NYFOS—the "engaging, ever-curious series" ( The New York Times )—revisits the very first program it ever presented: Lyrics By Shakespeare . This highly popular program, which explores the Bard’s influence on music over the centuries, returned last August in a sold-out performance presented by Lincoln Center's Mostly Mozart Festival and now serves as the season opener of NYFOS's 32nd season. The 75-minute evening illuminates Shakespeare's classic poetry with musical settings by Berlioz, Dankworth, Kabalevsky, Poulenc, Sondheim, and others.

NYFOS brings back two singers who are not only refined vocalists, but also superb actors: mezzo-soprano Naomi Louisa O'Connell and bass Matt Boehler . Both are blessed with a theatrical imagination, and their chemistry with the great actress Kathleen Chalfant and pianist Steven Blier is magical. Parterre 's review of the August production praised Boehler as "a bass with an attitude and the goods to back it up" and O'Connell for her "full Kammersängerin cry" which "can sound a bit like, well, Kathleen Ferrier, actually… Heavy gold, deep and room-filling."

NYFOS Recommends

Emerging Voices: Art Song & Social Connection

January 13-24, 2020; Philadelphia, PA

Dramatic transformations in the world order and major shifts in national and cultural boundaries defined the 20th century. The Expositions Universelles in Paris stimulated a groundswell in cultural exchange, and salons inspired the emergence of new musical voices. Events around World War I prompted questions of nationalism and sovereignty in the face of catastrophic loss, and the Treaty of Versailles in 1919 splintered the European map, effectively creating new nations.

Set against this backdrop, Emerging Voices illustrates the role of art song, with its unique intersection of poetry and music, as a powerful vehicle for social exchange. Curated by the Chamber Music Society in collaboration with tenor Nicholas Phan, this innovative project features six concerts with special projection design by award-winning artist Hana Kim, two panel discussions, and a master class.

Use code " EVdeal" for 20% off tickets to the four Kimmel Center concerts.

All NYFOS programming is funded, in part, by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Andrew Cuomo and the New York State Legislature. NYFOS Mainstage is supported, in part, by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council.