MasterVoices | Orchestra of St. Luke's | Ted Sperling, Conductor

MUSIC BY RICKY IAN GORDON
LIBRETTO BY MICHAEL KORIE, BASED ON THE NOVEL BY JOHN STEINBECK

Since the day it was published on April 14, 1939, The Grapes of Wrath has captured the American imagination with its sweeping plot and epic scope – two elements that make it perfect for an opera. In the true spirit of Steinbeck, Gordon and Korie have fashioned “a people’s opera” whose orchestral score is laced with banjo, guitar, harmonica, saxophones, and barroom piano. Originally commissioned by Minnesota Opera, MasterVoices premiered the concert version in 2010. What better way to celebrate the 10th anniversary of Artistic Director Ted Sperling’s tenure with MasterVoices than to revisit this gorgeous piece – which he brought to us – with fresh revisions, a new aria, and our signature casting of theater and opera stars? At its heart, GRAPES is a plea for political and spiritual unity that is as relevant today as the day it was penned.

Tickets, priced from $30, are on sale on January 17, 2024, and may be purchased online at carnegiehall.org, by calling CarnegieCharge at 212.247.7800 or in person at Carnegie Hall’s box office at 57th and Seventh Avenue.

Artwork by Owen Gent

Joined by singers Scarlett Strallen and Bryce Pinkham, this benefit for the Yale Summer School of Music in Norfolk, CT will be a romantic evening not to be missed! We will perform songs from the master writer that trace the arc of relationships, from infatuation to disillusionment. Students from the school will make up the band, and I’ll share stories of my time with Mr. Sondheim.

For tickets, click here.

The Trailblazing Music of Joni Mitchell, Carole King, and Carly Simon

Ted Sperling, conductor and curator

Andréa Burns, Morgan James and Capathia Jenkins, vocalists

San Diego Symphony at the Rady Shell

Few singer-songwriters have enjoyed the success and influence of these three extraordinary artists. Fifty years ago, these talented musicians channeled the changing role of women into pop music classics that have endured across generations. More than simply crafting great songs, these three have expanded what music was, drawing on new and deeply personal styles that have resonated with millions of fans and continue to inspire the stars of today, from Madonna to Adele to Taylor Swift.  

Join us as we celebrate these maverick artists and their indelible catalog of music in exciting new arrangements for symphony orchestra. Ted Sperling brings his unique touch to curating the program, and a superbly talented trio of female vocalists will thrill you with new and familiar renditions of the soundtrack of your life!

Song list will include Both Sides Now, You’ve Got a Friend, You’re So Vain, A Natural Woman, and many other favorites.

The Trailblazing Music of Joni Mitchell, Carole King, and Carly Simon

Ted Sperling, conductor and curator

Andréa Burns, Morgan James and Capathia Jenkins, vocalists

Chicago Symphony at the Ravinia Festival

Few singer-songwriters have enjoyed the success and influence of these three extraordinary artists. Fifty years ago, these talented musicians channeled the changing role of women into pop music classics that have endured across generations. More than simply crafting great songs, these three have expanded what music was, drawing on new and deeply personal styles that have resonated with millions of fans and continue to inspire the stars of today, from Madonna to Adele to Taylor Swift.  

Join us as we celebrate these maverick artists and their indelible catalog of music in exciting new arrangements for symphony orchestra. Ted Sperling brings his unique touch to curating the program, and a superbly talented trio of female vocalists will thrill you with new and familiar renditions of the soundtrack of your life!

Song list will include Both Sides Now, You’ve Got a Friend, You’re So Vain, A Natural Woman, and many other favorites.

The Trailblazing Music of Joni Mitchell, Carole King, and Carly Simon

Ted Sperling, conductor and curator

Melody Betts, Aisha de Haas, Morgan James, vocalists
Philadelphia Orchestra, Mann Center

Few singer-songwriters have enjoyed the success and influence of these three extraordinary artists. Fifty years ago, these talented musicians channeled the changing role of women into pop music classics that have endured across generations. More than simply crafting great songs, these three have expanded what music was, drawing on new and deeply personal styles that have resonated with millions of fans and continue to inspire the stars of today, from Madonna to Adele to Taylor Swift.  

Join us as we celebrate these maverick artists and their indelible catalog of music in exciting new arrangements for symphony orchestra. Ted Sperling brings his unique touch to curating the program, and a superbly talented trio of female vocalists will thrill you with new and familiar renditions of the soundtrack of your life!

Song list will include Both Sides Now, You’ve Got a Friend, You’re So Vain, A Natural Woman, and many other favorites.

A mini-musical made up of over a dozen songs from as many shows, tracing the arc of a romance from innocent infatuation to marital strife and resolution. Songs from your favorite musicals, including Company, Follies, She Loves Me, Promises Promises, Carousel, Annie Get Your Gun, Cinderella, The Last Five Years, and more. The first in a new series at the intimate Emelin Theater in lower Westchester County…. Ted invites his friends to perform and chat, giving a behind-the-curtain peek at how we do what we do! Tickets here.

Gilbert and Sullivan’s masterpiece, IOLANTHE, performed in concert at Carnegie Hall, directed and conducted by Ted Sperling. Casting to be announced soon.

An Evening of fun, with a wonderful cast of Broadway stars singing songs and playing games.

54 Below

www.mastervoices.org

An evening of Jewish music at Central Synagogue. Opening with a new piece by Israeli-American composer Daniel Rein, followed by Kurt Weill’s Kiddush and the Ernest Bloch’s Sacred Service.

March 23rd at 8 pm. Soloists Justin Austin, cantor Daniel Mutlu and organist David Strickland with the MasterVoices Chorus.

For more info and tickets, visit MasterVoices.org

MasterVoices presents Bizet’s CARMEN, in a sleek new production conducted by Ted Sperling and directed by Sammi Cannold, with choreography by Gustavo Zajak. Sung in English translation by Broadway legend Sheldon Harnick, this production returns CARMEN to its musical theater roots.

Starring Ginger Costa-Jackson, Terrence Chin-Loy, Mikaela Bennett and John Brancy.

Rose Theater at Jazz at Lincoln Center, October 25th at 8 pm For tickets, visit MasterVoices.org

Help us celebrate this remarkable man and his brilliant compositions.

Bryce Pinkham

Scarllett Strallen

Betsy Wolfe

Ben Davis

Ted Sperling, host and pianist

Caramoor Festival

https://caramoor.org/event/sondheim-birthday-summer-2021/

MasterVoices presents CARMEN in Sheldon Harnick’s English translation of the original Opera Comique version, which has spoken dialogue instead of recitative. This is CARMEN restored to its original musical theater roots!

Conducted by Ted Sperling, directing by Sammi Cannold and starring Peabody Southwell, Noah Stewart, Nicole Cabell and Steven LaBrie, this is a performance you can’t miss.

Rose Hall at Jazz at Lincoln Center

April 2 at 8 pm

For more info, click here.

An intimate evening of songs at Alice Tully Hall.

MasterVoices chorus joined by soloists Nicole Cabell, Kate Aldrich, Nicholas Phan, Nmon Ford, and duo-pianists Anderson and Roe.

Music by Franz Schubert, Fanny and Felix Mendelssohn, Clara and Robert Schumann, Johannes Brahms, Ricky Gordon and Stephen Sondheim.

For tickets, click here.

Works by Verdi, Puccini, Wagner and Tschaikovsky

Dublin, Ireland

Andrew Foster-Williams, Baritone soloist

RTÉ Philharmonic Choir and Symphony Orchestra

Stamford Symphony

January 19, 2019

Palace Theater

Works include “The Sorcerer’s Apprentice”, Barber “Adagio for Strings”, Theme from “Cinema Paradiso” and Title Sequence from “Star Wars.”

Curated and conducted by Ted Sperling

For tickets, click here.

Handel's Messiah
Stamford Symphony
MasterVoices
Ted Sperling, conductor

December 8th at 8 pm
Basilica of St. John the Evangelist

For tickets, click here.