Pittsburgh Performing Arts Nonprofit launches its second decade of genre-defying performances across the Pittsburgh region.
Pictured: Resonance Works’ May 2023 production of Verdi’s Macbeth • Photo by Alisa Innocenti
Resonance Works has announced its 2023-24 season, expanding for the first time into all four seasons with intimate productions packed full of Pittsburgh premieres and music spanning four centuries.
“As we step into our second decade, we are continuing to bring multiple modes of classical music performance to communities across the Pittsburgh region, bringing audience and artist into close proximity,” says Founder and Artistic & General Director Maria Sensi Sellner. “We are thrilled to expand for the first time into the summer months, engaging with the year-round cultural life of the region.”
The genre-defying performing arts company’s 11th season opens in October, the week of the company’s 10th birthday.
Cinderella
Resonance Works celebrates its 10th birthday weekend in style with an immersive new production of Pauline Viardot’s CINDERELLA. Each performance begins with a royal soiree with cocktail hour and cabaret. The audience will be guests at Prince Charming’s ball, woven into the magic of this beloved fairy tale.
Viardot’s charming retelling of Charles Perrault’s classic fairy tale combines bubbly, operetta-style musical numbers, hilarious dialogue, and enchanting melodies for a romantic musical evening that is fun for the entire family. CINDERELLA features a new expanded English version by long-time ResWorks collaborator Ben Robinson, which reimagines the Fairy Godmother as Viardot herself and the pianist as her dear friend, famed composer Frédéric Chopin.
Acclaimed soprano Emily Pulley directs the production and stars as the Fairy Godmother/Viardot, bringing decades of experience from the top opera companies across the U.S. Pittsburgh Opera Resident Artist alum Shannon Jennings and Pittsburgh native Donovan Elliot Smith star as Cinderella and Prince Charming, making their Resonance Works debuts alongside soprano Katy Lindhart as sassy stepsister Maguelonne and tenor Gabriel Hernandez as the Prince’s right hand, Count Barigoule. Rounding out Cinderella’s not-so-functional family are long-time favorites Gillian Hassert and Patrick McNally. Robert Frankenberry brings his multidimensional talent to the piano as Frédéric Chopin, with violinist Maureen Conlon Gutierrez and cellist Elisa Kohanski.
Friday-Sunday, October 27-29, 2023 at The Studio at the Andrew Carnegie Free Library & Music Hall, Carnegie
This Love Between Us
The Resonance Chamber Orchestra and Chorus take center stage February 2 and 4, 2024, with THIS LOVE BETWEEN US, centered around Indian-American composer Reena Esmail’s 2016 work This Love Between Us: Prayers for Unity and Bach’s glorious Magnificat. One of the most exciting voices in music today, Esmail works between the worlds of Hindustani and Western classical music traditions, aiming to bring communities together by creating equitable musical spaces. This Love Between Us reflects on unity and kindness, juxtaposing texts from seven different religious traditions (and in seven languages!).
Pictured: Resonance Works’ performance of Bach’s Mass in B Minor at Fox Chapel Presbyterian Church • Photo by Alisa Innocenti
Building on the success of their “remarkable” (onStage Pittsburgh) Mass in B Minor last season, Bach’s effervescent Magnificat anchors the first half of the program along with Breaking Bread, a solo work by American composer Nkeiru Okoye, which serves as a kind of invocation for the mesmerizing sonic journey to come.
The spectacular group of soloists includes local favorite soprano Katy Williams, “velvet-toned” Pakistani-American soprano Samina Aslam, “impeccable” Sri Lankan-American mezzo-soprano Tahanee Aluwihare, multi-disciplinary bass Paul Chwe MinChul An, and accomplished sitar player and West Mifflin native Michael Griska.
February 2 and 4, 2024 at Fox Chapel Presbyterian Church and another venue TBA.
¡TUMBAO! A Celebration of Afro-Latin Music
Soprano Zuly Inirio takes the stage for ¡TUMBAO! A Celebration of Afro-Latin Music at the First United Methodist Church in Bloomfield. Thoughtfully curated by the artist herself, ¡TUMBAO! includes traditional Afro-Cuban and Afro-Dominican music and works by Montsalvatge, Bor, Lecuona, and others. Originating in Afro-Cuban music as a basic rhythm played on the bass, in Afro-Caribbean slang, “tumbao” has come to mean style, grace, rhythm, flair, panache, vigor, attitude, poise, confidence, and an unapologetic, in-your-face sense of self! This musical and visual celebration of Afro-Latin culture features pianist Amaury Morales and percussionist Hugo Cruz.
At First United Methodist Church, Bloomfield on Sunday, April 28, 2024
Pictured: Soprano Zuly Inirio
La donna del lago
For the first time, Resonance Works stretches its season into the summer with the Pittsburgh premiere of one of opera’s rarest sparkling jewels, Rossini’s LA DONNA DEL LAGO (The Lady of the Lake). The first of many Italian operas based on the works of Sir Walter Scott, this romantic masterwork features another operatic rarity: a heroine with agency, who – spoiler alert! – does not die! Filled with dueling high notes and coloratura fireworks, this story of love, loyalty, (and lochs!) in the Scottish highlands is a unique experience not to be missed.
Pictured: Mezzo-soprano Timothi Williams in Macbeth • Photo by Alisa Innocenti
LA DONNA DEL LAGO spotlights two returning members of Resonance Works’ artistic family: Timothi Williams brings her lush mezzo-soprano to the virtuosic title role of Elena alongside internationally-lauded tenor and Pittsburgh Opera Center alum Javier Abreu as Uberto (King James V in disguise!) The production team will be led by first-time Resonance Works collaborator Marni Raab as stage director, with Artistic Director Maria Sensi Sellner on the podium. Raab draws from a wealth of experience on Broadway and international stages and a background in dramaturgy. Damian Dominguez returns as costume designer, following a celebrated design in the “Flowers Meet Fashion: Inspired by Billy Porter” installation at Phipps Conservatory this past summer.
Friday & Sunday, June 28 & 30, 2024 at the Charity Randall Theatre, Oakland
TICKETS AND DETAILS
Season Subscriptions and Memberships for Resonance Works’ 11th season are on sale now. Single tickets for CINDERELLA will go on sale on September 14.
Categories: Preview, Season Listings
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