Frederica von Stade, soprano
"Flicka!! Concert"-- Notes for Nourishment December 4, 2016
From Donna Stoering, founder and producer of the Notes for Nourishment concert series
Frederica von Stade (“Flicka”, to her family, fans and friends) is, and always will be, one of the most beloved figures throughout the classical music world. Possessing a glorious voice, natural acting skills, warmth of personality,and a generosity that is legendary, Flicka has graced the stages of all the world’s great opera houses and concert halls for over four decades.
Opera companies throughout Europe and America have repeatedly mounted special new productions specifically for her, and she has appeared in numerous televised specials and orchestral concerts with virtually all of the major conductors of our time. Her repertoire is continually expanding with the works of contemporary composers, and she continues to create compelling new stage portrayals of characters written specifically with her in mind.
She has also garnered critical and popular acclaim as one of the world’s finest interpreters of French repertoire. She has made over seventy recordings with every major label, including complete operas, aria albums, symphonic works, solo recital programs, and popular crossover albums. Her recordings have garnered six Grammy nominations, two Grand Prix du Disc awards, the Deutsche Schallplattenpreis, Italy’s Premio della Critica Discografica, and “Best of the Year” citations by Stereo Review and Opera News.
She has enjoyed the distinction of holding simultaneously the first and second places on national sales charts for Angel/EMI’s "Show Boat" and Telarc’s "The Sound of Music!"
Miss von Stade has appeared regularly on television, through numerous PBS and other broadcasts, in “Live from the Met” performances, “Live from Lincoln Center”, the opening ceremonies of Olympics, a PBS special called “Christmas with Flicka” (shot on location in Salzburg) and many other televised programs, where her co performers have ranged from Thomas Hampson, Marilyn Horne, Samuel Ramey and Dawn Upshaw, to the Mormon Tabernacle Choir to Sir Elton John and Tyne Daly!
Frederica von Stade is the holder of honorary doctorates from Yale University, Boston University, the San Francisco Conservatory of Music (which holds a Frederica von Stade Distinguished Chair in Voice), the Georgetown University School of Medicine, and her alma mater, the Mannes School of Music.
In 1998 Miss von Stade was awarded France’s highest honor in the Arts when she was appointed as an officer of L’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres, and in 1983 she was honored with an award given at The White House by President Reagan in recognition of her significant contribution to the arts.
Recent honors are too numerous to mention, but it is significant that what matters most to Flicka are the hours that she can devote to mentoring gifted young musicians and helping disadvantaged youth, encouraging them in their scholastic and musical endeavors, giving them rides to rehearsals when needed, and then, yes - performing benefit concerts to help even more of them.
She and her husband Mike Gorman make a tremendous difference in Alameda.
Read MoreFrom Donna Stoering, founder and producer of the Notes for Nourishment concert series
Frederica von Stade (“Flicka”, to her family, fans and friends) is, and always will be, one of the most beloved figures throughout the classical music world. Possessing a glorious voice, natural acting skills, warmth of personality,and a generosity that is legendary, Flicka has graced the stages of all the world’s great opera houses and concert halls for over four decades.
Opera companies throughout Europe and America have repeatedly mounted special new productions specifically for her, and she has appeared in numerous televised specials and orchestral concerts with virtually all of the major conductors of our time. Her repertoire is continually expanding with the works of contemporary composers, and she continues to create compelling new stage portrayals of characters written specifically with her in mind.
She has also garnered critical and popular acclaim as one of the world’s finest interpreters of French repertoire. She has made over seventy recordings with every major label, including complete operas, aria albums, symphonic works, solo recital programs, and popular crossover albums. Her recordings have garnered six Grammy nominations, two Grand Prix du Disc awards, the Deutsche Schallplattenpreis, Italy’s Premio della Critica Discografica, and “Best of the Year” citations by Stereo Review and Opera News.
She has enjoyed the distinction of holding simultaneously the first and second places on national sales charts for Angel/EMI’s "Show Boat" and Telarc’s "The Sound of Music!"
Miss von Stade has appeared regularly on television, through numerous PBS and other broadcasts, in “Live from the Met” performances, “Live from Lincoln Center”, the opening ceremonies of Olympics, a PBS special called “Christmas with Flicka” (shot on location in Salzburg) and many other televised programs, where her co performers have ranged from Thomas Hampson, Marilyn Horne, Samuel Ramey and Dawn Upshaw, to the Mormon Tabernacle Choir to Sir Elton John and Tyne Daly!
Frederica von Stade is the holder of honorary doctorates from Yale University, Boston University, the San Francisco Conservatory of Music (which holds a Frederica von Stade Distinguished Chair in Voice), the Georgetown University School of Medicine, and her alma mater, the Mannes School of Music.
In 1998 Miss von Stade was awarded France’s highest honor in the Arts when she was appointed as an officer of L’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres, and in 1983 she was honored with an award given at The White House by President Reagan in recognition of her significant contribution to the arts.
Recent honors are too numerous to mention, but it is significant that what matters most to Flicka are the hours that she can devote to mentoring gifted young musicians and helping disadvantaged youth, encouraging them in their scholastic and musical endeavors, giving them rides to rehearsals when needed, and then, yes - performing benefit concerts to help even more of them.
She and her husband Mike Gorman make a tremendous difference in Alameda.