The FirstARTS series of First United Methodist Church will host “A Grand Night for Singing!” featuring the fellows from the A.J. Fletcher Opera Institute of the University of North Carolina School of the Arts in concert at 7 p.m. Friday.
Accompanied by renowned pianist and vocal coach Angela Vanstory Ward, the concert will feature a rarely heard performance of Claude Debussy’s L’enfant Prodigue (The Prodigal Son), along with arias, duets and trios from operas by Massenet, Rossini, Donzietti, Korngold, Gounod and Puccini.
The concert will be narrated by members of the institute’s artist faculty.
Currently, the Institute fellows include tenor Jesse Darden, mezzo-soprano Kate Farrar, soprano Catherine Park, soprano Kristen Schwecke, bass-baritone David Weigel, tenor Jonathan Johnson, baritone Steven Slupe and mezzo-soprano Jennifer Lazarz.
Named for businessman and arts advocate Alfred Johnston Fletcher, A.J. Fletcher Opera Institute is a vehicle for advancing the careers of exceptional young singers.
Institute Fellows perform in fully-staged productions of new and established operatic works and participate in touring and outreach programs.
Extensive performance experience is enriched by advanced studies in voice, language, diction, operatic and vocal literature, acting, makeup, movement, ballroom dancing, Alexander Technique, stage combat and enhancement strategies.
Instruction is being provided by a resident artist faculty and visiting artists of national and international renown.
School of the Arts alumni have performed in or behind the scenes of Broadway shows, film, television and regional theatre, and are members of the world’s finest symphony orchestras and opera and dance companies. The concert is free and open to the public.
The church is located at 217 S. Church Street, downtown Salisbury.
For more information about the FirstARTS series, contact Matthew Brown, director of music, at matthew@fumcsalisbury.org, or 704 636-3121, extension 104.