RSVP Required | Guest Artist Masterclass, Minnesota Celebrates Flicka!

Legendary opera superstar Frederica von Stade (Flicka to friends and fans) returns to Minnesota! Two masterclasses will be presented by Frederica von Stade and pianist Martin Katz. 

Thursday, September 12, 9:00 AM and 2:30 PM. in Lloyd Ultan Recital Hall (inside Ferguson Hall). 

This event is free and open to the public, but seating is limited and RSVP required. 

9:00 – 11:00 AM
Masterclass led by Martin Katz featuring collaborative piano students; Frederica von Stade will be a guest commentator for the singing participants.

2:30 – 5:00 PM
Masterclass led by Frederica von Stade featuring vocal division students; Martin Katz will be a guest commentator regarding collaborative piano.

Presented by Listen for Life in association with the Schubert Club. 

Artist Bios

Frederica von Stade

Frederica von Stade has performed for over 50 years and is grateful for every minute of it. Flicka, as she is known to friends and fans alike, is loved by audiences worldwide. A Chevalier of France's Ordre des Arts et des Lettres, twice the winner of a Grand Prix du Disque and nominated nine times for a Grammy award, she is widely regarded as the pre-eminent lyric mezzo-soprano of her generation. She has sung at the Kennedy Center and at the White House, being honored by President Reagan in particular for her “contributions to the arts.”

Flicka began her career at the Metropolitan Opera in 1970 debuting as a genie in Mozart’s Magic Flute and was celebrated for performances in the great “trouser” (girl-playing-boy) roles. Her career has crossed genres, with leads from bel canto to dark, contemporary dramas, from operetta to musical theater. Dominic Argento wrote Casa Guidi for her, and her 2002 recording with the Minnesota Orchestra won a Grammy. She has made over 100 recordings of operas, art songs and Broadway shows and has starred in many television specials.

Flicka is thrilled to sing in Minnesota again after wonderful times here with the Metropolitan Opera, the Minnesota Orchestra and the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra. She says she’s grateful to Listen For Life and pianist Donna Stoering for making this possible, because to sing with her most beloved friend and long-time accompanist Martin Katz again “is like a trip to the moon.”

Martin Katz

Martin Katz’ five-decade career as a collaborative pianist has taken him to five continents, consistently in demand by celebrated singers to share the recital stage. In addition to Frederica Von Stade, he appeared and recorded regularly with Marilyn Horne, José Carreras, Karita Mattila, Cecilia Bartoli, Kiri te Kanawa, Kathleen Battle, Piotr Beczala and David Daniels, to name only a few. He is a native of Los Angeles, where he began piano studies at the age of five. He attended the University of Southern California and studied the specialized field of collaboration with its pioneer teacher, Gwendolyn Koldofsky. In addition to his work at the piano, Mr. Katz has added conducting to his work and has also led complete staged opera productions in San Francisco and Michigan.

He makes his home in Michigan, where he chairs the University of Michigan’s collaborative piano program. He has been a pivotal figure in the training of countless young artists—singers, pianists, and conductors. He is also a frequent guest teacher at Helsinki’s Sibelius Academy, Chicago College of Performing Arts, the New National Theatre of Tokyo, and many other esteemed schools. Katz is the author of a comprehensive guide for accompanists, “The Complete Collaborator,” (Oxford Press), which is considered the seminal work on this subject.

Donna Stoering

Donna Stoering (DonnaStoering.com) is an award-winning, internationally renowned performing and recording artist, collaborative pianist, television host/producer, performance coach, composer, author and social entrepreneur. She has performed public concerts since age five and taught professionally since age ten. While a Marshall scholar in the UK, Donna was appointed head of the piano department at the University of York and then artist in residence at Oxford University. Donna served as an artistic and cultural ambassador for both the UK and USA to countries around the globe. The BBC, NPR, PBS affiliates, Hong Kong Radio & Television, and the national networks of Russia, Italy, Ukraine and countless other countries have aired specials about her. A protege of the late Sir Georg Solti, she has been a concerto soloist with major orchestras and music festivals and has given numerous premieres of works created for her. She has adjudicated national and international competitions, and she enjoys private teaching, performance coaching and giving masterclasses. In 1998 she founded the award-winning nonprofit Listen For Life, which supports musicians in service of others worldwide. She has created new music festivals on four continents and hosted television programs about cross- cultural music on national networks of many countries. With all that, her favorite musical activity remains being a collaborative artist, performing with vocal and instrumental soloists of all genres and cultures. She is thrilled to perform again with Flicka, a dear friend. Last year she moved with her husband, Andy Anderson, to Minneapolis, and she is extremely grateful for the warm community of musicians, music listeners and friends that they have already encountered here in their new “forever” home.