Soprano, pianist lend talents to scholarship benefit *By John
   Davis* /Poughkeepsie Journal/
   
   April 27, 2007
   
   Celebrated soprano Dawn Upshaw will sing tonight at Bard's Fisher
   Center in support of the college's musical scholarship fund for
   double-majors.
   
   Accompanied by renowned classical pianist Gilbert Kalish, Upshaw
   will perform a variety of works by Alban Berg, William Bolcom,
   Stephen Foster, Robert Schuman, Ruth Crawford Seeger and Hugo
   Wolf.
   
   "She is actually one of the most in-demand sopranos in the
   country," said Mark Primoff, Bard College director of communications.
   
   A four-time Grammy Award winner, Upshaw's vocal repertoire runs
   the gamut from the "sacred" works of Bach to those of contemporary
   composers.
   
   Paul Merrill of New York City plans to attend tonight's concert
   at Bard.  He will drive down from his weekend home in Worcester
   in Ostego County.
   
   Merrill, who first saw Upshaw perform 20 years ago and several
   times since, is always captivated by her stage presence.
   
   "She's such a natural personality on stage," he said. "She just
   doesn't come across as an opera diva."
   
   Upshaw, though, is no stranger to the opera house.
   
   Her acclaimed performances on the opera stage comprise the great
   Mozart roles - Pamina, Ilia, Susanna, Despina - as well as modern
   works by Stravinsky, Poulenc and Messiaen.
   
   Numerous recordings

   Kalish is a noted solo artist, his playing having been captured
   on more than 100 recordings. He was pianist with the Boston
   Symphony Chamber Players for 30 years and chairman of the faculty
   at Tanglewood Music Center from 1985 to 1997.

   Kalish, who toured the United States with Upshaw in recital, is
   looking forward to playing with her again tonight.
   
   "Dawn is a most pleasant, good-natured, wonderful lady," he said.
   She has a beautiful, very special voice."
   
   The two will perform in the center's Sosnoff Theater which seats
   800.
   
   "Not only is it gorgeous, it just has incredible acoustics,"
   Primoff said.
   
   Upshaw, who holds honorary doctorate degrees from Yale University,
   the Manhattan School of Music, Allegheny College and Illinois
   Wesleyan University, is artistic director of the graduate program
   in vocal arts at the Bard College Conservatory of Music.
   
   Launched in 2005, the conservatory offers a double-degree program
   for Bard's music majors.
   
   The "broader knowledge gained through a liberal arts education,"
   Primoff said, is intended to make the music students more than
   simply master technicians.
   
   "It gives you a depth and breadth you wouldn't necessarily have,"
   he said of the double-degree program.
   
   The money raised at tonight's concert will provide scholarships
   for conservatory students.
   
   /Reach John Davis at [log in to unmask] or 845-437-4807/

Emily Darrow <[log in to unmask]>

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