Friday, May 19 at 6:00 PM
Experience the mesmerizing presence of Chrystal E. Williams with a voice full of flair and emotion combined with the accordion of Felipe Hostins from Santa Catarina, Brazil together seeking to foster “unity, peace, and understanding through music”. Audiences in Egypt, England, and Sweden have heard the unforgettable Chrystal E. Williams. Now it is your turn!
Excerpt from Forrópera Experiência C. E. Williams (b. 1986)/F. Hostins (b. 1993)
Reflexão
Carmen Medley
Habanera, Seguidilla, and Chanson Bohéme from Carmen Georges Bizet (1838-1875)
Tres Canciones
Del cabello más sutil Fernando Obradors (1897-1945)
¿Corazón porque pasáis…?
El Vito
Bachianas Brasileiras, No. 5 Hector Villa-Loboa (1887-1959)
Aria
Danca
Cinco Canções Nordestinas do Folclore Brasileiro (selections) Ernani Braga (1888-1948)
Capim di pranta
São João-Da-Ra-Rão
Engenho Novo
Songs of Hope Traditional/F. Hostins & C.E. Williams
We Shall Overcome/We Shall Not Be Moved
Excerpt from Forrópera Experiência
Spirituals
Don’t you let nobody turn you round arr. Lena J McLin (b. 1928)
Come down angels Undine Smith Moore (1904-1989)
*Adapted for accordion and voice by Felipe Hostins
CHRYSTAL E. WILLIAMS, mezzo soprano
Mezzo-soprano Chrystal E. Williams continues her robust career on both sides of the Atlantic in both opera and oratorio. During the 2019-20 season Ms Williams made a number of debuts including the Metropolitan Opera as Maketaten in Philip Glass' Akhnaten, The Stewardess in Jonathan Dove's Flight and a reprise of the role she created, Rebecca Parker in Charlie Parker's Yardbird with Seattle Opera. She returned to Birmingham Opera Company UK for a role debut as Katerina in Shostokovich's Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk. Ms. Williams has been heard in concerts with the Norrköping Symphony Orchestra in Sweden; debuted with Washington National Opera as Elizabeth Keckley/Coretta Scott King in Philip Glass’s Appomattox. The Chrystal E. Williams Scholarship was founded by the artist in 2004 to help students wishing to pursue a career in the Performing Arts. Ms. Williams is a graduate of the Academy of Vocal Arts in Philadelphia, PA where she earned her Artist Diploma in Opera Performance. She received her Master of Music in Opera Performance from Yale University School of Music in 2010, and her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Voice Performance from Carnegie Mellon University in 2008.
FELIPE HOSTINS, accordion
Accordionist Felipe Hostins began music studies at the age of three with his paternal grandfather, Valmor Hostins. He later joined the School of Music Amormega (Middle Garcia Neighborhood Association), in his hometown of Blumenau, Santa Catarina (SC) where he studied music theory of the accordion for 4 years. Hostins moved to the US in 2015 and thus began his international career. Hostins is a natural composer and currently finishing his first original album, Origins, with collaborations of artists around the globe. He co-created the musical style Forrópera with mezzo-soprano, Chrystal E. Williams. Forrópera is a musical space created as a way to foster unity, peace and understanding through music. Hostins is part of the Gadji Accordion Team and was featured at both the Festival Internacional de acordeões de Setúbal and the Festival Internacional de Acordeões de Algarve, both in 2018. He is a featured artist in the inaugural Brazilian Accordion Panorama Festival 2021.
