New York Festival of Song Celebrates Steven Blier
Anniversary Presents Stellar Singers
By: Susan Hall - Feb 13, 2023
New York Festival of Song Presents
Amor: A 50th Anniversary Celebration of
Steven Blier's Professional Debut
at Kaufman Music Center on February 15, 2023
Featuring Mezzo-Soprano Lucia Bradford, Baritenor Michael Spyres,
Bass-Baritones Federico De Michelis & William Socolof,
Pianists Shawn Chang & John Musto, Plus Artistic Director Steven Blier
Works by Piazzolla, Weill, Ellington, Bellini, Berlioz, Sondheim, Gershwin and More
New York Festival of Song (NYFOS), led by Artistic Director Steven Blier, continues its 2022-2023 season with Amor on Wednesday, February 15, 2023 at 8:00pm at Merkin Hall at Kaufman Music Center. The concert features songs by Astor Piazzolla, Kurt Weill, Carlos Guastavino, Duke Ellington, Bessie Smith, Vincenzo Bellini, Hector Berlioz, Stephen Sondheim, and more, celebrating the fiftieth anniversary of NYFOS Artistic Director and co-founder Steven Blier’s professional debut.
Featured artists are mezzo-soprano Lucia Bradford, performing works by Duke Ellington and Bessie Smith; baritenor Michael Spyres, singing Rossini and Berlioz; and bass-baritone Federico De Michelis, who will present Argentinian art song and tango. Other artists on the program are bass-baritone William Socolof, and pianists Shawn Chang and John Musto as duo-piano partners for Mr. Blier.
“NYFOS has never needed an excuse for throwing a musical party, but next month we have a milestone event to celebrate: the 50th anniversary of my first professional recital,” says Artistic Director Steven Blier. “The playlist includes some of my favorite songs from the first half-century of my career. Of course, there was no way to include all of my musical ‘amores’ — that would be like asking Casanova to serve a banquet for all of his inamoratas. Instead, the program zeroes in on a few of my greatest loves: Argentine song, American jazz and blues, bel canto, and French art song.”
Steven Blier’s first concert took place in February of 1973, where he played a Community Concert in Weston, MA with the baritone Alan Titus.
NYFOS’ 2022-23 season also includes Mediterranean on Tuesday, March 14, 2023 at 8:00pm featuring Caramoor’s 2023 Schwab Vocal Rising Stars with pianists Steven Blier and Bénédicte Jourdois.