Part of our Crypto Judeo Storytelling week!

At the heart of this recital by Soprano Amy Hansen and Guitarist Cameron O'Connor is the work of the Italian Jewish composer Mario Castelnuovo-Tedesco. Jewish Italian composer Castelnuovo-Tedesco was one of the foremost composers for guitars of the 20th century. Castelnuovo-Tedesco's family had lived in Italy since their expulsion from Spain in 1492. After emigrating to the U.S. (because of the Italian Racial laws of 1938), he found work in Hollywood (thanks to his friend Jascha Heifetz) and emerged as a prolific and celebrated composer for film and concerts. O'Connor and Hansen delve into Castelnuovo-Tedesco's work in the context of a larger set based on Romantic German poetry, Spanish Songs, and even a Japanese tune! Mario Castelnuovo-Tedesco's cultural and ethnic heritage placed him at an important crossroads in music history. This concert showcases that history, and is the perfect compliment to our other events in our Crypto Judeo Series.

Question and answer session to follow.

All Ages, Sliding Scale $12-$18/Person

About the Artists:

Cameron O'Connor:

Award-winning and acclaimed as “stunning and emotive” (Eugene Register-Guard) and “accomplished and soulful” (Portland Magazine) Cameron O’Connor enjoys a diverse career in solo, chamber, and contemporary music. He is furthermore a prizewinner in many international competitions, including the Frances Walton and Tokyo International Guitar Competition. His playing has been featured in films, including James Franco’s Don Quixote and Scott Tennant’s instructional classic Pumping Nylon, and his performances have been featured on Seattle’s Classical 98.1 KingFM, All Classical Portland, American Public Media’s Performance Today, and KPFK’s Global Village. His recording of Michael Lee’s Unmasked (written for O’Connor) was chosen for Ablaze Record’s Millenial Masters, distributed by Naxos. As a composer, O’Connor won the 2019 Keene State College Call for Scores, the “Outstanding Winner” 2nd prize at the Changsha International Guitar Festival in China, and is a finalist in the 2nd Portugal International Guitar Composition Competition. O’Connor also performs regularly for musical theater productions on electric guitar, banjo, and mandolin, as well as in early music settings on the vihuela and lute.

O’Connor’s teaching experience ranges from the Music Advancement Program at the Juilliard School to the Aspen Music Festival and School, as teaching assistant to Sharon Isbin; and at the University of Southern California Thornton School of Music as a graduate assistant. He also gave several interactive performances each month in non-traditional venues - from hospitals to juveniles halls - as a fellow with the Thornton-Gluck Fellows Program.

O’Connor was a full scholarship recipient at CSU Northridge, where he studied guitar with Ron Borczon and lute with Ron Purcell; the Juilliard School in New York City, where he studied with Sharon Isbin; and at the USC Thornton School of Music under William Kanengiser. Upon receiving his degree, the Thornton School recognized him as the Outstanding Doctoral Graduate of his class. He has served on the faculties of Oregon State University, Portland State University, CSU Bakersfield, Riverside City College, and Bakersfield College, and his compositions and arrangements can be found through LACG Editions (lacg.net).

Amy Hansen

Soprano Amy Hansen’s lithe, exquisite voice and breath-taking acting have won her acclaim on operatic and symphonic stages alike. Opera Canada wrote of her title role performance with Calgary Opera, “Hansen was the complete Lakmé…she encompassed the virtuoso writing with ease, the top of her voice radiant, her lyrical singing meltingly beautiful…her acting pointed and convincing at every turn.”

A featured soloist at the Kennedy Center, the Washington Post reported, “[the National Symphony Orchestra] accompanied soprano Amy Hansen, who lavished impressive coloratura skills on arias of Mozart…” The Oregonian called her “stellar”, “adorable”, and, when she debuted with Oregon Symphony, “Hansen sang the wickedly high “Queen of the Night” aria with poise and drama…she absolutely nailed the infamous high F’s… and the audience loved her.”

Ms. Hansen graduated with honors from Oberlin College Conservatory and, after studies at Indiana University, concertized extensively as a resident artist with the Portland Opera. She is a Metropolitan Opera Auditions regional finalist, Ellen Faull Gordon vocal competition winner, an Eleanor Lieber Awards winner, and Petri grant recipient. She can be heard on the Decca label recording of The Tenderland, conducted by Murry Sidlin and performed with Third Angle.

Ms. Hansen lives in Oregon and though singing has had to simmer on the back burner while she raised her children, you know a slow simmer brings out the richest flavor! Summer of 2018, she completed her MM in vocal performance at Indiana University Jacobs School of Music. She teaches voice at Oregon State University and in her independent studio and thoroughly enjoys performing regionally.

Please consider bringing a can of chicken broth to donate to Jewish Family and Child Service's annual Thanksgiving Food Drive