Conductor

### Faust at the Berkshire Opera Festival

**Event:** Faust - Mainstage Production  
**Composer:** Charles Gounod  
**Location:** Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center, 14 Castle Street, Great Barrington, MA  
**Dates and Times:**  
- Saturday, August 24, 1:00 PM (Pre-performance talk at 12:00 PM)  
- Tuesday, August 27, 7:30 PM  
- Friday, August 30, 7:30 PM  
**Duration:** 2 hours, 45 minutes (including one intermission)  
**Language:** Sung in French with projected English translations  

**Synopsis:**  
Experience the timeless tale of tragedy and redemption in Charles Gounod's operatic masterpiece, "Faust." The story follows the aged Dr. Faust, who sells his soul to the devil, Méphistophélès, in exchange for youth and the chance to win the love of the beautiful Marguerite. This decision leads to devastating consequences, exploring themes of desire, regret, and salvation.

**Cast:**
- **Faust:** Duke Kim, praised for his "liquid gold" tenor voice.
- **Marguerite:** Raquel González, a winner of the Sphinx Organization's Medal of Excellence Award.
- **Méphistophélès:** Justin Hopkins, noted for his commanding presence and beautifully focused bass-baritone.
- **Valentin:** Jarrett Porter, recognized for his supple and vibrant baritone.
- **Siébel:** Sun-Ly Pierce, known for her lush and flexible mezzo-soprano.
- **Marthe Schwerlein:** Abbegael Greene, a master's degree holder in voice performance from Bard College Conservatory.
- **Wagner:** Kyle Dunn, a master's degree holder in vocal performance from The Peabody Institute in Baltimore.

**Creative Team:**
- **Conductor:** Brian Garman
- **Stage Director:** Jonathon Loy
- **Scenic Designer:** Stephen Dobay
- **Costume Designer:** Brooke Stanton
- **Lighting Designer:** Alex Jainchill
- **Hair and Make-up Designer:** Beckie Kravetz
- **Choreographer:** Andrea Beasom
- **Assistant Conductor and Chorus Master:** Geoffrey Larson
- **Principal Coach and Rehearsal Pianist:** Travis Bloom
- **Supertitles Author:** Cori Ellison
- **Production Stage Manager:** Cindy Knight

**Ticketing Information:**
- Tickets start at $20.
- Early-bird pricing available until April 3.
- Special discounts for attendees under 30 (contact the Mahaiwe box office for details).
- Note: All ticket sales and customer services are managed exclusively by the Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center box office. Beware of fraudulent third-party websites.

**Additional Information:**
- A free pre-performance talk with dramaturg Cori Ellison will be held on Saturday, August 24, at 12:00 PM (doors open at 11:45 AM for all ticket holders).

Join us for an unforgettable performance of "Faust," a cornerstone of French romantic opera, filled with surging, memorable music that has captivated audiences since its premiere.

EPSG:4326

Faust

Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center

### Event Description: The Reef - Berkshire Opera Festival Workshop Performance

**Event:** The Reef - Workshop Performance  
**Date:** Wednesday, April 10  
**Time:** 7:00 PM  
**Duration:** 1 hour, 30 minutes  
**Location:** Merkin Hall at Kaufman Music Center, 129 West 67th Street, New York, NY

**Overview:**
Join us for the Berkshire Opera Festival's exclusive workshop performance of "The Reef," a new opera by Pulitzer Prize-winning composer Anthony Davis and librettist Joan Ross Sorkin. Based on Edith Wharton's novel, this opera delves into the complexities of race and social class on a sugar plantation in Martinique. The performance will feature Act One of this two-act opera, showcasing a talented cast of emerging artists from notable conservatories and music schools.

**Creators:**
- **Anthony Davis:** Composer, winner of the 2020 Pulitzer Prize in Music for "The Central Park Five."
- **Joan Ross Sorkin:** Librettist, playwright, and screenwriter with extensive experience in opera and musical theatre.

**Cast:**
- **Anneliese Klenetsky:** Anna de Chantal
- **Erin Reppenhagen:** Madame de Chantal
- **Erik Grendahl:** George Darrow
- **Nicoletta Berry:** Sonya
- **Ryan Bryce Johnson:** Christophe de Chantal
- **Chantal Freeman:** The Invisibles, Soprano
- **Markel Reed:** The Invisibles, Baritone

**Synopsis:**
Set in 1911 on the Caribbean island of Martinique, "The Reef" tells the story of Anna Leath, an American widow trapped on a French sugar plantation. The opera explores themes of unrequited love and societal intolerance, heightened by the racial and class inequalities of the time. The Invisibles, a Greek chorus of islanders, provide social commentary and represent the natural forces governing the island.

**Post-Performance:**
A Q&A session with the opera’s creators will follow the performance.

**Ticket Information:**
- **Premium Tickets:** $50 (includes prime seating and an invitation to a post-show reception with an open bar and complimentary desserts)
- **General Admission:** $25
- **Student Tickets:** $10 (available in-person at the Merkin Hall box office or over the phone)

**Sponsors:**
- **Performance Sponsors:** Ken and Susan Kramer, National Endowment for the Arts ArtWorks grant
- **Reception Sponsor:** The Mount, Edith Wharton’s Home

**Additional Information:**
For directions and more details about the venue, visit the Merkin Hall website. Join us for an evening of compelling opera and insightful discussion.

The Reef

Kaufman Music Center

**Event Title:** Dances of Past and Future: Music of Stravinsky, Woolf, and Piazzolla

**Date and Time:** Saturday, February 10, 2024, from 2:30 PM to 4:30 PM

**Location:** Century Ballroom, Oddfellows Building, 915 E Pine St, Seattle, WA 98122

**Description:**
Immerse yourself in an afternoon of rhythmic excitement and musical exploration with the Seattle Metropolitan Chamber Orchestra's presentation of "Dances of Past and Future." This captivating concert features the music of Igor Stravinsky, Randall Woolf, and Astor Piazzolla, offering a journey through time with dances of distinctive character and emotion.

The program opens with Stravinsky's "Danses concertantes," a vibrant and spirited piece that sets the stage for an afternoon of dynamic performances. The concert then introduces a world premiere, Randall Woolf's "Faith is the Evidence," commissioned by SMCO, showcasing the enigmatic and innovative style of the Guggenheim Fellowship-winning composer. The journey concludes with Piazzolla's "Cuatro Estaciones Porteñas" (The Four Seasons of Buenos Aires), orchestrated by Desyatnikov for solo violin and strings, a mesmerizing blend of tango rhythms and classical forms.

Featuring the exceptional talent of violinist Rachel Lee Priday, whose performances with major international orchestras have been described by the Chicago Tribune as having "irresistible panache," and under the baton of conductor Geoffrey Larson, this concert promises to be an unforgettable exploration of music's power to evoke the past and inspire the future.

Join us at the historic Century Ballroom for an afternoon that celebrates the transformative power of music across time and cultures. Don't miss this unique opportunity to experience the world-class artistry of the Seattle Metropolitan Chamber Orchestra and its distinguished guests.

**Tickets:** Available online. For more information, visit the Seattle Metropolitan Chamber Orchestra's website.

**Contact Information:** For inquiries, please refer to the Seattle Metropolitan Chamber Orchestra's contact page on their official website.

Dances of Past and Future: Music of Stravinsky, Woolf, and Piazzolla

Oddfellows Building

Seattle Metropolitan Chamber Orchestra is joined by some of the world’s greatest aerial artists in a one-of-a-kind performance spectacular, just in time for Halloween. Carnevolar: DéComposition is a partnership with Emerald City Trapeze Arts and the School of Acrobatics and New Circus Arts, featuring a world-class flying trapeze act and other awe-inspiring aerial arts such as silks, contortion, and Chinese pole. The orchestra is expanded in size for this program, conducted by Geoffrey Larson.

Carnevolar: SMCO With Emerald City Trapeze Arts and SANCA

Emerald City Trapeze Arts

Immerse yourself in the enchanting world of classical music with the Seattle Metropolitan Chamber Orchestra's upcoming concert, "Singing Strings: Music of Respighi, Bologne, and Dvořák." This captivating performance is scheduled for Sunday, June 25, 2023, from 2:00 PM to 3:30 PM at the prestigious Town Hall Seattle.

Under the baton of Geoffrey Larson and featuring the virtuosic talents of violinist Caitlin Kelley, the concert promises an afternoon of exquisite music-making. The program includes Ottorino Respighi's "Ancient Airs and Dances Suite No. 3," a piece that reimagines Renaissance lute songs for the modern string orchestra, enveloping the audience in the dramatic and lush sounds of the past. Joseph Bologne, Chevalier de Saint-Georges' "Violin Concerto in G major, Op. 8 No. 2," showcases the brilliance of one of history's most remarkable Renaissance men, blending classical elegance with the spirited flair of the era. The concert will conclude with Antonín Dvořák's "Serenade for Strings in E major, Op. 22," a work celebrated for its rich Czech lyricism, lush textures, and dazzling virtuosity.

The event will take place in the Great Hall of Town Hall Seattle, located at 1119 8th Ave, Seattle, WA 98101. Directions and parking information can be found on the venue's website to ensure a seamless experience for all attendees.

Don't miss this opportunity to experience the beauty and power of string music performed by some of the most talented musicians in the Seattle area. Join us for an afternoon that promises to be a highlight of the cultural calendar.

Singing Strings: Music of Respighi, Bologne, and Dvořák

Town Hall Seattle

Join us for an enchanting evening with the Seattle Metropolitan Chamber Orchestra as we present "The Music of Couture: Stravinsky and Chanel’s Paris." This special concert event will take place on Friday, April 7, 2023, from 7:30 PM to 9:00 PM at The Forum at Town Hall Seattle, located at 1119 8th Avenue, Seattle, WA, 98101.

Celebrating 100 years since Coco Chanel sold her first bottle of No.5, this performance delves into the vibrant music that echoed through the burgeoning Parisian world of couture. The evening will feature "The Soldier's Tale," a dramatic suite by Igor Stravinsky, who was rumored to be Chanel's lover. The program also includes Germaine Tailleferre's dream-like "Image" and other exuberant pieces from Paris' Jazz Age, such as "The Creation of the World" by Darius Milhaud and "La revue de cuisine" by Bohuslav Martinů.

Under the baton of Geoffrey Larson, the orchestra will transport you to the heart of Paris with these captivating works. The concert will begin with a prelude at 7:00 PM featuring Jeremy Bacon on jazz piano, and will conclude with a postlude performance by Kim Maguire, jazz voice.

The Otto Bar will be open, offering refreshments within the intimate setting of Town Hall's Forum performance space. This is a unique opportunity to experience the intersection of music and fashion that defined an era, brought to life by the talented musicians of the Seattle Metropolitan Chamber Orchestra.

For directions, parking information, and to learn more about this not-to-be-missed event, please visit our website.

Geoffrey Larson

Conductor

Events

Past events

24 - 30 Aug, 2024

Faust · Berkshire Opera Festival

Apr 10, 2024

The Reef · Berkshire Opera Festival

Future and recently performed repertoire

Conductor in La revue de cuisine by Martinů

Seattle Metropolitan Chamber Orchestra

Conductor in Serenade for Strings by Dvořák

Seattle Metropolitan Chamber Orchestra

Conductor in Image for Piano Four-Hands by Tailleferre

Seattle Metropolitan Chamber Orchestra

Conductor in The Soldier's Tale Suite by Stravinsky

Seattle Metropolitan Chamber Orchestra

Conductor in Antiche danze et arie per liuto by Respighi

Seattle Metropolitan Chamber Orchestra

Conductor in Danses concertantes by Stravinsky

Seattle Metropolitan Chamber Orchestra

Conductor in Faith is the Evidence by Woolf

Seattle Metropolitan Chamber Orchestra

Conductor in Violin Concerto in G major, Op. 8 No. 2 by Saint-Georges

Seattle Metropolitan Chamber Orchestra

Conductor in The Creation of the World by Milhaud

Seattle Metropolitan Chamber Orchestra

About

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