FREE Courtroom Concert featuring OboeBass, Nicholas Nelson, and James Barnett

I. Nicholas Nelson, bass; James Barnett, piano

Prelude; Koiviston Polska — Julie Johnson
Hard Times Come Again No More — Stephen Foster, arr. Eric Hanson
Plucked Halling — Adrian Mann
Cantate Con Me — Adrian Mann

Nicholas Nelson, Bass, attended the University of Minnesota as a student of Glenda Maurice. During his studies he performed the roles of Colline in La Boheme, Figaro in The Marriage of Figaro, and Seneca in L’incoronazione di Poppea. At this time, he built a valuable relationship with The Schubert Club, winning First Prize in their scholarship competition in 2007 and 2008, as well as performing in recitals and master classes. From 2010 to 2013, he was a Resident Artist at Portland Opera. Among the many roles performed in Portland were Inigo Gomez in Ravel’s L’heure Espagnole, Angelotti in Tosca, Pistola in Falstaff, The Mandarin in Turandot, Masetto in Don Giovanni and Cardinal Barberini/Pope Urban VIII in Galileo Galilei by Philip Glass. The latter production was the basis for the world premiere recording of Glass’s opera, available on Orange Mountain Music. After returning to Minnesota, Nicholas has maintained a varied artistic schedule spanning several genres and artforms. He has continued to appear in opera, singing Larkens in La Fanciulla del West with Minnesota Opera in 2014 and Colline with Lakes Area Music Festival in 2015. He has also been active in spoken theater, often working with Nimbus Theatre, among others. Additionally, he is active as a guitarist, thereminist, and composer. He currently lives in Roseville with his wife Ashley and their cat, Jules.

OboeBass: Called “pioneers” by Minnesota Public Radio for “forging ahead with a new chamber music combination”, the engaging and entertaining duo of Carrie Vecchione and Rolf Erdahl charts new territory for their combination of instruments in music that is accessible, challenging, enlightening, and virtuosic. This award-winning chamber group of a different color will share with you their own repertoire of evocative music influenced by ethnic folk songs, dances and All-American jazz. You can hear music that grabs your ear as the ink dries, and sends you out the door humming a new tune.

OboeBass! is on a creative journey inventing an enchanting body of work for this previously unexplored pair of instruments. They invite you to join them as they describe their voyage and perform their trail-blazing works. Experience for yourself music that is delighting and thrilling audiences around the country. Their debut CD, “It Takes Two . . .” is produced and distributed by Centaur Records. They have released two recordings on Musicalligraphics label featuring compositions of Margi Griebling-Haigh – The Story of Babar the Little Elephant with special guests, Steve Staruch, narrator, and William Eddins, piano; and the book/CD combination, Askelad and the Seven Silver Ducks, performed and narrated by Rolf and Carrie. Their most recent recording release is Monk Fish Tango, Music for English horn and double bass by Timothy Goplerud.

[/two_thirds]