Phoenicia International Festival of the Voice

The Watershed Post partnered with the Phoenicia International Festival of the Voice to produce this guide to the summer opera festival in 2012. We posted special ticket offers, inside info from organizers, and breaking news about the festival right here. This section is now archived.

Tonight: Opera stars lead caroling at Woodstock's Open House

By Lissa Harris
12/7/12 - 5:25 pm

Above: Toy soldiers stand guard during the town-wide holiday Woodstock Open House in 2010. Photo by Julia Reischel.

Short notice, we know -- but if you're a fan of Christmas caroling, we suggest you head to Woodstock, where the team of internationally-renowned opera singers behind the Phoenicia Festival of the Voice will be leading hundreds of voices in caroling during Woodstock's annual Open House. Carolers are gathering at 5pm today at Sunflower Natural Foods, and will be singing ti 7pm.

(No need to be a renowned opera singer yourself: The VoiceFest's Maria Todaro writes that all are welcome, and suggests that you wear warm clothes and bring a candle to hold.)

If you can't make the Woodstock event, you'll get another chance. The VoiceFest singers will be leading community carols in Phoenicia on December 22, when downtown Phoenicia celebrates its "Night Before Christmas" event with a show at STS Playhouse, a sing-along Messiah, and a visit from Santa at the Mama's Boy coffee shop.

Divas prep for their big night

By Julia Reischel
8/2/12 - 2:17 pm

Above, Michelle Jennings and Maria Todaro took the stage during the final dress rehearsal for "Divas Unleashed: The Benefit," which kicks off the Phoenicia International Festival of the Voice tonight. Photos by Kerry Henderson. 

Opera stars take the stage in Phoenicia tomorrow, but ORDA's Ted Blazer may steal the spotlight

By Lissa Harris
8/1/12 - 12:44 pm

Tomorrow, the Phoenicia Festival of the Voice opens with "The Benefit," an operatic comedy starring Maria Todaro and Michelle Jennings.

But even before the show begins, all eyes will be on another VIP: Ted Blazer, president of the Olympic Regional Development Authority, which is in the process of taking over the state-run Belleayre Ski Center. Blazer is slated to deliver a few opening remarks before the show.

Blazer's visit is much-anticipated in the region. Since state lawmakers announced early this year that Belleayre would be transferred to ORDA from the Department of Environmental Conservation, rumors have been swirling, and many locals who depend on Belleayre for a paycheck or the health of their business have been anxious for details about the ORDA handoff.  Read more

Opera fans mob the Walkway over the Hudson

By Julia Reischel
7/31/12 - 12:45 pm

A flash mob of opera fans staged an impromptu performance on the Walkway Over the Hudson on Saturday morning to promote this weekend's Phoenicia International Festival of the Voice.  Read more

The Phoenicia International Festival of the Voice begins Thursday -- see our special section for discounts and details

By Julia Reischel
7/30/12 - 1:43 pm
See video

Top: Maria Todaro, left, and Michelle Jennings. Above: The "Divas Unleashed" in action. This is just one of over 20 events happening this weekend as part of the Festival of the Voice.

This Thursday, the Phoenicia International Festival of the Voice kicks off a weekend of opera, showtunes, divas and vocal virtuosity of all kinds. Bigwigs galore will be in attendance, including Ted Blazer, the President of the Olympic Regional Development Authority (which is in the process of taking over Belleayre Mountain Ski Center), and Lisa Robb Executive Director of the NY State Council on the Arts.

To celebrate, we've put together a special VoiceFest section with articles and announcements about the many shows.

The first festival show is "Divas Unleashed," an operatic comedy starring VoiceFest co-founder Maria Todaro and soprano Michelle Jennings.  Read more

ORDA and NYSCA to open Festival of the Voice

By Julia Reischel
7/30/12 - 1:24 pm

The following is a press release from the Phoenicia International Festival of the Voice. -- Julia Reischel

On Thursday, August 2nd at 7:30PM, the “Phoenicia International Festival of the Voice” begins its annual four day celebration with the operatic spoof “The Benefit”. The opening and welcoming remarks will be delivered by Ted Blazer, President of the Olympic Regional Development Authority and Lisa Robb Executive Director of the NY State Council on the Arts.

Performance occurs on main stage in the Phoenicia “Parish Field." Tickets available online: www.phoeniciavoicefest.com and by calling 845-586-3588
Cost $25.00 Rain or Shine. Bring lawn chairs and a picnic supper.

“The Benefit” is an operatic comedy starring festival co-founder, mezzo soprano Maria Todaro and soprano Michelle Jennings. What happens when an operatic benefit recital is accidentally double-booked? Find out in “The Benefit.” Is performed by the deliciously talented operatic comedy duo, “Divas Unleashed”. The Divas passion for theater, opera, musical antics, stage combat, and physical comedy are all packaged neatly in this self- contained, 80-minute comedy.

Music Director: Bryan Wade

Join the Divas after the show for a sumptuous Full Moon Japanese Dinner to be served in the VIP Marquee in the Parish Field.

  Read more

VOCAL ARTS PROGRAM FOR YOUNG PEOPLE AGES 7-12!

By Kerry Henderson
7/3/12 - 11:43 am

Date July 25 - July 27
Time 10:00 am - 3:00 pm

SOLD ON SONG!

A FUN, INTERACTIVE VOCAL ARTS EXPERIENCE FOR AGES 7-12

“Music is our beauty and our soul. Dance is an opportunity. Stories are our guides and imagination. Arts are everything in your heart” – Rosa, Age 8

Program Director: Bex Roper-Caldbeck

Faculty includes Festival Co-Founders mezzo soprano Maria Todaro and baritones Kerry Henderson and Louis Otey, international pianist and music educator Justin Kolb, Robert Warren aka Uncle Rock and visual artists Lucinda Knaus and Carla Schapiro.

Cost: $60 per child. Sibling Discounts available. Each participant will also receive 3 free tickets valid for all Festival Events.

How do we get into our voices? How do we reveal the unique value of our voice to the world?  Read more

VoiceFest banners unveiled

By Julia Reischel
7/2/12 - 1:20 pm

Kerry Henderson, one of the organizers of the Phoenicia International Festival of the Voice, emailed us yesterday to let us know that Main Street Phoenicia is now lined with banners designed by Harvey Konigsberg and a bunch of local schoolkids. He sent us these photos to prove it. It's now just a month until the festival goes live.

Below: Kerry Henderson and Bob Ceonzo pose with a freshly hung VoiceFest banner.

"Unwaveringly powerful:" Camille Zamora brings her one-woman breakup opera to VoiceFest

By Anne Pyburn Craig
6/20/12 - 8:13 am
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Today we're launching a guide to the Phoenicia International Festival of the Voice, with coverage of the many vocal acts headed to the Catskills this August. This article is the first in a series. -- Julia Reische

Above and bottom: Camille Zamora performing "La Voix Humaine."  

Who knew that when one of America's coolest small towns found its voice, it would sing like this? The Phoenicia Festival of the Voice has been one of those inspired creations that filled a void -- and an entire park full of folks who are willing to listen to opera in a downpour.

“Opera's not meant to be in some ivory tower,” says Camille Zamora, who will be performing "La Voix Humaine" on August 3. “This stuff was written by crazy rabble rousers. It's meant to be enjoyed sitting in a field with a glass of wine.”  Read more

VoiceFest's banners come together

By Julia Reischel
6/9/12 - 9:39 am

Artist and Aikido sensei Harvey Konigsberg is in charge of designing the banners for this year's Phoenicia Festival of the Voice, which will bring opera stars and music lovers from around the world to Phoenicia in August.

Konigsberg is working with local schoolchildren on the banner designs, which will include lots of butterflies. Kerry Henderson, one of the organizers of the festival, sent us these photos of the artists hard at work.