PREformances with Allison Charney Launches 2016-17 Classical Concert Series at the JCC Manhattan

Of the 50 million global visitors who come to NYC each year, an impressive number arrive in search of the best performances classical music has to offer. New York City's celebrated performance spaces - Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, and the Metropolitan Opera - are not only household names in many languages, they are also akin to sacred spaces. Yet savvy audience members know that in NYC sublime performances can take place anywhere. Driven by the desire to participate in the elusive "star is born" premiere of either a new work, new production or ground breaking performance by an artist - audience cognoscenti often seek the lesser known performance spaces that dot the New York cultural landscape.

One such venue is the Goldman Sonnenfeldt Auditorium, located in the Lambert Center for Arts + Ideas at the JCC Manhattan in NYC's Upper West Side and home to "PREformances With Allison Charney." This unique classical concert series, launching its 8th Anniversary Season on September 26th, is hosted and curated by series founder, soprano Allison Charney.

Season eight of "PREformances with Allison Charney" begins on September 26th with operatic fireworks, headlined by Metropolitan Opera artists, Greek mezzo-soprano Karolina Pilou showcasing material from her upcoming Metropolitan Opera debut as Berta in Barber of Seville and leading Metropolitan Opera tenor Adam Klein performing some of his newest repertoire. Concert pianist and PREformances favorite Joel Fan will perform selections from his upcoming Chopin recording. Host Allison Charney will sing pieces from her 2017 recital tour; accompanied by PREformances official collaborative pianist, Craig Ketter. "PREformances with Allison Charney" 2016-17 concert series continues on Monday November 7, 7:30pm, Monday, December 5, 12:30pm, Monday, February 6, 12:30pm, Monday, March 13, 7:30pm and Monday, April 3, 12:30pm

With Performances, Allison Charney opens a virtual stage door through which audiences meet extraordinary performers in an intimate concert setting, featuring repertoire which anticipates her guest artists' performances on the world's most prestigious concert hall stages. During the format of the concert audience will gain insight into the artists and music performed which Allison says "are not Google-able." Featured guests regularly include classical music's most distinguished artists - Alan Gilbert, Music Director, New York Philharmonic; Metropolitan Opera tenor William Burden and Maria Zifchak, mezzo-soprano; Ru-Pei Yeh, cellist with the New York Philharmonic; David Cerutti, co-principal violist, Orchestra of St. Luke's; and concert soloists Navah Perlman, pianist, Carol Wincenc, flutist and Joel Fan, pianist - all having valued and benefited from Performances intimate, personal and interactive concert experience.

The inspiration for PREFORMANCES draws from host Allison Charney's personal perspective as both an audience member and performer whose experience includes singing Puccini's leading soprano roles with New York City Opera and opera companies throughout the country. "In each concert, PREFORMANCES seeks toprovide artists and audience the unique experience obtained in an intimate concert venue where traditional boundaries between performer and audience are deconstructed and reimagined" said Allison. "While PREFORMANCES concerts are professionally rehearsed and not impromptu, the experimental dimension of the performance, allowing artists the opportunity to explore new material outside of the intended performance context, is fully realized."

Located on 76th Street and Amsterdam, Goldman Sonnenfeldt Auditorium is a key cultural asset of the JCC Manhattan, a vibrant non-profit community center on the Upper West Side and home to the Lambert Center for Arts + Ideas, presenter of PREFORMANCES WITH ALLISON CHARNEY. The cornerstone of progressive programming in Manhattan, the JCC serves over 55,000 people annually through 1,200 programs each season that educate, inspire, and transform participants' minds, bodies, and spirits. Since its inception, the JCC has been committed to serving the community by offering programs and services that reach beyond neighborhood boundaries. Programs at the JCC reach people at all stages of their lives, and serve the entire family and community. Proceeds from PREFORMANCES WITH ALLISON CHARNEY help support the pivotal work of The Basser Center for BRCA and the breadth of arts programing at the JCC.

PREFORMANCES WITH ALLISON CHARNEY

With Guest Artists mezzo-soprano Karolina Pilou, tenor Adam Klein and concert pianist Joel Fan

Thursday September 26th 12:30 PM

The Goldman Sonnenfeldt Auditorium

JCC Manhattan, Lambert Center for Arts + Ideas

334 Amsterdam Avenue at West 76th Street, NY

Accessible by Subway: 1/2/3 to 72nd St.; Bus: M7 or M11 to West 75th Street

TICKETS: General Admission $15, JCC Members $10;

Please call 646.505.5708 to reserve $5 Senior-discounted tickets

Purchase tickets online at JCC Manhattan PREFORMANCES WITH ALLISON CHARNEY