Folsom Lake Symphony Presents 'A Night for Romance'

The Folsom Lake Symphony invites audiences to celebrate Valentine's Day with an unforgettable evening of music at A Night for Romance on Saturday, Feb. 14, at 7:30 p.m. at Harris Center for the Arts, 10 College Parkway. Designed especially for the holiday, this concert offers the perfect Valentine's celebration whether as a romantic date night or an elegant evening out with friends. The program features acclaimed guest soloists Tiffany Townsend, soprano, and Cedric Berry, bass-baritone, in a richly varied concert that explores love in all its forms: joyful, tender, passionate and tragic. Selections from George Gershwin's Porgy and Bess – including the beloved "Summertime," the spirited "I Got Plenty o' Nuttin' " and the heartfelt duet "Bess, You Is My Woman Now" – bring warmth and intimacy to the evening. Orchestral highlights include the vibrant Polovtsian Dances from Borodin's Prince Igor, the triumphant and celebratory Wedding March from Mendelssohn's A Midsummer Night's Dream and the sweeping emotional power of Tchaikovsky's Romeo and Juliet Overture-Fantasy – one of the most iconic musical love stories ever written. With its blend of romantic melody, dramatic storytelling and timeless favorites, A Night for Romance promises a memorable way to celebrate Valentine's Day through the beauty of live symphonic music. Praised for her "powerhouse soprano and expressive presence" (The Wall Street Journal), Townsend was a Resident Artist at Seattle Opera for the 2024-25 season, where she made her role debut as America Robinson in Jubilee and covered Tosca and Nedda. She received the 2021 Richard F. Gold Career Grant and has performed with LA Opera, Wolf Trap Opera and Opera Philadelphia, as well as in concert with leading orchestras nationwide. A native of Jackson, Mississippi, Townsend holds a Professional Studies Certificate in Opera from the Curtis Institute of Music, a Master of Music from The Juilliard School and a Bachelor of Arts in Music from Millsaps College. Berry returns to our stage wielding "a voice of considerable power and agility" (The Chicago Tribune). His roles include the title in Puccini's Gianni Schicchi, Mephistopheles (Faust), Leporello (Don Giovanni) and Shaunard (La bohème). He has appeared with Los Angeles Opera, Long Beach Opera, The Industry Opera and at the Savonlinna Opera Festival (Finland) and Banlieues Bleues Festival (France), and has performed with major orchestras throughout the U.S. and abroad. Berry is a first-prize winner of the Metropolitan Opera Western Region Competition. He holds a music diploma from Interlochen Arts Academy and bachelor's and master's degrees from USC. For ticket information and additional details, visit www.folsomlakesymphony.com.