The Hamilton College and Community Masterworks Chorale with the Hamilton College Choir and members of Symphoria will perform a concert version of Camille Saint-Saëns Samson et Dalila (Samson and Delilah) on Tuesday, April 30, at 7:30 p.m., in Wellin Hall, Schambach Center for Music and the Performing Arts.
The performance is conducted by G.Roberts Kolb and the principal soloists are Cynthia Hanna, Dalila; Jon Fredric West, Samson; and Mario Martínez , The High Priest of Dagon.
The opera is based on the Biblical tale of Samson and Delilah in the Book of Judges of the Old Testament.
Mezzo-soprano Cynthia Hanna holds a master of music from the University of South Carolina where she also sang Isabella in L’italiana in Algeri and Charlotte in A Little Night Music and won the University of South Carolina Concerto and Aria Competition. She was the 2010 winner of the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions in the North Carolina district as well as the third place winner of the Southeastern region.
Heldentenor Jon Fredric West, a native of Dayton, Ohio, was awarded a full scholarship from Bowling Green State University where he obtained a bachelor of music in performance. He also received grants from The National Opera Institute, The Sullivan Foundation, and an award from The Liederkranz Foundation. West received full scholarships from Manhattan School of Music for his master’s degree as well as for post-graduate studies at the The Juilliard School. He has also been awarded an honorary doctorate from Bowling Green for his achievements and contributions to the operatic landscape worldwide. West is a lecturer in voice at Hamilton.
Baritone Mario Martínez made his U.S. professional operatic debut in the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra production of Beethoven’s Fidelio, performing the role of Don Pizarro. During his professional career, Martínez has appeared with the Mercury Opera of Rochester, Empire State Lyric Theatre, Buffalo Opera, National Symphony and Philharmonic Orchestras of Santo Domingo, and the Eastman Philharmonia.
Tickets for this performance are $8 for adults and $6 for senior citizens and students. It is free for Hamilton College students. For more information or directions to Wellin Hall, call the box office at 859-4331.
