Phoenicia International Festival of the Voice

Official logo created in 2011

The Phoenicia International Festival of the Voice is an annual festival of vocal music held in Phoenicia, New York during the first week of August. The Festival was founded in 2010 and includes a variety of vocal music performances including opera, gospel music, world music, and musical theatre. In 2012 the Ulster County Regional Chamber of Commerce awarded the festival "Best Cultural Event of the year". Its Mission: Elevate the human spirit and enhance community through the power of voice and music. The Phoenicia International Festival of the Voice is a program of The Phoenicia Festival of The Voice Foundation.[1](

Elizabeth Futral performing at the 2010 festival

History

2010

The festival grew out of a one-off concert in 2009, "Opera under the Stars", to raise money for a children's playground in Phoenicia, a small hamlet in the Catskills. The concert was organized and performed by opera singers who live in Phoenicia—mezzo-soprano Maria Todaro and baritone Louis Otey. The success of the concert led to the first official festival the following year, a three-day event featuring performances by Elizabeth Futral and the Native American flutist Joseph Firecrow.

2011

The festival expanded to four days and offered 22 events attracting over 4,000 people to Phoenicia. Highlights included Mozart's Don Giovanni with a full orchestra conducted by Steven White, the Voices of Distinction Gala starring soprano Lauren Flanigan, and performances by gospel singer Rozz Morehead and Arabic oud master Simon Shaheen.

2012

In 2012, the festival attracted over 5,000 people. Festival highlights included a performance of Madama Butterfly, starring Yunah Lee and Richard Troxell, and a gala titled "Voice of Distinction: Broadway", featuring established Broadway professionals as well as newcomers. The festival closed with a presentation of Peter Schickele's 12 Months, a concerto for piano and choir, narrated by the composer and featuring Justin Kolb and Barry Banks.[2]

2013

The Voices of Distinction Gala celebrated the bicentennial of Richard Wagner and featured Jeanne Michele Charbonet, Victoria Livengood, Alfred Walker, Eduardo Villa, Babette Hierholzer and Jurgen Apell.[3][4] The festival's centerpiece was Verdi's Rigoletto. The opera, selected to honor the bicentennial of Verdi's birth, was conducted by Steven White with guest artists Barry Banks, Nancy Allen Lundy and Louis Otey. Other performances included a cantorial concert by Cantor Jack Mendelson of Westchester County's Temple Israel; Terrence McNally's Master Class, featuring Irene Glezos; Two's Company.. Three's a Crowd, a piano / orator collaboration concert with Carey Harrison and Justin Kolb; Spirit of Sephardad, featuring Gerard Edery. The festival concluded with Verdi's Requiem, conducted by David Wroe and featuring soloists Rosa D'Imperio, Maria Todaro, Stephan Kirchgraber and Eduardo Villa.[5][6]

Other features of the 2013 festival included a first-time offering of a vocal workshop available to the public, a gospel celebration concert, lectures, story telling for children and adults, and a master class for young singers.

http://www.watershedpost.com/2013/four-phoenicia-festival-voice-bigger-ever

2014

Voices of Distinction: Baroque with Brian Asawa, Barber of Seville with Lucas Meachem, Maria Todaro directed by Beth Greenberg, El Amor Brujo by Manuel de Falla, La Misa Criolla, Jose Todaro and his "Mediterranean Fiesta", The Seven Favorite Maladie of Ludwig van Beethoven by Carey Harrison with Justin Kolb, Gospel, Festival Orchestra and choir directed by David Wroe and Elizabeth Scott.

2015

Voices of Distinction: Red, White and Blues with Sheila Jordon, Jack Dejohnette, EliseTestone, Maria-Helena De Oliveira, David Bankston, Jose Todaro, Emily Drennan, introducing Lucia Legnini young local artist, under the baton of David Wroe with the Phoenicia international Festival of the Voice Chorus.Festival , S.Temperley's play Souvenir, The Medium by Menotti with Metropolitan opera star Victoria Linvengood, the premiere of Opera Do Not Go Gentle - The Last Days of Dylan and Caitlin by Robert Manno with Emilly Pulley , Philip Cutlip stage directed by Sam Helfrich with Lucas Meachem, Of Mice And Men, Opera by Carlisle Floyd with Malcolm MacKenzie, Michael R.Hendrick, Aaron Blake, Nancy Allen Lundy, American Classics concert with Lauren Flanigan, Bradley Smoak, Keith Phares, Jake Heggie, during that concert, Ricky Ian Gordon played for Lauren Flanigan the pieces he especially composed for her. The Cambridge Chamber singers: Music in the Time of Shakespeare and Cervantes, Barbershop Voices of Gotham, Down to The Roots: Inuit, Native American and Hawaiian singing art, Gospel with Ralphine Chlds, Sacred Harp: Shape Notes Workshop for All , Lectures and Masterclasses, The Little Night Music by Stephen Sondheim with Ron Raines, susan Powell, Rosaling Elias, Shelby Dangerfield, Darik Knutsen, Sarah Heltzel under the baton of Gerald Steichen. https://www.operanews.com/Opera_News_Magazine/2015/12/Reviews/PHOENICIA,_NY__The_Medium,_Of_Mice_and_Men.html

2016

The Bard and The British Isles , Opening Gala: rock The Beatles with the Paul Green Rock Academy featuring young local artist such as Diggy Lessard, son of Stefan Lessard, Kiss me Kate Stage direction: Lee Roy Reams, conductor: Gerald Steichen, Susan Powell, Richard White, Jennifer DiDominici, John Viscardi, Anthony Laciura, David Bankston, Sarah Stipe, Andrew Hoben, Thomas Pasatieri's Three Shakespearean Monologues with Lauren Flanigan, Jamilyn Manning-White, Douglas Martin, Enoch Arden with Narrator, Carey Harrison , son of Rex Harrison and Pianist Justin Kolb, Hamlet For Once and For All by Carey Harrison, A Spirited Journey on Land and Sea with Sing Out! CT young Voices Choral Group created by Alecia Evans, World Premiere: Muse Of Fire written and directed by local young playwright Brandon Cobalt with New Genesis Productions' most experienced young actors, Otello by Verdi under the baton of David Wroe, stage direction Beth Greenberg, Chorus Master David Mayfield, Limmie Pulliam, Eleni Calenos, Daniel Sutin, Aaron Blake, Bradley Smoak, Lindsay Ammann FofV Chorus and Orchestra, Sacred Harp: Shape Notes Workshop for All , Lectures and Masterclasses, grand finale was a Festiva Celtic Celebration with Ann Cragn Og, Joy Dunlop, Doimnic Mac Giolla Bhride, Noeleen Ni Cholla, Siobhan Butler, James Ruff, D'amby Project. https://hudsonvalleyone.com/2016/07/21/songs-of-healing-at-phoenicia-voice-fest/

Advisory board

Members of the Advisory Board of the Festival of the Voice include Roberto Alagna, Deborah Voigt, Frederica von Stade, Leon Botstein, Peter Schickele, Ira Siff and as of 2014, Georges Prêtre.[7]

References

  1. ↑ "Tonner nabs top Ulster business honor". Daily Freeman. August 26, 2012. Archived from the original on January 9, 2014. Retrieved 9 January 2014.
  2. ↑ Wise, Tad (August 1, 2011). "The Hills are alive". Roll Magazine. Retrieved 9 January 2014.
  3. ↑ Scherer, jenna (2013-07-30). "At four, the Phoenicia Festival of the Voice is bigger than ever". Watershedpost. Retrieved 9 January 2014.
  4. ↑ Solis, marie (July 1, 2013). "Climbing to a Crescendo". Chronogram. Retrieved 9 January 2014.
  5. ↑ Mitchell, Paula-Ann (August 1, 2013). "Phoenicia Festival of The Voice, a star-studded affair.". Daily Freeman. Retrieved 9 January 2014.
  6. ↑ "Phoenicia Festival of The Voice". OperaPulse.
  7. ↑ Phoenicia International Festival of The Voice. Board of Advisors
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