Summer Update 2023
Well, it has been quite a spring! I have just returned from an amazing two months in Toronto performing the opera Treemonisha in the Luminato Festival. It was a brilliant experience with new colleagues and a completely new re-imagining of the opera itself. The audiences and critics loved our new interpretation so watch this space for further touring dates. As they say in the game this show will most certainly “have legs”!
“Ravishingly reborn, Scott Joplin’s ‘Treemonisha’ triumphs at the Luminato Festival” ★★★★ Toronto Star
“Black opera ‘Treemonisha’ dazzles at Toronto’s Luminato festival” - Now Toronto
“Baker’s Monisha, Lowe’s Pastor, and Faatoalia’s Remus practically raise the roof of the Bluma Appel” Intermission Magazine
In addition to the concerts and our “Meet the Artists” chat with the Brooklyn Collective, I made time to self-produce and record a new radio package for BBC Sunday Morning with… It appeared shortly after we returned from Charlotte NC and it highlights the Scottish influence that remains today and features head of the Charlotte Shout! Festival Robert Krumbine, the head of the Brooklyn Collective Monique Douglass, a surprise meeting at the Highland Games with the international Director of the Colquhoun Clan Michael Lloyd-Stern and of course one of the co- creators of the Pianodrome Tim Vincent Smith. Please visit the Radio and Podcast section of my website for a listen.
The summer has arrived and as I mentioned in the spring update, first up is the world premier of Forever? By Roddy Williams with the Chineke! Orchestra for the Milton Keynes International Festival. This new piece celebrates the 250th anniversary of Amazing Grace, I am excited and honoured to be performing with this orchestra again and with one of my favourite artists Ronald Samm.
Exciting News for Sing Sistah Sing! Tales of Transatlantic Freedom; we have been chosen as part of the Made In Scotland Showcase for the Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2023! This came as a complete surprise to the entire team, but we are creating a longer show, with new music and a new staging by John Paul McGroarty and featuring my most amazing co-creator and musical genius Howard Moody. The venue is a new one Greenside @Nicolson Square venue 209 from the 15th-19th August - see times and more info in my Sing Sistah Sing! performance calendar section. The show has grown since last summer at the Pianodrome in the Fringe, and our trip to the Charlotte Shout! Festival in America’s first Pianodrome - we are so excited to premiere this new version of the show and to represent my beloved Scotland in the Fringe. Book your tickets here!
Following directly after the Fringe I return to the State Theater of Wiesbaden for another foray into musical theatre! The show is Follies by Stephen Sondheim. I am excited to sing the roles of Hattie and Stella, conducted by a Sing Sistah Sing! family member, Albert Horne. This show will be sung and acted in German, and I get to learn how to soft-shoe and perform alongside some of Europe’s greatest musical theatre stars including Pia Douwes and Dirk Weiler. There are 15 performances from October 2023 to June 2024 - view the calendar on my Andrea Baker Mezzo page for exact dates.
As I approach the 30th anniversary of my professional debut in opera (thank you San Francisco Opera 😉) I continue to be amazed at my new opportunities and the new genres I am discovering. I am so grateful for the past experiences and excited for the future. I hope to see you at one of these upcoming performances and as always watch this space for new projects and performances!
Next up - OMOS Berlin Cabaret on the 15th July!
-Andrea
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