The Episcopal New Yorker |

By HERB KATZ

In an evening of music, readings, and interfaith prayers that contemplates a time of peace on earth, this year’s Cathedral Annual New Year’s Eve Concert for Peace features special guest artists soprano Lauren Flanigan and The New York Chamber Sinfonia and New York Festival Chorus, Glen Barton Cortese, conductor. Returning as master of ceremonies is Emmy award-winning broadcast journalist and co-host of the CBS Morning Show Harry Smith, a dedicated Cathedral Trustee.

The concert begins at 7 p.m., and admission is free with the exception of a limited number of reserved seats sold through www.ticketweb.com.

Lauren Flanigan makes an encore performance to the Cathedral where her amazing voice has thrilled audiences at New Year’s Eve Concert for Peace for many years.

She made headlines during the Metropolitan Opera’s 1992-93 season by substituting for an ill Aprile Millo in Verdi’s I Lombardi with no stage rehearsal and opposite Luciano Pavarotti. She did the performance six more times, one of which was televised.

The New York Times has compared her with “Callas at her most confident.” Newsday called her “an adrenaline diva.” Time magazine described her as “the thinking person’s diva.”

A champion of contemporary works with a schedule still plenty full of Verdi and Mozart, San Francisco native Flanigan dominates the stage in any role she tackles: Christine in Marvin David Levy’s Mourning Becomes Electra with the Lyric Opera of Chicago, the Governess in Britten’s The Turn of the Screw for Seattle and Glimmerglass Operas, The Bride in Judith Wier’s The Vanishing Bridegroom at Opera Theatre of St. Louis, the title role of the City Opera world premiere of Hugo Weisgall’s Esther.

Making her debut at the San Francisco Opera, Flanigan began her relationship with City Opera in 1991, following in the next year with a Metropolitan Opera debut in the world premiere of John Corigliano’s Ghosts of Versailles. In 1996, she debuted at Milan’s La Scala as Abigaille in Verdi’s Nabucco.

“Anyone who shares a stage with Flanigan runs the risk of seeming insubstantial,” said Newsday’s Justin
Davidson after her Intermezzo performance. “The show belongs to Flanigan,” trumpeted Shirley Fleming in Opera Review.

In a review of her first performance as Norma with the Cincinnati Opera, CityBeat pointed out that “the vocal
demands of the role can be described as nothing short of treacherous. It takes a world-class operatic talent to conquer the role. And Flanigan does. Her performance is nothing short of magnificent.”

Renowned not only for her performances of Verdi, Donizetti, Rossini, and Mozart, Flanigan is also a champion of contemporary roles. She has performed over 70 different operas during her career at the greatest opera houses in the world, including Milan’s La Scala and New York’s Metropolitan Opera.

Maestro Cortese is entering his second season as The Western New York Chamber Orchestra’s Artistic Director and Conductor. He is the Music Director of the Oregon Mozart Players and the New York Chamber Sinfonia, and has appeared as guest conductor with prestigious orchestras throughout the U.S. and Europe and is a former Assistant Conductor to the New York Philharmonic. He is a veteran of many New Year’s Eve Concerts for Peace at the Cathedral.

He has appeared as guest conductor with the New Jersey Symphony, Florida Philharmonic, Mexico City Philharmonic, North Carolina Symphony, New Orleans Philharmonic, the International Chamber Orchestra, the Belarus Sate Philharmonic, Noorhollands Philharmonisch, Orquesta Altenburg Landeskappele Orchestra, Hong Kong Sinfonietta and the Sofia Festival Orchestra.

Appointed Music Director of the Oregon Mozart Players in 2003, he was resident conductor of the Florida Philharmonic during the 2001-2002 season. Cortese holds a Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the Manhattan School of Music where he was where he was principal conductor and Director of Orchestral Studies from 1988 through 2000. He has completed 19 seasons as Music Director of the New York Chamber Sinfonia.

Cortese’s opera and ballet credits include guest conductor with the Florida Grand Opera, New York City Opera, Joffrey II Ballet and the Elisa Monte Dance Company. He appeared regularly for five years as conductor for the Erick Hawkins Dance Company at Lincoln Center, the Kennedy Center and the Joyce Theatre and on national tours.

An 11 PM Eucharist follows the concert.

THE EPISCOPAL NEW YORKER
Cathedral News	November/December 2006
New Year’s Eve Concert Tops Cathedral Events Byline

By HERB KATZ In an evening of music, readings, and interfaith prayers that contemplates a time of peace on earth, this year’s Cathedral Annual New Year’s Eve Concert for Peace features special guest artists soprano Lauren Flanigan and The New York Chamber Sinfonia and New York Festival Chorus, Glen Barton Cortese, conductor. Returning as master of ceremonies is Emmy award-winning broadcast journalist and co-host of the CBS Morning Show Harry Smith, a dedicated Cathedral Trustee. The concert begins at 7 p.m., and admission is free with the exception of a limited number of reserved seats sold through www.ticketweb.com. Lauren Flanigan makes an encore performance to the Cathedral where her amazing voice has thrilled audiences at New Year’s Eve Concert for Peace for many years. She made headlines during the Metropolitan Opera’s 1992-93 season by substituting for an ill Aprile Millo in Verdi’s I Lombardi with no stage rehearsal and opposite Luciano Pavarotti. She did the performance six more times, one of which was televised. The New York Times has compared her with “Callas at her most confident.” Newsday called her “an adrenaline diva.” Time magazine described her as “the thinking person’s diva.” A champion of contemporary works with a schedule still plenty full of Verdi and Mozart, San Francisco native Flanigan dominates the stage in any role she tackles: Christine in Marvin David Levy’s Mourning Becomes Electra with the Lyric Opera of Chicago, the Governess in Britten’s The Turn of the Screw for Seattle and Glimmerglass Operas, The Bride in Judith Wier’s The Vanishing Bridegroom at Opera Theatre of St. Louis, the title role of the City Opera world premiere of Hugo Weisgall’s Esther. Making her debut at the San Francisco Opera, Flanigan began her relationship with City Opera in 1991, following in the next year with a Metropolitan Opera debut in the world premiere of John Corigliano’s Ghosts of Versailles. In 1996, she debuted at Milan’s La Scala as Abigaille in Verdi’s Nabucco. “Anyone who shares a stage with Flanigan runs the risk of seeming insubstantial,” said Newsday’s Justin Davidson after her Intermezzo performance. “The show belongs to Flanigan,” trumpeted Shirley Fleming in Opera Review. In a review of her first performance as Norma with the Cincinnati Opera, CityBeat pointed out that “the vocal demands of the role can be described as nothing short of treacherous. It takes a world-class operatic talent to conquer the role. And Flanigan does. Her performance is nothing short of magnificent.” Renowned not only for her performances of Verdi, Donizetti, Rossini, and Mozart, Flanigan is also a champion of contemporary roles. She has performed over 70 different operas during her career at the greatest opera houses in the world, including Milan’s La Scala and New York’s Metropolitan Opera. Maestro Cortese is entering his second season as The Western New York Chamber Orchestra’s Artistic Director and Conductor. He is the Music Director of the Oregon Mozart Players and the New York Chamber Sinfonia, and has appeared as guest conductor with prestigious orchestras throughout the U.S. and Europe and is a former Assistant Conductor to the New York Philharmonic. He is a veteran of many New Year’s Eve Concerts for Peace at the Cathedral. He has appeared as guest conductor with the New Jersey Symphony, Florida Philharmonic, Mexico City Philharmonic, North Carolina Symphony, New Orleans Philharmonic, the International Chamber Orchestra, the Belarus Sate Philharmonic, Noorhollands Philharmonisch, Orquesta Altenburg Landeskappele Orchestra, Hong Kong Sinfonietta and the Sofia Festival Orchestra. Appointed Music Director of the Oregon Mozart Players in 2003, he was resident conductor of the Florida Philharmonic during the 2001-2002 season. Cortese holds a Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the Manhattan School of Music where he was where he was principal conductor and Director of Orchestral Studies from 1988 through 2000. He has completed 19 seasons as Music Director of the New York Chamber Sinfonia. Cortese’s opera and ballet credits include guest conductor with the Florida Grand Opera, New York City Opera, Joffrey II Ballet and the Elisa Monte Dance Company. He appeared regularly for five years as conductor for the Erick Hawkins Dance Company at Lincoln Center, the Kennedy Center and the Joyce Theatre and on national tours. An 11 PM Eucharist follows the concert.

New Year’s Eve Concert Tops Cathedral Events