, and was featured on the cast album which was up for a Grammy Nomination in 2020. She recently made her Cedar Rapids Opera Theatre debut, creating several complex characters in the company’s commission of The Grant Wood Operas: Strokes of Genius, by Michael Ching and Jean Francois Charles. Ms. Long performed in the ensemble cast of New York City Opera’s Stonewall by Iain Bell and Mark Campbell and is frequently featured in New York City’s annual PROTOTYPE Festival with Beth Morrison Projects. She will make her Arizona Opera debut next season as Petra in Sondheim’s A Little Night Music www.americandiva.com
Tenor Jordan Weatherston Pitts made his principal artist debut to critical acclaim as the drag queen Renata in Iain Bell and Mark Campbell’s world premiere of Stonewall with New York City Opera and continues an active performance schedule of romantic and lyric repertoire. His most recent roles include the cover of Romeo in Gounod’s Romeo et Juliette with the Hawaii Opera Theatre, a cover of The Magician (Nika Magadoff) in Menotti’s The Consul with Opera Saratoga, Don Ottavio in Don Giovanni, Achille in La Belle Helene, Rinuccio in Gianni Schicchi, Alfredo in La traviata, Younger Thompson (Cover) in Tom Cipullo’s Glory Denied, Goro in Madama Butterfly, and MacDuff in Verdi’s Macbeth. www.jordanwpitts.com Instagram: @jordanwpitts
Praised for his “robust-voiced” and “buttery baritone” (the New York Times), baritone Brian James Myer is an emerging artist on prominent opera and symphony stages in the US and beyond. A Puerto Rican native of Las Vegas, Mr. Myer has been establishing himself in the world of new works with companies such as New York City Opera, Florida Grand Opera, American Lyric Theatre, Opera San Jose, and Opera Las Vegas. Most notably, he created roles in two world premieres with New York City Opera in 2019, Young Erich (Dear Erich) and Carlos (Stonewall). In 2020 he made his debuts as Mercutio (Roméo et Juliette) with Knoxville Opera and as a soloist with the Aula Simfonia Jakarta in Jakarta, Indonesia. Other slated performances in 2020 included Figaro (Il barbiere di Siviglia) with Opera on the James, the bass soloist in Beethoven’s 9th Symphony with the Hartford Symphony Orchestra, Moralès/Le Dancaïre (Carmen) with Festival Opera, Masetto (Don Giovanni) with the Berkshire Festival Opera, and his European debut as Squibby in Iain Bell’s Women of Whitechapel: Jack the Ripper with Opera North in the UK, all of which were canceled or postponed due to COVID-19. Mr. Myer holds Bachelor’s degrees in Music Education and Romance Languages from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas and a Master’s degree in Vocal Performance from the Cleveland Institute of Music. www.brianjamesmyer.com Instagram: @brianjamesmyer Facebook.com/brianjamesmyer
Recently hailed by Opera News for her “impressive playing,” Kathryn Olander is a frequent assistant conductor/pianist with New York City Opera as well as many regional opera houses. In addition to coaching privately she has held coaching positions with the Juilliard School of Music, Manhattan School of Music, and Chautauqua Institute. An avid recitalist, highlights include performances at Carnegie Hall’s Weill Hall and Zankel Hall, The Appel Room at Jazz at Lincoln Center, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Bryant Park’s concert series, the Hungarian Consulate of New York and the Polish Consulate of New York, and Bechstein Hall. Ms. Olander is a regular pianist with Reaching for the Arts and Opportunity Music Project, specializing in bringing music to underserved communities and Creative Stage. Ms. Olander began teaching piano at Northeastern University while earning her Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance at New England Conservatory and has since maintained a studio of private piano students.
Michael Capasso is the General Director of the New York City Opera. He has produced, directed, and toured opera and musical theater productions in the U.S. and abroad for over 30 years. In June of 2014, he led the successful effort to bring the New York City Opera out of bankruptcy. The revitalized New York City Opera returned to the stage in January 2016 with a celebratory production of Tosca. In 1981, he, along with Diane Martindale, founded New York’s Dicapo Opera Theatre. Over the 30 years of his leadership, Dicapo Opera Theater presented a diverse programming to the New York public. In addition to his work with the Dicapo Opera Theatre, Mr. Capasso has directed operas at l’Opéra de Montréal; Mallorca Opera; Toledo Opera; Connecticut Opera; New Jersey State Opera; Opera Carolina; and Orlando Opera among others. Mr. Capasso founded the National Lyric Opera in 1991, a touring company that has brought fully staged operas to communities in the American Northeast.
2021 Picnic
Performances
Season
All shows begin at 7pm.
For more information visit bryantpark.org/picnics
Watch the livestream @bryantparknyc
9,10,11,12 New York Philharmonic
JUN JUL AUG
18 New York City Opera
25 New York Chinese Cultural Center
26 Joe’s Pub
2 New York City Opera
9,16,23,30 Carnegie Hall Citywide
31 Greenwich House Music School
6 Carnegie Hall Citywide
7 National Sawdust
12 Harlem Stage
13,14 Jazz at Lincoln Center
16 Limón + Music from the Soul
20 Paul Taylor Dance Company
+ Emerge125
21 New York City Opera
27 Dance Performance TBA
3 New York City Opera
SEP
10 Classical Theatre of Harlem
20 Town Hall Centennial ConcertYou can also read
