Celebrating his fiftieth anniversary onstage, Steven Blier offers songs by Astor Piazzolla, Kurt Weill, Carlos Guastavino, Duke Ellington, Bessie Smith, Gioacchino Rossini, Hector Berlioz, Stephen Sondheim, and more.

Featured artists are mezzo-soprano Lucia Bradford, performing works by Duke Ellington and Bessie Smith; baritenor Michael Spyres, singing Rossini and Berlioz; and bass-baritone Federico De Michelis, who will present Argentinian art song and tango. Other artists on the program are bass-baritone William Socolof, and pianists Shawn Chang and John Musto as duo-piano partners for Mr. Blier. 

“NYFOS has never needed an excuse for throwing a musical party, but this month we have a milestone event to celebrate: the 50th anniversary of my first professional recital,” says Artistic Director Steven Blier. “The playlist includes some of my favorite songs from the first half century of my career. Of course, there was no way to include all of my musical ‘amores’ — that would be like asking Casanova to serve a banquet for all of his inamoratas. Instead, the program zeroes in on a few of my greatest loves: Argentine song, American jazz and blues, bel canto, and French art song.” 

Steven Blier’s first concert took place in February of 1973, where he played a Community Concert in Weston, MA with the baritone Alan Titus. 

Michael Spyres appears courtesy of The Metropolitan Opera.