Lawrence Brownlee Performs at Emory, 3/22

International opera tenor and Atlanta resident Lawrence Brownlee performs at Emory's Schwartz Center for Performing Arts on Friday, March 22, at 8 p.m., part of his 2013 US solo recital tour. Noted pianist Martin Katz accompanies him. They will perform works ranging from Giuseppe Verdi to traditional African American spirituals.

Selections by Verdi-"Ad una stella"; "Lo Spazzacamino"; "Il tramonto"; and "Brindisi"-open the evening and have previously been recorded by Brownlee and Katz on their 2006 album "Italian Songs" (EMI). The pair will also perform several songs by Francis Poulenc. The evening continues with pieces by Joseph Marx, an Austrian composer known for his lyricism.

In the second half of the program, Brownlee moves away from the European and bel canto repertoire he's known for, performing "Cinco canciones populares argentinas" by Argentinian composer Alberto Ginastera. Drawing from popular folk songs and Latin rhythms, Ginastera wrote the piece during Juan Perón's regime as protest in favor of democratic principles and artistic freedom. A work by contemporary composer Ben Moore follows. Finally, Brownlee's recital program will close with several traditional spirituals, arranged for Brownlee by his friend and collaborator Damian Sneed.

The concert is part of the 2012-2013 Flora Glenn Candler Concert Series. Single concert tickets are $50. Details about the March 22 event can be found at http://www.arts.emory.edu/brownlee