03.22.2022 GST Rieger and Penna

GUEST ARTIST RECITAL Eric Rieger, tenor J.J. Penna, piano

TUESDAY, MARCH 22, 2022 MADELEINE WING ADLER THEATRE PERFORMING ARTS CENTER 8:15 PM

ARTIST PROFILES ERIC RIEGER American tenor Eric Rieger enjoys an international career that has led him to the opera companies of Zürich, Luzern, Basel, Trier, Regensburg, Kaiserslautern, Bremerhaven, Osnabrück, Nordhausen, Konstanz, Novara, Treviso, as well as Zomeropera Alden Biesen in Belgium, Edinburgh Festival Theatre, Citizens Theatre in Scotland, and Everyman Palace Theatre in Ireland. Equally at home on the concert platform, Dr. Rieger has been featured at the Claudio Monteverdi Festival in Italy, the Royal Opera House at Covent Garden, the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam, the Kimmel Center in Philadelphia, and Carnegie Hall. He has appeared with many notable orchestras including the Royal Scottish National Orchestra, the Basel Sinfonietta, St. John’s Orchestra (London), the Luxembourg Chamber Orchestra “Les Musiciens,” the Trier Philharmonic Orchestra, the Symphony Orchestras of Harrisburg and Lubbock, and the Philadelphia Youth Orchestra.

A passionate recitalist, Dr. Rieger has performed an eclectic repertoire of art song with the Boston Art Song Society, Lyric Fest in Philadelphia, Market Square Concerts in Harrisburg, St. John’s Smith Square in London, and many other venues across the U.S. and Europe. His solo debut album Poet’s Journey: Song Cycles of Benjamin Britten is available on the Affetto/Naxos record label, and he is featured on the Naxos International recording James Whitbourn: Carolae with the Grammy nominated Westminster Williamson Voices.

In addition to his performance career, Dr. Rieger is in demand as a voice teacher and currently serves as Assistant Professor of Voice at Florida State University. Prior faculty appointments include Western Washington University (Coordinator of Vocal Studies/Director of Opera), Westminster Choir College, Texas Tech University, and Nazareth College. Additionally, he was Assistant Director and faculty member of the CoOPERAtive Program, a young artist program for singers at Westminster Choir College. Dr. Rieger is a graduate of the Eastman School of Music (DMA & BM with distinction) and the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland (MM).

J.J. PENNA J.J. Penna has performed extensively with a variety of eminent singers, including Kathleen Battle, Harolyn Blackwell, Measha Brueggergosman, David Daniels, Denyce Graves, Ying Huang, Susan Narucki, Roberta Peters, Florence Quivar, and Andreas Scholl. He has held fellowships at the Tanglewood Music Center, Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity, Norfolk Chamber Music Festival/Yale Summer School of Music, Music Academy of the West, and the San Francisco Opera’s Merola Opera Program.

Penna is a member of the voice, opera, and collaborative piano faculty at the New England Conservatory of Music and serves as recital and art-song coach in the Yale Opera program at the Yale School of Music. He also teaches regularly at the Ravinia Festival’s Steans Music Institute, Carnegie Hall’s SongStudio, and many other summer programs. Devoted to the teaching of classical song literature, Penna has been on the faculties of The Juilliard School, Norfolk Chamber Music Festival/Yale Summer School of Music, Bowdoin International Music Festival, Westminster Choir College at Rider University, and the Vancouver International Song Institute.

He received his training under Martin Katz, Margo Garrett, and Diane Richardson.

PROGRAM LA BONNE CHANSON ............................................................................................ Gabriel Fauré (1845-1924) I. Une Sainte en son auréole II. Puisque l’aube grandit III. La lune blanche IV. J’allais par les chemins perfide V. J’ai presque peur VI. Avant que tu ne t’en ailles VII. Donc, ce sera par un clair jour d'été VIII. N’est ce pas?

IX. L’hiver a cessé

INTERMISSION

LES ILLUMINATIONS ........................................................................................ Benjamin Britten (1913-1976) I. Fanfare II. Villes IIIa. Phrase IIIb. Antique IV. Royauté V. Marine VI. Interlude VII. Being Beauteous VIII. Parade IX. Départ

Please silence all cell phones and electronic devices.

UPCOMING WELLS SCHOOL OF MUSIC EVENTS For full event details visit wcupa.edu/music or call (610) 436-2739 March 23-26 32nd Annual WCU Jazz Festival www.wcupa.edu/music/jazzfest.aspx Jonathan Ragonese, director Madeleine Wing Adler Theatre Performing Arts Center

Sunday, March 27, 2022, 3:00 PM Wind Ensemble Concert Andrew Yozviak, director Madeleine Wing Adler Theatre Performing Arts Center

Tuesday, March 29, 2022, 8:15 PM New Music Series Concert ft. Methods Body Jacob Cooper & Van Stiefel, directors Ware Family Recital Hall Swope Music Building

Wednesday, March 30, 2022, 8:15 PM Flute Ensemble Concert Kimberly Reighley, director Madeleine Wing Adler Theatre Performing Arts Center

Thursday, March 31, 2022, 12:00 PM Madeleine Wing Adler Concert Series: String Division Madeleine Wing Adler Theatre Grand Foyer Performing Arts Center

Friday, April 1, 2022, 8:00 PM Sounds of the Caribbean! Featuring WCU Steel Band & Latin Jazz Ensembles Marc Jacoby, director Uptown! Knauer Performing Arts Center 226 N. High Street, West Chester, PA

Monday, April 4, 2022, 8:00 PM WCU Percussion Faculty Recital: Ralph Sorrentino, David Nelson, Brent Behrenshausen Madeleine Wing Adler Theatre Performing Arts Center

Tuesday, April 5, 2022, 8:15 PM Trumpet Ensemble Concert Robert Skoniczin, director Madeleine Wing Adler Theatre Performing Arts Center

*Tickets required for this event.

Events at the Wells School of Music are often supported by individual donors and organizations.

Contributions to the Wells School of Music may be made out to: WCU Foundation, 202 Carter Drive, West Chester, PA 19382 Please include “Wells School of Music Excellence Fund” in the memo line.

For further information, please call (610) 436-2868 or visit wcufoundation.org A majority of performances are available to watch via live stream at Facebook.com/WellsSchoolOfMusic and Vimeo.com/WSOM Mr. Robert Rust, Audio & Visual Technician Steinway & Sons Piano Technical, Tuning and Concert Preparations by Gerald P. Cousins, RPT If you do not intend to save your program, please recycle it in the baskets at the exit doors.

The Wells School of Music | West Chester University of Pennsylvania Dr. Christopher Hanning, Dean