Recitalists to sing Bernstein at Union Theater

The music of Leonard Bernstein will be sung with polish and elegance on Saturday, Feb. 1, 2003 at 8 p.m. when Joyce Castle and Kurt Ollman bring their all Bernstein program to the Wisconsin Union Theater.

Mezzo-soprano Joyce Castle is an extraordinarily versatile mezzo-soprano whose repertoire extends from Strauss and Wagner to Bernstein and Sondheim. She is recognized internationally for her unique combination of a richly nuanced voice, profound dramatic skills and a superb sense of musicianship.

In recent seasons, Castle’s portrayal of leading roles in contemporary opera has brought her singular success. Characterized as “a compelling actress in both comedy and pathos” in Michael Torke and A.R. Gurney’s world premiere opera Central Park at Glimmerglass Opera; acclaimed for her poignant portrayal of the Mother in Menotti’s The Consul, performed at Berkshire Opera and recorded for Newport Classics; heralded as a “chillingly malevolent” Madame Flora in The Medium, performed at L’Opéra de Montréal and released by Cedille Records; and recognized for her “marvelously sardonic” Claire Zakanassian in the New York premiere of Von Einem’s The Visit of the Old Lady in a New York City Opera production directed by Joanne Akalaitis which was mounted for her, Castle has employed her formidable vocal and theatrical gifts to sculpt distinctive and memorable characterizations.

Born in Wisconsin, Baritone Kurt Ollmann, who performed the AIDS Quilt Songbook during the Wisconsin Union Theater’s 2001/2002 season, came to prominence singing Riff on the Deutsche Grammophon recording of West Side Story under Leonard Bernstein. He has sung Pelléas at La Scala under Abbado; the Count in Figaro at Opera Theater of St. Louis; and Don Giovanni in the original Peter Sellars production at Pepsico Summerfare. He has also sung at the Vienna State Opera, the Rome Opera, Brussels’ La Monnaie, the Seattle Opera, Washington Opera, and the Wexford Festival.

Ollmann is a sought-after recitalist known for his versatility. He has performed with some of the most distinguished orchestras in the world, including the London Symphony Orchestra, L’Orchestre de Paris, Rome’s Accademia di Santa Cecilia, the New York Philharmonic, and the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra as well as with the orchestras of Boston, Baltimore, Philadelphia, and San Francisco among many others.

According to the Stuttgarter Nachrighten, “Joyce Castle and Kurt Ollmann would not have been able to give a more engaging and delicious [performance].” The Stuttgarter Zeitung adds that “the extremely refined vocal artists…gave a performance of polish and elegance.”

The program will include music from West Side Story, Wonderful Town, and other Broadway and classical works by Bernstein.

The show is co-sponsored with the Madison Opera. It is sponsored by the Wisconsin Union Directorate with additional support from WERN, 88.7 FM. Tickets are $32 for the general public, $29 for Union members or buy seven or more vouchers at only $27 each. UW–Madison students: $14.50 or buy five or more vouchers for only $10 each. For more information, call the box office at 608-262-2201.