Celebrated mezzo-soprano J’Nai Bridges enchants listeners with beautifully nuanced, emotionally rich, and powerful performances.
A Groton Hill exclusive!
Hailed as “opera royalty” and “one of the leading mezzo-sopranos of her generation” (OperaWire), Grammy Award-winning J’Nai Bridges is a powerhouse of vocal artistry.
Celebrated for her mesmerizing portrayal of Nefertiti in Philip Glass’ Akhnaten at the Metropolitan Opera and as a definitive Carmen on two continents, Bridges captivates audiences with her sumptuous voice and commanding stage presence.
We’re kicking off the season with a trio of crowd-pleasers that will fill the hall with the Vista Philharmonic’s sound – big, dynamic, and impactful pieces our musicians love to play. We’ll open with a bright, bouncy, and energetic curtain raiser by one of Maestro Hangen’s favorite contemporary composers, Adolphus Hailstork. Saint-Saëns exquisite, rich, and romantic Cello Concerto follows, in the deft hands of concerto competition-winning cellist Nathaniel Taylor, who returns this season as a featured soloist. Rachmaninoff’s second Symphony closes out the program with a powerful, bold, and exceptionally romantic symphonic experience.
Experience the brilliance and emotional depth of the Baroque era with a program of masterworks from some of its greatest composers. Mezzo-soprano Meridian Prall brings expressive power to Giovanni Battista Ferrandini’s Il Pianto di Maria, a poignant and rarely heard gem. The orchestra shines in a vibrant suite from Rameau’s Les Boréades, J. S. Bach’s joyful Sinfonia to Cantata BWV 42, and the timeless elegance of Handel’s Water Music, Suite in F Major. A rich tapestry of sound, spirit, and splendor awaits.
Daniel Chong, violin Jessica Bodner, viola Jonathan Swensen, cello Charles Neidich, clarinet Roman Rabinovich, piano
CCMS Co-Artistic Directors Daniel Chong and Jessica Bodner are joined by legendary clarinetist Charles Neidich, Naumburg Award-winning cellist Jonathan Swensen, and the brilliant and expressive pianist Roman Rabinovich for a captivating program featuring works by Schumann, Fauré, and Messiaen. The concert begins with the whimsical and imaginative world of Schumann’s Märchenerzählungen, transitions into the warmth and lyrical beauty of Fauré’s Piano Quartet in C minor, and culminates in Messiaen’s profound and transcendent masterpiece, Quartet for the End of Time.