$10 Admission
The Arizona Symphony Orchestra, the UA Symphonic Choir will join forces in a performance of Johannes Brahms’ largest work, “Ein Deutsches Requiem”, Op. 45. Brahms offers solace and comfort for the living in his powerful and moving Requiem, a work that is more human and universal than any that preceded it.
The soprano soloist will be Asleif Wilmer. Octavio Moreno will be the baritone soloist. Dr. Thomas Cockrell, Music
Director, Orchestral Activities, Endowed Chair, Nelson Riddle-Music will conduct.
The Fred Fox School of Music presents this performance in honor and memory of Dr. Paula Fan, beloved teacher, colleague and friend.
About the Soloists
Hailed as “a most incredible voice” (Arizona Daily Star) with “glowing color and exceptional artistry” (Schmopera), soprano Asleif Willmer delights audiences with her captivating stage presence, nuanced artistry, and polished lyric-coloratura soprano voice. Asleif has sung leading roles in several opera houses including Florida Grand Opera, Opera Saratoga, International Vocal Arts Institute, Brevard Music Festival, and City Lyric Opera. Highlights include Pamina in Die Zauberflöte, Adina in L’elisir d’amore, Baby Doe in The Ballad of Baby Doe, Adele in Die Fledermaus, and Tytania in A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Equally at home in the concert hall, Asleif is an artist with the GRAMMY-nominated True Concord Voices and Orchestra and has been a featured soloist internationally and nationally. She has also received top awards from many organizations, including the Metropolitan Opera Council Auditions, Classical Singer Competition, and MTNA Competition. Asleif received her Doctor of Musical Arts from Arizona State University and is currently pursuing an MBA and a MS in Marketing from the University of Arizona while upholding a full singing schedule.
Mexican-American baritone Octavio Moreno received his Doctorate degree in Music by the University of Arizona. Dr. Moreno participated in the young artist program at the Academy of Vocal Arts in Philadelphia, followed by the Houston Grand Opera Studio. Mr. Moreno won first place in the Linus Lerner international opera competition in 2018, third place in the 2008 Eleanor McCollum Competition for Young Singers and represented Mexico in the 2009 BBC Cardiff Singer of the World Competition and the 2010 Paris International competition, as well as third place in the Carlo Morelli Competition in Mexico City. Mr. Moreno Made first place in both 2001 Mariana de Gonitch competition in Cuba and 2004 Premio Ciudad Trujillo in Peru.
Dr. Moreno participated with the Chicago Lyric Opera, New York City Opera, Houston Grand Opera, San Diego Opera, Arizona Opera, Bellas Artes Opera in Mexico City, and the Theatre du Chatelet in Paris, France among others. Mr. Moreno has premiered the role of Moncada in Zorro, Xihuitl in the second Mariachi Opera El Pasado Nunca Se Termina, and the Role of Laurentino in the first mariachi opera Cruzar la Cara de la Luna. Ha has also sung Marcello in La Boheme, Tonio in Pagliacci, Zurga in Les Pêcheurs de Perles, Don Alfonso in Mozart’s Cosi fan Tutte, Vronsky in Anna Karenina, John Proctor in The Crucible, Germont in La Traviata followed by Malatesta in Don Pasquale, Enrico in Lucia di Lammermoor and the title role in Verdi’s Rigoletto, Sourin in Tchaikovsky’s The Queen of Spades, and Belcore in Donizetti’s The Elixir of Love, to name just a few. Dr. Moreno made his Symphonic debut performing with the San Antonio Symphony in the ‘Estancia’ Ballet, singing the Baritone Solo. Future engagements include Opera gala with Opera in the heights and Laurentino with Minessota Opera for the 2023-24 season.
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Event Program