Arts & Entertainment
Sylvan's Song
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He’s been called America’s preeminent performer of classical song repertoire, an art-song singer of unusual versatility, and an artist with a rare feeling for the beauty of words and music.
He’s been praised for his unusual versatility, easily produced and mellifluous voice, gorgeous, authoritative delivery and rare feeling for the beauty of words and music.
Perhaps most importantly for Vermont fans of classical song, Sanford Sylvan is bringing those talents to the state this winter.
In two performances, one a benefit for Vermont CARES, the Grammy-winning baritone will be performing The Glass Hammer, a song cycle by acclaimed Vermont composer Jorge Martín based upon the poems of Andrew Hudgins. The program will also feature works by Ravel and Debussy.
Sylvan is well known as a Mozartean performer. Viewers of PBS’ Great Performances may well remember his portrayals of Figaro in Le nozze di Figaro and Don Alfonso in Cosi fan tutte; his performances in the role of Don Giovanni’s Leoprello at the Glyndebourne Festival and with New York City Opera have also been critically acclaimed. He has regularly performed at the Carmel Bach Festival, pushing the envelope with breathtaking phrasing and delivery.
His work in modern opera has included parts written expressly for him by composers such as John Adams and John Harbison. It was for his role as Chou En-lai in Adams’ Nixon in China that he garnered both Grammy and Emmy awards, but his performances in The Wound Dresser, The Death of Klinghoffer, Four Saints in Three Acts and The Ice Break have also been widely praised.
The baritone has worked with extensively with orchestras and chamber ensembles from around the world. Among them have been the London Sinfonietta, the New York Philharmonic, the Cleveland Orchestra, the Boston Symphony, Japan’s NHK, the Los Angeles Philharmonic, Germany’s NDR, and the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, Ensemble Sequentia, and Boston’s Emmanuel Music.
But the graduate of the Manhattan School of Music is also known for his commitment to vocal recital. With long-time collaborative pianist David Breitman, Sylvan has given close to 200 such intimate performances in cities such as New York, London, San Francisco, Washington, and Boston. His debut recital album, Beloved That Pilgrimage – a program of America music by Barber, Copland and Chanler – was nominated for a Grammy for Best Classical Vocal Performance.
Sylvan’s schedule in 2000 is a busy one. In January, he premiered World Wheel with the Boston Cantata Singers. In February, he will sing his first Beethoven 9th with the Stavanger Symphony Orchestra under Bruno Weil, when he will also premiere the Martín song cycle. He makes the New York debut of the composition at Carnegie Hall’s Weill Recital Hall on May 5.
Sanford Sylvan performs at the Middlebury College Center for the Arts in Middlebury on March 2, and at the UVM Recital Hall in Burlington on Saturday, March 4. The Burlington performance is a benefit for Vermont CARES.