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January 15, 2008
BASS-BARITONE STEPHEN BRYANT TO SING MUSIC BY SONDHEIM IN MIDDAY ARTISTS CONCERT ON VALENTINE’S DAY
Stephen Bryant, an internationally acclaimed bass-baritone and professor of music at William Paterson University, will perform works by musical theatre icon Stephen Sondheim on Thursday, February 14, 2008 as part of the Midday Artists Series at William Paterson University in Wayne.
The performance, titled “Color and Light,” will be held at 12:30 p.m. in Shea Center for Performing Arts on campus. A $5 donation is suggested. The concert is free for students.
Bryant will sing a variety of selections from the Sondheim’s extensive musical songbook, including “Being Alive” from “Company,” “Everybody Says Don’t” and “With So Little to Be Sure Of,” from “Anyone Can Whistle,” and “Pretty Women” from “Sweeney Todd,” among other works.
Bryant’s performance is also part of a two-day symposium celebrating Sondheim’s 50-year musical theatre career of American composer Stephen Sondheim that will be held at William Paterson on February 14 and 15, 2008. The symposium, which will feature lectures, panels, paper presentations, master classes and performances, is held in conjunction with Sondheim’s appearance as part of the University’s Distinguished Lecturer Series on February 15 at 7 p.m. in Shea Center.
Sondheim is widely seen as his generation’s leading writer of the stage musical. He is one of the few people to win an Academy Award, multiple Tony Awards (seven, more than any other composer), multiple Grammy Awards, and a Pulitzer Prize. His works span a half-century and include, as composer/lyricist, “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum,” “Company,” “A Little Night Music,” “Sweeney Todd,” and “Sunday in the Park with George,” as well as “West Side Story” and “Gypsy,” for which he wrote the lyrics. The symposium coincides with preview performances of the Broadway revival of “Sunday in the Park with George.”
Bryant’s distinguished career in concert and opera has taken him around the world, with acclaimed performances in the United States, Europe, the Middle East and Asia. A bass-baritone, he has received numerous oratorios and opera credits. He created the major role of Dante for the world premiere of Tan Dun’s “Marco Polo,” which he performed at the Munich Biennale, the Holland Festival in Amsterdam, the Hong Kong Arts Festival, New York City Opera, and with the Japan Philharmonic in Tokyo. Bryant has also recorded for New World Records, Sony Classical and Teldec.
Bryant received his bachelor’s degree from Oberlin College and his master’s degree in voice and choral conducting from the University of Michigan. He resides in Upper Montclair.
For additional information on the concert, please call the Shea Center for Performing Arts Box Office at 973-720-2371.
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www.wpunj.edu
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