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Story & Song Center for Arts & Culture
1430 Park Ave, Fernandina Beach
$25 Tickets are available by calling (904) 601-2118
Amelia Chapel
36 Bowman Road, Fernandina Beach
$25 suggested donation
Join Amelia Island Opera for an evening featuring the music of Leonard Bernstein. “Lenny,” as he was affectionately called, was a world-renowned composer, conductor, musician, educator, and humanitarian. He was described by American music critic and journalist Donal Henahan as "one of the most prodigiously talented and successful musicians in American history,” and Bernstein has the accolades to prove it: seven Emmy Awards, two Tony Awards, 16 Grammy Awards, and the Kennedy Center Honor. His most popular works include West Side Story, Candide, and MASS, which was commissioned by Jacqueline Kennedy for the opening of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C.
The performance will feature highlights from popular Bernstein works, including “Maria,” “Tonight,” and “Make Our Garden Grow,” sung by soprano Robyn Marie Lamp and tenor Derrek Stark, and accompanied by Juilliard-trained pianist Gordon Roberts, who was a protégé of Bernstein in his 20s. The musical portion of the evening will be accompanied by tales from Bernstein’s interesting life, including personal ones from Roberts himself. Roberts met Bernstein through a mutual friend, mezzo-soprano Jennie Tourel. Bernstein composed many works for Tourel, and Roberts was her accompanist as she concertized worldwide. Roberts went on to create his own weekly television show in Scranton, PA, called “Musical Minutes,” which featured live interviews and performances with musical guests.
Soprano and AIO co-founder Robyn Marie Lamp met tenor Derrek Stark when they were singing together one summer at Caramoor Center for Music and the Arts in Westchester County, N.Y. They became fast friends and have sung together countless times since that first meeting. Professional credits between the two include Zürich Opera, Santa Fe Opera, Boston Lyric Opera, Sarasota Opera, Teatro Nuovo, Gulfshore Opera, Opera Tampa, Palm Beach Opera, Florida Grand Opera, and more.
