Laura Lewis, Soprano

“I have not done the Vespers before. In listening to it, though, I’m surprised by how similar it is to some of the music of today, given what an early piece it is. Some of the movements are very dance-like. Many composers, such as Monteverdi, used rhythm and melodies from secular music in their sacred music. I’m looking forward to working with Robert Shafer again. His musicianship is amazing, and I really enjoy the interaction. I’m excited about the whole thing.”

Laura Lewis has been a soloist with many major choruses in the Washington area, including the Washington Bach Consort, the Choral Arts Society, and the Washington Chorus. She appeared in the Washington Chorus’ Christmas album, “Glorious Splendor” released by Gothic Records in October 2003. Ms. Lewis also completed a tour with the Choral Arts Society in Buenos Aires, Argentina, where she soloed in Carmina Burana at the famed Teatro Colón, and in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, where she sang the Fauré Requiem. In addition to her concert performances, Ms. Lewis has performed many opera roles. With the Washington Opera, she performed the roles of Xenia in Boris Goudonov and Iris in Semele. She sang the leading role of Pamina in Mozart’s Magic Flute with Victor Borge conducting. Ms. Lewis also performed leading roles with the Annapolis Opera, the Northern Virginia Opera, and Opera Americana.

Danielle Talamantes, Soprano

“I’ve been told I have a good voice for early music, but other than Messiah, I haven’t had a lot of opportunities to perform it. So, I’m happy to have a chance to learn this new piece of music, which, from my research, looks like a monster to put together. Also, Strathmore has such great acoustics. As a singer on stage, you know exactly how your voice is being represented. And, of course, I’m very happy to be performing with Robert Shafer. I sang in one of his choirs in a performance at Wolf Trap more than a decade ago. I’m thrilled he has invited me back as a soloist for this marvelous work.”

Danielle Talamantes is quickly becoming one of the most sought-after soloists in the Washington region. The Washington Post has described Ms. Talamantes’ voice as “marvelously vibrant and nuanced.” Her opera history includes performances with Spoleto Festival USA, Wolf Trap Opera, Opera Roanoke, Annapolis Opera, Opera Bel Cantanti, and The Washington Savoyards. Ms. Talamantes’ concert performance credits include the National Philharmonic Orchestra and Chorale, Choralis, the Oratorio Society of Charlottesville, and others. Ms. Talamantes recently advanced to the semi-finals in the prestigious Domingo Operalia competition in Paris, France, and was a finalist in the Seoul International Music Competition. She also took 2nd place at the prestigious 2008 Liederkranz Competition. She recently appeared in a sold-out recital in Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall. Ms. Talamantes holds degrees from Virginia Tech and Westminster Choir College.

Robert Baker, Tenor

“The Monteverdi Vespers has always been on my list of masterworks I hoped to perform. Even though I have sung it before, it’s one of those pieces that allows you to discover new possibilities—to make new choices— every time you do it. The piece represents a great compendium of Monteverdi’s work, a distillation of what he was doing for many years, rather than a work representing ‘Monteverdi in this moment of time.’ And I like that about it. And what a pleasure it is to make these new discoveries, to find our way through this particular interpretation, with so many friends and fine musicians from the music world here in Washington.”

American tenor Robert Baker has sung in more than 200 performances with the Washington National Opera, including recent appearances as the High Priest in Idomeneo, Remandado in Carmen, the 1st Jew in Salome, Don Basilio in Le Nozze di Figaro, the Magician in The Consul, and the Emperor in Turandot. He recently made debuts at the Metropolitan Opera as well as the Spoleto Festival in War and Peace (the latter was recorded by Chandos). Mr. Baker also appears on a Koch recording of songs by Charles Martin Loeffler. He has sung many roles with Washington Concert Opera and is also a soloist on the National Symphony Orchestra’s GRAMMY® Award-winning recording of John Corigliano’s Of Rage and Remembrance.

Michael Forest, Tenor

“It is always a great pleasure for me to perform with the GRAMMY® Award-winning conductor, Robert Shafer. Shafer has been my music mentor for well over 20 years. It is a great honor for me to join so many of Washington’s finest musicians at Strathmore Hall for this performance of Monteverdi’s masterpiece. With the combined choirs, soloists, and orchestra, it promises to be a glorious evening of music making for all concerned.”

In 17 seasons with the Metropolitan Opera, Michael Forest has sung over 250 performances of 19 different roles. His recording credits include Gershwin’s Porgy and Bess, Mozart’s Le Nozze di Figaro, the GRAMMY® Award-winning recording of John Corigliano’s Of Rage and Remembrance and Rossini’s Semiramide and Puccini’s La Fanciulla del West, both with the Metropolitan Opera. Mr. Forest has appeared with the Wolf Trap Opera Company, Washington’s Concert Opera, Santa Fe Opera, Washington National Opera, and others. He was a member of the Metropolitan Opera’s Young Artists Development Program as well as an Apprentice Artist with both the Wolf Trap Opera Company and the Santa Fe Opera Company. His symphonic engagements include performances with the National Symphony Orchestra, Pittsburgh Symphony, New York Philharmonic, St. Louis Symphony Orchestra, BBC Orchestra, and L’Orchestre du Montreal.

Robert Petillo, Tenor

“I’m particularly looking forward to this performance of the Vespers because we’re using the Denis Stevens edition (Novello, 1994) and singing it at modern pitch. In many performances, some of the movements are transposed down. I love the rhythmic complexities and improvisational feel to Monteverdi’s vocal parts. They demand full attention from the performer and the listener They’re sometimes like a kind of 17th century jazz—heavily syncopated, offset by a measure or a half measure, spun out over a walking bass line. Maestro Shafer’s arrangement of the performers around the Strathmore auditorium promises to create some great sonic spatial effects. Like all masterpieces, the Vespers offers more discoveries and inspiration with each new visit. And, being Italian there’s something in the core of my being that responds in a special way to Monteverdi.”

Sgt. Major Robert Petillo has performed with the Army Chorus and Army Band for more than 22 years. Audiences have included all living and former presidents since Jimmy Carter, military leaders, and visiting dignitaries. Mr. Petillo has also sung as a soloist with many of the Washington area’s choral groups, including the Washington Bach Consort, Cathedral Choral Society, and others. Referred to as “one of our most eloquent Handelian tenors” by New Yorker critic Andrew Porter, Mr. Petillo has twice been a soloist with Venice’s Accademia di San Rocco Orchestra and been a soloist on two tours of Germany with the Washington Bach Consort. He is also featured on the Washington Bach Consort’s recording of Bach’s German Masses. Mr. Petillo is a graduate of Rutgers University and holds masters and doctorate degrees from the University of Maryland.

James Shaffran, Baritone

“I’m delighted just to be able to perform with Maestro Shafer again. And singing a masterwork as thrilling as the Monteverdi Vespers, one in which Shafer has excelled in the past, makes it extra special

James Shaffran frequently collaborates with the National Symphony Orchestra and many distinguished Washington-area opera companies, choral groups, and symphonies. His recent performances with the NSO include Copland’s Old American Songs, the Duruflé Requiem, the Fauré Requiem, and Vaughan Williams’ Serenade to Music. He was featured as baritone soloist on the NSO’s GRAMMY® Award-winning recording of John Corigliano’s Of Rage and Remembrance. His solo performances have been distributed worldwide on the RCA Red Seal, Naxos, Albany, Gothic and Bridge record labels. Well known for his operatic versatility, Mr. Shaffran has shared the stage with Placido Domingo, Jose Carreras, Kiri Te Kanawa, Sherrill Milnes, Samuel Ramey, and Denyce Graves. A veteran of nearly 250 performances, he has sung over 40 principal and supporting roles with the Washington National Opera.

Gary Poster, Bass

“I’ve sung some Schütz, and, of course, plenty of Bach, but this is my first performance of the Vespers and my first performance with Robert Shafer. In fact, it is the first time I’ve heard the Vespers performed live. Every time I listen to the opening of the piece on a recording, I’m amazed at how thrilling it is. And, Strathmore is a perfect venue for this masterpiece. The choruses can be placed on stage and in the hall to maximize the antiphonal effect. The audience will know from the first downbeat that they’re in for a really awesome performance.”

Originally from Greenville, South Carolina, Gary Poster has sung opera, oratorio, and chamber works across the country, from Anchorage Opera in Alaska to the Bronx Opera in New York City. He participated in Young Artist programs at the Glimmerglass Opera, the National Opera Company, Chautauqua Opera, and the Brevard Music Center. His operatic roles include Bartolo in The Barber of Seville, Figaro and Bartolo in The Marriage of Figaro, Betto and Simone in Gianni Schicchi, Il Commendatore in Don Giovanni, and many others. The Washington Post recently praised his “lustrous voice, flawless diction and sensitive phrasing” in a performance of a work by Maurice Saylor. Mr. Poster is a graduate of Furman University and the Eastman School of Music.