Tristan und Isolde

Tristan und Isolde

One World Symphony
Sung Jin Hong, Artistic Director and Conductor
One World Symphony Vocal Artists

Richard Wagner: Tristan und Isolde (highlights, 1865)

Be spellbound by one of the world’s most arresting love stories: Richard Wagner’s Tristan und Isolde. Based on a medieval Celtic epic and inspired by his affair with Mathilde Wesendonck, Wagner’s Tristan follows the passionate story of a love that cannot be fulfilled — even the musical climax and resolution are denied until the drama culminates with Isolde’s transfiguration. It leaves one to wonder: is Tristan und Isolde an impassioned letter to Mathilde, an attempt to make Wagner himself the artistic benchmark against which his predecessors and contemporaries will be measured, or ultimately a miracle play exposing the deepest human emotions?

Program length: 2 hours and 30 minutes with intermission

Composer-Conductor Sung Jin Hong is the artistic director of One World Symphony. Mr. Hong’s upcoming composition commissions include a piano concerto for Lloyd Arriola, a chamber work for Project 60/40, world premiere orchestration of Messiaen’s Quatuor pour la fin du temp, Sidewalk Sketches (2010 world premiere) for September Concert Foundation, and the symphonic poem Eye of the Storm(2010 world premiere) for One World Symphony commissioned by West Village Concerts. Mr. Hong’s guest conducting engagements include Lyrique-en-mer in France, Stadt Wien Konservatorium in Vienna, Royal Northern Conservatory in Manchester, Tulsa Symphony, Tulsa Ballet, Manhattan School of Music, Mannes, Redlands University, Bradley University, Western Illinois University, Great Music for a Great City. Mr. Hong had the honor of being chosen by Kurt Masur to participate in a series of masterclasses and conduct in a concert with Manhattan School of Music Symphony. He made his international recording debut as a conductor with classical music’s largest record label Naxos.

Performing the roles of the producer and Brangäne in Tristan und Isolde, Adrienne Metzinger is a founding member, graphic designer, managing director, and stage director of One World Symphony. Ms. Metzinger had the honor of singing our National Anthem to begin New York City’s televised 2003 Veteran’s Day Parade as well as at a ceremony honoring, then Senator, Hillary Clinton held by the United Spinal Association. She made her Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall debut singing the music of Kurt Weill in a benefit concert for the American Red Cross. Ms. Metzinger has made numerous appearances in One World Symphony’s opera productions: Poulenc’s The Dialogues of the Carmelites (The First Prioress), Johann Strauss’s Die Fledermaus (Orlofsky), Barber’s Vanessa (The Baroness), Richard Strauss’s  Ariadne auf Naxos (Dryade) and  Elektra (Clytemnestra’s Trainbearer), Verdi’s  Otello (Emilia), Janácek’s  The Cunning Little Vixen (Forester’s Wife, Dog), Tchaikovsky’s  Eugene Onegin (Larina), and Handel’s  Giulio Cesare (Cornelia). Her solo concert repertoire with One World Symphony include Berlioz’s Les Nuits d’Été, Britten’s Ceremony of Carols, Bach’s Magnificat, and Mendelssohn’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Ms. Metzinger has also performed world premiere works by Kyle Gann, Joan Dawidziak and Stan Grill.

Soprano Celeste Siciliano returns to One World Symphony performing the role of Isolde for the first time. She made her debut with One World Symphony performing the Four Last Songs by Richard Strauss in September 2010. She holds a Masters degree in Applied Voice from the University of Delaware and a Bachelors of Music from The University of the Arts in Philadelphia. Ms. Siciliano has toured and studied in England, Wales, Austria and the United States. Honors include First Prize/Vocal Category in The Delaware Contest for Young Musicians, The Jeffrey Alan Eschmann Award for Vocal Merit, The University of the Arts Vocal Award and The Joseph & Ernestine Cairnes Scholarship. She has sung with The Johanna Meier Opera Theater Institute, Atlantic Coast Opera, The Orchestra Society of Philadelphia, Opera Project of New Jersey, Delaware Classical Showcase, Morning Star Players and Music Group of Philadelphia. Ms. Siciliano is currently pursuing a career in opera and is studying with Conrad Osborne in New York City.

Erin Carr is making her debut with One World Symphony performing her first Isolde. Ms. Carr has performed throughout the United States and Germany. Ms. Carr has sung Rosalinde in Die Fledermaus with Brooklyn Repertory Opera and Madame Lidoine in Dialogues of the Carmelites at Resonanz Summer Festival. Also she premiered the role of Deborah in The Veil of Forgetfulness. Other roles include Fiordiligi in Così Fan Tutte, Ms. Grose in Turn of the Screw, The Monitor in Suor Angelica. She has had regular chorus appearances with Tulsa Opera and Light Opera Oklahoma and also performs frequently as a soloist and recitalist; most recently at Resonanz Summer Festival in Albany, Westside Opera, Interchurch Concert Series and Christ and St Stephens Church. Ms. Carr continues to study voice with the fabulous Heidi Skok. She grew up in Tulsa, Oklahoma, splitting her time between horseback riding and playing the piano. She attended the University of Tulsa, and received a Bachelors of Music in vocal performance.

Tenor Shawn Thuris (Tristan) is making his debut with One World Symphony singing both performances of Tristan und Isolde. He brings a spectrum of vocal colors and experience in seven languages to his work on the recital platform, before an orchestra and on the operatic stage. Mr. Thuris has performed nine leading roles in New York and Los Angeles, along with numerous recitals, concerts and oratorios, and has given masterclasses at East Central University of Oklahoma. Last season also saw Mr. Thuris make his international debut with a recital in Okayama, Japan. His versatile performances and repertoire include Siegmund in Die Walküre, Radamès in Aïda, Mario in Tosca, Luigi in Il tabarro, and Hoffmann in Les Contes d’Hoffmann, Eisenstein in Die Fledermaus, Bacchus in Ariadne auf Naxos, Don José in Carmen, and the world premiere of a chamber work by Sharon Farber with Pacific Serenades. He has sung at Orange County Performing Arts Center, Redlands Bowl Festival, UNLV, and the Bruno Walter Auditorium at Lincoln Center. Mr. Thuris trained as a baritone at Pomona College, then made the change to tenor at Santa Monica College, where he completed his studies with “A Tribute to Lauritz Melchior,” an orchestral recital of scenes from Die Meistersinger, Otello, Siegfried, and Tristan und Isolde, and Danish songs. Mr. Thuris has given many recitals of art song repertoire with distinguished pianists such as Kirill Gliadkovsky, Robert Edward Thies, and Steven Vanhauwaert, and has been a soloist in oratorios of Bach, Handel, Lloyd Webber and Mozart.

Bass Duncan Hartman returns to One World Symphony performing the role of King Mark in Tristan und Isolde. With One World Symphony, Mr. Hartman has previously performed as Mephistopheles in Faust, Lodovico in Otello, and Publio in La Clemenza di Tito.His career has encompassed success in opera, concert and recital. Internationally, he has sung with the New Israeli Opera, toured Europe with the New Bulgarian National Opera and the Teatro Lirico di Milano, and appeared with the Orquesta Sinfonica Nacional de Mexico. U.S. engagements include leading roles with Opera Colorado, Dayton Opera, Sarasota Opera, Nashville Opera, Boise Opera, Greater Buffalo Opera, Virginia Opera, Opera Roanoke, Opera Camerata and New York’s Dicapo Opera Theatre. Concert appearances include Carnegie Hall, the Tulsa Philharmonic, Flint Symphony, Connecticut Symphony, Yorktown Symphony, Jefferson Symphony and New York’s One World Symphony. As a winner of the Artists International Auditions he was presented in recital at Weill Recital Hall. He has received awards from the National Opera Association, Licia Albanese-Puccini Foundation, Liederkranz Foundation, Wagner Society of New York, and New Jersey Association of Verismo Opera. He was the inaugural recipient of the Naomi Music Productions and Recordings Rising Star Opera Award, and a Finalist in the Altamura/Enrico Caruso International Voice Competition.

Ronald Frank Madden, bass-baritone, has performed with Chicago’s Lyric, Baltimore, Virginia, Annapolis, Western, and Michigan Opera and summer festivals at Wolf Trap, Chautauqua and Lake George. He played Escamillo in Peter Brook’s Tony Award winning La Tragedie de Carmen for its entire run at Lincoln Center’s Vivian Beaumont Theatre and was a semi-finalist in the Metropolitan Opera National Auditions. Mr. Madden has worked with such American composers as Aaron Copland, Thomas Pasatieri, and Ellie Siegmeister. Ned Rorem chose him to sing the role of the servant, Jean, in a revival of his opera Miss Julie, which he also recorded for the Painted Smiles label. Other principal roles include Scarpia, Marcello, Schaunard, Figaro, Almaviva, Guglielmo, Dandini, Basilio, and Tarquinius in Britten’s The Rape of Lucretia. He is a front stage member of New York’s legendary Blue Hill Troupe with whom he has performed Arac (Princess Ida), Dr. Daly (The Sorcerer) and Don Alhambra (The Gondoliers). He is currently preparing a recital featuring the works of Russian composers. Mr. Madden is making his debut with One World Symphony as King Mark in Tristan und Isolde.

Mezzo-soprano Monica Hershenson Thuris returns to perform with One World Symphony in the role of Brangäne in Tristan und Isolde. She recently made her debut with One World Symphony as First Prioress in The Dialogues of the Carmelites. She is quickly becoming known for a voice of surprising power and clarity and for her magnetic stage presence. In Los Angeles she performed La Zia Principessa (Suor Angelica), Marcellina (Le nozze di Figaro), Mother (Hansel and Gretel), Voice of Antonia’s Mother (Les contes d’Hoffmann), Dritte Dame (Die Zauberflöte), Alisa (Lucia di Lammermoor) and Madame Bancelin (Manon Lescaut by Auber). Since moving to New York in 2007, she has performed the roles of Carmen (Carmen), Waltraute (Die Walküre), revisited Dritte Dame (Die Zauberflöte) and enjoyed an entertaining departure as Prince Orlofsky (Die Fledermaus). A native of Santa Monica, California, she has been a musician since childhood. Soon after discovering her operatic voice at Santa Monica College, she decided on a career in singing. She currently lives in New York with her husband, tenor Shawn Thuris.


Friday, May 13, 2011
St. Ann and the Holy Trinity
Brooklyn Heights

Sunday, May 15, 2011
Holy Apostles Church
Manhattan