Kevin Deas News

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.' 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.

In March, the BPO will celebrate classical music's most beloved and influential composer with a festival, including his groundbreaking Ninth Symphony.

In March, the BPO will celebrate classical music's most beloved and influential composer with a festival, including his groundbreaking Ninth Symphony.

In the second installment of the Columbus Symphony's American Roots Festival, guest bass-baritone Kevin Deas returns to perform some of George Gershwin's greatest music including extensive selections from his glorious opera Porgy and Bess, including “Summertime,” “It Ain't Necessarily So,” “Bess,” and “You Is My Woman Now.” Gershwin's brilliant and bluesy Piano Concerto and an orchestral suite by jazz legend Duke Ellington paying tribute to Martin Luther King, Jr. completes the bill. Led by guest conductor John DeMain, the program will also feature guest pianist Xiayin Wang, soprano Jonita Lattimore, and the Columbus Symphony Chorus.

Now enjoying near-record subscription numbers and unparalleled community appreciation during Music Director Carl St.Clair's 25th-anniversary season, Pacific Symphony today announces the 2015-16 Hal and Jeanette Segerstrom Family Foundation Classical Series—packed with familiar favorites, exciting world premieres and hidden gems. Bookended by popular Beethoven works and featuring superstar guest artists like violinist Midori, and pianists André Watts and Conrad Tao, Maestro St.Clair's season includes repertoire by popular composers including Beethoven, Brahms, Tchaikovsky, Dvorák, Gershwin, Vivaldi and more. The Symphony's opera and vocal initiative, “Symphonic Voices,” continues with Puccini's “Turandot,” while the critically acclaimed American Composers Festival enters its 15th year with a spotlight on the king of instruments: the organ.

A Czech-born composer, Antonin Dvorák's arrival in America in 1892 had an overwhelming influence on the future of American music. The CSO's American Roots Festival will trace the imprint of 'America' on classical music and the evolution of the 'American sound' through Dvorák's works as well as those of Joplin, Gershwin, Copland, Ellington, and more.