Ms. Cooper is thrilled to be returning to Carnegie Hall as a soloist, this time in Vivaldi’s Gloria and Mozart’s Requiem and Vesperæ solennes de confessore with the New England Symphonic Ensemble.

The ECSO will tie a red-white-and-green bow around its 2024-25 season with a program of achingly romantic duets from famous Italian operas—La bohème and Madama Butterfly by Giacomo Puccini and Il trovatore and La traviata by Giuseppe Verdi—performed by soprano Sarah Joyce Cooper and Mexican-born tenor Jesús Daniel Hernández. The Eastern Connecticut Symphony Chorus will join the orchestra for “Va, pensiero” (“Go, thought, on wings of gold” ) from Verdi’s Nabucco, the chorus of the Hebrew slaves, an anthem of Italian unification and, later, of other oppressed peoples.

The orchestra will also play the stirring overtures to Verdi’s La forza del destino and Luisa Miller, the triumphal march from his Aida, and the intermezzo from Puccini’s Manon Lescaut.

Ms. Cooper will perform the role of Anne Hutchinson in the world premiere of James Kallembach’s opera, American Jezebel: The Trial of Anne Hutchinson, commissioned by Harvard University.

In the dark of predawn morning in a bitterly cold November in 1637, Anne Hutchinson, then pregnant with her fifteenth child, set out on foot with her family to traverse the treacherously frozen five miles to stand trial before the Great and General Court of Massachusetts for the slandering of ministers and, thereby, having “troubled the peace of the commonwealth and churches.” Governor John Winthrop, who had recently been elected in a clever political coup overthrowing supporters of ideals similar to Hutchinson’s, presided over the trial. In the unheated courtroom, the ominous and thick black cloaks of each Puritan are silhouetted against the rough-hewn timbers of the crude courthouse. Hutchinson is fighting for the right to express her own religious views, and, indirectly, for greater political sway for the self-made merchant class in the complex, theologically entwined politics of the Commonwealth. Winthrop, who is deeply invested in the success of the Massachusetts Bay Colony, views himself as the only hope of keeping the colony unified and to avoid having its charter revoked by King Charles, who already has problematic relations with all church separatists.

This intense story is told amidst a backdrop of scenes such as Winthrop’s famous “City upon a hill” sermon, Hutchinson and Winthrop’s own home and family life, the riveting political events of 1636-1637, and the unique communal life of the Puritans, as represented by the chorus. The chorus plays a crucial role in representing the interior, domestic life of childbirth, health care, matters of the home and personal spirituality set against a backdrop of a religion-centered, male- dominated society, yet with a surprisingly nuanced sense of a divide of church and state. Quilting bees, spiritual singing in the home, communal building projects all brought people together even in a society that placed a high value on personal growth, expression, and responsibility.

Ms. Cooper will perform the role of Tebaldo in the four act version of Verdi’s Don Carlo with the Boston Youth Symphony Orchestra.

Boston Youth Symphony
Federico Cortese , Conductor
Joshua Major , Stage Director

ONE PERFORMANCE ONLY

Don Carlo, Bruce Sledge
Elisabetta di Valois, Raquel González
La Principessa d'Eboli, Maire Therese Carmack
Filippo II, Nathan Berg
Rodrigo, Marchese di Posa, Markus Werba
Il Grande Inquisitore, Andrea Mastroni
Un frate, Junhan Choi
Tebaldo, Sarah Joyce Cooper
Il Conte di Lerma and Un araldo reale, Neal Ferreira
Una voce dal cielo, Liv Redpath

BYSO Opera Chorus
Charles F. Prestinari, Chorus Master

BYSO is proud to present Verdi’s Don Carlo, a true masterpiece and a monumental undertaking in the world of opera. Since 2008, BYSO has immersed young musicians and audiences of all ages in the magic of opera. As the only youth orchestra to present full, semi-staged operas, this production promises to be an extraordinary experience for BYSO students, singers, audiences, and everyone involved.

Ms. Cooper will perform as a soloist in The Ties that Bind: A concert honoring Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Opera unMet, lead by founder Marshall Hughes, brings a soul-stirring performance, not to be missed!

Enjoy a performance of spirituals, jazz, musical theater, and opera with cast members of Seattle Opera’s Jubilee and the 5th Avenue Theater production of After Midnight. This collaboration will feature the dazzling talents of Sarah Joyce Cooper, Darren Drone, Yusef Seever, and Porscha Shaw at several community venues, including The Opera Center and the Federal Way Library.

Enjoy a performance of spirituals, jazz, musical theater, and opera with cast members of Seattle Opera’s Jubilee and the 5th Avenue Theater production of After Midnight. This collaboration will feature the dazzling talents of Sarah Joyce Cooper, Darren Drone, Yusef Seever, and Porscha Shaw at several community venues, including The Opera Center and the Federal Way Library.

Enjoy a performance of spirituals, jazz, musical theater, and opera with cast members of Seattle Opera’s Jubilee and the 5th Avenue Theater production of After Midnight. This collaboration will feature the dazzling talents of Sarah Joyce Cooper, Darren Drone, Yusef Seever, and Porscha Shaw at several community venues, including The Opera Center and the Federal Way Library.

Enjoy a performance of spirituals, jazz, musical theater, and opera with cast members of Seattle Opera’s Jubilee and the 5th Avenue Theater production of After Midnight. This collaboration will feature the dazzling talents of Sarah Joyce Cooper, Darren Drone, Yusef Seever, and Porscha Shaw at several community venues, including The Opera Center and the Federal Way Library.

Ms. Cooper will appear as the featured soloist in concert with the Bar Harbor Music Festival Orchestra.

Program:

Mozart - Exsultate, jubilate

Grieg - Våren

Montgomery - “I want to go home”

Mahl and Cooper, arr. - “His Name So Sweet”

Gershwin - “Summertime”

Mozart - Symphony No. 37

Kurt Atterberg - Suite no. 7 from Anthony and Cleopatra

Ms. Cooper will appear in recital with pianist Christina Spurling in a concert for Young Audiences with the Bar Harbor Music Festival.

This free concert features an amazing lineup of Boston's best musicians and performers.  Don't miss a summer evening of amazing music!

Ms. Cooper returns to Carnegie Hall as a soloist in a Margaret Bonds’ The Ballad of the Brown King with the New England Symphonic Ensemble.

Ms. Cooper will perform the role of Micaëla in Peter Brook’s adaptation of Bizet’s classic.

One of opera’s most enthralling characters comes to life in this intense 90-minute re-interpretation of the classic and timeless Carmen.  Pared down to four singers, the opera follows Carmen as she draws the infatuated Don Jose away from Micaëla and toward a life of jealousy, lust, and murder.  Featuring many of the immensely popular melodies of Bizet’s original version, La Tragédie de Carmen trims this powerful story into a taut and fast-paced “tragedy of four people” that brims with seduction and intrigue as it moves towards its inevitable conclusion.

Ms. Cooper will perform the role of Micaëla in Peter Brook’s adaptation of Bizet’s classic.

One of opera’s most enthralling characters comes to life in this intense 90-minute re-interpretation of the classic and timeless Carmen.  Pared down to four singers, the opera follows Carmen as she draws the infatuated Don Jose away from Micaëla and toward a life of jealousy, lust, and murder.  Featuring many of the immensely popular melodies of Bizet’s original version, La Tragédie de Carmen trims this powerful story into a taut and fast-paced “tragedy of four people” that brims with seduction and intrigue as it moves towards its inevitable conclusion.

Ms. Cooper will perform the role of Micaëla in Peter Brook’s adaptation of Bizet’s classic.

One of opera’s most enthralling characters comes to life in this intense 90-minute re-interpretation of the classic and timeless Carmen.  Pared down to four singers, the opera follows Carmen as she draws the infatuated Don Jose away from Micaëla and toward a life of jealousy, lust, and murder.  Featuring many of the immensely popular melodies of Bizet’s original version, La Tragédie de Carmen trims this powerful story into a taut and fast-paced “tragedy of four people” that brims with seduction and intrigue as it moves towards its inevitable conclusion.

Ms. Cooper will appear in the chorus, covering the role of Jeannette, in Boston Lyric Opera’s production of The Anonymous Lover.

Written in 1780 by Black virtuoso Joseph Bologne, Chevalier de Saint-Georges, The Anonymous Lover tells the story of Léontine, a wealthy young widow who is disenchanted with the notion of love until she begins receiving letters from an anonymous admirer. Léontine’s journey culminates in her own happy ending, a worthy romantic comedy for the ages.

Ms. Cooper will appear in the chorus, covering the role of Jeannette, in Boston Lyric Opera’s production of The Anonymous Lover.

Written in 1780 by Black virtuoso Joseph Bologne, Chevalier de Saint-Georges, The Anonymous Lover tells the story of Léontine, a wealthy young widow who is disenchanted with the notion of love until she begins receiving letters from an anonymous admirer. Léontine’s journey culminates in her own happy ending, a worthy romantic comedy for the ages.

Ms. Cooper will appear in the chorus, covering the role of Jeannette, in Boston Lyric Opera’s production of The Anonymous Lover.

Written in 1780 by Black virtuoso Joseph Bologne, Chevalier de Saint-Georges, The Anonymous Lover tells the story of Léontine, a wealthy young widow who is disenchanted with the notion of love until she begins receiving letters from an anonymous admirer. Léontine’s journey culminates in her own happy ending, a worthy romantic comedy for the ages.

Ms. Cooper will perform Eurydice’s aria, “This is what it is to love an artist,” from Matthew Aucoin’s opera, Eurydice.

Join PRIMA friends and fans for a winter gathering and lively conversation with celebrated composer and Boston native Matthew Aucoin. Music and culture scholar (and fellow PRIMA member!) Lucy Caplan moderates an energetic discussion about Aucoin’s opera Eurydice, which BLO will present in March 2024. Explore the opera’s varied literary, musical, and dramatic inspirations, and hear excerpts performed live by the composer. The evening will include light bites and refreshments (both alcoholic and zero-proof), and time for socializing and Q&A. 

Ms. Cooper will perform the role of Clotilde in Bellini’s opera Norma, with the Boston Youth Symphony Orchestra. Maestro Federico Cortese conducts.

Norma, Serena Farnocchia
Pollione, Dominick Chenes
Oroveso, Önay Köse
Adalgisa, Ashley Dixon
Flavio, Neal Ferreira
Clotilde, Sarah Cooper

Ms. Cooper will perform as a soloist in The Ties that Bind: A concert honoring Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Opera unMet, lead by founder Marshall Hughes, brings a soul-stirring performance, not to be missed!

Ms. Cooper returns to Carnegie Hall as the soloist in a performance of John Rutter’s Magnificat and Stephen Schwartz’s When You Believe with the New England Symphonic Ensemble.

PROGRAM

JOHN RUTTER Magnificat

TRAD. "Sing We Now of Christmas" (arr. Bradley Knight)

TRAD. "Angels We Have Heard On High" (arr. Gary Fry)

TRAD. "Christmas is Coming" (arr. Mack Wilberg)

OLA GJEILO Ecce Novum

CRAIG COURTNEY A Musicological Journey Through the Twelve Days of Christmas

TRAD. "The Virgin Mary Had a Baby Boy" (arr. Mack Wilberg)

CACCINI "Alleluia" (arr. Mack Wilberg)

STEPHEN SCHWARTZ "When You Believe"

LEONTOVICH "Carol of the Bells" (arr. Jennifer Thomas)

TRAD. "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen" (arr. Bradley Knight)

K. DAVIS Carol of the Drum ("The Little Drummer Boy") (arr. Bradley Knight)

HANDEL "Hallelujah" from Messiah

Ms. Cooper joins the Harvard-Radcliffe Chorus as a soloist in a performance of Will Todd's Mass in Blue, and Margaret Bonds' Credo.

New England Conservatory will pay tribute to alumna Coretta Scott King on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of her graduation from the Conservatory with a special concert, “Embracing Coretta.”

“Embracing Coretta” will include the world premiere of Dear Coretta, a song by J. Jakari Rush based on a love letter Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. wrote to Coretta in 1952 and a piece by Cuban composer Amadeo Roldan, which Coretta sang on NEC’s Jordan Hall stage 70 years ago. The commemorative concert centers Black artists by featuring composers and poets, including singers Sarah Joyce Cooper, Neil Nelson, Melissa Joseph, and Daon Drisdom. The concert is a sabbatical project by NEC faculty member and pianist, Timothy Steele, who will also perform on this concert.

Coretta Scott King was an accomplished singer who studied at New England Conservatory from 1951-1954, during which time she met and married Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. “Embracing Coretta” will tell her life story through a series of narrations, art songs, and spirituals, which will highlight the ways in which she supported the Civil Rights Movement through her singing—as an activist, and as a wife and mother.