The Romantic composers and colleagues Brahms and Dvorak each wrote masterful sets of “Gypsy Songs,” incorporating folk melodies into classical song structures and extolling the virtues of nature, love, and living free of societal constraint. Dvorak’s most famous song, “Songs My Mother Taught Me,” is included in this cycle.
$10 suggested donation to benefit the WJC.
MARKA KNIGHT made her classical debut at age 18 as a soloist with Manhattan’s Lyric Theater. She has performed classical, blues, musical theatre, folk, and early music throughout the U.S., Germany, and New Zealand. Operatic roles include The Witch (Hansel and Gretel), Prince Orlovsky (Die Fledermaus), The Drummer (The Emperor of Atlantis), Mrs. Nolan (The Medium), and the titles roles of Orfeo, Julius Caesar, Carmen, and Pericles. A lieder enthusiast, Marka has received critical acclaim for her performances of Schubert’s Winter’s Journey, Schumann’s A Woman’s Life and Loves, and Mahler’s Songs of a Wayfarer. She was winner of the San Francisco NATS and Mu Phi Epsilon competitions and the Sarah Lawrence College Concerto Competition. Recently, Marka has been honored to sing for the WJC High Holy Days.
Born in Cleveland, Ohio, STEVEN KANE began piano studies at 6 years with Martin Newmark and later continued at the Cleveland Institute of Music. While studying physics, chemistry, neural science, and medicine in college and graduate school, he continued music studies with Anne Baxter, David Bean, Abby Simon, and William Schatzkamer. Performances include solo works, choral music, lieder, and chamber music. He currently practices pediatric ophthalmology and neurological ophthalmology in New York City, teaches at Columbia University, and studies piano with Anna Han.