News from the Wagner Society

(A revision of the information issued on September 6th)                                          More information:

                                                                                                                       

                                                               Thomas Arthur (press)

                                                                                  Aurelius Fernandez at 301.907.2600 (general)

 

WASHINGTON, D.C., OCTOBER 10, 2006

 

The Wagner Society of Washington, D.C. Dedicates

The Emerging Singers Concert on October 20th to the Memory of

Thomas Stewart

 

Under the honorary patronage of His Excellency, Dr. Klaus Scharioth, Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany, the Wagner Society of Washington, D.C. will present the 13th Evelyn Lear and Thomas Stewart Emerging Singers Concert in the auditorium of the Germany Embassy at 4645 Reservoir Road, N.W., Washington, D.C. on Friday, October 20, 2006, at 7:30 P.M.  A reception with the artists and Evelyn Lear will follow immediately after the concert in the embassy. 

 

The concert will consist of an all-Wagner program of solos and scenes performed by four singers who have the potential for careers singing Wagner’s music.  The world-famous opera stars and teachers Evelyn Lear and the late Thomas Stewart selected and coached the singers, together with John Edward Niles, the Director of the Opera Theater of Northern Virginia.

 

Featured singers will be sopranos Kara Harmon and Deidra Gorton, tenor Jeffrey Springer, and baritone Jason Stearns.  The acclaimed Washington teacher and pianist, Betty Bullock, will accompany.  The complete concert program will be posted at the Wagner Society’s web site at www.wagner-dc.org. 

 

The Emerging Singers Program is a partnership established by the Wagner Society with Evelyn Lear and Thomas Stewart in 2000.  Its concerts provide enjoyment of Wagner’s music by the public and experience singing the Wagner repertoire to chosen singers.  Participating singers may receive further support from the Society to help advance their careers. A number of participants have gone on to promising engagements, both in the United States and in Europe.  Please see “The Wagner Singer” at the web site of the Wagner Society for more information about the rising careers of some of these singers.

 

Evelyn Lear and Thomas Stewart, two of the greatest singers of our times, had major careers that took them to all of the world’s important opera houses and festivals.  Both won prestigious awards, including Grammy awards for their recordings.  Reaffirming their places among the most famous and best remembered singers of the 20th Century, Deutsche Grammophone has just release a five-CD set of their recordings.  A feature article about Evelyn Lear’s career appeared in the September 2006 issue of “Opera News.”   Thomas Stewart died suddenly on  September 24 after his work with singers for this concert had begun; his work with Ms. Lear teaching another generation of Wagner singers lives in the singing of this13th Emerging Singers Program concert.

  

Admission to the concert and reception will cost $25 for members of the Wagner Society and $35 for others.  Advanced reservations are required and are limited to 200 people.  Society membership information and reservations for the concert and reception are available by calling the Society at 301.907.2600 and at the Society’s web page.  Plenty of street parking is available outside the embassy on Reservoir Road.

 

The Wagner Society of Washington, D. C. is a private, non-profit organization for the study and enjoyment of Wagner’s art.  The Wagner Society aims to have a significant role in the presentation of music in the nation’s capital and in the development of vocal talent.  It welcomes new members and contributions.  Membership forms are available at the following addresses.

 

The Wagner Society of Washington, D.C.

P.O. Box 58213Washington, D.C. 20037 ■ Telephone 301.907.2600 ■ Facsimile 301.907.8671

www.wagner-dc.org