Students from the Mannes School of Music and the School of Drama presented selections from Henry Purcell’s baroque semi-opera Fairy Queen, loosely based on William Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Performances featured Mannes Opera vocalists, chamber ensembles, and narration by student actors who illuminated Purcell’s story throughout the evening. Since its premiere over 330 years ago, Purcell’s score has enchanted audiences with its beautiful melodies and choral arrangements.
Presented by the College of Performing Arts and Artistic Director Pavlina Dokovska, the Mannes Sounds Festival features more than 30 concerts, masterclasses, and lectures each year, performed by young artists from Mannes School of Music, the School of Jazz and Contemporary Music, and the School of Drama, distinguished faculty, and renowned guests. The events take place at prestigious New York City concert venues and cultural institutions.