Connoisseur Series Opens free Spring Series with The Ritz Chamber Players
The Connoisseur Series will continue in spring of 2016 with a new soloist announced for the opening event. British soprano Alison Buchanan, and The Ritz Chamber Players are kicking off the series on Feb. 2 at 7:30 p.m. The Deanna Witkowski Trio will follow closely behind on March 28, followed by the Tromba Mundi Trumpet Ensemble on April 5, and the American Quartet on April 18.
The originally scheduled saxophone event from September has been rescheduled for April 25 with a performance by the Mana Saxophone Quartet in Marsh Auditorium. All Connoisseur Series events will be held in Marsh Auditorium, and are free and open to the public.
Over the past 13 years, the Ritz Chamber Players’ events have helped enrich the artistic life of the cities they visit, improve student learning through access to new cultural experiences and increase the understanding and recognition of diversity in the arts. Their goal is to foster the appreciation of chamber music through performances and educational outreach featuring preeminent African-American musicians and composers, with an emphasis on building audiences and arts inclusion that reflects our diverse society.
Praised for her musical versatility, her luscious voice and her ability to communicate with an audience, Buchanan is a graduate of the Guildhall School of Music in London and the Curtis Institute in Philadelphia. As a young artist with San Francisco Opera, Buchanan made her debut with the company as Mimi (La Boheme) and whilst an Adler she was invited to L.A. Opera to sing Nedda in I Pagliacci working with Placido Domingo and Franco Zeffirelli.
Buchanan has performed with New York City Opera (Bess in Porgy & Bess and Elvira in Don Giovanni), Opera Company of Philadelphia, Michigan Opera and Wexford Opera, she has performed under the batons of Sir Simon Rattle, Sir Colin Davis, Donald Runnicles and David Robertson to name but a few, with orchestras such as the Royal Philharmonic, the Philippines Philharmonic, the London Symphony, the BBC Symphony Orchestra, the Israel Kibbutz Orchestra and the Boston Symphony Orchestra.
“We are excited to have this exquisite soprano who has a distinguished international career step into our performance,” said Dr. Kimberly Davis of Buchanan. “Together their performance will inspire and touch your heart and deepen your appreciation for chamber music and African-American spirituals.”
