World-renowned baritone to perform “With Malice Toward None, With Charity For All” vocal recital in Ashland dedicated to themes of peace and reconciliation
Anima Mundi Productions, a Rogue Valley-based nonprofit organization dedicated to “healing the soul of the world through the arts,” will present the second concert of its Heart of Humanity series—entitled With Malice Toward None, With Charity For All—at 3:00 on Sunday, January 12. The concert features Christòpheren Nomura, a classically trained baritone whose numerous career highlights include performances at the Vatican, on Broadway, and in the Martin Scorsese feature film, Madama Butterfly.
A FIRST-RATE PERFORMER
Mr. Nomura is known for the “force and beauty of his voice” (The Washington Post) and his “first-rate” performances (The New York Times). He has performed with many of the world’s greatest ensembles—including the Boston Symphony, the Philadelphia Orchestra, the San Francisco Symphony, and the Oregon Bach Festival. He has given hundreds of acclaimed recitals including at Carnegie Hall, the Kennedy Center, Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, and San Francisco Performances. In 2015, he was featured in the original cast of the George Takei-led Broadway hit, Allegiance, which told the story of Japanese Internment Camps in the 1940’s.
WITH MALICE TOWARD NONE
With Malice Toward None, With Charity For All exemplifies Anima Mundi Productions’ commitment to fostering social healing through music. The title of the concert is based on the inspiring words of Abraham Lincoln’s second inaugural address at the end of the Civil War, and this program will take audiences on a transformative journey out of the wounds of war and into an uplifting portrayal of hope for a better world. Mr. Nomura will speak from the stage about how the music he has selected exemplifies the power of song to reconcile the damage caused by conflict between people and between nations alike.
TWO WORLD PREMIERES
In addition to singing works by classically renowned composers such as Brahms, Copland, and Barber, Mr. Nomura will present the World Premieres of two new songs by local composers: The Legend of Leaving by Jodi French of Southern Oregon Repertory Singers (poetry by Oregon’s former Poet Laureate Lawson Fusao Inada) and Dragons into Angels by Anima Mundi resident composer Ethan Gans-Morse and poet Tiziana DellaRovere.
Local audiences will recognize Mr. Nomura from his past appearances with the Rogue Valley Symphony, the Southern Oregon Repertory Singers, and the Chamber Music Concerts series.
THE HEART OF HUMANITY CONCERT SERIES
All Heart of Humanity concerts take place at the Oregon Center for the Arts Music Recital Hall on Mountain Ave. on the campus of Southern Oregon University.
The Heart of Humanity concert series is distinguished for its strong emphasis on addressing an urgent social theme at each concert, often through the creation and premiere of new and inspiring concert works by composers who are directly involved in the concert. The stated mission of the series is to give voice to marginalized people with compassion and depth, turning the concert hall into a space for renewed hope, communal healing, and mutual understanding.
In October, Anima Mundi Productions brought composer, pianist, and peace activist Malek Jandali to the Rogue Valley to launch “Pianos for Peace Oregon,” which involved the placement of artistically painted pianos in downtown Ashland and a week of “Peace through Music” events that culminated in a riveting performance by the Malek Jandali Trio that touched local audiences deeply.
Tickets are on sale at www.HumanityTickets.com or by calling 541-833-3066.
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