Classical music

Experience an unforgettable evening of extraordinary vocal artistry as the acclaimed Academy of Vocal Arts (AVA) performs at Woodmere. This special concert brings the passion, power, and virtuosity of AVA’s rising opera stars in an acoustically astounding space.

Soprano Sarah Fleiss and pianist Nikolay Verevkin present a bold, wide-ranging program that celebrates the emotional power of the English language and the music that brings these words vividly to life. From Samuel Barber’s engagement with ancient texts to Benjamin Britten’s iconic settings of W. H. Auden, the program highlights the expressive range of English-language music, spanning the Baroque era through the works of Leonard Bernstein. By removing the barrier of translation, this concert offers an immediate and immersive listening experience, forging a direct connection between text, music, and audience. Sarah Fleiss is represented by Curtis Artist Management at Curtis Institute of Music.

Admiration for each other's musicianship and great friendship inspired Marja Kaisla, Elina Snellman-Lang, and Yevgeniy Dyo to form Trio Excelsior! Beyond the sheer joy of playing together, they use the rich and intimate piano trio repertoire to further explore their connection to music and one another. Trio Excelsior! brings this shared experience to audiences of all ages, offering a unique window into the lives of great composers and the ways in which they expressed the essence of human existence through their music. The ensemble's name, Excelsior!, embodies what their goals as musicians are, "still higher!"