Tristan and Isolde - Richard Wagner (Isolde Project), Krzysztof Penderecki European Music Centre, Poland, August 31, 2019. The Claude Heater Foundation recently reunited the singers in the title roles – Roy Cornelius Smith (Tristan), Juyeon Song (Isolde,) Tamara Gallo (Brangäne), Brian Davis ( Kurwenal ), John Paul Huckle ( King Mark ), Alexander Kaimbacher ( Melot, Shephard, young Sailor ) and video artist Naomie Kremer with Janáček Philharmonic Orchestra – as they presented Tristan und Isolde concert performance to an even greater success, at the Krzysztof Penderecki European Centre for Music in Poland on August 31, 2019. The production triumphed under the baton of internationally recognized European Maestro Robert Reimer who has conducted with Bayerische Staatsoper, Deutsche Oper Berlin, Royal Danish Opera, Wiener Staatsoper, and others. Under his leadership, the Janáček Philharmonic Orchestra played Wagner’s music for the first time magnificently, receiving an overwhelming, standing ovation from the audience. This receding was recorded and will be released by PARMA Recordings, distributed through Naxos, which is also being submitted as consideration for the 2021 GRAMMY Awards. "Maestro Robert Reimer’s controlled way of conducting with passion, integrity to the music and Noble elegance led to the excellence in the finished performance. Roy Cornelius Smith (Tristan) is a remarkable Heldentenor who doesn't have to screech or shriek to dominate a large orchestra. He sang in good balance with his Isolde (Juyeon Song) who is rapidly becoming "the" Isolde of today. The end was greeted with a total spellbound silence before the whole audience spontaneously rose to its feet and burst into rapturous applause with many faces still tear-stained from Isolde’s Liebestod. A remarkable achievement. I have seen 18 performances of Tristan and Isolde – this is the one I will never forget.” – Oliver Macdonald, opera correspondent, Vienna Opera Blog, Austria.

Tristan and Isolde - Richard Wagner (Isolde Project), Krzysztof Penderecki European Music Centre, Poland, August 31, 2019. The Claude Heater Foundation recently reunited the singers in the title roles – Roy Cornelius Smith (Tristan), Juyeon Song (Isolde,) Tamara Gallo (Brangäne), Brian Davis ( Kurwenal ), John Paul Huckle ( King Mark ), Alexander Kaimbacher ( Melot, Shephard, young Sailor ) and video artist Naomie Kremer with Janáček Philharmonic Orchestra – as they presented Tristan und Isolde concert performance to an even greater success, at the Krzysztof Penderecki European Centre for Music in Poland on August 31, 2019. The production triumphed under the baton of internationally recognized European Maestro Robert Reimer who has conducted with Bayerische Staatsoper, Deutsche Oper Berlin, Royal Danish Opera, Wiener Staatsoper, and others. Under his leadership, the Janáček Philharmonic Orchestra played Wagner’s music for the first time magnificently, receiving an overwhelming, standing ovation from the audience. This receding was recorded and will be released by PARMA Recordings, distributed through Naxos, which is also being submitted as consideration for the 2021 GRAMMY Awards. "Maestro Robert Reimer’s controlled way of conducting with passion, integrity to the music and Noble elegance led to the excellence in the finished performance. Roy Cornelius Smith (Tristan) is a remarkable Heldentenor who doesn't have to screech or shriek to dominate a large orchestra. He sang in good balance with his Isolde (Juyeon Song) who is rapidly becoming "the" Isolde of today. The end was greeted with a total spellbound silence before the whole audience spontaneously rose to its feet and burst into rapturous applause with many faces still tear-stained from Isolde’s Liebestod. A remarkable achievement. I have seen 18 performances of Tristan and Isolde – this is the one I will never forget.” – Oliver Macdonald, opera correspondent, Vienna Opera Blog, Austria.

Tristan and Isolde - Richard Wagner (Isolde Project), Krzysztof Penderecki European Music Center, Poland, August 31, 2019. The Claude Heater Foundation recently reunited the singers in the title roles – Roy Cornelius Smith (Tristan), Juyeon Song (Isolde,) Tamara Gallo (Brangäne), Brian Davis ( Kurwenal ), John Paul Huckle ( King Mark ), Alexander Kaimbacher ( Melot, Shephard, young Sailor ) and video artist Naomie Kremer with Janáček Philharmonic Orchestra – as they presented Tristan und Isolde concert performance to an even greater success, at the Krzysztof Penderecki European Centre for Music in Poland on August 31, 2019. The production triumphed under the baton of internationally recognized European Maestro Robert Reimer who has conducted with Bayerische Staatsoper, Deutsche Oper Berlin, Royal Danish Opera, Wiener Staatsoper, and others. Under his leadership, the Janáček Philharmonic Orchestra played Wagner’s music for the first time magnificently, receiving an overwhelming, standing ovation from the audience. This receding was recorded and will be released by PARMA Recordings in November 2020, distributed through Naxos, which is also being submitted as consideration for the 2021 GRAMMY Awards. "Maestro Robert Reimer’s controlled way of conducting with passion, integrity to the music and Noble elegance led to the excellence in the finished performance. Roy Cornelius Smith (Tristan) is a remarkable Heldentenor who doesn't have to screech or shriek to dominate a large orchestra. He sang in good balance with his Isolde (Juyeon Song) who is rapidly becoming "the" Isolde of today. The end was greeted with a total spellbound silence before the whole audience spontaneously rose to its feet and burst into rapturous applause with many faces still tear-stained from Isolde’s Liebestod. A remarkable achievement. I have seen 18 performances of Tristan and Isolde – this is the one I will never forget.” – Oliver Macdonald, opera correspondent, Vienna Opera Blog, Austria.

Tristan and Isolde - Richard Wagner (Isolde Project), Krzysztof Penderecki European Music Centre, Poland, August 31, 2019. The Claude Heater Foundation recently reunited the singers in the title roles – Roy Cornelius Smith (Tristan), Juyeon Song (Isolde,) Tamara Gallo (Brangäne), Brian Davis ( Kurwenal ), John Paul Huckle ( King Mark ), Alexander Kaimbacher ( Melot, Shephard, young Sailor ) and video artist Naomie Kremer with Janáček Philharmonic Orchestra – as they presented Tristan und Isolde concert performance to an even greater success, at the Krzysztof Penderecki European Centre for Music in Poland on August 31, 2019. The production triumphed under the baton of internationally recognized European Maestro Robert Reimer who has conducted with Bayerische Staatsoper, Deutsche Oper Berlin, Royal Danish Opera, Wiener Staatsoper, and others. Under his leadership, the Janáček Philharmonic Orchestra played Wagner’s music for the first time magnificently, receiving an overwhelming, standing ovation from the audience. This receding was recorded and will be released by PARMA Recordings in November 2020, distributed through Naxos, which is also being submitted as consideration for the 2021 GRAMMY Awards. "Maestro Robert Reimer’s controlled way of conducting with passion, integrity to the music and Noble elegance led to the excellence in the finished performance. Roy Cornelius Smith (Tristan) is a remarkable Heldentenor who doesn't have to screech or shriek to dominate a large orchestra. He sang in good balance with his Isolde (Juyeon Song) who is rapidly becoming "the" Isolde of today. The end was greeted with a total spellbound silence before the whole audience spontaneously rose to its feet and burst into rapturous applause with many faces still tear-stained from Isolde’s Liebestod. A remarkable achievement. I have seen 18 performances of Tristan and Isolde – this is the one I will never forget.” – Oliver Macdonald, opera correspondent, Vienna Opera Blog, Austria.

The Claude Heater Foundation presented a performance of Giuseppe Verdi’s transformative opera Nabucco, on Sunday, October 20, 2019, at 3:00 PM, at the Congregation Sherith Israel, San Francisco. The lead opera artists for the concert are baritone Kenny Stavert (Nabucco), soprano Juyeon Song (Abigaille), bass-baritone Philip Skinner (Zaccaria), mezzo-soprano Tamara Gallo (Fenena), and tenor Alex Boyer (Ismaele). Conducted the singers and a full orchestra by Jonathan Khuner. " Nabucco in the Temple Conquers Babylonians and Opera Fans " by Janos Gereben from San Francisco Classical Voice https://www.sfcv.org/reviews/claude-heater-foundation/nabucco-in-the-temple-conquers-babylonians-and-opera-fans

Claude Heater Foundation presented Tristan und Isolde Concert Version on August 26, 2018, for the first time as Company's inaugural event. With only 1 Orchestra rehearsal, all soloists debuting the role on the stage for the first time including Conductor. www.claudeheaterfoundation.org REVIEWS Tristan und Isolde, August 26, 2018, at San Francisco Performing Art Herbst Theatre, San Francisco Conductor - Jonathan Khuner Tristan - Roy Cornelius Smith Isolde  - Juyeon Song Brangäne - Tamara Gallo Kurwenal - Geoffry Di Giorgio Melot, Young Sailor  -Alex Boyer King mark Philip Skinner  Chorus Rick Bogart Ching Chang Michael Mendelssohn Khris Sanchez Peter Tedeschi, Michael Grammer Richard Mix, J.T. Williams (with Philip Skinner and Alex Boyer) Orchestra VIOLIN 1  Natasha Makhijani (concertmistress) Vivian Warkentin Dan Flanagan Julie Kim Brian Lee Michael Grossman Jory Fankuchen Gabrielle Wunsch Ilana Thomas Matthew Vincent  VIOLIN 2  Hrabba Atladdottir Rochelle Nguyen Candy Sanderson Cybele D’ambrosio Josie Fath Baker Peeples Katie Button Valerie Tisdel  VIOLA  Tiantian Lan Betsy London Meg Titchener Ilana Matfis Stephanie Ng  VIOLONCELLO  Eric Sung Leighton Fong Beth Vandervennet Michael Graham Miriam Perkoff  BASSPat McCarthy Michel Taddei Alden Cohen  FLUTE Tod Brody Jenny Hunt Amy Likar  PICCOLO Amy Likar  OBOE Robin May Denis Harper  ENGLISH HORN Laura Reynolds  CLARINET Bill Kalinkos Art Austin  BASS CLARIENT Peter Josheff  PERSONNEL MANAGER  BASSOON  Jarratt Rossini Marko Bajzer Shawn Jones  FRENCH HORN Meredith Brown Alicia Telford Katie Dennis Alex Camphouse  TRUMPET            Bill Harvey Lenny Ott John Freeman  TROMBONE       Bruce Chrisp Tom Hornig Kurt Patzner  TUBA                   Scott Choate  TIMPANI             Kevin Neuhoff  PERCUSSION    Tim Dent  HARP                  Meredith Clark  “Done with vigor, sensitivity and vocal stamina. With conductor Jonathan Khuner leading a vivid rendition, and soprano Juyeon Song and tenor Roy Cornelius Smith blazing forth in the title roles, this was an entirely unexpected delight. There was no denying the integrity and power of this Tristan.” – Joshua Kosman, San Francisco Chronicle https://datebook.sfchronicle.com/music/out-of-nowhere-an-excellent-tristan-pops-up-in-san-francisco  “A wonderful event. The Claude Heater Foundation has made a promising, daring, welcome entrance.” – Janos Gereben, San Francisco Classical Voice https://www.sfcv.org/reviews/claude-heater-foundation/operatic-startup-delights-with-a-splendid-tristan Best of the year 2018 in Classical Music “One of the great musical surprises of the year was a concert performance of Wagner’s masterpiece of forbidden love, given Aug. 26 in Herbst Theatre. This is a piece that can challenge even established opera companies, and to hear it done this well by representatives of the Claude Heater Foundation – with soprano Juyeon Song and tenor Roy Cornelius Smith in the title roles led by conductor Jonathan Khuner – defied reasonable expectations.” – Joshua Kosman, San Francisco Chronicle https://datebook.sfchronicle.com/music/year-in-review-salonen-appointment-tops-a-cornucopia-of-classical-delights

Conductor Jonathan Khuner discusses "Va, pensiero" also known as the "Chorus of the Hebrew Slaves", from the opera Nabucco by Giuseppe Verdi. This will be sung in a special Hebrew translation for the Nabucco concert version of complete opera with full orchestra and chorus, presented by Claude Heater Foundation, on Sunday, October 20, 2019, 3pm at Congregation Sherith Israel, San Francisco. Tickets: https://nabucco-sf.eventbrite.com

Gordon Gladstone, Executive Director of Congregation Sherith Israel, discusses the history of the building and its dedication to being part of its community in San Francisco. CSI hosts a performance of Verdi’s Nabucco - a concert version of the complete opera with full orchestra and chorus, presented by Claude Heater Foundation, Sunday, October 20, 2019, 3pm. Tickets: https://nabucco-sf.eventbrite.com

Verdi’s Nabucco concert version of complete opera with full orchestra and chorus, presented by Claude Heater Foundation, Sunday, October 20, 2019, 3pm at Congregation Sherith Israel, San Francisco. Tickets: https://nabucco-sf.eventbrite.com