Frederica von Stade, Samuel Ramey and Richard Stillwell Join For Farewell Concert 4/22

On Thursday, April 22 at 8:00 p.m., acclaimed mezzo-soprano Frederica von Stade, with pianist Martin Katz, sings her New York farewell concert in Stern Auditorium/Perelman Stage. Her varied program includes works by some of the greatest contemporary and 20th century American composers: Ned Rorem, Jake Heggie, Virgil Thomson, Aaron Copland, Lee Hoiby, Leonard Bernstein, Carol Hall, William Bolcom, and Stephen Sondheim. In addition, Ms. von Stade sings works by Ravel, Poulenc, Mahler, and Massenet, among others. The complete program is listed below.

Joining her on stage are special guest performers: baritone Richard Stilwell, bass-baritone Samuel Ramey, and cellist Emil Miland.

About the Artists
Described by The New York Times as "one of America's finest artists and singers," Frederica von Stade continues to be extolled as one of the music world's most beloved figures. Known to family, friends, and fans by her nickname "Flicka," the mezzo-soprano has enriched the world of classical music for three decades.

Ms. von Stade's career has taken her to the stages of the world's great opera houses and concert halls. She began at the top, when she received a contract from Sir Rudolf Bing during the Metropolitan Opera auditions, and since her debut in 1970 she has sung nearly all of her great roles with that company. In January 2000, the company celebrated the 30th anniversary of her debut with a new production of Lehár's The Merry Widow specifically for her, and in 1995, as a celebration of her 25th anniversary, the Metropolitan Opera created for her a new production of Debussy's Pelléas et Mélisande. In addition, Ms. von Stade has appeared with every leading American Opera Company, including San Francisco Opera, Lyric Opera of Chicago, and Los Angeles Opera. Her career in Europe has been no less spectacular, with new productions mounted for her at Teatro alla Scala, Royal Opera Covent Garden, the Vienna State Opera, and the Paris Opera. She is invited regularly by the finest conductors, among them Claudio Abbado, Charles Dutoit, James Levine, Kurt Masur, Riccardo Muti, Seiji Ozawa, André Previn, Leonard Slatkin, and Michael Tilson Thomas, to appear in concert with the world's leading orchestras, including the Boston and Chicago Symphony Orchestras, The Cleveland Orchestra, New York Philharmonic, The Philadelphia Orchestra, San Francisco Symphony, London Symphony Orchestra, Washington's National Symphony, and the Orchestra of La Scala.

She has made over 70 recordings with every major label, including complete operas, aria albums, symphonic works, solo recital programs, and popular crossover albums. Her recordings have garnered six Grammy nominations, two Grand Prix du Disc awards, the Deutsche Schallplattenpreis, Italy's Premio della Critica Discografica, and "Best of the Year" citations by Stereo Review and Opera News. She has enjoyed the distinction of holding simultaneously the first and second places on national sales charts for Angel/EMI's Show Boat and Telarc's The Sound of Music.

Frederica von Stade is the holder of honorary doctorates from Yale University, Boston University, the San Francisco Conservatory of Music (which holds a Frederica von Stade Distinguished Chair in Voice), the Georgetown University School of Medicine, and her alma mater, the Mannes School of Music. In 1998 Miss von Stade was awarded France's highest honor in the Arts when she was appointed as an officer of L'Ordre des Arts et des Lettres, and in 1983 she was honored with an award given at The White House by President Reagan in recognition of her significant contribution to the arts.

Martin Katz has been dubbed "the gold standard of accompanists" by The New York Times. His 40-year career has taken him to five continents, collaborating with the world's most celebrated singers in recital and recording. Marilyn Horne, Frederica von Stade, Kathleen Battle, David Daniels, Karita Mattila, and Jose Carreras are among his regular partners, and he has recorded for the RCA, CBS, BMG, EMI, and Decca labels. Mr. Katz is also active as a conductor and editor. He has led opera productions for San Francisco's Merola program, the BBC, Tokyo's NHK, as well as innumerable performances in Ann Arbor, where he has taught at the University of Michigan for over 20 years. His editions of baroque and bel canto operas have been performed in Houston, Ottawa, and the Metropolitan Opera. At the University of Michigan, he has chaired the program in collaborative piano and coached vocal repertoire for singers and pianists alike. Also an author, Mr. Katz's first book, The Complete Collaborator, has been published by Oxford University Press.

Program Information
Thursday, April 22 at 8:00 p.m.
Stern Auditorium/Perelman Stage
Frederica von Stade, Mezzo-Soprano
MARTIN KATZ, Piano

With special guests:
Richard Stilwell, Baritone
Samuel Ramey, Bass-Baritone
Emil Miland, Cello

New York Farewell Concert

Ned Rorem "I Am Rose"
LOUIS GUGLIELMI "La Vie en Rose"
Jake Heggie "Paper Wings"
Maurice Ravel "Tout gai!"
Virgil Thomson "A Prayer to Saint Catherine"
Aaron Copland "Why Do They Shut Me Out of Heaven?"
Lee Hoiby "The Serpent"
Francis Poulenc "Voyage à Paris"
Francis Poulenc "Hôtel"
Ned Rorem "Early in the Morning"
MARC BERTHOMIEU "Jardin d'Albert Kahn"
MARC BERTHOMIEU "Bois de Boulogne"
Leonard Bernstein "Some Other Time" from On the Town
Gustav Mahler "Lob des hohen Verstandes"
Jules Massenet "Va, laisse couler mes larmes" from Werther
Ambroise Thomas "Me voici dans son boudoir" from Mignon
Carol Hall "Jenny Rebecca"
Jake Heggie "A Route to the Sky"
Maurice Ravel "Nicolette"
William Bolcom "Amor"
Ambroise Thomas "Connais-tu le pays" from Mignon
PAULINE VIARDOT "Die Sterne"
Stephen Sondheim "Send in the Clowns" from A Little Night Music
Jake Heggie "Primary Colors"

Sponsored by Chubb Group of Insurance Companies

Bank of America is the Proud Season Sponsor of Carnegie Hall.

Ticket Information
Tickets priced at $36, $43, $55, $74, $99, and $109 are available at the Carnegie Hall Box Office, 154 West 57th Street, or can be charged to major credit cards by calling CarnegieCharge at 212-247-7800 or by visiting the Carnegie Hall website, carnegiehall.org.

For Carnegie Hall Corporation presentations taking place in Stern Auditorium/Perelman Stage, a limited number of seats, priced at $10, will be available day-of-concert beginning at 11:00 a.m. Monday through Saturday and 12:00 noon on Sunday until one hour before the performance or until supply lasts. The exceptions are Carnegie Hall Family Concerts and gala events. These $10 tickets are available to the general public on a first-come, first-served basis at the Carnegie Hall Box Office only. There is a two-ticket limit per customer.

In addition, for all Carnegie Hall presentations in Stern Auditorium/Perelman Stage a limited number of partial view (seats with obstructed or limited sight lines or restricted leg room) will be sold for 50% of the full price. For more information on this and other discount ticket programs, including those for students, Notables members, and Bank of America customers, visit carnegiehall.org/discounts.