the little OPERA theatre of ny
presents

Livestream Pop-Up Concert
at St. John’s in the Village

MOZART & FRIENDS
Arias from Mozart’s THE SHEPHERD KING

Song Translation: MARK HERMAN & RONNIE APTER
Based on the Libretto by PIETRO METASTASIO

Featuring
KAMERON GHANAVATI, RUFUS MULLER, & HEATHER JOHNSON

Instrumentalists: ELLIOT FIGG, CATHERINE MILLER, MANAMI MIZUMOTO, & SYDNEY ZUMMALLEN

Also music from Handel’s oratorio JEPHTHA and his opera XERXES
Bonus Mozart aria and instrumental trios by JEAN-PHILIPPE RAMEAU & CHEVALIER de SAINT-GEORGES

www.lotny.org

July 9, 2020 7:30 p.m.

If life is a box of chocolates, this concert was a box of glittering jewels. Perfectly set at St. John’s in the Village, the music was otherworldly in its energy and elegance.

The musicians played live on stage. The chemistry among them was like an electrical charge, empowering their enthusiasm for the pieces they performed. (Yes, they social-distanced.) MANAMI MIZUMOTO’s incredible zeal seemed about to set her violin on fire. It was especially satisfying to see her athletic artistry blend with and echo HEATHER JOHNSON’s divine rendition of Tamari’s love aria from The Shepherd King. Her frolicsome vocal acrobatics highlighted her range and the sweetness of her voice.

The bonus music by Chevalier de Saint-Georges was lovely. Often referred to as the “Black Mozart”, de Saint-Georges was a man of many talents and his being equated to Mozart is richly deserved, although he is not so well-known.

Kudos to the little OPERA theatre of ny for this shining moment.

-Karen D’Onofrio-