NEW YORK FESTIVAL ORCHESTRA

presents

A Special Gala Concert

~ OPERA "THE WHITE FOX" Preview

Music by Bach, Caccini, Elgar, Gounod, Händel, Hideaki Hirai, Takeichiro Hirai,

Kameda, Respighi, and Schubert

Saturday, June 8 at 7 PM

Good Shepherd-Faith Presbyterian Church

152 West 66th Street, N.Y.C.

Tickets: $20

Reservations: http://nyfo_062019.eventbrite.com

 This preview concert is supported by WhiteBox Harlem, its board members, friends, and Kyoko Sato.

featuring

New York Festival Orchestra 

Hideaki Hirai, Conductor

~ Special Guests ~

Asako Tamura, Soprano

Atsuki Settangeli, Painter

Program

G. F. Händel: “Largo” from the Opera, SERSE (Arr. by Hideaki Hirai) 

G. F. Händel: Aria, “Lascia ch'io pianga” from the Opera, RINALDO 

"4 AVE MARIA SELECTIONS" 
by Gounod, Caccini, Schubert, and Hideaki Hirai *

J. S. Bach: "Air on the G string" 

E. Elgar: Serenade for Strings

O. Respighi: “Siciliana” and “Passacaglia” 
                                           from Ancient Airs and Dances, Suite No. 3

Hideaki Hirai: "Kolha’s Lullaby" and “Song of the Moon”
             from the Opera, THE WHITE FOX
　　　　　(in 3 acts / in Japanese)  
          - U. S. premiere

Seiji Kameda: "For The Future" 
(Arr. for Sop. Solo by Hideaki Hirai)  
- U. S. premiere 

Takeichiro Hirai: Rhapsody on Japanese Folktunes

*dedicated to Pope Francis and to the City of Vatican in 2017

The New York Festival Orchestra, under the baton of Maestro Hideaki Hirai, will present a special gala concert ~ OPERA "THE WHITE FOX" Preview. A special program features works by J. S. Bach, Caccini, Elgar, Gounod, Händel, Takeichiro Hirai, Respighi, Schubert as well as the U. S premieres of 2 representing arias from Hideaki Hirai’s acclaimed Opera, “The White Fox” with 2 special guest artists, Asako Tamura (Soprano) and Atsuki Settangeli (Painter).

The Opera, “The White Fox” is based on the original English libretto by a legendary Japanese scholar TENSHIN OKAKURA (1863-1913), widely-known for his best-seller, “BOOK OF TEA”, published in 1906 (New York) and Maestro Hideaki Hirai successfully completed as an Opera in 3 acts in 2013 with Japanese translation / libretto and music. The NY / U.S. premiere of the entire opera will be held at WhiteBox Art Center, curated by Kyoko Sato, as a part of “PERFORMA Biennale 19” in November, 2019 (details to be announced) in collaboration with Settangeli’s paintings as stage art. 

NYFO is proud to present “4 Ave Maria Selections”, including Hideaki Hirai's own, which was dedicated to Pope Francis and to the City of Vatican in 2017, as well as the U. S. premiere of the song, “For The Future” (Soprano Solo version) originally written for the world-famous English boys’ choir LIBERA by the eminent Japanese music producer, Seiji Kameda, sung by an internationally acclaimed Japanese Soprano, Asako Tamura, who appeared as soloist with the Three Tenors- Domingo, Pavarotti and Carreras - in the 2002 World Cup Championship performance in Yokohama. 

On June 1 and 2, Seiji Kameda will serve as Executive Committee Chairman of the newly-launching HIBIYA MUSIC FESTIVAL (www.hibiyamusicfes.jp) at the so-called, CENTRAL PARK OF TOKYO, HIBIYA PARK. Hideaki Hirai will also present his own Opera, “KAGUYA-HIME” (Princess from the Moon) at the Festival.