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Palm Beach Symphony’s 50th Anniversary Season culminates with an apt program that celebrates Beethoven’s early work followed by one of his greatest. Acclaimed pianist Ignat Solzhenitsyn uncovers the genius of the composer’s first full-length orchestral piece, Piano Concerto No. 2. The finale of this historic season soars to the rafters as the Symphony is joined by Frost Chorale, Frost Bella Voce, Frost Symphonic Choir and Frost Chamber Singers under the direction of Dr. Amanda Quist to perform Beethoven’s groundbreaking Symphony No. 9 “Choral” with its “Ode to Joy.”
Recognized as one of today's most gifted artists, and enjoying an active career as both conductor and pianist, Ignat Solzhenitsyn's lyrical and poignant interpretations have won him critical acclaim throughout the world. His extensive touring schedule in the United States and Europe has included concerto performances with numerous major orchestras, including those of Boston, Chicago, Philadelphia, Los Angeles, Seattle, Baltimore, Montreal, Toronto, London, Paris, Israel, and Sydney, and collaborations with such distinguished conductors as Herbert Blomstedt, James Conlon, Charles Dutoit, Valery Gergiev, André Previn, Gerard Schwarz, Wolfgang Sawallisch, Yuri Temirkanov and David Zinman. The New York Times reported, “Solzhenitsyn played the concerto’s solos with simple sincerity and a comfortable command of some monstrously difficult piano writing: never a false gesture, no theatrics. An apt and often-asked question goes: Does music need another young pianist? I think it can make use of this one.”
Proud sponsors of Palm Beach Symphony include Max and Christine Ansbacher, Mrs. James N. Bay, Alan Benaroya, JoAnne Berkow, David C. and Eunice Bigelow, Leslie Rogers Blum, James R. Borynack and Adolfo Zaralegui/Findlay Galleries, Braman Motorcars, Thomas and Carol Bruce, CIBC Private Wealth, The Colony Hotel, The David Minkin Foundation, The Frederick A. DeLuca Foundation, Echo Fine Properties, Bill and Kem Frick/The Frick Foundation, Inc., Paul and Sandra Goldner, Peter and Felicia Gottsegen/Gottsegen Family Foundation, Irwin and Janet Gusman, Thomas E. Harvey & Cathleen P. Black Foundation, Doris Hastings Foundation, John Herrick, Addison Hines Charitable Trust, George Hines, HSS Florida, IYC, Charles and Ann Johnson/The C and A Johnson Family Foundation, Barbara and William Karatz Fund/William Karatz and Joan G. Smith, Leonard and Norma Klorfine Foundation, Gary and Linda Lachman/The Lachman Family Foundation, Patricia Lambrecht, Tova Leidesdorf, Lugano Diamonds, The Honorable Bonnie McElveen-Hunter, The McNulty Charitable Foundation, David Moscow, NetJets, Palm Beach Design Masters, Patrick and Milly Park/Park Foundation, Nancy and Ellis J. Parker, III, PNC Private Bank, Lois Pope, Provident Jewelry, Ari Rifkin/The Len-Ari Foundation, Karen and Kenneth Rogers, Ronald Rosenfeld, David Schafer, Seth Sprague Foundation, Robin B. Smith, Kimberly Strauss, Dodie and Manley Thaler and the Thaler/Howell Foundation, Jerome and Carol Trautschold, Sieglinde Wikstrom/The Wikstrom Foundation, and The Ann Eden Woodward Foundation/James and Judy Woods. Programs are also sponsored in part by the State of Florida, Department of State, Division of Arts and Culture, and the Florida Council on Arts and Culture.
Praised for her “fire” and “vocal drama,” Wisconsin native Hayley Lipke is emerging into the opera scene as a “praise-worthy soprano”. Lipke received herB.M. and M.M. in Vocal Performance from the Jacobs School of Music at Indiana University under the tutelage of Jane Dutton and Gary Arvin. With Indiana University Opera Theater she has entertained audiences as Violetta Valéry (LaTraviata), DonnaAnna (Don Giovanni), Gertrud Mutter (Hänselund Gretel), Rosalba Montealban (Florencia en al Amazonas), and Gertie Cummins (Oklahoma!).
Most recently, Hayley has enjoyed singing the roles of Fiordiligi (Cosífan tutte) and Desire Armfeldt (A Little Night Music) with Quisisana, covering Fiordiligi (Cosífan tutte) with Cedar Rapids Opera, and competing in the Metropolitan Opera Laffont Competition where Hayley was named a winner of the South Carolina District in January 2023. She looks forward to returning to Quisisana this summer to sing as a featured soloist on their concert series and bringing life to Verdi's Violetta Valéry in 18 performances of La Traviata throughout the summer.
American mezzosoprano Robynne Redmon has firmly established herself as one of the finest leading ladies of this generation, having the unusual distinction of success in Bel Canto, French Grand Opera and the Italian Dramatic Repertoire.
Ms. Redmon has been hailed the world over for her “glorious singing, intense acting, excellent phrasing, ardent tone, splendid shading, solid coloratura and excellent artistic sense.” (Das Opernglas) She has graced the world’s greatest stages including The Metropolitan Opera, Lyric Opera of Chicago, San Francisco Opera, Teatro alla Scala, Staatsoper Berlin, Bayerische Staatsopera, Opera de Marseilles, Teatro Regio di Torino, Teatro Municipal de Santiago, Opera Montreal, Santa Fe Opera, Opera Theatre of Saint Louis, New York City Opera, Atlanta Opera, Boston Lyric Opera and Minnesota Opera. Ms. Redmon has not only made her indelible mark in standard repertoire, but she has also been an ardent champion of new works as well, creating such roles as the eponymous role of Bright Sheng’s opera, Madame Mao.
A consummate veteran of the stage, Ms. Redmon continues to add new repertoire befitting the splendor of her magnificent instrument and stage gravitas. Recently, she has had phenomenal success in such roles as Gertrude in Hamlet, La Principessa in Puccini’s Suor Angelica, and Verdi’s Amneris in Aida and Azucena in II Trovatore. She has also assumed the mantle of several of Strauss’ greatest characters including Herodias in Salome and The Composer in Ariadne auf Naxos.
Always seeking to broaden her artistic horizons, Ms. Redmon has made it a point to lend her considerable talents to the great recital and orchestral stages of the world. Her large and varied concert repertoire has included Verdi’s Requiem, Beethoven’s Missa Solemnis (available on Naxos), Dvorak’s Stabat Mater and Mahler’s great symphonies, Nos. 2, 3 and 8.
Praised for his “vocal and dramatic vigor,” tenor Joseph McBrayer, born in Dallas, GA, is making his name on the operatic stage. Last season, he also made his Florida Grand Opera debut as Paolino in the company’s new production of El Matrimonio Secreto, and continues to work as one of the Opera’s Studio Artists. He has performed the roles of Sam (Susannah), Goro (Madama Butterfly), Alfredo (La Traviata), Ferrando (Cosí fan tutte), Woz (The ®Evolution of Steve Jobs), among others, and has worked with companies such as Opera Theatre of Saint Louis, Indianapolis Opera, Marble City Opera, and The Atlanta Opera. He studied voice at Indiana University’s Jacobs School of Music and Kennesaw State University. This season, Mr. McBrayer was last seen on stage at FGO as Beppe in Pagliacci.
Keith Klein is a 28-year-old operatic Bass-baritone native to Kansas City, Missouri. A graduate of the Eastman School of Music (2018) and Florida State University (2020), Keith has a wide musical background and a rich singing voice. His singing career began with winning the2014 KC Superstar competition and appearing on Season 10 of America's Got Talent. In 2021, he was selected at a Studio Artist with the Lyric Opera of Kansas City, in 2022 he was selected as an Artist in Residence with Opera Colorado, and in 2023, he performed a litany of roles as a Studio Artist with Florida Grand Opera. Keith’s voice has been hailed as a “true bass...stood out, even in its very brief moment in the sun” (Susan Elliot, Musical America) and a “pleasing bass baritone...spews out a potent and rangy denunciation that shows a voice of considerable size” (James Sohre, Opera Today), and "...stellar singing, and it's abundantly clear why the moment we hear his stunning, classically trained voice." (Kerry Clawson, Akron Beacon Journal) Keith is the recipient of an Encouragement Award from the Metropolitan Opera’s Laffont Competition and the Barbara and Stanley Richman Memorial Award from Opera Theatre of Saint Louis. His most recent engagements include the role of Dr. Podsnap in Tobias Picker’s Awakenings, singing as a Gerdine Young Artist with Opera Theatre of Saint Louis, and the role of Colline in La boheme with Florida Grand Opera.
This evening was generously underwritten by Patricia Lambrecht/The Lambrecht Family Foundation.
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