Kristin Chenoweth of the stratospheric soprano voice brings her Coming Home Tour to the Music Center at Strathmore Friday, where she will be joined by Grammy- and Tony-nominated composer/singer Andrew Lippa, her close friend and music director since 1999. This variety-packed evening heralds their return April 23 for the world premiere of Mr. Lippa’s hybrid choral work and theater piece, “I Am Anne Hutchison,” which will be performed in partnership with his oratorio, “I Am Harvey Milk.”
The latter was commissioned by the San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus and had its premiere in the City by the Bay in 2013, featuring Mr. Lippa as the protagonist. He then composed “I Am Anne Hutchison” specifically for Miss Chenoweth as the title character.
“Although Andrew and I have collaborated many times, I’m especially honored that he wrote this work for me,” Miss Chenoweth told The Washington Times. “It’s operatic in tone and dramatic, with hints of Bernstein. I’ve never said this about any composition before, but I believe that, musically, this is one of the genius works of the century.”
Miss Chenoweth will arrive in Washington for her Friday concert a day early to absorb the feel of the Strathmore and follow her usual ritual of shopping, visiting a museum or two and enjoying a good meal. Although the program will not be finalized until she and Mr. Lippa get together that afternoon, it will be representative of her extensive repertoire that encompasses Broadway, television, film and recordings, and is sure to include one or more of the many songs he has written for her — the most recent being “Evil Like Me,” sung by her character Maleficent in the Disney Channel’s “Descendants.”
“I’m not the kind of performer to park and bark,” Miss Chenoweth says of her live shows. “There is always a little bit of country, legit theatre, opera and gospel because they are all part of who I am: Kristin from Oklahoma.”
Laughing, she added, “Of course people expect to hear ’Popular,’ [from “Wicked”].
Miss Chenoweth says during the April 23 show she will share with the audience the story of the titular Anne Hutchison, a human rights activist and woman of God who challenged the Puritanical Massachusetts Bay Colony with her stances on women’s rights. Her weekly meetings for women, held in her home, became so controversial that the local ministers rejected her religious views and even accused her of heresy. She was banished from the colony to Rhode Island and was later killed by American Indians.
Harvey Milk, the hero of the other work Miss Chenoweth will perform, was a San Francisco activist who became the first openly gay person elected to public office. While serving on the San Francisco City Council, he was tragically assassinated by another councilman, Dan White.
At the April presentation, Mr. Lippa will resume the role of Milk. For additional impact, he will also sing the role of the governor. Both soloists will be backed by 16 male soloists, an all-male choir, and a full orchestra.
“Anne Hutchison and Harvey Milk share parallel tales,” Miss Chenoweth said of the heroes of the two works she will perform when she returns to the Strathmore April 23. “They brought voice to major prejudices of their time, and both of them died for what they believed.”
IF YOU GO
WHAT: Kristin Chenoweth in concert
WHERE: Music Center at Strathmore, 5301 Tuckerman Ln., North Bethesda, Maryland, 20852
WHEN: Friday, January 29, 2016
INFO: Tickets: $58 to $155 by calling 301/581-5100 or visiting Strathmore.org.
WHAT: “I Am Anne Hutchison/I Am Harvey Milk” starring Kristin Chenoweth and Andrew Lippa with the National Philharmonic and Alexandria Harmonizers
WHERE: Music Center at Strathmore, 5301 Tuckerman Ln., North Bethesda, Maryland, 20852
WHEN: Saturday, April 23, at 8 p.m. and Sunday, April 24, at 4 p.m.
INFO: Tickets: $49 to $99 by calling 301/581-5100 or visitingstrathmore.org.
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