Stearns Steps in to Gioconda at the Met

Baritone Jason Stearns stepped in for ailing Carlo Guelfi at the Metropolitan Opera Saturday night, singing the lead baritone role of Barnaba. Mr. Stearns, who received final word about the cancellation at 7:10 PM, was received warmly by the in-house audience. Martin Bernheimer, of the Financial Times, said: 

"Barnaba, the villain with a heart of ice, should have been Carlo Guelfi, but illness forced the last-minute substitution of Jason Stearns. Jason Stearns? He had once served in the Met chorus and undertaken tiny solos. In spite of a few pardonably rough patches, one had to admire his firm, wide-ranging baritone, not to mention his steadfast bravado."

Upcoming engagements for Mr. Stearns include Tonio in Pagliacci in matinee performances at Lyric Opera of Chicago, Monterone in Rigoletto at the Met, and the title role in Rigoletto at Baltimore Opera. 

Madeline Bender Headlines Sing for Hope

Renowned operatic soprano Madeline Bender and fellow artists have donated their time and talent to the creation of an evening of music to benefit Sing for Hope. The concert will be held at:

Lancaster Mennonite School Fine Arts Center located at 2176 Lincoln Highway East, Lancaster, PA on October 25th 2008 at 7 PM.   Suggested donation for the event is $15 per person.

The concert will feature Soprano Madeline Bender whose starring roles include Violetta in La Traviata at Santa Fe Opera, Euridice in Orfée at the Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris, and Helene in A Midsummer Night's Dream at Glyndebourne Opera.  Accompanying the concert will be Conductor/Pianist Tim Long, who has led orchestras at The New York City Opera, The Opera Theater of St. Louis, Boston Lyric Opera and Wolf Trap Opera.  Performing with the artists will be the Lancaster Mennonite High School Chorale in a program designed for enjoyment by people of all ages. 

For more information or to schedule an interview, please contact Larry Guengerich at 717-859-1151.