Thu Apr 17
This vibrant musical show blends the romantic charm of French chanson and the infectious rhythms of American songs.
Come enjoy Jessica Crandall, Emma Lavandier, and Ellen Mandel with violinist Melanie Haskins in a fun and spirited cross-cultural celebration. Hear Mandel's "ardent, spiky, and freshly organic" songs (NY Times), beloved French and American standards— dreamy ballads, luscious duets, cheerful and jazzy love songs… Don’t miss it!
Ellen Mandel, composer, has written many songs to poems by E.E. Cummings, Seamus Heaney, WB Yeats, Thomas Hardy, Charlotte Mew, and others, plus French poets Baudelaire, Apollinaire, Verlaine. Her most recent song cycle is fourteen songs inspired by Edward Hopper paintings. Mandel’s art songs have been performed in many concerts at New York City, all over the USA, and in Ireland, Scotland, England, Italy, and Germany. Ms. Mandel has also written music for over ninety plays and is Resident Composer of the Phoenix Theatre Ensemble. Dizzy Gillespie called Ellen a “wonderful musician.” New York Times raves: “Mandel’s songs are ardent and spiky...refreshingly organic.” More info: https://ellenmandel.com/
Jessica Crandall is a singer and actress based in NYC. Her singing has been called “exquisite” (Inside Press), her acting radiant (theaterscene). Jessica was nominated for an Innovative Theatre Award for Outstanding Featured Actress for her performance as Cassandra in Agamemnon at La MaMa. Her CD with Ellen, “I So Liked Spring: Jessica Crandall Sings Music by Ellen Mandel,” can be found on Apple Music, Spotify, and YouTube. Jessica recently starred as Alma in the Tennessee Williams play Summer and Smoke, and sang the lead in the premiere of “Grusha,” a musical retelling of Brecht’s play The Caucasian Chalk Circle, with the Staten Island Philharmonic.
Hailed for her “excellent voice and spot-on performance” (Huffington Post), her “bright sound and affecting delivery,” and "captivating performance" (Voce di Meche), French singer Emma Lavandier has performed at Carnegie Hall (Weill recital hall), Symphony Space, the Sheen Center and the Cell Theatre in NYC. Highlights include the Witch (Hansel and Gretel), Rosina (Barber of Seville), Zerlina (Don Giovanni), Orlovsky (Die Fledermaus), Nicklausse (Les contes d’Hoffmann), and Orfeo (Orfeo ed Euridice). She currently sings in various vocal ensembles in Paris, and recently sang the alto solo of the Stabat Mater by Pergolesi in Paris.
Melanie Haskins is a violinist and music educator who loves to share and collaborate. In New York, she regularly performs with So&So and Concerts in Motion, and the Brooklyn Symphony Orchestra. She has performed throughout the United States, Thailand, Austria, and Germany. Melanie is passionate about music education and currently teaches at both Third Street Music School and P.S. 89 The Liberty School.
Approx Running Time: 75 Minutes
Genre: Live Music, International Vibe, Cross-Cultural
Please Note: the venue has a 2-beverage minimum per person.