BOLTON LANDING – The Sembrich has announced the launch of its 20/20: Virtual Visionaries Summer Festival. Artistic Director Richard Wargo has reimagined the original 20/20: Musical Visionaries Summer Festival into a series of eight carefully curated digital presentations. The online festival will explore visionary musicians including Percy Grainger and Marcella Sembrich. Presentations will be released for complimentary viewing and streaming throughout the summer. 

Composer Percy Grainger (1882-1961)

The digital series launched Wednesday, June 17,  with Percy Grainger: Australian Visionary. The first program explores the life and work of the eccentric composer Percy Grainger. Accompanied by performance videos and enlightening photographs, Wargo’s presentation and interview with Mark N. Grant, Vice President of the International Percy Grainger Society delves into the innovative and unique life of the Australian composer. 

The second program, Marcella Sembrich: The Role of a Lifetime launches on June 29 and celebrates past Bolton Landing resident and Metropolitan Opera Star Marcella Sembrich and the role that launched her international career.

The title role in Donizetti’s Lucia di Lammermoor and her third-act mad scene have kept audiences enthralled for almost two centuries. Alexandra Nowakowski, soprano and first place winner of the 2017 Sembrich Competition at the Kosciuszko Foundation in New York City presents an exclusive video performance of this famed scene alongside an exploration of Sembrich’s history in the role.

Marcella Sembrich as Lucia (1883)

“Since the cancellation of our original live festival, our team has been working to adapt its musical programming. We are proud to make 20/20: Virtual Visionaries available online to all our patrons, both familiar and new to The Sembrich. Now everyone can experience the magic this summer,” says Executive Director Suzanna M. Bernd.

The eight-program series will launch new presentations throughout the summer. For more information about the 20/20: Virtual Visionaries Summer Festival please visit www.TheSembrich.org/online.