American Jezebel: The Trial of Anne Hutchinson
Mar
1
8:00 PM20:00

American Jezebel: The Trial of Anne Hutchinson

Ms. Cooper will perform the leading role of Anne Hutchinson in the world premiere of James Kallembach’s opera, American Jezebel: The Trial of Anne Hutchinson, commissioned by Harvard University.

In the dark of predawn morning in a bitterly cold November in 1637, Anne Hutchinson, then pregnant with her fifteenth child, set out on foot with her family to traverse the treacherously frozen five miles to stand trial before the Great and General Court of Massachusetts for the slandering of ministers and, thereby, having “troubled the peace of the commonwealth and churches.” Governor John Winthrop, who had recently been elected in a clever political coup overthrowing supporters of ideals similar to Hutchinson’s, presided over the trial. In the unheated courtroom, the ominous and thick black cloaks of each Puritan are silhouetted against the rough-hewn timbers of the crude courthouse. Hutchinson is fighting for the right to express her own religious views, and, indirectly, for greater political sway for the self-made merchant class in the complex, theologically entwined politics of the Commonwealth. Winthrop, who is deeply invested in the success of the Massachusetts Bay Colony, views himself as the only hope of keeping the colony unified and to avoid having its charter revoked by King Charles, who already has problematic relations with all church separatists.

This intense story is told amidst a backdrop of scenes such as Winthrop’s famous “City upon a hill” sermon, Hutchinson and Winthrop’s own home and family life, the riveting political events of 1636-1637, and the unique communal life of the Puritans, as represented by the chorus. The chorus plays a crucial role in representing the interior, domestic life of childbirth, health care, matters of the home and personal spirituality set against a backdrop of a religion-centered, male- dominated society, yet with a surprisingly nuanced sense of a divide of church and state. Quilting bees, spiritual singing in the home, communal building projects all brought people together even in a society that placed a high value on personal growth, expression, and responsibility.

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Puccini and Verdi
Apr
26
7:30 PM19:30

Puccini and Verdi

Ms. Cooper returns to the Eastern Connecticut Symphony Orchestra in a performance celebrating Maestro Toshi Shimada’s 15 year anniversary with the ensemble. Program includes opera duets, excerpts, & overtures featuring Eastern CT Symphony Chorus, from Puccini and Verdi’s most beloved works.

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Dec
12
5:30 AM05:30

Bar Harbor Music Festival Gala

Join us for an evening of fun and beautiful music at the historic Cos Club to benefit the Bar Harbor Music Festival. 

5:30 pm: Cocktails and gourmet hors d'oeuvres

6:15 pm: Concert - Silent Auction - Raffle

Featuring:

Sarah Joyce Cooper, soprano

Stephen Crawford, pianist and former Metropolitan Opera Conductor

Clare Monfredo, cellist and Fulbright scholar

Kayoung An, pianist

Allison Kiger, flutist and Artistic Director

Deborah Swanger Fortier, composer

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Nov
1
7:00 PM19:00

Italy comes to Ulster County

Harwood Management Group in conjunction with the Ulster County Italian American Society, is pleased to present a concert of excerpts from some of the most famous and beloved Italian operas.  Included will be arias, duets and quartets written by Verdi, Puccini, Rossini and Donizetti from numerous well-known works including La bohème, La traviata, Rigoletto, Il trovatore, Tosca, Don Pasquale, La donna del lago, and L’elisir d’amore.

The quartet of soloists is composed of soprano Sarah Joyce Cooper, who recently made her debut at Seattle Opera in the world premiere of Jubilee, mezzo-soprano Martina Portychova who has just returned from a recital tour in her native Czech Republic, tenor Jesus Hernandez, a favorite of Placido Domingo who frequently performs as a soloist at Washington Opera, and baritone Eliam Ramos, who in the past year has created five new roles in USA operatic premieres.  On the Steinway is internationally acclaimed pianist Craig Ketter, who has been heard throughout the US and Canada as a piano soloist and recording artist.

With the generous support of Radio Kingston, the concert will be live streamed on their Facebook channel.  Tax deductible proceeds will benefit both the The Old Dutch Church and Community Care, part of the Italian America Society’s outreach.  

Donations and ticket prices:
Sponsor; $250
Patron: $100
General Admission: $20
Students: $10
Checks can be made out to UCIAF Inc.

For more information regarding sponsorships or prepaid tickets, please contact: UCIAFInc@gmail.com or HarwoodManagement@gmail.com  

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Jubilee
Oct
12
to Oct 26

Jubilee

Ms. Cooper makes her mainstage debut with the Seattle Opera as Minnie Tate in Tazewell Thompson’s Jubilee. Performances run October 12-26, 2024.

A world premiere opera. Not long after Emancipation and the end of the Civil War, the historic Fisk Jubilee Singers came together and changed music forever. Telling the story of the ensemble's early members, this opera—which includes over 40 spirituals—follows them on their first tours, raising funds for the fledgling Fisk University and spreading their music around the world. From threats of violence to a pivotal performance for Queen Victoria, the singers share their personal histories through powerful vignettes full of humor, heartbreak, and hope.

This newly orchestrated ensemble opera by renowned writer and director Tazewell Thompson (Blue ’22) features 13 singers performing spirituals such as “Swing Low, Sweet Chariot,” “Balm In Gilead,” “Deep River,” “Go Down, Moses,” “On Ma Journey Now,” “Wade In The Water,” “Steal Away,” “Didn’t My Lord Deliver Daniel,” and many more.

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Seattle Opera RECITAL: BLACK EXCELLENCE IN MUSIC
Sep
14
1:00 PM13:00

Seattle Opera RECITAL: BLACK EXCELLENCE IN MUSIC

Enjoy a performance of spirituals, jazz, musical theater, and opera with cast members of Seattle Opera’s Jubilee and the 5th Avenue Theater production of After Midnight. This collaboration will feature the dazzling talents of Sarah Joyce Cooper, Darren Drone, Yusef Seever, and Porscha Shaw at several community venues, including The Opera Center and the Federal Way Library.

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SEATTLE OPERA RECITAL: BLACK EXCELLENCE IN MUSIC
Sep
12
7:30 PM19:30

SEATTLE OPERA RECITAL: BLACK EXCELLENCE IN MUSIC

Enjoy a performance of spirituals, jazz, musical theater, and opera with cast members of Seattle Opera’s Jubilee and the 5th Avenue Theater production of After Midnight. This collaboration will feature the dazzling talents of Sarah Joyce Cooper, Darren Drone, Yusef Seever, and Porscha Shaw at several community venues, including The Opera Center and the Federal Way Library.

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SEATTLE OPERA RECITAL: BLACK EXCELLENCE IN MUSIC
Sep
12
6:00 PM18:00

SEATTLE OPERA RECITAL: BLACK EXCELLENCE IN MUSIC

  • Midtown Square Public Plaza (map)
  • Google Calendar ICS

Enjoy a performance of spirituals, jazz, musical theater, and opera with cast members of Seattle Opera’s Jubilee and the 5th Avenue Theater production of After Midnight. This collaboration will feature the dazzling talents of Sarah Joyce Cooper, Darren Drone, Yusef Seever, and Porscha Shaw at several community venues, including The Opera Center and the Federal Way Library.

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SEATTLE OPERA RECITAL: BLACK EXCELLENCE IN MUSIC
Sep
11
7:30 PM19:30

SEATTLE OPERA RECITAL: BLACK EXCELLENCE IN MUSIC

Enjoy a performance of spirituals, jazz, musical theater, and opera with cast members of Seattle Opera’s Jubilee and the 5th Avenue Theater production of After Midnight. This collaboration will feature the dazzling talents of Sarah Joyce Cooper, Darren Drone, Yusef Seever, and Porscha Shaw at several community venues, including The Opera Center and the Federal Way Library.

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Bar Harbor Music Festival
Jul
29
3:30 PM15:30

Bar Harbor Music Festival

Ms. Cooper will appear as the featured soloist in concert with the Bar Harbor Music Festival Orchestra.

Program:

Mozart - Exsultate, jubilate

Grieg - Våren

Montgomery - “I want to go home”

Mahl and Cooper, arr. - “His Name So Sweet”

Gershwin - “Summertime”

Mozart - Symphony No. 37

Kurt Atterberg - Suite no. 7 from Anthony and Cleopatra



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La Tragédie de Carmen
Apr
7
2:30 PM14:30

La Tragédie de Carmen

Ms. Cooper will perform the role of Micaëla in Peter Brook’s adaptation of Bizet’s classic.

One of opera’s most enthralling characters comes to life in this intense 90-minute re-interpretation of the classic and timeless Carmen.  Pared down to four singers, the opera follows Carmen as she draws the infatuated Don Jose away from Micaëla and toward a life of jealousy, lust, and murder.  Featuring many of the immensely popular melodies of Bizet’s original version, La Tragédie de Carmen trims this powerful story into a taut and fast-paced “tragedy of four people” that brims with seduction and intrigue as it moves towards its inevitable conclusion.

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La Tragédie de Carmen
Apr
5
7:30 PM19:30

La Tragédie de Carmen

Ms. Cooper will perform the role of Micaëla in Peter Brook’s adaptation of Bizet’s classic.

One of opera’s most enthralling characters comes to life in this intense 90-minute re-interpretation of the classic and timeless Carmen.  Pared down to four singers, the opera follows Carmen as she draws the infatuated Don Jose away from Micaëla and toward a life of jealousy, lust, and murder.  Featuring many of the immensely popular melodies of Bizet’s original version, La Tragédie de Carmen trims this powerful story into a taut and fast-paced “tragedy of four people” that brims with seduction and intrigue as it moves towards its inevitable conclusion.

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La Tragédie de Carmen
Apr
4
7:30 PM19:30

La Tragédie de Carmen

Ms. Cooper will perform the role of Micaëla in Peter Brook’s adaptation of Bizet’s classic.

One of opera’s most enthralling characters comes to life in this intense 90-minute re-interpretation of the classic and timeless Carmen.  Pared down to four singers, the opera follows Carmen as she draws the infatuated Don Jose away from Micaëla and toward a life of jealousy, lust, and murder.  Featuring many of the immensely popular melodies of Bizet’s original version, La Tragédie de Carmen trims this powerful story into a taut and fast-paced “tragedy of four people” that brims with seduction and intrigue as it moves towards its inevitable conclusion.

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The Anonymous Lover
Feb
18
3:00 PM15:00

The Anonymous Lover

Ms. Cooper will appear in the chorus, covering the role of Jeannette, in Boston Lyric Opera’s production of The Anonymous Lover.

Written in 1780 by Black virtuoso Joseph Bologne, Chevalier de Saint-Georges, The Anonymous Lover tells the story of Léontine, a wealthy young widow who is disenchanted with the notion of love until she begins receiving letters from an anonymous admirer. Léontine’s journey culminates in her own happy ending, a worthy romantic comedy for the ages.

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The Anonymous Lover
Feb
17
7:30 PM19:30

The Anonymous Lover

Ms. Cooper will appear in the chorus, covering the role of Jeannette, in Boston Lyric Opera’s production of The Anonymous Lover.

Written in 1780 by Black virtuoso Joseph Bologne, Chevalier de Saint-Georges, The Anonymous Lover tells the story of Léontine, a wealthy young widow who is disenchanted with the notion of love until she begins receiving letters from an anonymous admirer. Léontine’s journey culminates in her own happy ending, a worthy romantic comedy for the ages.

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The Anonymous Lover
Feb
16
7:30 PM19:30

The Anonymous Lover

Ms. Cooper will appear in the chorus, covering the role of Jeannette, in Boston Lyric Opera’s production of The Anonymous Lover.

Written in 1780 by Black virtuoso Joseph Bologne, Chevalier de Saint-Georges, The Anonymous Lover tells the story of Léontine, a wealthy young widow who is disenchanted with the notion of love until she begins receiving letters from an anonymous admirer. Léontine’s journey culminates in her own happy ending, a worthy romantic comedy for the ages.

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PRIMA Midway Meetup: An Evening with Matthew Aucoin
Jan
22
6:30 PM18:30

PRIMA Midway Meetup: An Evening with Matthew Aucoin

Ms. Cooper will perform Eurydice’s aria, “This is what it is to love an artist,” from Matthew Aucoin’s opera, Eurydice.

Join PRIMA friends and fans for a winter gathering and lively conversation with celebrated composer and Boston native Matthew Aucoin. Music and culture scholar (and fellow PRIMA member!) Lucy Caplan moderates an energetic discussion about Aucoin’s opera Eurydice, which BLO will present in March 2024. Explore the opera’s varied literary, musical, and dramatic inspirations, and hear excerpts performed live by the composer. The evening will include light bites and refreshments (both alcoholic and zero-proof), and time for socializing and Q&A. 

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Norma
Jan
21
3:00 PM15:00

Norma

  • Sanders Theater at Harvard University (map)
  • Google Calendar ICS

Ms. Cooper will perform the role of Clotilde in Bellini’s opera Norma, with the Boston Youth Symphony Orchestra. Maestro Federico Cortese conducts.

Norma, Serena Farnocchia
Pollione, Dominick Chenes
Oroveso, Önay Köse
Adalgisa, Ashley Dixon
Flavio, Neal Ferreira
Clotilde, Sarah Cooper

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Carnegie Hall
Dec
19
7:00 PM19:00

Carnegie Hall

  • Carnegie Hall, Stern Auditorium (map)
  • Google Calendar ICS

Ms. Cooper returns to Carnegie Hall as the soloist in a performance of John Rutter’s Magnificat and Stephen Schwartz’s When You Believe with the New England Symphonic Ensemble.

PROGRAM

JOHN RUTTER Magnificat

TRAD. "Sing We Now of Christmas" (arr. Bradley Knight)

TRAD. "Angels We Have Heard On High" (arr. Gary Fry)

TRAD. "Christmas is Coming" (arr. Mack Wilberg)

OLA GJEILO Ecce Novum

CRAIG COURTNEY A Musicological Journey Through the Twelve Days of Christmas

TRAD. "The Virgin Mary Had a Baby Boy" (arr. Mack Wilberg)

CACCINI "Alleluia" (arr. Mack Wilberg)

STEPHEN SCHWARTZ "When You Believe"

LEONTOVICH "Carol of the Bells" (arr. Jennifer Thomas)

TRAD. "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen" (arr. Bradley Knight)

K. DAVIS Carol of the Drum ("The Little Drummer Boy") (arr. Bradley Knight)

HANDEL "Hallelujah" from Messiah

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Embracing Coretta: A Celebration of Coretta Scott King
Oct
30
7:30 PM19:30

Embracing Coretta: A Celebration of Coretta Scott King

New England Conservatory will pay tribute to alumna Coretta Scott King on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of her graduation from the Conservatory with a special concert, “Embracing Coretta.”

“Embracing Coretta” will include the world premiere of Dear Coretta, a song by J. Jakari Rush based on a love letter Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. wrote to Coretta in 1952 and a piece by Cuban composer Amadeo Roldan, which Coretta sang on NEC’s Jordan Hall stage 70 years ago. The commemorative concert centers Black artists by featuring composers and poets, including singers Sarah Joyce Cooper, Neil Nelson, Melissa Joseph, and Daon Drisdom. The concert is a sabbatical project by NEC faculty member and pianist, Timothy Steele, who will also perform on this concert.

Coretta Scott King was an accomplished singer who studied at New England Conservatory from 1951-1954, during which time she met and married Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. “Embracing Coretta” will tell her life story through a series of narrations, art songs, and spirituals, which will highlight the ways in which she supported the Civil Rights Movement through her singing—as an activist, and as a wife and mother. 

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Embracing Coretta: A Celebration of Coretta Scott King
Oct
28
7:00 PM19:00

Embracing Coretta: A Celebration of Coretta Scott King

Coretta Scott King was an accomplished singer who studied at New England Conservatory from 1951-1954, during which time she met and married Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. “Embracing Coretta” will tell her life story through a series of narrations, art songs, and spirituals, which will highlight the ways in which she supported the Civil Rights Movement through her singing—as an activist, and as a wife and mother. 

“Embracing Coretta” will include the world premiere of Dear Coretta, a song by J. Jakari Rush based on a love letter Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. wrote to Coretta in 1952 and a piece by Cuban composer Amadeo Roldan, which Coretta sang on NEC’s Jordan Hall stage 70 years ago. The commemorative concert centers Black artists by featuring composers and poets, including singers Sarah Joyce Cooper, Neil Nelson, Melissa Joseph, and Daon Drisdom. The concert is a sabbatical project by NEC faculty member and pianist, Timothy Steele, who will also perform on this concert.

New England Conservatory will pay tribute to alumna Coretta Scott King on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of her graduation from the Conservatory with a the same program on Monday, October 30 in Jordan Hall.

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Oct
14
3:30 PM15:30

Hansel & Gretel

  • Boston Lyric Opera - Fort Point Lyric Room (map)
  • Google Calendar ICS

Boston Lyric Opera presents Opera Stories, an interactive performance of Hansel & Gretel designed to introduce children to the exciting world of opera. Join soprano Sarah Joyce Cooper in the role of Gretel and mezzo-soprano Chihiro Asano as Hansel in an abridged retelling of Humperdinck’s opera.

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Oct
13
12:00 PM12:00

Hansel & Gretel

Boston Lyric Opera presents Opera Stories, an interactive performance of Hansel & Gretel designed to introduce children to the exciting world of opera. Join soprano Sarah Joyce Cooper in the role of Gretel and mezzo-soprano Chihiro Asano as Hansel in an abridged retelling of Humperdinck’s opera.

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Oct
13
10:00 AM10:00

Hansel & Gretel

Boston Lyric Opera presents Opera Stories, an interactive performance of Hansel & Gretel designed to introduce children to the exciting world of opera. Join soprano Sarah Joyce Cooper in the role of Gretel and mezzo-soprano Chihiro Asano as Hansel in an abridged retelling of Humperdinck’s opera.

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