The Sembrich in Bolton Landing has announced they have given the Marcella Sembrich Memorial Performance Prize to American tenor Michael Butler. The venue has also received an award from the Greater Hudson Heritage Network.
Michael Butler
The Sembrich features museum exhibitions and an annual summer festival with an exciting mix of world-class musicians, noted musical scholars, a free film series, and the opportunity to enjoy it all on the beautiful shores of Lake George. Listed on the National Historic Register, The Sembrich was once the teaching studio of Polish soprano Marcella Sembrich, one of the most famous musicians at the turn of the 20th century.
Visitors can discover her storied legacy, which includes over 400 performances at the Metropolitan Opera and faculty positions at both the Juilliard Graduate School and the Curtis Institute of Music. With a treasured museum, performance series, and over four wooded acres of nature paths to explore, The Sembrich is truly a unique cultural experience.
The Marcella Sembrich Memorial Performance Prize awarded to Michael Butler exemplifies the artistic legacy of Polish soprano Marcella Sembrich. The prize guarantees the selected singer a solo performance at The Sembrich, the famed singer’s former lakeside teaching studio in Bolton Landing on Lake George, during an upcoming season. The auditions were held on the weekend of October 12-13 at the Kosciuszko Foundation’s house in NYC.
Michael Butler hails from Washington, D.C. and is American lyric tenor. Of nearly 120 applicants, 34 singers were admitted to participate. Butler placed second in the overall competition and won the award for the best performance of a Polish work by a non-Polish entrant. The grand prize was awarded to Polish-American soprano Magdalena Kuźma, and third prize was awarded to Canadian contralto Rose Naggar-Tremblay.
Along with awarding a prize, The Sembrich has also received an award of their own. The 2024 Award for Excellence was given by The Greater Hudson Heritage Network (GHHN) for The Sembrich’s recent efforts to preserve Marcella Sembrich’s “Queen of the Night” costume. The museum staff attended the annual GHHN conference on Tuesday, October 15 to accept the award and present at an awardee poster session. The conference “Embracing Innovation,” was held at Manhattanville College in Purchase New York and was attended by museum professionals from across New York State.
GHHN is New York State’s ‘go-to’ service organization focusing on interpretation, collections care programming, and the conservation and preservation of objects in collecting institutions statewide. Its programming and professional development training programs, webinars, hands-on workshops, web-based resources, responsive technical assistance, and grant opportunities provide the tools so that historical societies, historic house museums, heritage centers, historic sites, archives, and libraries may better care for their own collections.
Greater Hudson Heritage Network’s Awards for Excellence program seeks to recognize and commend exceptional efforts among GHHN members. Awards are made to projects that exemplify creativity and professional vision resulting in a contribution to the preservation and interpretation of the historic scene, material culture, and diversity of the region.
The Sembrich Staff at the Awardee Poster Session
For more information on The Sembrich, Marcella Sembrich Memorial Performance Prize, and the GHHN, click here.
The Sembrich, Bolton Landing’s historical museum and music venue, announced their mid-August event schedule. Featuring violin guitar duo ArcoStrum, a James Joyce inspired opera, and an acclaimed Polish violinist, the Sembrich has an exciting month ahead.
The Sembrich boasts a variety of musical events, a museum with a rich history, and indescribable natural beauty. Whether it’s a new museum exhibition or their annual music festival, The Sembrich always offers something to look forward to.
On August 17, acclaimed Polish violinist Kinga Augustyn will perform at The Sembrich. Augustyn will perform a program of Polish masterworks, including Saint-Saëns’ “Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso,” Op. 28, Kreisler’s “Three Old Viennese Dances” and Polish masterworks by Henryk Wieniawski and Grażyna Bacewicz, accompanied by Alla Milchtein.
Richard Wargo, The Sembrich’s artistic director, said, “Kinga was a part of our 2021 festival ‘Nature and Music,’ when she delighted listeners with nature-inspired violin melodies… This year’s performance promises an elegant evening with the celebrated musician and renderings of several rarely performed violin masterworks here in the Adirondacks.” Tickets are available at the following link.
Award winning instrumental duo ArcoStrum will bring their exhilarating mix of music from around the world to The Sembrich on August 21. Guitarist TY Zhang and Violinist Strauss Shi met at Julliard, and discovered a personal and musical chemistry that would enhance their charismatic stage performances and immense technical proficiency. Committed to pushing boundaries, ArcoStrum creates a one of a kind performance by combining personal compositions with traditional Chinese instrumental music and 21st Century rock. Tickets are available here.
Karina Rodriguez
The James Joyce inspired musical At That Hour, Act One will be performed on August 24. Composed by Richard Wargo, the opera draws inspiration from Joyce’s poetry and prose. Wargo is an experienced composer who has drawn from literature before, namely when composed an opera inspired by classic Anton Chekov. Wargo has also served as the Sembrich’s Artistic Director and Composer-In-Residence since 1991, and write the opera as part of The Sembrich’s centennial anniversary. Tickets are available here.
A video about The Sembrich’s centennial celebration is available below.
The Sembrich in Bolton Landing will present violinist Rubén Rengel and pianist Ahmed Alom on July 6 and “A Night at the Museum” on July 11.
Rubén Rengel
Classical Splendor
The first of the two events at The Sembrich is a Chamber Music concert featuring violinist Rubén Rengel and pianist Ahmed Alom on Saturday, July 6 at 7 PM. The duo will perform sonatas by Brahms and Poulenc, Liszt’s Paraphrase on a theme from Rigoletto, and selections from Stravinsky’s Pulcinella.
Rubén Rengel is praised for his talents as a soloist as well as his collaborations with violinists such as Joseph Silverstein and Pamela Frank, among many others. He is also recognized for his work in the Autana Trio, which won at the 2015 Fischoff Chamber Music Competition. Furthermore, Rengel has experience playing Venezuelan folk music and Jazz, which helps expand his style and repertoire.
Ahmed Alom
Ahmed Alom is a Cuban pianist, composer, producer, and arranger. His skills are shown through his ability to unite his Cuban roots with Classical music, allowing audiences to interpret his music at new depths. Alom is also the youngest Artistic Director and Conductor of The Washington Square Music Festival, contributing his experiences to making good ones for audience members.
Both musicians will bring immense talent and amazing performances to Bolton Landing.
We’re thrilled to bring these two acclaimed artists together in a program designed specifically for The Sembrich’s centennial. The evening features works by composers Sembrich knew and those who carried on the spirit of musical innovation which she exemplified throughout her career. We are also grateful to the Alfred Z. Solomon Charitable Trust for their underwriting and continued support of the Masterwork Series here at The Sembrich.
Richard Wargo, Artistic Director
A Night at the Museum
On Thursday, July 11 at 7 PM, The Sembrich will host “A Night at the Museum,” a one-night-only exhibition centered around the life of Marcella Sembrich, Lake Georges’s Opera star of the Gilded Age. At the exclusive exhibit, attendees will have the chance to see Sembrich’s belongings such as her diamond winged tiara and gold & diamond bracelet from the Czar of Russia, as well as hear stories of her honorable life.
Marcella Sembrich
In addition, the exhibit will feature the unveiling of Sembrich’s restored Queen of the Night costume from the premier performance of The Magic Flute at New York City’s Metropolitan Opera in 1900. Following the event is an outside reception with drinks and hors d’oeuvres.
Through my research, I was able to explore the life of Marcella Sembrich beyond the usual litany of opera roles, venues and dates; the image of the opera star portrayed in numerous headlines and glowing reviews expanded into a view of an accomplished woman with an engaging smile, a warm and generous personality, strong views and surprising passions
Betty Spinelli, Sembrich board member and program creator
Tickets for Classical Spledor are $53 and may be purchased here
Tickets for “A Night at the Museum” are $103 and can be purchased here. Proceeds go towards Sembrich operation, preservation and programming.
The Sembrich in Bolton Landing, NY has opened its lakeside museum and grounds for its 100th anniversary season. On top of exhibitions, tours, and information talks, the museum will host a number of musical performances throughout the Summer.
Marcella Sembrich (1858-1935)
The Marcella Sembrich Memorial Association seeks to spread appreciation of opera and classical music through performance and education. The association was formed in honor of Polish soprano Marcella Sembrich (1858-1935), who conquered opera stages across Europe and the US.
As part of the Metropolitan Opera, Sembrich sang 466 performances, singing alongside legends like Enrico Caruso, and performing for Europe’s monarchs. When not performing, Sembrich lent her voice to some of the earliest commercial records for the Victor Talking Machine Company. Following her retirement, she founded the Juilliard and Curtis Institute vocal programs. The Sembrich maintains her manor and studio on the shores of Lake George, where she would hold lessons and benefit concerts in the summer.
Following Sembrich’s death in 1935, the manor was converted into a public museum of arts and music. The Spanish revival mansion and its 4.5 acre grounds are open to the public, and host an array of performances and exhibitions.
The Sembrich Studio Museum
The estate hosts Sembrich’s original collection of letters, artworks, and awards from her career. On top of this, there is a summer exhibit regarding Sembrich’s role as a fashion icon. This exhibition features gilded age fashion accessories, such as Sembrich’s gloves, and custom pieces by Louis Vuitton. On top of display, there will be information regarding the trends that spawned these items, and the controversies caused by them. The museum will also hold the special exhibition “Mastering Mozart,” celebrating the Mozart operas that launched Sembrich to stardom. The centerpiece of the exhibition is Sembrich’s couture Queen of the Night costume from The Magic Flute.
The museum will also host the “Century of Sembrich” Summer festival, celebrating Sembrich’s legacy in Lake George. The Summer concert series will feature renowned concert artists and ensembles, beginning on June 5, with a performance by the Opera Saratoga in the studio museum. Performances of note include the cutting-edge wind quintet WindSync, and Polish violin virtuoso Kinga Augustyn.
On top of classical performances, the festival will also feature film screenings, and talks. Especially of note are Anthony Davis, the composer of the opera X, who will give a special Juneteenth talk. Additionally Vincent Caruso, host of Sirius XM’s Symphony Hall, will give a studio talk on June 15th. With this variety, the Summer festival offers plenty of chances for the community to get involved and educated with classical and operatic music. The schedule for the 2024 Summer Festival is listed below.
WindSync
2024 Summer Festival Schedule
6/5, 7:00 PM – Festival Artists from Opera Saratoga 6/9, 2:00 PM – 2024 Young Performers Showcase 6/15, 2:00 PM – An Afternoon with Vincent Caruso (Studio Talk) 6/19, 7:00 PM – A Juneteenth Celebration with Anthony Davis (Studio Talk) 6/24, 7:30 PM – FILM: The Magic Flute (1975) 6/26, 2:00 PM – Seagle Festival Season Preview
7/6, 7:00 PM – Classical Splendor 7/8, 7:30 PM – FILM: The Opera House (2017) 7/11, 7:00 PM – A Night at the Museum 7/13, 7:00 PM – Chopin… and all that Jazz 7/17, 2:00 PM – Harmonia Ensemble 7/25, 11:00 AM – Peter and the Wolf by WindSync 7/27, 7:00 PM – WindSync Woodwind Quintet 7/28, 7:30 PM – FILM: Fitzcarraldo (1983)
8/1, 10:00 AM – Seagle Festival: Dragon’s Breath (Children’s Opera) 8/2, 7:00 PM – From Steam Launch to Stucco: The Story of The Sembrich Studio (Studio Talk) 8/4, 7:00 PM – Composers Sembrich Knew 8/7, 2:00 PM – Jomion and The Uklos 8/12, 7:30 PM – FILM: Veselka (2024) 8/17, 7:00 PM – Violinist Kinga Augustyn 8/21, 7:00 PM – ArcoStrum 8/24, 7:00 PM – At That Hour, Act One (World Premiere) 8/25, 2:00 PM – At That Hour, Act One (Encore Matinee) 8/26, 7:30 PM – FILM: Falling for Figaro (2021) 8/28, 2:00 PM – Cantrip 8/31, 6:00 PM – Chopin by Candlelight
The Sembrich museum and grounds are open daily from May 24-October 14. Tickers for the “Century of Sembrich” Summer Festival are on sale now. For more information on the Sembrich and its summer events, visit the link here.
The Sembrich has announced its 2024 summer festival “A Century of Sembrich,” celebrating 100 years of Marcella Sembrich’s musical legacy on Lake George. The festival features a spectacular line-up of today’s acclaimed concert artists and works by composers in Sembrich’s artistic circle.
Experience music, history, and nature at The Sembrich in Bolton Landing, featuring museum exhibitions and an annual summer festival with an exciting mix of world-class musicians, noted musical scholars, and a free film series. Listed on the National Historic Register, The Sembrich was once the teaching studio of Polish soprano Marcella Sembrich, one of the most famous musicians at the turn of the 20th century. Visitors can discover her storied legacy, including over 400 performances at the Metropolitan Opera and faculty positions at the Juilliard Graduate School and the Curtis Institute of Music.
“When Marcella Sembrich had a boathouse on her summer estate rebuilt as a teaching studio, she brought music to the shores of Lake George. We’re proud to continue that tradition of music on the lake and to celebrate our centennial with an exciting lineup of concerts, films, and special events,” says Richard Wargo, The Sembrich’s Artistic Director and Composer-in-Residence. “As ever, Marcella Sembrich remains our guiding star – a spirit of excellence that we strive to uphold.”
Marcella Sembrich (I.C. Mackeown. Date Unknown). From The Sembrich Collection.
The 2024 festival begins on June 5 and runs through August 31.
On opening night at 7 p.m., Opera Saratoga brings festival artists to the Sembrich. Includes an evening of standards from Cosi fan tutte and Guys and Dolls – provided by one of the nation’s oldest and most prestigious opera training programs. Opera Saratoga serves the communities of Saratoga Springs, the Lower Adirondack, and New York State Capital areas by providing access to world-class opera through the production of an annual Summer Festival, year-round activities, extensive educational programs, mentorship of emerging operatic artists, and unique opportunities for the public to experience opera.
Saturday, June 9 at 2 p.m. features the Young Writers Showcase, celebrating the region’s most promising young artists with an afternoon of vocal and instrumental music, in both classical and popular styles. June 15 at 2 p.m. brings a member appreciation event to the Sembrich; a conversation with the host of Sirius XM’s Symphony Hall Vincent Caruso, discussing his journey through classical music and radio. Also features a guest performance by Joel Brown and the Finger Lakes Guitar Quartet.
“A Century at Sembrich” continues with a Juneteenth celebration featuring Pulitzer prize-winning composer Anthony Davis. Soprano Christine Jobson, bass-baritone Carl DuPont, and pianist Alan Johnson perform excerpts from Davis’s acclaimed operas, X – The Life and Times of Malcolm X, Amistad, Tania, and The Central Park Five, all portraying momentous actions and engagements crucial to black Americans. Davis will also treat the audience to a piano improvisation and discuss his works.
Composer Anthony Davis. Photo Courtesy of the Artist.
The 2024 festival features the acclaimed Sembrich film series, with The Magic Flute on June 24, The Opera House on July 8, Fitzcarraldo on July 28, the US premiere of Lost Voice on Aug. 12, and Falling for Figaro on Aug. 26. All films start at 7:30 p.m.
On Wednesday, June 26 at 2 p.m. The Seagle Festival presents a sampling of the festival’s exciting 2024 lineup: Brigadoon, DonGiovanni, Cold Mountain, and Sweeney Todd. Now in its 109th anniversary season, it is the premier opera and music theater-producing organization in the Adirondack region and the oldest summer vocal training program in the United States.
Featuring some of the finest concert artists on the classical music scene, the Alfred Z. Solomon Masterwork Series celebrates monumental figures in Marcella Sembrich’s artistic circle. On July 6 at 7 p.m., “Classical Splendor” features violinist Ruben Rengel and pianist Ahmed Alom performing Brahms, Lizst, Stravinsky, and more.
Violinist Ruben Rengel. Photo Courtesy of the Artist.
The Mastwork Series continues on Aug. 4 at 7 p.m. with “Composers Sembrich Knew” – an evening of chamber music by members of The Philadelphia Orchestra, including works by Puccini, Brahms, and Kreisler. The final performance on Aug. 17 at 7 p.m., “Violinist Kinga Augustyn,” brings the acclaimed violinist back to Bolton Landing for an evening of masterworks, including the de Beriot concerto performed by Marcella Sembrich at the Metropolitan Opera in 1884.
For one night only on July 11, literary dramatist Betty Spinelli and members of The Sembrich Board and Staff will offer an exclusive glimpse into the Gilded Age life of Marcella Sembrich by showcasing a selection of her treasured and rarely displayed possessions, including a diamond bracelet from the Czar of Russia, a silver tribute from Enrico Caruso, and the famous Queen of the Night costume from the Metropolitan Opera premiere of Mozart’s The Magic Flute.
Sembrich’s 2024 festival features the Promenade Series, perfect for a casual evening or date night on the lakeshore. This year’s series features the Zeger – Pesaturo accordion/violin duo (July 13 – 7:00 p.m.), the cutting-edge woodwind quintet WindSync (July 27 – 7:00 p.m.), and acclaimed guitar/violin duo ArcoStrum (August 21 – 7:00 p.m.).
WindSync Woodwind Quintet. Photo by Carlin Ma.
The Sembrich’s popular lakeside matinee series celebrating music from around the globe – World Music Wednesdays – returns this summer. This year’s events include “Harmonia Ensemble” (July 17 – 2:00 p.m.) highlighting music from Marcella Sembrich’s homeland in Eastern Europe, “Jomion and The Uklos” (August 7 – 2:00 p.m.) exploring unique traditions from West Africa, and “Cantrip” (August 28 – 2:00 p.m.) closing the series with beloved Celtic tunes.
The Sembrich doesn’t forget the family, with two family fun-packed events. “Interstellar Cinderella” performed by WindSync (July 25 at Rogers Park) is a delightful performance for the entire family, introducing five wind instruments of the orchestra, complete with costumes and choreography. “Dragon’s Breath” performed by emerging artists from Seagle Festival (August 1 at The Sembrich) is a charming original children’s opera by Evan Mack, with a libretto by Joshua McGuire, exploring themes of coping with anger and other difficulties. Follow young Alan as he gains wisdom in dealing with his own emotions.
Violinist Kinga Augustyn, performing at the Masterworks Series. Photo by Dale Jabagat.
On Aug. 24 at 7 p.m. is the World Premiere of At That Hour, a James Joyce-inspired chamber opera written expressly for The Sembrich studio. Also on the program, works by Haydn and Beethoven. Commissioned for The Sembrich’s 2024 centennial celebration in partnership with The American Center for New Works Development at Seagle Festival, this new work by Composer-in-Residence Richard Wargo will be performed by artists from Seagle Festival and the Hyperion String Quartet.
The Sembrich brings down the curtain on its centennial summer with an elegant candlelit evening featuring music by one of the world’s most beloved composers, Frédéric Chopin on Aug. 31. Piano virtuoso Christopher Johnson performs some of the most enduring works by this “Poet of the Piano,” exploring the master’s full range of expression. Johnson will pay tribute to Marcella Sembrich with a delightful paraphrase by Franz Liszt of the soprano’s signature song, Chopin’s “The Maiden’s Wish.” The performance will be followed by a Parisian-style lakeside reception, accompanied by the string duo of Amanda and Jonathan Brin.
Tickets and the full-season schedule are available here.
The Sembrich’s 2024 Summer Festival Schedule
June 5, 7:00 PM – Festival Artists from Opera Saratoga June 9, 2:00 PM – 2024 Young Performers Showcase June 15, 2:00 PM – An Afternoon with Vincent Caruso June 19, 7:00 PM – A Juneteenth Celebration with Anthony Davis June 24, 7:30 PM – FILM: The Magic Flute (1975) June 26, 2:00 PM – Seagle Festival Season Preview
July 6, 7:00 PM – Classical Splendor July 8, 7:30 PM – FILM: The Opera House (2017) July 11, 7:00 PM – A Night at the Museum July 13, 7:00 PM – Leah Seger – Cory Pesaturo Duo July 17, 2:00 PM – Harmonia Ensemble July 25, 11:00 AM – Interstellar Cinderella by WindSync July 27, 7:00 PM – WindSync Woodwind Quintet July 28, 7:30 PM – FILM: Fitzcarraldo (1983)
August 1, 10:00 AM – Seagle Festival: Dragon’s Breath (Children’s Opera) August 4, 7:00 PM – Composers Sembrich Knew August 7, 2:00 PM – Jomion and The Uklos August 12, 7:30 PM – FILM: Lost Voice, The Story of Marcella Sembrich (2024) August 17, 7:00 PM – Violinist Kinga Augustyn August 21, 7:00 PM – ArcoStrum August 24, 7:00 PM – At That Hour: A Chamber Opera After James Joyce (World Premiere) August 25, 2:00 PM – At That Hour: A Chamber Opera After James Joyce (Encore Matinee) August 26, 7:30 PM – FILM: Falling for Figaro (2021) August 28, 2:00 PM – Cantrip August 31, 6:00 PM – Chopin by Candlelight
