Glimmerglass teams up with New York Festival of Song for a free concert

Critically-acclaimed pianist Steven Blier, Artistic Director of the New York Festival of Song, will  accompany members of Glimmerglass Opera’s Young American Artists Program for We Open in Paris, a concert of selections from French operettas and Cole Porter’s Paris musicals. The free program will be presented Friday, August 15, at 4:30 p.m. at the Alice Busch Opera Theater in Cooperstown, New York.

We Open in Paris marks the inaugural collaboration between Glimmerglass Opera and the New York Festival of Song. “2008 marks the 20th anniversaries of both Glimmerglass Opera’s acclaimed Young American Artists Program and the renowned New York Festival of Song. Mr. Blier’s support of and passion and advocacy for the song recital mirrors Glimmerglass Opera’s own enthusiastic pursuit of innovative and exciting recital programming for its Young American Artist Recital Series,” said Don Marrazzo, Glimmerglass Opera’s Director of Artistic Operations.

Joining Blier are sopranos Caitlin Lynch and Katrina Thurman, mezzo-soprano Liza Forrester, tenor Gennard Lombardozzi, and baritone Adrian Kramer.

“As the 2008 Festival Season also marks Glimmerglass’s first foray into the world of musical theater with Porter’s Kiss Me, Kate, We Open in Paris is the perfect complement to the company’s 2008 repertory,” Marrazzo said.

Free tickets may be reserved by calling the Glimmerglass Opera Box Office at (607) 547-2255. We Open in Paris is made possible by a grant from The Aaron Copland Fund for Music, Inc.

Glimmerglass opened its 2008 Shakespeare-inspired Festival Season July 5 with Cole Porter’s Kiss Me, Kate and July 6 with Handel’s Giulio Cesare in Egitto. The American fully-staged premiere of Wagner’s Das Liebesverbot opened July 19 and Bellini’s I Capuleti e i Montecchi opened July 26. The 2008 productions run in repertory through August 24 at the Alice Busch Opera Theater in Cooperstown, New York. For additional information and tickets, call (607) 547-2255 or visit the Glimmerglass Opera website.