The Phoenicia International Festival of the Voice is an annual festival of vocal music held in

Phoenicia, New York Phoenicia is a hamlet (and census-designated place) of Shandaken in Ulster County, New York, United States. The population was 309 at the 2010 census, making it the highest populated community in the town. The village center is located just off R ...

during the first week of August. The Festival was founded in 2010 and includes a variety of vocal music performances including

opera Opera is a form of theatre in which music is a fundamental component and dramatic roles are taken by singers. Such a "work" (the literal translation of the Italian word "opera") is typically a collaboration between a composer and a libr ...

, gospel music, world music, and musical theatre. In 2012 the

Ulster County Ulster County is a county in the U.S. state of New York. It is situated along the Hudson River. As of the 2020 census, the population was 181,851. The county seat is Kingston. The county is named after the Irish province of Ulster. History ...

Regional Chamber of Commerce awarded the festival "Best Cultural Event of the year". Its Mission: Elevate the human spirit and enhance community through the power of voice and music. The Phoenicia International Festival of the Voice is a program of The Phoenicia Festival of The Voice Foundation. Elizabeth Futral - festival 2010- photo Bernard Handzel

History

2010

The festival grew out of a one-off concert in 2009, "Opera under the Stars", to raise money for a children's playground in Phoenicia, a small hamlet in the

Catskills The Catskill Mountains, also known as the Catskills, are a physiographic province of the larger Appalachian Mountains, located in southeastern New York. As a cultural and geographic region, the Catskills are generally defined as those areas c ...

. The concert was organized and performed by opera singers who live in Phoenicia— baritone Kerry Henderson, mezzo-soprano Maria Todaro and baritone

Louis Otey Louis Otey (born 22 November 1954) is an American baritone singer born in South Dakota. He performed at the Royal Opera House Covent Garden, Metropolitan Opera, San Francisco Opera and other major international companies. He is notable for his per ...

. The success of the concert led to the first official festival the following year, a three-day event featuring performances by

Elizabeth Futral Susan Elizabeth Futral (born September 27, 1963 in Johnston County, North Carolina) is an American coloratura soprano who has won acclaim (as both singer and actress) throughout the United States as well as in Europe, South America, and Japan. E ...

and the Native American flutist Joseph Firecrow.

2011

The festival expanded to four days and offered 22 events attracting over 4,000 people to Phoenicia. Highlights included Mozart's '' Don Giovanni'' with a full orchestra conducted by Steven White starting baritones Kerry Henderson and Louis Otey, the Voices of Distinction Gala starring soprano Lauren Flanigan, and performances by gospel singer Rozz Morehead and Arabic

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master

Simon Shaheen Simon Shaheen (Arabic: سيمون شاهين, he, סימון שאהין; born Tarshiha, Upper Galilee, Palestine, 1955) is a Palestinian-American oud and violin player and composer who holds Israeli citizenship. At the age of 2, Shaheen move ...

2012

In 2012, the festival attracted over 5,000 people. Festival highlights included a performance of '' Madama Butterfly'', starring Yunah Lee and

Richard Troxell Richard Troxell is an American operatic tenor who has sung leading roles in the opera houses of North America, Europe, and Asia since his professional debut in 1993. His signature roles include Lt. Pinkerton, which he sang in Frédéric Mitterran ...

, and a gala titled "Voice of Distinction: Broadway", featuring established Broadway professionals as well as newcomers. The festival closed with a presentation of

Peter Schickele "Professor" Peter Schickele (; born July 17, 1935) is an American composer, musical educator, and parodist, best known for comedy albums featuring his music, but which he presents as being composed by the fictional P. D. Q. Bach. He also hosted ...

's ''12 Months'', a concerto for piano and choir, narrated by the composer and featuring Justin Kolb and Barry Banks.

2013

The Voices of Distinction Gala celebrated the bicentennial of Richard Wagner and featured Jeanne Michele Charbonet,

Victoria Livengood Victoria Livengood (born August 8, 1959) is an American mezzo-soprano and voice teacher. She is most renown for her extensive and prestigious international operatic career spanning over 35 years and counting. Her past and current career sees her ...

, Alfred Walker, Eduardo Villa, Babette Hierholzer and Jurgen Apell. The festival's centerpiece was Verdi's ''

Rigoletto ''Rigoletto'' is an opera in three acts by Giuseppe Verdi. The Italian libretto was written by Francesco Maria Piave based on the 1832 play '' Le roi s'amuse'' by Victor Hugo. Despite serious initial problems with the Austrian censors who had co ...

''. The opera, selected to honor the bicentennial of Verdi's birth, was conducted by Steven White with guest artists Barry Banks, Nancy Allen Lundy and Louis Otey. Other performances included a cantorial concert by

Cantor A cantor or chanter is a person who leads people in singing or sometimes in prayer. In formal Jewish worship, a cantor is a person who sings solo verses or passages to which the choir or congregation responds. In Judaism, a cantor sings and lead ...

Jack Mendelson of

Westchester County Westchester County is located in the U.S. state of New York. It is the seventh most populous county in the State of New York and the most populous north of New York City. According to the 2020 United States Census, the county had a population ...

's Temple Israel;

Terrence McNally Terrence McNally (November 3, 1938 – March 24, 2020) was an American playwright, librettist, and screenwriter. Described as "the bard of American theater" and "one of the greatest contemporary playwrights the theater world has yet produced," ...

's ''

Master Class A master class is a class given to students of a particular discipline by an expert of that discipline—usually music, but also science, painting, drama, games, or on any other occasion where skills are being developed. "Masterclass" is als ...

'', featuring Irene Glezos; ''Two's Company.. Three's a Crowd'', a piano / orator collaboration concert with

Carey Harrison Carey Harrison (born 19 February 1944) is an English novelist and dramatist. Early years and education Harrison was born in London to actor Rex Harrison and actress Lilli Palmer, and raised in Los Angeles and New York, where he attended the ...

and Justin Kolb; ''Spirit of Sephardad'', featuring Gerard Edery. The festival concluded with Verdi's '' Requiem'', conducted by David Wroe and featuring soloists Rosa D'Imperio, Maria Todaro, Stephan Kirchgraber and Eduardo Villa. Other features of the 2013 festival included a first-time offering of a vocal workshop available to the public, a gospel celebration concert, lectures, story telling for children and adults, and a

master class A master class is a class given to students of a particular discipline by an expert of that discipline—usually music, but also science, painting, drama, games, or on any other occasion where skills are being developed. "Masterclass" is als ...

for young singers.

2014

Voices of Distinction: Baroque with Brian Asawa, Barber of Seville with Lucas Meachem, Maria Todaro directed by Beth Greenberg, El Amor Brujo by Manuel de Falla, La Misa Criolla, Jose Todaro and his "Mediterranean Fiesta", The Seven Favorite Maladie of Ludwig van Beethoven by Carey Harrison with Justin Kolb, Gospel, Festival Orchestra and choir directed by David Wroe and Elizabeth Scott.

2015

Voices of Distinction: Red, White and Blues with Sheila Jordon, Jack DeJohnette, EliseTestone, Maria-Helena De Oliveira, David Bankston, Jose Todaro, Emily Drennan, introducing Lucia Legnini young local artist, under the baton of David Wroe with the Phoenicia International Festival of the Voice Chorus. Festival , S.Temperley's play Souvenir, The Medium by Menotti with Metropolitan opera star Victoria Linvengood, the premiere of Opera Do Not Go Gentle - The Last Days of Dylan and Caitlin by

Robert Manno Robert Manno (born 1944, Bryn Mawr, Pa) is the composer of numerous chamber and orchestral works, song cycles and solo piano and choral works. The Atlanta Audio Society has called him "a composer of serious music of considerable depth and spiritual ...

with Emilly Pulley , Philip Cutlip stage directed by Sam Helfrich with Lucas Meachem, Of Mice And Men, Opera by Carlisle Floyd with Malcolm MacKenzie, Michael R.Hendrick, Aaron Blake, Nancy Allen Lundy, American Classics: with Lauren Flanigan, Bradley Smoak, Maria Todaro, Keith Phares; music of

Ricky Ian Gordon Ricky Ian Gordon (born May 15, 1956) is an American composer of art song, opera and musical theatre. Life Gordon was born in Oceanside, New York. He was raised by his mother, Eve, and father, Sam, and he grew up on Long Island with his three sist ...

, Jake Heggie,

, and the premiere of MASQUE: The Tempest by Robert Cucinotta. The Cambridge Chamber singers: Music in the Time of Shakespeare and Cervantes, Barbershop Voices of Gotham, Down to The Roots: Inuit, Native American and Hawaiian singing art, Gospel with Ralphine Childs, Sacred Harp: Shape Notes Workshop for All , Lectures and Masterclasses, The Little Night Music by Stephen Sondheim with Ron Raines, Susan Powell, Rosaling Elias, Shelby Dangerfield, Darik Knutsen, Sarah Heltzel under the baton of Gerald Steichen.

2016

The Bard and The British Isles , Opening Gala: rock The Beatles with the Paul Green Rock Academy featuring young local artist such as Diggy Lessard, son of Stefan Lessard, Kiss me Kate Stage direction: Lee Roy Reams, conductor: Gerald Steichen, Susan Powell, Richard White, Jennifer DiDominici, John Viscardi, Anthony Laciura, David Bankston, Sarah Stipe, Andrew Hoben, Thomas Pasatieri's Three Shakespearean Monologues with Lauren Flanigan, Jamilyn Manning-White, Douglas Martin, Enoch Arden with Narrator, Carey Harrison , son of Rex Harrison and Pianist Justin Kolb, Hamlet For Once and For All by Carey Harrison, A Spirited Journey on Land and Sea with Sing Out! CT young Voices Choral Group created by Alecia Evans, World Premiere: Muse Of Fire written and directed by local young playwright Brandon Cobalt with New Genesis Productions' most experienced young actors, Otello by Verdi under the baton of David Wroe, stage direction Beth Greenberg, Chorus Master David Mayfield, Limmie Pulliam, Eleni Calenos, Daniel Sutin, Aaron Blake, Bradley Smoak, Lindsay Ammann FofV Chorus and Orchestra, Sacred Harp: Shape Notes Workshop for All , Lectures and Masterclasses, grand finale was a Festiva Celtic Celebration with Ann Cragn Og, Joy Dunlop, Doimnic Mac Giolla Bhride, Noeleen Ni Cholla, Siobhan Butler, James Ruff, D'amby Project.

2017

Three days, 21 events, 6,000 attendees A French Affair: Opening Gala with Lucas Meachem, Irina Meachem, Lauren Flanigan, voice impersonator Olivier Laurent, Mireille Asselin, David Mayfield. Les Trois Mousquetaires, World Premiere . Music by Mitchell Bach, Libretto by Maria Todaro with Kyle Albertson, John Viscardi, Joseph Brent, Jason Slayden, Louis Otey, Oswaldo Irahetra, Sarah Heltzel, Joan-Marie Peitscher, Megan Weston, Robert Balonek. Music direction: Michael Fennelly. La Boheme with conductor David Wroe, stage director Maria Todaro, Chorus Master David Mayfield, John Osborn (first 'Rodolfo), Richard Bernstein, Lynette Tapia, Lucas Meachem, Kevin Glavin, Daniel Scofield, Mireille Asselin, FofV Chorus and Orchestra The Spiritual Side of Duke : a Gospel/ Jazz concert starring John Lumpkin

2018

Three days, 23 events, 7,000 attendees Sirens of Gospel featuring Jazz Star Damien Sneed and The Levites. Voices of The Sirens featuring women a cappella group: Lady Parts Carmen opera by Bizet with conductor David Wroe, stage director Maria Todaro, Chorus Master Michael Fennelly, Ginger Costa-Jackson, Adam Diegel, Kyle Alberston, Myriam Costa-Jackson, Matthew Curran, Isai Jess Munoz, Brian James Meyer FofV Chorus and Orchestra Bleeker Street, Playwright Eric Grant. Stage Direction Philip Mansfield. La Cambiale di Matrimonio, opera by Rossini, stage direction Beth Greenberg, Music Direction: David Mayfield Masterclasses with former Metropolitan Opera tenor Richard Leech Beauties of Broadway Starring Marissa McGowan, Music Direction David Wroe FofV Orchestra, Piano: Douglas Jay Martin

2019

3 days, 15 performances. 7000 attendees 10 Year Gala Celebration starring Morris Robinson, Barry Banks, Louis Otey, Anthony Laciura, Maria Todaro, Kyle Albertson, Toby Newman Banks, Michelle Jennings, Nancy Allen Lundy- featuring excerpts from many past Festival of the Voice productions- Conducted by David Wroe with pianists Douglas Martin and David Mayfield. Lady Parts (female acappella quartet) "Music of the Abolition Movement" Souvenir (by Stephen Temperley) with Bob Stillman as 'Cosme McMoon' and Liz McCartney as 'Florence Foster Jenkins'- Temperley appeared and made a speech before each show. 'Music of the African Diaspora' featuring pianist Justin Kolb and narrator Carey Harrison. 'Excerpts from Treemonisha'- With music reimagined and restructured by Houston Grand Opera composer-in-residence, Damien Sneed- Conductor/Arranger/Pianist; Brandie Sutton - Treemonisha; Morris Robinson - Ned; Norman Shankle - Remus; Geraldine McMillan - Monisha; Daniel Rich - Zodzetrick; Parson Alltalk - Luddud; Edward Washington-Cephus/Andy; Arcia Marie Stokes- Lucy 'Elisir d'Amore' (Donizetti)- reimagined and set in a West African village by stage director, Maria Todaro, with all African-American cast and chorus. Jasmine Habersham - Adina; Orson van Gay II - Nemorino; Rodney Nelman - Dr. Dulcamara; Leroy Davis - Sgt. Belcore; Jordan Taylor -Giannetta; David Wroe, Conductor; Maria Todaro- stage director; David Mayfield - Chorus Master and Rehearsal Pianist; Sylvestre K. Akakpo Adzaku - Drummer; Mamoudou Konater -Dancer; Pia Monique Murray - Dancer; Phoenicia Festival of the Voice Orchestra — Featuring All African-American Chorus, Chickens, Goats. 'Jesus Christ Superstar' A celebration of the original 1970 double album, performed by the incredible Master Program students of Paul Green Rock Academy Closeing Gala Celebrating the talent-rich Catskills- Loren Daniels and Exchange featuring : Loren Daniels; Robert Warren; Harvey Boyer and his children's chorus; The Phoenicia International Festival of the Voice Chorus and The Woodstock Rock Academy.

2020

The Phoenicia Int. Festival of the Voice led the way on multiple levels for the performing arts during the Covid-19 pandemic. After 10 years of offering a three-day summertime potpourri of opera, master classes, plays, lectures, and vocal performances of every kind in the small hamlet of Phoenicia, executive director, Maria Todaro and her team were forced by the pandemic to find a new way to fulfill their mission of showing how the power of the human voice can inspire, empower, heal, and uplift all who hear it. For safety reasons, the festival was moved to a former IBM parking lot in Kingston, NY where it presented Puccini's masterpiece 'Tosca' : A live, drive-in opera performance with internationally renowned singers, full orchestra, ‘volumetric video,’ and complete Covid safety—the first such performance anywhere in the United States. How does one turn a war-horse of an opera that takes place in 1800 into contemporary entertainment whose performers remain “distanced” yet believable? Answer: With space-age staging endowing the villain with super-powers; that way, love and lust, terror and triumph can all be expressed fully from a distance—especially when enhanced by a segment of virtual reality, not to mention by the Festival’s signature: great voices wowing the audience with their beauty and expressiveness. Maria Todaro conceived 'Tosca' with new and novel technical innovations, all beautifully coordinated by the Festival’s production manager, Dan Jobbins: a whole new sound system designed to cut out any delays in the sound reaching all parts of the expansive parking lot, plus the car radio sync by Mike Seddon’s team at Live Sound Inc., video for the volumetric virtual bit by Phosphor , Mixed Space Studios and Evercoast—the altered-reality portion broadcast on the Jumbotrons by Springboard Team and James Sapione, camera director. The original cast was to be Joyce Elkhoury as 'Tosca', Dimitri Pittas as 'Cavaradossi' and Kyle Albertson as 'Scarpia'. Due to travel and covid restrictions, 'Tosca' was sung by veteran Elizabeth Blancke-Biggs and 'Cavaradossi' by rising young star, Jonathan Tetelman. Spoletta was Edward Washington, Paul Grosvenor did double duty as 'Angelotti' and 'Sciarrone' and Timothy Lafontaine was the 'Sacristan'. The Festival orchestra was conducted by French star, Audrey Saint-Gil. Besides presenting the 1st US Drive-in Live performance in the nation, Todaro and the Festival of the Voice launched a whole new path for opera borrowing the vocabulary of video games. In order to create jobs for artists, the Phoenicia Festival of the Voice migrated to Naples, Fl. in the winter to present concerts in the form of 'salon recitals' with major artists such as Morris Robinson, Adam Diegel, Elizabeth Caballero, Jasmine Habersham, Kyle Albertson and Richard Troxell.

Advisory board

Members of the Advisory Board of the Festival of the Voice include

Roberto Alagna Roberto Alagna (; born 7 June 1963) is a French operatic tenor. He obtained French citizenship in 1981, while also retaining his previous Italian citizenship. Early years Alagna was born in Clichy-sous-Bois, outside the city of Paris, in 1963 t ...

Deborah Voigt Deborah Voigt (born August 4, 1960) is an American dramatic soprano who has sung roles in operas by Wagner and Richard Strauss. Biography and career Early life and education Debbie Joy Voigt was born into a religious Southern Baptist family ...

Frederica von Stade Frederica von Stade OAL (born June 1, 1945) is a semi-retired American opera singer. Since her Metropolitan Opera debut in 1970, she has performed in operas, musicals, concerts and recitals in venues throughout the world, including La Scala, th ...

Leon Botstein Leon Botstein (born December 14, 1946 in Zürich, Switzerland) is a Swiss-American conducting, conductor, educator, and scholar serving as the President of Bard College. Biography 1946–1975: Early life, education, and career Botstein was ...

, Robert Cucinotta, Ira Siff and as of 2014,

Georges Prêtre Georges Prêtre (; 14 August 1924 – 4 January 2017) was a French orchestral and opera conductor. Biography Prêtre was born in Waziers (Nord), and attended the Douai Conservatory and then studied harmony under Maurice Duruflé and conducting ...

.Phoenicia International Festival of The Voice
Board of Advisors
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References

External links

*{{Official website, http://www.phoeniciavoicefest.org Music festivals in New York (state) Recurring events established in 2010 2010 establishments in New York (state)