Sonya Headlam will perform Berlioz's La mort d'Ophélie
on January 26 and 27, 2014 as a part of One World Symphony's
Addiction
concert. The program will also feature music from Wagner's The
Flying Dutchman, Tchaikovsky's Eugene Onegin, and the
World Premiere performance of Sung Jin Hong's Breaking Bad —
Ozymandias (2014). Tickets are available online at
oneworldsymphony.org
Why would you recommend our public to attend One World
Symphony's
Addiction concert on January 26 and 27, 2014 at 8:00 p.m. at Holy
Apostles Church?
One World Symphony concerts are spirited and dynamic. The artistic
director, composer and conductor, Sung Jin Hong cultivates an
atmosphere of community through audience engagement and
participation. One never knows what he is going to say, or do, or ask
his audience to say or do, I imagine in some cases not even him,
until the moment arrives. This element of spontaneity and
flexibility, which also extends to the music making itself, creates
an energy that is unique, personal, and engaging. One World Symphony
concerts, whether experienced as a performer or audience member,
leave you with the feeling that we were all in this together. The
Addiction concert is going to be particularly exciting due to the
highly anticipated premier of Sung Jin's Breaking Bad —
Ozymandias. The theme of addiction will also be explored in the
works of Wagner, Tchaikovsky and Berlioz. You are guaranteed to leave
with a buzz.
If you had an opportunity to meet for a drink with your
respective Addiction composer, where would you take him in NYC and
what would you ask?
There is a little Italian restaurant in Harlem called Pisticci. It
is a warm and cozy nook that serves steaming bowls of spaghetti and
meatballs dressed with fresh basil and parmesan cheese. It is the
kind of place you can settle in for the night. Over the years, the
ambiance, the food, in combination with a carafe of wine has been the
setting to many meaningful conversations with special people in my
life. It is here that I would take Berlioz to fill his belly with
comfort food, and his tongue with wine. Once we'd be all nice and
cozy, I'd ask him about his failed marriage with Harriet Smithson,
the Irish actress he obsessed over and thus inspired his work
Symphonie Fantastique. Specifically, what was his biggest
regret, and would he do it all over again if he could?
Congratulations on becoming a mother and on having a beautiful
and healthy boy, Noah. Have you been singing to him before and after
the birth? If so, does he have his preferred songs? Have you
discovered benefits from singing to Noah before and after the birth?
Thank you so much! I am blessed beyond measure. Before answering
this question though, I want to take a moment to acknowledge my
husband, Jesse, who has joined me on this incredible journey of
parenthood. We both feel like everything we've ever done, everything
we've ever been through, led us to that amazing moment of when we
first looked into our son's eyes. It is a great joy to see Jesse as a
father. I could not have found a better person to help me guide and
protect the sweet little boy who has come into our lives. But, not
only is Jesse a great father, he is also a great husband and
supporter of me. It is because of him that I am even able to join One
World Symphony for this concert three months after having our boy. I
am a very lucky woman, I must say.
Singing is a major part of my daily interactions with Noah, and
has been since he was in utero. It is amazing how much I got to know
him from before he was even born. He was a very peaceful resident in
his mom's belly. The only time he would start moving about was when I
was eating, or singing, which believe it or not was not all of the
time. For these reasons, I knew Noah was going to have his father's
calm disposition, that he would love to eat, and that he would love
music and especially love to hear his mommy sing. And boy was I right
on all counts.
Shortly after having Noah and spending full days just the two of
us, I realized babies are not the best at having conversations. So
for me, it has been only natural to sing to him, from kids songs,
folk songs, opera, art songs, pop songs and what I refer to as my
silly freestyle improv. I sing him a song as soon as he wakes up in
the morning. I sing him songs about the weather. I have songs for
washing his hair and scrubbing his toes, for getting dressed and
putting on hats to keep his little ears warm. And at bedtime, I sing
him lullabies and spirituals which instantly soothe him.
Noah's very first smile happened one bright early morning when he
was about 5 weeks old. It was in response to me singing, Rodgers and
Hammerstein's "Oh What a Beautiful Morning". Singing that
song has become a daily ritual. His eyes sparkle bright and I get out
of him the sweetest gummiest smile every single time. For me, it does
not get any better than that.
Soprano Sonya Headlam is a versatile performer of vocal
recitals, chamber music, oratorio, and operatic repertoire. Praised
for her voice of “liquid tone”, Ms. Headlam’s career has taken
her to concert halls across the U.S. and abroad. She has performed
with One World Symphony on numerous occasions since 2006. She is
thrilled to continue her collaboration with One World Symphony for
the 2013-2014 Season, following last season’s critically acclaimed
performances on the Ecstasy
and American
Affairs programs. Career highlights include her Carnegie Hall
debut with Distinguished Concerts International New York, and her
regional opera house debut with Fargo-Morehead opera singing the role
of Musetta in La Bohème. Ms. Headlam has twice
performed on the Trinity Church Recital Series in Lower Manhattan,
joining a rich history of renowned and emerging professional
musicians. Born of Jamaican parentage, Ms. Headlam maintains close
ties with the Caribbean where she has been active as a recitalist and
soloist including a tour of Guadeloupe with members of the Cuban
Philharmonic. Ms. Headlam holds performance degrees from Miami
University of Ohio, and received additional training at Mannes
College of Music in New York City. She is currently pursuing her
Doctorate of Musical Arts in Voice Performance at Rutgers University.
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