Seasons of Hope

Acclaimed by opera and concertgoers worldwide, Lester Lynch is regarded not only as a true Verdi baritone, but also as one of today’s foremost interpreters of American spirituals and contemporary opera.

Soprano Lisa Delan has performed on some of the world’s leading concert stages, including Lincoln Center, Davies Symphony Hall, Madrid’s Auditorio Nacional, Moscow Conservatory, Tchaikovsky Hall, and in a special appearance at Windsor Castle. Her festival appearances include the Bad Kissingen Festival in Germany, the Colmar Festival in France, the Rachmaninoff Festival in Novgorod, Russia, Festival Napa Valley, the Tuscan Sun Festival in Taormina, Italy, and the Domaine Forget Festival in Quebec.

The enchanting cellist Kristina Reiko Cooper has won widespread acclaim for her musical versatility, her virtuosity, her charismatic stage presence and her passionate intensity. She has found great success in numerous forms of media, from her best-selling DVDs and CDs, to television performances and commercials, magazine covers, print fashion ads and even her own magazine column.

Ronit Widmann-Levy has received worldwide accolades for her operatic and concert performances. A versatile artist equally at home on both concert and opera stages. Ronit has sung in opera houses and festivals in San Francisco, Chicago, Washington, Tanglewood, Cincinnati, Kentucky, Berlin, Munich, London, Bangkok, and Jerusalem. At the Ravinia Festival in Chicago, the Bath and Dartington Festivals in England, the Jüdische Kulturtage in Berlin, and the America Haus Concert Series in Munich.

Stephanie Lynne Mason (Whisperer) is honored to once again be a part of “Vessels of Light.” She recently finished a critically acclaimed run as Hodl in Joel Grey’s celebrated production of Fiddler on the Roof in Yiddish. She was previously seen at George Street Playhouse in A Walk on the Moon. Broadway: Fiddler (2016 revival). Tour: Million Dollar Quartet. NYTF: Amerike the Golden Land, The Sorceress, and Fiddler in Yiddish. Special thanks to Lera, Kristina, Constantine, Motl, friends, family, and my Bashert, Drew. 

Matthew “Motl” Didner (Whisperer) is the Associate Artistic Director of the National Yiddish Theatre Folksbiene. Associate Director of Fiddler on the Roof in Yiddish (Winner of Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle and Lucille Lortel Awards) directed by Joel Grey, Co-director The Golden Bride (Drama Desk Award Nominated: Outstanding Revival of a Musical and Outstanding Direction of a Musical).

Opera Classic magazine called Constantine Orbelian the best vocal conductor of our time. Born in San Francisco, Orbelian has performed (on piano) and conducted orchestras all over the world, and was recently named Music Director of the New York City Opera.

Festival Orchestra Napa is an all-star ensemble that brings together principal players from major international orchestras and faculty from renowned colleges and conservatories, together with participants from the Frost School of Festival Napa Valley's Blackburn Music Academy. Centered around a core of Frost School of Music faculty, the orchestra also includes hand-picked musicians from ensembles such as the San Francisco Symphony, MET Opera Orchestra, Dallas Symphony, Houston Symphony, and Atlanta Symphony, among others.

Festival Napa Valley Volti Chorale is a 36-member chorus made up primarily of singers from Volti, one of the leading professional vocal ensembles in the United States. Under the direction of Robert Geary since its founding in 1979, Volti has a primary purpose of performing contemporary American music, and has commissioned and premiered over 100 new works.

American composer Gordon Getty has contributed more than forty works to the canon, and his music continues to be performed by leading artists and ensembles in some of the world’s most prestigious venues. San Francisco Symphony will premiere several of his new choral works at Davies Symphony Hall in June 2023. His Old Man Trilogy, three choral settings of his original poetry, will be premiered in July 2024 at Festival Napa Valley.

A renaissance artist for modern times, Lera Auerbach is a widely recognized conductor, pianist, and composer. She is also an award-winning poet and an exhibited visual artist. All of her work is interconnected as part of a cohesive and comprehensive artistic worldview. Lera Auerbach has become one of today’s most sought-after and exciting creative voices. Her performances and music are featured in the world’s leading stages – from Vienna’s Musikverein and London’s Royal Albert Hall to New York’s Carnegie Hall and Washington D.C.’s Kennedy Center.