Renowned American singer Jessye Norman returns to Israel for a one time gala concert on Friday, June 4, at the foot of Mt. Masada as part of the International Opera Weekend organized by the Israeli Opera. In between performances of Nabucco, Jessye Norman, who appeared about a decade ago in an open air concert with the Israeli Opera in Caesarea, will perform a varied program featuring classical-operatic music as well as lighter music. The concert will be conducted by American conductor Rachel Worby who works regularly with Ms. Norman. The concert will take place on Friday, June 4 at 22:00.
In the first part of the concert, Jessye Norman will perform arias from the operas Samson et Dalila (Saint-Saens), Aida (Verdi), Cavalleria rusticana (Mascagni) and a concert aria by Mozart. In the second half of the evening Ms. Norman will perform songs by Gershwin as well as, for the first time, songs by Ellington which were orchestrated especially for her by Patrick Ross.
Jessye Norman is one of the most unique and versatile classical music and opera singers of our time. These days she performs above all a series of concerts and recitals all over the world in which she combines the various styles that she likes to sing from the classical to the light-classical.
The concert Program
Mozart Divertimento in D Major K. 136
Mozart Vado, ma dove? K. 583
Saint-Saens Bacchanale from Samson et Dalila
Saint-Saens Mon coeur s’ouvre à ta voix from Samson et Dalila
Mascagni Intermezzo from Cavalleria rusticana
Mascagni Voi lo sapete, O mamma from Cavalleria rusticana
Verdi (Arr. McAlister) Triumphal March from Aida
Verdi Ritorna vincitor from Aida
Intermission
Gershwin (Arr. Bennett) Orchestral selections from Porgy and Bess
Gershwin My Man’s Gone Now from Porgy and Bess
Bernstein (Arr. Mason) West Side Story, orchestral selections
Ellington Don’t Get Around Much Anymore
Ellington I’ve Got It Bad and That Ain’t Good
Ellington Come Sunday
Ellington Heaven
Ellington It Don’t Mean a Thing (If It Ain’t Got That Swing)
(All Ellington songs arranged for Miss Norman by Patrick Russ)
