Take note
Thomas Young
After a little re-tuning of the program, the Newport Symphony Orchestra at the Ocean’s winter concert season continues this Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 6 and 7, at the Newport Performing Arts Center.
Led by Music Director and Conductor Adam Flatt, the concert will feature world-renowned operatic and concert tenor Thomas Young.
“The COVID situation continues in constant flux, so it appeared prudent to make a few program substitutions in order to reduce our numbers on stage while retaining the thematic thrust of the program,” Maestro Flatt said. “Fortunately, in art every situation is an opportunity! Thomas Young most graciously advocated for masterpieces by Henry Purcell and George Frideric Handel which are performed with a small orchestra. It is a dream of a program, an evening not to be missed.”
Young will serve as narrator for Joseph Schwantner’s well-known dramatic melodrama ”New Morning for the World, Daybreak of Freedom," featuring texts from the speeches of Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr.
He will sing stirring arias from George Frideric Handel’s “Jephtha,” Henry Purcell’s “Come, ye sons of Art'' and Felix Mendelssohn’s “St. Paul.”
The concert begins with William Grant Still’s charming “Serenade,” a work that includes traditional American melodies and harmonies that express his heritage and individual compositional voice.
Young is a Grammy- and Clio Award-winning lyric tenor who has appeared as a principal soloist in the major concert halls and opera houses of some 30 countries.
In addition to his distinguished performance career, he serves as professor of music at Sarah Lawrence College and is in demand as a conductor, clinician and master class specialist.
Known for his unique dramatic and musical intelligence, beauty of tone and exceptional technique, Young is recognized as today's foremost interpreter of tenor roles in contemporary opera and can be heard on many recordings, some of which were Grammy-nominated.
The performance on Saturday includes a pre-concert talk by Conductor Adam Flatt at 6:45 pm, with the concert beginning at 7:30 pm. The Sunday performance is at 2 pm. Tickets are $27 and $42, plus fees, $10 for students.
The Newport Performing Arts Center is located at 777 West Olive Street. For more information, go to newportsymphony.org or call 541-265-2787.