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Past Events

Steven Mackey
RIOT

Ludwig van Beethoven
Symphony No. 9, "Choral"

Steven Mackey
RIOT

Ludwig van Beethoven
Symphony No. 9, "Choral"

Steven Mackey
RIOT

Ludwig van Beethoven
Symphony No. 9, "Choral"

Steven Mackey
RIOT

Ludwig van Beethoven
Symphony No. 9, "Choral"

“My chief aim was to awaken and permanently instill spiritual feelings not only in the singers but in the listeners,” said Beethoven of his immense and moving Missa solemnis (“Solemn Mass”). Observing the structure of a traditional Catholic mass, Missa solemnis is a vibrant paean to faith but also to humanity. This concert concludes Music Director Ken-David Masur’s final season as well as the Milwaukee Symphony Chorus’ 50th anniversary celebration. As Beethoven penned at the top of his score: “From the heart: may it go to the heart.”

“My chief aim was to awaken and permanently instill spiritual feelings not only in the singers but in the listeners,” said Beethoven of his immense and moving Missa solemnis (“Solemn Mass”). Observing the structure of a traditional Catholic mass, Missa solemnis is a vibrant paean to faith but also to humanity. This concert concludes Music Director Ken-David Masur’s final season as well as the Milwaukee Symphony Chorus’ 50th anniversary celebration. As Beethoven penned at the top of his score: “From the heart: may it go to the heart.”

Simone Dinnerstein, Jennifer Johnson Cano, Katherine Needleman and the Baroklyn ensemble perform an evening of chamber works by J.S. Bach to open a special Founder's Day 2025 celebration marking the Library’s illustrious century-long history as a concert presenter. This concert and the following day’s performance by the percussion ensemble Tambuco are an homage to Elizabeth Sprague Coolidge’s forward-looking stance in championing music both very old and very new. Baroklyn’s arresting new arrangements and transcriptions of the chorales, concerto and cantata on the program were chosen by Dinnerstein, “a unique voice in the forest of Bach interpretation,” (New York Times). Created for the group’s recent Complicité project, they reveal an intimate and thoughtful reimagining of Bach’s music that allows us to experience his genius through contemporary ears.

Jennifer Johnson Cano, mezzo-soprano
Paul Neubauer, viola
Anne-Marie McDermott, piano

Frank Bridge Three Songs for voice, viola and piano 

Far, far from each other
Where is it that our soul doth go?
Music when soft voices die

Johannes Brahms

Von ewiger Liebe from Vier Gesänge for voice and piano, Op. 43

Unbewegte laue Luft from Acht Lieder und Gesänge for voice and piano, Op. 57

Two Songs for voice, viola and piano, Op. 91 
Gestillte Sehnsucht: Adagio espressivo
Geistliches Wiegenlied: Andante con moto

Robert Schumann/Franz Liszt

Widmung for solo piano, S. 566

Intermission

Richard Wagner Wesendonck Lieder for voice, viola and piano, WWV 91
Der Engel (The Angel)
Stehe still!
Im Treibhaus
Schmerzen
Träume

Francis Casadesus Romance Provençale and Danse for viola and piano

Jules Massenet Elegy from The Erynnies for voice, viola and piano, Op. 10 

Brahms Two Songs for Voice, Viola & Piano Op. 91​​
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Schubert Variations on "Trockne Blumen" for flute and piano

Jennifer Johnson Cano, Mezzo Soprano; Tara Helen O'Connor, flute, viola TBD; Ann Marie McDermott, piano

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J.S. Bach Concerto for Two Violins in d minor BWV 1043
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Organ Interludes from Bach Cantatas
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J.S. Bach Selected Arias featuring Jennifer Johnson Cano from:
Cantata 170 Vergnügte Ruh, beliebte Seelenlust
Cantata 30a Was die Seele kann ergötzen
Erbarme dich from St. Matthew Passion​​
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J.S. Bach Brandenburg Concerto #6
J. S. Bach Brandenburg Concerto #4
J.S. Bach Brandenburg Concerto #3

Jennifer Johnson Cano, soprano; Guy Whatley, organ & harpsichord;
Flutes: Tara Helen O’Connor, Jarrett May; Violins: Ani Kavafian, Ida Kavafian, Daniel Phillips; Violas: Steven Tenenbom, Nokuthula Ngwenyama; Celli: Peter Wiley, Thomas Landschoot, Barbara Metz; Bass: Timothy Cobb
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French Salon

Debussy - Violin Sonata
Ravel - "Enchanted flute" from Scheherazade
Ravel - Chansons Madécasses
Louise Ferrenc - Piano Trio​​

Jennifer Johnson Cano, mezzo soprano

Tara Helen O'Conner, flute

Peter Wiley, cello

Chris Cano, piano

Daniel Phillips, violin
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​Louis Spohr 3 German songs for Voice, clarinet, and piano​

Listz: 3 Songs

Debussy Premiere Rapsodie for clarinet and piano
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Mozart Aria
"Non più di fiori" from Clemenza di Tito

Carlo Rizzi, Conductor

Aleksandra Kurzak, Cio-Cio-San

Jennifer Johnson Cano, Suzuki

Adam Smith, Pinkerton

Sharpless, Quinn Kelsey

Carlo Rizzi, Conductor

Aleksandra Kurzak, Cio-Cio-San

Jennifer Johnson Cano, Suzuki

Adam Smith, Pinkerton

Sharpless, Quinn Kelsey

Carlo Rizzi, Conductor

Aleksandra Kurzak, Cio-Cio-San

Jennifer Johnson Cano, Suzuki

Adam Smith, Pinkerton

Sharpless, Quinn Kelsey

Carlo Rizzi, Conductor

Aleksandra Kurzak, Cio-Cio-San

Jennifer Johnson Cano, Suzuki

Adam Smith, Pinkerton

Sharpless, Quinn Kelsey

Carlo Rizzi, Conductor

Ailyn Peréz, Cio-Cio-San

Jennifer Johnson Cano, Suzuki

Adam Smith, Pinkerton

Sharpless, Quinn Kelsey

Following her hauntingly beautiful music theater performance in 2024’s A Song by Mahler, Jennifer Johnson Cano brings her “voluminous voice with remarkable agility” (Washington Post) back to PCMS. This performance with her husband, acclaimed collaborative pianist Christopher Cano, and St. Louis Symphony Principal Violist Beth Guterman Chu, features solo pieces, duos, and trios that highlight the eloquence and depth of the modern mid-range.

Brahms: 2 Songs, Opus 91

Schumann: Adagio and Allegro, Op.70 (arr, for viola and piano)

Grieg: Sechs Lieder, 48

Bridge: Three Songs for Voice, Viola, and Piano

Vaughan Williams: Romance

Dove: Night's Not Spent Alone

MOZART Symphony No. 35 in D major, K. 385
MOZART Mass in C major, K. 317, “Coronation”
MOZART Serenade No. 10 in B-flat major, K. 361, “Gran Partita” 

Peter Oundjian, conductor
Jessica Rivera, soprano
Jennifer Johnson Cano, mezzo soprano
Isaiah Bell, tenor
Andrew Garland, baritone
Colorado Symphony Chorus, Taylor Martin, director