Analog Presents "Richard Wagner and His Ancestors and Descendants in Song"

Baltimore, OH, September 11, 2013 --(PR.com)-- Rising stars of the Wagnerian stage Christina Carr, mezzo soprano, and Caleb Stokes, tenor, will join forces with Rachelle Jonck, pianist, in a unique recital presenting masterpieces of German Lied and French Melodie by composers that either inspired Richard Wagner's musical language or were influenced by it. Presented by Analog, “Richard Wagner and his Ancestors and Descendants in Song” will take place at 3:00 pm on Saturday September 21, at An die Musik at 409 North Charles Street, Second Floor, Baltimore, MD, 21201.

Admission is $10, students $5, and tickets are available at the door.

Christina Carr The New York Times lauds American mezzo-soprano Christina Carr as “utterly convincing” and a “show-stealer.” Ms. Carr is rapidly establishing her place as a formidable dramatic mezzo-soprano. This summer she performed Maddalena in Rigoletto and Berta in Il barbiere di Siviglia with Cleveland’s Opera Circle where she has also performed Amneris in Aida and Azucena in Il Trovatore. She participated in the Wagner Intensive headed by Jane Eaglen and Tim Mussard, performing scenes as Venus in Tannhäuser, Isolde in Tristan und Isolde, Kundry in Parsifal, Fricka and Schwertleite in Die Walküre. Recently she performed the role of Marquise de Berkenfield in La Fille du Regiment with Taconic Opera with whom she has performed Azucena in Il Trovatore, Madam Flora (Baba) in The Medium, La zia principessa in Suor Angelica, and La Frugola in Il Tabarro. Ms. Carr was the first-prize winner of the New York Vocal Artists competition in 2002, and a second-prize winner of the Lotte Lenya Competition. She was also a finalist in the 2002 MacAllister awards, and a regional finalist in the 2002 Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions. Originally from Cleveland, Ms. Carr holds degrees from Miami University, Eastman and Juilliard.

Caleb Stokes (tenor) will be seen this fall in the role of Rodolfo in highlights from Verdi's Luisa Miller with dell'Arte Opera Ensemble. This past season, Mr. Stokes performed The Sage in Hin und Zurück (On Site Opera), was featured in concerts celebrating the works of Richard Wagner presented by Analog Arts, and returned to Jane Eaglen's Wagner Intensive training program where he performed scenes from Lohengrin, Der Fliegender Hollander, and Die Walküre. Previous credits include Luigi in Il Tabarro, Der Königssohn in Königskinder (dell'Arte Opera Ensemble), Peter in Peter Grimes, Narraboth in Salome (One World Symphony), Boris in Kat'a Kabanova (Yale Opera), Horatio in Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead (AOP and Mark Morris), and The Governor/Vanderdendur in Candide (Orchestra di Milano Giuseppe Verdi). In 2011, he was an Apprentice Artist with Chautauqua Opera. As a recitalist, he collaborated with Wilson Southerland and Martha Cargo to create the innovative chamber piece 'Til Morning with AOP Helping Hands. In 2010 he created the role of Bob, singing Schumann's Dichterliebe in Bad Romance with the art.party.theater.company directed by Mary Birnbaum. Caleb hails from Pleasantville, NY and holds degrees from Oberlin and Yale.

Rachelle Jonck (pianist) received her musical training at the Conservatory of the University of Stellenbosch in South Africa. After completing her studies, Rachelle joined Cape Town Opera in 1991 as rehearsal pianist and vocal coach. She also taught at the Opera School of the University of Cape Town. In 1993 she moved to Pretoria as Chorus Master and Assistant Conductor at the State Theater Opera. She was awarded an FNB/Vita award for her contribution to opera in South Africa with special mention of her work with the State Theater Opera Chorus. In 1998 Ms. Jonck received the Nederburg Opera Prize – South Africa’s premier opera award. She was an official accompanist of the International String and Vocal Competition in Pretoria (hosted by the University of South Africa.)

In 1998 Rachelle moved to New York City as Head Coach and Assistant Conductor of Bel Canto at Caramoor (with Will Crutchfield) – a position she still holds. Ms. Jonck maintains a busy vocal coaching studio in New York and Princeton, working with a wide variety of singers, including established international professionals, and younger singers still on the verge of a professional career. While her range of repertoire is wide, she has made a name for herself as a specialist Italian style coach - Handel, Mozart and the bel canto masters, including Verdi.

Balancing her love for opera, Ms. Jonck enjoys recital collaborations with her singers and in addition to regular concerts at the Caramoor Festival, her recital appearances in the United States include Weill Recital Hall, the Bard Festival, the Monadnock Music Festival (Peterborough, NH), Music Mountain (Falls Village, CT), Van Cliburn Concerts (Fort Worth, TX), National Gallery Recitals (Washington, DC), Art Song of Williamsburg (VA) and the Dame Myra Hess broadcast concert series (Chicago, IL). She has appeared multiple times as a guest on Garrison Keillor's Prairie Home Companion. She is anticipating the release of her Fauré recording with tenor Steven Tharp. It traces the development of Fauré's musical language in his Mélodies.