Opera Quad Cities Hosts Davenport Native In Recital January 9
Davenport – Opera Quad Cities will celebrate its return from a two year hiatus with a recital featuring Davenport native Nicholas Fahrenkrug, baritone, and Greek pianist Eleonora Apostolidi.
The event, which begins at 7:00 PM Sunday, January 9 in the Great Hall at Davenport’s Trinity Cathedral, is sponsored by Opera Quad Cities and features Mr. Fahrenkrug and Ms. Apostolidi, members of the Apollo Duo. The duo will present the complete song cycle Die Schöne Müllerin by Franz Schubert.
Composed in 1823, the set of twenty songs is based on the poetry of Wilhelm Müller. The main character is a young wanderer who falls in love with the beautiful daughter of the local miller. Throughout the song cycle, he keeps all his thoughts to himself. There is no interaction between characters other than the conversations that the wanderer has with the brook. Eventually the wanderer realizes the miller’s daughter might be in love with a hunter, and not him. In his despair, the song cycle concludes with a dramatic and tragic final aria.
About the Artists
Baritone Nicholas Fahrenkrug has recently been awarded an Acknowledgement for Artistic Achievement for his art film “Dichterliebe: Within and Without” from The American Prize. He is a second year Masters student in Vocal Performance at the LSU School of Music, Baton Rouge, LA, where he studies with baritone Dennis Jesse. While at LSU he has performed multiple roles with the Turner-Fischer Center for Opera, including Guglielmo (Così fan tutte), Giulio Cesare (Giulio Cesare), Marco (Gianni Schicchi), and Marquis de la Force (Dialogues des Carmélites). Originally from Davenport, Nicholas graduated from Lawrence University Conservatory of Music in 2020, and from Davenport Central High School in 2016.
Greek pianist Eleonora Apostolidi is a prize winner in many national and international competitions. She is an active solo and collaborative performer who has appeared in prestigious venues such as Merkin Hall, Carnegie Hall and Wiener Saal. Her esteemed piano teachers include Dr. Willis Delony, Dr. Ana Maria Otamendi, Paul Ostrovsky, Evelyne Crochet, Entela Roshi, Michael Gurt, and Charalampos Agelopoulos. She is a doctoral candidate in Piano Performance with a minor in Collaborative Piano at the LSU School of Music, where she is a graduate teaching assistant. She previously earned her Master of Music degree at LSU, following her undergraduate degree from SUNY-Purchase. Eleonora is also an experienced piano teacher and has been on the faculty at Grace Notes School of Music in Baton Rouge since 2018, where her students have been awarded multiple prizes.
About the Sponsor
Opera Quad Cities was formed in September, 2001, to broaden the appreciation of artistic singing in the Quad City community. “The goal of Opera Quad Cities is threefold: to demystify the stereotype that opera is “stuffy”; to support local artistic singers who have little opportunity to showcase their talent and training; and finally to showcase singers in such a way that it encourages them to remain in our community to perform” said Ron May, president of the group.
Opera Quad Cities has presented a variety of productions from children’s operas like “The Three Little Pigs-ala Mozart” to high drama such as Bizet’s Carmen performed at the Adler Theatre. Past productions have included The Magic Flute (Mozart), La Boheme (Puccini), Cosi fan tutte (Mozart), Rigoletto (Verdi), The Marriage of Figaro (Mozart), and – most recently – The Pirates of Penzance (Gilbert & Sullivan). “Our Young Artist Competition hopes to return in the near future”, said May. The competition recognizes singers from high school age to maturing artists with monetary awards to further their efforts.
“Recent performers have continued their singing careers throughout the United States and Opera Quad Cities feels fortunate to have provided an extra “stepping-stone” to their success”, said May. “As the COVID-19 era progresses, Opera Quad Cities is committed to return to in-person performances that are invigorating, safe for performers and audiences, and continuing in excellence at the highest level. Our next major performance will be an Opera Showcase June 17 & 19, 2022, at Moline’s Bartlett Center where a variety of solos, duets, and choruses will be presented in a concert setting with full orchestra to celebrate the best of opera.”
If you go:
What: Die Schöne Müllerin, performed by the Apollo Duo
When: Sunday, January 9 at 7:00 PM
Where: Great Hall, Trinity Episcopal Cathedral, 121 W. 12th Street, Davenport, Iowa
Who: Open to the public
Cost: Free to attend but donations will be accepted
All guests are required to wear masks per Covid-19 protocol.
For more information, please contact Kristin Bruchmann at 563-940-9015, or Ron May at rmay2000@aol.com
