Lyric Opera Singers Visit Shepherd of the Bay

On Memorial Day weekend, after long-awaited Spring, Shepherd of the Bay will open its doors and welcome four returning singers from Lyric Opera of Chicago to the shores of Northern Door. Soprano Desirée Hassler, mezzo soprano Pamela Williams, tenor John Concepcion and baritone Michael Cavalieri will offer two musical events on their Chicago on Tour migration from Chicago to Door County.

On May 23 at 7 pm, the visiting singers will join pianist Judith Jackson in an entertaining evening of opera and song, drawing music from the Italian masterpieces of La Traviata, Don Giovanni, Madama Butterfly and Nabucco.

There will be some Liebeslieder Waltzes of Johannes Brahms sung by the quartet of singer-songbirds before turning back to operatic gems from Tales of Hoffmann, Werther and Carmen. Four songs from The Secret Garden will complete the evening of Opera and Song. There will be a reception after the musical event.

The next morning, May 24 at 9 am, the four Chicago soloists will join members of the Kleinen Chor (Little Choir), Bach Orchestra, organist Greg Beem, conductor Judith Jackson and Pastor Bruce Foster in celebrating a true gem in the Lutheran Church, a partnership of Martin Luther’s music and words in the masterful compositional hands of Johann Sebastian Bach. Bach wrote Cantata BWV 80 “Ein feste Burg ist unser Gott” (A Mighty Fortress Is Our God) in Leipzig, Germany in 1730 for Reformation Day in the German Lutheran Church. Bach drew from Martin Luther’s theology and added his unique gifts of musical mastery in producing this most powerful testament of music and faith.

Both events take place at Shepherd of the Bay Lutheran Church, located at 11836 Highway 42 in Ellison Bay. For more information, call 920.854.2988 or visit shepherdofthebay.org.