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Opera singer Frederica von Stade plans benefit concert in Fairfield
FAIRFIELD — A world-renowned opera singer is planning a trip to Fairfield in September for a benefit concert on behalf of Maharishi School.
Frederica von Stade is a mezzo-soprano opera and concert singer who has performed in some of the most prestigious concert halls around the world in places such as the Carnegie Hall, the Paris Opera, the Vienna State Opera and many more. Her career as a recording artist has earned her nine Grammy nominations for Best Classical Vocalist.
Von Stade is planning a concert to benefit Maharishi School at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 16 at the Fairfield Arts & Convention Center. She will be joined by accompanying pianist James Meredith. Von Stade said that Meredith is the inspiration behind holding the concert in Fairfield, because Meredith is involved in Maharishi International University and its program of Transcendental Meditation. In fact, von Stade began practicing TM upon Meredith’s suggestion, and she credits it with “saving my life in many ways.”
“I’ve seen how much it helps so many people, and in many regards it has done the same for me,” she said.
Von Stade said that she feels indebted to Meredith and the entire Fairfield community, and was looking for a way to thank them. Her concert in Fairfield on Sept. 16 is part of a tour through the area, since she is also planning to give a Master Class at the University of Iowa before this concert.
The concert will be a “musical autobiography” of von Stade, with songs that are specific to her life, such as songs about her two daughters, about learning to sing, and about her first contests.
Von Stade said her love of singing began when she was a teenager singing Latin hymns at her Catholic Church in New Jersey. She loved Broadway musicals, and took the train into New York City to see hundreds of them. After high school, she attended Mannes School of Music in New York, where she further developed her singing prowess. In 1970, at age 24, she made her debut at The Metropolitan Opera in New York City, one of the most prestigious operas in the country.
Von Stade ceased performing full-time in 2010 to devote more time other pursuits, notably her work in charity. She sought to foster musical education and to end homelessness, which involved working with Oakland’s Sophia Project and St. Martin de Porres School. She and Meredith work with the Young Musicians Choral Orchestra, which targets young people from low-income families and gives them a “full musical experience.”
“We start with kids when they’re 9 or 10, and we train them until they’re 18,” von Stade said. “We do everything we can to help them with college. It’s an extraordinary program, and we’ve had so much success.”
Call Andy Hallman at 641-575-0135 or email him at andy.hallman@southeastiowaunion.com
