Home for Christmas | Noonday Concert Series

Home for Christmas | Noonday Concert Series

Liz Lang, Soprano

Meghann Vaughn, mezzo-soprano

Erik Rasmussen, Tenor

Christopher Judd, Baritone

Christopher Johnson, piano

 

Gloucestershire Wassail              

Traditional English Carol

Arr. by Ralph Vaughan Williams (1872—1958)

 

Away in a Manger                                        

Tune by W.J. Kirkpatrick (1838—1921)

Arr. by David Willcocks (1919—2015)

 

Adam lay ybounden                                    

Boris Ord (1897-1961)

Words anon. 15^th century

 

Bring a Torch, Jeannette, Isabella           

Traditional French Carol

English Text by E. Cuthbert Nunn (1868—1914)

 

O Little Town of Bethlehem       

Traditional English Carol

Arr. by Ralph Vaughan Williams (1872—1958)

Descant by Thomas Armstrong (1898—1994)

Text by Bishop Phillips Brooks (1835—1893)

 

What Sweeter Music     

John Rutter (b. 1945)

Text by Robert Herrick (1591-1674)

 

Es ist ein Ros entsprungen         

Michaël Prætorius (1571—1621)

 

The Little Road to Bethlehem

Michael Head (1900—1976)

Text by Margaret Rose

 

What is this Lovely Fragrance?

Traditional French Carol

Arr. by Healey Willan (1880–1968)

Text by Ysobel

 

Jesus Christ the apple tree

Elizabeth Poston (1905-1987)

Words by Joshua Smith (1760–1795)

Opera News has applauded soprano Liz Lang for her “comedic timing and clear resonant tone.” She is known for her crossover ability into many genres including music theatre, jazz, and blues. Credits: Annina, Violetta u/s, La Traviata (Lincoln Center), Soloist, The Constitution (VPR Opera), Iris, Semele (Opera Omaha), Savannah VOICE Festival Artist, Sherrill Milnes Opera Award (ATC). Soloist: Carnegie Hall, The Juilliard School, Bard Summerscape, Voices of Ascension, Riverside Choir and Orchestra, American Symphony Orchestra, New American Songbook Orchestra, The Salzburg Festival, Hawaii Performing Arts Festival, and various venues in Italy and Germany. Eastman School of Music (MM), Oklahoma City University (BM).

Mezzo-soprano Meghann Vaughn, a versatile performer, is equally comfortable in operatic, solo, and ensemble repertoire. Ms. Vaughn has performed various solo and ensemble works with the Interchurch Center Choir and The Riverside Choir at The Riverside Church in New York City, where she has been an active member of the choir for twelve seasons. A North Carolina native, Ms. Vaughn is a graduate of The University of North Carolina at Greensboro’s School of Music and holds a Master of Music degree in Voice from the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music.

Erik Rasmussen‘s unique and colorful tenor voice has been described as “youthful, amusing, and crowd-pleasing.” (Brooklyn Discovery) Hailing from Brentwood, New York, he has appeared as a featured soloist in operatic and concert performances with Spotlight on Opera, Amadeus Opera, the Arnold Schwartz Memorial Concert Series, the Lake Junaluska Singers, SingThrough Central, and SongFest. A member of the Riverside Choir for one year, Mr. Rasmussen holds a Bachelor of Music from SUNY Fredonia. He is currently completing his Master of Music at the Aaron Copland School of Music at Queens College, where he studies with critically-acclaimed baritone Sidney Outlaw.

A native of Highland Falls, NY, baritone Christopher Judd has been heard at the Interchurch Center in solo recitals and in ensemble works with the Interchurch Center Choir. A current member of The Riverside Choir at The Riverside Church and the Kinnara Ensemble, he holds a Pre-College Diploma from The Juilliard School, a Bachelor’s of Music from Westminster Choir College, a Master’s of Music from Indiana University, and completed two summers of study at the Académie Internationale d’Été de Nice with Dalton Baldwin.

Pianist Christopher Johnson is a native of Tulsa, Oklahoma and completed undergraduate and graduate studies at The Cleveland Institute of Music, Manhattan School of Music, and Yale University. He serves as Director of Music and Organist at The Riverside Church in New York City and as Director of Chapel Music at The Interchurch Center.