The Program

Schubert:  Die Schöne Müllerin

Pre-concert Lecture at 6:45 pm by Christine Anderson

The Artist

American tenor Matthew Polenzani has been widely praised for his artistic versatility and fresh lyricism.  Recognized by the Metropolitan Opera with the 2008 Beverly Sills Artist Award, Mr. Polenzani appeared at the Met last season as Tamino in Die Zauberflöte, conducted by Ascher Fisch, and also made his debut in the title role of Idomeneo at Teatro Reggio Torino under the baton of Gianandrea Noseda.  A committed recitalist, he has appeared with Roger Vignoles at the Verbier Festival, with Julius Drake under the auspices of Lincoln Center and the Philadelphia Chamber Music Society, and has presented Janáček’s The Diary of One Who Vanished at Zankel Hall with pianist Richard Goode.  A recipient of the 2004 Richard Tucker Award, Polenzani’s other career highlights include Nemorino ( L’Elisir d’Amore) at the Vienna State Opera, Teatro San Carlo in Naples, and Rome Opera; Count Almaviva at New York City Opera and Bavarian State Opera; Alfredo at the Aix-en-Provence Festival and at Florence’s Teatro Comunale; Edgardo at Paris Opera and Cagliari’s Teatro Lirico; Ferrando at the Royal Opera, Covent Garden and Seattle Opera; Don Ottavio with the Vienna State Opera; Gérald (Lakmé) and Roméo with Bordeaux Opera; and the Duke of Mantua (Rigoletto) with Opera Company of Philadelphia and the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra.

Pianist Julius Drake lives in London and specializes in the field of chamber music, working with many of the world’s leading artists both in recital and on disc.  He appears at all the major music centres: in recent seasons concerts have taken him to the Aldeburgh, Edinburgh, Munich, Schubertiade, and Salzburg Music Festivals; to Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center, New York; Concertgebouw, Amsterdam and Philarmonie, Cologne; Châtelet and Musée de Louvre, Paris; La Scala, Milan and Liceu, Barcelona; Musikverein and Konzerthaus, Vienna; and Wigmore Hall and BBC Proms, London.  His many recordings include live recordings from the Wigmore Hall London for the ‘Wigmore Live’ label, award winning recordings with Ian Bostridge for EMI and his recent widely acclaimed series with Gerald Finley for Hyperion.  Drake was appointed artistic director of Leeds Lieder in 2009 and the Machynlleth Festival in Wales from 2009 - 2011.  For more information on Julius Drake visit www.juliusdrake.com.