Michael Doucet's band, BeauSoleil, has brought superstar status to simple country Bayou rhythms. Grounded in Louisiana's Cajun tradition, BeauSoleil's passionate fiddles, guitars, accordions and banjos tug the heartstrings and stir the feet. Food and beverages will be available for a nominal fee. Highlighting the performance will be internationally acclaimed conductor and pianist, Lionel Friend. Additionally, Susan Youens, arguably the top scholar on 19th century German song, will participate in the symposium and give a pre-performance lecture.
Admission is free to all symposium events.
Friend, conductor and pianist, is from London, England. He has performed throughout Europe, England and the United States, specializing in the late 19th century German repertory. Friend has been the music director for the New Sussex Opera, staff conductor of the English National Opera and Kapellmeister of the Staatstheater in Kassel, Germany. Friend last appeared in Nebraska conducting Opera Omaha's 1998 production of Madame Butterfly. Youens is currently professor of musicology at the University of Notre Dame.