Five Exquisite Singers to Present a Winter Recital of Songs and Romances

Warm yourself this winter with the gift of voice and song at The National Opera Center in NYC! On Saturday, January 28 at 7:30pm, five exquisite singers offer a diverse and moving recital of songs and romances you won't want to miss.

Performing stirring classics by Fauré and Donaudy, soprano Elizabeth Smith, who represented the Eastman School of Music at the Kennedy Center, has also performed as a soloist with the American Symphony Orchestra at Carnegie Hall. Tenor Chad Kranak, "with attractive lyric sound and very clear words" (Opera News), brings his vocal beauty and skill to Benjamin Britten's song cycle Winter Words.

Presenting an exciting variety of musical influences and emotions, bass Nicholas Hay, who sang for Pope Francis in 2015, intones both dramatic and comic pieces by Rachmaninoff, Tchaikovsky, Mussorgsky, Speaks, and Kohn. Metropolitan Opera mezzo-soprano Abigail Wright waxes poetic, offering a selection of fluid and at times amorous works by Brahms, Debussy, Schoenberg, and Satie. "With his fine voice" and "with his willingness to inhabit the role" (Voce di Meche), frequent violin sub for Phantom of the Opera on Broadway, baritone José Pietri-Coimbre rounds out the evening with moving art songs by Mahler, Schubert, Hahn, and Donaudy.

Adding his outstanding dexterity and sensitivity to every piece on this program, Canadian pianist Martin Néron is recognized for his passion for both the art song repertoire and linguistics. Praised as "an attentive partner" (Opera News), Mr. Néron has recorded different collections of French, Greek, and English art songs on the One Soul label, in addition to a program of songs by Mikis Theodorakis on the Romanos label. Mr. Néron has also recorded several concerts as a soloist and collaborative artist for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC).

Tickets are $20 and can be purchased in advance online at http://wintersongrecital.eventbrite.com. Seating is limited, so get yours today!