The music of the eminent Dutch poet and composer Constantijn Huygens, whose son Christiaan was a renowned mathematician and astronomer and discovered the rings of Saturn, will be featured. Other composers whose works will be performed include master Jan Sweelinck, known as the Orpheus of Amsterdam; Johannes Schenk, who created the first Dutch opera; and Jacob van Eyck, a virtuoso of the recorder and the carillon, famous throughout the Netherlands in the late 17^th century.

These works provide the soundtrack to Rembrandt’s Amsterdam and the stunning collection presented in Rembrandt in America. The music will be brought to life by vocalist Glenn Siebert from UNC School of the Arts, cellist Brent Wissick from UNC-Chapel Hill, and Jennifer Streeter on recorder—wonderful musicians all.

The concert is part of Sights & Sounds on Sundays—the chamber music series that is produced in collaboration with the Raleigh Chamber Music Guild. It’s the perfect showcase for North Carolina’s extraordinary classical music talent that flourishes from one end of the state to the other.

Image: Rembrandt van Rijn, Joris de Caulerij, 1632, oil on canvas transferred to panel, Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco, Legion of Honor, Roscoe and Margaret Oakes Collection (66.31)

Lucas Meachem, baritone

We are very excited about Casual Classics: Opera and Broadway in the Museum Park. This will be the first time the OCNC is performing outdoors and it’s a wonderful opportunity to sample opera. (You’ll be surprised how much of the music is familiar…okay, it may be because you heard it in Bugs Bunny cartoons or during a car commercial, but that simply means opera is not an intimidating proposition at all!) The program will be a mix of opera and Broadway favorites which gives OCNC a chance to try out a new rep (and whether you’re familiar with opera or not, who doesn’t enjoy a good show-tune?).  It’ll be a perfect night for a family picnic, a night out with the girls, or a romantic date with good music at a reasonable price. (Come on, wouldn’t you like an alternative to multiplex theaters?) So there you have it, several great reasons for everyone to enjoy a unique Saturday night experience.

This is certainly an interesting experiment, bringing world class musicians and a 50-piece orchestra into an outdoor theater. If you’re a regular at the Museum’s summer series, you’ll enjoy this change of pace and if you’re a regular at the OCNC, we thought you would like to hear us outside for a change.  But this is the classic “you got peanut butter in my chocolate–hey, wait-a-sec…” scenario where everybody wins!  I have a feeling it is going to be a marvelous evening and the start of a great relationship. 

And in the spirit of trying something new, we will even have a guest conductor…from the audience! A lucky winner from an auction this past February will conduct the orchestra in front of all you forgiving fans. Certainly we can cheer for Joan and help her through this amazing experience. (I wish I were as brave!) 

If you just can’t wait for an amazing opera experience, there’s an opportunity to meet the singers and chat with them in an intimate setting. They’ll be at our Taste of Opera dinner at the Umstead this Thursday. The NCMA or OCNC Box Office staff can tell you more about it just call soon (919-792-3850). 

There are people who point to a moment when they heard a piece of music as a child and it stayed with them for years, to be recalled later as a favorite memory.  Here’s your chance to create that experience for your children and grandchildren…or create special some memories all your own. I look forward to sharing this fabulous evening with you.     

Frank Grebowski is the General Director of The Opera Company of North Carolina. Casual Classics: Opera and Broadway in the Museum Park is on Saturday, May 30 at 8 p.m. Buy your tickets online.