"This program is intriguing even by NYFOS standards"
— David Patrick Stearns at WQXR
Tain't Nobody's Business If I Do:
Songs of Gay Harlem
Thur, Dec 12 at Merkin Hall at Kaufman Music Center
New York Festival of Song—the "engaging, ever-curious series" ( The New York Times )—premieres this fascinating new show revealing the musical heart of a subculture within a subculture. The program features exceedingly rare material by  Bessie Smith ,  Billy Strayhorn , and  Porter Grainger , as well as songs popularized by  Alberta Hunter ,  Ethel Waters , and  ‘Ma’ Rainey .

NYFOS will also introduce songs by  Gladys Bentley , the most popular gay entertainer in 1920s Harlem. Bentley's songs have not been performed in 90 years, and existed only as records until November 2019, when they were rediscovered by the early blues scholar Elliott Hurwitt (who provided programming assistance for this event).

NYFOS brings back the superb cast of last season's hit production  W.C. Handy and the Birth of the Blues  (with the exception of Shereen Pimentel, the NYFOS and Blier protégé who was cast as Maria in Broadway's upcoming revival of West Side Story): mezzo  Lucia Bradford , British-American tenor  Joshua Blue , and baritone  Justin Austin . Broadway actress and soprano  Bryonha Marie  joins the cast as well.  Steven Blier  and  Joseph Li  share piano duties. The crack band includes winds and brass man  Scott Robinson  and bass/tuba player  Brian Nalepka .  more
UPCOMING CONCERTS

Thursday, December 12, 8pm
Merkin Hall at Kaufman Music Center
Music from Harlem's gay underground, with works by Bessie Smith, Billy Strayhorn, Porter Grainger and songs popularized by Alberta Hunter, Ethel Waters, and "Ma" Rainey. Feat. Bryonha Marie Parham, Lucia Bradford, Joshua Blue, Justin Austin, with pianists Steven Blier and Joseph Li.

Wednesday, January 15, 7:30pm
Peter Jay Sharp Theater at The Juilliard School
Music straddling the concert hall, night club, and theater by Cuban expatriates living in Paris, including Ernesto Lecuona, Moises Simons, and many others, performed by young talents from The Marcus Institute for Vocal Arts at The Juilliard School with pianist Steven Blier.

Thursday, February 13, 7:30pm
DiMenna Center for Classical Music
NYFOS's own Michael Barrett curates highlights from the series' 10-year history, including songs by Derek Bermel, Adam Guettel, John Harbison, Aaron Kernis, and Errollyn Wallen.

Tuesday, March 12, 8pm
Merkin Hall at Kaufman Music Center
The beauties of the seaside, romance, and the spirit -- and some guilty pleasures too. Music by Montsalvatge, Rachmaninoff, Jonathan Dove, Tom Lehrer, The Kinks... feat. Caramoor's 2020 Schwab Vocal Rising Stars with pianists Steven Blier and Michael Barrett.
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.
New York Festival of Song | 646.230.8380 | info@nyfos.org | nyfos.org