The Heart of a Woman

Music is our escape and an opportunity to connect with others in an intimate way. We long to gather in the same space to share the magic that live music creates. The past teaches us that art is born from suffering, pain, loss, joy and hope. Through these trials, we emerge with performances that are even more emotionally authentic and beautiful because we have persevered through so much.  For this concert, we’ve selected works by women who overcame the barriers and created works of art that will touch your soul and heal your spirit.

We are so excited you are here with us! This is our first, and hopefully not last of many events like this. You, our audience, plays a pivotal role in the success of this concert. The song selections were curated with you in mind. Share this exciting new way to connect through music with your friends and invite them to join us. Consider gifting a ticket to friends and family to lift their spirits. Follow, interact and share on social media at https://www.facebook.com/tonimariesoprano https://www.instagram.com/tonimariepalmertree/?hl=en

Let us introduce ourselves!

Toni Marie Palmertree is an American soprano praised for her tender, expressive voice (SF Examiner). A graduate of the Adler Fellowship at the San Francisco Opera, she made several important role debuts such as Liù (Turandot) for which she was praised for "[delivering] a performance of wondrous poignancy and heroism” (SF Chronicle). Additionally, she stepped into the title role of Madama Butterfly. Janos Gereben (SFCV) wrote: “The young soprano not only met the challenge, but she claimed her place among the finest vocal interpreters of the role...”

In October 2019, Ms. Palmertree made another role debut singing the title role of Luisa Miller at the Lyric Opera of Chicago.   Later that season also included joining the roster of The Metropolitan Opera for their productions of Madama Butterfly and Il Trovatore.

Ellen Rissinger came to European attention in December of 2008, when she accompanied a performance of Shostakovich's Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk for the Deutsche Oper am Rhein in Düsseldorf on one hour's notice. She spent a great part of her career in Germany, including 9 years on the music staff of the Sächsische Staatsoper (Semperoper) in Dresden, Germany. In July 2019, she returned to the US full-time, and is currently on the music faculty of Carnegie Mellon University as Opera Coach as well as music director of the Opera Workshop at Temple University.

She has worked in both the United States (with Opera Company of Philadelphia, Pittsburgh Opera, Kentucky Opera, Glimmerglass Opera, Baltimore Opera among others) and in many houses in Germany (Semperoper, Bregenz Opera Festival, Oper Frankfurt, Deutsche Oper am Rhein among others). In recital, Ellen has performed with such artists as Jane Henschel, Kenneth Riegel, Mirko Roschkowski, Christa Meyer, Troy Cook, and Rachel Willis-Sørensen.

Program:

Price

     An April Day

     Out of the South Blew a Wind

     The Heart of a Woman

     The Glory of the Day was in her Face

Boulanger

     Elle était descendue au bas de la prairie

     Elle est gravement gaie

     Un poète distait

Urteaga

     Canto de Nodriza

     Capullito

     Canción de cuna

Laitman

     The Metropolitan Tower

     Old Tunes

     The Strong House

     The Hour

Clara Schumann

     Das Veilchen

     Liebst du um Schönheit

     Warum willst du Andre fragen

     Loreley