University Chorus, “Dolce Suono” and University Symphony Orchestra perform Brahms’ “Requiem” on Tuesday, Dec. 8 and Wednesday, Dec. 9 at 7:30 p.m. at Popejoy Hall. The orchestra will be under direction of distinguished Italian guest conductor, Stefano Miceli. Tickets are $10, $8 and $6 and can be bought at all UNM ticket outlets, and UNM Tickets.
Photo: Guest Conductor Stefano Miceli
Miceli, conductor and virtuoso pianist, is one of the leading talents of his generation, traveling worldwide as a pianist and conductor. Miceli’s work has brought him into contact with many of Europe’s important orchestras, such as the Salzburg Orchestra, Orchestra of La Scala, La Fenice Orchestra of Venice, The Orchestra of London, Orchestra Sinfonica Italiana, and the Israel Symphony Orchestra, among many others. He is the newly-appointed Principal Guest Artist and Conductor of the Leipzig Philharmonic Orchestra in Germany.
Miceli is a regular guest as pianist and conductor at important festivals and theatres in New Orleans, Washington D.C., Melbourne, Madrid, Venice, Milan and Rome. Miceli has been principal guest artist of “Cameristi della Fenice” (Orchestra of Venice Theatre), performing many concerts with them in Italy and abroad.
Leslie Umphrey, UNM associate professor of voice and graduate, Eastman School of Music in Vocal Performance and Literature, will be a featured soloist. She has sung many and varied roles in both musical theater and opera, including Rosalinda and Adele in Die Fledermaus, Donna Ann in Don Giovanni, Mimi and Musetta in La Boheme and Madama Buttefly in Madama Butterfly. She made her European debut as Nedda in I Pagliacci in Rome and enjoyed critical acclaim in that role throughout the United States. Her later roles have included Michaela in Carmen and Pamina in The Magic Flute. In the early part of the 21st century Umphrey made her debut performance as Susannah in Carlisle Floyd’s opera Susannah. She also continues her work in oratorio and recital with orchestras throughout the United States.
James Demler, a UNM graduate now teaching at Boston University, will also be a soloist.
Demler, a baritone, first gained international attention at Houston Grand Opera, where he appeared as Guglielmo in Cosí fan tutte, De Bretigny in Manon and Peter in Hänsel und Gretel, and with the Houston Symphony, with whom he sang the role of the Maestro in a staged version of Salieri’s rarely performed Prima la musica, poi le parole. He has since sung leading roles in more than 30 operas, as well as numerous oratorios and concert works with opera companies and orchestras across the United States and Canada.
Demler made his Carnegie Hall debut with Eve Queler and the Opera Orchestra of New York as Dikson in Boïeldieu’s La Dame Blanche, and has returned to that prestigious venue as a soloist in Messa di Gloria by Puccini, Bach’s Magnificat, Fauré’s Requiem, the Mozart Requiem, and in February of 2009 the Coronation Mass of Mozart.
The UNM University Chorus is under the direction of Professor Bradley Ellingboe; “Dolce Suono,” UNM’s newest mixed chorus, is led by Assistant Professor of Music Regina Carlow. The UNM Symphony Orchestra is conducted by Professor Jorge Perez-Gomez.
Media Contact: Carolyn Gonzales, (505) 277-5920; e-mail: cgonzal@unm.edu