New Wave Opera: Summer Splash
Free (RSVP required; $20 suggested donation)
- Lindsey Rae Johnson, soprano
- Lisa Neher, mezzo-soprano
- Allison Kim-Yok Knotts, mezzo-soprano
- Stephen Lewis, piano
Gabriela Lena Frank — Four Folk Songs
Monica Chew — COVID Bake-off
William Bolcom — Selected works
Jake Heggie — Selected works
Dianne Davies — Selected works
Lisa Neher — Selected works
Kimberly Osberg — If you cheese! (world premiere)
Join Susan McBerry's Periwinkle Studios for New Wave Opera's company launch and fundraiser: "Summer Splash." Snacks and drinks of the adult and child-friendly varieties provided.
This all-ages backyard concert features tuneful opera arias, duets, and art songs by living composers, some of whom live in your own backyard! How can a cook win a baking competition when she's lost her sense of smell? Will wedding preparations ever be perfect for the ultimate Bridezilla? And just what are all those squirrels in your backyard up to? Find out at "Summer Splash!" Plus, hear the world premiere of Kimberly Osberg's comic pun-filled opera trio, If you cheese!
Enjoy the talents of soprano Lindsey Rae Johnson, mezzos Lisa Neher and Allison Kim-Yok Knotts, and Stephen Lewis on piano performing music of Melissa Dunphy and Nikita Gill, Gabriela Lena Frank's setting of Andean folk poetry, Monica Chew and Sandra Flores-Strand, William Bolcom, Jake Heggie, Portland's own Dianne Davies and Lisa Neher, and more.
RSVP for address.
About New Wave Opera
New Wave Opera performs opera and vocal music by living composers for audiences in engaging, intimate, innovative productions.
https://www.newwaveopera.org/About Lindsey Rae Johnson, soprano
About Lisa Neher, mezzo-soprano
Dr. Lisa Neher (she/her, "NEER") is an award-winning composer and new music mezzo on a mission to transform audiences through sound, story, and vulnerability. With a voice praised as "full and rich" and "especially alive" (Oregon ArtsWatch), Neher's performance credits include Third Angle New Music, Really Spicy Opera, Portland Columbia Symphony Orchestra, Opera Theatre Oregon, New Music Gathering, Resonance Ensemble, Experiments in Opera, Renegade Opera, and Big Mouth Society. She is a member of Portland Opera Chorus and President of New Wave Opera.
Described as a "supremely talented," "visionary composer" (Willamette Week), "maestro of beautifully wacky noises" (Oregon ArtsWatch), and author of "liquid, impressionist piano writing and fluent melding" of voices (New York Classical Review), Neher's compositions are inspired by the climate crisis, the tender love of family and friends, and the eerie mystery of deep ocean life. She is Composer in Residence for the Beaverton Community Band. She has been commissioned and performed by the National Association of Teachers of Singing, Cincinnati Song Initiative, Third Angle New Music, FearNoMusic, Dinosaur Annex, New Opera West, Mirror Visions Ensemble, Alma Ensemble, Opera Elect, and Opera Santa Barbara, among others.
Her awards include the Flute New Music Consortium Competition, ICDA/ICF Choral Competition, Mirror Visions Ensemble Young Composer Competition and the Celebris Ensemble Choral Competition.
http://www.lisanehermusic.com/About Allison Kim-Yok Knotts, mezzo-soprano
https://www.portlandopera.org/about/people/chorus/allison-kim-yok-knotts/