BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 PRODID:-//Connecticut Virtuosi - ECPv6.2.9//NONSGML v1.0//EN CALSCALE:GREGORIAN METHOD:PUBLISH X-ORIGINAL-URL:https://thevirtuosi.org X-WR-CALDESC:Events for Connecticut Virtuosi REFRESH-INTERVAL;VALUE=DURATION:PT1H X-Robots-Tag:noindex X-PUBLISHED-TTL:PT1H BEGIN:VTIMEZONE TZID:America/New_York BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:-0500 TZOFFSETTO:-0400 TZNAME:EDT DTSTART:20240310T070000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:-0400 TZOFFSETTO:-0500 TZNAME:EST DTSTART:20241103T060000 END:STANDARD BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:-0500 TZOFFSETTO:-0400 TZNAME:EDT DTSTART:20250309T070000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:-0400 TZOFFSETTO:-0500 TZNAME:EST DTSTART:20251102T060000 END:STANDARD END:VTIMEZONE BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250605T193000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250605T193000 DTSTAMP:20260430T191051 CREATED:20240527T223716Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250520T181301Z UID:11285-1749151800-1749151800@thevirtuosi.org SUMMARY:THE MUSICAL PILGRIMAGE OF POLISH DIASPORA DESCRIPTION:“WE THE PEOPLE” — Immigrant stories in music \n\nFOR ADMISSION INFO\, CLICK HERE >>> \n\nIn Program: \nFrédéric Chopin:\nPiano Concerto no. 2 in F-minor\nSoloist: Corbin Beisner \nStanisław Moniuszko:\nLatin Mass in E-flat major\nAgnieszka Tyrawska\, soprano\nRebecca Almeida\, alto\nEd Napier\, tenor\nDavid Kennedy\, bass\nThe Academic Choir of Lublin University of Technology\nElzbieta Krzeminska\, artistic director\nThe Moniuszko Choir\nConnecticut Virtuosi \n\n \nThe 2025 concerts of the Academic Choir of Lublin are held under the patronage of the Consulate General of the Republic of Poland in New York. \n\nThe Academic Choir of Lublin University of Technology was established in 1975. Elzbieta Krzeminska has been the Conductor and Director of Music since 1987. The Group consists of Lublin Technical University students\, graduates and staff as well as students of other Lublin universities. The repertoire embraces wide variety of folk songs of different cultures\, sacred\, jazz and oratorio pieces. The Choir participated in various prestigious national and international festivals\, very often with great success: Academia Cantat ’89 (Poland)\, Eurotreff ’89 and ’94 (Germany)\, Cant Coral ’90 (Spain)\, Oskarshamn ’93 (Sweden)\, Riva del Garda ’96 (Italy) – Golden Diploma and Conductor Prize Winner\, Rhodes ’98 (Greece) – awarded the Bronze Medal\, Grado ’01 (Italy) – Golden Diploma\, Winner of the Mixed Choir Category and Conductor Prize Winner\, Oristano ’03 (Italy – Sardinia)\, Coimbra ’05 (Portugal)\, Bratislava ’07 (Slovakia) – Golden Band and Conductor Prize Winner\, Cantate Croatia ’09 (Croatia). The Group has given concerts in most European countries. Since its very beginning\, the Choir has been very much involved in the cultural life of the Technical University and the city. Owing to the cooperation with orchestras\, such as the Lublin Philharmonic\, Baltic Philharmonic and Torun Chamber Orchestra\, the Choir had an opportunity to perform the following musical works: G. Rossini’s Stabat Mater\, L. van Beethoven’s Symphony no. 9\, A. Vivaldi’s Gloria\, M.A. Charpentier’s Te Deum\, J. Haydn’s Stabat Mater and Nelson Mass\, J.S. Bach’s Wachet auf and Weihnachtsratorio\, C.Orff’s Carmina Burana\, G. Mahler’s Symphony no. 2 & 8\, W.A. Mozart’s Coronation Mass\, Requiem\, Grand Mass in C minor\, G. Puccini’s Messa di Gloria\, W. Kilar’s Exodus\, Angelus and Missa pro pace\, G.F. Handel’s Messiah and Dixit Dominus. Good reviews of these performances were the result of great interpretations conveyed by conductors like: sir David Willcocks\, Laszlo Heltay\, Krzysztof Missona\, Wlodzimierz Szymanski\, Zygmunt Rychert\, Jerzy Salwarowski\, Tadeusz Wojciechowski and Ruben Silva. The Choir has so far recorded three albums. The strongest attribute\, notwithstanding the high artistic level\, is the special bond between the members\, who after many years of creating wonderful music together remain close friends for a long time. \n\nElzbieta Krzeminska – professor of musical arts\, a graduate from The Artistic Department at Maria Sklodowska-Curie University in Lublin\, and a graduate from two-year Postgraduate Programme at Music Academy in Bydgoszcz\, in the class of choir management and voice pedagogy. She works as a Professor in the Music Institute of the Artistic Department at Maria Sklodowska-Curie University\, where she commands the class of choir management. She has been the conductor of The Choir since 1987. Under her direction\, The Choir has given about 400 concerts of a cappella and oratorio music\, both in Poland and across Europe. The Choir has won many prizes in the choral competitions\, among others: Golden Diploma and Conductor Special Award in Riva Del Garda (Italy\, 1996)\, Bronze Medal on Rhodes (Greece\, 1998)\, Golden Diploma and Conductor Special Award in Grado (Italy\, 2001)\, Golden Band and Conductor Special Award in Bratislava (Slovakia\, 2007)\, National Festival of University Choirs “Swiety Krzyz 2014” (Kielce\, Poland)\, two Golden and Silver Diplomas in 5th International Choir Competition and Festival “Cançó Mediterrània 2015” (Lloret de Mar\, Spain)\, two Golden Medals in 1st International Choir Competition “Adratic Pearl” in Dubrovnik (Croatia\, 2019)\, 8th International Choral Music Festival in Eišiškės (Lithuania\, 2021) – the highest score\, „Musica Orbis Festival” in Prague (2021) – the Golden Medal and two Silver Medals in 15th Rimini International Choral Competition (Italy\, 2021)\, 30th Prague Advent and Christmas Choral Festival in 2022 – Grand Prix and 1st Prize. In the years 2013-2018 Elzbieta Krzeminska worked as the conductor of ‘Lutnia Lubelska’\, the Lublin Philharmonic Choir. Elzbieta Krzeminska has been invited to sit on the jury of many choral competitions and festivals. She was taking part in the work of The Chancellery\, which grants the Artistic Award of the City of Lublin. She has been awarded the Golden Cross of Honours\, the Board of Education Medal\, the Gloria Artis Medal\, the Medal for the Meritorious for the City of Lublin\, the Medal for the Meritorious Activity in the field of Culture\, President of the City of Lublin Award for cultural and artistic achievements and the Medal of the Lublin city’s 700th jubilee. \n\nMr. Beisner has been active as a classical pianist throughout the United States and Europe since his solo recital debut in 2005. A year later in 2006 he gave his debut concerto performance with Beethoven’s Piano Concerto no. 3 in C minor\, op. 37. Notable performances have included recitals at the Conservatoire Liceu in Barcelona\, Spain\, the Liszt Saal at the Accademia d’Ungheria in Rome\, Italy\, numerous recitals throughout Switzerland\, including an all-Liszt recital in the famous “Le Troi Rois” hotel in Basel. Repeated invitations at the Schmiedenhof Zunftsaal\, also in Basel\, various concerts in Budapest\, Hungary\, and performances at the Summer Liszt Academy in Schillingsfürst\, Germany. In the United States\, he has been invited to perform by Chopin societies in Connecticut\, Texas\, the Chopin Foundation in Florida\, the American Liszt Society\, and the Polish-American Foundation of Connecticut. Mr. Beisner has performed with symphony orchestras in Indiana\, Connecticut\, and Nevada in the U.S. and in Switzerland and Italy. He also frequently collaborates with colleagues in chamber music and vocal accompaniment. He is a graduate of the Hartt School of Music in Connecticut\, USA (BMus) and the Franz Liszt Academy of Music (Liszt Ferenc Zeneművészeti Egyetem) in Budapest\, Hungary (M.A.). Mr. Beisner received rave reviews in the German/Swiss newspapers “Die Neue Fricktaler Zeitung” and “Badische Zeitung” for his recitals\, notably his performances of the music of Beethoven\, Debussy\, Chopin\, and Liszt. He is also a 1st prize winner of the London Liszt Society Competition\, and holds the “Marie Hohenlohe” medal for pianistic excellence from the Summer Liszt Academy at Schloss-Schillingfuerst\, Germany. His debut CD\, presenting the works of Franz Liszt\, was released under the German label “Perfect Noise.” URL:https://thevirtuosi.org/event/2025-06-05/ LOCATION:Cyril and Methodius Church\, 63 Popieluszko Court\, Hartford\, Connecticut\, 06106 CATEGORIES:“We the People” Immigrant Stories in Music,2024-2025 Season,Bushnell Arts Center,Hartford ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://thevirtuosi.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Academic-Choir-of-Lublin-University-of-Technology-e1739887391627.jpg ORGANIZER;CN="Connecticut Virtuosi Chamber Orchestra":MAILTO:info@thevirtuosi.org END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250202T150000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250202T150000 DTSTAMP:20260430T191051 CREATED:20240527T221919Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250119T214609Z UID:11271-1738508400-1738508400@thevirtuosi.org SUMMARY:A JOURNEY IN DREAMS OF TIMES & PLACES DESCRIPTION:A beautiful program connecting different significant inspirations and sounds from Antiquity to the Contemporary. Performing under the baton of maestro Damiano Tognetti\, Connecticut Virtuosi Chamber Orchestra presents a concert honoring Italian and Italian American heritage\, including new music by New York native Ernesto Ferreri. The program also includes Brahms violin concerto in a new arrangement for chamber orchestra\, featuring Polish American soloist Adrian Sylveen. \n\nOttorino Respighi: Antiche danze et arie per liuto\, Suite No.3\nErnesto Ferreri: Octet for Chamber Orchestra\, op. 32\nJohannes Brahms: Violin Concerto\, Op.77\nAdrian Sylveen\, violin\nConnecticut Virtuosi Chamber Orchestra\nDamiano Tognetti\, guest conductor \n\nCLICK HERE FOR TICKETS >>> \n\nItalian Conductor and violinist Damiano Tognetti began musical studies at the age of seven with Maestro A.Fornai and graduated in 2001 from the “Boccherini” Musical Institute in Lucca under the guidance of Maestro A.Bologni. He was first violin and soloist of the institute’s orchestra. Having perfected his skills at the Fiesole Music School\, he was the winner of several national competitions. Already a member of the Cherubini Orchestra of Piacenza directed by Riccardo Multi\, he collaborates with various orchestras including Orchestra del Teatro Massimo di Palermo\, Orchestra da Camera Fiorentina\, Orchestra Regionale of the Emilia Romagna Tuscan Foundation\, Orchestra of Padua and Veneto\, Venetian Regional Orchestra. \n\nAward-winning musician Adrian Sylveen enjoys a performing career as a conductor and a violinist in the United States and Europe. He is a founding artistic director of the Connecticut Virtuosi Chamber Orchestra and the Greve Opera Academy and Festival. \nMr. Sylveen has conducted approximately 35 operatic titles and has an extensive orchestral repertoire. He has conducted and performed concerts in the United States\, Poland\, Italy\, Israel\, Cuba\, Switzerland\, Germany\, and the former Soviet Union. He worked with ensembles such as the Israeli Chamber Orchestra\, Teatro Lirico D’Europa\, Olsztyn Philharmonic\, Elbląg Chamber Orchestra\, Holguín Symphony Orchestra\, Orchestra da Camera di Greve-In-Chianti\, The Palmetto Opera\, Kamerata Gdyńska\, and others. \n\nCLICK HERE FOR TICKETS >>> URL:https://thevirtuosi.org/event/2025-02-02/ LOCATION:Bushnell Arts Center @ the First Presbyterian\, 136 Capitol Ave\, Hartford\, CT\, 06106 CATEGORIES:“We the People” Immigrant Stories in Music,2024-2025 Season,Bushnell Arts Center,Hartford ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://thevirtuosi.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/johannes-brahms-1233241744-editorial-long-form-0-e1736191942963.jpg ORGANIZER;CN="Connecticut Virtuosi Chamber Orchestra":MAILTO:info@thevirtuosi.org END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20241121T193000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20241121T193000 DTSTAMP:20260430T191051 CREATED:20240527T221221Z LAST-MODIFIED:20241119T113259Z UID:11267-1732217400-1732217400@thevirtuosi.org SUMMARY:PUCCINI: LA BOHEME DESCRIPTION:CELEBRATE the 100th ANNIVERSARY of Giacomo PUCCINI’S LEGACY! An INTERNATIONAL cast of winners from the USA\, Korea\, Armenia\, and MET singers in NYC will bring his masterpiece to life. Don’t miss the Connecticut Virtuosi Chamber Orchestra’s dazzling production in collaboration with the TEATRO LIRICO D’EUROPA! Puccini’s legacy endures through his masterful operas\, which continue to captivate global audiences with their emotional depth and melodic beauty. His innovative orchestration and dramatic storytelling have cemented him as a pivotal figure in the evolution of opera. \n\nADMISSION: Tickets on sale at the BUSHNELL Box Office >>>\nor call (860) 987-5900 \n\nThe CAST: \nMimi – Gayane Ghambaryan (Armenia)*\nRodolfo – Daniel Juarez (USA)\nMarcello – Cheoncho Lee (Korea)*\nMusetta – Hannah Wolfe (USA)*\nColline – Gregory Sheppard\nSchaunard – Wayne Artur\nBenoit/Alcindoro – Stefan Szkafarowsky (USA) \nStage Director – Carlos Conde\nSets and Costumes – Teatro Lirico D’Europa\nArtistic Director & Conductor – Adrian Sylveen \n* Young Artists of the 2024 Greve Opera Academy \nPerformed in Italian\, with English subtitles. \n\n \n \n \n \n Gayane Ghambaryan\n \n \n \n \n \n Daniel Juarez\, tenor\n \n \n \n \n \n Cheoncho Lee\, Baritone\n \n \n \n \n \n Stefan Szkafarowsky\, bass\n \n \n \n \n \n Gregory Sheppard\, bass-baritone\n \n \n \n \n \n Hannah Wolfe\, soprano\n \n \n \n \n \n Wayne Arthur\, baritone\n \n \n\n\nADMISSION: Tickets on sale at the BUSHNELL Box Office >>>\nor call (860) 987-5900 \n\nThis most famous opera\, Giacomo Puccini’s La Bohème is a poignant drama capturing the essence of Bohemian life in Paris. It narrates the tragic romance between Rodolfo\, a poet\, and Mimì\, a seamstress\, set against a backdrop of poverty and artistic aspiration. The opera\, with its memorable arias\, is celebrated for its emotive power and lush melodies. La Bohème remains a staple in the opera world\, resonating with audiences for its portrayal of love\, friendship\, and the bitter-sweetness of life. URL:https://thevirtuosi.org/event/la-boheme-hartford/ LOCATION:Bushnell Arts Center @ the First Presbyterian\, 136 Capitol Ave\, Hartford\, CT\, 06106 CATEGORIES:2024-2025 Season,Bushnell Arts Center,Hartford,Operas ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://thevirtuosi.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/web-slide-BOHEME-v2.png ORGANIZER;CN="Connecticut Virtuosi Chamber Orchestra":MAILTO:info@thevirtuosi.org END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20241006T150000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20241006T150000 DTSTAMP:20260430T191051 CREATED:20240527T220824Z LAST-MODIFIED:20240917T134837Z UID:11261-1728226800-1728226800@thevirtuosi.org SUMMARY:THE SHADOWS OF OUR DESTINY DESCRIPTION:“WE THE PEOPLE” Immigrant stories in music \n\nADMISSION: Tickets at the BUSHNELL Box Office. Click here>>>\nor call (860) 987-5900 \n\nPROGRAM:\nJakub Polaczyk: Slavic Streams: “Śmiętlana” (world premiere)\nAlban Berg: Violin Concerto (arr. for chamber orchestra)\nJoseph Haydn: Symphony No.44 in E minor\nSOLOIST: Brunilda Myftaraj\, violin\nConnecticut Virtuosi Chamber Orchestra\nAdrian Sylveen\, artistic director and conductor \n\nAlbanian-American violinist Brunilda Myftaraj has drawn enthusiastic accolades from audiences and critical acclaim for her masterful musicianship in Albania\, Italy\, Greece\, France\, Morocco\, Austria\, Switzerland\, Poland\, Israel\, and the United States. She has been praised by the critics as an “especially fine and beautiful player.” Myftaraj’s teachers are some of the world’s finest\, but her true inspiration comes from her audiences and students. Since 2023 Mrs. Myftaraj is a member of The Berkshire Bach Society. Her recordings of“Naked Violin” and “The American Pie” received impeccable reviews from Fanfare magazine. \nJakub Polaczyk\, born in Kraków\, Poland\, is a New York-based composer and pianist. Double Silver Medal winner of the Global Music Awards (2023)\, Winner of the 2020 American Prize in Composition\, and 2013 Iron Instant Composer Award in Cleveland\, OH. He graduated from Jagiellonian University\, Krzysztof Penderecki Academy of Music in Kraków\, and Carnegie Mellon University\, and as a Socrates-Erasmus exchange program\, he studied at the Royal Conservatory of Brussels. Since 2015\, he has been teaching at the New York Conservatory of Music and\, since 2018\, has been a New Music Director of the Chopin and Friends Festival in NYC\, directing the International Composition Competition “New Vision” and in 2020 Virtual NYDAI Quarantine Talks Series. Since 2021\, Jakub has been hosting his “Coffees after Bach” program at the Polish Radio WRKL: AM910\, NYC/AM1030\, Chicago. URL:https://thevirtuosi.org/event/berg-violin-concerto/ LOCATION:Bushnell Arts Center @ the First Presbyterian\, 136 Capitol Ave\, Hartford\, CT\, 06106 CATEGORIES:“We the People” Immigrant Stories in Music,2024-2025 Season,Bushnell Arts Center,Hartford ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://thevirtuosi.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Arnold_Schonberg_Alban_Berg_1910-e1717179010257.jpg ORGANIZER;CN="Connecticut Virtuosi Chamber Orchestra":MAILTO:info@thevirtuosi.org END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20240602T150000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20240602T150000 DTSTAMP:20260430T191051 CREATED:20230823T033239Z LAST-MODIFIED:20240529T191318Z UID:10341-1717340400-1717340400@thevirtuosi.org SUMMARY:The Story of Brazil in Motion with Felipe Puletini DESCRIPTION:“We the People” Immigrant Stories in Music – Part Eight:\n \nViolinist Brunilda Myftaraj leads the Virtuosi in a concert featuring Brazilian-American choreographer Felipe Puletini and Ballet RI dancers Alexa Kearnan & Garret McNally. The love of movement and its artistic expression in dance are essential elements of Brazilian culture and music. These traditions are reflected in the work of the Brazilian American dancer Felipe Puletini and his AMA Dance Theatre. The event’s repertoire will feature Bachianas brasileiras No.9\, by Heitor Villa-Lobos\,  Sonata for strings “O Burrico de Pau” (The Wooden Donkey) by Antônio Carlos Gomes. \nThe concert and the Virtuosi Season will include an ever-beautiful Symphony No. 29 in A Major\, K201 by W. A. Mozart. \nTICKETS at: https://bushnell.org/shows-concerts/connecticut-virtuosi-the-story-of-brazil-in-motion \n\nFelipe Puletini\nFelipe Puletini is a member of the International Dance Council – CID/ UNESCO. Puletini is currently the head of the children’s division and company manager for Ballet RI. His responsibilities include coordinating the school and being the children’s cast director for The Nutcracker\, as well as assisting the dance company’s directors in organizing productions\, scheduling\, communications\, cultivation of donors\, and tour management. Throughout his professional career in Brazil and the USA\, he has performed in repertory classical ballet\, musical theater\, and Brazilian television. Career highlights include Cinderella\, Swan Lake\, Paquita\, Don Quixote\, The Nutcracker\, Don Quixote (Cuban version)\, and La Fille Mal Guardée (Cuban version)\, I Gotcha! (Bob Fosse and Fred Ebb)\, The Hunchback Of Notre Dame\, The Lion King\, The Little Mermaid\, and the ensemble in 1st Bibi Ferreira Awards (The Brazilian Tony Awards). His repertory includes contemporary works by Rodney Rivera\, Sergei Vanaev\, Alejandro Ulloa\, Lauren Edson\, Gabrielle Lamb\, Catherine Fellows\, Pascal Rekoert\, and Nan Giordano. Puletini is a guest teaching artist for Central Connecticut State University (Dance Education)\, and coaches/choreographs for many schools in New England. As a choreographer and dancer\, he has collaborated with the New Britain Symphony Orchestra\, the Mystic River Chorale\, Mystic Outdoor Festival Performing Arts Stage\, the University of South Carolina – Beaufort\, and New England Ballet Theatre of CT. \nGarret McNally began his classical training in 2008 at the Robert Ivey Ballet in Charleston\, SC. In 2014\, he attended the University of North Carolina School of the Arts High School Program training under Susan Jaffe\, Jared Redick\, Misha Tchoupakov\, Frank Smith\, and others. There his passion for dancing grew\, performing many works including August Bournonville’s Napoli Pas de Six\, Frederick Ashton’s Birthday Offering\, George Balanchine’s Allegro Brillante\, Donizetti Variations\, and Serenade\, Helen Pickett’s Petal\, Natalia Makarova’s La Bayadere\, and Michel Folkine’s Les Sylphides. Afterwards\, he joined the New Orleans Ballet Theatre amid studying History at the University of New Orleans. After graduating in 2021\, he joined the Richmond Ballet as a Second Company dancer being promoted into the main company the following season. There he worked and performed in Malcolm Burn’s Romeo & Juliet\, Stoner Winslett’s Echoing Past\, and The Nutcracker\, MaCong’s Thrive\, Firebird\, and Ershter Vals\, Jerome Robbins’ In the Night\, George Balanchine’s Allegro Brillante\, and Serenade\, as well as works by Jennifer Archibald\, Val Caniparoli\, Yury Yanowsky\, Nicolo Fonte\, and Katarzyna Skarpetowska. This is his second season with Ballet RI. \nAlexa Kearnan is from Uxbridge\, Massachusetts where she trained at Deane Dance Studio in Mendon\, Massachusetts. Alexa started dancing with Ballet RI as a trainee during the 2021/2022 season. She is returning to her fourth season with Ballet RI now promoted as an Apprentice. \nAlbanian-American violinist Brunilda Myftaraj has drawn enthusiastic accolades from audiences as well as critical acclaim for her masterful musicianship in Albania\, Italy\, Greece\, France\, Morocco\, Austria\, Switzerland\, Poland\, Israel\, and in the United States. She has been praised by the New London Day critic as an “especially fine and beautiful player”. Although Myftaraj’s teachers are some of the world’s finest\, her true inspiration comes from audiences and her students. Her recordings of“Naked Violin” and “The American Pie” received impeccable reviews from Fanfare magazine. Brunilda was part of the Love’s Tango recording project with Alex Nakimovsky and June Bizantz\, which has been awarded a 2019 Silver Global Music Award for Outstanding Achievement in the album & lyrics/songwriting categories. Ms. Myftaraj currently holds the position of Concertmaster for the Connecticut Virtuosi\, Connecticut Lyric Opera and Greve opera festival in Italy. She is the director of the Virtuosi Music Academy and the Summer Music Institute in Farmington Connecticut\, where she also teaches violin and chamber music. \nAbout the Series \nConnecticut Virtuosi’s “We The People” concert series was partly funded by an Arts grant from the National Endowment for the Arts. From 2021 to 2024 the Virtuosi will introduce audiences to the rich and diverse cultural threads woven by America’s immigrants into 20th and 21st-century music. Each concert features an immigrant composer and/or musician whose music reflects inspiration from a distinct culture or group of cultures. Each concert includes written and/or spoken word pieces by writers who are themselves immigrants from the culture(s) being highlighted. When words fail\, music speaks. The series explores connections between cultures\, languages\, and people. URL:https://thevirtuosi.org/event/the-story-of-brazil-in-motion-with-felipe-puletini/ LOCATION:Bushnell Arts Center @ the First Presbyterian\, 136 Capitol Ave\, Hartford\, CT\, 06106 CATEGORIES:“We the People” Immigrant Stories in Music,2023-2024 CVCO Concert Season,Bushnell Arts Center,Hartford ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://thevirtuosi.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Facetune_08-08-2022-22-23-47-scaled-e1708384150403.jpg ORGANIZER;CN="Connecticut Virtuosi Chamber Orchestra":MAILTO:info@thevirtuosi.org END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20240518T193000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20240518T193000 DTSTAMP:20260430T191051 CREATED:20230828T154510Z LAST-MODIFIED:20251117T020308Z UID:10518-1716060600-1716060600@thevirtuosi.org SUMMARY:Madama Butterfly 2024 Bushnell DESCRIPTION:Join us for an unforgettable operatic experience as the Connecticut Lyric Opera brings Madama Butterfly to life. Madama Butterfly is one of opera’s most enduring and poignant tales of unrequited love. Composed by Giacomo Puccini\, this tragic masterpiece unfolds against the backdrop of early 20th-century Japan. The story revolves around Cio Cio San\, a young Japanese geisha\, who falls deeply in love with the American naval officer Pinkerton. Their union\, however\, faces cultural clashes\, societal expectations\, and heart-wrenching challenges. Pinkerton arranges a marriage with the fifteen-year-old Cio Cio San\, known as Madam Butterfly. Their passionate union faces heart-wrenching challenges\, leading to a devastating climax. The opera explores themes of tradition\, devotion\, honor\, and justice\, taking audiences on an emotional journey from innocence to acceptance of a destiny dictated by personal honor. Don’t miss this emotional journey set to Puccini’s exquisite music. Reserve your seats now and witness the magic of one of the best OPERAS ever written! \n\nMEET THE CAST: \n\n \n \n \n \n Kristin Sampson (Cio- Cio- San) \n \n \n \n \n \n Daniel Juarez\, tenor\n \n \n \n \n \n Rebecca Almeida (Suzuki)\n \n \n \n \n \n Martin Fisher ( Sharpless) \n \n \n \n \n \n Stephen Fredericks ( Uncle Bonzo)\n \n \n \n \n \n Jeremy Sivitz ( Yamadori )\n \n \n \n \n \n Josaphat Contreras ( Goro)\n \n \n \n \n \n Miguel Angel Vasquez (Imperial Commissioner) \n \n \n \n \n \n Kelly Whitesell ( Kate Pinkerton) \n \n \n \n \n \n Stephanie Foster ( Kate Pinkerton) \n \n \n \n \n \n Rachel Abrams (Cio-Cio-San’s Mother) \n \n \n \n \n \n Shaunna Lucas (Aunt) \n \n \n\n\nThe Creative Team: \nGiorgio Lalov & Ed Napier (stage direction)\nDara Blackstone (chorus master)\nPatrice Newman (pianist)\nSamuel Oram (pianist) \nAdrian Sylveen (artist director and conductor) URL:https://thevirtuosi.org/event/madama-butterfly-hartford/ LOCATION:The Bushnell Performing Arts Center\, 166 Capitol Ave.\, Hartford\, CT\, 06106\, United States CATEGORIES:2023-2024 CVCO Concert Season,Bushnell Arts Center,Hartford,Operas ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://thevirtuosi.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/54458_166727700012791_7718439_o-e1709059581980.jpeg ORGANIZER;CN="Connecticut Lyric Opera":MAILTO:info@ctlyricopera.org END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20240204T150000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20240204T150000 DTSTAMP:20260430T191051 CREATED:20230823T031306Z LAST-MODIFIED:20240527T223108Z UID:10336-1707058800-1707058800@thevirtuosi.org SUMMARY:American Influencers: Hindemith\, Schoenberg\, Brahms DESCRIPTION:“We the People” Immigrant Stories in Music – Part Seven:\n  \nThe Program presents the music of legendary German & Austrian composers who left a legacy on both continents. They became influential in establishing 20th-century American musical heritage: Hindemith by teaching at YALE\, and Schoenberg at Universities in California: the Concert includes Paul Hindemith’s “TrauerMusik\,” Arnold Schoenberg’s “Verklarte Nacht.” Also in the program is Johannes Brahms’ Double Concerto for Violin and Cello. The concert will feature the principal cellist of the Virtuosi\, Zack Sears\, in his debut as a soloist\, with Adrian Sylveen on the violin. \nPROGRAM: \nPaul Hindemith: “Trauermusik”\nJohannes Brahms: The Double Concerto in A minor\, Op. 102 (red. chamber orchestra)\nZachary Sears\, cello\,  Adrian Sylveen\, violin\nArold Schoenberg: “Verklarte Nacht” \n  \n\n \n \n \n \n Zack Sears\, cello\n \n \n \n \n \n Adrian Sylveen\, violin URL:https://thevirtuosi.org/event/romantic-influencers-hindemith-schoenberg/ LOCATION:Bushnell Arts Center @ the First Presbyterian\, 136 Capitol Ave\, Hartford\, CT\, 06106 CATEGORIES:“We the People” Immigrant Stories in Music,2023-2024 CVCO Concert Season,Bushnell Arts Center,Hartford ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://thevirtuosi.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Copy-of-American-Infuenres.png ORGANIZER;CN="Connecticut Virtuosi Chamber Orchestra":MAILTO:info@thevirtuosi.org END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR