2015 BURSTS WITH COLOR AS ARS LYRICA IGNITES THE NEW YEAR WITH A FIESTA TO REMEMBER The Grammy-nominated early music ensemble continues its annual New Year’s Eve gala and concert tradition Bright colors, festive music, and savory dishes filled the air at the Hobby Center when the clock struck midnight. The Fiesta continued with soprano Melissa Givens and mezzo-soprano Cecilia Duarte leading the joyful crowd with an a capella “Auld Lang Syne” accompanied by Matthew Dirst, Artistic Director of Ars Lyrica Houston. The New Year’s Eve celebration began with the Pisco Portón sponsored ¡Felices Horas! (Happy Hour), with wonderful signature drink cocktails and buffet-style dinner of Spanish and Latin American cuisine. Dinner was then followed by the 10th annual concert ¡FELICES FIESTAS!, presented by the Grammy-nominated early music ensemble and curated by Grammy-nominated guitarist Richard Savino. This holiday inspired program featured soprano Melissa Givens, mezzo-soprano Cecilia Duarte, tenor Eduardo Tercero, bass Paul Shipper, and guitarist Richard Savino in vocal duets, chamber concertos and zarzuela excerpts by Juan Del Enzina, Manuel Joseph Quiroz, and Sebastian Duron. The artists were rewarded for their exceptional performances with two robust ovations and an encore. The evening raised more than $15,000 for Ars Lyrica Houston and supports the organization to continue its mission of providing Houston area audiences with world-class, historically-informed performances of music from the 17th and 18th centuries. Among the Ars Lyrica supporters were: Ars Lyrica founder and artistic director Matthew Dirst, Ars Lyrica Board members Birgitt van Wijk, Richard Buffett, Richard and Eleanor Viebig, Dorry Shaddock, Jeanie Flowers, Joyce Fox; host committee members and Ars Lyrica’s supporters: Shelby Allen and Polly Johnson, Jano and John Kelley, Yvonamor Palix, Sujiro and Jane Seam, Joan and Mike Weltzien, Dean Dalton, and Zsofia Sztranyiczki. Ars Lyrica Houston’s 11th anniversary Power of Music season continues with the powerfully romantic performance featuring duets by Monteverdi and cantatas by Vivaldi and Scarlatti during Love Letters, where two rising stars of the opera world return to the Zilkha Hall stage for this special Valentine’s Day treat: countertenor John Holiday and mezzo-soprano Ellie Jarrett Shattles, performing Saturday, February 14, 2015 at 7:30pm in Zilkha Hall at the Hobby Center for the Performing Arts. Tickets to the Love Letters performance are $22 (student), $36 to $57 depending on section. For more information or to purchase tickets to Love Letters, visit arslyricahouston.org or call the Hobby Center box office at 713.315.2525. Love Letters is part of the third annual Houston Early Music Festival, which runs from February 13–15, 2015 across the city in collaboration with Ars Lyrica, Mercury – The Orchestra Redefined, the Bach Society, Piping Rock Singers, and Houston Early Music. Seeking to capitalize on the local growth of early music programming and period-instrument expertise, HEMF is an international platform for showcasing Houston’s growing talent pool and flourishing early music organizations. For full festival program, please visit: houstonearlymusicfestival.org.
Posted on: Wed, 07 Jan 2015 22:11:24 +0000
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