Opera night at Columbus Citizens Foundation
The Columbus Citizens Foundation, located in a townhouse on 8 East 69th St. near Central Park, was the scene for a two-part musical treat on the evening of Friday, June 21. What better way to begin summer!
The first part was the presentation of four promising scholarship winners accompanied by the superb pianist Arlene Shrut. This special event was hosted by the effervescent Stephen De Maio, president of the Gerdal Lissner Foundation and artistic director of the Licia Albanese-Puccini Foundation and the Giulio Gari Foundation, all of which offer scholarships to gifted young singers. De Maio has been a beacon of light to so many talented and aspiring young singers and has ensured us that the future is full of promise. Each singer sang one aria and then one song as an encore.
Mary-Jane Lee sang the haunting “Song to the Moon” from “Rusalka” by Anton Dvorak in a dark-hued, honey-toned soprano with exciting ascents and a thrilling top. Her subtle gestures and fine portamentos evoked sympathy for this nymph who wanted to be human for the sake of her beloved. Ms. Lee’s encore was “Zdes Khorosho,” Opus 21 No. 7 by Rachmaninoff, and was a tour de force of almost Wagnerian power.