The coming of spring will be heralded in Ithaca by the appearance of two of America's most-prized songbirds, mezzo-soprano Marilyn Horne and soprano Benita Valente.
Their joint recital on Tuesday, March 12, at 8:15 p.m. in Bailey Hall will feature a dazzling array of lieder, opera excerpts, folk songs and bel canto favorites. Warren Jones will accompany the artists on piano. Tickets are $38 and $24 -- $32 and $20 with student identification -- and can be purchased at the Lincoln Hall box office, Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., or by calling 255-5144.
Horne and Valente also will conduct master classes for students while on campus. Horne will conduct her class from 1 to 3 p.m. March 13; Valente will address students earlier in the day from 10 a.m. to noon. Both classes will be held in Barnes Hall and are open to the public.
The two sopranos are ideal recital partners and are among the few vocalists who can sell out a house in this most exacting realm of singing. Horne and Valente gave solo perfor mances as part of the Cornell Concert Series in 1989 and 1990, respectively.
Horne has performed more than 1,300 recitals. In 1994, she launched the Marilyn Horne Foundation, which is devoted exclusively to the art of voice recital.
President Clinton has cited Horne's influential standing with these words: "Your role in helping strengthen this rich tradition has helped beautify our world. The Marilyn Horne Foundation will give many young art ists the encouragement they need to continue their vocal careers."
Equally beloved by opera audiences, Horne is the only living artist selected by critic Harold C. Schonberg in his New York Times list of nine "all-time, all-star singers in the Metropolitan Opera's 100 years." Horne comes to Ithaca following her critically acclaimed performances at the Met as Dame Quickly in Verdi's Falstaff.
Valente is an internationally celebrated interpreter of lieder, chamber music, orato rio and opera. Renowned as a recitalist, her programs are eagerly awaited wherever she performs. Valente has the distinction of having sung to sell-out crowds at Carnegie Hall and Alice Tully Hall in consecutive seasons. A longtime friend and professional colleague of Horne, Valente appeared as Euridice in the Santa Fe Opera production of Orfeo opposite Horne.