VIDEO: Ted Sperling, Phillip Boykin Introduce Master Voices' THE PIRATES OF PENZANCE

Assisted by Pirate King Phillip Boykin, conductor/director Ted Sperling spends a lovely day at New York's South Street Seaport to introduce Master Voices' upcoming New York City Center concert production of Gilbert & Sullivan's THE PIRATES OF PENZANCE.

MasterVoices is a New York City-based performing arts organization that celebrates singing and the art of musical storytelling. Founded as The Collegiate Chorale almost 75 years ago by legendary conductor Robert Shaw, the organization is one of the jewels of NYC cultural institutions, and has achieved international acclaim as well. Recent performances at Carnegie Hall and at Lincoln Center have included Ricky Ian Gordon's The Grapes of Wrath, Gilbert and Sullivan's The Mikado, Boito's Mefistofele, Eric Idle's Not the Messiah (He's a Very Naughty Boy), and many of the great choral works, including Brahms' Requiem, Tippett's A Child of Our Time, Mahler's 8th Symphony, Glass' Koyaanisqatsi, and the Verdi Requiem.On the eve of our 75th Anniversary, we take the new name MasterVoices to better represent who we are: the combined voices of singing artists, both professional and avocational, with those of composers, librettists, designers and directors, to provide masterful performances of music in many genres. Some of the solo artists who have sung with us recently include Stephanie Blythe, Victoria Clark, Nathan Gunn, Kelli O'Hara, Eric Idle, Eric Owens, Bryn Terfel, and Deborah Voigt. We are also pleased to work regularly with the Orchestra of St. Luke's.

Under the artistic direction of Ted Sperling, MasterVoices is embarking on two exciting new projects: a two-program series with semi-staged operas and operettas performed in English at New York City Center, and a new outreach program called "Bridges", which will invite neighborhoods of NYC to learn and make music with us.