Co-created and co-hosted by pianists Steven Blier and Peter Dugan, Perennials celebrates the steadying power of music to guide us through the year with works by Fauré, Strauss, Toldrà, Sondheim, Carole King, and others.

The program cycles through all four seasons, each one represented by a different country (France, Spain, Germany, and the United States). Featured artists include  baritone Samuel Kidd, soprano Raquel González, mezzo-soprano Lucia Bradford, and bass Wm. Clay Thompson with Steven Blier and Peter Dugan on piano.

“After the narcoleptic haze of summer, the fall season—with its deadlines and obligations—always hits me like a ton of bricks,” said NYFOS Artistic Director Steven Blier. “Perennials is a philosophical look at the joys and challenges of the four seasons, each one represented in a different language: French for autumn, German for winter, Spanish for spring, and English for summer. The music covers the waterfront from Fauré and Strauss to Guridi and Carole King. I’ve had a blast preparing Perennials with pianist Peter Dugan, a wonderful colleague who is rapidly becoming a star in today’s music world. I’m also thrilled with the cast, two of whom are making their Mainstage debuts, Samuel Kidd and Wm. Clay Thompson, and two of whom are returning after giving beautiful performances in recent seasons, Raquel González and Lucia Bradford. They are a tremendous quartet of artists.”

Read the program note. 

The Program: 

AUTUMN featuring Wm. Clay Thompson
Fauré – “Berceuse” 
     Piano duet featuring Steven Blier and Peter Dugan
Fauré – “Automne” 
Fauré – “Dans la forêt de Septembre” 
René Rouzaud and Louis Ferrari – “Moisson” 
Mendelssohn – “Herbstlied”
     Duet featuring Clay Thompson and Samuel Kidd

WINTER featuring Samuel Kidd
Strauß – “Winternacht”
Strauß – “Winterweihe” 
Wolf – “Schlafendes Jesuskind” 
Wolf – “Zum neuen Jahr” 

SPRING featuring Raquel González
Piazzolla – “Primavera porteña” 
     Piano duet featuring Steven Blier and Peter Dugan
Lamote de Grignon – “Larirà-abril” 
Toldrà – “Maig” 
Rodrigo – “Romancillo” (“Por mayo, era por mayo”) 
Guridi – “Mañanita de San Juan” 
Ruíz – “Mares y arenas” 
     Duet featuring Raquel Gonzáles and Lucia Bradford

SUMMER featuring Lucia Bradford
James Taylor – “Summer’s Here” 
Stephen Sondheim – “The Girls of Summer” 
Carole King – “Up on the Roof”
Stevie Wonder – “Summer Soft”