Soprano Isabel Bayrakdarian, accompanied by pianist Robert Cassidy, will perform in the first program of the 40th annual Santa Ynez Valley Concert Series, 7 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 21, at St. Mark’s-in-the-Valley Church, 2901 Nojoqui Ave., Los Olivos.
Cassidy is the artistic director of the series. The concert series runs until April 24.
Since its inception by founder Rose Knoles at nearby Dunn School in 1981, the series has brought classical artists to perform in intimate spaces in the Santa Ynez Valley. Noted for its acoustics and serene ambiance, St. Mark’s-in-the-Valley Episcopal Church has been the home of the concert series since 2007.
“The opportunity to experience great artists of passion and integrity performing masterworks is a tremendously moving and inspiring experience,” said Linda Burrows, series coordinator.
The Sept. 21 gala concert will open the series 40th season featuring Bayrakdarian, an internationally recognized soprano, in a program of gypsy songs and tangos. In addition to pianist Cassidy, she will be accompanied by Benjamin Jacobson on violin and Jonathan Moerschel on viola, both from the Calder Quartet.
Following the performance, there will be a complimentary champagne reception with the artists and a tribute to Rose Knoles, series founder and artistic director ,who led the series for 35 years.
Bayrakdarian is a winner of the 1997 Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions, the year she graduated from the University of Toronto cum laude with a degree in biomedical engineering. Her musical career spans opera, concerts, recordings and film.
Some of Bayrakdarian’s accomplishments include the world premiere production of William Bolcom’s A View from the Bridge in 1999; receiving first prize from Plácido Domingo’s Operalia competition in 2000, and her debuts with San Francisco Opera as Valencienne in The Merry Widow, and the Metropolitan Opera.
Soon thereafter, Mozart became a specialty of hers as she played Zerlina in Don Giovanni (New York, Houston, Salzburg), Susanna in Le nozze di Figaro (Los Angeles, London), and Pamina in The Magic Flute (New York, Toronto).
Bayrakdarian was a featured vocalist on the Grammy Award-winning soundtrack of the film The Two Towers from The Lord of the Rings trilogy and on the soundtrack of Atom Egoyan’s Ararat. She collaborated with the electronica band Delerium, which garnered a Grammy nomination.
She appeared in the BBC-produced short film Holocaust – A Music Memorial Film from Auschwitz, and her Gemini-nominated film Long Journey Home, documenting her first visit to her homeland, Armenia.
Bayrakdarian currently serves on the voice faculty at UCSB.
Cassidy has received praise for his performances and recordings of solo piano repertoire and chamber music. A native of Philadelphia, he received his bacjelors and masters degrees in piano performance from the Manhattan School of Music; and doctor of arts in piano chamber usic and accompanying/piano performance from Ball State University.
In addition to his performances, Cassidy is director of piano chamber music for Santa Barbara Strings. He collaborates regularly with musicians from the Camerata Pacifica.
He is drawing on his past work experiences at Lincoln Center, Inc., IMG Artists, and the American Pianists Association to develop innovative programming and cultivate future audiences for the Santa Ynez Valley Concert Series.
The Santa Ynez Valley Concert Series will also present the following artists in its 40th season; all performances are at 7 p.m.:
Saturday, Nov. 9: Jackie Brand, violin, Erik Rynearson, viola and Trevor Handy, cello, all of the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra; and Cassidy on piano will present an evening of chamber music featuring the Mozart Piano Quartets and Martinu’s Second String Trio.
Friday, Feb. 7: Organist Thomas Joyce and trumpeter Bill Williams in concert featuring solos and duets from the last three centuries.
Friday, March 20: Grammy Award-winning violinist and producer Johnny Gandelsman of Brooklyn Rider, and the Silk Road Ensemble and a gifted solo artist will present three Bach cello suites on violin.
Friday, April 24: Radian String Quartet with Mary Beth Woodruff and Jane Chung, violin; Basil Vendryes, viola; and Andrew Smith, cello, will present an evening of string quartet masterworks.
Doors for each concert open 30 minutes prior to the start with tickets being sold at the door as well as online in advance at https://www.smitv.org/concert-series-tickets.html. A complimentary reception with the artists follows each concert. Patron tickets are $35 and general admission tickets are $20.
Thanks to a grant from St. Mark’s Women’s Guild, concert admission is free for all students with any student ID.
For patron seating or any questions, call or text Burrows at 805-705-0938 or e-mailsyvconcerts@smitv.org. For more information, visit www.SMITV.org.
— Laura Kath for St. Mark’s-in-the-Valley Episcopal Church.