A NIGHT AT THE OPERA with Grace Chorale and Soprano Rebecca Nelsen

A Night At The Opera: Grace Chorale of Brooklyn, Rebecca Nelsen, Soprano, Gregory D'Agostino, Organ
Saturday Evening, May 4, 2024, at 7:00

St. Ann and the Holy Trinity Church, Brooklyn, NY

Brooklyn Chamber Orchestra

The Grace Chorale of Brooklyn

Philip Nuzzo, Conductor

Rebecca Nelsen, soprano

Gregory D'Agostino, organ

Join us for an evening of opera arias and overtures in the historic St. Ann's Church!

PROGRAM:

Giuseppe Verdi

Overture from Nabucco

“Va, pensiero" from Nabucco

“É strano!... Sempre Libera” from La Traviata

Pietro Mascagni

“Inneggiamo, il Signor non è morto”

from Cavalleria Rusticana

W.A. Mozart

“Oh smania! Oh furie! D'Oreste, d'Ajace”  from Idomeneo 

Richard Wagner

Overture from Rienzi 

“Freudig begrüßen wir” from Tannhäuser

Franz Lehar

"Ich bitte, hier jetzt zu verweilen" 

“Vilja Lied” (1870-1948)  from The Merry Widow

Richard Strauss

Festliches Präludium, Op.61 
Gregory D’Agostino, organ




BROOKLYN CHAMBER ORCHESTRA PRESENTS SOPRANO REBECCA NELSEN IN HER NEW YORK DEBUT IN A NIGHT AT THE OPERA, MAY 4

Featuring Epic selections from Strauss, Mozart, Verdi and More

NEW YORK, April 8, 2024 – Brooklyn’s premiere professional orchestra, the Brooklyn Chamber Orchestra is proud to present A Night at the Opera on Saturday, May 4 at the historical St. Ann and the Holy Trinity Church. The evening will feature renowned soprano Rebecca Nelson from Vienna Volksoper supported by the Grace Chorale. St. Ann's organist Gregory D'Agostino will make a rare appearance to perform Strauss' Festliches Präludium, Op.61.

The program, curated by Brooklyn Chamber Orchestra's Artistic Director and conductor Phil Nuzzo, will feature epic selections from the repertoire of Strauss, Mozart, Mascagni, Wagner and Verdi, offering audiences the captivating melodies and emotive narratives of these iconic composers in this one night only event. Nelson will perform arias from La Traviata, Nabucco, Tannhauser, Salome, Cavalleria Rusticana and more alongside the organization’s 48-piece orchestra and 120 voices of the Grace Chorale.

Nuzzo, reflecting on the inspiration behind bringing Rebecca Nelson to Brooklyn, shares, "Last January, during my time in Vienna, I had the privilege of witnessing Rebecca's remarkable debut as Hanna Glawari in Mariame Clément's intimate new production of The Merry Widow at the Vienna Volksoper. Her voice possessed an unparalleled power and beauty that resonated deeply within me. I couldn't shake the impression she left on me, and I knew instantly that she belonged on our stage in Brooklyn. Now, just over a year later, I am thrilled to bring her talent to our local community."

The Brooklyn Chamber Orchestra prides itself on its commitment to delivering world-class concerts with the highest artistic standards while providing a welcoming space for audiences to experience both renowned and emerging composers. A Night at the Opera exemplifies the orchestra's dedication to showcasing exceptional talent and creating enriching cultural experiences for all.

PERFORMANCE AND TICKET INFORMATION

A Night at the Opera will take place on Saturday, May 4 at 7:00 p.m. at St. Ann and the Holy Trinity Church.

Tickets start at $40 and are available for purchase at https://brooklynchamberorchestra.org/concerts/a-night-at-the-opera/

VENUE DETAILS

St. Ann and the Holy Trinity Church is located at 157 Montague Street in Brooklyn Heights and is accessible by 2,3,4,5, A, C, F and R trains.

ABOUT BROOKLYN CHAMBER ORCHESTRA

Founded in 2002, The Brooklyn Chamber Orchestra is committed to building a strong foundation for classical music in Brooklyn. The organization is committed to develop and sustain an orchestra of the highest artistic standards in Brooklyn; and to enrich and inspire through music, community engagement, and education.

ABOUT REBECCA NELSEN

Operatic soprano Rebecca Nelsen does not shy away from challenging roles. Recently, she has performed as Lulu, Violetta, Konstanze, Rosina, Marilyn Monroe, Susanna, and Countess Almaviva. She has also taken on roles such as Pamina, Gretel, and Clara in Porgy and Bess, as well as operetta roles like Laura in Der Bettelstudent and Hanna Glawari in The Merry Widow. Additionally, she has ventured into the Broadway repertoire with lead roles in musicals such as Kismet, Vivaldi the Musical, and Brigadoon, and has performed concert repertoire including Carmina Burana, Beethoven 9, and Mozart's Exultate Jubilate. Rebecca is also a specialist in modern opera and has performed lead roles in many critically acclaimed European and world premieres.

In her 22/23 Season, Rebecca starred in the Vienna Volksoper's critically acclaimed production of Mozart's The Magic Flute, reprising her favorite role as Pamina, and also sang as Hanna Glawari in The Merry Widow in her home venue. She anticipates her upcoming debut as Countess Almaviva in The Marriage of Figaro.

She will further star in two premieres at the Volksoper Vienna: as Konstanze in a new production of Mozart's The Abduction from the Seraglio ("Die Entführung aus dem Serail") directed by star director Nurkan Erpulat, and as Lara Lechner in the world premiere operetta The Final Conspiracy ("Die letzte Verschwörung") by Moritz Eggert.

Rebecca Nelsen earned her Bachelor's degree in Vocal Performance (summa cum laude) and her Master’s degree in German Literature at Texas Tech University. She was awarded a Fulbright Scholarship Grant that enabled her to continue her studies at the University for Performing Arts in Vienna, Austria, where she has lived and worked ever since.

ABOUT GRACE CHORALE

Grace Chorale of Brooklyn is a 120-member community chorus based in Brooklyn, New York. Conducted by Music Director Jason Asbury, the Chorale is dedicated to promoting and cultivating the art of choral singing in Brooklyn through performing a wide variety of choral music, including newly commissioned works, via concerts, partnerships and outreach.

ABOUT GREGORY D'AGOSTINO, ORGAN

Praised by The New York Times for “deft, powerful performances that got to the heart of
the music,” Organist Gregory D’Agostino has appeared at such well-known venues as
New York’s Lincoln Center, Charleston’s Piccolo Spoleto Festival, Tokyo’s Suntory Hall,
Beijing’s Grand National Theater, San Juan’s Casals Festival, London’s St. Paul’s
Cathedral, Paris’ Notre Dame Cathedral, Radio Hall Bratislava, West Point Military
Academy, and San Diego’s Spreckels Pavilion. As a concerto soloist, he has performed
with Japan’s NHK Symphony (live HD-TV national telecast), Moscow Chamber
Orchestra, Hong Kong Philharmonic, Slovak Radio Orchestra, Mainly Mozart Festival
Orchestra, American Classical Orchestra, Charleston Symphony, and at conventions of
the American Guild of Organists.
A versatile artist, Mr. D’Agostino has performed on-camera in rap and folk music videos
for Atlantic Records, his own organ transcriptions of jazz music, and collaborated as
organist and conductor with filmmaker Matthew Barney in his acclaimed Cremaster
series that was featured at the Guggenheim Museum in New York, Brooklyn Academy
of Music (BAM), San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, and the Barbican Centre
(London).
He has appeared as a featured guest on Public Radio International's "Pipedreams,"
National Public Radio’s “Performance Place,” “The Next Big Thing” and “Soundcheck,”
NHK Japan National Television, Czech Television, and Radio Prague. Mr. D’Agostino
received his doctorate from The Juilliard School and has served on the faculties of
Juilliard and Mannes The New School for Music. His recordings are available on the
Albany, Loft, Bridge, and Centaur labels. Visit his website: www.GregoryDAgostino.com.