2021 Concert Videos

Due to COVID 19, we were not able to present many of our 2021 Song Festival events as intended.  We are pleased to inform you, however, that the Tucson Desert Song Festival still had many wonderful programs for you to enjoy. 

THE WORLD PREMIERE:  WHAT I MISS THE MOST

Jake Heggie: Composer

Jamie Barton: Mezzo-Soprano

Please join the Tucson Desert Song Festival for the World Premiere of What I Miss the Most, a song cycle composed by Jake Heggie and performed by Jamie Barton and accompanied by Heggie himself. The texts for this song cycle, which was commissioned by the Tucson Desert Song Festival, were contributed by Joyce DiDonato, Patti LuPone, Sister Helen Prejean, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, and  Kathleen Kelly and describe what they missed the most during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Jake Heggie is the composer of the operas Dead Man WalkingMoby-DickIt’s A Wonderful LifeIf I Were YouGreat ScottThree Decembers, and Two Remain, among others. He has also composed nearly 300 songs as well as chamber, choral, and orchestral works. The operas – most created with Gene Scheer or the late Terrence McNally – have been produced on five continents.

Jamie Barton is a critically acclaimed American opera singer, known worldwide for her radiant mezzo-soprano voice.  Ms. Barton was named 2020 Personality of the Year at the BBC Music Magazine Awards.  She was also the winner of the Beverly Sills Artist Award, the Richard Tucker Award, both Main and Song Prizes at the BBC Cardiff Singer of the World Competition, Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions, and was a Grammy nominee.  Ms. Barton’s operatic engagements have included appearances with many of the world’s most-loved opera houses.

Click Play (the white right-pointing triangle on the picture below) to play this recital.

Recital Program and Text and Translations

Click here to view the Program for this recital as well as the Text and Translations of the music sung by Ms. Barton. 

IT’S ALSO NOT TOO LATE TO LISTEN TO THESE MARVELOUS VIRTUAL PROGRAMS:

Bryan Hymel Recital

A virtual recital presented in partnership with Arizona Opera.   Click here for more information and to obtain tickets for this event.

New Directions in Song

A free virtual concert hosted by Professor Kristin Dauphinais, featuring University of Arizona Fred Fox School of Music Opera Theater students.  

Click here to access this virtual event:

THE PROGRAM:

Ophelia’s Song from Songs and Sonnets to Ophelia, Jake Heggie (b. 1961)

Rebeckah Resare, soprano and Bonnie Bird, piano

I Love This Land, Zaiyi Lu (b. 1943)

Min Liu, soprano

Can9ao (Song), Carlos Assis (b. 1962)

Josianne Dal Pozzo, soprano and Bonnie Bird, piano

Whole River Red, A Tang (b. 1948)

Zhong liu, baritone and Jing Wen, piano

A Journey, Ned Rorem (b. 1923)

Bethany Pehrson, soprano and Bonnie Bird, piano

Sanchon – Mountain Village, Dunam Cho (1912-1984)

Yongjae Lee, baritone

Se te olvida, Alvaro Carrillo (1921-1969)

Diana Peralta, mezzo-soprano

Longing, WonJoo Lee (b. 1979)

Suyoung Lee, baritone and KyungSun Choi, piano

Prayer for a Young Soldier, Zachary James Bramble (b. 1988)

Zachery James Bramble, tenor and Bonnie Bird, piano

A Dying Flower, Tae Kyu Lim (b. 1990)

Chunghee Lee, soprano

Red Bean Song, Liu Xuean (b. 1905)

Yue Huang, soprano

Tucson Desert Song Festival Sponsors