ALLEGANY, N.Y. — Award-winning bass-baritone Michel Bell and pianist Catherine Matejka will open the 2018-19 Friends of Good Music concert season at St. Bonaventure University’s Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts with a performance at 7:30 p.m. Sept. 28.
Bell has assembled a special program aptly titled “America in Song.” He will be singing highlights from “Porgy and Bess,” “Show Boat,” and “Civil War” as well as popular American songs and spirituals.
In addition, Bell will offer a fascinating glimpse into his multi-faceted career during an artist’s talk the day before the concert. The talk, which is free and open to the public, will be held at 4 p.m. Sept. 27, at the Quick Center.
Bell reached wide popularity when he ended the last century on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial, singing to more than 600,000 people, including the president and the first lady, at “America’s Millennium,” the New Year’s Eve 2000 celebration. The concert was seen on live television by millions of viewers around the world.
Bell toured with “Show Boat” throughout the United States and made his debut in London’s West End with the show at Prince Edward Theatre. Back on Broadway, he starred in the Frank Wildhorn musical “Civil War” at the St. James Theatre, for which he won the Outer Critics Circle Award. Most recently, he appeared on Broadway as the vocal soloist in “Riverdance: The Musical” at the Gershwin Theatre, and was part of the “Riverdance World Tour,” performing in the Far East, Europe and North America, including a stop at Shea’s Performing Arts Center in Buffalo.
Subscription tickets for the entire season are still available. Single ticket prices are $20 at full price, $16 for senior citizens and SBU employees, $5 for students.
