Kindra Scharich & John Boyajy – September 15, 2013

Nadia Boulanger was one of the most influential composition teachers of all time. The list of her students reads like a Whos-Who of twentieth-century composers. This program celebrates the songs of Mme. Boulangers mentor, Gabriel Fauré; her own fascinating works for voice and piano; songs by Mme. Boulangers students Aaron Copland and David Conte; and solo piano works by her student George Peter Tingley. Mezzo-soprano Kindra Scharich has been praised for her warm, lyric voice and communicative character portrayals. Joshua Kosman, writing in the San Francisco Chronicle, noted her “noble, vocally assured Dido, singing with stately grace and deep-rooted pathos.” And Jason Victor Serinius, reporting for San Francisco Classical Voice, wrote of a “dark mystery to the tone.” John Boyajy is one of the Bay Areas busiest concert pianists, appearing as piano soloist, collaborative pianist and guest soloist with local orchestras. Classicalsonoma.org heard “playing of high drama . . . and romantic fervor” and “an odyssey of rich sound.” He and Ms. Scharich have performed extensively to hugely appreciative LIEDER ALIVE! audiences. This event marks their Old First Concerts debut as a musical partnership, and promises to be a powerful and fascinating concert.