Vive La France

FAUST. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Charles Gounod

ACT III

Je Ris de me Voir si Belle (Jewel Song)

ACT IV

Il ne Revient pas (Spinning Wheel Song)

 Romeo And Juliet. . . . . . . . . . . . . Charles Gounod

ACT I

Je vieux Vivre (Waltz Song)

ACT IV

Amour, Ranime mon Courage (Crypt Scene)

CARMEN. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . George Bizet

ACT I

L’Amour est un Oiseau (Habenera)

Pres des Ramparts de Seville (Seguidilla)

ACT II

Les Tringles des Sistres (Gypsy Song)

American-born soprano, Eva Ostrakovna, earned a scholarship to the Julliard School of Music and a prestigious scholarship for Germanic studies to the University of Vienna.  She has performed in music festivals in Europe and in the United States.  Master classes with Eleanor Steber, Luciano Pavarotti and Jan DeGaetani aided in homing her unique style.  A regular guest artist with the Linz Opera, Austria and Zurich Opera, Switzerland, she has soloed in chamber music recitals throughout Europe and the United States.

Locally, Ms. Ostrakovna has performed with Ms. Chiu for the Tuesday Musical Club, the St. Andrews Church First Thursday Concert Series and in multiple Chatham University Concert Series. Quoting one European reviewer, "She is an exceptional kind of interpreter. She does not conceive of her role as a soloist, but rather as another element in the composer's concept of tonality."

A Steinway Artist, Hong Kong-born pianist Yeeha Chiu is a graduate of the Royal College of Music in London and the Juilliard School of Music, she has taught at Juilliard and Duquesne University. She has appeared in solo and chamber music recitals in Asia, Australia, Europe and the United States. In reviewing her Asian tour, The Japan Times noted that "Her sincere and genuine musicianship made this a

truly memorable evening."

A versatile chamber musician, Chiu has collaborated with members of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, the Alexander String Quartet based in San Francisco, the Renaissance City Winds, the Organ Historical Convention, and Art Songs with Daphne Alderson, Lilly Abreu, and Eva Ostrakovna. Chiu has performed the entire cycle of trios for Piano, Violin and Cello by Beethoven and Brahms.

Actor Susie McGregor Laine is the narrator for the program for this evening repeating the role from other concerts with the soloists. McGregor Laine relocated from Hong Kong to Pittsburgh in 1968. She has acted with a wide variety of theater companies in Pittsburgh including the Pittsburgh Public Theater, Pittsburgh Playhouse, Kinetic Theatre, Quantum Theatre, Barebones Productions, Pittsburgh Playwrights, PICT, Little Lake, Duquesne Red Masquers & Summer Company, Apple Hill Playhouse.