A comic tale of youthful liberation and a master class led by Grammy Award-winning soprano Christine Goerke open the 2024-25 season of voice and opera performances at the Henry and Leigh Bienen School of Music.
Benjamin Britten’s “Albert Herring” tells the story of a young man finding his independence amid the societal pressures and rigid expectations of a small English village in the early 1900s. Director Joachim Schamberger describes the set design as “Britten meets Pink Floyd,” loosely inspired by the band’s album “The Wall.” A large brick wall onstage displays projections of the various institutions constraining the young village grocer Albert Herring — his family, the school, the church, the state, and the aristocracy. During his self-discovery, the wall recedes from the stage.
In the Tichio-Finnie Vocal Master Class Series, renowned professionals coach Bienen voice and opera students in a performance setting. The first class in this season’s series is taught by Christine Goerke, who has received critical acclaim for her performances in operas by Mozart, Handel, Wagner, and Strauss.
Tickets for both events are available online at concertsatbienen.org, by phone at 847-467-4000 or by visiting the Bienen School Ticket Office at 50 Arts Circle Drive, Evanston.
Program details follow:
Christine Goerke Vocal Master Class
Part of the Tichio-Finnie Vocal Master Class Series
Monday, October 14, 7:30 p.m.
Galvin Recital Hall, 70 Arts Circle Drive
Making appearances at major opera houses including the Metropolitan Opera, Houston Grand Opera, Royal Opera House Covent Garden and Deutsche Oper Berlin, Christine Goerke has sung much of the classic soprano repertoire. Her recording of Ralph Vaughan Williams’s “A Sea Symphony” with Robert Spano and Atlanta Symphony Orchestra won a 2003 Grammy Award for Best Classical Recording and Best Choral Performance. She is also a recipient of a 2001 Richard Tucker Award, a 2015 Musical America Vocalist of the Year Award and a 2017 Opera News Award. During this season she performs with Boston Symphony Orchestra, Washington National Opera, Los Angeles Philharmonic and New World Symphony. In this master class she coaches accomplished Bienen School voice and opera program students.
Britten’s “Albert Herring”
Thursday-Saturday, November 21-23, 7:30 p.m.
Sunday November 24, 3 p.m.
Ryan Opera Theater
Joachim Schamberger directs
Jason Gluck and Giang Vo conduct
Members of Northwestern University Symphony Orchestra
In Loxford village shy grocery clerk Albert Herring lives under his mother’s thumb facing pity and ridicule. When none of local girls are deemed virtuous enough to be crowned May Queen during spring festivities Albert is chosen as May King instead much to his dismay. After imbibing rum-laced lemonade at May Day festival Albert goes missing causing hilarious pandemonium. Benjamin Britten's score supports colorful characters in witty satirical comedy celebrating discovery independence breaking free social expectations.
The opera performed in English.
Artist Bios
Soprano Christine Goerke praised for portrayals title roles “Elektra,” “Turandot” “Ariadne auf Naxos” among many notable soprano roles appeared major opera houses including Metropolitan Opera Lyric Opera Chicago Santa Fe Opera Seattle Opera Royal Opera House Covent Garden Paris Opera Deutsche Oper Berlin La Scala concert featured soloist New York Philharmonic Boston Symphony Orchestra Chicago Symphony Orchestra Los Angeles Philharmonic Sydney Symphony BBC Symphony Orchestra discography includes Ralph Vaughan Williams "A Sea Symphony," Johannes Brahms "Liebeslieder Waltzes," Antonín Dvořák "Stabat Mater" Benjamin Britten "War Requiem."
Director Joachim Schamberger productions appeared U.S., Germany Italy France Czech Republic Brazil Norway Israel Japan China avid opera educator faculty many young artist festivals guest lectures conservatories throughout world prior becoming director opera artist-in-residence Bienen School served visiting professor opera DePauw University graduate Musikhochschule Würzburg Hochschule für Musik und Darstellende Kunst Mannheim Merola Opera Program San Francisco Opera studied digital film production 3D animation New York Film Academy.