Regina Zona, soprano and Kathleen Tagg, pianist
Internationally Acclaimed Artists
American soprano, Regina Zona and South African pianist, Kathleen Tagg, have recorded their first CD together – Connection: The Song Cycles of Jake Heggie. Released in the spring of 2014, the CD is distributed through the NAXOS American Classics Label. Ms. Zona and Ms. Tagg have concertized all over the world and specialize in programs that feature the rich repertoire of American art song.
Regina Zona and Kathleen Tagg, Internationally Acclaimed Artists
Regina Zona has enjoyed a diverse performing career on both the operatic and concert stages. She has performed leading roles with opera companies all over the United States, including Hawaii and has been a featured soloist with symphonies in the United States, Mexico, Germany and Japan. An avid recitalist, she specializes in American art song and has concertized all over the world including two tours in South Africa.
Kathleen Tagg is an incredibly versatile artist as soloist, chamber musician, collaborative pianist, producer and music director. She has performed throughout the United States, Europe, Southern Africa and India, has appeared on numerous recordings and been featured on radio stations across the world. She has won several prestigious international competitions and performed on some of the most notable concert stages in the world including Weill Hall at Carnegie Hall.
Dr. Zona and Dr. Tagg both received their doctorates at the Manhattan School of Music, where they met and have subsequently concertized together all over the United States and South Africa.
Connection: The Songs Cycles of Jake Heggie
Arguably one of America’s most prolific American composers, Jake Heggie has dedicated a large part of his career to writing art song. Drs. Zona and Tagg have become champions of Jake Heggie’s music and consistently feature his music on their recitals. The CD features three on Heggie’s song cycles for soprano and piano, Songs and Sonnets to Ophelia, Natural Selection, and Eve-Song, which is the world-premiere recording of the cycle.
“Animal Passion” from Natural Selection
Jake Heggie
CD Release Recital – New York, NY
Not in a Silver Casket
“Connection: Three Song Cycles of Jake Heggie”
Naxos American Classics – CD Available Now
“Joy” from Genius Child
Ricky Ian Gordon
CD Release Recital – New York, NY
Snake
“Connection: Three Song Cycles of Jake Heggie”
Naxos American Classics – CD Available Now
Current Recital Programs
*if your venue prefers a more diverse repertoire, a mixed program can be put together specifically for you
A Celebration of the American Voice
Jake Heggie’s Song and Sonnets to Ophelia
Ricky Ian Gordon’s “Genius Child,” “Will There Really Be a Morning,” “Joy”
Samuel Barber’s Despite and Still
Jake Heggie’s Natural Selection
From Spain to America…with Love
Enrique Granados – 5 Songs from the Tonadillas
Fernando Obradors – 5 Songs from Canciones Clásicas Españolas
Daniel Catán’s “Escúchame” from Florencia en el Amazonas
INTERVAL
Ricky Ian Gordon’s “Genius Child,” “Will There Really Be a Morning,” “Joy”
Jake Heggie’s Natural Selection
Jerry Bock’s “When Did I Fall in Love” from Fiorello
Love Is…
Celius Dougherty’s “Love in the Dictionary”
The Ultimate Wedding Gift – Songs by Robert Schumann, Gustav Mahler and Richard Strauss
L’amore in Italia – Songs by Stephano Donaudy and Giacomo Puccini
La langage amoureux – Songs by Gabriel Faurè
Falling in Love with Love – Songs from Broadway
Works by George Gershwin (Oh, Kay), Georgia Stitt, Rodgers and Hammerstein (Carousel), John Bucchino (A Catered Affair) and Jerry Bock (Fiorello)
For Educational Institutions
Dr. Zona and Dr. Tagg are pleased to offer you several workshops that would benefit your students. With many years of experience teaching college-age students, both Drs. Zona and Tagg have the unique ability to tap into the technical and artistic needs that these talented young performers can use to make that transition from student to artist.
Choose one or more workshops that would be the best fit for your students:
Vocal Masterclass
Dr. Zona will work with your voice students on vocal and performance techniques through art songs or opera arias
Piano Masterclass
Dr. Tagg will work with your piano students on technical and musical techniques in their solo piano, chamber or collaborative repertoire
Collaborative Performance Masterclass
Both Drs. Zona and Tagg will work together with your voice and piano students on the art of collaboration in solo voice and piano performance
Audition Techniques or Character Development Masterclass
Dr. Zona will work with your vocal performance majors on audition techniques when they present their arias or focus on how to develop and present a character in either an aria or in an opera scene with other characters.
This masterclass can also include a pianistic element where Dr. Tagg will work with your student accompanist on how to get the most out of a piano reduction to provide a full and colorful operatic accompaniment
Q & A—Panel Discussion
Both Drs. Zona and Tagg will discuss any topics that pertain to becoming a working musician after school work is done—networking, auditions, creating performance opportunities, the business of the business and more.