Matthew Polenzani & Ken Noda

Tenor Matthew Polenzani and pianist Ken Noda bring their celebrated artistry to an intimate and searching evening of song at the French Embassy. Opening with Franz Schubert’s Schwanengesang, the composer’s final and perhaps most profound gift to the song repertoire. This cycle, whose title evokes the legendary swan’s last song before death, moves through landscapes of longing, loss, and transcendence, setting texts by Heine and Rellstab with visionary intensity. Together, Polenzani and Noda explore every shade of this journey, a collaboration illuminating both the aching vulnerability and the quiet, inexorable beauty that make Schwanengesang an enduring pinnacle of song. The second half of the program turns to the rich warmth of the Italian tradition, with a selection of songs and arias by Francesco Cilea, Ildebrando Pizzetti, Ruggero Leoncavallo, Gaetano Donizetti, and Francesco Paolo Tosti. From the passionate ardor of the verismo masters to Tosti’s incomparable gift for melody and Pizzetti’s quietly spiritual lyricism, this is music that speaks directly to the heart. Polenzani — one of the most admired tenors of his generation — brings to these works a voice of honeyed beauty and rare expressive intelligence, while Noda’s piano ensures that voice and piano speak with one voice. Schwanengesang – Schubert La barcheta – Reynaldo Hahn Sopra l’aqua indormenzada – Reynaldo Hahn L’anima ho stanca – Francesco Cilea I pastori – Ildebrando Pizzetti Mattinata – Ruggero Leoncavallo Amore e morte – Gaetano Donizetti Me voglio fa na casa – Gaetano Donizetti A vucchella – Paulo Tosti Non t’amo piu – Paulo Tosti *Selections subject to change* American tenor Matthew Polenzani is one of the most gifted and distinguished lyric tenors of his generation. His elegant musicianship, innate sense of style, dramatic commitment, and timeless artistry have established his continued presence at leading operatic, concert, and recital venues worldwide. The 26/27 season reunites Mr. Polenzani with some of his most lauded roles. He will appear at The Metropolitan Opera in four engagements this season, bowing as Chevalier Des Grieux in Massenet’s Manon, the Italian Singer in Strauss’ Der Rosenkavalier, Mario Cavaradossi in Puccini’s Tosca, and soloist in the Diamond Jubilee: 60 Years at Lincoln Center, a gala featuring staged scenes from over 30 operas. He opens his season at Semperoper Dresden as Don Jose in Bizet’s Carmen, a role he has previously performed to great acclaim at The Metropolitan Opera, San Francisco Opera, and Teatro alla Scala. Mr. Polenzani will also return to Houston Grand Opera, making his debut as Gounod’s Faust, and will bring his “elegant” and “masterful” (Operawire) portrayal of the title role in Mozart’s La clemenza di Tito to Opéra national de Paris. On the concert stage, Mr. Polenzani joins the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra for Verdi’s powerful Requiem, and will appear in recital for The Kennedy Center and the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center. Mr. Polenzani opened his 25/26 season with a return to Lyric Opera of Chicago, once again bringing “heroic vocal strength and flexibility” and “clarion top notes” (Chicago Classical Review) to Giasone in Sir David McVicar’s lush production of Cherubini’s Medea. He appeared at The Metropolitan Opera for two productions, as Pinkerton in Puccini’s Madama Butterfly and Don José in Bizet’s Carmen, a role he reprised later that season at Teatro alla Scala. He also made a thrilling role debut as Riccardo in Verdi’s Un ballo in maschera at the Opéra Bastille, brought his “spectacular” (Houston Chronicle) interpretation of Massenet’s Werther to Barcelona’s Gran Teatro del Liceu, and bowed as Florestan in Beethoven’s Fidelio at the Bayerische Staatsoper. Career highlights from previous seasons at The Metropolitan Opera include the premieres of Bartlett Sher’s production of L’Elisir d’Amore, which opened the 2012 season, Sir David McVicar’s production of Maria Stuarda (issued on DVD by Erato), as well as McVicar’s new production of Donizetti’s Roberto Devereux, which was featured on PBS’ Great Performances at the Met. Further highlights include his role debut as Vaudémont in Tchaikovsky’s Iolanta, Penny Woolcock’s production of Les Pêcheurs de Perles (issued on DVD by Erato), Willy Decker’s production of La Traviata, Robert Carsen’s production of Der Rosenkavalier (issued on DVD by Decca), Julie Taymor’s legendary staging of Die Zauberflöte (DVD available from The Metropolitan Opera), and revivals of Les Contes d’Hoffmann, Rigoletto, Don Pasquale (Deutsche Grammophon DVD release), Don Giovanni, Roméo et Juliette, Il Barbiere di Siviglia, Così fan tutte, Falstaff, Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg (DVD available from Deutsche Grammophon), and L’Italiana in Algeri. To date, he has starred in more than 300 performances at The Met. Mr. Polenzani is continuously in demand for concert engagements with the world’s most influential conductors, including James Conlon,