November 6th 2023 – Azlo Productions, Nilko Andreas Jeanne Gerard and Johan, Farjot present: “NADIA” an intimate portrait of one of the most fascinating musicians of the 20th century: Nadia Boulanger, composer, conductor, pianist, organist and greatly influential pedagogue. From her mother’s lullaby to her master’s song, from her hidden lover’s melody to her students’ arias, from her close friend’s work to her regretted sister’s masterpiece, each piece reveals a facet of this prodigious and mysterious woman. The music of her life was made of Russian repertoire, French melody, musical theatre, pop songs, jazz standards, tango… So do not be surprised by the eclecticism of this program. The scholar simply loved « good music ».
Azlo Productions was created by Artistic Director, Nilko Andreas Guarin, to promote Latin American music and musicians for the purpose of fostering unity in the Americas through the arts.
The program will portray a broad and brilliant palette of musical colors delivered as only “Nadia” could have inspired it, our program includes Music from the Americas and Europe, a world premiere written specifically for “Nadia” by Colombian composer Francisco Zumaque (who studied with Nadia Boulanger at the American conservatory in Paris), to be performed by Nilko Andreas and another new piece by Pianist and composer Johan Farjot, Story telling by Faustine de Mones, as well as tangos from A. Piazzolla in the voice of French soprano Jeanne Gerard. The proceeds of this concert will be allocated to Magen David Adom and Zakaworld, two non governmental organizations whose mission is to rescue injured populations and help the victims of the ongoing terrorist attacks in the middle east, without any distinction of nationality, race or religion.
Monday, November 6th 2023 @8pm, New York, NY
Carnegie Hall, Weill Hall
57 West 57th street
Tickets: https://www.carnegiehall.org/Calendar/2023/11/06/Amazonas-2023-Nadia-A-Portrait- of-Nadia-Boulanger-0800PM
About Azlo Productions
Since it’s founding in the year 2000, Azlo Productions has been sponsoring and producing independent artists around the world and presenting them in some of the most renowned concert halls, including Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts in NYC; The Strathmore and Cathedral of Saint Matthew the Apostle in Washington DC; The Hobby Center in Houston, Texas as well as Cite Universitaire in Paris, Palacio Foz and Museum Nogueira da Silva in Portugal; Salle Gandhi in Geneva, among other prestigious halls in France, Germany, Brazil, and Colombia.
“Amazonas” is the name of a series of concerts that are presented around the world featuring the Azlo Orchestra, guests and soloists. The main purpose of these concerts is to focus attention on the increasing level of environmental damage that we have been causing to our planet. We believe that this situation demands a strong response from the present generation and in particular from the artistic community. The Amazonas series seeks to highlight composers from many periods in the past that have taken their inspiration from nature and the ancestral power of the Amazon rain forest, and also provide an opportunity for modern composers to write new works for the series.
For more info visit www.nilkoandreas.com/amazonas
About “Jeanne Gerard ”
Born in Paris, Jeanne Gérard started singing, acting and dancing at an early age through musical theatre and jazz. After studying humanities at Henri IV and earning a bachelor degree in philosophy from la Sorbonne, she completed her acting training with Jean-Laurent Cochet, Scott Williams and Matt Newton, her dance training at the Broadway Dance Center and her musical education at Manhattan School of Music. She graduated with her Master’s of classical voice in Patricia Misslin’s studio in 2015. She then took part in the masterclasses of Thomas Hampson, Thomas Quasthoff, Barbara Frittoli, Mariella Devia, Graham Johnson, Dalton Baldwin, Martin Katz, Jake Heggie, Giulio Zappa… Ms Gérard has been a member of the Martina Arroyo Foundation, Barbara Hannigan’s Equilibrium, Songfest and the Atelier Lyrique of the Verbier Festival.
In 2018 she started taking part in opera competitions and won Armel Opera Competition, the First Prize and Special Prize of the Jury of Léopold Bellan International Competition, a Golden Medal from Manhattan International Music Competition, was a finalist of Concorso Liricio Internazionale Ottavio Ziino and Concours International George Enescu. In 2019 she received the First Prize, the Audience Prize, the Orchestra and Technicians’ Prize of the Concours International de Chant de Mâcon and in 2021 she was nominated for the Victoires de la Musique classique in the “Revelation” category.
Over the last couple of years, Jeanne Gérard has been performing some major roles such as Violetta Valéry (La Traviata) at La Seine Musicale, the title role of Shirine at the Opéra National de Lyon, Gilda (Rigoletto) at the Théâtre des Champs Elysées and at the Opéra de Rouen in a participative version, Marzelline (Fidelio) at the Opéra de Nice, Marie-Laure de Noailles (Ressusciter la rose) at the Villa Noailles / Opéra de Toulon, Pamina (Die Zauberflöte) at the Grand Théâtre, Scène Nationale de Mâcon, Micaëla (Carmen) at the Seine Musicale, Sophie (Werther) at the Opéra de Nice…
On the concert stage, Ms Gérard has performed at Carnegie Hall, the Opéra National de Paris (Amphithéâtre Bastille), the Chorégies d’Orange, the Grand Théâtre de Provence, Symphony Space, Danny Kaye Playhouse, Salle Cortot… She has taken part in two albums : Mediavita with Karol Beffa (Klarthe) and Shikoku with Johan Farjot (Alpha Classics).
About “NilkoAndreas”
Since his Carnegie Hall solo debut, 2009 multi-faceted touring artist Nilko Andreas has been entertaining audiences in three continents as an internationally awarded classical guitarist, Composer, Actor, Music Director and singer, Born in Colombia, he carries the musical legacy of his motherland, layered with his experiences as a leading classical musician around the world and 22 years of living, performing as a soloist and chamber Musician, producing and conducting in New York City. He has been a soloist with major orchestras around the world including, the Prague Philharmonic, Shenzhen Philharmonic in China and the Surabaya symphony in Indonesia, among others, He is the founder of the “Amazonas” series presented at Carnegie Hall since 2010, with a heavy interest on raising awareness over environmental damage. He was “Don Quixote” in the Musical “The Man of La Mancha” by Musical Theater Heritage, His passion for the work of Federico Garcia Lorca made him collaborate and produce many plays, he conceived and directed “Asi Canta Federico” and interactive concert around the life and work of Lorca.
An accomplished educator, Nilko Andreas has given master classes and conferences in music universities and conservatories around the world. He is the Founder of the Latin American Chamber Music Society and Founder of Azlo Productions. www.nilkoandreas.com
