GUILFORD — Julie Johnson Olsson, soprano, and Kenneth Olsson, known in the area for his work as both a pianist and an organist, will perform at Winter Songs, the next event in Friends of Music at Guilford's 46th annual season of concerts.
The performance begins at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 11, in the sanctuary of Guilford Community Church.
This program of art songs and arias “will warm the chill of winter and open our hearts for Cupid's inspiration on Valentine's Day,” concert organizers write.
The repertoire is presented in three sections, beginning with two songs of longing by French composer and pianist Erik Satie, a torch song by French composer Francis Poulenc (composed for a favorite Parisian singer), and a tango by German-Jewish composer Kurt Weill, as well as the aria “Il est doux, il est bon” (“It Is Sweet, It Is Good”), from Jules Massenet's opera Hérodiade.
The next grouping includes four Emily Dickinson texts, including three poems - “How the Waters Closed,” “Wild Nights,” and “There Came a Wind Like a Bugle” - and excerpts from a letter, set by distinguished American composer-pianist Lee Hoiby (1926-2011).
Hoiby turned away from the experimental works of his contemporaries and focused on piano performance at first, but he was offered a full scholarship to study composition with Gian Carlo Menotti at the Curtis Institute, the beginning of a long and rewarding career as a composer.
The aria “Must the winter come so soon?” from Samuel Barber's Vanessa will cap this set in English.
The German repertoire on the Winter Songs program will include four love songs composed by Richard Strauss and the aria Dich, Teure Halle from Wagner's opera Tannhüser .
As he did for his September recital on the Guilford Tracker Organ on Labor Day Weekend, Ken Olsson will provide informative notes on the program repertoire as it progresses.
Originally from Ledyard, Conn., Julie Johnson Olsson began her professional career at age 17. She earned her bachelor of music degree in vocal performance from Ithaca College, went on to study at the International Institute of Vocal Arts, and began her graduate studies at the University of Missouri–Kansas City.
While in the Midwest, she was actively sought out to perform with many citywide choirs and ensembles, including the Kansas City Lyric Opera.
Upon returning to the East Coast, she embarked on a well-received career in jazz and blues/rock. She also kept her feet wet in performances with the Salt Marsh Opera Company (Stonington, Conn.).
Her most recent endeavors include H.M.S. Pinafore at Main Street Arts in Saxtons River and Don Giovanni with the Keene, N.H.-based Raylynmor Opera company.
Kenneth Olsson received his bachelor of music in vocal performance from Ithaca College. While living in New York State, He was a featured artist with Tri-Cities Opera, The Summer Savoyards, and Northeast Pennsylvania Opera. After relocating to Vermont, he appeared with Opera Theatre of Weston in Die Fledermaus and with the Raylynmor Opera in Don Giovanni.
He has also served as music director/conductor for numerous music theater and opera productions and as pit pianist/keyboardist for a long list of Broadway shows.
Most recently, he was music director for a St. Michael's Catholic Church production of Amahl and the Night Visitors. He has accompanied several concerts and recitals in New York, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, and New Jersey.
This winter, Ken and Julie Olsson are serving as music director and stage director, respectively, for a Main Street Arts production of The Mystery of Edwin Drood.
The couple live in Jamaica with their three children.
Tickets are $15 per person ($10 for students 16 and younger) and include a dessert reception. Snow date in case of serious precipitation is Sunday, Feb. 12.
For reservations, call the Friends of Music office at 802-254-3600 or email [email protected].
Guilford Community Church is at 38 Church Drive, off Bee Barn Road in Algiers. Take Route 5 South from Exit 1 off Interstate 91 just over a mile to the Country Store. Take the next left onto Bee Barn Road, and left again into Church Drive to reach the parking area circling the church.