Opera & Song - An Autumn Concert: November 13, 2010

On Saturday, November 13, 2010 the San Francisco Cabaret Opera and Goat Hall Productions will present Opera and Song – An Autumn concert.  The concert will take place at 8:00 p.m. at the San Francisco Community Music Center and will feature new chamber operas and song cycles by Mark Alburger, John Bilotta, Edward Knight and Sylvia Rickard.

The Community Music Center is located at 544 Capp Street, San Francisco 94111.  Tickets are $15 general and $10 students.  There is a $2 discount when ordering tickets online at http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/129847

Program:
Song Cycles:
John Bilotta – YEATS SONGS
Andrew R. White, baritone; Hadley McCarroll, piano.

Edward Knight – LIFE IS FINE on poems by Langston Hughes
Raina Simons, soprano; Hadley McCarroll, piano.

Sylvia Rickard – THREE CABARET SONGS on poems by Dorothy Parker
Elizabeth Henry, soprano; Keisuke Nakagoshi, piano.

Chamber Operas:
Mark Alburger – JOB: A MASQUE
Featuring Kate Bautch, Heather Klein,
Harriet March-Page, Maria Mikheyenko, Suzanna Mizell,
Marilyn Pratt.

John Bilotta – TRIFLES
Featuring Michael Desnoyers, Alexandra Jerinic,
Nathan Kondrat, Nathan Marken, Maria Mikheyenko.

CHAMBER ENSEMBLE for operas:
Susanne Rublein, flute
Nora Adachi, clarinet
David Ryther, violin
Stephen Moore, viola
Joan Hadeishi, cello
Keisuke Nakagoshi, piano
Martha Stoddard, conductor

Concert #2 of the 8th Annual Festival of Contemporary Music

On Saturday, August 7th the second concert of the 8th Annual Festival of Contemporary Music took place.  This concert featured seven pieces, four of which were acoustic pieces and three were for instrument and electronics.  This was the first year in which we programmed three such pieces in one concert.  Actually, prior to this year we had programmed only one instrument and electronics piece total.  The setup for this concert provided a different set of challenges than we were used to, but we were able to get through each of these without many problems.

The acoustic pieces provided a wide variety of styles of music.  The first piece on the program was Paul Hembree's Passion for soprano, clarinet, percussion and double bass.  The concert ended with the final scene of John Bilotta's chamber opera Trifles.  I feel that this was our most ambitious program on the Festival yet.  All of the music was wonderfully performed and in spite of our best efforts the concert came off smooth and professional.  I am excited to see what next year brings!

8th Annual Festival of Contemporary Music - Press Release

The 8th Annual Festival of Contemporary Music will present two concerts—on Saturday, July 17, 2010 and Saturday, August 7, 2010.  Both concerts will begin at 8:00 p.m. at the San Francisco Community Music Center, 544 Capp Street.  This year’s Festival will feature twenty works by twenty composers.  Audience members will be able to meet the composers as all will be in attendance.  Tickets for each concert are $10 general admission and $5 for students, seniors and ARTSCard members.

The first concert, Saturday, July 17, 2010 will feature ten compositions of acoustic chamber music.  The spectrum of ensembles will include solo piano, solo guitar, and duos including voice, brass, piano, and harp.  The concert will include two world premieres of works by Brian Bice and Micheal Vickers as well as the American premiere of Canadian composer Sylvia Rickard’s Three Cabaret Songs.

The second concert, Saturday, August 7, 2010 will feature ten compositions of acoustic and electronic chamber music.  The spectrum of ensembles will include solo violin and solo piano, as well as works for acoustic instruments and electronics including bassoon, alto flute, soprano, clarinet, percussion, and bass.  This year we are pleased to end the Festival with the final scene of John Bilotta’s new chamber opera Trifles.

The Festival of Contemporary Music is presented under the direction of Brian Bice and John Bilotta.  Founded in 2003, the Festival of Contemporary Music has, prior to this year, presented 10 concerts featuring 82 compositions by 61 composers.  Among those works 15 have been world premiere performances.  This year marks the 8th Annual Festival and we are excited to present 20 more pieces during this two-concert event.

New Opera Premiere

Trifles a new opera by San Francisco Bay Area Composer is set to premiere on Thursday, June 17 and Saturday, June 19, 2010 at 8:00 p.m. at the Live Oak Theatre in Berkeley, CA.  The performances are a part of the Fresh Voices X Festival of New Works.  For more information visit the opera's website: www.triflesopera.com