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These are what critics wrote on world-class soprano June Anderson: "Intoxicating to hear! ... Such a paragon is June Anderson, whose awesome vocal prowess allows her to heap to clarion high C's in a single bound, whipping audiences into a frenzy of confetti-throwing enthusiasm."- Wall Street Journal; "What is most remarkable about June Anderson is that she is at her best where other voices stop ... Her top notes are perfection, wonderful." - Peter Katona, Artistic Administrator at Covent Garden; and The Daily Star (Lebanon) described "Her sound is never forced, her phrases long and sumptuously lyrical, her coloratura ornamentation masterful."

The globally renowned soprano will give a recital in the territory at 8 pm, October 9 (Wednesday) at the Concert Hall, Hong Kong Cultural Centre with pianist Jeff Cohen. The recital will feature lots of well-known opera arias, like Rossini's 'Una voce poco fa' (from "Il Barbiere di Siviglia"), Boito's 'L'altra notte in fondo al mare' (from "Mefistofele"), Gounod's 'L'air des Bijoux' (from "Faust") and Verdi's 'D'amor sull'ali rosee' (from "Il Trovatore"). Works of Tchaikovsky, Rachmaninoff, Rodrigo and Weill will also be performed.

June Anderson first came to public attention at the age of 17, when she became the youngest finalist in the Metropolitan Opera National Auditions. She later graduated from Yale University. She made her professional debut in 1978 with the New York City Opera as Queen of the Night in "The Magic Flute" and later made her Metropolitan Opera debut as Gilda in "Rigoletto", opposite Luciano Pavarotti. She has since performed all over Europe and the United States, in the major opera houses under Leonard Bernstein, James Levine, Lorin Maazel, Riccardo Muti, etc. She is internationally renowned as a dramatic coloratura soprano of consummate artistry with a compelling dramatic presence. At the Metropolitan Opera she has sung the title roles in Donizetti's "La Fille du Regiment", "Lucia di Lammermoor", and "Semiramide" as well as Rosalinde in "Die Fledermaus" and Leonora in "Il Trovatore". She has sung in all the major operas houses including the Chicago Lyric, La Scala, Covent Garden, the Opera de Bastille and the Teatro Colon in Buenos Aires where recently made her debut in "La Traviata". Her discography includes Rossini's "Mose in Egitto", "Maometto II", "La Donna del Lago", and she received a Grammy Award for "Candide".

Born in Baltimore, the United States, pianist Jeff Cohen started playing the piano at early age. His interest in French music, particularly melodie, brought him to Paris, where he studied at the Conservatoire National and was subsequently awarded Premier Prix for both piano and chamber music. He went on to study with Leon Fleisher and Peter Feuchtwanger. Cohen has worked as repetiteur at the Opera de la Monnaie in Brussels, head of the music staff at the Chatelet Theater in Paris, professor at the Paris Opera Studio, and at the National Conservatory for Dramatic Arts. He is currently teaching melodie and Lied at the Conservatoire National in Paris. He has performed throughout the world with artists such as John Aler, June Anderson and Cecilia Bartoli.

"Vocal Recital by June Anderson" is one of the programmes of the "Encore Series" presented by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department, with tickets priced at $400, $300, $200 and $120 now available at all URBTIX outlets. Half-price concessions will be granted to senior citizens, people with disabilities, full-time students and Comprehensive Social Security Assistance recipients (Limited student and CSSA tickets are available on a first-come, first-served basis). A 10% discount is also available for Friends of LCSD performing venues. In addition, box seats and lounge packages are available for sale for the performance. Interested parties of the above packages are advised to check the details at 2268 7236.

Programme enquiries can be made on 2268 7321 or website www.lcsd.gov.hk/cp. Ticketing enquiries and reservations can be made on 2734 9009; Internet booking can be made at www.urbtix.gov.hk while credit card telephone booking on 2111 5999.

End/Thursday, August 29, 2002

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