Internationally Acclaimed Soprano Dawn Upshaw and Renowned Pianist Gilbert Kalish Appear In Recital, May 24

Santa Rosa . CA (May 3, 2007) - On Thursday May 24 at 8pm, the Wells Fargo Center for the Arts presents a song recital with celebrated soprano Dawn Upshaw , star of the Metropolitan Opera and Carnegie Hall, and prominent pianist Gilbert Kalish . The program begins at 8pm.

Admired for her uncommon musicality and for the unaffected beauty of her singing, Dawn Upshaw is further esteemed for having paved a career path that is wholly her own. The integrity and freshness of conception that mark her choice of repertory and her interpretations have made her a model for a new generation of singer. "In today's commercialized musical world, Dawn Upshaw is a voice apart," writes Mary Kunz Goldman of the Buffalo News . "She's one of music's most celebrated sopranos, but with her calm radiance, you wouldn't think of her as a diva. She has a passion for bringing surprising, and fascinating, music to the public."

Dawn has achieved worldwide celebrity as a singer of opera and concert repertoire ranging from the sacred works of Bach to the freshest sounds of today. A three-time Grammy Award winner, she has premiered more than 40 works in the past decade and is featured on more than 50 recordings, including the million-selling Symphony No. 3 by Henryk Gorecki. Her ability to reach to the heart of music and text has earned her both the devotion of an exceptionally diverse audience, and the awards and distinctions accorded to only the most distinguished of artists.  In February of this year, "Ainadamar," the opera written for Dawn Upshaw, won two Grammy Awards for Best Opera and Best Contemporary Com position.

Gilbert Kalish is a profoundly influential figure in American music. He was the pianist of the Boston Symphony Chamber Players for 30 years and a founding member of the Contemporary Chamber Ensemble. From 1969 to 1997, he was a faculty member of the Tanglewood Music Center ; he was chairman of the faculty at Tanglewood from 1985 to 1997. Mr. Kalish is a distinguished professor and head of performance activities.

Soprano Dawn Upshaw and pianist Gilbert Kalish appear in recital, May 24 at 8pm in the Ruth Finley Person Theater at the Wells Fargo Center for the Arts.  Tickets ($35) are available at the Box Office, located at 50 Mark West Springs road in Santa Rosa , by phone at 707-546-3600, and online at www.wellsfargocenterarts.com .

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The non-profit Wells Fargo Center for the Arts is the North Bay's premier arts organization presenting world-class performances, contemporary sculpture, festivals, and events to 500,000 residents and visitors each year. Together with its resident companies, the Wells Fargo Center for the Arts provides more than 100 annual performances, serves to present intriguing contemporary art, and is one of California's largest providers of arts education programs for children. Located in the heart of the Wine Country, the Wells Fargo Center for the Arts campus features spacious auditoriums, an intimate cabaret, and outdoor festival grounds with a big-top tent. Unlike many similar organizations, the Wells Fargo Center for the Arts is not aligned with any federal, state, or municipal entity-such as a city or university. The Center was created by and is supported by the community it serves, making it uniquely positioned as an independent, entrepreneurial-focused, non-profit arts organization. We serve to Enrich, Educate and Entertain - Connecting Our Community through the Arts.