In the 1860s, Ambroise Thomas was among those composers who, like Verdi with Macbeth and Gounod with Roméo et Juliette, chose to bring a Shakespeare play to the opera stage. He selected Hamlet, the most famous and also the most philosophical. In the version crafted by librettists Jules Barbier and Michel Carré, the Prince of Denmark loses some of his metaphysical dimension, which is offset by a score full of vivid detail, even featuring two saxophone solos.

Hamlet

Opéra Bastille

Madeleine Zuckerman, soprano

Northwestern Bienen School of Music

“To be or not to be?” This timeless question, which tormented Hamlet, continues to captivate minds. Ophelia, too, sought an answer, though hers ended tragically, culminating in one of literature’s most haunting scenes of madness. Shakespeare’s play—and Ophelia’s florid drowning—have inspired countless works of art, but it is the ambiguity of her mental state, coupled with her astonishing transition from speech to song, that has particularly intrigued composers.

Ophelia's Madness

Grand Théâtre de Québec

Berlioz’s Symphonie fantastique tells the story of a quintessential Romantic artist, complete with a lovelorn obsession, a pastoral scene in the country, frightful hallucinations, and a wild witches’ sabbath. Emmanuel Pahud, hailed as a “one-in-a-generation flutist” (San Francisco Classical Review) is the soloist in Samy Moussa’s DSO co-commissioned concerto.

Symphonie Fantastique!

Detroit Symphony Orchestra

Georges Bizet passed away 150 years and a few days ago, barely older than his beloved Mozart. A clear genius and cursed creator, as if killed by the myth of Carmen that precipitated his fall, he leaves an indelible mark on our heritage, an innate colorist, a magical melodist, a passionate lover of the stage. "This music seems perfect to me. It moves forward, light, supple, polished. It is amiable, it does not sweat," praised Nietzsche. The Orchestre National de France celebrates him as it should, between Giuseppe Verdi and Ambroise Thomas.

Gala Bizet / Bertrand de Billy

Maison de la Radio et de la Musique

The Greeley Philharmonic Orchestra joins forces with the University of Northern Colorado combined chorus to embark on an adventure across Europe. Experience wit, tragedy, and joy from Massenet’s Overture for the Greek tragedy Phèdre to Jacques Ibert’s honeymoon-inspired Ports of Call and Ravel’s only unaccompanied choral piece, Trois Chansons, a cleverly original collection of three fairy tale-like songs. The concert closes with Francis Poulenc’s Gloria, which is described as “borderline sacrilegious” for its mischievous setting of the Catholic Mass texts.

Echoes from Abroad

Union Colony Civic Center

Join us for an enchanting evening of vocal performance as Andrew Pulver, a talented baritone and Bachelor of Music student at the Northwestern Bienen School of Music, takes the stage. Under the guidance of Patrice Michaels, with Yun-Hua Chang on piano, this recital promises to be a memorable showcase of Pulver's vocal prowess and artistic sensitivity.

**Event Details:**
- **Date:** Monday, May 13, 2024
- **Time:** 8:30 PM CDT
- **Location:** Galvin Recital Hall, Ryan Center for the Musical Arts, 70 Arts Circle Drive, Evanston, IL 60208, United States

**Program Highlights:**
- A selection of works by Gabriel Fauré, including "Automne" from 3 Songs, Op. 18, and "En prière"
- Francis Poulenc's "C" from 2 Poèmes de Louis Aragon, FP 122
- Ambroise Thomas' "O vin, dissipe la tristesse" from Hamlet
- Gustav Mahler's "Frühlingsmorgen" from Lieder und Gesänge aus der Jugendzeit, Vol. 1
- Franz Schubert's "Trockne Blumen" from Die schöne Müllerin, D. 795
- And more from the repertoires of Erich Korngold, Niccolò Jommelli, Paolo Tosti, Giacomo Puccini, Mikuláš Schneider-Trnavský, Antonín Dvořák, Gejza Dusík, and Richard Rodgers.

This event is free and open to the public, with no tickets required. For those unable to attend in person, a live stream will be available, ensuring no one misses out on this showcase of emerging talent.

The Galvin Recital Hall, with its breathtaking views of Lake Michigan and the Chicago skyline, coupled with its state-of-the-art acoustics, provides the perfect backdrop for an evening of exquisite music.

Don't miss this opportunity to support and enjoy the artistry of Andrew Pulver and the vibrant community of the Northwestern Bienen School of Music.

EPSG:4326

Andrew Pulver, baritone

Mary B. Galvin Recital Hall

The Festival’s 2023 Manetti Shrem Summer Conservatory Fellows join together for a special program celebrating the vocal arts. These young professional singers are taking part in an intensive 3-week program of performance and study with some of today’s foremost vocal teachers and coaches. Come hear the voices of the stars of tomorrow!

Festival Live! Concert Series

The Culinary Institute of America at Copia

Devon Bain (B.M. '23) presents a voice recital.

Student Recital: Devon Bain, Voice

Boston Conservatory at Berklee

From the opening ominous drum roll, Ambroise Thomas’ opera Hamlet offers a dark and splendid sweep through the famous Shakespeare tragedy.

It was an immediate critical and popular success following its Paris premiere in 1868, and while its fortunes waned in the 20th century, the superb coloratura showcase for Ophélie kept soprano stars such as Nellie Melba, Mary Garden and Maria Callas coming back to the role.

Thomas: Hamlet

Cadogan Hall

Ambroise Thomas, composer of the successful operas Mignon and Hamlet , was one of the central figures of 19th - century French opera. Yet, much of his work remains unknown. This gala offers the opportunity to rediscover it: ten operas will be performed, from absolute rarities to more familiar pieces, all in one evening.

Gala Ambroise Thomas

Le Corum

Paris and Vienna were Europe’s musical capitals in the 19th century, inspiring each other with elegant dance music and lively operettas. François-Xavier Roth conducts the Oslo Philharmonic in a New Year’s program that combines Strauss waltzes with French composers who refined and extended Vienna’s influence.

Ambroise Thomas

Events

Upcoming events

Sep 18 - Oct 9, 2026

Hamlet · Opéra national de Paris

Nov 1, 2026

Thomas: Hamlet ·

Apr 2, 2027

Gala Ambroise Thomas · Opéra Orchestre National Montpellier

6 - 7 Jan, 2029

New Year’s Concert François-Xavier Roth · Oslo Philharmonic

Past events

Sep 18 - Oct 9, 2026

Hamlet · Opéra national de Paris

Apr 26, 2026

Madeleine Zuckerman, soprano · Northwestern Bienen School of Music

About

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