2324 easter oratorio – Apollo's Fire

ARYEH NUSSBAUM COHEN

Acclaimed as a “young star” and “complete artist” by the New York Times and “extravagantly gifted… poised to redefine what’s possible for singers of this distinctive voice type” by the San Francisco Chronicle, countertenor Aryeh Nussbaum Cohen is one of the classical vocal world’s most promising rising stars. He has been awarded by many major competitions including the Grand Prize of the 2017 Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions, a 2017 Sara Tucker Study Grant and 2022 Career Grant from the Richard Tucker Music Foundation, and a 2023 George and Nora London Award. His first commercial recording project – the world premiere recording of Kenneth Fuchs’ Poems of Life with the London Symphony Orchestra, conducted by JoAnn Falletta – was honored with a 2019 GRAMMY® Award in the Best Classical Compendium category, which recognizes albums with multiple soloists and multiple works.

In the 2023-24 season, Aryeh Nussbaum Cohen returns to Glyndebourne to assay the title role of Handel’s Giulio Cesare in Egitto in Sir David McVicar’s acclaimed production – he sings the role of Sesto in the same opera for his debut at Teatro dell’Opera di Roma under the baton of Rinaldo Alessandrini – and he debuts at Deutsche Oper Berlin in the company premiere of Sir George Benjamin’s Written on Skin as First Angel/The Boy in Katie Mitchell’s original production. His vibrant concert schedule includes a worldwide tour of Handel’s Rodelinda with The English Concert conducted by Harry Bicket – including debuts at Carnegie Hall, LA Opera, Cal Performances, and in South Korea and China – Carmina Burana with Hans Graf and the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra, I Tre Controtenori at the Teatro dell’Opera di Roma, Bach’s Magnificat with Cantata Collective under the direction of Nicholas McGegan, Bach’s solo alto cantatas Widerstehe doch der Sünde, BWV 54 and Ich habe genug, BWV 182 with Jeffrey Thomas leading the American Bach Soloists, and Bach’s Erfreut euch, ihr Herzen, BWV 66 and Easter Oratorio, BWV 249 with Jeannette Sorrell and Apollo’s Fire.

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HAITHAM HAIDAR

Haitham Haidar is a Lebanese-Palestinian Canadian tenor, currently based in Montreal. He is a proud graduate of Yale’s Institute of Sacred Music, McGill’s Schulich School of Music, and the University of British Columbia.

Praised for his ‘ductile,’ ‘bright,’ and ‘robust’ tenor, Haitham enjoys performing oratorio, opera, and chamber music across North America, Europe, and Asia. He has recently joined Kaleidoscope Vocal Ensemble, a group that develops opportunity for music excellence and diversity to exist in one space.

When he’s not performing, Haitham spends his time playing the recorder, taking care of his cat Tonks, and going for long walks along the canal. He also enjoys incorporating Arabic music into his performances.

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EDWARD VOGEL

Described by Opera News as “accomplished, stylistically informed,” and “sonorous,” baritone Edward Vogel finds his passion in performing early music, oratorio, and art song. Possessing a diverse solo repertoire spanning nearly ten centuries, his sensitive interpretations have been heard onstage with such orchestras as the New Haven Symphony Orchestra; the Yale Philharmonia; Juilliard415; and the Tanglewood Music Center Orchestra, as well as in intimate recital settings across the eastern United States. He has sung as a soloist under the baton of conductors including Masaaki Suzuki, David Hill, Nicholas McGegan, and Gemma New.

An avid choral singer who began his musical training as a boy soprano, Vogel has appeared with international ensembles such as Theatre of Voices, Bach Collegium Japan, and the Yale Schola Cantorum, with whom he has participated in recordings on the Hyperion label.

Edward recently completed his Master of Music degree at the Yale School of Music, where he studied under tenor James Taylor, and was a member of the Yale Voxtet program. He received his undergraduate degree from the University of Notre Dame.

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ANDRÉA WALKER

A native of Texas, soprano ANDRÉA WALKER is pursuing her Doctorate in historical performance practice at Case Western Reserve University. She recently graduated with her Master’s in vocal performance from the Yale Institute of Sacred Music where she studied early music, oratorio, and art song. Before her time at Yale, Ms. Walker received her Bachelor’s from the University of Houston. Her recent performance highlights include her Lincoln Center debut in Telemann’s Der Tag des Gerichts with Masaaki Suzuki and Juilliard415, touring throughout Germany as a soloist in Haydn’s Schöpfungsmesse with Yale Schola Cantorum, performing the role of Venus is Daniel Purcell’s The Judgment of Paris with Amherst Early Music Festival, and being a guest artist at the Norfolk Chamber Choir Festival under the direction of Simon Carrington. As a new resident of Cleveland, she is thrilled to make both her Apollo’s Fire and CityMusic Cleveland solo debuts this 2023 season.

“The U.S.A.’s hottest baroque band.” –CLASSICAL MUSIC MAGAZINE (UK)