Jill Morgan Brenner – Friday, July 5 at 8 pm
Jill Morgan Brenner, soprano
Alex Katsman, piano
Richard Wagner Wesendonck Lieder
Richard Strauss Four Last Songs
and selected lieder by Alma Mahler and Franz Schubert
Hailed for her “vivid tone and expressive elegance” by the San Francisco Chronicle, soprano Jill Morgan Brenner channels a deep sense of connection to music and poetry, allowing her to communicate with conviction and nuance. Transitioning into the dramatic repertoire, hers is a voice opening into the repertoire of Verdi, Strauss, and Wagner while still maintaining the supple flexibility to perform works by composers such as Mozart and Massenet. She was recently heard as the soprano soloist for Classical Revolution’s performance of Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9, and as Anne Sexton in Conrad Susa’s Transformations in a scenes showcase produced by Prodigal Opera Theatre.
Previous seasons include performances as Lady Macbeth in Verdi’s Macbeth and the title role in Ottorino Respighi’s Lucrezia, Donna Anna in Don Giovanni, Countess in Le nozze di Figaro, Julie in David Conte’s Firebird Motel, First Lady in Die Zauberflöte, and Ottavia in L’incoronazione di Poppea.
A champion of new music, Jill created the role of Addison for the world premiere of Hunter by Joseph M. Colombo and portrayed the goddess Athena in the world premiere of Troilus & Achilles by Elliot Encarnación. In 2015, she founded I Sing Words: The Poetry Project, a biennial concert series dedicated to the continuance of art song. The project serves to further vocal repertoire through commissioning new works and providing accessibility to new music. In the past two seasons Jill garnered high praise from audience members and artists alike, performing the works of sixteen composers and poets.
Originally an instrumentalist, Jill’s singing evolved from her extensive background as a violinist and pianist. She is a recipient of the Paul L. & Phyllis Wattis Foundation Scholarship, the Anna Freeland Memorial Prize, and the Vocal Department Award at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music. She holds a Bachelor of Music degree in Vocal Performance from Syracuse University’s Setnor School of Music and a Master of Music degree from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music. In addition to performing, she also maintains a private studio.
Alexander Katsman has been sought after as a conductor, solo recitalist, collaborative pianist and opera coach. He is in his 25 th year on the coaching staff at the San Francisco Conservatory. An alumnus of the San Francisco Opera’s Merola Program, Alex received his formal education in St. Petersburg, Russia. Alex’s conducting credits encompass over 90 opera, operetta, and musical theater productions including three by local composers: Three Decembers by Jake Heggie, The Gift of the Magi by David Conte and The Three Feathers by Lori Laitman. Currently he is a Music Director and Conductor at Livermore Valley Opera and Solo Opera. He also serves on the conducting faculty at the Bach-Millenium Music Summer Program. His most recent productions were highly-acclaimed Carlisle Floyd’s Of Mice and Men and Mozart’s The Magic Flute.