Kevin Deas News

For the centenary of America's favorite musical son Leonard Bernstein, two of his much-loved works

The Las Vegas Philharmonic and Music Director Donato Cabrera announced the 2018 - 2019 concert season today, which will include 13 performances from September 15, 2018 - May 11, 2019 at The Smith Center for the Performing Arts.  This marks the orchestra's 20th concert season and Cabrera's 5th season as Music Director for the Las Vegas Philharmonic.  The upcoming season begins with works by Leonard Bernstein as part of a world-wide celebration of his 100th birthday and the orchestra performs selections from West Side Story and Candide.  Other composers featuring prominently in the new season include Bach, Beethoven, Brahms, Mozart, Tchaikovsky, John Williams and others. The critically-acclaimed horror film Psycho will be presented in full on the large screen with the orchestra performing the entire spine-tingling score live in a concert for film and music lovers alike in October.   In November, a piano concerto composed by Philip Glass and commissioned by the Las Vegas Philharmonic as part of a consortium of orchestras will be performed by pianist Simone Dinnerstein.  Two holiday concerts in December will delight with nostalgia and feature a special reading of 'Twas the Night Before Christmas as well as powerful vocal performances by Kristen Hertzenberg and Travis Cloer.  Once again, we dedicate an entire evening to epic film scores by John Williams and perform music spanning four decades of fan favorites from films including Star Wars, Close Encounters of the Third Kind, Harry Potter, and Memoirs of a Geisha in January.  The orchestra features two of its own principal musicians, De Ann Letourneau (violin) and Andrew Smith (cello), as guest soloists in February's An Evening of Brahms.  For the first time, the orchestra is joined by the group Time For Three, an American trio that boasts an uncommon mix of virtuosity and showmanship on music from Bach to Brahms in addition to originals and their own arrangements of everything from bluegrass to mash-ups of hits by the Beatles, Justin Timberlake and more at the March 2019 concert.  In April, the second installment of the Music Unwound initiative with the National Endowment for the Humanities explores Czech composer Antonin Dvo?ak and his New World Symphony.  The Philharmonic's chorus-in-residence, the Las Vegas Master Singers will perform at the holiday concerts in addition to May's presentation of Beethoven's Symphony No. 9. Marking the third year of the orchestra's American German Cultural Exchange Fellowship, violinist Thomas Reif will perform Mendelssohn's Violin Concerto in May's season finale. In a finale befitting a 20th Anniversary celebration, acclaimed vocalists Felicia Moore (soprano), Kelley O'Connor (Grammy Award-winning mezzo-soprano), Sean Panikkar (tenor) and Raymond Aceto (bass) will also perform on Beethoven's Symphony No. 9.

The centennial of renowned American composer Leonard Bernstein is celebrated throughout the National Philharmonic's 2018-2019 concert series at The Music Center at Strathmore. Performing compositions that influenced Bernstein, as well as some of his very own famous works, the National Philharmonic will be the only symphony orchestra dedicating most of its 2018-2019 season to the works surrounding the legendary composer. 

WWFM The Classical Network, located on Mercer County Community College's West Windsor Campus, will present "Deep River: The Art of the Spiritual," featuring the Washington-based PostClassical Ensemble and bass-baritone Keven Deas in concert Friday Feb. 16 at 8 p.m. at Princeton Theological Seminary's Miller Chapel.

Richmond, Virginia Music Director Steven Smith will lead the Richmond Symphony for the seventh Altria Masterworks concert of the season on Saturday, April 8 at 8pm and Sunday, April 9 at 3pm. The Symphony's Rennolds Memorial Concert will take place at the Dominion Arts Center's Carpenter Theatre and will feature Schubert's well-known “Unfinished” Symphony, as well as major choral works by Bruckner and Vaughan Williams. Joining the Symphony on stage will be the Richmond Symphony Chorus under the direction of Erin R. Freeman and guest vocalists Michelle Areyzaga (soprano) and Kevin Deas (bass-baritone).

The Houston Symphony will celebrate Christmas with Houston's premier performances of Handel's English-language oratorio 'Messiah.' Grammy-winning conductor Stephen Stubbs will make his Houston Symphony debut leading the concert from the harpsicord.

The Houston Symphony will celebrate Christmas with Houston's premier performances of Handel's English-language oratorio “Messiah” at 8 p.m. Dec. 16-17 and 2:30 p.m. Dec. 18. Grammy-winning conductor Stephen Stubbs will make his Houston Symphony debut leading the concert from the harpsicord.

The Houston Symphony will celebrate Christmas with Houston's premier performances of Handel's English-language oratorio 'Messiah.' Grammy-winning conductor Stephen Stubbs will make his Houston Symphony debut leading the concert from the harpsicord.

The Houston Symphony will celebrate Christmas with Houston's premier performances of Handel's English-language oratorio “Messiah” at 8 p.m. Dec. 16-17 and 2:30 p.m. Dec. 18. Grammy-winning conductor Stephen Stubbs will make his Houston Symphony debut leading the concert from the harpsicord.

The Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra begins its 2016-17 season on Sept. 17. After well-received summer concerts, JoAnn Falletta brings Western New York a new season filled with drama, theatrics, superstars and rising stars.

The Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra begins its 2016-17 season on Sept. 17. After well-received summer concerts, JoAnn Falletta brings Western New York a new season filled with drama, theatrics, superstars and rising stars.

Perhaps the most epic choral work ever composed, Beethoven's monumental Ninth Symphony, which includes the famous last movement, “Ode to Joy,” has filled concert venues around the world for close to two centuries, yet has never lost its ability to thrill. A musical wonder considered by many to be Beethoven's greatest work, his massive and majestic Ninth fills Irvine Meadows Amphitheatre with pure radiance during Pacific Symphony's second concert of Summer Festival 2016. Led by Music Director Carl St.Clair, this crown jewel of the season boasts a huge orchestra, full chorus and a spine-tingling vocal quartet. The heart-welling program also includes a number of other beloved and moving pieces including Aaron Copland's “Fanfare for the Common Man,” Samuel Barber's “Adagio for Strings,” John Williams' “Liberty Fanfare” and his “Hymn to the Fallen” from the film “Saving Private Ryan.”

Perhaps the most epic choral work ever composed, Beethoven's monumental Ninth Symphony, which includes the famous last movement, “Ode to Joy,” has filled concert venues around the world for close to two centuries, yet has never lost its ability to thrill. A musical wonder considered by many to be Beethoven's greatest work, his massive and majestic Ninth fills Irvine Meadows Amphitheatre with pure radiance during Pacific Symphony's second concert of Summer Festival 2016. Led by Music Director Carl St.Clair, this crown jewel of the season boasts a huge orchestra, full chorus and a spine-tingling vocal quartet. The heart-welling program also includes a number of other beloved and moving pieces including Aaron Copland's “Fanfare for the Common Man,” Samuel Barber's “Adagio for Strings,” John Williams' “Liberty Fanfare” and his “Hymn to the Fallen” from the film “Saving Private Ryan.”

Orange County, Calif.—March 22, 2016—Pacific Symphony announces a blockbuster Summer Festival 2016 designed to evoke the memories of the last 30 years with exhilarating and iconic music for the final season at Irvine Meadows Ampitheatre before its scheduled closure. Warm pleasant evenings, picnic baskets flowing with delectable goodies, surrounded by family and friends, are only the cherry on the top—for those planning their summer around five exceptional musical experiences under the stars. The Symphony's 2016 Summer Festival kicks off with a “July 4 Spectacular,” featuring a symphonic tribute to Michael Jackson's music, culminating in a magnificent fireworks display! Then, Music Director Carl St.Clair leads an ode to joy with Beethoven's famous Ninth Symphony, followed by a night at the movies with John Williams memorable score from one of the best-loved films, “Raiders of the Lost Ark.” Next up is Sheena Easton and “The Spy Who Loves Me,” featuring memorable music from James Bond movies and more; and finally, the Symphony's summer goes out with a bang for the annual favorite, “Tchaikovsky Spectacular,” bursting with cannons and fireworks for the “1812” Overture!

Tune in to WCRB 99.5 this Sunday, February 7 at 7:00 pm, for a broadcast of Boston Baroque's last season's opera production of Handel's Agrippina led by founder and music director Martin Pearlman.

August 24, 2015 – Richmond, Virginia The Richmond Symphony will kick off the 2015-16 Season with two performances of one of the most beloved works of all time: Beethoven's Ninth Symphony tonight, September 12 at 8pm and Sunday, September 13 at 3pm at Richmond CenterStage's Carpenter Theatre. It's a celebration not to be missed when Music Director, Steven Smith leads a collaborative performance featuring the Richmond Symphony, the Richmond Symphony Chorus and soloists Kishna Davis-Fowler (soprano), Susan Platts (mezzo-soprano), Marco Panuccio (tenor), and Kevin Deas (bass).

BUFFALO, NY - The Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra begins its 2015-16 season on Sept. 16. The season celebrates the 75th anniversary of Kleinhans Music Hall, with masterworks like Beethoven's Eroica Symphony and Elgar's Enigma Variations, guest artists including Jason Alexander andCeltic Woman, and innovative programming such as a three-day festival exploring Aaron Copland's artistic development and concerts blending rock and symphonic music.

Orange County, Calif.—Sept. 4, 2015—Pacific Symphony and Music Director Carl St.Clair open the 2015-16 Hal and Jeanette Segerstrom Family Foundation Classical Series with Beethoven's monumental hymn to human freedom and brotherhood, his Symphony No. 9, “Choral,” featuring the soul-stirring “Ode to Joy.” This magnificent union between symphony orchestra and voices features Pacific Chorale and four world-class opera vocalists, soprano Mary Wilson, mezzo-soprano Milena Kiti?, tenor John Bellemer and bass-baritone Kevin Deas, who sing the dramatic and dynamic solo passages in the fourth movement. The program opens the orchestra's 37th season with a rare opportunity to hear “The Promise of Living” from Aaron Copland's opera, “The Tender Land,” a choral piece with a similar message of thanksgiving and neighborly love. For more information or to purchase tickets, call (714) 755-5799 or visit www.PacificSymphony.org.

August 24, 2015 – Richmond, Virginia The Richmond Symphony will kick off the 2015-16 Season with two performances of one of the most beloved works of all time: Beethoven's Ninth Symphony on Saturday, September 12 at 8pm and Sunday, September 13 at 3pm at Richmond CenterStage's Carpenter Theatre. It's a celebration not to be missed when Music Director, Steven Smith leads a collaborative performance featuring the Richmond Symphony, the Richmond Symphony Chorus and soloists Kishna Davis-Fowler (soprano), Susan Platts (mezzo-soprano), Marco Panuccio (tenor), and Kevin Deas (bass).

The New Amsterdam Singers (NAS), led by Music Director Clara Longstreth, will present Golgotha, a 90-minute oratorio for chorus, orchestra, organ, and soloists by the Swiss composer Frank Martin (1890-1974) in its first New York City performance since 1952, on Sunday, March 13, 2016, at 3:00 p.m., as part of the Trinity Wall Street concert series, at Trinity Wall Street Church, 74 Trinity Place. The soloists will be soprano Meredith Lustig, alto Avery Amereau, tenor Dann Coakwell, bass Tyler Duncan (Jesus), and bass Kevin Deas.