Hudson Valley Music Club November Professional Concert

On Monday, November 22 at 1:00 PM, the Hudson Valley Music Club will present the second concert of its 97^th season. A distinguished ensemble will perform Eric Nathan’s song cycle, “Some Favored Nook,” with texts adapted by librettist Mark Campbell. The songs take place in Civil War-era America and are inspired by the significant correspondence between an unlikely pair: Emily Dickinson and Thomas Wentworth Higginson. The work places Dickinson and Higginson’s writings in the context of the Civil War and the patriarchal society of the time, and uses the texts as a lens to view the social, political and cultural issues of this early chapter in American history – abolition, civil rights, women’s rights, the effects of war, as well as many of the themes that fill Dickinson’s poetry, such as love and death – all issues that are as relevant today as they were in Dickinson’s time.This work was composed during a Frederic A. Juilliard/Walter Damrosch Rome Prize Fellowship at the American Academy in Rome (2013-14), while in residence at Copland House, Cortlandt Manor, New York, as a recipient of the Copland House Residency Award (2017), and as part of a Visiting Artist residency at the American Academy in Rome (2017).

About the artists:

Eric Nathan, composer

Eric Nathan’s (b. 1983) music has been called “as diverse as it is arresting” with a “constant vein of ingenuity and expressive depth” (San Francisco Chronicle), “thoughtful and inventive” (The New Yorker), and as a “marvel of musical logic” (Boston Classical Review). Nathan is a 2013 Rome Prize Fellow and 2014 Guggenheim Fellow, and has garnered acclaim internationally through performances by Andris Nelsons and the Boston Symphony Orchestra, National Symphony Orchestra, Berlin Philharmonic’s Scharoun Ensemble, soprano Dawn Upshaw, violinist Jennifer Koh, at the New York Philharmonic’s 2014 and 2016 Biennials, and at the Tanglewood, Aspen, Aldeburgh, Cabrillo, Yellow Barn and MATA festivals. Nathan currently serves as Assistant Professor of Music in Composition-Theory at the Brown University Department of Music.

Tony Arnold, soprano

Celebrated as a “luminary in the world of chamber music and art song” (Huffington Post), Tony Arnold is internationally acclaimed as a leading proponent of contemporary music in concert and recording as a “convincing, mesmerizing soprano” (Los Angeles Times She is a member of the intrepid International Contemporary Ensemble and enjoys regular guest appearances with leading ensembles, presenters, and festivals worldwide. With more than 30 discs to her credit, Arnold has recorded a broad segment of the modern vocal repertory with esteemed chamber music colleagues. She is a first prize laureate of both the Gaudeamus International and the Louise D. McMahon competitions. A graduate of Oberlin College and Northwestern University, Arnold was twice a fellow of the Aspen Music Festival as both a conductor and singer. She currently is on the faculties of the Peabody Conservatory and the Tanglewood Music Center.

William Sharp, baritone

Baritone William Sharp has a reputation as a singer of artistry and versatility, garnering acclaim for his work in concert, recital, opera and recording. He has appeared with most major American symphony orchestras including those of New York, Chicago, Washington, Boston, Baltimore, San Francisco, and Los Angeles. He has created world premiere performances and recordings of works by composers such as Leonard Bernstein, John Harbison, and many others. Sharp’s discography of several dozen discs encompasses music spanning 900 years, from the 12^th century to today. His 1990 world premiere recording of Leonard Bernstein’s last major work, Arias and Barcarolles won a GRAMMY Award. He made his New York recital debut in 1983, Kennedy Center debut in 1984, and Carnegie Hall recital debut in 1989. Sharp has taught voice at the university level since 1977 and joined the Peabody Conservatory faculty in 2002.

 Seth Knopp, piano

Seth Knopp, was a founding member of the Peabody Trio, recipient of the 1989 Naumburg Award, and has been the Artistic Director of Yellow Barn since 1998. He is also the Artistic Director of Soundings: New Music at the Nasher, a series of concerts at the Nasher Sculpture Center in Dallas, Texas. After making its Alice Tully Hall debut, the Peabody Trio performed on the most important chamber music series, nationally and internationally. Knopp studied with Leonard Shure at New England Conservatory, Nathan Schwartz at San Francisco Conservatory, and with Leon Fleisher. He serves on the piano and chamber music faculties at the Peabody Institute.

Individual membership is $50. Dual membership (living at the same address) is $75. Tickets at the door will be $15.

We have a new venue. All concerts will be held at the Irvington Presbyterian Church at 25 North Broadway, Irvington, NY 10533.  We are following a Covid protocol of being fully vaccinated and masked for all attendees with social distancing being observed.

For more information, 914-591-6851

www.hudsonvalleymusicclub.org